Buccaneer

Pelegostos

I couldn't say how long it has been since we arrived on the island. I can't say how long it's been since I escaped capture from the Pelegostos. What I can say is that I'm a coward.

I'm a coward because I abandoned my crew.

We were exploring the island when it happened. Jack seemed overly careful as it was. Like he knew something was going to happen, and maybe that's why I noticed the nets that were dispersed throughout the brush so that they were hidden from plain sight. But Jack and I were the only ones that managed to not get caught. The rest of our crew were not so lucky.

But even if I wasn't caught in a net, I was still trapped. Sebastian had been caught, and I was after all chained to him.

"Jack what's going on?" I remember questioning.

His eyes dart from Sebastian to me. They were wide and full of panic. My arm falls as it's released from the chains that bound me to Sebastian. I jerk my head in his direction. What was he thinking?

I open my mouth to protest, but Sebastian stops me. "You have to go back to the ship. Now."

My eyes start to fill with tears. "What? I can get you down, it won't take long."

"Pearl," This came from Jack. "They're coming. You have to go now."

And so I did. I ran away from there as quickly as my legs could take me. I got onto the ship and as soon as my feet hit the deck my legs gave out and I fell to my knees. My vision was blinded by tears and I felt sick to my stomach. I didn't know what was going on, but I was scared.

And to this day, I'm still scared. I don't know how long it's been since then. I don't know if they are still alive, and maybe they still are, but I can't get this ship off this island without a crew. I won't leave this island without Sebastian.

So I decided to stop being a coward, and although it may be against Jack's orders; I have to go find them. I have to bring them to the Pearl.

I step out of the cabin with two pistols and a sword at my side. I wore my compass around my neck and had my hair tied up to keep it out of my face.

I make my way over to the side of the ship to climb over then I see him. I almost didn't believe it was him. How did he find us?

"Will!" I call out. It had to be him. "Will!"

He turns around. "Pearl?" He calls out. I climb down and run over to him. "Pearl, where is everyone? What are you all doing here?"

"They were captured. I managed to escape, but Will it's been a few days I don't even know if they're still alive..." I explain. "Why are you here? How did you even find us?"

"They arrested Elizabeth. She's in line to be hanged and the only way to save her is to get Jack's compass."

"He's not going to give it to you. You know that right?"

"I've got no other choice." His eyes drift to my chest where my compass tested on its chain.

I grasp it. "It's all I have left of my mother, Will." I say immediately shutting the idea down. "But... we can use this to find Jack and the crew. We get them back, we get off the island, you get Jack's compass, and then Sebastian and I can run away together without worrying about Jack coming after us."

"Daddy issues?" Will questions.

"He's trying to get rid of Sebastian." I say sadly. "Do we have a deal?"

He nods his head and we shake on it, and as if on cue; Mr. Cotton's parrot flies over and lands on Will's shoulder. "Squawk! Don't eat me!"

"We're not going to eat you." We reassure him. Will looks at me confused but I realized what was going on.

"We've got to hurry." I say as I take off running towards the jungle with Will right behind me. We notice Mr. Gibbs' canteen hanging and Will starts to examine it before getting caught in a trap. He starts swinging his sword around and I dive into some brush hoping that it concealed me enough not to get caught. I had to save Sebastian and the crew. Jack could get eaten for all I cared. I didn't need him.

"Pearl what ar-"

I hold my breath as the Pelegostos approach after they shoot a dart at Will to knock him out. I couldn't get caught. I had to find Sebastian and he and I could get out of here together. No one else mattered to me anymore. He's all I cared about, and I had to bring him back.

They cut Will down and start to carry him away. I dare not move; even minutes after they had disappeared back into the jungle. I was scared. Any courage I managed to build up earlier, was gone as soon as I laid eyes on the Pelegostos. Their bodies had been painted and pierced, they wore clothes made out of bones, and their teeth were sharp. I knew what I was facing now, and that made everything more terrifying than not knowing.

I took a deep breath, glad I had avoided getting caught again. I go to crawl out but something catches my foot and I start to get drug the other way. I scream as I grab onto any and everything I can to stop myself from being pulled away. Then I remembered I had a literal gun with me for something exactly like this. I grab the pistol from my side and before the Pelogostos man could even react I fired it in his face. I get up and start running in the other direction not even bothering to examine the man. That shot was loud, I didn't have the time to waste to stop.

I open the compass around my neck and will it to point me in the direction of Sebastian. It spins a few times before locking towards the east. I turn towards that direction and start running that way with a sudden burst of hope and confidence. The compass pointed to him and that meant he was still alive.