Disclaimer: Yo se que la Piratas del Caribe no me pertenecen, savvy?
(A/N:) All right, break time is over, back to work. Enjoy!
Anya seemed incredibly nervous, Robin mused. Why? She apparently knew her way around the island- were her memories here sweet or sour? From the looks of things, they had been the latter. She clasped his hand tightly so as to hide from him the fact that she was trembling as he opened the door, then swallowed hard before entering. He felt somewhat guilty at the thought of her feeling she had to hide her fear from him. He knew her true identity, her most carefully-guarded secret. Or was it? He wasn't sure anymore.
He grew increasingly certain that she was hiding something far more disturbing as they approached the drawing room where the others were, despite the brave, nonchalant front she put up. In fact, this charade only lasted until they reached the entrance. At that point, she stopped dead in her tracks, seemingly unable to take another step. Her hand fell from his, and clasped her opposite hand quickly, entwining her fingers over and over.
"You all right?" he asked softly.
She looked back up at him quickly, her delicate features bearing a slightly surprised expression beneath the tattered brown hat, almost as if she had forgotten he was there.
"Yes," she answered swiftly, looking back down at her sweaty, folded hands. She took a deep breath again.
"Are- are you sure?" It was obvious to him that she was lying, and in fact was far from "all right."
"Of course." As she straightened out, squaring her shoulders and carefully removing all traces of anxiety from her face, he didn't know whether to be happy because she had seemed to have recovered, or heartbroken at how well she had learned to bottle up her feelings. She was fascinating and frustrating, incredible and yet so dense about some things. And altogether she was the most amazing person he'd ever met.
She opened the door and strode confidently in.
Her heart was pounding in her chest as she came to a stop over near Will and Jack, but she could not let her guard down and show her fear; he would surely become suspicious of her. He stopped talking for a moment and glanced over at her, and her heart stopped pounding, stopped beating altogether for a second. She shoved her grimy hands into her trouser pockets and nodded casually in greeting. A wave of relief washed over as he nodded back, his face revealing no recognition.
It was funny- she had been devastated when Sarah and Robin had caught her without her disguise, but now she was infinitely glad that they had. The knowledge that someone else could know who she was and still accept her brought her a queer kind of comfort, and having Robin by her side was the only reason she had the strength to face this man, this house, yet again. She had never in her life known a person as kind as he. What would she do without him?
Her mind drifted back to the conversation as Kovalsky laughed.
"I assure you, your little boy- Jonathan, you say?- is quite safe. In fact-" he paused, turning and nodding briskly to a guard nearby- "he shall be returned to you shortly."
Anya glanced over and saw that the aforementioned boy's parents' faces were a mixture of shock, confusion, excitement and exhausted relief. The guard marched crisply off, and momentarily they heard a door creak open, then slam shut. Turning around swiftly, the Commodore called out, "Тишина в помещении, дурак!"
A chill ran down her spine to hear her native language once again, even if it had come in the form of such harsh words- "Tishina v pomeshchenii , durak-" Silence, you fool.
He turned back to them, a syrupy smile once again replacing the harsh scowl. "Please excuse Alik. He is new to the job. Though a smart boy, he has not yet learned to be quiet in the presence of guests. Now, where were we? Ah, yes, your son. You see, he shall be returned to you within a few minutes here, so you have nothing to worry about."
She quickly acquired a cold knot in the pit of her stomach as she heard those words in that tone, remembering the last time she had heard him speak so, resulting in the death of people very near to her. Why here, of all places, did they have to come? If she had felt the weight of the world on her shoulders in that tunnel, she surely had the weight of the sun and moon as well now.
"And at what cost?" Ana asked coolly.
He changed his cordial expression out for one of surprise. "Cost? There is no cost."
Now Robin spoke up. "So you just kidnapped their son and brought us to this wretched island for no reason whatsoever? What is this, some sort of sick joke? A game?" He maintained a calm stance, but his tone of voice betrayed his anger.
"Of course not!" Now the Commodore had the courtesy to look apologetic. "You see, you were not the people I had intended to bring here. Please, I offer my sincere apologies for any inconvenience I may have caused you." His English had improved.
"Inconvenience?" she heard Robin mutter under his breath.
She turned quickly as she heard the door squeak softly open, then click shut. The guard returned carrying a dirty little boy of perhaps two or three years old.
Anya could literally see Ana's knees go weak as she ran to the guard and took her baby boy from him, Jack following close behind. He was grinning widely, the first time she had seen him so happy.
