Summary:

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Chapter One
Death's Presence

KATIE

I quickly brushed my chestnut brown locks out of my face as I ran. I didn't care that little rocks cut my bare feet or that I tripped every now and then. All I cared about is getting to Uncle Jack and Aunt Ana's residence. My best friend needed me right now and I was determined to get there quickly.

Mama and Papa didn't approve of me running amuck through the streets and alleyways of St. Maarten. I knew I'd be severely punished when I got home but I also knew that they loved me dearly which is why I was forbidden to go see Charlie for the past few months. Lizzie, named after my mother, is Charlie's sister and she has Scarlet Fever. She's one of the very first whoever came down with the outbreak of this illness. As of right now, she doesn't look as if she'll survive it.

Everyone among the island seems to be praying for her especially. I assume it's because of who inhabits the island. Her father is a notorious pirate named Jack Sparrow and her mother is AnaMaria Lamar Sparrow. Both are great pirates and would do anything for their family. I can only imagine how they're feeling. My mama knows all too well what it feels like to lose a child. She lost my brother, Benjamin, nearly thirteen years ago. He was born too early and died immediately after birth. He's living with our grandfather now. Captain Bootstrap Bill Turner of the Flying Dutchman is his name. I can't wait to see the two of them. My sixteenth birthday is quickly approaching which is why my grandfather and brother didn't set foot on land three years ago. My grandfather wanted to be here to see my sweet sixteenth.

"Ouch!" I cry out as I took a fall to the ground. Bloody rocks. I push myself up from the ground with my arms. I could feel the slight trickle of blood fall down from the cut I had just earned from the fall. I tripped again. This time it wasn't a rock or twigs doing. I had tripped from the hole that was now present in the bottom of my dress. Mama was surely going to kill me now. She hated when I came home with tears in my clothes and my hair out of place.

You're probably thinking that my mama and papa are too strict. The truth is, they can be but they are only like this because they love me. Each day I'm told that I have my mama's spirit. She used to sneak away late at night to see my father. She was the governor's daughter and he was the apprentice to the blacksmith of Port Royal, Mr. Brown. Now they're both pirates, just like Uncle Jack and Aunt Ana. If anything, they're better known. Years ago, before I or my brothers and sister were born, my mama engaged in a terrible battle with the East India Trading Company. She was married by Uncle Barbossa during a maelstrom and the pirates won. But because of Cutler Beckett, my father was separated from his family as Davy Jones' successor as captain of the Dutchman for ten years. It really is a complicated story and that's for another day.

Right now, I can see the Sparrow household coming into view. Charlie's younger sister, Rosalie, is busying herself outside in the garden. She's going to be coming to live with us soon until Lizzie gets better. At least, we hope she gets better. I know that this whole situation is really taking a toll on Charlie. I remember him telling me that just a week ago. Lizzie had already been sick for a month.

KATIE'S FLASHBACK

It was raining hard outside. I cowered underneath the blankets as thunder shook the house. I had always hated storms and tonight was an extremely bad one. "Mama!" I called out as the thunder roared. I could hear two sets of footsteps running down the hall of the second floor of the house. The door abruptly opened and there stood my parents, Will and Elizabeth Turner. Their eyes showed deep concern for me, especially Papa.

Almost immediately, Mama was at my side, holding me in her arms tightly against her bosom. "Katie," Mama had soothed, "It's just a storm." Papa took a seat in the nearby rocking chair and watched us intently. Next to Charlie, Papa was my best friend but he still seemed to have a hard time when it came to these types of moments. "You're going to be sixteen soon. You need to get over this fear." I turned my attention to my silent father. I wanted some type of help from him. Mama always acted like this. I had tried on more than one occasion to get over my fear of storms and for the most part, I was except when they were so bad that the house would shake and I could hear the wave's crash against the shore of the beach.

I let out a sigh and went back to cowering underneath my blankets. "Yes, Mama," I murmured quietly. Mama smiled at me and then kissed me on the forehead. It was her way of telling me that everything would be fine. Papa stood from his seat in the rocking chair and kissed me on the forehead also. "Sweet dreams, Katie," Papa said with a smile. It was the same smile Mama had fallen in love with and the same smile that calmed down me in times like this.

Click.

The door closed as my parents left to return to their room. My blue eyes searched the dark room as the storm continued outside. "Katie…" A voice called from outside. It was followed by light tapping on the door of my balcony.

