this is the first chapter and a few additional excerpts of my story, The Caribbean 4. i need a frequent reader/editor, or hell just anyone who wants to see more gimme a holler. critiques or opinions are welcome. yes, the style needs work and i need to proofread it closer but i'm in the process now, that can come later eh? thank you for your time, enjoy.
Chapter 1: 'What shall we do next?' (Beginning of a Journey)
Serenity and jack were finally together again. It had been a long, hard year apart from each other, and as serenity looked down over the starboard side of the ship she saw, with satisfaction her beloved friend holding a pistol to the temple of the man that had set them apart. Jack was feeling the adrenaline of a prize won and a job well executed. 'Finally I got her back.' he though as there before him bound, gagged and on his knees was Patrick Balmung; the man who had kidnapped his best friend. He clicked the safety off with a fire in his blue eyes as the grimy, bald headed man with a sun tattoo on the right side of his neck glared with malice. Jack pulled down the loose gag roughly, and asked with a quiet growl full of venom, 'any last words?'
In a scratchy Irish brogue, the man sniped, 'let that little BITCH of a coward come down her and kill me HERSELF why don't you?' and as he looked up of the hull towards where she was leaning over and watching them, he screamed up to her, 'WHY DON'T YOU COME DOWN AND BODE ME FAREWELL, LASSIE? COME ON, I KNOW YOU WANT TO! YOU CLUELESS FUCKING SLAG, YOU HAVEN'T WON AGAINST ME! YOU'LL BURN IN-'
A swift shot in between Patrick's legs to through the bottom of the boat that produced a gushing leak was enough to shut him up. Jack spoke with a hint of reproach in his voice as he said, 'I'm only letting you live now, because Serenity, in a far greater show of mercy then I would have shown, has requested that I not kill you.' And shaking his pistol at the man, he said quickly, 'know that it would give me no greater pleasure to see your brains splattered over my boots like a pile of mud. But I warn you, if I ever see you again I will have your head to mount up on my mainmast.'
Patrick spat on hiss boots and said, 'There's something to cover your boots with, you pathetic scrawny half breed mutt! Your mother was a slag, and your father was a madman, and now you got a best mate that's a whore from the Seagull Port alleyways? Piece of riffraff slapdash shite is all you are, Jonathan Parkhall, and it's all you'll ever be.
And with a curt gesture, jack replied, 'at least I'm not fish food.' And jumped up and down, once on the boat to sink it further, then again up to the rope Serenity had thrown him, climbing with acrobatic precision until he reached the top. Serenity reached out her hand, and he took it, holding it tight as he came aboard. They watched as Patrick struggled against his bindings, and Jack had an arm around her waist as the rowboat finally disappeared into the dark waters of the evening Caribbean. 'I'm glad that's over love.' He said softly, still looking down at the water. Holding his hand tighter she replied, 'It'll never be over, Jack, but I am glad that I'm back with you.'
"What?' he asked, turning his head with a perplexed expression. And as she replied to him she held no tone of anger or resentment, just a matter of fact tone and the hint of a sad smile. "I mean... never mind.' Jack sobered from his feelings o victory and said, 'I missed you, Serenity.' She turned to embrace him, whispering softly into his ear as she laid her head on his shoulder. 'I missed you too.' jack nodded, and kissed her cheek before he pulled away and asked, 'So, what shall we do next? We have all the time in the world, one step ahead of all our foes, not to mention the federal officials,' he said, making Serenity laugh as he quickly stiffened his posture to that of a soldier's and made a fake salute, 'what'll be the next exciting chapter of Jack Parkhall and Serenity Cuttingham?
"you haven't changed." and when he nodded she said, "jack.." and with a twinkle coming into her eyes she continued, "let's go after the Onyx again.' jack's face split into a wide grin that crinkled the crow's feet beginning at the corners of his eyes as he said, 'that was just what I had in mind, love.'
Serenity chuckled a bit and said, 'I know jack, did you forget I can read it?' and feigning sudden remembrance he said, 'But of course!' and as they walked down into the lower decks with her arm linked with his she said, 'don't worry, I know." then she put her ands around her mouth and Jack didn't have time to cover his ears before he hollered, " BARTIE! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU? ARE YOU DOWWN HERE?'
