Chapter 16: Torment and Surrender

Blackness was all Jack and his crew knew as they were chained and led down to the brig of the Victory, Commodore King's flagship. Barbossa and Lucia held their guns on them so escape was impossible. All of the prisoners felt a cold stab of defeat as they descended further into the darkness that was King's brig. None of them truly feared for their own lives, but they were scared for the lives of their friends. They all knew it was clear that King and León would show no mercy. Gibbs, Rose, Marty, and the rest of the crew were shoved into the cells immediately. Jack, Will, Elizabeth, and Guinevere were left untouched. All four of them were still bound in shackles and remained outside of the cells.

"King, I've had enough. Where is my son?" Will demanded.

"We've played your game. Jack is in your custody. Give me my son, or you'll face the consequences," Elizabeth threatened.

"Don't dare insult my honor!" King snarled. "The deal was that you would help me capture Sparrow and you did not. Señor and Señora Barbossa helped me while you only helped Sparrow. Your son will remain in my custody."

In rage, Elizabeth leaped forward, managing to slam her bound hand into King's face. Fighting, she was pulled back by King's guards.

"Truly touching a mother's love for her children is," King said coldly, wiping blood from his chin.

"Whatever could two upstanding gentlemen such as yourselves be wanting to do with us?" Jack demanded. "León, I know. However, I fail to comprehend what it is you want, Captain Poppycock."

"Watch your tongue, Sparrow," King warned, his words like ice. "You know very well what I want."

"Don't tell me. You want me dead, don't you?" Jack asked slyly.

"You are correct," King said.

"Well, as far as my knowledge knows, with me killed, your lovely Spaniard comrade needs me alive. Without me, he cannot find the mysterious Fountain of Youth. That does put a damper on your plans," Jack said wisely.

"Indeed," King said, the tension in his voice.

"If you want us dead, why don't you do it?" Guinevere spat.

"Because you are what motivates Sparrow, my dear," King said unctuously, taking a lock of Guinevere's hair in his hand. "Without you, Sparrow would have no purpose to help us."

Guinevere shrugged away from King's grasp and spat at him. "You touch me again, and you will lose a finger."

King laughed heartily. "Charming, absolutely charming."

In all of that small moment, it didn't take long for León to get impatient. He had the key to his prize and he didn't want to waste another minute talking.

"Stop teasing them, King, and get on with it," León snarled. "My immortality awaits me."

"That's only if we help you, and I'm not so sure that we're in such a helpful mood," Guinevere said defiantly.

"For your sake, Mrs. Sparrow, you'd better be," Barbossa said, cocking his gun.

"I would listen if I were you," Lucia added, aiming her gun.

"Peace, Barbossa," León said, holding up his hand. "That can easily be remedied."

He waved his hand, and Guinevere was grabbed by two of his men. The burly men strapped Guinevere's chains above her head, lifting her slightly off the floor. Then, they tore open the back of her shirt. León strutted around the tied Guinevere, making sure she saw the cat-o'-nine-tails in his hand.

"Do you honestly think that frightens me?" Guinevere demanded strongly.

"I am not trying to frighten you, but your friends," León corrected her. "I am certain they'll cooperate seeing you in pain if you do not."

Snap! León brought the whip down on Guinevere's back. Crack! Snap! Snap! The whip came down again and again. The whistle of the whip as it approached Guinevere's skin was horrifying to Jack, Will, and Elizabeth. It was more terrifying than the blood from the stripes on her back.

Guinevere was as silent as a rock. Even if she was in pain, she would not let León or King know that. She had been flogged before so the pain was no major torture for her. Her will was set in stone and no one would break her.

"Is that the best you can do?" Guinevere taunted, her voice was weary, but firm. "If you want to break me, you're going to need to try harder than that."

"With pleasure," León said menacingly.

"Guin, no!" Will cried.

"Are you crazy?" Elizabeth gasped.

"Bring the brats," León commanded.

Oh, God, Guinevere thought in horror.

To the horror of the prisoners, Juliet was brought down along with Jack Jr. and Elizabeth. Juliet was drenched in perspiration and blood still stained her lips and chin. Her eyes were closed, and the only support she had was from one of King's men holding her up.

"What adorable children," León cooed, taking baby Elizabeth in his arms. "They look just like you."

"You touch my children again, you'll wish you'd never been born," Guinevere threatened.

"Easy, Señorita," León warned. "I would truly hate it if one of your children had to suffer only because their madre would not cooperate."

"You are not going to hurt my children," Guinevere growled.

"I agree with that," Jack added. "You touch one more hair on their heads and I'll shoot you out of my cannons."

León snapped his fingers, and one of his men held a knife to Juliet's throat.

"She looks so sick. Perhaps we should ease her suffering," he chortled.

His man holding Juliet pressed the knife to her skin, making a small, thin line of blood.

"No!" Guinevere shrieked.

"So, are you ready to cooperate?" León said triumphantly.

"Exactly how can we cooperate with you?" Guinevere demanded.

"I am aware that Sparrow has a magic compass in his possession," León said. "Give me the compass so that I may find the Fountain. Sparrow will lead us there."

"This compass shows what the person wants most and I do not need it to know I do not want to give it to you," Jack said fiercely. "After you threatened my children, torture my wife, and capture my comrades, I don't think I want to help you."

"Jack, please," Guinevere begged. "For Juliet."

Jack looked back at his dying daughter. The sight of her in such a state broke his heart. He did not want to help his enemy, but he had no choice.

