Captain Hook and Facilier: Piracy and Voodoo (English Version)

6. Anger and madness

James woke up late at night. He got up weakly and sat up. He was calmer now, but his mind was not clear and his gaze was lost in the void. After several minutes, he got up and went to uncork a bottle of rum. While drinking, he noticed something on the table. It was a silver tray with a teapot, a cup and biscuits on it. Next to it was a note: 'This is to make you feel better as soon as you wake up. With love - Scarlett'. As soon as he finished reading, James tore off the note and threw the tray over in anger. He didn't want to know anything about his whole family anymore. After Elizabeth's puzzling confession, he no longer trusted any of them, fearing more nasty surprises. He wanted to play his harpsichord a bit to distract himself, but even that now no longer gave him comfort, so he let it go. He didn't care anymore. At one point, he took his gun and went out, headed below deck, where his crew slept. As soon as he arrived, in the grip of madness, he locked the door, then shot all the pirates. Some of them he sliced with his hook, still others he stabbed them with his sword. The survivors tried to escape, knowing they couldn't stand up to him, even though he was alone. They stopped in front of the closed door, terrified. They tried to beg for mercy, but James didn't listen to them and pierced them one by one in the belly. When the massacre was over, he reopened the door and returned to the deck. He looked towards his family's rooms. He started to go to them, intent on exterminating them, but in a moment of lucidity he stopped. He thought back to the moment he had had a room built for all of them on the Jolly Roger. One of the memories that always made him happy. Despite everything, he still had feelings for them, as well as for Elizabeth, so he decided to leave himself. He didn't even care about his ship anymore and didn't even think about Peter Pan. He got into a lifeboat, but Scarlett came running. "James, what are you doing?", she screamed worriedly, "Where are you going?". She had heard the shots and screams below deck and she imagined what he had done to the crew. She was afraid, but she didn't want to leave him. She had helped him in many situations and she hoped she could help him now too. James pulled out his gun, threatening her. She stopped, looking him in his eyes. She didn't try to escape, even though she was in danger of him shooting her right now. James pulled the trigger. Scarlett closed her eyes. The blow went to her left, dodging her. She breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she thought that James had always had a good shot and had never missed a shot, so if he had missed her, he had done it on purpose, and it was true. He didn't want to kill her, in the little lucidity that was left to him, he didn't want to have any more remorse on his conscience. He still loved her, even though he blamed her for what he had come to know on the Other Side. Whoever was connected with Elizabeth, he held anyone responsible. He lowered the lifeboat into the sea, then began rowing aimlessly. "James!", Scarlett called him, "Wait, please! Let's talk about! We all love you, don't go away!". But James didn't listen to her and continued to row, until he disappeared on the horizon. Scarlett dropped to her knees, putting her hands to her face. This time she didn't know what to do. Bethany, Celia, and Glenn also arrived. They knelt beside her and embraced her. "He's completely out of his mind this time!", Scarlett said crying, "We absolutely have to find him before anything can happen to him!". Celia intervened: "In the last few months I have learned new things about Voodoo thanks to my father, I can try with some spells if needed", "No, Celia! Your father has caused enough trouble already! Stop with the witchcraft!". Celia was hurt by Scarlett's response. This time her father hadn't done harm on purpose, he couldn't foresee everything. She got up and went to him, realizing that she couldn't be of help. Facilier, as he saw her coming, smiled at her, making her sit on his bed beside him. "Father", she said, "Do you think we can do something?". The sorcerer, handling his cards, replied: "It's certainly not my fault that James has gone mad. However, if he doesn't recover soon, our deal will fall apart and he will also lose his soul forever". Celia jumped to her feet, furious. "But you are really incorrigible!", she told him, "Do you really want it to end like this? Why don't we try to help him instead, so that you both get what you want?", "Calm down, girl! I certainly didn't push him to madness! Anyway yes, you are right. I need him. But I can't continually send my Friends from the Other Side to help me in every situation, or I risk ending up like I did in New Orleans", "I'll give you a hand, tell me what to do", "Be calm, please. Instead, think about being well, otherwise the pregnancy will be more difficult to carry on", "Father, I'm fine. There is still time for the child. I want to help you out, I do it for Bethany and her family, but most of all I do it for you. Let me help you, please". Facilier, after a moment's hesitation, nodded. He got out of bed and walked over to the table, thinking of a plan. Celia walked over to him, ready to receive instructions. "So", Facilier told her, "Here's what we're going to do".