Jack winced, and serenity grinned, shrugging her shoulders innocently as they both heard a holler from the left. 'I'M DOWN HERE SERENITY! COME AND HAVE A LOOK!' serenity shook her head and smiled at the gleeful giggling coming from the other room. Jack quickly plugged his ears as he saw her mouth open wide, just missing the blow as she screamed back, "RIGHT-O THEN!"
Jack narrowed his eyes at serenity and said, 'Blasted woman, trying to burst my poor bloody eardrums.' Serenity just stuck out her tongue playfully and said, 'Quit your goddamned griping, Jackie boy!' while bouncing around him and giving his sun streaked, finely combed blonde hair a ruffle before running off. 'I REALLY HATE IT WHEN YOU YELL LIKE THAT!' he said, taking out his ponytail and running his fingers through the shoulder length strands, effectively re-depositing the grease before putting it back up. And as he walked up to the door she retorted with a sarcastic glance and, 'oh the amusing, diplomatic irony of hypocrisy, my friend.' To which was received only with a quizzical 'what?' from Jack and an accompanying glance complete with raised eyebrow. Then, thinking twice about what he had just done he looked at the palms of his hands now covered in grease. 'Oh, shit.' After a moment, he just shook his head and wiped his palms on his leather breeches as he asked, 'Where's Bart?'
'I'm right here, captain, I'm making an inventory of the supplies!' Bart called from inside the large store room that adjoined the sick bay that both Jack and Serenity were currently occupying. 'In other words, fanning about with dead plants when you should be making use of yourself.' jack said, glancing sideways and seeing a widening red stain on serenity's sleeve with a matching tear in the fabric. He quickly glanced over the burgundy crush velvet corset style bodice and skirt of the same material as the flowing sleeves and asked, 'Any other wounds then that?'
Half mindedly she replied, 'No, it's just a scratch.' and then she proceeded to enter the store room, intent on having a look at Bart.' I can't believe it's been a year since I last saw him.' He was a tall, thin man with weathered skin, and old but wise brown eyes.
Serenity didn't know much of his past, but from what she knew he had joined up with Jacks father, a young Jagger Parkhall, and that together they had acquired a large amount of gambling debt. She knew that he was now into his seventies and possibly richer then any man in the King of England's court. The reason she had been kidnapped was her suspected knowledge of where he had hidden his riches. Patrick was a long time adversary of Bart's, and he had wanted be paid his due. But as serenity stood there waiting for him to come out of the store room she could only think of the man who she loved with all her heart.
'Come out here Bartie, let me see you!' she called cheerfully, poking her head through the store room door. Soon after, he came out from around a corner, practically dancing over to her with a pot of cactus-like plants. 'Oh but Serenity look!" Look!" he cried, making her crane her neck back to avoid contact with the pot being shoved under her nose. "Proper aloe! Freshly growing! This ship is so well stocked. It's like a dream come true! no more having to make due with willow bark and boiled water for Mr. Bartholomew Adams, oh no sir never!' and as serenity laughed Jack just shook his head, placing his hand on his left hip as he stated, 'that man is growing loony in his old age, that's my medical opinion.'
'Oh give him a break jack, he can't help it if he's a born naturalist and dead plants are his regular cup of tea!' serenity half scolded jack with a smile on her face. Jack retorted, 'the only use dead plants are to me is when they are flavoring tea now please, come and get this fixed.'
'Fixed, did somebody say fixed?' Bart asked in a very jolly tone. 'I can fix anything with these plants, anything! Whatever malady befalls you, I HAVE the cure! With these plants, I can be the greatest healer in the world!' Serenity cried enthusiastically, 'I'm sure you can Bartie!' while clapping a few times and laughing, while jack just stood there shaking his head saying, 'total loony.'