"Would you like to stay for a cup of tea? You all look dreadfully tired."
"I'm afraid not, sire. Methinks we best be on our way," Gibbs replied warily.
"Very well then. I do hope you'll forgive me for all the trouble I've caused you."
The conversation continued as the little party made their way out the door, but she heard none of it. She just stood there in the background of the commotion and studied the Commodore, as if trying to delve into his thoughts. He seemed to be sincere- some things never changed. And yet there remained behind his eyes that cruel glint, like an evil Kristianna, evidencing that he most certainly had made no mistake, and knew exactly what he was doing. But if she told anyone but Robin this, she would have to reveal how she knew it and therefore who she was, and he would learn of her presence here, and she would no longer be able to protect them. She wanted nothing more than to run away, far, far away, then to just curl up in a little ball and cry. Oh, Ivan. What do you have planned this time?
The three children looked up from their thirty-eighth game of Liar's Dice in the crow's nest when they heard a strange ruckus down on the main deck. They exchanged worried glances- after days of monotonous emptiness, had members of the crew turned upon each other? As the noise from the skirmish below grew, so did their concern. Kristie was the first to leap to her feet and scramble over the side of the nest for a peek. Sarah and Robert followed behind, but opted not to climb into the rigging just yet.
Down below, there was indeed a fight going on, but not amongst crew members. Rather, it appeared that the ship had been invaded by complete strangers. Six uniformed men were fighting their way through to the wheel of the ship. Sarah turned to look at Kristie, question in her eyes, though she knew her friend was no better informed than she. Where was she?
In one heart-stopping moment, she realized that her best friend had scampered the rest of the way down the rigging, grabbed her sword from behind the steps, and was now preparing to join in the fight. Sarah tried to yell to her not to do this, that she was too young to charge into a battle like that, but all that came out was a squeak. She watched in helpless horror as her best friend ran into the chaos, her sword flashing as she tried to help the rest of the crew to defend the Pearl.
Without even thinking about it, Sarah ran after her. She had to save her from dying like this at barely eleven years old.
She was scared to the point of nausea as she snatched up her sword and ran after Kristie. It occurred to her briefly that she hadn't even dropped her bag before climbing down. She had heard battles from below deck, but never before had she actually seen one with her own eyes. Her eyes flitted back and forth, trying to find her friend in the chaos. Ah, there she was. For a brief moment, a lump formed in her throat as it occurred to her just how at home Kristie seemed here, in the midst of a battle, defending her ship. In one split second, her mind transformed eleven-year-old Kristie into twenty-year-old Captain Kristianna Sparrow, bravely defending her own ship against her enemies.
She was forced out of her reverie by the flash of a sword, which she instinctively turned and blocked. The look on her attacker's face was one of shock- apparently he had not expected a young girl like her to be any sort of a challenge. Though still internally berating herself for losing focus and scared to death of this situation she'd put herself in, she couldn't help but grin smugly at him as she parried the blade deftly away from her. Her parents had taught her well, and she was far stronger than she appeared. She couldn't bring herself to attack him, though. She just couldn't do it.
A yelp sounded from a few feet behind her, and she whirled around to see what it was. There, almost as if trapped in time, Kristie cringed before the raised sword of a guard. She had turned around just in time to see the trusty sword clatter to the deck, having been knocked roughly from her hand. Sarah's mind ceased to function then, pure instinct taking over as she sprang forward, her blade coming out to meet its opponent, stopping it in its path mere inches from where Kristie cowered. Her arms protested angrily at the sudden force thrust upon them, but the pain they caused failed to even register in her brain. She threw everything she had into fighting off this man, and her mind only returned to consciousness when her task was complete.
He was not dead, but he was certainly wounded. A large gash in his arm poured blood, as did a deep cut on his side. As he stumbled and fell to the deck, Sarah stepped back, suddenly realizing what she had done. Her hand flew to her mouth. She stepped backwards, shaking her head slightly, her heart numb. Had she really just done that? As she walked further back, though, she nearly tripped over Kristie, who still sat, dazed, behind her, staring at the injured man in shock. Shaking, Sarah extended her hand down, and Kristie took it, looking at her as though she were an angel. "Come on," Sarah muttered. "Next time, be careful."
Dark. He remembered it had been dark. And hungry. Very hungry. He got food, but not good food. He felt like he'd been in there forever. But he was happy now. Mommy was much better than those strange people. They had laughed at him and called him things that weren't his name. He didn't know what the words meant though- he supposed he should ask. He looked at Mommy and told her the word. "No," Mommy told him. "Bad word. Don't say that."
