Scarlett felt as if the blood in her veins curdled as the scene befell around her. There was a frenzy of rushing feet, those of William beside her as well as her own. There was a thump of a body as her sister fell to the ground, blood gushing out from her side and pooling quickly around her. The Captain ran past them, dashing out of the house as Blackbeard tried to make his escape. He had barely exited the door and ran into the street when another gunshot blasted in the air.

Scarlett jumped in surprise but she could hardly realize what was happening. She and her brother collapsed beside Grace, bending over her and applying her skirts to her wound. William held pressure on it, causing Grace to whimper in pain as Scarlett cupped her face and spewed out reassurances.

“She's bleeding too much,” he said. “We need to get a doctor. Where's Captain Jones?”

Upon hearing his name being called, the Captain ran back inside and gawked at them on the floor. His face was pale and terror flashed in his eyes, unlike anything Scarlett had ever seen before. It chilled her to the bone and coming to her senses, she immediately feared the worst.

“What happened?” she said. “Did he escape?”

“No, I shot him dead,” the Captain replied, his eyes turning cold as he stood frozen in place.

Scarlett and William peered up at him for a moment, unable to comprehend the news. Blackbeard was dead. The ruthless pirate who had been chasing after them and who threatened all of their lives was now gone. Though a small wave of relief came over Scarlett, it only lasted for a brief second. Telling by the Captain's face, Blackbeard's death was of no real benefit to them. Bastian De Leon was the real enemy and now that one of his top sellers was dead, his wrath would come upon them even stronger than before.

But there was no time to think about the consequences. Scarlett turned her attention back to Grace, who winced in pain as tears streamed down her face. She grasped Scarlett's hand, squeezing with every difficult breath.

“Alex, we need to fetch a doctor,” Scarlett said.

This brought the Captain out of his stupor and he jumped into action. “William, help me move her.”

They lifted Grace up and carried her to the settee, laying her across as comfortably as they could. Scarlett placed a pillow under her head as William resumed holding her bleeding wound.

“I'll go find a doctor,” the Captain added as he moved towards the door.

“No, Alex, it's too late for that,” Grace said, grasping Scarlett's arm.

“No, don't say that,” Scarlett said. “You're going to be okay.”

“I'm dying, Scarlett,” Grace said, her gasps growing deeper to utter each word. “I can feel it. A doctor wouldn't be able to save me in time.”

“Nonsense. I'm not going to lose my sister when I just found her.” Scarlett let out a sob as she caressed her sister's face and held her in her arms. “Alex, just get a doctor--anyone who can help!”

“I want to speak to him first,” Grace said.

The Captain came forward and bent down before her. Their faces drew close and she took his hand in hers, tears brimming in her eyes.

“I want to say this in case I never get the chance,” she began. “I wish we could have had better times together, Alex.”

He shook his head in denial. “Don't waste your strength.”

“No, I must speak,” she said. “I have just as many regrets about us as you do and I'm sorry for the bitterness I had towards you. Now I can see how much you love my sister and you're still that good man on the inside. Please take care of her. Protect her from these barbarians that control our lives and most of all, don't let Bastian rule over you anymore.” She grasped tight around his hand to emphasize his words.

“Yes, my dear,” he said, swallowing hard to hold back tears. “I will take care of her and I'll do everything I can to stop him. I promise you.”

“Good,” Grace said, closing her eyes satisfactorily. “Only now may you fetch a doctor.”

The Captain placed a light kiss on her hand before rising and moving towards the door to leave on his mission. Grace then turned her gaze to her brother and sister.

“Scarlett, William--I am sorry I couldn't go home with you. I'm sure Mother and Father will be disappointed.”

“You will come home with us,” Scarlett said, tears streaming down her face. “We'll take you away from all of this.”

Grace gripped her sister's hand as tight as her weakening body could allow. “Don't worry about me, sister. Just take care of each other. Tell Mother and Father that I love them and I'm sorry we didn't have a chance to make things right. And William,” she continued, placing a hand on his cheek, “take care of them for me. They are getting older and I know Father always wanted a son to carry on the business. Make them proud, will you?”

