This time, the soft creaking of the Pearl woke Captain Sparrow. He usually could remember why something pained him when he woke up, but not this time. As his eyes became accustomed to the new bright light, he realized that he could hardly open his right eye. He tried to lift his hand to touch it but found his hands were bound.
With his only working eye, he gazed over what he found to be the bow of the ship. He was sitting crookedly near the steering wheel, and was apparently tied against the side of the ship. The crew was still working the ship's needs as if nothing was wrong. Ropes being tightened, the floor being swabbed clean, and men climbing the masts to keep the sails in check.
"It looks as if ye're in a tight situation, Jack."
Jack looked to his right and saw the tall conquistador swaying with the boat, his hand idly on the wheel, and a grin plastered on his face.
Jack tried to speak but his throat was too dry.
"It migh' be be'er if ye listen instea', Jack," said Barbossa coolly. He walked around the wheel and stopped in front of Jack, staring down at him with inferiority in his eyes.
"There been a change o' plans. We've been waitin' long enough and finally ye gave us the bearnin's. So now we plan to be on our way to the treasure. But I'm afraid ye aren't comin' along."
Jack's heart skipped a beat. He coughed in surprise, but still couldn't speak.
"We've found a good island for ye, Jack, one that perhaps ye'll die quick on." Barbossa spoke lightly as if discussing the weather. "O' course, we'll leave ye a shot in case ye get that desperate. We ain't gonna take away all of yer privileges."
Jack's breathing became quick and short.
"I's a mutiny," Jack croaked out.
"Took ye long enough," Barbossa said carelessly. "I'd call it a change to the be'er. After all, three months." He shook his head. "I think under new leadership we'd get somewhere in a few days."
Jack felt a sting in his heart, and his head. He felt something dripping down his face. When he looked onto the deck, he saw splatters of blood.
Barbossa kneeled down to be at Jack's eye level. He felt his hand grab his chin and make him face the smooth yet evil face that he had once trusted. Barbossa stared deep into his eyes, penetrating his mind.
"I thought we'd have some luck soon," he said quietly with a slight grin. He pushed away Jack's face and resumed to his standing position. The winds were blowing mighty fine, causing the ship to sail at at least 18 knots. Random sprays from the water would find their way to the deck, stay awhile, and then slither back home.
"Ye cur!" Jack breathed out angrily. "Piece of filth! Burn in hell for what ye're doing!"
Barbossa kicked Jack in the stomach. He would have doubled over but he was tied tight to the railing. He did manage to let out a loud groan and he coughed uncontrollably, trying to catch his breath. He felt a slash of pain in his stomach and he knew that whoever had dealt the blow earlier would leave a scar on his face, but he couldn't see it yet. His legs were cramped up beneath him in an uncomfortable position. Betrayal filled his heart. The pain was overwhelming.
"Don' talk," Barbossa spat out. "Get ye in worse trouble. Don't want a meetin' with the cat do ye?"
Jack stayed silent as a group of men approached Barbossa. One emerged from the group and stepped forward.
"The isle is comin' up, Cap'n Barbossa," he informed Barbossa, with a slight slur in his voice.
"Cap'n?!" Jack exclaimed in surprise.
The informer looked disgustedly at Jack while Barbossa proceeded to silence him with another kick. This time, Jack felt blood on his tongue and against his teeth.
"Quiet, inferior!" Barbossa roared. He turned back to the informant.
"Excellent, Dog Ear. We'll be ready soon to toss 'im overboard."
The pirate called Dog Ear grinned, showing pink and black gums with a few teeth showing.
Suddenly a commotion grew from around the captain's quarters. There were shouts and sounds of a struggle. Jack tried to stretch to the left to see if he could see anything, but the other mates were in the way. He heard the sound of a blade swishing through the air, and following it a cry of pain. Shouts bellowed from angry men and another louder howl of pain erupted from a different man.
The mob was broken in half as a young man burst through the crowd, closely followed by more mutineers. The young man was a good size smaller than Barbossa but he looked ferocious none the less. His long bronze hair was tied loosely into a ponytail, with stray hairs whipping across his face. His brown eyes were determined and taking in the scene before him. A cutlass was in his hand and he was waving it before himself to ward off any who dared come close. It was the same man that had entered Jack's cabin the morning before.
"'E got loose, Captain," a tall dark skinned pirate growled from behind the mob. "Cut 'imself somehow, Scarus and Nipperkin weren't keepin' a good watch on 'im." As the tall dark pirate talked, two other pirates fell forward, one holding a hand just above his left eye, blood streaming down his cheek, the other holding a hand right over his right eye, but with darker thicker blood running down his face. Both were moaning in pain.
"'E cut me eye out!" wailed the taller one, pulling his arm away to reveal a bloody hole where his eye should've been. Jack winced at the sight but did not look away.
"Cut a bloody slice into me 'ead!" roared the stouter one, revealing a four inch bleeding gash that started over his eyebrow and wound back to the beginning of his balding head.
"Enough!" Barbossa snarled. "I'll deal with ye two later." He turned his attention to the escaped victim.
"What d'ye think ye can achieve by escapin', hm? Gonna' take all of us on, are ye?"
