I wake tied to the mast of the darkest ship I've ever seen. We're not at the docks, I know that, but otherwise-I'm not sure where we are it's so dark. Whenever I try to escape, the ropes cut into my skin so after a while I give up...There's no hope for me. My kidnapper just stands there, laughing and staring at me struggle. "Aren't you going to say something?!" I exclaim frustratedly. The pirate chuckles, but says, "I'm sure you have plenty of questions."

"Damn right I do."

"Oh, you are feisty."

"Where's Killian?"

"Well, after his little interrogation, I told him that if he didn't pay, you will. And to bring me what he owes me today at dawn. Afterwards, I let him go, of course."

"Who are you?"

"Aw. That's a shame, I thought you would have heard of me. Everyone calls me Black-Beard."

I shudder. Of course-Black Beard. How did Killian get into trouble with him?

"What does he owe you and how are you going to make me pay it?"

"The core crystals from Moon Island."

"Typical." I say under my breath.

"Aye, I heard you were involved in that trip. The supply he had to make the portal and find more was my supply. He stole it from me. So, he now owes me all the treasure he got from that island. Which I guess means you too."

I sigh. "You're wrong you know."

"I beg your pardon?!"

"I said, you're wrong! Hook doesn't love me." I almost choke out, completely ruining the cover-up of my feelings. "He's not going to come for me. So you'll never get your treasure!"

"Well...That's too bad for you." He grumbles, smirking. "I'll kill Jones if that's what it takes!" He throws his arm in the air, a cutlass tight in his hand. His crew cheer and shout, stamping their boots on the black wood below. "You won't have to." A familiar voice says. I close my eyes and pretend I can't hear him.

"Look who finally showed up." Blackbeard laughs menacingly. "Captain Hook has come to save his little girlfriend!"

"Killian." I shake my head at him. I can't actually believe he's here. "Leave. I don't care what you did, but I'm not worth saving."

Hook just ignores me. He holds out a leather pouch to Blackbeard. "I've got your treasure, now let her go."

Blackbeard steps forward and snatches the pouch off him. "Let her go." He growls, nodding to me. A couple of pirates scrape their daggers across the rope, and I pull it apart and stand up warily. Hook grins at me and I race towards him. For some reason my emotions all rush through me at once and I hit him hard in the face. "What are you doing here?!"

"How did I deserve that? I'm saving you!"

"I don't need saving."

"That's what it looks like." Killian says sarcastically.

"Well, what did you expect me to do? Hug you? Kiss you?"

"Well, it's not like you haven't done it before."

"But that was different, I had to do it becau-Hang on, you were drunk."

"Was I?" He smirks. I let out an irritated breath. He was acting the whole time. He let me leave. "If you don't mind, Blackbeard, we'll be off now." He says, almost bowing.

"Actually..." Blackbeard says before we turn away. "One last thing before you go." He takes something out of his black coat and I recognise it instantly. A pistol. He points the barrel straight at Hook and says, "This is to save me any further trouble." Killian seems confused, like he's never seen a gun before. "Goodbye, Jones." In a flash, his looped finger pulls the trigger, and the silver bullet flies straight towards him. "KILLIAN!" I shout, and without thinking again, I push him out of the way and shoot myself in his place.

Searing pain erupts in my chest, just missing my heart. Coldness passes through my entire body and I fall to the floor, feeling something like hot water all over my hands when the blur in my sight goes away, I realise it's blood.

Blackbeard doesn't seem to look annoyed, but he doesn't looked disappointed either. I feel hands on my back and figure out that Killian caught me as I fell. "Told you I wasn't worth saving." I chuckle weakly.

"In that case, I'm definitely not."

"Get a medic! Or someone, just anyone!" Killian growls at his crew. He jumps up like I'm a deadweight in his arms. I feel like I soon will be. He carries me to his Captain's Quarters and lays me down on the bed. He kneels down beside me.

"What-what are you doing? I'll ruin your sheets."

He doesn't face me, but just stares at my wound. "Irvette, that's the least of my concerns right now."

"Since when did you get all posh?"

"I used to be in the royal navy, now shut up while they get someone to heal you."

I glance back at the bed, the now-red sheets and the golden frame. Flashbacks of the day I escaped appear in my mind. They won't be able to heal me unless the help comes right now. At least I'm with Killian in my last moments.

"You...let me go? You faked all that just to-"

"-Yes. Anything for you."

I laugh then cough. I can almost feel myself growing paler. "You wouldn't have said that a few...days...ago."

"Irvette. Promise me something. Don't leave me."

"I don't owe you a promise. You...you owe me."

"Then I promise to never leave you."

"I know...you won't." I breathe sharply and my eyes start to close. I feel like something has drained all the energy right out of me.

"Irvette." Killian...whimpers? I must be going deaf. Until I feel a drop of water fall of my hand. A tear, Killian's tear. I was wrong. I could make some joke about a pirate suddenly having feelings. But I know my emotions are practically the only thing left of me.

"Wait." Killian says, his eyes widening at me. "True love's kiss."

What harm can it do? He leans towards me, and I toward him, and our lips meet, properly this time. Tears fall from my eyes, which I feel ruins the moment, but I can't stop myself. A few seconds later, we break apart and stare at each other in pleasure and disbelief when we realise. Nothing happened. I knew it. I'm not his true love.

"I'm sorry Killian."

"No. No...I'm sorry."

"But you should...find...someone. Maybe with golden...hair like...mine or something. Move on. Promise me...you...won't seek...revenge either."

"As you wish."

My last smile appears on my lips, and the sun shining through the blinds and the bed, the damp floor and Killian's words are the last things I see, smell and hear. Before I drift off into darkness and fall into a place with a misted-red sky above me.