Bart sobered after a moment, and then he said, "It's good to have you back Serenity.' And going to hug him she said, 'I missed you too Bartie.' However, her gesture to embrace was kindly rebuffed as he said, 'not right now, I'm filthy.' And she simply walked back to stand beside jack and smiled coyly at him. Turning to jack, Bart asked, 'so, where are you going next?' and Jack took the hand of serenity that hung limply by her side as he said, 'we're going after the Onyx again.' Bart couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, asking, 'The onyx, jack? Have you forgotten-'but jack cut off with a sharp, 'no, I have not forgotten. I'm not old YET, Bartie.' Bart nodded his head looking far from comfortable as he asked, 'Are you sure?" then he looked from Jack to Serenity, searching their faces for an answer. "Both of you, are you both very sure?'
'Yes,' serenity said with a note of finality. 'We're sure.' Bart nodded a few times with an air of hesitance then asked, 'So where are we going for supplies then? Jamaica?'
Jack started out, 'I was thinking we could go to Tortu-'but serenity cut in with a quick, 'Seagull Port, Bartie. As you can imagine, it is time to face the past. It's the closest, and you have more then one old friend there." then her expression grew sly as she added, "Also, I have a feeling we may acquire a new crewmate.' Jack looked over at her then with raised eyebrows and asked, "Oh are we?" Serenity nodded and said, "I've had a lot of time to think while in Patrick's care, and I've decided that I want to go see her... see if she wants to sail with us. If that's alright with you jack, of course." Jack thought it over for a moment, and he rubbed his chin as he said, "if you want to add a member to the crew that's fine, we could use the help, but who the hell.... no!" Jack's head shot up to look at Serenity, "surely you aren't talking about your...' but Serenity put her had up swiftly, cut him off and turning her head to the nonplussed Bart. 'Bartie," she said, "will you excuse us? Jack and I still have much to discuss. Take a nap, and whether we get there tonight or tomorrow I'll wake you up when I want to go shopping for supplies and weapons together.'
'Yes ma'am.' Bart simply nodded, knowing that it wouldn't do him good to question her orders. 'Oh, and Bartie?' she added as she and jack were about to walk out the door. He turned around to look at her, and she said 'have fun." I'll see you tomorrow.' Bart smiled and replied, 'Aye aye, ma'am.' Serenity smiled, 'oh and Bartie?' Bart turned away from his plant again and his tone was a bit more impatient as he asked, 'yes?' knowing full well what was to be said next. "It's miss, if it pleases you to say. I'm not that old yet, you know.' Bart gave her a little wave and offered a smile, but when they tuned away he rolled his eyes and muttered, "you don't have to tell me, I know old, missy." he turned around quick when she called, "what was that Bartie?" he let out a little laugh and said, "oh nothing! Just talking to my plants!" Serenity took jack's arm again, and as they walked down the hall she quietly said, "The liar." Jack shook his head. "The loony."
excerpts from the following chapters"
excerpt 1: the fight
Serenity's mouth opened wide and she gasped with shock. "You capricious bastard!" she yelled. "Foolish harlot!' he struck back. "HARLOT?!?" she screamed, an inch from his face. Jack put one hand over her face and one on her shoulder. He pushed her back, knowing instantly that he' gone too far as she stumbled. She would have fallen but Will quickly stepped to the right and caught her, helping her up even though she was bristling with anger like a wet cat. She immediately stomped right over to Jack, and went to give him a slap in the face. Her hand was caught. She blinked and looked over to see a worried looking Elizabeth saying frantically, "Stop it!"
Elizabeth looked over at Jack. "Please stop it!" she urged, and Jack let out a deep breath as Serenity let her hand fall. She gave a poignant glance to jack letting him know she was still angry with him and that he'd have more then 1 slap mark if Elizabeth hadn't have stopped her. "For you lizzy, I will." She took will's hand and gave jack a dark nod. "I believe that it's time for us to go our separate ways for today, Parkhall." Jack picked up on her word placement. 'Now she wants to undermine me, beautiful' and he said, "That's captain Parkhall, Serenity." She and Will had been walking away, but that stopped her in her tracks and she turned around with a stone cold expression, walking up to him. "Not anymore, Parkhall, and don't you dare call me what you just called me and then call me by my name."
