DISCLAIMER: Sadly, I doubt I will ever own anything vaguely related to PotC :(
Chapter 13- Hope
Feeling nauseous, Alexis backed away from Barbossa's body. Sensing a presence at her side, she saw Jack looking down at her. "Ye had no choice, luv," he stated, offering her his hand.
Once more upon her feet, Alexis felt light-headed. Her mind swam with thoughts. So many years she had waited for this moment. Why now did she not have the satisfaction she believed would come with it? Alexis felt detached from reality as she stared down at his body.
A hand on her shoulder brought her out of the revere. "Alexis, it's over," Jack told her, turning her away from the scene.
Glancing up into his chocolate eyes, Alexis nodded. "I know," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, "but there's something I have to do."
Stepping away from Jack, Alexis moved slowly towards the trees, until she had completely disappeared from his sight. Trusting Jack and his crew would round up Barbossa's men, who were in complete disarray without their Captain, Alexis made for the one place she use to feel comfort from. Her home.
Stopping briefly outside the cave entrance to look into it's now hollow and empty depths, Alexis continued to travel past it. A short walk from the cave presented to her a small glade. The grass here seemed greener than in any other part of the forest, and it felt soft beneath her bare feet. Purple flowers Alexis had rarely seen growing in many places around the island, also inhabited the glade, giving a it a peaceful tranquillity.
Two tiny grey stones lay in the middle of the clearing. Kneeling down before them, Alexis tucked strands of her long brown hair back behind her ears and closed her eyes.
As another day dawned, Jack stood on the shoreline, staring out towards the ocean in what may have appeared to be a dream-like state. But Will knew better. Moving beside his Captain, he too, looked out to sea. "She's all yours again, Jack," Will noted.
Nodding, but not taking his eyes off the ship that lay out to sea waiting for him, Jack replied, "Aye, she always has been."
Smiling slightly to himself, Will walked back towards the rest of the crew. On reaching them, he saw that all traces of their camp had been removed. Barbossa's crew sat on the white shore, hands tied behind them, and their eyes downcast, awaiting the command that would seal their fate. Will's gaze, though, was not upon these pirates.
Walking along the sand in the distance was a small figure heading in his direction. As Alexis reached Will, he gave her a friendly smile. She returned it, then gesturing towards the equipment that had been packed up, asked him, "You're already leaving?"
Will nodded back, saying, "Jack can't wait to be aboard The Pearl again."
Remembering the way he had spoken of his ship, Alexis smiled in understanding. As Will watched Barbossa's men on the sand, she studied him; his tall, lean figure and his wavy brown hair tied back from his tanned face. A pang of sadness swept over Alexis. She knew this was the last opportunity to spend time with them; her contact with the outside world would then be lost.
Reaching out, Alexis touched Will's arm. Still feeling awkward with human contact, she looked into his kind eyes. What words were there to convey how grateful she was for their acceptance of her, and everything they had done? Alexis didn't know, so instead, silence filled the space between them.
Fortunately, it was at that moment, Jack swaggered up to them. Suppressing a smile at his walk, Alexis knew she would miss his bizarre movements and gestures. As Jack raised an eyebrow at her hand which was still attached to Will's arms, Alexis quickly withdrew it.
"Ye ready?" Jack said to her.
It was Alexis' turn to raise her eyebrows. "What do you mean?" she asked him.
"Well ye comin' with us aren't ye?" he said with a wave of his arms, appearing just as confused as her.
At first Alexis still didn't seem to understand what he was saying, and then a grin slowly crept across her face. "You mean you're taking me off the island?" she breathed, hardly daring to believe what he was offering.
Slinging one arm around her shoulder, and the other gesturing towards the ocean, Jack replied dramatically, "Darlin', there's a whole other world out there, waiting over the horizon. And The Black Pearl is gonna take ye there! Savvy?"
A laugh of pure happiness escaped from Alexis. Throwing her arms around Jack's neck, she squeezed him tightly. "Thankyou!" she squealed in his ear.
Smirking at Will, Jack patted her back awkwardly. Pushing herself away from him, and turning slightly pink, Alexis mumbled, "Sorry, Jack."
Seeming pleased with himself, he winked at her and replied, "No worries, luv."
Clearing his throat to gain their attention, Will asked his Captain, "What about Barbossa's men? We can't just leave them here."
