CHAPTER 19: Almost Home
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"I KNOW WHAT I want, I know what I want." I scattered around while talking into Jack's compass. I wished it was here. I hope I'm not wrong. "...I know what I want. PLEASE WORK THIS TIME..."
I glanced into the compass and the needle point is still spinning. I wonder why it stopped working with me.
" —Have you found it yet?" Jack looked around.
"...No." I sifted rummaging through the pile of treasures and scanned the area. It's the opportune time to find that bloody painting.
The cave went all quiet, and neither Barbossa's crew didn't return to the cave anymore. I knew they are all captured by Norrington's men. We've won. Even I knew what will happen next but I'm all glad we did it.
Now I hope they could wait for few minutes, especially Norrington. This is my only chance to find the painting tonight and I can go back home.
...And there's another problem.
Apparenly, I've been looking for damn minutes and I haven't found it yet. I just hope I'm not wrong. I'm sure it was here in this cave. I'm really sure Barbossa's crew took it days ago and it landed here.
"But where the hell is it?" I've been saying this to my mind over and over and I keep describing the structures of the painting for them. All three of them helped me to find it and we've been scanning the whole area but we failed.
Somehow, I began to think and asks myself;
What if it's not here at all?
What if I already LOST it all along?
How can I get home?
What if I can't go back home?
What if I'll stuck here? Forever?
I kept dredging up into the treasures and I feel like I'm losing my mind. I have a dread with failure. I jeopardized myself by finding that damn gold painting and I failed. But I really shouldn't surrender, there's still time.
Yet I couldn't tell the clock time but I knew it's past midnight and I feel a bit knackered. And again there's no use. You see, there are only overflowing chests of coins, gold and silver ingots, jewelries, objects d'art, jade and ivory, brightly colored silks, furniture, jewels and pearls; mirrors and swords — anything and everything of value that might be carried by the ship is all here and there were NO paintings or frame can be seen here at all.
I couldn't find it.
And there, in that sudden thought of my mind, I asked myself.
...What if there's NO painting at all?
...What if it's NOT HERE all long?
I halted and stood past the water. All of us stopped looking for the painting.
There, I had to realize and agree there was no grandfather's painting here in this cave, or whether I already lost it anyway.
...It's gone, (Y/N). It's no use. It was not here.
After four days and still nothing where that missing painting had located, I feel despondent.
" —Everthing slipshape and bristol fashion, love?" Jack gazed into my eyes and wondered.
"...Oh yes." I knew I wasn't alright. I pretend to smile. "Well, you should go on there and take your pick, Jack."
"Perhaps you may help me picking up some of this treasure?"
I smiled at Jack and made my way towards him. In the corner of my sight, I watched Will moves to Elizabeth. She's standing past the water, watching. Their eyes meet and gaze at each other. It's almost their moment.
—Suddenly, there is a crash; the SOUND of Jack and I gathering up pieces of treasure, including large gold object d'art. Will and Elizabeth look at each other. I winced, the moment is broken. Back to the reality, Elizabeth averts her gaze. "We should return to the Dauntless."
Will understands and nods sadly. "Your fiancé will be wanting to know you're safe."
She looks up at him and sees that he knows about the engagement. This time, Will cannot maintain eye contact. Elizabeth turns, and heads out of the cave. Jack, holding and wearing — a lot of treasure nonchalantly strolls up beside Will.
"If you were waiting for the opportune moment." He told Will, "...That was it."
Will knows. Jack hoists a bag filled with swag onto his shoulder. Jack moves off. "Now, if you'd be so kind, I'd be much obliged if you drop me at my ship..."
But Jack stopped and his eyes gazed at me, "But wait, what about the painting you say?"
I hesitated. I swallowed with worry. "...I was wrong. It's not here. Now, we should be going now. It's alright."
Suddenly, Will turned around and asked. "...Are you sure?"
"...Yes." I nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. We should go back to the ship."
Will looked at Elizabeth again and didn't said a word after. We continue walking towards the exit.
My eyes stared on the chest of Aztec gold until we rowed outside of the cave. I just hope that I wouldn't regret everything I did tonight. But I am merely sure the painting was not there in the Isla de Muerta. There was no painting.