"Wh-Who's there?" I called out quietly with a stutter. The knocking continued and the voice replied, "It's me. It's Charlie." Quickly, I threw back my covers and made my way swiftly to the door. I threw it open and was instantly greeted with a hug from my best friend, Charlie Sparrow.

I closed the door behind us to keep the rain out of my bedroom once Charlie had released me. "You're soaked!" I exclaimed with a giggle as I made my way back to my nice, warm bed. "And what are you doing out in this weather? If our parents –" Charlie smiled charmingly at me.

God, I loved his smile…

I couldn't help but notice the resemblance between Uncle Jack and Charlie. They had the same charming smile and their eyes were identical. "I don't care," Charlie interrupted. "I had to see you. It's been forever since we saw one another."

Charlie sat down beside me and pulled me into yet another hug. Neither of us seemed to care much about the wetness. "But you could be carrying the fever," I reminded my friend. I was still engulfed in Charlie's arms when I decided to lie down. I pulled Charlie down with me. I wasn't ready for him to let go yet. He made me feel as if the storm wasn't there.

Charlie attempted to shake his head but it was hard in his position. "She's gettin' really bad, Katie," Charlie informed me. "Rose has no idea what's goin' on but she's afraid. All Lizzie does is moan throughout the night. Her fever broke a few days ago but just last night it came back. Everyone still has faith that she'll pull through but I know the truth. Truth is she's goin' to die. She's barely twenty-one."

I sighed and brushed some jet black hair out of Charlie's dark skinned face. "How is Andrew holding out?" I asked. Andrew Durham was the son of St. Maarten's finest lawyer and Lizzie's fiancée. He loved her like Mama and Papa loved one another… if that was even possible. Charlie placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. I sighed. Being in his arms right now is complete heaven.

"He's a complete wreck," Charlie replied. "I don't think he saw this happenin' to her. Their weddin' is just a month away. My parents are considerin' lettin' 'im live with us so someone else will be 'round to check on Lizzie every now and then. I'd hate to see how Andrew reacts to Lizzie's death."

"If she dies, Charlie," I reminded him. Everyone seems to think she'll die but I don't. Lizzie is a fighter just like Aunt Ana. She wouldn't and won't go down without a fight. "You don't know what's going to happen. Look at the Baker children. Around the time Lizzie fell ill, all five of them did too. All but one are better now."

"Everyone also thought Barbossa would make it to that meeting twelve years ago but he didn't," Charlie told me. A bit of playfulness danced across his sad features. He always enjoyed coming up with sarcastic remarks when it came to the conversations he had with me. "Can I stay here… for the night?"

I gasped quietly and blushed. I hoped that Charlie hadn't heard me. He definitely couldn't see the redness across my face in the darkness. "Just be gone by sunrise," I replied. "Mama and Papa would be furious with us."

END KATIE'S FLASHBACK

I giggled thinking about that conversation. We didn't get away with it. Mama and Papa found Charlie asleep in my bed and I was nestled into his strong arms. I thought it was heaven but I know that Charlie and I will only ever be friends.

"Hi, Rose!" I exclaim as I jumped over the steps onto the porch. I heard her say hi but that was it. There was no time to talk. I had reached my destination.

Without even knocking, I barged through the front door. Aunt Ana was sitting on the steps, covering her face. She was definitely crying. I could hear people moving around upstairs. I didn't have time to find out what was the matter. I wanted to see Charlie. I had to see Charlie.

Uncle Jack's voice could be heard from the second floor. He was definitely giving orders to someone and he had the nerve to call my mum bossy. Ha! "Charlie?" I call out as I begin to search the house. From the kitchen window, I can see him sitting under a tree. His knees are pulled tightly against his chest and his head is buried in them. I push open the back door and make my way, slowly and quietly, towards him.

It's clear that he needs me like I need oxygen to breathe. Something bad has happened. I can tell by the silence between us. Finally, his dark eyes meet my blue ones. His dark skin has tears running down it and his hair is in a complete mess. I bet he tried to pull it out with his hands or something. I take a seat beside him and hold his hand. "She's dead," Charlie murmurs before breaking into more tears. I pull him close to me and just hold him while I rub my hand along his back. We remain like this for a long time before I see my father walking through the door out of the corner of my eye and he's furious.

I'm busted.