Chapter 5: Narrow Escape
“I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s true! Ask Jack or Gibbs.”
“Were they there?”
“Well, no, but…”
“Just as I thought,”
“You can ask the crewmen that were with me that day.”
“And where are they?”
“Captured and hanged, including the woman.”
“I see.”
“You’re just going to have to believe me.”
“How can I?”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Annabelle!”
Basil and Annabelle were at it again. Alex watched as the two quarreled, like dogs over a piece of meat; over basil’s claim that he took the Pearl back from the navy. Of course, if he had claimed that he did it single-handedly, it would be impossible to believe. After all, he was no Jack Sparrow.
It was a helluva day for Alex and by the look of things; it couldn’t possibly be any worst…
“darnation to Jack Sparrow! Arrgh!”
… I spoke to soon.
The Music stopped, the noise died down, Basil and Annabelle stop their bickering, (Finally,) as everyone in the bar rushed outside to see what was going on – not a good idea.
“What was that?” asked Annabelle, turning around in her seat.
“Don't know,” said Basil, “but if Jack's name is at the end of that sentence, it can't be good. Come on.”
With his hand on his sword, and Annabelle, and Alex following Basil, the trio made their way outside, where everyone was in a panic.
The stars were no longer out. Now, a light green haze started to form in the air. It was also around someone, but who it was, was unknown. It was too far to make out. However, the figure appeared to be glowing faintly.
People were screaming, fleeing in terror. Where the faithful bride was, smoke was bellowing into the air, high above the trees.
“Who the hell is that?” said Alex, looking at this otherworldly figure.
“
What is that would be a better question,” said Basil.
“Jack and Gibbs were running away from Jolly, who had now stopped.
“Jack
Sparrow, what have you been up to?” Basil said to himself.
Without warning, Jolly sends a fireball hurling towards the Kings Arm. It destroys the balcony, and brings the sign crashing down.
Alex and the others quickly moved out of the way. They run towards Jack.
“To the ship lads!” he said, “Best we get out of here…”
Before they could react, A Forked Lighting bolt, from out of a storm-less sky hits the Kings Arm, engulfing the roof in flames.
“Move, now!”
They ran towards the shore, trying to get back to the Pearl which docked the farthest out because of its hull. What they didn’t thought about, was that a ship of this size would take time to get moving, too much time. And jolly would be right there…
Another lightning bolt, this time it was in front of the stampeding people. What came next was a gift from hell.
Dead people, no, undead pirates, with swords, came up from the ground. The smell of death, not the roasting of meat, was now in the air. Almost immediately, they started to attack anything that moved. Some people were able in defend themselves, because they too had swords or pistols. Others weren’t so lucky. One man was picked up by an undead pirate and thrown into a stand; it collapses on top of him. Another was trying to run away, when a pirate stabbed him in the back. The man screams in pain, turns and falls on his back. He tries to put his hands up to protect himself, but as he scream not in pain, but fear. The pirate thrusts his sword in the man’s chest…
“Looks like we’re going to have to put up with a fight,” said Alex.
“No, take Anna back to the ship,” said Basil, “Get it ready.”
Alex tries to protest, but Basil wouldn’t have of it.
“Take her, now! There'll be other days when you can fight. Now’s not the time!”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself, mate,” said Jack. “Best do what he says!”
“Come on,” Alex said, taking Anna’s arm. The Undead started to spread out, which made it easier to sneak pass them. Alex and Ann made their way to the docks.
“Now what?” said Gibbs, taking out his Pistol, his sword still in its holding.
“You two take the Undead Scum!” said Jack, “I’ll go head off jolly.”
An explosion from the bar – the fire had gotten to the rum. Two destroyed Traven’s in one night, a new record.
The three split up, the plan was not a good one, but it was all they had.
Gibbs found his first target with ease. He aimed the pistol, and pulled the trigger. It takes of the Skeleton’s head, as if someone took a swing at it with a bat. Only instead of soaring away, the head turns to dust. The Skeleton falls to the ground.