"No no," Daddy said, and Jonny laughed. He had missed Daddy. He decided he wanted a hug, and reached out his arms. Daddy lifted him up into the air, then brought him back down. He snuggled into his shoulder and sighed contentedly. Sleepy... It had been loud in the dark room, so he hadn't gotten good sleep. It wasn't noisy here. Just Mommy and Daddy and Uncle Will and their friends talking to each other. The world blurred and faded around him as he drifted off to dreamland.
Sunday, October 6th
Dear Diary,
As I write this, I am locked up in the Black Pearl. I am endlessly glad that my mother went back ashore for a walk, or she would be trapped down here as well, and that can't be healthy for a pregnant woman. I wrote that it is Sunday, but I honestly don't know. All I know is that there's enough light coming through the bars now to write here. I suppose I should explain why I'm being held captive here. Kristie, Robert and I were up in the crow's nest, playing Liar's Dice yet again, when suddenly we heard a commotion on the main deck. You see, I don't know who or why, but several men have managed to take over the ship. Naturally, Kristie's first instinct was to run down, grab her sword from under the stairs, and join in the fight. After that it's all a bit of a blur. It's like my brain stopped and let my heart take over. I climbed down after her and grabbed my sword too, to try to rescue her, I suppose. I'm not really sure. I'd never been so terrified in all my life, I do remember that much. I fought one man for about thirty seconds, and even that had me utterly exhausted. After those thirty seconds, though, I heard Kristie yelp, and it was like my world stopped. We don't always get along perfectly- well, we rarely go a day without arguing- but she's closer to me than a sister and I love her. When I turned around, I saw her about to be killed by another attacker. Her sword had just been knocked out of her hand, and he was holding his sword above her, ready to swing it down and practically cut her in half. Instinctively I jumped in between them and blocked his sword with my own. My arm still aches from doing so, but I certainly am glad I did. What happened after that is so surreal, I hardly remember it. It was as though I was no longer in control of my actions, but rather simply watching what Sarah Turner did. I don't know how long I fought him, but once it was over and I could think straight again, I was shocked, almost horrified. I didn't kill him, but I came far too close. It was quite sobering to realize that I was capable of such a thing.
I can no longer complain that nothing interesting is going on. We're moving now, and that scares me, but I can do nothing to stop it. Not only am I locked away below decks, I was so completely exhausted after the battle that I could hardly walk down here. I've had some sleep now, though I know naught how long I slept, but hunger continues to sap my energy. My arm is beginning to hurt from holding my quill.
I will not say I shall write more soon, because I am no longer sure of that.
Always,
Sarah Turner
"Thank you," Kristie said softly, as she put her diary back in her bag.
Sarah managed a weak smile, and attempted to joke. "What, for putting away the diary?"
"Fer savin' me."
"Oh." Sarah and quite honestly expected her to just go along with it, that she would be happy for the opportunity to avoid anything remotely sappy. "You're welcome."
There was a long pause where neither one said anything, but simply sat in contemplative silence together on the soggy bench. "It was quite odd," Sarah said at length.
"Wot, the fightin'?"
"Fighting that pirate who was about to kill you."
"Oh." Another pause. "What do ye mean by tha'?"
"Well- it was like it wasn't me."
"Tha's just weird."
"I agree."
"Who d'ye think they are?"
Sarah chewed her lower lip thoughtfully. "Either they're working for the kidnappers, or they just want a fast ship. I don't know."
"I'm gonna go with workin' fer the kidnappers, 'cause they were all in those fancy uniforms."
"Good point."
"I don' think they wanted Jonathan, or even Dad. I think they wanted the Pearl."
Sarah sat up straighter and opened her eyes. "For once, I think you're right!"
"Oi! Just once?"
"Yes, but that doesn't matter right now. So they wanted us to come here so they could get your dad ashore, then steal the Pearl!"
"Sounds about right, yeah."
"If that's so, then Jonny might be safe by now."
Kristie grinned widely. "Told ye it'd all be all right."
Though the light in the little room was dim, Kristie could see Sarah's expression darken again. "But it's not all fine and dandy again just yet. Nowhere near done."
"But progress is progress."
The smile returned. "Yes, yes it is."
