My eyes were dark and menacing as I stood next to Jack at the helm. My father's dagger was in my boot and the rest of my weapons on my pant and shirted body. My hair was down and blew in the wind with every dip the ship made like a black cape. We raced through the water, gaining on the ship, white sails and a brown body, THE SEAGULL painted in red along the side.
They can't be that scary, I thought, Just look at what they named their ship. Jack chuckled and I realized I had spoken aloud.
As we pulled up next to the ship which carried my father I stiffened. Jack touched my shoulder lightly and I shook him off, rushing to the side of the ship as we became level. The other ship was stopping, its anchor being thrown over the side and Jack signaled Sam to do so as well. I stood on the rail of the Black Pearl, a rope in my hand, my knuckles whit as I clutched it. The obvious Captain stepped to the side of his ship, tall but not husky, with dark brown hair and... I squinted closer... night black eyes. He met my gaze curiously, his hand on his sword almost casually.
"Ahoy!" he shouted and Jack and the rest of the crew joined me on the side. Jack looked at me before replying with a greeting of his own.
"What's your business?" called the other Captain cautiously I glared.
"We've come for a man you've held captive!" I shouted, fear quivering my voice, "Signore Ricci!" Jack rested his hand on my leg, trying to calm me. The other Captain laughed.
"Old Ricci?" he said, "No madam, I do not believe we can do that." He smiled cruelly and motioned with his hand. "Besides, in his condition who would want him now?" Looking over to the entrance to the brig I gasped, my stomach doing a flip. Being brought on the deck was my father, white as the sails above him, frail and bleeding.
"You see," he continued as my father's eyes rested on me and his eyes widened, his eyebrows still drooped in exhaustion and malnutrition, "We need Mr. Ricci. With him well be rich." I struggled to keep myself contained, my fingers itching to jump onto that ship and claw his eyes out.
"How about we negotiate?" Jack called. I looked at him. "I propose a trade. You give us the man..." Jack stopped.
"And what will you give us?"
"Well.. hadn't thought it through that far..." Jack said.
"Me." I exclaimed shakily. "You can have me." My father's eyes widened and he frantically shook his head.
"No, Christina!" he cried hoarsely.
"Shut up!" the other Captain cried and one of the men holding my father punched him in the stomach. I choked.
"What would I do with you?" the pirate asked.
"The man you hold captive is my father." I replied, "You can still get to the treasure with me." The Captain was overjoyed.
"Well, this changes everything!" the captain exclaimed somewhat excitedly, his hand leaving the sword hilt. I stood emotionless, trying desperately not to meet my father's pained eyes. "Yes," he continued, "not only do we get out treasure... but we can have a little fun as well." Jack's hand tightened on my ankle. I looked down, but looked back up, fire in my eyes.
"So be it then." I said through clenched teeth and grabbed the rope to my left, looking once more over the crew that had done so much to help me get my father back. I smiled at them.
"Thank you." I said and they smiled and nodded as one.
"Aawk, goodbye Christina." Mr. Cotton's parrot said and Mr. Cotton smiled as well. Gibbs patted my leg and I reached down to hug him.
"Thank you..." I whispered again. Suddenly Jack was at my side on the railing, one hand on the rope behind me, the other on my waist.
"I'll find you." He promised in my ear. I shook my head.
"No, Jack," I said, "I'll be dead before you get my father back to Port Royal. Don't come. You don't have to save me anymore. And my money is in the chest in my cabin. My payment for your services... there should be enough." Jack looked into my eyes, frowning before pulling me into a kiss. I gave into it yet again, before hearing a gunshot go off.
"Come on!" the other Captain yelled, "or our bargain is forfeit!" Jack kissed my lips gently and softly one last time before I grabbed the rope and swung onto the other ship, landing clumsily. My father was looking from me to Jack Sparrow wistfully, a look of resignation on his face.
The Captain reached forward before I could blink and grabbed my arm, jerking me to him with more violence than needed. I could feel his fingers forming bruises on my arm and hissed in pain. He chuckled.