"...It's alright, love." Jack beamed at me. "I'd be delighted if you stay and join me with the crew at the Black Pearl." Jack has a large sack filled with treasure.
I couldn't help myself but smiled. "That would be lovely, Jack. But..." I looked around, facing forward to the distance. "...You see, the Black Pearl is not there."
Out of reverie, Jack scanned the area and hesitated. He realized the ship is gone.
There, Elizabeth began to explain about the crew's rejection of rescuing Jack because of the pirates' code. She felt a pity for him. "...I'm sorry, Jack."
In that moment, Jack understand and sounded a bit downcast. "They done what's right by them. Can't expect more than that."
Will snaps him a look but he looks away, scowling.
I really don't know what to say anymore. Our job here was done. We restored the curse of the Aztec, and we rescued Will and Elizabeth but now Jack didn't take his beloved Pearl back and I haven't found the painting. I can't believe I gave up. All I would have to do was leave.
But what now, (Y/N)? How am I supposed to go home?
If you were waiting for the opportune moment,
...That was it.
And now I needed a reason to be in this situation. I knew after this, Commodore Norrington will have a word on us. I'm sure we wouldn't liked it. I was still so terrified what will happen to us, to me. I couldn't think of no other better idea. I just don't really want to be part of this because I had ruined everything. I was not supposed to be here. I really want to go home.
A lump was forming in my throat. I felt terrible in myself. Oh dear lord, please don't let me lose my head.
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"Elizabeth, I'm relieved you're safe!" Governor Swann reached towards Elizabeth and hugged her tightly.
We marched over the deck and the members of the Royal Navy in the Dauntless are standing around and arrest the three of us.
All eyes are turn, Norrington stands at the top of a stairway.
"...And though I do say so with regret, the law is clear. The penalty for piracy is death by hanging." Norrington stated, putting his sword in his sheath.
Elizabeth was about to refuse but the decisions are made.
Barbossa's remaining crew are on deck, and they are all been arrested. They glared at us in defeat. They're already surrender. They walked down into the deck towards the brig.
I started to panic and stammered. The Royal Navy will going to hang me in the gallows tomorrow. I had swore that I'm not a pirate.
"By your leave, I wish to speak on behalf of these two, Commodore." Suddenly, Governor Swann interrupts Norrington and glanced at Elizabeth. "It is clear that these deeds were performed out of a sincere desire to do good, at great personal risk. It seems to me, that in rare occasion where the right course is committing an act of piracy, then an act of piracy is the right course. So in my capacity as Governor, I intend to grant a pardon to Mr. Turner and Miss Faye."
—I'm shocked out of my reverie, and my mind suddenly roused up.
...What? I overhear and wonder. I can't believe what I hear. Did he just said miss Faye?
Jack chimed in the conversation, "Well, I suppose you wouldn't charged a convict to young miss (Y/N) Faye?"
Norrington looked at me, and turned to the Governor, "We are exterminating pirates, as commanded by the Company, Governor."
There, everyone returned in their position as Norrington commanded. The Dauntless ship has sailed.
And I... I didn't know what just happened. I think Norrington decided and considered not to arrest us, except Jack.
My mind went all still, I don't know what to say. It took me a while to comprehend and back in state of thinking.
—Did he just?
Did Jack Sparrow just told Commodore Norrington I'm a relative to Thomas Faye?
Did he just convinced them I'm (Y/N) Faye yesterday?
Oh Good Lord...
Well, I remember the Royal Navy is associated by the East India Trading Company. And they thought I'm from there. And how I didn't think of that before? They must know about Thomas Faye all along...
"You two girls should secluded in the cabin." Governor Swann told us. "I will not compromise your safety again, Elizabeth."
I was about to ask more questions about this man called Thomas Faye to Commodore Norrington and Governor Swann, but I was still so terrified of what I'm going to say and I didn't know how to start. Because he may changing his mind if I ask too many questions about it. It will be sounds suspicious.
Yet, I'm out of words. I'm unanticipated.
Instead Elizabeth grabbed my hand and walked inside the Captain's chamber. "Come with me, Miss (Y/N)."