The atmosphere that was once filled with laughter, the smells of rum and meat, was now replaced with the ringing of swords, screams, and the
bang! Of guns.
“Come on, this way!”
Alex and Annabelle, made it to the docks, each wooden plank groaned as they went over it. The Pearl was at the far end of the pier, which was for ships that couldn’t go in shallow waters. The dock split out into different directions, as they crossed each other, some lead to small sail boats, rowboats, and ships like the Pearl.
“It’s up ahead…” said Alex.
Anna stops and looks ahead.
“So that’s it? That’s the infamous Pearl? Doesn’t look like much.”
Even though he only knew her for about an hour, he was already annoyed by her laidback attitude. It was not what she said, but how she said it. It was as if she was saying, “I know we have to get back to the ship post haste, but hey, let us take our time.”
Alex stops running and grabs her arm.
“Not now. We’ll have plenty of time to see it once we are there.”
They advance a few steps, when Annabelle pulls back.
“Grr, what now?” not many people knew this, but Alex had a short fuse in times like this one.
“I’m not going on that thing if Basil is on it, the bloody git.”
She folds her arms.
“Now is not the time. We need to warn the others.”
“Who are you telling me what to do,
Hayes?”
“It's Hades! And we have orders from Jack to...”
“Why should I follow him? I’m not a part of his crew.”
She then actually sits on a barrel.
“Why should I even trust
you?”
She looks at him up and down.
“Fine! You don't have to come. You can go back on shore, but wait, oh yes, that's right, it's in a bloody battle!”
A bright orange fire ball appears in the sky behind them.
“The battle that was caused by Jack...”
Alex tired to get a grip.
“Listen you... ugh, just listen! You can go on the ship, then immediately jump off; since Basil was mum when he said get you to the ship. He didn't say how long you can stay on it. Sure, you'll be food for the sharks, but who the hell cares? At least you'll be satisfied and my conscience clear!”
“And if I don't want to?”
Alex was so close to ringing her neck.
“Then, love,” he said, calmly, “you can go back, and get killed, or, you can let me throw you over the edge of the pier, and get killed by sharks. Either way, you're dead.”
“I think I stay here then,” she said.
“Fine, let the undead scabs find you. You have no sword, and even though I could give you mine, I'm already walking away...”
Anna watches him as he walks away.
“And oh yeah,” he called out, “ Hope you know how to swim, that's the only way to get away from them, and if you do manage to get pass the sharks, I heard Tortuga's waters are notorious for poisonous sea life...”
It was now quiet on the docks, apart from the sounds on the shore. The ropes that were tied to sailing vessels groaned, as the water rocked the ships back and forth. The docks had no light, which Anna had just noticed, which gave it a creepy feeling.
With fear overcoming her, Annabelle Rainsford gets up and runs towards Alex, who was already way ahead.
. . .
While all this was going on…
Bang!
Another undead scab hits the ground. Gibbs takes a quick swig from his flask, and goes right back into the fray. He unsheathes his sword.
“Alright whose next?” he said.
The scene was chaotic, people were fighting everywhere, but it was Basil who was having the time of his life! He cut through the skeletons as if they were made of butter.
And then it happened, the Kings Arm finally collapsed, sending a huge orange fireball into the air. The heat was unbearable, and it pushed everyone back… anyone who had flesh anyway. Any undead pirate that was standing near it caught fire, and turned to ash.
Basil looked behind him. There was Jack, “fighting” with Jolly. (More like dodging everything.) He was going to help, when he saw something from the corner of his eye.
From the flames, a man came, well a skeleton actually, toward Basil. It was somehow immune to the fire... and it only had one arm...
Basil knew who it was. It was the Pirate King who lost his arm while fighting on Tortuga. But Gibbs said he was able to escape – Apparently those rumors weren’t true.
The king, who seemed a foot taller than Basil, and Basil, was about six feet, targeted him. And in his hand, he had a sword that was
red hot.
Basil smiles and points his sword at the king.
“Let’s dance, big boy...”