"Put Ricci in the brig and weigh anchor!" he cried and the crew immediately jumped into action. With horror I snarled and turned to the Captain.
"You lied!" I growled. He laughed.
"I'm a pirate." He said. Snarling again, I screamed "NO!" trying to rip myself from the Captain's grasp. From the corner of my eye I could see Jack ordering the crew around and grabbing a rope, preparing to board the ship. Cannons went off and the entire ship rocked from side to side, causing the ship to tip drastically at one point.
"LET GO OF ME!" I screamed and tried to jump free again, only resulting in bending my shoulder further back with a crack. Gasping, I fell to the ground, my shoulder in agony. The dark haired pirate Captain laughed evilly, even with the commotion all around us. Jack's crew had boarded the ship and I could see the Captain of the Black Pearl heading for the man with my father. The Captain of the Seagull fought with a man I recognized as Joe, skillfully twisting and turning until I turned away.
"You can't beat me." The Captain said as I struggled to stand; I needed to help Jack, "I'm Captain Richards!"
"If ever anybody was obsessed with himself." Joe retorted but I could see the sweat beginning to form on his forehead. I turned back to Jack and saw him disable and kill the man holding my father.
"Papa!" I yelled over the commotion and my father turned to look at me, his eyes lighting up with joy. The joy immediately turned to worry as I felt my bad arm being grabbed. I cried out in gritted teethed pain as I was beginning to be dragged back. My father reached forward to grab the man but was knocked away as I kept being dragged. Gritting my teeth to keep from screaming, I pulled my father's pistol out with my left hand, aiming clumsily but quickly at the man's head and pulling the trigger. His hand let go of me as he fell to the floor, blood trickling from his forehead.
"That's for James and Annabelle." I snarled and turned.
Surprise and joy made my heart jump as I turned to see my father standing by me.
"Christina, bella." He said choking on his words and wrapped his arms around me, squeezing me until I thought I would scream of pain in my shoulder, "You came for me."
"Of course I did Papa." I replied as he let go of me. The battles raging around us did not matter and we stood there, father and daughter.
Suddenly, I heard a sharp intake of breath and spun around just as Richards drew his sword out of Joe's stomach. With fury I pulled the black dagger out of my boot and lunged at the other Captain.
"You bastard!" I nearly shouted, lunging at him... he was remarkably close. I stabbed...
It all went from bad to worse fast after that.
Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, Richards had pulled my father in front of him like a shield just as I stabbed. All the cells in my body screamed to stop but the momentum was too much for them. Warm blood ran over my hands as I fell back, my mind suddenly numb.
I watched my father stare into nothingness with pain, wishing, praying that this was just some sick trick... that my father was alright... but it was not so.
"You coward!" I couldnt shout and my accusation came out a bleak outburst. Richards laughed.
"Christina..." he said in a scolding manner, wagging his finger at me as a parent would a naughty child. I didn't care about how he knew my name. His voice turned harsh, "Let me finish this for you." My father's eyes met mine for only a brief second as I stood there, numbly shaking my head, before the dagger, the dagger that I sword to save him with, was driven into my father's heart. With a gurgle from my Papa's throat, he fell to the ground.
"Papa!" I cried and fall to the ground beside him, sobbing into his wet chest, not caring that I was getting blood on my hands and face. "No, no Papa! I'm so sorry!" I heard two booted feet approach the front of me and I looked up, my blood and tear stained face contorted in rage and agony. Richards stood smiling at me but his grin disappeared as he looked around the deck, all the remains of his crew scattered about. I followed his gaze to Jack Sparrow, standing behind me, his arm outstretched, a pistol in his hand as it was pointed at Richards. I looked back down at my father.
"Surrender Richards." Jack said evenly, "It's over." The Captain of the Seagull grinned widely and I felt cold steel on my forehead. With terror I realized that it was the Captain's pistol.