As she walked away he called after her, "I'll call you whatever I please, I'm still your superior officer!" Serenity swung around, and it caused her dress to swish violently while she yelled, "IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOUR SUPERIOR WAY OF GETTING CAPTURED WE WOULDN'T BE HERE, AND IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY IN-FERIOR NEGOTIATING SKILS YOU AND LIZZY COULD HAVE BEEN DEAD 2 DAYS AGO!" Jack knew she was right, but he couldn't let her win this battle. If she wanted to make him look bad and hurt his pride, then he thought 'so be it!' as he fired back, "I'M SURE THAT MOUTH KEPT US ALIVE BUT WHAT I WONDER ABOUT IS HOW!"
Elizabeth gasped and exclaimed, "Jack!" Will stomped his foot and put up his fist yelling, "THAT'S IT YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH ABOUT HER!" but Serenity was beyond rage as she stomped over him with no delay and gave him a swift punch in the face. Elizabeth gasped and stepped slightly away from him as he stumbled towards her, holding his face on the upper left cheekbone where Serenity had struck it. He righted himself and looked at her, and she was surprised that there was no anger but only shock. It threw her off guard or a moment, then she remembered the reason she had hit him and her anger returned. Her facial expressions weren't missed by Elizabeth, and she thought, 'this is terrible' as Serenity walked away with a calm saunter and distinctive steps, Will following close behind.
Jack just stood there watching her walk away, waiting for her to look back. Elizabeth watched them as well, and while Jack's mood was expectant Elizabeth's was somber. He had it all planned that when she looked back, he'd throw her a smug look. 'That'll really piss her off' he thought, but he grew more and more shocked with each step, and his mouth was nearly hanging open when she rounded the corner. 'She didn't give me even half a backward glance'' All his temper dissipated and he knew that he'd made a mistake. Every time she'd hit him in the past and stomped off, no matter how loudly she'd marched away, no matter how fleeting the glance was, no matter how loud or squeaky the 'humph' she uttered at him was and no matter how wild her hair swung as she turned around, she always looked back.
excerpt two: the accident
Jack and Elizabeth had heard the yelling, and when he heard Serenity scream he immediately flew to the other side of the deck. He as watching with his hands on his face, peeking through his fingers as he walked in little circles and at a loss of what to do. Dread filled his heart as h watched he was almost crying himself, seeing only her in that moment. All that filled his mind was, 'What if I lose her?' He watched her swing back and forth, gaining momentum as she slipped further down the rope. Elizabeth had just caught up with Jack, and when she saw the red down the front of Serenity's dress she screamed. "SERENITY!" looking up to Jack and half in tears she asked, "What can we do?" Jacks voice was full of despair and she had barely finished her sentence when he replied, "I don' know!"
He didn't even think as his hand grabbed hers and they held each other tight as they watched her swing. "GEOFFREY!" Serenity cried, "PLEASE! I CAN'T HOLD ON ANYMORE!" and after moment of no answer she opened her eyes and looked straight at him, begging him with her eyes and voice. "GEOFFREY!" their eyes connected, and after one more swing she looked down at the water. Her body suddenly went slack; her eyes fluttered closed, and she went plummeting down with only the sea under her. Jack and Elizabeth both screamed, "SERENITY!" Geoffrey yelled across the small distance to Bart, "GET A ROPE PULL US UP!" Just as they all heard a resounding smack of her body hitting the water he jumped off, and they lost sight of him just as her limp head went under.
excerpt 3: the legend of Tem'blar
it was sunset when Geoffrey stepped out of the sick bay, and he shook his head at what he had just seen. his bare feet padded the blue carpet of the floor as he walked down the hall and up the stairs, his soggy attire covered with a few dried grains of salt. his hair was half dry, his braid that he kept it in was mussed, and as he emerged from the lower decks of the ship he took another deep breath, and looked around and spotting the glowing ball that produced the multi hued evening twilight. "Tem'blar's cape is bright tonight." he said to himself with a quipped half smile in the left corner of his mouth as he swept a stray strand of hair away from his aged face. "whose?" asked a voice from behind them, and Geoffrey turned quick to see Will a few feet behind him, eyes still shining with emotion. "you bill's boy?" Geoffrey asked in a sharp tone, and will recoiled slightly as he said, "yes."