“Of course, Grace,” he said, grasping her hand in his. “I'll do everything I can--I promise. We'll be the best bakery in town.”

She smiled. “Good. Sometimes I miss it.” Grace paused, gasping in pain and feeling the wound in her side. Desperately, she turned back to Scarlett. “Sister, take good care of him. Alexander loves you. I can see that now. He wouldn't have come back if he didn't care about you. Do me a favor and be the good woman in his life.”

Scarlett nodded profusely, wiping the tears from her blurry eyes. “I will.”

“When this is all over, you must go be with him. You deserve a good man and he deserves a chance at lasting love.”

“This will not be over,” Scarlett said, shaking her head. “You're going to be okay.”

“Yes, I am now. I'm so glad you finally found me.”

Grace’s words fell faint and her eyes fluttered. Suddenly, her hand slipped from Scarlett's and her body weighed heavily in her arms. Scarlett's heart skipped a beat as she gaped at her sister's face, void of any emotion except peace.

“No,” Scarlett cried, cradling her sister close to her chest. “No, you can't do this to us. Stay with me!”

William sagged back, releasing the pressure he had been holding on Grace's wound. “Scarlett, she's gone.”

But Scarlett didn't let go. She clung to her sister, trying to keep her awake but she had already fallen asleep. Suddenly, there was a rush of cold air as the door opened again. Scarlett could barely make out the figure of the Captain standing in the doorway. She blinked away the tears in her eyes to see that no one stood beside him.

“We don't need a doctor anymore,” William said.

“Is it too late?” the Captain said, his face pale.

William nodded but said nothing more as he collapsed onto the floor by the hearth.

The Captain released the breath he had been holding in. He dropped his head against his arm as he leaned wearily against the wall, allowing for a sob to finally escape his lips. Then he lifted his head back up, running a hand across his face as he took several deep breaths and began to pace back and forth.

“Alex, what's wrong?” Scarlett said. “Where's the doctor?”

“I didn't get to fetch one. We need to leave.”

“What do you mean?”

“I went outside to find the doctor but stopped when I reached the street. A crowd has gathered around Blackbeard. Oh, what was I thinking firing off my pistol like that? We need to leave now.”

“No! I can't just leave my sister like this.”

“There's no time. There could be dangerous men out there and once they see Blackbeard is dead, they'll come after us.”

Scarlett's heart fluttered in fear but she remained by her sister's side, unable to move. Her brother, however, understood the situation faster than she could and jumped into action at the Captain's bidding to grab their few belongings. Meanwhile, Alexander grabbed Scarlett's arm to lift her up but she protested.

“I can't leave her!” she said, sobbing at her sister's side. “She deserves better than this. She needs a proper burial. I have to stay to take care of things. Mother and Father would want me to. No, I simply can't leave her.”

“And I can't leave you here either,” the Captain said. “Scarlett, your mother and father would want you to live. Now get up. We need to leave now!”

William had returned to the room and urged his sister to say her goodbyes. The Captain led the way towards the back of the house in search of another door. Scarlett barely had time to glance behind at her sister's bloody and lifeless body before being pushed through a door into the black night. She stifled her sobs underneath her hand and as she ran for her life, she could think of nothing but the image of leaving her sister abandoned and alone once again.

----------

Scarlett couldn't comprehend why they ran so fast but after all their recent close encounters, it had nearly become instinct for her. After running through the town, climbing into the jolly boat and rowing out to the Captain's ship, the trio boarded safely without a trace of danger behind them. As Scarlett's feet landed on the ship's deck, she felt her body weaken with fatigue. She collapsed into her brother's arms as he held her tight and allowed her to sob into his chest. He stood silently, gazing over her head to watch the quiet, dark town they were quickly leaving behind. The crew, meanwhile, jumped into action to hoist the sails and weigh the anchor. Only when the ship began to rock did Scarlett lift her head to look behind as well.

“I can't believe she's gone,” she said. “I had so many plans.”

“I know,” William said, petting her mist-dampened curls.

“What will I tell Mother and Father?”

“We'll tell them together, Scarlett.”

