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Chapter 5

Carmen's POV

About three weeks later, Jack announced that we would be making port in Tortuga to pick up Mr. Gibbs and to take a break. As soon as we got there, Jack said that we would be there for three days precisely. As the men filed off the boat, all anxious, Jack stopped me, "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going into Tortuga, that's what!" I replied.

"Nope, too dangerous! You'll stay with Master Ragetti."

I was furious! "No! I wanna go ashore! Please! I promise that I won't do anything stupid!"

Unfortunately, my brother wasn't swayed,, "I'll see you tomorrow, Carmen," he said as he walked off the ship. I was left fuming.

"I can't believe he did that to me! Who does he think he is? The captain of this ship?! Never mind, don't answer that, Rags!" I said as I paced up and down the deck. Poor Ragetti was trying to get me to eat my dinner, but I would not give in. "You know what I'm gonna do, Rags? I'm gonna go anyway!"

"What?"

"That's right," I said, sounding confident, "I'm an adult, and he can't control me!"

Ragetti looked scared, "Bbbby yerself?" He stopped trying to juggle both of our dinners. "We could both git inta trouble! 'e might let ya go wit a warnin', but I'll be killed!"

But it was too late, for I was already heading toward the dock. Ragetti followed me off the boat, trying to stop me from going. I turned around sharply, "Look, Rags. If you don't want to do this, then fine. Stay here. But I'm tired of him treating me like a child! So I'm going whether you like it or not."

I guess Rags considered that Jack would be angrier if he left me alone in Tortuga, so he followed me. We walked along the boardwalk, then got something to eat along with, of course, some rum. Then, I saw a dress store with tons of beautiful clothing and jewelry. I wanted to see what they had, but Ragetti wanted to see the weaponry in a store about three blocks away. I convinced him that I would be okay for a couple of minutes without a man to protect me. So he left me to look at the store (I must admit, I did steal a couple of priceless necklaces).

However when I exited the store, I noticed a familiar-looking man staring at me.

"So, you've come back now, have you?" the voice said.

The realization hit me like a brick, "Samuel Golding, is that you?"

"Ah, so finally you recognize me. It's been what, a year and a half? Where did you go? You were my best client?"

"Well, Sam, I've had a change of heart. I just started to want something more out of my life, you know," I replied, but something inside me told me that something was wrong.

"Business has dropped since you left the house, Carmen. I'm afraid that you're going to have to repay me in some way," Sam said, taking a step toward me, and looking over my entire body in a greedy way.

"How shall I repay you then?"

"You can guess."

That statement scared me so bad that I wanted to scream for help, but I couldn't because just then, he slapped me so hard that I sank to the ground. I tried to stand up, but Sam pushed me hard against a brick wall. I screamed as loud as I could. Then I saw the man I wanted most at this time. My brother, Jack. He came running as fast as he could. My hero.

"JACK! HELP ME!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. Sam's slap sent my head reeling. I realized that he had tried to rip my dress off, and he was halfway done.

Jack looked as if he was about to pull out a gun when faster than lightning, Sam pulled out a gun and shot my brother in the stomach.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! JACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I screamed, more terrified than ever. Then, Ragetti came running over and saw an unconscious Jack, and me, half-naked and bloody. I don't think that Sam saw Rags, he was too busy trying to finish undressing me. But luckily, Ragetti figured out what was going on, took out his gun, and shot Sam three times in the chest. Sam dropped dead on top of me. I tried to lift him up off me, but I didn't have the strength to do so.

All I remember is that Ragetti called the rest of the crew. Someone lifted the body off me.

"She's hurt pretty badly, but she'll make it," I couldn't tell who it was. All I know is that Ragetti lifted me up in his arms and carried me to the Black Pearl. That's when I blacked out.

I woke up when someone placed a wet rag on my face. It was Gibbs. I hadn't seen him in years. While I was happy to see him, my main worry was how Jack was doing. I jumped out of bed and ran to Jack's cabin. Gibbs started to chase after me, but I easily outran him. When I got there, I saw Jack in his bed, a bandage wrapped around his midsection. Luckily, he was breathing. I then broke down, I sobbed and draped myself over Jack's body.

"Are ya all right, ma'am?" I turned around, and there was Ragetti. I ran toward him and threw my arms around him. I started to cry again.

"Thank you so much, Ragetti! That was so scary! I-I thank you!"

Ragetti wrapped his arms and held me close, comforting me.