I Will Find You | Pirates of the Caribbean

Ten

"What's in your head, boy?" Barbossa snarls, as he takes several steps closer to William, who maintains his controlled stance and facial front. My attempts to pull out of the hustling crowd of pirates continue to fail, many of them tugging my hair or my arms, whilst Barbossa points out to William that his pistol contains just a single shot and they cannot be killed. In response, he jumps up onto a banister right at the Pearl's very edge and with his right hand clutching onto the rope ladder, he positions the pistol underneath his chin along with a comment that whilst they can't die, he can.

"No! William, don't!" I beg, struggling further against the brutal strength of the drooling pirates, whilst several of them continue to harass and caress my objectified body. Helpless squeals and uncomfortable groans continue to fall from my lips. Barbossa asks for William to reveal his name, and for a brief moment before he does, he makes eye contact with me; his hold a deep, regretful anger, whilst mine must be glassed over with pleading, overwhelming sadness. In that time, Jack has run over to Barbossa, attempting to lie a false pretence about William's identity. 

"My name is Will Turner," William announces boldly, still holding the pistol underneath his chin, "my father was Bootstrap Bill Turner, his blood runs in my veins. On my word, do as I say, or I'll pull this trigger and be lost to Davy Jones' locker!" Upon being asked by Barbossa what his terms are, William demands that I am to be freed and that the rest of the crew must remain completely unharmed. With little else to say, Barbossa agrees, and William drops his pistol as he lands back on deck. 

There is little time for either of us to react, but the moment after I feel all the hands of the pirates around me retract from my body, I sprint forward and almost collapse into William's arms. Thankful gasps erupt from my lips as I throw my arms tightly around his waist, holding him as close as I can. "Please, do not scare me like that ever again," I plead as his own arms latch onto my burgundy sleeves, his breathing paced and worried, "I thought I'd lost you forever." But before he is able to say anything in response, I feel a heavy set of arms tear me away from him, despite my screams of fright and anger. 

I continue to fight against the pirates grip, but eventually find myself being forced upon a stretched plank of wood, several swords disabling the ability to return back to the ship. My back turned out to the sea, my eyes fearfully jump from the silver steel tips back up to William, who is being forcefully held back against his will. "Barbossa, you lying bastard!" He exclaims furiously, "you swore she'd go free!"

"Don't dare impugn me honour, boy!" Barbossa snaps back at William, who struggles relentlessly against the pirates that clench onto his arms and throat, "I agreed she'd go free, but it was you who failed to specify when or where." The devious pirate captain then turns his attention back to me, and the sight of my fear seems to make him beam with glee. 

"Though it does seem a shame to lose something so fine, don't it, lads?" He announces, taking a few steps closer to the start of the plank, "so I'll be having' that dress back before you go." The pirates cackle in a chorus at the sight of my trembling hands unbuttoning the corseted dress, my nerves seemingly bubbling over. Whistles and hoots erupt once the plum-coloured dress has been removed, revealing the white undergarment dress to be left. 

I take barely two steps forward as I thrust the dress into Barbossa's hands. "It goes along with your blackened heart," I hear myself say in a whispered cry, determined to show even the slightest bit of strength before the villains before me. The dress is then thrown to a background pirate, and my attention returns to the various pointed swords that etch closer to my chest. My eyes flash over to William as desperate pleads start to fall from my lips, and I see a fear-filled realisation grow on his face. 

"Too long!" A scarred-face pirate bellows, and he marches forward to the plank, where he raises his left leg up high. "WILLIAM!" I scream, frozen in spot as I watch the pirate's leg come down with a terrible force, shaking the plank enough to crack my balance. My legs wobble and I feel my body fall backwards, whilst William's voice rings aloud in a nerve-wracked shout: "SHE CAN'T SWIM!" 

My back hits the surface of the water and the impact knocks the air immediately out of my lungs, the feeling almost deafening. Helplessly, I flail my arms and legs around in a disorganised manner, but my actions do nothing and I feel myself start to slowly sink lower into the ocean. The salt stings my eyes like nothing I've ever felt, and I fight to keep them open for as long as I possibly can.

Suddenly, another figure dives through the water's surface, one with matted dreadlocks and tattooed arms. Jack. He closes in on me and extends his hand for me to latch onto, which I do without a second thought. His arms wrap around my waist and he helps me reach the surface, just in time for me to cough out the gurgles of water stuck in my throat. "I've got ye', love," Jack comments, "I've got ye'." He does his very best to get me to the shore of the nearest island, and once my feet come into contact with the sand, I relieve myself from his grasp.

"That's the second time I've watched that man sail away with my ship," Jack grumbles once we're standing on dry sand, his eyes focussed on the horizon. When I join his gaze, I see the Black Pearl sailing far away, William moving further and further away from me.