AN: Hmmm...I don't really have any comments for this chapter. It's a little short, but to the point and such.

Thanks to tiddlywinx for the review, I've never been sure which way to spell through. It's only one problem of many, but at least I know now.

Once again, enjoy.

As soon as we reached the Flying Fortune, I was roughly thrown into the captain's quarters by Barbossa, and after locking the door, he went away to set the ship off.

My mind was numb and spinning. The only thought I could coherently remember was that at least Ella was reasonably safe. At least she wasn't with Barbossa anymore.

Thinking about her was suddenly very painful, and tears began to fall, at first a few at a time, then a constant stream. They were tears of heartache and grief; Oh! how I wanted to be with Ella again, to talk with her, laugh with her, just sit with her. And I was so close, so close…if it hadn't been for that rotten, drunken, whore of a man Jack Sparrow.

I cried harder, this time tears of hate and vengeance, something I rarely ever felt. How could he betray me like that? True, I never really trusted him, but I didn't think he was capable of this? And I had felt something for him; not pity, not sympathy, but something so much deeper that I refused to recognize it. It made me hurt, hurt so bad that I could barely breath. The tears were warm and wet on my cheeks, falling onto my ragged shirt in pools. I wanted to go back to Port Royal, go back to Arielle and Isabella, Elizabeth…I just wanted to be safe again. Most of all I wanted Ella back, but I couldn't think of her, not right now.

My emotions were beginning to drain away with my tears. I barely ever cried in pity of myself, and I hated doing it. Soon I was nothing more than a shaking heap in the corner, shivering and trembling in anxiety and weariness. Why me? Why Jack?

A key was heard in the lock, and Barbossa lumbered through triumphantly, smiling maliciously. "So you are Winifred Delaney. How wonderful to make your acquaintance."

I glared back silently, curling defensively into my corner. I hadn't trusted Jack before, but I was absolutely frightened of this man and what he might be capable of.

"Not a very talkative sort, are you?" He laughed quietly to himself. "A much better change after your friend, I must say. She was very…vocal, unfortunately."

"What did you do to her?" I asked in a grainy whisper.

"Nothing at all, except put her in the brig. No, she was very safe here, don't you fret."

"And…me?"

"I assure that I will not lay one finger on you for the duration of our trip, captain's word. Can't say the same for my crew though," said Barbossa thoughtfully. "Your friend was able to throw them off, hopefully you can do the same."

I could feel myself paling quickly at the statement. I had no doubt that Ella was able to fend the men off successfully, but I wasn't nearly as tough as her. Seeing my expression, Barbossa laughed louder. "Don't worry, Miss Delaney, the crew knows better than to tarnish valuable things. And at the moment, you are very valuable."

I didn't respond. So this man intended to use me as the means to get to this cursed Fountain. As I thought about it, suddenly one thing didn't make sense. Jack was looking for the Fountain, and had said, after regaining his ship, he would start searching again. But Barbossa had everything Jack needed with him. Would that mean Jack would follow behind, even with the threat on my life? Biting my lip, I considered this idea. Jack didn't necessarily need me to find the Fountain of Youth, but he did need my map and key. Which meant my life was worth absolutely nothing in his eyes.

He would follow.

"Would you like to have those ropes off?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and nodded slightly. Barbossa came over and cut them loose and helped me up. "Thank you," I mumbled.

"Ah, manners, what a pleasant surprise," said Barbossa. "You must be accustomed to proper company."

"In a manner of speaking." I looked down at my clothes, which were torn and stained with dirt and sweat. The past few weeks had not been kind to them.

"I see you could use some new garments. A dress perhaps?" suggested Barbossa, pulling a dark green one from a trunk.

"I…yes, thank you." I took the dress from him suspiciously and turned around, looking for somewhere private to change.

"There," he offered, pointing to a door. I went into the room, which was barely bigger than a closet, and stripped off my rags and donned the dress, which actually fit very well. Coming back out, I sat myself down in a chair next to the table, across from Barbossa, who was now munching on a slice of bread. "Something to eat?"

"No, thank you," I said stiffly.

Barbossa finished his slice and fished around in his pocket to produce a small ruby key. "Do you know what this is?"

"Ella's key." I was surprised at how small it was, and even more surprised that the ruby there matched the one on my pocket watch.

"Yes, good. I don't suppose Jack has explained the importance of the objects you own?"

"No, but I already knew."

"Excellent. That will make this conversation that much easier. Now," Barbossa stood up, towering over my rigid figure, "why don't you give me your items?" He reached his hand out expectantly, the yellow nails sticking out grotesquely.

I didn't want to give them to him, partly because that would mean I would have to strip down to retrieve them from my chemise, but mostly that I wasn't sure what was going to happen to me afterward. What I needed to figure out was how to get somewhere safe before handing over the key and map. What I needed to do was find where the Commodore was.

And he was looking for Barbossa. Chances were, he had lost the trail, which meant only one thing. The Commodore was going back to Port Royal.

"I don't have them," I said evenly.

"What?" The question sounded more like a snarl than a word, and Barbossa leaned over the table fiercely, anger spiting from his eyes.

"I don't have them with me," I said, my voice becoming softer. "They aren't with me."

"Why not?"

"I wasn't entirely dressed when Jack…took me away. I was in my nightdress." I knew what Barbossa was thinking at the comment, and I blushed hard as he smiled wickedly. "It's not what it sounds like. Pirates were attacking Port Royal, and it was in the middle of the night."

"Of course. Port Royal you say? So I can assume that is where the map and key are?"

"Yes."

Barbossa walked away from the table and stopped at the door. "We will be sailing toward Port Royal then. I suggest you don't try and escape."

"We're in the middle of the ocean. Where do I have to go?"

"I'm glad you realize that." He opened the door, but before going out, turned to me one last time. "And for your sake, I hope you aren't lying." Cackling loudly, he exited, leaving me there white as a sheet and scared out of skin. But I needed to keep my wits about me if I were to get out of this alive, so I took a deep breath and stood up, ready to meet anything that came my way.