The angry man raised his cutlass to the apparent new captain's throat, and at the same time several pistols rose into the air.
"I'm not going to let ye do this, Barbossa," the gentleman growled.
"And 'ow are ye gonna stop me? Stop us?" Barbossa emphasized. "Ye may 'ave got Regatti and Pintel, but there are many more of us." He raised his arm to show the newcomer the several pistols pointed at him.
"I'll die trying," he spat out. "Jack is the true Captain."
Jack smiled faintly at the compliment.
Barbossa leaned nearer to the escapee.
"Tha's true. Ye'll die tryin'." Two men grabbed the man from behind, making him drop his weapon and fall backwards back into custody.
"Miscreant!" he shouted before being muffled by a red cloth they tied around his mouth.
"Gents! Let 'im stay and watch!" Barbossa lifted his hands up in celebration and the pirates cheered in unison. While they continued to cheer, Barbossa turned back to Jack.
"Think ye're ready for a swim, mate?"
"Barbossa," Jack wheezed out, "Why are ye doing this? We're so close and ye're throwing it all away!"
"No Jack," Barbossa countered, "I'm tryin' t' save what ye threw away long ago. Ye lost these men, Jack, and ye lost me with 'em. The only bloody fool that still follows ye is ruddy Bootstrap." Barbossa signaled to the tied up prisoner and laughed as he struggled from the grasp of the pirates.
"These men are getting' what ye promised them at last. But we can no longer follow ye. So we've decided yer fate." Barbossa reached behind Jack to untie him from the railing, but not completely. He held the ropes in his grasp and pulled Jack along down the small steps to a naked area with no railing.
"This be yer stop, Jack." Barbossa pushed him slightly forward.
Jack was unstable on his feet. He almost fell as Barbossa gave him a little push. Only moments ago he was the command of the ship and crew, the head of the expedition, and the navigator of the Black Pearl. He had been living large in his cabin with hardly a worry…except for the black cloud that had appeared above his ship and crew two days ago. It was a sign. Jack told himself. And I failed to heed it.
"Now 'ere's yer pistol." Barbossa stuck the gun in Jack's belt, since he obviously couldn't grab it. "And now is the time for ye to take a dive. Say g'bye, Jack Sparrow. The Pearl is mine."
Jack's face heated with anger. He had to do something.
"A duel," Jack whispered, since he could hardly speak loud with his coarse throat. "I challenge you…to a duel."
The mob quieted down to a mutter. Barbossa held up his hand to silence them completely.
"Wha' d'ye' mean by that, Jack?" Barbossa actually sounded interested. Of course, an opportunity to show off his fighting skills.
Jack coughed and tasted blood.
"If I win, I stay and keep my rightful title." Barbossa growled. "If I don't, then ye have yer way."
Barbossa looked at his men thoughtfully and then turned to grin at his prisoner.
"I' sounds like an accord." He nodded his head to his crew and two men came forward to cut loose Jack's ropes. They retreated as Jack wrung his hands. He touched his right eyebrow where he felt a large cut that was bleeding down his face. His eye felt swollen shut and covered with blood.
Barbossa brought forth another sword and tossed it to Jack, who clumsily dropped it, causing the audience to laugh heartily. Jack bent over to pick it up from the floor, feeling dizzy from pain. His coordination was off greatly, and he feared that he would lose. His hand touched the hilt of the sword and his fingers enclosed it, gripping it tightly and lifting it to point at Barbossa. He turned his head to see Barbossa, who pulled his own sword from its scabbard.
"Think yer up to this, Jack?" Barbossa mockingly questioned.
Jack coughed his reply, still feeling the bitter taste of blood in his mouth.
Barbossa didn't wait for a reply. He plunged into battle with one-eyed Jack relentlessly.
As Jack desperately blocked Barbossa's attacks, he felt his limbs getting heavier and slower. He couldn't keep up with Barbossa's fast moves and agility. He staggered backwards as his opponent threw a slash at Jack's arm, causing a bright red cut to appear. Jack inhaled sharply at the wound, before letting his sword fly into Barbossa's face. Jack heard a raging howl emerge from the adversary.
"Bastard!" Barbossa shouted at Jack, as he tenderly touched a large cut beneath his right eye. He pounced back into battle, ignoring the searing pain on his face. He finally slashed his sword against Jack's, causing the sword to drop from his hand. Barbossa slashed at Jack's belly, causing him to double over and fall to the ground.
No. Jack protested to himself. I can't stop.
Barbossa's boot met with Jack's head and Jack sprawled onto his back, groaning.
"I's over, Jack. Ye've lost." Barbossa sheathed his sword and stepped forward. "I'm the new captain. And ye're as good as dead." Barbossa knelt down and grabbed Jack's collar, pulling the wheezing man to his feet. Jack's eyes rolled back into his head. He breathed heavily and blood dripped from his mouth, eyebrow, and torn shirt. He desperately tried to release the hold Barbossa had on his collar, but he was not strong enough.
"Goodbye, Jack Sparrow." Barbossa grinned maliciously.
Bootstrap pulled free from his hold and ripped the bandana from his mouth.
"NO!" Bootstrap yelled as Barbossa released his hold and Jack fell overboard.