"Fine," Jack sighed, pulling the compass from his belt. "Take it."

León took the compass and watched the needle. Instantly, the needle settled and pointed east.

León smiled. "Men, escort Captain Sparrow to the helm. Lock the other prisoners in the brig."

Barbossa then stepped in. "My fine Captain, aren't you forgetting about the Pearl?"

"It is of no use to us," León replied.

"Why don't we just blow it to oblivion?" King suggested.

"Why do that when it can be a prize?" Lucia countered.

"Indeed," Barbossa agreed. "It would be a terrible waste, wouldn't you think? You, Commodore. You could take the Pearl as your prize for the capture of Captain Jack Sparrow. How could you pass that up?"

"It's a fine deal, Sir," Lucia said.

King stroked his chin. "You make a good point. Very well. Tow the Black Pearl. It will look so lovely on display."

At that, the Pearl was lashed behind King's ship. Will, Elizabeth, and Guinevere were led to the brig along with Juliet, Jack Jr., and baby Elizabeth.

"Guin, let me tend those lash wounds," Will said gently.

Guinevere swatted him away. "I don't need your help."

"Guin, please let me explain," Will begged.

"What is there to explain?" Guinevere demanded. "You sold your soul and you betrayed us."

"We had no choice, Guin," Elizabeth said.

"You could've chosen not to give in to King!" Guinevere snapped. "Now, because of you, my daughter could die."

"We didn't choose this, Guin," Elizabeth explained.

"King forced us to do his bidding," Will added. "He kidnapped William and he beat James and my father. If we did not give in, he would've killed William."

Guinevere's face fell as she realized the truth. "Oh, well that explains a lot. Still, you couldn't have told me this before?"

"I'm sorry, Guin," Will and Elizabeth said sincerely.

"No, I am," Guinevere said apologetically. "I know you wouldn't have betrayed us. If you had, it would've only been for a loved one. I would've done the same in your position. I was wrong to judge you so."

Suddenly, Juliet started to cough again. She exploded into a fit of wheezing and blood flowed from her mouth in small rivulets.

"Juliet, come on, Sweetheart. Breathe," Guinevere whispered as Will held her.

"Come on, Juliet. You can do it, Sweetheart," Will said, rocking Juliet back and forth.

Juliet's breathing eased before she lost consciousness again.

"She's lost so much blood," Will said gravely.

"If we don't get to the Fountain soon, she…she could die," Guinevere said, nearly choking on the words.

"Juliet is going to make it," Will promised. "She has your strength and she won't let a disease take her. She'll fight and win."

"We will find the Fountain, Guin," Elizabeth reassured her. "I promise."

Just then, Lucia and Barbossa appeared at the cells.

"Are we interrupting this sentimental moment?" Barbossa asked unctuously.

"You take one more step, traitors, and you're dead!" Guinevere screamed, throwing herself at the bars.

Will and Elizabeth's anger flashed in their eyes.

"What do you want?" Will demanded.

"Haven't your tortured us long enough?" Elizabeth groaned.

"We must take Juliet," Barbossa said.

"Over my dead body," Guinevere spat.

"And mine," Will and Elizabeth added.

"Peace between us," Lucia said calmly. "We do not come to harm Juliet. We are trying to help her."

"Why do I have a hard time believing that?" Guinevere spat.

"We may be traitors, but we're not monsters, Mrs. Sparrow," Barbossa said pointedly.

"Tell that to Juliet," Guinevere said angrily.

"Look, if she stays in here, you all could be infected with consumption," Lucia explained. "So, you give Juliet to us, or you can all die."

"Take her and get out," Guinevere said, anger flashing in her eyes.

Barbossa then entered the cell and took Juliet.

"Trust us, Mrs. Sparrow, we are truly doing you a favor," he said.

With that, Barbossa then exited the cell with Lucia and Juliet.

Will rubbed Guinevere's shoulder to comfort her. "She'll be fine, Guin."

"I'm not afraid of Barbossa or Lucia," Guinevere replied, a lump forming in her throat. "I'm afraid of fate and what it has in store for Juliet."

Meanwhile, Barbossa and Lucia took Juliet before León.

"If you wouldn't mind, Captain," Barbossa began. "We'd like to take the child below for medical attention."

"For what purpose?" León barked. "She's going to die without the Fountain."

"If this girl dies, Sparrow will have no reason to help you. Your hold over him will be gone," Lucia explained.

"You need this girl to control Sparrow," Barbossa added.

León scratched his beard. "You make an interesting point. Very well, take her below."

Barbossa and Lucia escorted Juliet below decks to the physician's office.

"We need this girl tended as best as you can," Barbossa commanded, easing Juliet on a table.

"Be careful," Lucia warned. "She has consumption."

"I will do what I can," the doctor said compliantly. "I must ask you to leave while I examine her."

The doctor then escorted Barbossa and Lucia out. For the next hour, Barbossa and Lucia waited tensely. After an hour, the doctor stepped out.

"How is she?" Barbossa asked anxiously.

"She's lost a great amount of blood," the doctor explained. "I am losing her."

"She's dying?" Lucia gasped.

"There isn't much that can be done for her now," the doctor said gloomily.

"We haven't got much time," Barbossa said ruefully.

"What do we do now?" Lucia asked.

"Now, we must pray that Sparrow leads us to the Fountain before it's too late," Barbossa replied grimly.