The king came at him with full force. Basil barely had the chance to go into the
En- Garde position, when the king's sword met his with a shower of sparks.
The King pushes off and lunges forward – sword arm fully extended, right leg leading forward, while his left leg stays at the starting position.
Basil leans backward, the king's sword missing him by inches. Basil manages to parry to sword away.
The King and Basil continue to duel; their blades flash and ring, both trading feints and parries.
The king spoke, well roared at Basil. With a kick to the stomach, the king throws Basil to the ground. He lands hard on his back. The king prepares for the final blow- with all his might the king leaps into the air and brings down the sword.
Thinking quickly, Basil rolls away and gets up to his feet. That ‘last blow’ wasn’t as powerful as the king liked it to be. With one arm gone, it was bound to be weak. Fortunately for Basil, that move now made the King vulnerable to attack, if the person moved fast enough.
Basil thrust his sword in to the king’s ribs. He smiles triumphantly; right up to the point where he remembered that the king was undead. Basil tries to pull the sword out, but it’s stuck! The king laughs and starts swinging at Basil’s head.
Basil ducks each wild swing, his hand still gripping the sword. He could feel the heat and the
whoosh the sword made as it flew over him.
The king twisted around, forcefully ripping Basil’s hand away from the hilt of the sword. With a spinning kick to the head, Basil was back on the ground, but this time he was dazed; his reflexes was slowed, the King aim his red hot sword at Basil’s neck, and then…
. . .
Meanwhile, Alex and Anna made their way on the Pearl. The deck still had debris, but it was much better than before they left.
Annabelle looks around, “What happened here?”
“We had a brush with the Navy earlier today”
“I’m not surprised.”
“It doesn’t matter at this time. The crew needs to ready the ship.”
“Where are they?”
There was the sound of hammering down below and the
Squawk! of a parrot. Running, Alex rushes below decks with Anna close behind.
When they got there, everyone stopped what they were doing, and Alex knew why.
“Mates, this is Annabelle, a friend of Basil…”
“You lucky dog you!”
The men yelled, wolf whistled, and clapped loudly.
“Easy! Easy now!” said Alex pushing everyone back, “Hey-hey step back now, give us some room… quiet all of you! I need to know who’s in charge here…”
“She can be in charge anytime!”
“
Aye!!”
“ Hear-hear!”
“OI!! Enough of that! I need to know who’s in charge here…”
Everyone exchanged looks.
“Oh, you've got to be kidding me- no one's in charge?!”
“The last order to the crew was to repair the ship,” said Piental who was half way down the steps “ Rengatii and I have the duty to watch the sword...” he sees Anna. “ Well, 'ello, 'ello,'ello!”
“Not now, pentel!” said Alex, wishing that Anna really had stayed behind, “Look, Tortuga is being attacked...”
“Is that what's going on down there?” asked Pentel, “Tortuga is so wild, you'll think that's normal.”
“ What about that fireball then?” asked Alex, an eyebrow raised.
“ Uh, a out of control bonfire?” guessed Penitel
Alex sighs, “Well, there isn't. Once dead pirates are now undead...”
“Undead you say? I remember that...” said Regetti, who joined piental from above deck, “Couldn't eat though. Hated it. But at least we couldn't die...”
“Aye,” said Pentel, “ Good times, eh?”
As Pentel and Regetti started to have their own convoseran, Alex decided to take charge.
“Alright, I want this ship ready for an escape. We need to get out of here as fast as we can.”
Cotton's parrot sqwakes “Repair the ship! Repair the ship!”
“This ship should hold,” said Alex, “let’s hope we don't have another sea battle. Now all of you, do what has to be done to get this ship going... off you go...”
Quickly, the crew brushed passes Anna and Alex to get to the stairs. They pushed Pential, and Regetti out of the way, breaking them out of their conversation.
“Ye don't have to push!” said pentel.
“That was the crew,” said Alex to Annabelle, as they made their way up stairs, “what do you think of them?”
“They don’t look like much.”
“But they get the job done… hopefully.”
