Hurray! Chapter two is here! Hope you enjoy it! :)

Chapter Two: Prisoner

Kate slowly began to retain consciousness as she felt her fingertips submerge into something wet and something hard dig into her back. She groggily opened her eyes and immediately wished she hadn't. Memories of what had happened previously flooded her mind; the assassination of the governor, the formidable pirate, and—well, and then what? Her eyes slowly focused so she could see.

"No one was supposed to see. Absolutely no one." A deep voice hissed.

"I understand cap'n, but there's nothing we can do now! It's done an' over with!" Another voice, softer, reasoned.

Katherine could see the night sky and the stars that dotted it, but as she listened to the two men's conversations, she closed her eyes again, considering that she was probably not supposed to be included in it.

"If it were just a man, I'd'a just shot him." The deep voice said again. Katherine assumed this was the taller pirate with the red bandana, the captain.

"Well it was a woman, and she screamed. There was no way we could've left her there. Harlow would'a never murdered anyone else if they saw."

"Aye, yer right. But, what're we gonna do with her?" The softer voice reasoned again.

"That I don't know. She can't be released. She's seen too much." There was a pause. "I'll figure it out later. Let's make it out of here without being spotted…again. Row faster!"

Kate tried to lay as still as possible, though her heart felt like it would beat out of her chest. The boat she assumed they were riding in rocked beneath her, and she prayed that she would not get seasick. The more she tried to stay still though, the more she began to panic. What was she going to do? Were they going to kill her? Was she going to be made a prostitute for the two pirates? Where will they take her? What will Mr. Stock think when she doesn't show up for work tomorrow?

She then began to put even more of the pieces together and she felt tears prick her eyes. What if the Navy thinks that it was she who killed the governor and that she fled? She figured there would probably be a warrant out for her arrest by early morning.

Just as she thought she could contain her emotions no longer, there was a jerk and a thud, and one of the pirates grabbed Kate, roughly lifting her onto their shoulder. Katherine squeezed her eyes shut, hoping she could just wish this all away. Yes, this was just one bad nightmare, and she would wake up and find those dirty mugs and dishes waiting for her at the tavern to be cleaned.

After a minute of being jerked around, as Kate assumed the pirates climbed the ladder, the man holding her was still. Kate was then dropped onto the ground and her eyes flew open, pain shooting through her body in numerous places.

"About time she woke up. You weren't supposed to hit her that hard!" The captain exclaimed.

"I wanted to make sure she was knocked good! Didn't want 'er to wake up and get all squirmy on me!" The shorter pirate retorted.

Kate looked up in absolute fear. She not only noticed the two pirates she was semi-familiar with, but more pirates started to gather.

"How'd it go?"

"Did it work?"

"Are we gettin' the gold?"

Numerous remarks filled the air but one gesture from the tall pirate silenced them all.

"No. We ran into some…difficulties." The tall pirate responded slowly.

"What's the wench for?" One crewman shouted.

The till pirate's piercing eyes finally met Kate's. "She's the prisoner." There was a pause as the crew soaked in this information, still wondering why she was taken hostage, but not daring to ask in the certain circumstances. "We were seen, and we need to get the 'ell out o' here."

The crew stared back at him, and some still curiously looked at Kate, huddled on the deck of the ship.

"What are you all starin' at ye scurvy dogs!" The pirate roared. "All hands on deck! Man the sails!" He stormed across the deck and barely glanced back at Kate. He paused for a moment as he stopped by two crewmen, "Brandon, Tucker, take the wench to the brig." The two men, the first with red hair and the second with black, started towards Katherine.

Kate scrambled to her feet, but realized there was no where to run to…except over the railing and into the ocean. She surreptitiously tried to gage the distance between the pirate ship and the Port, but had no idea how far it might be. Either way, she would rather die trying to escape than die at the hands of the pirates.

The two pirates were drawing nearer, so Kate quickly saddled the rail and drew both legs over, her feet perched on the small ledge and her arms hooked around the railing so she wouldn't fall just yet. She tentatively looked down at the roaring water below her.

"The prisoner's trying to escape!"

"Get 'er!"

Kate looked back, noticing most of the pirate's had seen her trying to escape and the two running towards her. There were frantic shouts and one loud and livid call from the captain. She quickly closed her eyes—knowing this would be her only chance to escape—held her breath, and jumped. She felt a tug and a tear, but plunged into the icy depths; for a moment, the silence was peaceful compared to the chaos above on deck.

She kicked to the surface and gasped for air. She started moving her arms, trying to put as much distance between the ship and herself as she could, but it wasn't much use as the waves kept buffeting her closer and closer to the dark mass. Squabbling could be heard from above, and as Kate looked back up at the daunting ship, someone dived off the boat, splashing into the water a few meters from her. She desperately kicked her feet and flailed her arms to get away.

Out of her peripheral vision, she saw the tall pirate with the red bandana surface and easily swim through the waves towards her. A large wave rolled over Katherine, completely submerging her. She flipped and turned, the waves pounding her underneath the surface. She attempted to breathe, but instead choked in a mouth full of water. Her body wracked with coughs as she lost all of the oxygen she had been holding. She grew dizzy from the abuse of the waves and the lack of air. She tried to swim to the surface, but she had lost her orientation, not knowing which was up and which was down. Spinning in circles, she began to panic. She flailed desperately, treading the water and kicking with her feet, hoping that with luck, she would swim in the right direction. Her eyes tried to focus, to hone in on the moonlight that would light up the ocean, but she was under the shadow of the ship, and could see no light. She thrashed wildly, becoming more and more desperate. She didn't notice the dark shape moving rapidly towards her. Something latched onto her arm and pulled her to the surface. Katherine gasped, coughing out water as her body relished in the abundance of oxygen it now obtained. Only then did she notice the captain of the ship's hold on her. He was leading her back to the ship and she tried to make one last attempt at escape.