"Ah, dear William," Jack answered turning to look at the pirates sitting on the sand, "I've got just the idea."
As Alexis stepped onto The Black Pearl and sensed the slow, gentle sway of the ship, she felt a rush of excitement. She was finally here, and soon she would experience the places and people that she had heard the pirates' tales of. Scanning the deck, Alexis watched as Jack's men began their jobs aboard the ship, getting The Pearl ready to set sail.
Looking out towards The Crusader, the ship Jack and his men had come in on, Alexis felt somewhat guilty for leaving Barbossa's men on their old ship. She had witnessed the look on their face when Jack had told them that he would be informing a Commodore of their location. Then, before leaving, he had placed a knife subtly on the side of the ship in order for them to find, freeing them of the bounds still on their hands, and able to flee before they were discovered. After considering what Jack could have done, Alexis decided that Barbossa's men had received the better option.
The treasure had been handed over to Jack, although at first he had declined it. Surprised, she had told him, "It can't stay here, Jack. I want you to have; it's a gift."
"Alrigh' mateys. Let's raise her sails!" Mr Gibbs gruff voice broke through Alexis' thoughts.
Turning, she watched as Will, Mr Gibbs and a few of the other men pulled on the ropes and began to raise the sails. Glancing towards the helm, she saw Jack running his hands over the large wooden wheel in front of him. Moving up beside him, Alexis smiled at Jack. "Going to show me around your ship Mr Sparrow?" she asked, placing a hand on her hip.
Giving her his most devilish grin, which showed off his golden teeth, Jack replied with a tip of his tri-cornered hat, "But of course, me lady."
Offering her his arm, Alexis took it. As they made their way down the steps from the helm to the quarterdeck, she turned her head to take one last look back at her island as it began to shrink into the distance. Feeling the sea breeze on her face and in her hair for the first time, Alexis knew she had made the right decision.
At long last, she had found hope.
Author's Note: Well, that's all from me for the time being! I really hope that everyone has enjoyed reading 'To Be Without Hope' and I appreciate everyone who has reviewed it along the way! >Hugs each and everyone of you . I was thinking of a possible sequel to the story. Maybe it could be interesting to see what Alexis thinks of the places she travels to, since she has never been anywhere before. And could there be more than friendship between certain characters? Well, those were just some thoughts, and I was hoping you guys could tell me wether or not you would be interested in a sequel, or if you think it should be left as it is? Thanks in advance!
Mystic Moon Maiden- >Gives Mystic Moon Maiden a big hug . Thankyou so much for taking the time to review from the very beginning till the end. I really appreciated it, and I loved reading them! I hope you enjoyed the ending too! Oh, and I hope to read more from you too at some stage (No pressure or anything, hehehe) Cause your stories were great!
Tiffany Sparrow- Thankyou so much for reviewing once again! Sorry I missed your review for chapter 11, so thanks for that too! And yes, I had to put in a battle between the two, it didn't feel right not to ;-) Thanks for your reviews throughout the story, I really appreciated it! >Hugs Tiffany Sparrow
The future Mrs. Jack Sparrow- >Runs under rock to hide. Hehehe, I'm sorry! But it had to end somewhere right? ;-)' Thankyou for the reviews...and the threats! Hehe, jokes ;) I enjoyed reading them! But remember, if your interested in seeing what happens after she leaves, let me know! Maybe I can do a sequel...>Hugs The Future Mrs. Jack Sparrow
SpectalLady- Yep! Last chapter :-( It's kinda sad in a way for me, but at the same time, it's been really fun writing it, and I suppose it had to finish. But as I said, I am thinking of maybe doing a sequel, but I shall see what you guys think ;) Of course, you must tell me if you don't think its such a good idea! Anywho, thankyou for all the reviews throughout! It's been fantastic! >Hugs SpectalLady
Siriusly Sirius Lily Black- Unfortunately, this was the way the story had to end for me. I'll let you in on a little secret though...there was going to be something between a certain somebody and a certain other person, but it just wasn't working for me in this story. I felt like it might seem too rushed maybe? And also Alexis hadn't experienced anything like that before, so I kinda decided against it. Of course, if I do do a sequel, who knows what might happen there ;-) Thankyou for the review though! It was great and it gave me something to think about.