Anya steeled her nerves for the umpteenth time that day and approached Elizabeth. They had found her walking through the woods at nearly evening, having come after them. Will hadn't wanted to leave her alone for quite a while, having been overly worried about his wife again. Now that the others, having gulped down a quick meal, were settling down for a half hour's rest before moving on, she finally had the chance to talk to her alone.
Walking silently up behind her, she tentatively tapped her on the shoulder. Startled, Elizabeth whirled around to face her, a surprised expression on her face. Anya immediately felt guilty. She shouldn't have sneaked up on her like that, she knew it. She mentally berated herself for being so silly while attempting to apologize. "I-I'm sorry-" she began, but Elizabeth quickly cut her off.
"Nonsense. I just didn't hear you come up behind me, that's all. What do you need, Jacob?"
"I need to talk to you about- something..." she began, then hesitated.
Seeming to sense her fright, Elizabeth moved over on the log and patted the space beside her. "Go on."
Anya closed her eyes, refusing to let her nerves get the best of her. "Please," she said first, "realize that there is very good reason for what I did, and that I mean no harm."
She cringed at the wary look that crept into Elizabeth's eyes. "I understand."
She opened her mouth to speak, but quickly decided that it was best that she learn the same way Robin and Sarah had. She glanced back to make sure no one else had come this way. Upon seeing that no one had, with shaking hands, she reached for the brim of her hat and removed it from her head. Loosening the knotted scrap of fabric, she allowed her hair to fall freely around her shoulders, then tucked it behind her ear. She kept her eyes downcast, afraid of Elizabeth's reaction.
It was then that an all-too-common phrase, "Oh, my God," was invented.
"My name is Anya," she said softly, glancing shyly up at Elizabeth's face. "I knew that, at least according to the Code, a female was not to be allowed aboard any pirate vessel, and since I didn't know it was any different on the Black Pearl, I used a disguise. I had to leave, even if that meant hiding my identity. Please forgive me."
What on earth did the boy think he'd done wrong? His assistance with navigating the island was the reason little Jonathan was safely snuggled in with his parents right now, rather than locked away in some strange place with mysterious kidnappers.
Oh, he was actually taking off his hat- interesting. She'd never seen him do so before. Why not, she wondered? Did he gain a sense of security from it? Or did he have something to hide? And if so, what?
Ah. Yes, that was something to hide, she supposed. He was a girl.
The thought appeared as innocently as any other, then exploded like a bomb. The voice, the hat, the shyness about his- her- personal life, the strange voice- it all came rushing back to her in a mind-blowing deluge of shock. She looked to be sixteen, perhaps seventeen years old. It occurred to her that she had sprung back from the log and was standing now, staring, her mouth hanging open. Dear Lord, how had she missed this? Had she really become that oblivious?
Then she realized that she must have known her way around the island for some reason aside from having traveled with her father, for there was no way a young girl would be allowed to travel through such strange places- even Kristie would be forbidden to do so. Though she didn't know anything more about her, Elizabeth had no doubt that this girl had had a difficult life. "Oh, my God," she said softly to herself. She didn't continue the prayer any further, for she knew naught how. No more words seemed necessary.
"My name is Anya. I knew that, at least according to the Code, a female was not to be allowed aboard any pirate vessel, and since I didn't know it was any different on the Black Pearl, I used a disguise. I had to leave, even if that meant hiding my identity. Please forgive me."
After a few minutes, she realized that the poor girl was probably scared to death of rejection by this time, and that she should probably reassure her. "It's all right," she said quietly.
Relief flooded Anya's face. "I cannot thank you enough," she said earnestly.
"But I must know," Elizabeth began, moving closer once again, "Why did you choose to come aboard?"
"I cannot tell you everything, and if the stories I have heard are true, you must understand that."
"Of course."
"I appreciate your kindness, Captain Turner."
"Call me Elizabeth."
"Once again, thank you."
"From your speech, you must have been raised well."
She shrugged. "It depends on what you compare it to. Sit, and I shall tell you all that I safely can."
(A/N:) Okay, I'm seriously sorry about how long this took me. Finals, swimming, piano... just a really hectic month, and a tough chapter to start on. Writing these is weird- it's like climbing a hill. Once you hit the 1800 word mark, the rest is easy, but before then you're just pounding out little bits at a time. I ended up writing little tiny bits for a few weeks, procrastinating and being dissatisfied with everything I wrote, then on Saturday I wrote 3,000 words in one morning. So now that I've wasted another 30 seconds of your life trying to explain myself, I'll shut up. Hope it was worth the wait!