Frightened eyes darted from every corner, the other girls brought up to the wooden platform seemed to hold the same fear she had in her own eyes. What would become of all of them? The three other girls seemed to huddle in the back lining fingers –reaping the reassurance of each other. They were about her age, maybe even younger-the older woman was sold to an old man with his front teeth missing, they were next.
"Inspection" came a thick Spanish accent as a stern looking woman pulled the three young girls from their seated position; along with Marie who had just been standing beside the lazy eyed Jack for reasons she didn't really understand.
As far as Marie knew this Jack character was the only pirate amongst them, and it only struck her the moment a strange looking bird with many colors had flown in just as the bids for the men were being struck. Frowning eyed the wobbly kneed man as he was pulled up on stage. "Hai" was all that Sparrow said; and with his empty grin and light wave of the hand, it was obvious he wasn't really right in the mind-as far as she was concerned anyway. In some weird manner she felt actually sorry for him-he seemed like he hadn't any clue as to what was going to be done with him.
"Eyes here " came the harsh words of the older woman inspecting the girls. Her piercing eyes seemed to absorb what hope the girls had hung on to leaving them with naught.
"Careful with this one" came that same sly lad from before, the one who'd given Marie the dagger. "She's a feisty one" he snickered before taking a stand to her left side observing the prices fly across the charts. "HAHAHAHA"
Frowning, Marie eyed this young man, and wondered what he found to be so funny.
"SOLD!" rang out the man at the far front left who seemed to be running the show.
Jack's eyes widened at the sight, the figure who he had been sold to had been a heavily built dark skinned maiden who seemed like she had not smiled in decades. Mouth forming an 'O' turned to the man in the torn up top hat, "Excuse me, I think there has been a mistake" he began sheepishly.
The much older man just eyed him with an ice cold glare which made Jack shrink and grin in such a stupid pitiful manner the man actually humored him, "And what mistake is that?"
"that lady shouldn't have won" he began- automatically receiving a scuff from the elder who stated, "Trust me my good man, I did yer a favor" Directing Jack's quizzical stare to an old man with a strange sinister malicious snicker nodded a hint of acknowledgment.
Jack took the hint and made a bigger ' O' with his mouth and attempted to sneak off only to be grappled by the authoritative maiden who had carried him off bridal style. His eyes quickly darted to the young rider who now took the stage in her revealing dress as if expecting something to happen. Mouthing 'help' could do nothing but stare and take a very stiff position in the lady's arms. Smiling broadly looked up at the stern faced character, "Any chance of putting me down?" He then shrank under the woman's dagger like glare, "never mind.." he sheepishly stated.
"SOLD!"
The young lad's eyes grew to almost twice its original size for a Commodore of some sort had taken the stand.
Marie's eyes seemed to be glazed with tears of happiness-her mother had come through! Eyes turned to the scared triplet behind her, why were they still frightened? The British Officials were sure to rescue them to right? The oldest of the three seemed to be shaking her head which made Marie begin to wonder. Slowly turning back realized the uniform hadn't been anything she'd seen before. Looking up at the man about ten years her senior couldn't help but step back a pace-it seemed like he held some authority in that forsaken land.
"My lord, are you sure? There are much better-" the man controlling the bidding was cut off as the official slapped a marked parchment into his palm. "Pleasure doing business Sir." He bowed.
"This isn't supposed to happen.." the lad from before muttered under his breath-making Marie turn his way. Two young men seemed to walk towards her making her step back a few paces, making her walk right into the watchful lad. Remembering the dagger quickly side stepped him and held the metallic point underneath his neck, "Any closer and I'll-I'll"
"You'll what?" came the mocking tones of the other.
"I'll c-cu-kill em!" she threatened with not an ounce of confidence which egged one official to tread closer. " I mean it!" she called out.
The lad within her grasp, already felt the warm trickle flow down his neck-apparently she'd managed to draw a thin line. Hands flew to the girl's right hand as if trying to pry them off, "Am serious mate just step off!" he cried out in fear. "She's crazy!" he yelled.
Quite confused decided to play along and somehow found the confidence to step forward drawing a thin line of crimson upon the boy's nape of the neck. The one they called Commodore seemed very amused and stood in the sideline folding his arms grinning from ear to ear.
"The gun get my gun.." the boy whispered.
"What?" Marie whispered back.
The boy had managed to grab the hand she kept at his waste and lock it over his pistol-acting as if he was fighting to get the gun out of her hand.
Finally getting his drift read the sudden fear in the onlooker's eyes and seemed to draw confidence. "Back off" she declared pointing the metallic nose towards the nearest colored officer.
"You really going to shoot him?" The Commodore snickered, "Go ahead," he dared with full confidence and knowledge the girl couldn't pull the trigger.
The boy seemed to have also pulled a good case of slight of hand, the moment the man had spoken and shot the officer in front of them-ending up in the man hopping up and down before tumbling over holding his lower leg.
"She's mad!" the boy cried out.
Really confused Marie decided if this was going to work she'd have to make it convincing, "Let those girls go" she demanded pointing the pistol with a steady hand towards the woman watching over the girls. The triplet seemed to be stifling their tears and cries as they quickly huddled behind her.
Looking over her shoulder , "Follow me" she whispered and then started backing off keeping the pistol pointed at the boy's head.
Meanwhile Jack took the opportunity to sneak out of the woman's grasp and get lost in the crowd. That stance..declaration.. where had he seen it before? It was as if he'd walked into a memory of sorts of a different time.
Bumping into a familiar was glad he came eye to eye with Mr Gibbs.
"Mr. Gibbs, who may that lass be?"
