Quote of the Chapter: "A woman knows the face of the man she loves like a sailor knows the open sea."- Honore de Balzac
Beside a Seemingly Perfect Angel
Chapter 6: Escape
Jack always welcomed adventure and danger with open arms. That was, until this very moment. There as he sat in his thrown were the people that had his life at their hands. Their tribal dancing was insignificant to him, all he cared about was the fact that he might be dying soon. Two children came his way, he made no movements of protest as a necklace was placed around his neck.
"Thank you" he said half heartedly, knowing that they wouldn't understand what he was saying.
He wondered what his crew were doing at this very moment, and if that whelp would in fact save his life as he had asked.
With the crew.
"Why would he do this to us?" Will said.
He refused to look down. There he was, hanging in the middle of a canyon with the old crew of the Black Pearl. All that kept them suspended were two vines, he turned to face Gibbs fearing that he might faint.
"If Jack is the chief" Will continued.
"Aye, the Pelegostos made Jack their chief, but he only remains chief if he acts like a chief." Gibbs interrupted him.
"So he had no choice" Will finished. "He's as captive as the rest of us"
"Worst" Gibbs corrected " as it turns out. You see the Pelegostos believe that Jack is a god in human form and they intend of doing the honor of releasing him from his fleshy prison"
Will looked lost at his common. Cotton rolled his eyes and grabbed Gibbs hand biting his fingers. Gibbs groaned and tugged his hand out.
"Aye, they'll roast him and eat him" Gibbs said wincing at the bite.
"Where's the rest of the crew" Will asked changing the subject.
"These cages we're in" Gibbs explained. "Were built after we got here"
Will then took notice that the cages were made of human bone. He gasped and stopped touching them.
"The feast is about to begin" Gibbs whispered staring at the sunset. "Jack's life will end when the drums stop"
"Well we can't just sit here and wait can we" Will said.
Back to Jack…
Jack couldn't stand their dancing, he wasn't stupid. He knew what the drums and their dance meant and he would be damned if he was going to die. His eyes brightened with an idea.
"No, no, no" he said waving his hands and walking towards them "Big fire, big fire! I am chief" he said "More wood!"
He had to stall for time.
"Um booddie snickle snickle" he said to the man by his chair.
As the men left his thrown he escaped. By the time they turned back he was gone. He was running, yes most definitely running, but he wasn't a coward. Or so he figured. He ran through the first bridge that he could find and didn't ran till he reached something he dreaded more than anything. A cliff. He looked back to see if anyone was following him, he had no choice but to move forward. He looked down to see a bamboo stick and he began to think of an idea. He lifted it and checked its strength and weight as well. He frowned and dropped it, turning his attention to a room full of random began to look around the dark room, seeing random objects and his eyes set on what he was searching for: a rope. Before he walked out his eyes landed on a sack. He picked it up and read what it said "Paprika" he then looked at the bottom to see the dreaded EITC seal. He looked at it suspiciously and shrugged. As he walked out he froze.
"Oh bugger" he muttered as he saw the tribe looking at him.
He threw the rope and smiled as if nothing was wrong. He then began to throw paprika on his arm pits and smiled at the people.
"Little seasoning, yeah" he said smiling as the people looked confused.
A little while, he was tied to a pole. He frowned as he was carried by two men.
"Well done" he said as the placed him over the wood.
Unbeknownst to him the crew was fighting for their freedom. They kept swinging back and forth trying to reach the side of the cliff. They groaned when they didn't reach it. Around the fifth swing, they finally managed to reach the side of the mountainside and cheered.
"Put your legs up and start to climb!" Gibbs ordered.
"Come on men" Will yelled. "It will take all of us to man the Black Pearl"
"Really you won't need everyone" one idiot yelled "Only six will do"
Everyone froze and turned to one another.
"Hurry" Gibbs said.
The crew had been split in two and they began to race.
"Wait stop" Will whispered as he saw one of the savages walk the bridge.
The other cage didn't listen and they continued to climb. Suddenly one noticed to see he was holding a snake. He screamed making the others scream as well. They let go of the side and the strength of the string caused the rope to rip and they fell to the doom.
Will turned to face the savage who now noticed them.
"Move!" he yelled.
The savage ran towards the group who were about to burn Jack. Jack turned to face the man who was yelling about the crew. He understood what they were saying, they were escaping.
"Well go on go get them" Jack said. "Pelala"
They all cheered.
"Pelala!"
They all ran leaving him behind. The one who held the flame had dropped it and Jack began to blow the torch. It was too close to the fire and it was worrying him. Little embers reached the wood and the flame began from under him slowly but surely. He sighed and began to wiggle up and down repeatedly. He groaned and fell towards the side. He wiggled and kicked upwards to free his legs. He was astounded by his luck, but he wouldn't over think it. He ran from the scene thanking whatever god had saved him.
With Will…
They had managed to reach the land and they sighed. Suddenly Will turned to face the noise approaching them. The savages began to follow them. They frantically began to pull the cage towards the side and like a hamster they began to run away in their own way.
