"Christina, we have to think rationally!" Will argued, "How are you going to find them. We should find someone who can help you who is more qualified!"

"And have the entire Navy out looking for him. These pirates will kill him if they get wind they're being hunted." I paused, turning back to him as I made my way down the stairs. "I'm going to find them myself, Will. With or without your help." There was a long pause as we emerged from my house and began walking down the street. Will caught up to me with a few long strides and came to walk beside me.

"Ive got a friend that could take you out to sea..." Will said thoughtfully and I nodded once. Will looked at me reluctantly as we entered his shop once again, "a pirate..." I stiffened but nodded anyways and raised my eyebrows at him but realized quickly that he was being reasonable, only a pirate could help me find another.

Despite my normal cheeriness, I stood straight and erect, determined not to let any emotion dissuade me from the choice I was about to make.

"Alright, Will." I said, "I'll accept your offer and go with your pirate friend under one condition." Will looked back at me.

"Whats that?"

"He takes me back here after I fetch my father." I said and Will nodded.

"He should be arriving tonight, funny enough," he said and handed me a pistol. "Keep this with you." He said and I nodded, giving him a grateful smile. I tucked it into my skirt, along with my father's pistol and the necklace and gave Will a brief hug.

"This voyage with your pirate friend isn't going to be free is it?" I asked, not the least bit sorry or disappointed, just curious yet unemotional unemotional and Will laughed.

"Probably not, knowing him." He said and I sighed, gathering up my cloak and stepping to the door. "Meet me at the docks at midnight." Will said and I nodded.

"Thank you Will." I said gratefully with difficulty. It had been hard for me to say thank you to anyone I was close to my entire life and Will widened his eyes at what he heard.

"You-Youre welcome, Christy." He stammered back and looked at me for a few moments, saying nothing. "Good luck... see you at midnight." I nodded likewise and left the blacksmith shop out into the dead of night. Even then the town bustled with carriages being pulled by horses so sleek they shined and graceful women being escorted to their home by handsome, proper men. I sighed. I wouldn't be seeing this place for a long time. But to my surprise I was rather happy about it. Why shouldn't I be? I considered deep in thoughts as I walked toward the seashore. Here, everyone expects so much of you to grow up to be a lady grow up rich.. Marry rich... there's nothing you can do here without somebody knowing that you're doing it... there's no freedom... like a golden cage.

I sighed again as I approached my house once again to find that the door was once again locked. Pulling out my key for the third time that night, I entered the house and went straight into the living room, where I pulled a portrait of my mother off the wall and set it gently by a sofa. Slowly, reciting the number I knew so well, I stared at a safe on the wall and entered the numbers:
3-3-3-6-5-8
Into the safe. My fathers birthday: March 3rd, my mothers birthday, March 6th, and my birthday: May 8th. I smiled sadly and opened up the safe as large as my fathers four-panel window and took out a large sack of coins. Something caught my eye in the safe and I took the small box out in silence, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. I opened the small velvet navy blue box and looked upon my mothers wedding ring. She had always wanted my father to have it when she died and it was to be passed on to me one day for me to wear. I gently took the ring out of the box and slipped it over my right ring finger. Staring at it for a few moments I held up my hand in a trance like way.

"I swear to you Mother..." I said foolishly, as if she could hear me, "that on pain of death I will find Father and bring him back safe." I stopped and pulled out a dagger from the safe, the handle was made of pure black ivory, a gold thread spiraling down. Determination coursed through my body along with feelings of hate and confusion. I looked back at the portrait, "And I'll kill the man who took my family with this!" I finished dangerously, my voice breaking.

I walked back to the guest room before grabbing a pillowcase and throwing miscellaneous things into it, along with two extra dresses (they were small) and a pair of shoes. I proudly kept my cloak on my shoulders, not wanting to take it off but put my hair up in a leather strap. Finally I crossed into the seemingly ancient stone kitchen and pulled a large knife from a cabinet, strapping it onto my leg with two belts that I also found in the guest room. I didn't know what I would need so I took everything I could carry in one small bag. I looked at the enormous grandfather clock on the wall and noted that it was 10:00. Still an hour left until I need to leave. I thought and began to wearily climb the stairs. They seemed to go on forever as my tired legs refused to carry me up such a feat. I could feel my instincts kicking in and I wondered why I found it so hard to get to my room. I pushed open the white door with a hand and stepped into my room, examining my surroundings I gasped.

