Chapter 22
Elias moved like a whirlwind, the black sword flashing through the air as chains clattered to the ground. With a precise cut, Jake's chains fell free, then Raina's.
"Alright, lads," Elias growled, eyes gleaming with fierce excitement. "Time to carve our way outta this hellhole."
Jake glanced around, brushing off the dust on his worn coat with a roguish grin. "Raina, love, you get inside and gather our things. Me and this charming devil will keep the party going."
Raina smirked, folding her arms with a shake of her head. "That's downright heartbreaking coming from you, Captain."
Jake gave her a mock salute. "Heartbreak is part of the job description, sweetheart."
She laughed and darted back inside without another word.
Jake turned to Elias, adjusting the battered tricorn hat perched jauntily on his head. "Now, what's left to do but cut through a few soldiers and make for the horizon?"
Elias chuckled, gripping the sword tightly. "Exactly. Let's give 'em a show to remember."
The courtyard exploded into chaos. Shouts and curses filled the air as guards scrambled to regroup, but the sudden, brutal assault caught them off guard. People scattered like frightened rats, screams echoing down the narrow alleys. The confusion made it impossible for the soldiers to mount a coordinated counterattack.
Elias's blade sliced through the air, the tip glinting dangerously. He parried a heavy blow from a burly guard and spun, knocking the man off balance before sending him sprawling with a sharp jab.
Jake ducked under a swinging cut and jabbed a quick strike to his opponent's ribs, then rolled back with the agility of a cat. "You'd think they'd learn," Jake quipped between breaths, "never fight a man who's got nothing to lose and everything to gain."
As Elias was engaged in a fierce duel with a pair of guards, his eyes flicked toward the shadows near the edge of the chaos.
There, standing calmly and watching, was Will.
Will's eyes met Elias's, and he gave a subtle nod—one loaded with meaning.
Elias's lips curved into a knowing smile. He'd known from the moment that black sword landed at his feet who the true ally was.
With renewed vigor, Elias parried and lunged, cutting through the swarm of guards with calculated precision, all while glancing occasionally toward the silent figure of Will.
Time passed in a blur of clashing steel, shouts, and chaos until suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Elias spotted movement—a figure running toward him.
It was Raina, breathless and clutching a bundle of items tightly to her chest.
Jake saw her too and waved.
"There she is!" Jake called out with relief.
"Alright, we're done horsing around," Elias said. "Time to get the hell out of this mess."
Together, the trio dashed through the mayhem, dodging fallen crates and frantic guards, weaving through narrow alleyways toward the harbor.
The Black Pearl loomed ahead, a dark silhouette against the dawn sky. Its familiar sails beckoned like a promise of freedom.
Jake reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the worn, weathered book, tucking it safely away. "Got the compass, the book, and my hat. No treasure's complete without the hat."
Raina held her knife tight, scanning their backs for pursuers.
"Come on, then," Jake said, a sly grin crossing his face. "Let's see if we can make it to the water before the whole city wakes up and decides to have us for breakfast."
They sprinted the final stretch, boots pounding the wooden docks, adrenaline fueling every step.
As they reached the Black Pearl's gangplank, Jake glanced back over his shoulder, chuckling. "Well, if this isn't the most fun I've had since… well, since the last time I almost died."
Elias laughed, sheathing his sword. "Aye, Captain, you're a glutton for punishment."
Raina smiled, stepping aboard with them. "Let's get out of here before the guards figure out they lost their heads and start looking for us properly."
With that, the Black Pearl's sails unfurled, catching the wind as the ship pulled away from Port Royal — free once more, for now.
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