They had failed to notice the slope they were running to. They yelled as they began to roll down the hill gaining great momentum. Their run was stopped by the palm tree that was right in their way. The savages were behind them it was heard clearly.
"Lift it like a ladies skirt men!" Gibbs yelled.
They continued to run that is till they fell in a whole. They were all engulfed by water but luckily the cage had been broken.
Back to Jack..
Jack was running towards nowhere in particular. He began to tug his ropes tightly and failing at that. He felt a pair of eyes staring at him and turned to face a little boy with a fork and a knife. He walked over and took the knife trying to cut the rope. It was too quiet. He looked up to see two women holding bowls. He then had no real idea as to what to do.
He did the first thing that came to mind…he screamed and ran between the pair. He ran right towards the coconuts. His eyes brightened as an idea popped into his head. He swung the pole over and threw the coconut right at the woman, who glared as it broke and wet her forehead. Apparently luck was no longer with him as when he ran he had around ten fruits on his pole. As he reached the cliff he froze as he was going out of balance. He screamed once more as he fell down the cliff.
"Bugger" he panted out.
He took a deep breath and suddenly it happened, the pole bended. He began to fall straight through bridge after bridge till he landed on the ground. He groaned half conscious. He got up half groggily and began to run. He continued to run in spite of the fact that his lungs were burning. As he reached the beach he saw the Pearl.
His crew! They were beginning to climb towards the ship.
"Wait!" he screamed.
He was hundreds of feet away, but he wasn't going to be left behind. As he heard screaming he turned to see the group coming towards him, he screamed along with them, running ahead of them in his unique running style.
The Pearl! His ship was sailing away. He began to run into the beach trying to reach it. He finally reached the boat and lifted himself towards the ships starboard deck. He waved at them goodbye.
"Alas my children, this is the day you should always remember as the day that you almost-" suddenly a huge wave engulfed him and when he reappeared he was soaking wet with seaweed on his wrist. "Captain Jack Sparrow" he finished muttering.
As he reached the deck he turned to see Gibbs coming towards him.
"Let's put some distance between us and that island and head out to open sea." Gibbs said.
"Yes to the first, yes to the second but only if we keep in the shallows as much as possible" Jack replied nodding as Ragetti and Pintel placed on his coat tentatively to his shoulders.
"That seems to be contradictory Captain" Gibbs said.
"Have every faith in reconciliatory navigational skills Master Gibbs, now where is that monkey I want to shoot something" he gritted out.
Jack the monkey squawked and threw Ragetti's eye. He grabbed his pistol, but was interrupted by Will.
"Jack" Will said. "Elizabeth is in danger"
Jack began to walk ahead.
"Have you considering keeping a better eye on her?" Jack said nonchalantly. "Or maybe just lock her up somewhere"
"She is locked up in a prison bound to hang for helping you" Will said.
"Ah…what happened to the little one" Jack asked.
"Who?" Will said confused.
"The brunette, pretty young thing, hell of a shooter" Jack went one "Shy kisser, the one flaw in that girl"
"Doesn't matter" Will said frustrated.
"Shame. Well, there comes a time when one must take responsibility for one's mistake." Jack replied.
Will took a knife from a crew member's waist and put it towards Jack's neck.
"I need that compass of yours Jack" Will said. "I must trade it for her freedom"
Jack looked at him suspiciously and moved the knife without a care.
"Mr. Gibbs" Jack said.
"Captain" Gibbs said being quiet during the scene.
"We have a need to travel up river" Jack whispered to him.
"By needs to be, by trifling need a fleet as in say a passing fancy?" Gibbs said.
Jack looked confused.
"No" he began " A resolution unyielding need"
Will sighed.
"What we need to do is sail to Port Royal with haste" Will protested.
"William" Jack said copying his sigh " I shall trade for you the compass, if you will help me" he began to take out the drawing of the key " to find this"
Will took a look at it.
"You want me to find this" Will repeated.
"No" Jack smiled "You want you to find this. Because the finding of this finds you incapasitorial finding and or locating or discovering. Think of it of a way to save your darling girl…oh what's her face. And you can say a hello to the little one aye. Savvy?"
Will was bemused.
"This" Will said warily "will save Elizabeth"
Jack turned to face him.
"How much to you know about Davy Jones?" Jack asked.
Will began to think.
"Not much" he replied.
Jack stayed quiet.
"Yeah, that will save Elizabeth" Jack said.
Port Royal…Seven hours prior
Amour continued to run. She ran towards the location where he sister and nanny were waiting. She had the letters, and while she should be happy she was frightened. She was playing into his game no matter how much she intimidated him. Will would not be saved till Jack and the compass was sent, not to mention the marriage promise. As she reached the docks she was breathing heavily. There she saw Elizabeth running towards her with Celeste. They looked at her questionably.
"I got them" Amour whispered and they waited to see them.
She sighed and slipped a hand in her corset. With a few wiggles she managed to slip out the letters. Elizabeth clapped her hands in excitement, but stopped once she saw that Amour's expression was not what she wanted to see.
"What's wrong love?" Elizabeth asked.
