Cold As Glass

Sequel to Heart of Glass

Part Two of the Glass Trilogy

A Pirate Lord's Adventure

Chapter 31

Slowly, but surely, anyone who was alive made their presence known, but standing up and looking at the devastation around them.

Marty and Gibbs were the first to bravely walk towards the railings and look down into the waters.

Yet the first to break this silence was Marty, "Did we kill it?"

"No," I Gibbs breathed in worry," we just made it angry."

"We're not out of this yet!" With that Gibbs turned around and in a panicked voice questioned," Captain, orders?"

Everyone who remained, meaning Elizabeth, Will, Gibbs, Marty, Mister Cotton (and his Parrot), Sirius, Pintel, Ragetti, and Jack all grouped together on what remained of the deck.

"Abandon ship." Jack spoke, surprising me, as Sirius grabbed me and wrapped me in a protective embrace. "Into the longboat."

I hugged him back, hearing what was to come next.

But Jack broke Sirius and I apart, by shoving the musket he stole from me, into Sirius's hands, and walked towards what remained of the wheelhouse.

Instantly Gibbs followed Jack in worry. "Jack!" This forced Jack to stand still. "What about the Pearl?"

Then for the first time since I had known Jack, he wore a gloomy and somber look. And answered with a surprisingly logical and wise tone," She's only a ship, mate."

Elizabeth then joined Jack," He's right. We have to head for land."

Pintel then took a deep breathe, and commented, as he starred out at the sea," It's a lot of open water." Causing Ragetti to repeat in the same worried tone, as they both looked at me," It's a lot of open water."

I took a deep breath, stepping away from Sirius and up by Jack," We have to try. It's the only choice we have left, besides death itself."

I glanced at my crew. Pintel and Ragetti both nervously nodded in understanding.

"We can get away as it takes down the Pearl." Will reasoned further.

Finally we were all able to make Gibbs agree with us, as he finally caved," Abandon ship." But then Gibbs grew a louder and a more preacher like tone," Abandon ship or abandon hope."

With that, Will, Pintel, Ragetti, Sirius, Gibbs, Cotton, Marty, and I grabbed what was left of useful weapons. But I left the boys to get the longboat ready for sail.

Meanwhile, I took one last moment to remember all of my memories upon this ship, which Jack seemed to be doing as wheel (as he touched what remained of his mast).

So, briefly, I closed my eyes, held onto the netting, and let the warm Caribbean wind kiss my face.

I remembered all the times, as a child running up to watch this ship leave harbor, how I saw my father's flamboyant hat give away his locations as he stood upon the deck. I remembered all of the times I watched Pintel and Ragetti follow Jack's orders and Jack, as a much more limber young man, swinging from the robes like that Monkey Jack.

More recent memories of being taken hostage by my father, how Pintel and Ragetti welcomed me with their hugs and kisses. How happy I felt to be with my father. Then the battle I was along side him with, how I thought Sirius had been killed. But yet again he came back from the dead, bribed my father for mine and Elizabeth's freedom in exchange for Will's blood. I remembered stripping off my dress in front of this crew, before I jumped off the deck and swam to a deserted island.

Even more recent was Will and I crawling up in the Cannibal's island, looking up at the beached Pearl, trying to find Jack. Watching Will shout up at the Pearl, looking like a complete lunatic. Then sailing away, making all of my deals and plans with Jack, Will, Pintel, and Ragetti. Seeing Bootstrap in the storage compartment, having Davy Jones's touch my hand and freeing me of the black spot. Then for the first time in a year, bringing my husband back on board and sleeping in a hammock with him. Yet last but not least remembering this battle and all of its cruelties.

I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.

This ship was apart of my life, part of my family, and maybe even…a part of me.

But then I saw a most heart wrenching moment, which made me want to cry out in pain for Will.

Elizabeth and Jack were both kissing, while the men loaded the longboat with was they had gathered.

"Prepare to cast off!" Gibbs broke the silence, making me notice how Gibbs, Elizabeth, Jack, and I were the only ones left upon the deck, and everyone else was already crawling down into the long boat. "There's no time to lose. Come on, Will. Step to!"

Trying hard to swallow my tongue, I drifted pass Jack and Elizabeth, over towards the railings, where Pintel and Gibbs both had their arms outstretched in my aid.

Anxiously I crawled down the makeshift ladder, sending one last glance towards the embracing Jack and Elizabeth.

But then I lowered my eyes, and crawled onto the longboat, over into Sirius's arms.

I rested my head upon his chest, and closed my eyes, trying to keep myself from bursting from this emotion overload.

So many people had died…so many memories of this ship…so many hints and clues which made it painful obvious that Jack and Elizabeth were infatuated with one another.

Sirius wrapped his arm around me, gently cooing," We'll be safe soon, love. We'll be safe soon."

But I just held my husband tighter, while I heard Elizabeth coming down the ladder, yet not Jack.

Yet as she sat down next to Will, he emotionlessly starred at her, and grunted," Where's Jack?"

He must have seen it, just like I had. He must have.

Elizabeth then explained, in an all too rational tone, which hinted to her lying," He elected to stay behind, to give us a chance."

But yet I saw Gibbs, Marty, and Cotton stare up at the Pearl in question.

Then an unintentional outburst came out of me. "Go! We must leave!"

Yet without hesitation, Pintel and Ragetti began rowing, moving us as fast as they could away from the Pearl.

Away from the Kraken. Away from death. Away from all of our problems.

Away from Captain Jack Sparrow.