"You vile scum!" She screeched. "Let go!" She attempted a punch at his chest but it did not seem to faze the pirate captain. If anything, his grip tightened.

"Argh!" She writhed and flailed, trying to get away. This was her last chance to escape.

"Bloody wench! Don't make me knock ye out again!" He stopped swimming and held up his hand threateningly. Kate stopped resisting, but stared back at him defiantly.

"Throw a line!" The pirate demanded. A rope was thrown out at them seconds later. He caught the rope, removing his hand from Kate's wrist and snaking it instead around her waist. He turned her body towards him, and yelled again, "Pull ya scum!" The crew slowly began to pull the two hanging from the rope up. Kate gripped the captain's arm, afraid of falling back into the icy water and drowning. She wouldn't admit it, but she would've died if the pirate had not rescued her.

When they reached the top the captain hauled her over onto the deck. Kate coughed up some more water, trying to catch her breath, while the captain rested for a moment. The captain finally stood, water dripping from his hair and clothes, forming little puddles on the deck.

"What is yer name?" He stared down at her, eyes ablaze.

She hesitated, "Katherine." She feared her punishment for trying to escape.

"Take 'er to the brig." He motioned to Brandon and Tucker, who originally were supposed to take her under board. The two crewmen hauled Kate to her feet roughly, the Captain's eyes still fixed on her.

"If I'm going to be held captive, I deserve to know by whom!" Kate said loudly.

The captain gave a cynical smile, flashing his gold teeth in the darkness of the night. "The name's Captain Jack Sparrow, love. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl." With that, he rounded towards the helm, shouting orders at crewmen as he passed. The two ruffians pulled Kate towards the stairs that led below deck.

When they reached the brig, Kate blanched at the stench that reached her nose. "Welcome to your new home," the black haired man, Tucker, laughed, shoving her into the cell as the other held open the iron-wrought door. Kate caught herself on her hands and knees, turning to look back at the pirates. The red-head, Brandon, gave her a sympathetic look, realizing she had merely been in the wrong place at the wrong time. He said nothing, though, as he turned and left the brig. Tucker stayed, the key to the cell in one hand. When he saw that Brandon had left, he tossed the key in the air, catching it with ease. As he looked over Kate's drenched body, her plain dress clinging to her skin, an evil glint began to form in his eyes.

"Tell me, are ye a virgin?" He asked bluntly, grinning as he stuck the key into a pocket, wedging the door back open with his foot.

Kate did not answer.

"You know, if you did me a couple favors…I could keep the door unlocked…bring you extra food and drink…" Tucker trailed off suggestively as he stepped a foot farther into the cell. Kate knew that she never wanted to see this man again, so the thought of him bringing her more food repulsed her. Everything about the dirty dark-haired man repulsed her.

"I'd rather starve." She spat. The man's eyebrows furrowed and then his eyes narrowed at her, taking two large strides to reach Kate. He grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet. Kate cried out in pain as he shoved her against the wall.

"You'll learn not ta talk like that again ta me." He growled, using one hand to hold both of Kate's hands above her head while using his other to unbuckle his pants. He leaned in even closer. "And you'll learn to like this too." He hissed in her ear.

Kate jerked her head away, trying to free her hands from his hold, but to no avail. She brought her knee up, but he moved to the side to avoid it hitting his groin.

"Oh, I like 'em feisty." Tucker grinned. He started to lean in to kiss Kate, when suddenly he was jerked away from her and thrown to the ground. Captain Sparrow towered over him. "Not on my ship!" He yelled, leaning down and punching Tucker in the face. Tucker's hands flew to his nose as blood started to pour out.

Kate's hand flew to her mouth. Tucker scrambled to his feet and was about to hurry to the stairs, but Jack grabbed his shirt, stalling him. "The key," he ordered. Tucker's face fell, realizing he would not be able to come back and impose on Kate's space again. He reached into one of his pockets and pulled out the iron key. "Get out of my sight." Jack spat, watching the man run to the stairs. Captain Sparrow turned to Kate.

Kate massaged her wrists, where Tucker had held them, and tried to avoid the captain's eyes.

"Tell me who sent you to spy on us," he demanded.

Kate coughed. "Excuse me?"

"Who sent you? Was it Webber? Adger?" After Kate's confused silence, Jack stomped out of the cell and slammed the door shut. "Who sent you?"

Kate shook her head. "Nobody sent me! I work there, at the tavern! I heard noises and thought it was the dogs again!" She defended.

"Lies." Jack spat. "Tell me what you know."

"I know nothing except that you killed my governor!" Kate cried.

Jack took the key and put it in the hole, locking the door. "Until you tell the truth, you can rot here." He turned on his heel and stormed out.

Kate slid down the wall trying to ignore her surroundings. The floor was wet with the saltwater that had flown in through the small leaks between the boards of the ship. Kate shivered, hugging her knees to herself, trying to keep warm despite her drenched state. Her stomach growled, and she realized that she hadn't eaten since lunch, which she figured she had had almost twelve hours ago. She tried to think optimistically; tried to be thankful that she wasn't raped or killed, but these thoughts did not soothe her. She felt worse instead, and tried to keep the tears from falling even though no one was looking.

Aw, poor Kate. :( Can't wait to find out what happens to Kate? Tell me so in the reviews! Reviews make my day-so leave me one! :)

Always,
Becca xoxo