"Will's not free yet" Amour whispered "We need to get Jack's compass. The only free one here is Jack and you as long as I marry him that is"
Elizabeth frowned. She had learned to despise Jack by being disgusting, but now he was detaining Will from gaining freedom? Idiot.
"Well?" Elizabeth said. "You went there for nothing!"
Amour sighed.
"Not exactly. You and I are leaving Port Royal" Amour explained.
"What?" Elizabeth hissed.
"This is why I brought ye this child" Celeste interrupted showing her sailor clothing.
Amour smiled softly at her and kissed her cheek as a thank you. Celeste smiled and her eyes watered as she was losing her child once more.
"You've just developed very strong sea legs" Celeste muttered.
She pushed the garments towards the girls. Elizabeth just looked at her confused while Amour wasted no time. She began to untie the little strings of her dress and she slipped it off. Her shoes were thrown to the side in seconds and her bloomers as well. Elizabeth gasped.
"Turn around then" Amour hissed.
Elizabeth blushed and waited. Meanwhile Amour slipped on a pair of black breeches, and threw her corset to the side.
"Elizabeth I will not do this alone. If you want to save Will then take off your damn clothes" she ordered.
Elizabeth nodded chastising herself and followed her younger sister's movements. While she began to undress Celeste was helping Amour wrap her breast so she could push them down. She slipped on the sailor shirt, a vest and tied a sash around her waist to keep her breeches up. She helped Elizabeth do the same and lastly they slipped on two pairs of boots.
"My what a change" Celeste said smiling a watery smile.
"I'll be fine" Amour said and hugged her.
"I know, I just don't know if I will" Celeste joked. "Now dearie, that ship there will take you where you need to be. You will pose as cabin boys, and remember lay low"
She helped them tie Amour's hair in a bun since it was longer and placed a hat on her head, while Elizabeth's was braided.
"Now hurry the sun's risin' and you need to be heading towards roll call. "I love you two and be careful"
With their goodbyes put behind them they began to head towards the boat.
Port Royal now…
As the mass were raised, there seem to be some problem. Amour turned to face the group of men who seem to be causing a commotion. The argument seemed to quiet down as the Captain began to walk towards them.
" What's the commotion?" the Captain yelled. "If you both fancy your dress you will just have to share one day after another"
Many began to laugh and Amour turned to face Elizabeth with a glare. She knew that dress.
"Lizzie" She hissed.
"Shh" Elizabeth whispered with a frown on her face. She had brought the dress on board and now they were paying for it.
"It's not like that sir" one said. "this ship is haunted."
" Is it now?" the captain smiled amused. He turned to face the other lug "You?"
"We feel female presences among us yes sir " he replied. "All the men they can feel it"
"It's the ghost of a lady" one piped up "before her wedding , searching for her husband lost at sea."
"A virgin too!" the other interrupted.
"I say we throw the dress overboard and hope the spirit follows it" the first man tugged the dress towards him as he finished his statement.
"But that will just anger the spirit sir!" the lug protested tugging the dress back.
Amour just shared a smile with her sister.
"You're crazy" the Captain said "This is but mean we have a stole away among us a woman. I want ye to search the ship and find her"
Not many men moved.
"Oh…and she's probably naked" the captain finished.
Then did the search begin.
"Come along" Amour whispered.
They dropped their brushes in the tar bucket and began to look around the ship as the others did. They knew they wouldn't find a naked woman, but Elizabeth had cost them a lot of troubles.
'Should have left her on land' Amour thought.
As the men looked around she turned to face the sea.
"Lad" one said to her.
She turned to face him and hid herself in her hat. The man merely chuckled.
"No need to be shy" he said.
"What?" she said in a deep voice.
"Naked woman aren't frightening lad" he continued. "No need to be shy around them, they love to be appreciated by us"
She raised her brow.
"Oh?" she said.
The men nodded.
"What a good lass needs is a good sea man to take care of her." He said "One that brings adventure to her soul and love in her heart. That treats her like the most precious treasure."
Amour cracked a smile.
"Yer just a romantic is all" she replied.
"Think about it lass" the old man whispered and winked.
She turned to face him surprised.
"No need to be surprised, I now a woman's arse a mile away. You seem to be running away with yer lover aye?" he said pointing towards Elizabeth.
Amour's eyes glittered and she nodded.
"Yes sir, but please don't tell" She begged.
"No worries I won't. I know young love when I see it" he said.
Amour smiled and thanked him with a hand shake.
"Take good care of yer girl" he said to Elizabeth.
"Always do" she muttered.
"I'll be searchin' for the naked girl now. You should too" he said and winked walking away.
Amour cracked a smile while Elizabeth looked miffed.
"Ah don't be mad love" she whispered teasingly. "I'll be safe lover of mine"
"Shut up" Elizabeth said "Let's go search for that girl"
Amour smothered her laughter and they went off in search of that elusive mystery girl. Amour meanwhile thought of the man's words.
'What a good lass needs is a good sea man to take care of her. A man that brings adventure to her soul, and love in her heart is the one that the girl wants. That treats her like the most precious treasure.' She thought.
She cracked a smile as she imagined a dark haired pirate with a smile that was unmatched.
"Jack" she whispered. "Idiot" she added.