My sleeping chambers had always been made as gay as possible, despite my protests to my father. The maroon and soft brown furniture I had draped crimson and deep brown fabric over, the enormous bed, I did the same but with crimson and black. The curtains I remained a soft auburn and the bright walls I had learned to live with. Along the wall to the left of the oak door, I looked at the large window, five feet tall and lifted from the ground by about a foot. Next to it was the entrance to the lavatory, which I had done up myself, as it took some convincing to my father. The walls were maroon, matching my interest of dark colors. Along the wall next to the large bathtub was a shelf, packed with small bottles of soaks, salts, and rose petals. My make up sat on the counter, which held a washbasin and a small towel. The other towels hung from a rack on the wall.

I stepped out of the privy after splashing cold water on my face and avoided looking at the wall right above my bed. I crossed across the room to my wardrobe, packed with dresses that I didn't keep in the guest room, for there were so many. I pulled out a small deep red nightgown and also put it in the large pillowcase along with a short, black dress that was netted at the sleeves and came down to a little past my knees. I didn't bother with the corsets, leaving them in a drawer under the wardrobe but did grab a pair of riding boots out of the back. If I knew anything about sailing I would need boots. I quickly changed out of the hot dress that I was wearing, still careful to avoid the wall above my bed and pulled on the black, netted one. I slipped on the riding boots, which came up to just below my knee and pulled my hair back once more. Finally, taking a deep shaky breath I turned to the wall and sighed again my eyes that had not deceived me.

YEVE BEEN WARNED

Was painted in large black painted letters across my wall. Shaking my head at yet another pirate message, I rushed out of the door and into the sitting room, the only place I could find comfort.

Clumsily remembering my mistake, I closed the vault and hung my mothers portrait back over it. I curled up on the sofa, my eyes looking into the painting of my dead mothers.

"Help me mother." I whispered before closing my eyes and falling asleep.

My eyes snapped open to the sound of clock chimes "dong" it seemed to shout my name 11 times "Christy! Christy!" I groaned slightly and sat up from the uncomfortable position on the otherwise comfortable couch, yawning and pulling back my matted hair from sleep. I looked around for a moment, wondering why I was in my clothes and in the sitting room. Suddenly, like a bullet it all came back to me, the note, my father, Will, and the obscene message left on my wall. I sat bolt upright, suddenly cold even in the warm night and stood, stretching my stiff limbs. I grabbed my pillowcase and slung it over my shoulder, pulling on my precious cloak and walking out into the night once again.

I heard my boots thump on the dock ever so quietly as I ducked away from a pair of Navy Officials, who were watching the docks and waited for them to walk by before stepping out, my silhouette reflecting my slender body, cape blowing in the cool sea breeze and my hair whipping my face. I scanned out over the beaches on each side with searching eyes and looked at the large clock that loomed over Port Royal. 11:47. I sighed and settled under the docks, watching with interest as a row boat circled around the cliff and began to come straight for the beach nearest to me. Cautiously I pulled out my knife from my leg and held it on my lap, still listening and watching for any signs of Will or his pirate friend.

The rowboat kept getting closer and closer. I, by now, could slightly see who was in it. I caught a glimpse of long dreadlocks and a tri corner hat. He was rowing quickly. Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice.

"Christina?" Will whispered into the darkness and I jumped out from under the dock and over to him. He smiled slightly at me and looked at my attire. My cloak, which fell to my calves, was pulled around me in the cold night air and we approached the rowboat that had beached silently.

"I'm glad you changed," he said, "He'll be more open to you if you look less like a proper lady." He smirked as I scoffed at him. I couldn't believe I was doing this. But I would do whatever I needed for my father. He had only been taken that day, there was a chance I could still catch them.

"Jack?" Will called out quietly to the man in the boat and I saw the man step out and walk towards us. He looked from Will to me and then back to Will.

This pirate had a mischievous look in his eye as he stepped forward. His long dark dreadlocks fell long and his deep chocolate brown eyes looked at me curiously. He wore a white shirt, very much like Will's, that was open slightly in the front, showing his dark tan. He had a small mustache and a goatee like beard that was braided into two braids on his chin. Beads and other miscellaneous things were in his hair... including a bone. He also had a red bandanna on his head under a tri corner hat. The pirate had multiple rings on his fingers and cloths on his hands and around his waist, tucking in his white shirt and brown, tattered and worn vest. Also around his waist was a brown belt with a large buckle, with a pistol, sword, and compass hanging off. His pants were brown and almost clung to him but looked comfortable. Also, his boots were brown leather coming up to his knees. Around him was a coat. The pirate caught me eying him and chuckled.

"Now William," he said, "I thought you'd be content with just Elizabeth. Ye shouldn't be runnin off with other women." I blushed about ten shades of red before Will came to my rescue.

"Jack," Will said pushing you forward a bit, "this is Christina Ricci, she needs your help." Jack held out his hand and half smirked half smiled.

"Hello luv." He said, as I shook his hand, he looked me up and down and I raised my eyebrows. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."