“What--that I brought all this upon her just because I wanted to find her and reunite our family?”

“It's not your fault.”

“But it wouldn't have happened that way if we had never shown up.”

William didn't respond and Scarlett felt herself sink further into her woes. She blinked her tears away as she noticed a figure approaching off to the side. She turned to see James gawking at them with concern, his face illuminated by the light of the ship's lanterns. He opened his mouth as if to speak but said nothing before closing it again. Instead, he removed the tricorn from atop his head and held it at his chest, casting his eyes down towards the deck.

Then, catching her attention she observed the Captain, who, after corresponding with Leslie, walked towards his cabin. He staggered in exhaustion, his head low as he entered and closed the door behind him.

“I need to talk to him,” Scarlett said.

William nodded in understanding and released her from his arms. Sensing his hesitancy, she brushed back the strands of hair that had fallen over his eyes and cupped his face for a moment, placing a kiss on his cheek. He smiled at her briefly before urging her to follow after the Captain. At his bidding, she stepped away and slipped quietly through the cabin door.

Alexander lifted his head when he heard the click of the latch. The room was dark again and Scarlett could only see a vague silhouette against the faint light of the windows. Upon her entrance, he moved towards the table and lit the candelabra. A soft glow emanated around him but it only revealed the grief on his face and what looked like tears in his eyes. Scarlett couldn't help but feel disheartened upon seeing him standing helplessly defeated before her. What security she sought was only replaced with a sense of fear and uncertainty.

He wiped his eyes with a heavy sigh and rested his hands on the table. “Scarlett, I'm sorry.”

“Oh, Alex, hold me.”

A lump caught in Scarlett's throat and fresh tears welled up in her eyes as she ran to him. He wrapped his arms around her as she placed herself unabashedly in his warm embrace and cried into his chest. He brushed back her hair, allowing her a few moments of silence, before pulling away and placing a tender kiss on her head. She looked up at him, sensing in his eyes that he struggled to stay strong.

“You knew her better than I,” she said. “Your heart must be breaking.”

He looked down and nodded. “Aye but I had already lost her before. She was your flesh and blood. And to think your entire journey has come to this…I am sorry, love.”

“I can't help but keep thinking that none of this would have happened if I hadn't sought her out.”

“Now, now, you can't say that. You had no way of knowing or had any intentions of Blackbeard being involved. Besides, she worked for him. I'm afraid danger was always close at hand for her.”

“Why did he do it?”

“She knew too much and she showed signs of rebellion. The moment she began to stand up against him was the moment he realized she was worthless to him. And it's all my fault. I put those thoughts in her head.”

Scarlett found herself unable to disagree but she saw the pain in his eyes. “But he's gone now. You served justice.”

“That's what concerns me.” He ran his finger against his lips contemplatively, still keeping his one hand resting on her waist.

Scarlett observed him for a moment, hesitant to speak of the burdens on her mind. “Alex, what did you mean by ‘dangerous men’ back there? What aren't you telling me?”

The Captain sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Because I saw someone out there. When I went to find a doctor, people had gathered around Blackbeard’s body. I couldn't make out faces but one of the men had a feathered hat. There's only a certain type who dresses like that in these parts.”

“Bastian?”

“Likely not but perhaps one of his men--perhaps the very same one who blew a hole in my ship.”

“That's why you urged us to leave.”

“Yes, it wasn't my desire to leave your sister like that but we had no choice.”

“But they don't know you killed Blackbeard.”

He shook his head. “The man turned in my direction. He must have seen me emerge from the doorway. Bastian will know before sunrise--I'm certain of it.”

Suddenly, Scarlett felt a familiar sickness come over her. She had had a sense of small relief that Blackbeard was dead and no longer able to cause them anymore trouble. However, now she feared their problems were far from over with Bastian still after them and the Captain's words did little to reassure her. She sunk back, the weight heavy on her shoulders. “So what does this mean?”

“It means my thoughts of sailing to the West Indies are no longer just a choice. The decision has been made for me whether I like it or not. And--” he paused, taking in a deep breath and prompting her eyes to meet his again. “Unfortunately, I fear the same fate has fallen upon you.”