Geoffrey took another long drawl of sea air through his nostrils then elaborated on the name. "Tem'blar, the god of the sky to a certain tribe of natives. they believed that his cape was a blanket that his mother, Timpa, had weaved for him as a child, and when he grew older he made it into a cape so he could have a part of her close to him always. then, when his mother died she fell from the sky and onto the earth, dissolving into the soil. to their people, he laid the sky on top of the earth as a blanket to keep his mother warm in her grave, and the stars are jewels he attached to the cape, placed in specific patterns to remind his mother if she ever arose from the grave of who she was; her past, as well as her station and wealth."
"That's a lovely story." Will said, feeling more at ease with the man. "where did you meet these people?" Geoffrey smirked and said, "I met them on the island of Manka. its the largest of a chain of three islands. Manka, Timpa, and..." but Will finished his sentence, "Garados..." Geoffrey nodded. "But that's where we're going!" he exclaimed and Geoffrey smiled wider and said, "yes." Will sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, looking around and drinking in the evening scenery. "was there something you wanted boy?" Geoffrey asked, and Will' face was full o sorrow as he nodded. "I'm worried about her." he said. "she'll b fine boy." he said, looking towards the stairway that led down to the sick bay. Will suddenly looked straight at him and half asked half demanded "who are you to her?" Geoffrey looked none to pleased as he said, "that's none of your business boy."
excerpt 4: two sisters parted
the tall windows flew open with a bang, the white curtains billowing wildly as a violent wind swept in from the outside world. Elizabeth's head shot up off her pillow, seeing black shadows walking in from the balcony, smelling a rotten fish and mold smell with the next breeze. She crinkled her nose in disgust, but then she saw the silhouette of her sister getting up with her wooden sword in hand. 'Go away!' her elder sibling yelled, but Elizabeth had no time to do anything else before she was swept up in the arms of one of the smelly men. 'GEORGI-!' she screamed, but her cries were muffled before she could finish calling her sisters name.
'LIZZY!' she heard her sister call, but then she saw her be grabbed by one of the black shadowy men herself. Elizabeth tried to scream and struggled as hard as she could, but to no avail. The light of the full moon in the window behind the group of men cast an eerie glow upon the scene, and the curtains were ripped down savagely by the man in front of her sister when the ceased to stop blowing in his face. The man holding Elizabeth asked, 'shall I kill this one?' Elizabeth trembled in fear as a knife was pressed to the soft skin of her throat.
All of a sudden the man holding her sister yelled in pain and his hand flew away from her sister's mouth quick as a bullet. 'AHH, SHE BIT ME!' Geoffrey pointed a gun at his head just as her sister yelled, 'LEAVE HER ALONE!' up to the head man. Single drop of wetness rolled out from the corner of Elizabeth's eye as she felt a slight sting on her neck as the man's knife nicked her.
'the lot of you be quiet!' the lead man hissed, 'we don't want to be found out if we don't have to!' then he knelt down to reach Serenity's level, and Elizabeth's whole body was paralyzed as he saw his head turn; and even though all she could see was a black outline she could feel he was looking at her. Elizabeth felt a gush of warmth as her bladder overloaded, just as he looked away and turned his attention to her sister. 'do you love your sister?' she heard him ask. 'yes sir, I do.'
'then you'll come with me quietly girl, do you hear me? You'll come with me now'' Elizabeth heard her sister sniffle, and it made Elizabeth feel sad to hear her sister cry. 'can I say goodbye please, sir?' Elizabeth saw him nod, and the man who was holding her sister let her go. The man who held her loosened his grip as well. he put her down, and the two siblings collided in the middle of the room in a bone crunching hug, the both of them crying.
'be good lizzy.' She heard her sister say near her ear, and she nodded and muttered, 'uh huh...' into her sister's chest. 'I love you georgy!' Elizabeth cried, and as they p[ulled away her sister replied, 'I love you too, silly.' With a smile. 'Lizzy, you're wet. Have nana change you in the morning.' But then the lead man was pointing his gun at the side of her sisters head. 'nana's dead.' She heard him say as he grabbed her sister's arm, 'and its time to go now.' He turned the barrel towards her, making her gasp and stiffen up. 'stay there, if you know what's good for you. Don't make a sound.'
