chapter 38

Jack had literally traveled everywhere looking for his daughter. On occasion he would hear a rumor. But many were just men gobbing nonsense. He had followed lead after lead, trying to search for the girl that survived a hurricane. A girl with a sparrow on her right hand.

He had drowned himself in rum in Tortuga more than once in his search. As the days turned to weeks, and the weeks into months, he had nearly given up.

Then, he heard new rumors from a crew returning from Dalmatia.

"There's a girl that's a fierce fighter."

"She's like the devil she is."

"Why doesn't she fight barehanded, I'll never know."

That certainly caught his interest.

"A girl that doesn't fight barehanded? What do you mean? How are her hands covered?" Jack asked. The men were surprised that Captain Jack Sparrow had come up to them asking such things.

"This girl in Dalmatia. She wraps her hands, but whoever goes against her goes down. She is strong, fast, and ferocious." the captain explained

"Do you know her name?" Jack asked, grabbing his shoulders.

"She was introduced as Gold Trench." He said

"Gold Trench?" Jack asked

"Gold because of the prizes she won in fighting, and trench because her hair is dark as one." He said

"Take me to Dalmatia." Jack said, letting go of the captain.

"We just came back from there!" He said

"You're not much of a pirate, are you?" Jack asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Not like you, no." He explained, "I'm more a merchant." Jack nodded his head before pulling out his sword.

"Then by the authority invested in me by the courses code, I'm taking your ship and crew and going back to Dalmatia." He said. The captain and his men chuckled.

"And what makes you think they'll listen to you?" The captain asked. Jack pushed his sword against his throat.

"Because if they don't, I will not hesitate in striking you down. You are the only thing standing between me and Dalmatia now, man. Don't be." Jack said. The captain was shaking in fear, holding his hands up. He glanced at the men that surrounded him. All were his friends and family, loyal to a fault.

It was one trip to Dalmatia. What would the harm be?

The captain nodded his head. The first mate began barking orders to ready the ship to set sail. Jack smiled, sheathing his sword.

"Your assistance will not be forgotten." He said climbing onto the ship.

"What does Gold Trench mean to you?" The captain asked

"Nothing yet. Just need to see her first." Jack answered casually.

Gold sat before the mirror in her room. Outside, she heard men s hanging her name. She rolled her eyes and opened the floor briefly.

"The next fight is in an hour you bloody cockroaches! Belay this and shut your gobs!" She yelled before slamming the door closed. She held up her fists and began punching at a bag of sand that hung from the ceiling. It was she practiced punching whenever she wasn't fighting, or when she was bored... Or angry.

She closed her eyes and focused her punches. Sometimes when she thought hard enough, she could remember small things from before the man found her in the ocean, before she was traded away, before wound up in this underground colosseum in Dalmatia.

"Angry?" came a voice from the doorway. Gold stopped and leaned on the bag.

"What is it now Aggie?" She asked. The old woman chuckled and brought a mug of a steaming liquid, placing it on the desk before the mirror.

"I broth your potion for tonight." She said

The potion did not make her win. It gave her muscles an extra boost of strength and makes her not get tired. It didn't give her the strength and speed of a thousand men. Mainly, the potion helped her survive the matches and live another day.

"I see that." Gold said. She pulled at the wrapping on her right hand. Aggie rolled her eyes.

"Not this again." She muttered

"Aggie, you're a witch." Gold said

"I know a few potions and spells." Aggie muttered as she sat down.

"I know there is something you can do to help me remember." Gold continued, not hearing Aggie.

"And I'm marked as a witch. It's not fair." Aggie said. Gold only heard the last of that statement though.

"Exactly!" She said. Aggie chuckled again.

"There has to be something to make me remember! You have to have something! Just something to tell me what this means." Gold said. She held her hand up to Aggie, showing her the Sparrow tattoo on her hands. Aggie took her hand, running her fingers over the markings.

"The sparrow is a symbol of freedom. The waves beneath must mean whoever you were was a sailor or a pirate." Aggie said

"Oh?" Gold asked

"Yes. Whatever life you had, it must have been fun. But who's to say this wasn't your life before?" Aggie asked

"Because the seas are calling me." Gold said. Opening a porthole in her room, looking out to the ocean beyond. "I kill for whatever I want badly, you know that. Oh, the numbers I'd kill just to get free. To feel the wind in my hair and the sun on my back. A pirates life for me, Aggie."

"Aye, but it's a fighters life you have now. And you are indeed successful." Aggie said, closing the porthole. She pulled Gold in front of her and rewrapped her right hand.

"Perhaps you'll remember, perhaps you won't. The future is as mysterious as the darkest trench in the ocean." Aggie said

"Like my past." Gold said with a smirk.

"Yes. Now to get ready for the fight. Drink your potion, and break legs." Aggie said

"Hm, you know I will." Gold said