Gibbs just frowned, "Isn't that young Miss Swan?"
"Hmm.." Sparrow pondered. "How about I rendezvous with you at the docks in a few minutes, there's something I have to do."
"What on earth could that be Cap?" Mr Gibbs searched the eyes of Sparrow finally getting the man's drift. "Ay, you're going to check in on Miss Swan yes?"
"That is IF that bonny lass is Miss Swan"
"What do you think you're doing?" the boy whispered quite rattled at the moment- he didn't think this girl would go so far.
"Hey don't look at me you started the whole gun thing" she spat only finding themselves face to face with that drunk who ranted about riding on turtles earlier. "What do you want?" she hissed pointing the gun at Sparrow.
"Woa easy there.. we're on your side" Jack stated. Hearing the click stared at the girl who seemed to be sending a murderous glare that he had to hold up his bare hands in his defense, "honest" he peeped. Eyes dropped to the boy who seemed to be struggling in the girl's arms very surprised to find that the girl had actually cut him. "My goodness, you have to learn to pick the right girls mate,"
"Look who's talking" the boy spat.
"Get outta there, seriously, you're making your ol man look bad" Mr. Gibbs scolded.
The boy had quickly twisted Marie's arm and had slipped out of her grasp stealing back the pistol; pointing it between her eyes with a sly smirk. "I'll be having my dagger back now love"
Frowning, Marie held her only object of defense close and held it in an offensive stance.
"You really want to cross blades with a pirate?" Jack cooed, pausing for a moment-pondering about the sudden spells of dejavous.
"Stay behind me," Marie ordered- the girl's nodded and kept their distance from the men-already a circle had formed as the onlookers took their stand to observe the morning' festivities' with them being the spectacle to be observed.
The boy clicked the pistol and grinned, "Na-ah-ah?" he cooed, I wouldn't do that if I were you..now be a good little girl and pass me that dagger."
Jack Sparrow looked at the arrogant lad to his right and then darted his eyes toward the young girl. Why were her eyes taunting him so! It was so bloody annoying and he didn't know why! "Put it away lass, it's not worth getting beat again." Jack stated with a very care free air-contradicting his cautious defensive stance behind the arrogant lad with the pistol.
"You didn't beat me, he clearly ignored the rules of engagement." She spat lowering the dagger while taking a hold of the tip of the blade. And from any onlooker's point of view it looked like she was yielding to the young man's terms.
"Pirate" the boy snickered "Now that's a good girl, pass it over."
Jack's head was whirling-he definitely was in this situation once before. "ahhk" he started smacking the side of his temples making Mr Gibbs quite confused.
"Is everything okay Cap?"
"Stupid Stupid!" Jack seemed to mumble.
Smirking Marie asked, "you sure about that?"
The boy grinned, "You got it doll fa-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
Marie had thrown the dagger boomerang style making it come through the side and pierce his hand-ending in the gun falling to the ground.
"I GOT IT!" Jack Sparrow yelled quite oblivious to the boy who happened to be screaming in pain. Only when he sensed a figure fall a head did he turn to find the boy grabbing his hand as he knelt down. "What happened to you?"
Mr. Gibbs called out, "She's getting away!"
"ELIZABETH!" Jack dashed off-who else could it be? Last he heard young Mrs. Turner had chimmied away on the Dutchman with Will Turner-that would explain why she retained her youth! Feeling quite satisfied with his conclusion was quite determined to catch up then. The only thing that seemed to bother him was, those eyes..Mrs. Turner didn't have eyes of that hue.. Ignoring the aching at the back of his head kept running until he found himself down at the docks quite amused at the group of four dressed up girls who'd hopped onto a row boat. "This is going to be quite easy.." he beamed quite proud of himself. "Mr. Gibbs" he declared, only to remember that he'd left his trusty first mate back in town and scoffed it off. "Do I have to do everything myself?"
Back on the docks, Marie and the three girls had managed to find a decent sized vessel with two oars. Sneaking by the Coast Master wasn't too hard, for he was too busy chatting with a trader's flirty wife.
"Everything's going to be all right" she stated in a reassuring way. Hopping into the center waited for the trio to hop in as she cast off the mooring lines. Pushing the wooden edge away from the row boat with the oar took a seat and guided the eldest girl among the three to row in time with her. They seemed to be making good time and would have probably reached the opposite side of the harbor had not a schooner of some sort come crashing right into them. Forced to disembark all four girls jumped into the water.
"Where's Catrina!" cried out the youngest.
"Who?" Marie quickly looked around to find that two of the three girls had managed to grab hold of pieces of wood that had surfaced.
The second oldest seemed to ring out in a much higher shrill note, "She can't swim!"
Panic stricken Marie quickly dove down finding the oldest girl struggling to paddle herself towards the surface. Frowning, set her brows in determination and rose to the surface-only to get a big breath of air before descending towards the depths of the sea. Grabbing hold of the extended hand tugged forcefully only to find that the girl had her dress caught onto something. "This must've been the toga thing the boy had talked about " she mused taking note of the transparent material. Once she reached the girl's ankles she saw the sash that had gotten tangled on a tangled up fishing line that seemed to be floating partially-swaying in the currents. Ripping the skirt so that one side now reached the knee cap of Catrina managed to pull her up and break the surface. A long plank of wood had been their source of buoyancy now.
"Catrina!" cried the youngest quite relieved.
As the other two girls swam towards them, Marie took note of a looming shadow over head. "This can't be good" Marie uttered under her breath.
"Ooops was that yours?" came a familiar sarcastic remark.
"You fiend!' Marie cursed.
"Sticks and stones love" Jack remarked.