Title: Condemned

Author: Starzangel

Disclaimer: Unfortunately for me, none of Pirates of the Caribbean is mine. I only borrowed the concept and characters to have fun (but gain no profit) writing this story, which is mine.

Archive: If you're not FanFiction, then please ask first via submitting a review (leave your email address & I'll get back to you – and most probably say "Aye!").

~*~

Pirates of the Caribbean:

Condemned

by

Starzangel

1.

Imprisoned

One Last Shot

The narrow gash across his left palm itched and ached under the congealed blood. He absentmindedly flexed his hand in an attempt to get rid of the irritation. The movement broke open the wound again, bringing a wince to his face and his charcoal-lined eyes to the fresh liquid dribbling out.

He peered at the cut in the dim light, noting with a grimace that it was none too clean. With the fingers of his other hand he rubbed at the dirt and dried blood, succeeding only in aggravating the stinging laceration. A half-hearted glance showed that, unsurprisingly, the brig of His Majesty's Ship Dauntless had nothing to offer to clean it with.

He sighed and dropped his arms to rest on his knees again, his eyes staring unseeingly at the floor. He'd just have to hope heat and infection didn't set into the wound. Like he had to hope he would be able to make a miraculous escape from the noose at least once more.

The air was uncomfortable on his lungs, being thin, cold and smelling strongly of tar. However, he sat on dry floorboards with his back against the rust-free cell bars of Norrington's flagship - Norrington's only ship, since Barbossa had sunk the Interceptor. Though, of course, the Commodore was sure to be given a replacement. Especially after bringing back the remaining living pirates of the cursed ship, the feared Black Pearl, that had preyed mercilessly on ships and settlements for the past ten years. Yet, the Navy didn't have said ship in its righteous grasp. Said ship, which belonged to Captain Jack Sparrow, was no longer cursed and currently sailed free somewhere on the crystalline waters of the Caribbean…without him.

Trapped. Jack Sparrow hated being trapped. There wasn't even a crack in the hull for him to look though. Miserably and resignedly, he shut his eyes and let the familiar rocking motion of the ship soothe him. He tried to forget he was imprisoned on a Royal Navy vessel that was happily racing across the Caribbean to deliver him to the hands of Death. After all, if that was what the Fates wanted, even Captain Jack Sparrow couldn't do anything about it.

He'd been able to kill Barbossa - the mutinous first mate who'd been the reason he'd carried around a single shot in his pistol for ten years - for which he was grateful. Revenge and justice were his at last. Firing that shot into Barbossa's cold, black heart had relieved him of a great emotional burden, which had been so heavy it felt as if a physical weight had been lifted from him. Jack had watched his betrayer die; watched the blood pool from his chest. The finality of it was bittersweet - it was over at last, but the past wasn't changed. Captain Jack Sparrow was left exhausted and as emotionless as the curse had rendered him physically numb.

Then had come the blow that his ship was gone. Ok, so it could be said that he'd technically fallen behind, but he had caught up. Couldn't they have checked before leaving him? But that was an irrational suggestion. His crew had done what was right by them, what pirates abiding by the Pirates' Code did. He shouldn't expect any more of them.

Captain Jack Sparrow was a pirate and, as well as enjoying the perks, he had to suffer the consequences. He had always known his dance with Death would end one day. His footwork was quick and skilled, remarkably better than most, however, there were still times when he stumbled. He'd always managed to get back up before, but one day he'd fall and that would be it. The music would stop.

Surely, that time hadn't come yet? There were still so many things he wanted to achieve, the Pearl and his freedom for starters.

Anamaria, Gibbs and the rest of the crew, maybe they would have a change of heart and… No. They had no reason to and many not to. The Interceptor had blown enough holes in the Black Pearl for a confrontation with the pride of the Royal Navy to be a pretty bad idea. They had a fine ship and the freedom of the seven seas. Nothing tied them to him.

If Captain Jack Sparrow were to escape, it would be by his own means. He could do nothing but wait for the opportune moment that might never come.