"One wrong move and she dies." His cold voice that I felt I knew all too well said. "Put down the gun Sparrow." I closed my eyes but felt something being pulled from my belt. I dared not look down.
Suddenly, a BANG rang out and I flinched, expecting the worse to come... for death to take me... but nothing happened.
I slowly opened my eyes just as Richards fell to the ground, the grotesque look of surprise on his face. I turned... and the gun fell from my father's hand.
My wet, salty tears mingled with the constant flow of blood that pumped out my father's chest as I lay there. Jack and the others helped Joe back onto the Black Pearl. He gave me a weak smile as I looked at him worriedly.
"I'll be fine." He mouthed and swung across with Glenn. I turned my head with tear filled eyes back to my father.
"I'm sorry Papa." I whimpered into his chest, "I wasn't quick enough. I promised Mama that I would save you... and I failed. I'm sorry." I began to sob again.
"Christina..." a faint, weak voice reached my ears, "Christina, bella, mi amore."
"Father?" I sat up with a jolt, my father's voice reaching my ears. Such a surge of joy and happiness flooded my heart as I looked upon his face. "Papa!" I smiled. His hand shook as it reached up to touch my face. Suddenly, the ship gave a mighty lurch. I clung to my father as Jack swiftly knelt down beside me. My father looked up at him.
"Take care of my daughter... she loves you very much." He whispered. I wrinkled my eyebrows. Jack nodded and put his arm on my shoulder, kissing the top of my head gently. I flinched away from Jack and huddled over my father.
What do you mean?" I demanded, new tears forming in my eyes. You're not going to die... I'm going to save you!"
"You did, Christina. I'd rather die here, than watch that scum get my father's treasure." I shook my head numbly, my lips forming the word "no" though no sound came out. My father drew a racking breath... his last. "Behind the painting of your mother... under her ring box is a let-" his chest constricted and he let out his breath, with a racking cough that brought blood out of his mouth. The ship lurched again and I realized that with horror that the ship was sinking. Water had already begun to seep through the boards.
"Christian, we have to go luv." Jack said and stood up. I stayed rooted to the spot... too numb to move.
"What about my father?" I asked, suddenly frantic as Jack pulled me to my feet. Jack sighed.
"We have to leave him here." The Captain said gently. My eyes widened.
"No!" I screamed frantically, trying desperately to get back to my father's side. "He's not dead yet! He's not dead!" I felt myself being dragged back, "We can't leave him here!" Jack continued to drag me back, his strength overpowering mine.
"The ship is sinking Christina!" Jack exclaimed into my ear as he noise from the sinking Seagull increased. I still struggled.
"Then I'll sink with it!" I replied and tried to get away again. Jack whirled me around.
"He's dead Christy!" he exclaimed in my ear, "And we will be too if we dont get out of here!" Jack continued to pull me back. Water sloshed around our feet as we reached the railing. Jack turned me around to him and held me close as I fought to be free.
Suddenly, my feet left the ground and Jack and I felt ourselves falling. The icy water hit me and I gasped just before we went under water.
We surfaced again and I sucked in my breath, coughing slightly, Jack's arms still around me. My salty tears combined with the seawater and I reached up to grab the rope that had been thrown down.
Together, Jack and I were pulled onto the deck of the ship. Breaking free of Jack's arms I rushed to the side of the ship, hoping, in my frantic madness, to leap back to my father.
"No..." I stopped short as the mast of the Seagull disappeared into the water... a red cloud followed it. I stood there, numb, as I watched my father leave me.
Strong arms encircled me and for the first time in my life I leaned on someone, let their soothing words calm my shaking sobs, sooth my troubled soul. I dropped to my knees and Jack with me
"Shh, luv," he whispered, "Shh, I'm sorry." I shook my head shortly, making my headache increase. Standing up, I stumbled into my cabin, realizing that I hadnt been inside for weeks. Crashing onto my old bed, so uncomfortably compared to Jack's, and closed my eyes.
"Behind the portrait of your mother... under her ring box is a let-"