“Well, I hope they do it right, I don’t want to be killed today.”
They were now on deck. The crew ran back and forth, getting the ship ready.
“Since I got you on the ship as Basil said,” said Alex, “You can now leave.”
“W-what? Why?”
“This is the ship that has Basil, remember? Or did ye forget?”
“I didn’t forget…” said Anna folding her arms, “I-I’ve changed me mind.”
“Great! You can have this!” Alex hands her his sword, “Just in case everything goes to Hell!”
There was a roar coming from the shore… Jolly. Everyone onboard heard it.
“What’s going on down there?” asked Pintel, looking at the fiery shore.
Alex ignored his question, “I’m going back, they’re taking to long.”
“What?” said Anna, “You’ll get killed!”
Alex turns and faces her.
“Since when do you care about my well-being? Stay here.”
Running, Alex made his way into Jack’s Quarters, when he sees the Governor’s sword that is on the desk. It looked like an ordinary sword. Alex picks it up, and stares at it.
He sheathed the sword then makes his way outside.
Anna and Pentel come running up to him.
“Hayes,” Pentel said, “We are getting the ship ready very quickly. She should be ready in...” he gaze drifts down to the sword on Alex’s side, “Where do you think you’re going with that? Jack had orders to…”
“I’m sure Jack would let this slide,” Alex said, “Besides, what good is a sword if you can’t use it?” He steps closer to Pentel, his voice lowered, “No matter what happens, get this ship moving, even before we get on it. Got it?” Pentel nods, “Good.” he directs his attention to Annabelle. “And you,” Alex said, pointing a finger at her, “you stay here.”
“But-”
“No. You. Stay. Here. At least you’ll be safe.”
And with that, Alex runs off the ship, ready for anything up ahead waiting for him.
. . .
Basil was dazed due to the blow to the head. His reaction was slowed. The kind aimed his now slowly cooling, but still hot, sword at Basil chest and then…
Bang!
The King staggers backward in surprise. Basil rolls to see who had saved him, it was Gibbs!
“Just thought you needed a hand there mate.” He said, with a smile before slashing at another undead pirate with his sword.
Basil took this time to act; getting up; he manages to remove his sword out of the king’s ribs. Before the king had time to react, Basil twists the Kings sword out of his hand with his own. It flips high into the air. Basil catches it with his left hand, careful not to touch the hot blade. Quickly, Basil kicks the King in his leg. He loses his balance and falls to the ground, knelling.
Basil crosses both swords, so that it formed an “X,” with the Kings head in between. The king roars at Basil, for the last time. Basil pulls on both of the swords, beheading the undead pirate.
“Head’s up.” Basil said, happy with his witty one liner.
Now, where is our Jack? Ah, yes fighting with Jolly. Who now had a skull for a head, a cow’s hoof for his left leg, and a gun-blade for his right arm. Everything else was bone- he was now undead.
Being the infamous Jack Sparrow, the one who faced the Kraken and survived, (Technically) the one who ‘sacked Nassau port without firing a single shot,’ the one who used sea turtles to get off an island, could do the only thing he could think of- cover behind a brick pillar.
Lucky for him, Jolly was unfamiliar with his new powers. That fire ball he sent crashing into the bar, the lighting strikes, and the raising of the dead, was only once. If Jolly knew how to conjure up that fireball again, Jack would be a goner.
“You need to calm down mate,” said Jack, “It was only a game!”
“You’ve cheated!” Jolly roared
“That’s a pirate life mate! Lying, cheating, and stealing!” Jack takes his pistol, and fires a shot at him… to no effect.
“I even had that witchdoctor to help me, and yet you still won?!” said Jolly
“Looks like he didn’t do a good job…” said Jack.
Jolly yells out, aims his gun-sword at the pillar and fired. The blast shatters the pillar above Jack’s head; Jack scrambles to another pillar.
“That’s why I killed him Jack… and he turned me into this!” another blast, and again, Jack goes to yet another pillar, the last one.