'There are some fresh nightgowns in the closet, lizzy!' Serenity called as the men led her away, and elizabeth cried, 'WAIT!' as she ran back to her bed and got her favorite doll. The man turned as she scurried over, falling down twice on her nightgown. She didn't cry though, she didn't sit there. She knew she didn't have time. She approached Serenity and handed her the doll. 'here Georgy, take my dolly so I can know it is you when you come back!' Serenity just nodded and took the doll with her free arm, then she led away.
Elizabeth stood there in the middle of the disarrayed room, waving after her sister even though she knew that she couldn't see her. They walked out onto the balcony, and just before they went out of sight Serenity turned, and for one moment Elizabeth saw her face.
' and that was the last I saw of her.' Elizabeth finished, leaning into Jack. 'I waited by the window every night for months, sometimes I even fell asleep there.' She chortled through her tears then. 'it was silly, really. It never occurred to me that if she did come back she'd use the door.' Jack chuckled a bit too, more out of a wish to lighten the mood then out of genuine amusement. 'but one day I just stopped waiting'' she thought a minute and she said, 'no, I never stopped waiting. In a way I'm still waiting. I suppose I just gave up hope.'
excerpt 5: a sensual interlude
Will stopped, and he looked at her with an intensity that held not even the slightest shadow of the shy young man that Serenity had come to see as will. It was sunset outside the ship, and the entirety of the sick bay was cast in an orange yellow light. The porthole behind will let in the blazing light, and it shone off his slick wet hair like glass. His eyes were slightly shadowed, and for a moment Serenity was breathless. 'what do you want me to do?' he asked huskily, bending down lower towards her face.
'take off your shirt.' She whispered to him, and he smiled as she caressed the square lines of his jaw. Will did nothing for a moment, so she felt the need to lighten the intensity of the mood. 'after all, it's only fair seeing as'' he barely had to whisper 'shh' to cease her speech. 'I'll do it.' He got up and unbuttoned his shirt, his sleeve rolling down of its own accord as the buttons came undone. Serenity watched him as his shirt slowly came undone, and he flitted his eyes up to her once to see if she was looking. After that, it wasn't a dramatic change, but rather subtle effects and gestures that made Serenity suspect he was putting on a bit of a show for her.
His chest hair was plenty and just as raven black as the rest of him. He stripped his shirt in one swift move that left her nearly breathless from the sheer animalistic qualities; it was almost as a predator, shedding his disguise and about to spring on his play. She smiled when she saw two glittering silver plate chains around his neck, slightly nestled in his chest hair. She looked over the tight six pack abs, the slim but masculine torso and the bulge in his pants, smiling with appreciation. 'oh yes'' she thought, 'something I want''
excerpt 6: night aboard the Onyx
Jack walked down into the bowels of the Onyx, struggling to keep his composure and stop the thoughts racing through his head. Anger, rage, jealousy, love, envy, happiness, a thousand memories all rolled up into a few seconds of life all in the infinite black recesses of his mind. Now, all he had felt and repressed over the years was coming out, and he was struggling to keep it back. His throat constricted as he flung open the cell door, choking on the words and looking for Elizabeth.
She was nowhere in sight, and without further ado he turned towards the corner and started quietly sobbing. He put his face in his hands, and he propped his elbows on his knees and sat there, trying to hide his face from everyone and everything that might see him. His mouth was shut, and he felt a pain in the back of his throat as he struggled not to cry out. Hot, wet tears poured down his face, and within moments he was tasting the salty flood pouring from his eyes. His hands gripped the bars, and he gritted his teeth as he clutched them until his knuckles were white and his fingernails were digging into his palms.
He sobbed again through his clenched jaw and towards the end it became a growl. He shook the bars, and yelled at them as he continued to pull at them. 'YOU STUPID BASTARDS!' he yelled, giving them a yank with all the force in his body. He rattled them fiercely and screamed, 'YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR MY PAIN!' he beat the bars with the side of his fists, attacking them in sporadic despair. He pummeled the iron bars, hearing the crack of knuckles and feeling the dripping wetness of blood down his fingers. His fists never he just kept on clutching them. The tears kept on flowing, but he just kept blinking them down. The yells just kept on going, but he didn't hear them at all. It was dark all around him, the only light was from the flickering oil lamps that sputtered and hissed in the hallways.
