Hot winds of the Caribbean 20

I pulled my hat away from my eyes and rose to stand next to Jack. The ship wasn't Pearl. Could John and Barcley already come back?

"That's definitely a merchant vessel", Jack said.

"And it is clearly coming here", I said amazed. What for a merchant vessel would even sail near this island?

We stayed on the beach to watch, when the ship sailed closer. After a moment the ship were anchored nearby and the crew launched a boat. It took a while before the boat touched the shore. When I saw who were rising from it I was immediately about to run away. Mr. Smith and Phillip and few unknown men. How the hell they had found me?

"Annabelle, this is the most ridiculous thing you have ever done!" Mr. Smith cried immediately after seeing me. "Luckily you are all right!"

"Annabelle?" Jack repeated amazed and looked at me asking. "What's he talkin' about?"

I swallowed loudly. I should have told Jack the truth after all, but I would have never believed to fell into a situation like this. And now was too late.

"I had to cancel the wedding because of this stupid runaway of yours! To escape with pirates... What were you thinking, Annabelle?" Mr. Smith continued.

"Cancel the wedding? Marvellous!" I laughed. "I wouldn't have wanted to marry that idiot anyway! And by the way, I really am not any Annabelle."

"Is this because of that? Your amnesia? Do you really think you belong in that man's group... Annabelle, he is a pirate. He should be hanged and if it is up to me, it will happen", Mr. Smith said. Obviously his men interpret his words for some kind of signal and grabbed Jack. They chained his hands and I wondered why Jack didn't resist at all.

"Are you insane? Keep Jack away from this mess!" I raged to my so-called father.

"He has nothing to do with this!"

Mr. Smith looked at me seriously. Despair shone from his eyes, but I didn't care. I was way too furious. I kicked the sand angrily and swore very loudly.

"Ann, calm down! Everything will be all right soon! We are going to get married and you will be happy", Phillip said and grasped my hands. I yanked them loose immediately and stared him angrily.

"I. Will. Never. Marry. You. Do you understand?" I hissed quietly.

"But you have told me you love me!" Phillip cried out. "We are meant to be together!"

"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOU, MORON! I LOVE JACK SPARROW! NOT YOU!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. I didn't care, although the whole world would have heard.

"The girl is clearly confused. Let's take her into the ship to calm down, and threw that pirate into a cell. Commodore Norrington will be glad from our present", Mr. Smith said.

His men grabbed also me and dragged me by force to boat. I tried to struggle loose but it was completely useless. Finally I gave up and tried to sit still quietly. I carefully glanced few times at Jack, but he just stared at the sea giving me not even a single one look at all.

o

They had taken me to my father's cabin to calm down. I sat on the bed and stared in front of me. How all can go totally wrong like this? And how that idiot had found me? Knock on the door interrupted my thoughts and I saw my so-called father stepping in the cabin.

"What do you want this time?" I snorted. "To ruin the rest of my life also?"

"But Annabelle, how have you become like this? Clearly you have spent too much time with that pirate", Mr. Smith muttered.

"I haven't become like this. I have always been like this", I noted dead calmly.

"Luckily it is about to change, when we deliver him to be hanged," Mr. Smith continued ignoring my words.

It felt like my heart had stopped. He really was intending to deliver Jack to this commodore Norrington. I could not let it happen! Something had to be done. Jack couldn't die, because I was not able to live without him if it was going to happen. I knew I had only one desperate way.

"Father," I said testing. The word didn't really fit into my mouth as far as he was concerned.

"Yes, darling?" the man said and looked at me lovingly.

"I promise to marry Phillip on one condition", I whispered the words really quietly, because if I had spoken any louder, I probably would have crushed.

"What is it? I will fulfil your wish if it is not completely impossible."

"I want you to spare captain Sparrow's life", I said quickly. "Let him go, father! Let's leave him in Tortuga!"

Mr. Smith looked thoughtful and not very willing to fulfil my wish.

"You already made a promise", I said and gave him sad puppy-eye-look.

"Fine, we will leave him in Tortuga and you will marry Phillip in four weeks", man finally agreed on my request. I nodded for a sign of acceptance. I wasn't able to speak. I had just saved Jack's life, but ruined my own at the same time.

o

I sat in the cabin the rest of the day. Later someone brought me food and informed that I could sleep in the cabin. My father would sleep with the crew. I stared at the food tray reluctantly. I couldn't eat anything. I twiddled fork in my hands for a while and then stroke it in the table. I needed to speak with Jack!

I waited long in to the night before I moved. I opened the cabin's door carefully and sneaked on deck. For me a strange man was at the helm and probably there was someone keeping a lookout also. I slipped below deck and walked as quietly as I could to the lowest floor on the ship. The water on the floor wet my shoes but I didn't care. Quickly I found Jack's cell and I saw him staring the wall angry look on his face.

"Jack!" I whispered and leaned against the bars.

Captain turned his head towards me, but his eyes stayed hard.

"What ye're doin' here? Shouldn't ye be spending time with yer fiancé?" he said bitterly. When I didn't answer, he kept talking. "They also told me I'll get off the ship in Tortuga and also remembered to mention about yer approval of rascal's wooin'."

"Only to save you!" I cried out.

"Really, Ann? Ye didn't even tell me ye're engaged! Why'd ye speak the truth now?"

Jack's words hurt me. He was entirely right. I had lied to him earlier, he had no reason to trust me. I had ruined everything. I looked at Jack with tears in my eyes.

"I'm speaking the truth", I said stressing every word. "I am doing it for you. I love you!"

"Ann, go away", Jack said and turned his back on me. My heart crushed into little pieces. "Go away and never come back."

"But... Jack..." I whispered voice cracking.

"Go away. I don't wanna see ye anymore, do ye understand!" Jack said dangerously low. I pressed my head down and wandered away from the cell. Salty drops were covering my cheeks.

o

Mr. Smith's ship sailed away from the port of Tortuga. I stared that shabby town from deck. Jack already had disappeared in its streets a while ago taking my whole heart with him. I had nothing anymore. With Jack I had lost everything.