I didn't answer. I made my way towards the cabin with her. My eyes are still widened, I leaned behind the door in disbelief. "...I can't believe it."
"...What? What happened?" Elizabeth asked in quiet tone. She sauntered into the wardrobe.
I sighed in relief. I can't believe it. I thought they'll hang me in the gallows tomorrow!
But instead of that enthusiasm, I asked her a different question and promptly, "...D-do you know about Thomas Faye, Miss Swann?"
"...Thomas what?"
"Thomas Faye. I supposed he worked in the East Trading Company?"
"...I haven't quite heard of him." She retorted. "I'm sorry."
I stared into her eyes, she seemed she really had no idea who is Thomas Faye. I don't want to get pushy. I just really want to scream into my head but it's no use. I had to calm myself. "Oh well, of course. It's fine."
"...Well, I'm glad my father made a decision not to arrest you and Will. I'm sorry Jack will convicted his crimes and he'll be at the gallows tomorrrow. I know, it is wrong. I suppose I forgot to thank all of you for rescuing me, including Jack." Elizabeth said. I saw her eyes felt downcast. I'm sure she also had words for Will Turner.
I wanted to make her feel better. So I told her a fact. "Rescuing you is actually Will's idea. He really want to keep you safe. He's indeed a stoic man."
"...Indeed. I wished I could tell him." Elizabeth averts her gaze and smiled. "Anyway, I don't quite understand why you imperil yourself by finding the painting. I wonder why?"
I take the lamp across the room into the table and settled down. "Well, it was my grandfather's, and those pirates took it into the ship the day they've kidnap you, and I thought they brought it in the cave, but I was wrong. It was not there all along."
"...Oh well, I thought your blood was the one what they've needed to the Aztec gold. Now I recall Will told me about the painting, and I'm not so sure but I think I remember there is something in the Black Pearl." She gazes down levelly, but can't quite bring herself to say what she's thinking.
" —WAIT, YOU..." I snapped my eyes open, " —Did you FOUND it, miss Swann? Have you seen any painting in the Black Pearl?"
"I'm not so sure, but," Elizabeth stared into my eyes, she tried to remember it. "There's an old oil canvas in the captain's chamber before I left there."
"An old canvas?" I exclaimed.
Did she just said there is a painting in the Black Pearl? Oh don't get too excited. Perhaps it's just an ordinary painting or whatever. I thought.
" —Is the frame made of gold? Could you tell me about the picture?"
"...I-I suppose it was yours." She nodded. "It was pure made of gold."
I feel enthused and stammered. This thoughtfulness is killing me right now. Suddenly, I asked myself again; Is it?
W-what if it's just an ordinary painting?
What if it's a different painting?
I had to settled down. I really have to make sure of it. Once again, I am at a loss for the proper thinking. I don't know how much longer I'm going to set a plan of it as a mutual stress ball by this situation. Somehow I nearly forgot I'm still inside of the movie, and it's mere ridiculous that I'm still INSIDE OF THE MOVIE. It's like you're having a lucid dream and you cannot wake up in the reality.
I've had worse. Yet I almost died. I just sliced my palm and become a skeleton lately. I can't believe I'm obliged to fight those pirates and convinced the Navies. Then now it's funny that everyone thought I'm from the East india Trading Company and Faye's relative, and I didn't even know who Thomas Faye is. It's absurd.
...I really don't know what just happened. I encountered so many surprising things that made me deeply unanticipated and it's bizzare.
And now I really don't know what I'm going to do anymore after this. I just can't believe I've been involved with this entire odd situation. I'm in great doubt if I could ever make home.
I've been asking myself over and over of what becomes of me if I'll stay here forever and ever? I was really terrified if I could make mistakes again and change the entire plot. I really don't want to do that. It's a terrible and worse nightmare, and I really had to calm myself tonight.
My head ached from thinking so hard, trying to remember. Frightened. I put my face into my hands. I'm absolutely knackered and my wounded palm are killing me with pain.
In other way, there are still such things to do tomorrow. We're still hasn't done yet. There are still things to happen next. I suppose it's the first thing that comes to mind for now.
I've really had enough. Oh what a night!
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