“You’re running out of pillars, Jack! You have to face what’s coming to you!” another blast and Jack has no choice but to come out of hiding.
“There you are you little rat,” said Jolly aiming his gun-sword at Jack, “Hold still…”
Before Jolly could finish, there was a cracking sound from above, as the face of the building, which was two levels of stoned balconies started to sway forward. The pillars that were blasted away were the only thing supporting it. With a loud roar, the balconies collapse in a cloud of dust and ruble, separating Jack and Jolly.
Basil and Gibbs came to Jack’s side.
“Time to leave then?” asked Gibbs and Basil in unison.
“Aye! No need to hang around here! Where’s Alex?”
“He’s alerting the crew,” said Basil, “We need to get back to the ship at once.”
Alex comes up behind Gibbs. He sees the ruble.
“What happened..?” Alex began, but Jack interrupts him.
“We’ll tell you
after we get on the ship! Let’s move...”
Suddenly, the moon, as if out of nowhere, came from behind the clouds once again. Once again the moonlight hits the blade. It shines Sliver, with the electric blue light down the middle. Where Alex hand met the handle, there was a bright light of white for a few seconds, as if they ‘bonded’.
Alex and the others were surprised.
“Where did you learn to do that?” Jack asked
“I-I don’t know,” said Alex, looking at the sword, “It was the sword!” It starts to hum.
There was another roar, and Jolly blasts the ruble away.
Alex, for some reason seemed to know what to do next. He starts forward…
“Where are ye going?!” ask Basil, watching him take a few steps toward Jolly.
“Aye, the ship is in the
other direction…” pointed out Gibbs.
“You think this will stop me?!” bellowed Jolly referring to the ruble.
“No, but this will…” Alex stabs the sword into the ground, there was a bright flash as the Sliver and blue light shined, into a huge dome, like a bubble. As the light dome pulsed, wave after wave, the Undead Pirates turned to dust, and Jolly was pushed backward. The wind seemed to pick up from the pulsing light. The light started to get blinding, and Jack and the others, apart from Alex covered their eyes. Finally, Jolly was thrown all the way back in to the trees, and out of sight.
Alex takes the sword out of the ground and everything stops: the trees stopped swaying, and the light disappeared. But since the moon was still out, the sword still glowed.
“Let's go,” Alex breathed, as he led the way to the docks. The others followed.
“H-How- how… how did…?” stuttered Basil, pointing at the dark mark that was left on the ground, to Alex’s sword.
“Interesting...” said Jack.
“Jack, do you know something?” asked Gibbs
“Now, why are you asking such a question?” Jack said
“Well it just so happens that every time you-”
“Oh, no.” said Alex, who stopped and looked ahead.
“What?” asked Basil.
“It’s-”
“Me Ship!!” said Jack, pushing everyone out of the way and breaking off into a run, “It’s leaving!!”
The others follow
“Alex, you did say they have to wait for us, right?” asked Basil
“Aye, well no. I did what you asked!”
“I said get it ready! Not let it leave without us!”
“I figured we didn’t have enough time to start the ship, so I just said…”
“Go?!”
“Well, aye.”
“I think this conversation will be best back on the ship!” said Gibbs.
Back on the ship, Anna spots them.
“There!” she said, “Throw the ropes!”
Pintel and Ragetti threw ropes over the side, hoping that the plan would work.
“Get to the ropes!” said Gibbs
Jack, of the course was the first to get there; followed by Gibbs, Alex, and then Basil. Gibbs shared Jack’s rope, and Alex shares Basil’s.
As they climbed, Jack looked at the shoreline, still ablaze. He hears Jolly roars. He smiles. “Let this be the day that you’ll remember as the day that you almost caught Captain Jack Spar-”
Gibbs pushes him, “Aye, aye, Captain Jack Sparrow. We get it. Now would you move? This rope is not smooth you know...”
The Pearl starts to gain speed as it pulls out of port, leaving destruction behind.
How come that no one left a comment here ...
) So he meets Alex, and he ask him to help him out. And the rest you know.