He turned around, and he saw Serenity standing outside the door of his cell holding the old set of rusty keys he knew so well. He walked up to her and said, 'Serenity, set me free.' She took out the keys and bent down, putting the rustiest key into the lock and jiggling it. Jack watched the key rust and decay before his eyes, it began to flake off rust in little dust like flakes, and finally crumbled into pieces. She turned away, and walked over to Jagger who had emerged from the corner. He wrapped his hands possessively around her and ravished her neck, and she growled with animosity as she gnashed at his neck with her teeth over and over. Suddenly, Geoffrey was going at her. Then, Patrick Balmung was there and he pulled her further away from the door as Jack hollered, 'don't leave me, I love you!'
she started to fade with all the men still running their hands all over her. 'did you love our baby, Jack?' her voice echoed from the impending darkness. Jack got to his knees and grabbed the bars as he tried to get the door open. 'I swear, I did!' a few new tears formed on his half dried face as he yelled to her with a call of desperation. 'please, believe me!' 'liar...' came whispers. Then again the whisper came. 'liar, liar, liar'' they came from all around him, overlapping each other in a never ending roll call of the word. 'no, no, no!' Jack fought, putting his hands on top of his head. 'I swear, I love you, please!' but the whispers just kept coming, 'liar, liar, liar'' Jack shook his head and covered his ears. 'no, no, no!' he cried. The voices only continued to call back, 'liar, liar, liar'' then with a final death rattle they all joined and said one word; 'murderer''
'NO!' Jack screamed, and he woke up just as he punched the lower grate of iron bars that made up the wall. Jack let out a loud, 'AGH!' of pain, and cradled the hand left hand that was still clenched in a tight fist. He let the muscles relax then, hissing in pain and grumbling incoherently, still feeling the cold, sick feeling in his stomach from the dream as he sat there in the semi-darkness. 'Jack?' a little voice called from his right side, and he felt a tiny, delicate hand touch his shoulder tentatively. He looked up to see the concerned face of Elizabeth, her hazel eyes partially inhibited by honey blonde curls.
'are you alright?' she asked as she got to her knees beside him. She gently took his hand away and looked it over. She sighed after a moment and said, 'I'm sorry sweetheart, but I can't see a damn thing in this poor light.' Jack let his legs spread out in front of him and pulled Elizabeth to his chest, kissing her temple as he asked, 'you are my sweetheart now aren't you?' Elizabeth's cheeks felt warm as she replied, 'well I suppose, if that's alright I was just thinking'' she was silenced when he nuzzled her with his face, taking one of her hands with his injured one. 'I like it when you're my sweetheart.'
Elizabeth leaned into him and held his hand a bit tighter, though not so tight that it caused his hand extra pain. 'Oh jack'' she started, not knowing what to say that could express the way she felt when she was next to him in that moment. Then she noticed the sticky wetness flowing from his middle knuckle and in between their fingers. 'you're bleeding.' She finished, feeling that she had put a dent in the atmosphere.
Jack smiled into her hair and muttered, 'yes, that's true. I broke a knuckle I think, but there's nothing either of us can do about it.' Hais arms wrapped themselves more securely around her at that point, and he rested his head on her shoulder as he said, 'I feel you, Elizabeth'' he breathed as he gave her neck the hint of a kiss and sounding half asleep. 'I feel you too, Jack.' She whispered to him, looking straight ahead of her and just drinking in every stroke of his body against hers. 'I love this'' he said, scrunching down and laying his head on a pile of dingy straw. 'I haven't felt it in a long time.' He remarked as he let his arms lightly rest around her. She faced the hall as she laid there on the cool wooden floor, knowing what she was about to say was crazy and impossible, but true as she felt it. 'I love you too, Jack'' she whispered. Her lips curled into a grin and a single tear rolled down her faces as her words were only met with a light snore beside her ear and a grumble that sounded suspiciously like 'pancakes'.
