A Hidden Queen

Chapter 67

Darkness shrouds Josephine. Her ears ring even as the silence engulfs her. She squeezes her eyes tighter, waiting for the blossoming pain. However, several seconds pass without the sensation. She cracks open her blue eyes, beginning to thoroughly examine her torso and finding no signs of a blooming red spot. Unsettled, she locks onto Jack. He stands rigidly, his face a ghostly pale as he stares at her in bewilderment.

"I am unharmed." She mumbles.

"I as well." Jack whispers, astonished.

"Of course you are sir. Now get them off this bloody ship while we still can."

Jack's eyes widen, hastily spinning about. "Hunter!" He admonishes.

Hunter grunts wearily as he lowers Welsh to the decking. He forcibly pries the pistol from the rigid fingers, heaving it over the gunwale.

"I do not wish to be informal sir, but please hurry." he urges, facing Jack. "We have little time before the ship fully awakens."

Jack pinches his lips, curtly nodding his head. He turns to Josephine, pulling a dagger from his belt. Charlie tenses with uncertainty as she moistens her lips.

"Jack?" She inquires.

Jack says nothing as he rolls up the sleeve of his shirt, digging the weapon into the flesh of his forearm. He grunts, squeezing and shaking the appendage as globs of the red liquid spatter upon the deck. Josephine grinches at the act, lightly brushing Jack's arm to gain his attention.

"Jack, what are you doing?"

"I am protecting my queen." He states bluntly. "Hunter! The time please."

"Seconds, sir. The men are beginning to stir."

"Come. We are running out of time."

Jack snatches Joe's bicep, manhandling her to the gunwale. Her world spins, barely able to keep balanced as Charlie grabs Jack's shirt, pulling them apart.

"Oi! What do you think you are doing?"

"Unhand me." Jack barks.

"Not until you unhand Joe." Charlie bargains darkly.

"Damn it man! Do you not see I am attempting to save her life!" Jack snaps. "Now unhand me so I may persevere both hers and yours."

"Sir! We do not have time for such life lessons." Hunter calls over his shoulder.

"Let me do my job." Jack pleads.

Charlie scrutinizes Jack's tanned face. The seconds drag before Charlie sighs heavily, releasing his tight hold. Jack nods once, further ushering Josephine to the descending point. Her heart quickens as Charlie shoulders past her, swinging his long legs over the gunwale. She hastily spins herself about, fisting the front of Jack's uniform as the reality of his actions crash down.

"Jack, you must come with us." She insists.

"I cannot."

"Jack, you cannot stay here, not after this. You must leave this place."

"I am truly sorry my queen, but I cannot come with you. You must go alone."

"James will kill you if he finds out about this!"

"And that is the price I am willing to pay to ensure your safety. Now you must go."

"No. No. No." Josephine repeats pitifully. "I will not let you face death to ensure my life."

"It is not your choice Josephine. Besides he will not lay a hand on me as he does not like the tedious task of paperwork." Jack half jokes.

"This isn't a joke, Jack! This is your life we are talking about. You must come with us, with me."

Jack ignores her cries of protest, grabbing Charlie's elbow. The bigger man growls predatorily as the men fixate intensively on one other.

"I can see you are a man of integrity, putting her above all else. It is an act that no one in this world has shown her, not even me. So, you will watch over her; ensure her safety?"

"You have already said I will do such."

"Mr. Pierre! All haste!" Hunter urges, backing closer to the trio.

"My final statement is that she was killed while trying to escape. Accidentally shot by my petty officer. According to official records and rumors she will be dead. Ensure that it stays that way."

"Aye." Charlie agrees.

"You must go. Now."

Charlie pulls Josephine closer to him as Jack pushes her away. She shakes her head, stubbornly tightening her hold.

"Jack. Please do not do this. Come with me."

"Please forgive me, my queen." He states quietly.

"Pierre! Time is up!" Hunter calls, the shouts of the awakened crew ringing in the air.

"Hunter, scatter." He barks, turning his attention back. "You must go before the ship converges on us."

Jack shoves Josephine into Charlie, pushing them further down the rope. Her chest constricts with panic as she stares into the grieving pale blue eyes. He rests his weight against the gunwale, a small sad smile pulling at his lips as the pair settle into the boat.

"Be strong; be the woman you are meant to be Josephine. And above all else, be happy my queen."

"Jack! Please!" She begs, reaching towards him. "Don't do this!"

Joe feels numb, her emotions swallowing her as she gazes at her friend for what may be the last time. Jack stares down with all the sadness in the world. He sways back as marines crowd him, ramming their limbs into his body as they bring their weapons to bear.

"Incoming!" Scotty warns.

Charlie hastily throws himself over Josephine. He covers her head as the bullets embed themselves into the old wood.

"Childers! Get us the hell out of here!" He shouts over the chaos.

"No, please. Charlie. Charlie, we cannot leave him! James will surely kill him!"

"I am sorry Josephine, but we must go! He has made his choice."

Charlie grunts as she begins to wiggle, ramming her elbow into his abdomen in protest. She scrambles to her feet, lunging at the awaiting waters. Charlie snatches her wrist, swinging her away from the naval ship and into the center of the boat.

"Don't leave him. Please." Joe implores, her breathing turning laborious. "Jack!"

The blue eyes fill with bitterness as Jack is harshly pulled from the railing. She claws her way to her feet, staring at the empty space as Charlie tightens his hold on the struggling woman.

"Jack!"