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Drabble Series: 'An Execrable Business', continued... (9/?)
I'm off to L.A. for lunch and 'The Magic Flute' at the Music Center today, but first 500 more words of the story, for the 'Down' drabble prompt. Thanks again to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hereswith for the beta read!
1. Tortuga
2. Happiness
3. Festive
4. Last Minute
5. Calm
6. Truth
7. Bargain
8. Spook
9. Down
~ An Execrable Business, continued...
The neat, well-lit streets around Whitby House were much less familiar to Nell than the waterfront, and lacked the dark nooks, secret crannies, and narrow alleyways she'd come to rely on in her usual pitch. She had to reach known ground, but rounding a corner she was dismayed to see how far Jack Sparrow had brought her. The street sloped gently downhill, and the lower part of the town and the harbor were clearly visible, and far too distant, particularly considering the sound of pursuit behind her.
There being nothing for it, Nell ran as fast as her legs would carry her, trying to ignore the discomfort of doing so post-feast. The street gradually grew muddier and more populated, the townsfolk giving her startled or angry looks as she shot past, and the pursuing footsteps grew nearer, from what she could tell -- she dared not turn to look.
At last, chest heaving, side stitching, stomach roiling, she'd rounded a corner into the crowded street that fronted the harbor when her progress was abruptly checked by a hand at her collar. She tried to scream, but all that emerged was a strangled noise and she was seized in strong arms and pulled into deep shadow. A calloused hand was clapped over her mouth and a voice at her ear commanded, "Shut it!"
Jack Sparrow!
He loosed his grip, slightly, and she shrank against him. Together they watched her pursuers burst into the street outside their dark alley. The two men looked around in confusion at the many people on the street, then saw the entrance to the alley and seemed to look straight at them! Jack drew her back, behind him, his hand on his sword hilt, but he did not draw the weapon. And he was right: Claypool's men took a few steps toward them and then were distracted by the noise of some fracas up the street. A moment later they were gone.
She would have sagged with relief, but Jack didn't give her the chance. "They might come back," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her along after him, deeper into the alley. They picked their way around or through various sorts of inconvenient and sometimes horrid rubble until they came to the far end: a brick wall. "Can you climb?"
"If you help me," she replied at once, hoping it was true.
"Up you go then," he said, making a stirrup of his hands. She scraped some of the debris off her shoe and set it in his hands. "One, two, three!" he counted, and then she was boosted high, high enough to reach the top.
The bricks tore at her hands, but her clothing protected the rest of her as she pulled herself up, swung one leg over, then the other, and sat. "There's a garden!" she told Jack over her shoulder, surprised.
"I know it. Get down!"
It looked a long way. But needs must, so she scooted forward, steeled herself, and jumped.
TBC…
hereswith for the beta read!1. Tortuga
2. Happiness
3. Festive
4. Last Minute
5. Calm
6. Truth
7. Bargain
8. Spook
9. Down
~ An Execrable Business, continued...
The neat, well-lit streets around Whitby House were much less familiar to Nell than the waterfront, and lacked the dark nooks, secret crannies, and narrow alleyways she'd come to rely on in her usual pitch. She had to reach known ground, but rounding a corner she was dismayed to see how far Jack Sparrow had brought her. The street sloped gently downhill, and the lower part of the town and the harbor were clearly visible, and far too distant, particularly considering the sound of pursuit behind her.
There being nothing for it, Nell ran as fast as her legs would carry her, trying to ignore the discomfort of doing so post-feast. The street gradually grew muddier and more populated, the townsfolk giving her startled or angry looks as she shot past, and the pursuing footsteps grew nearer, from what she could tell -- she dared not turn to look.
At last, chest heaving, side stitching, stomach roiling, she'd rounded a corner into the crowded street that fronted the harbor when her progress was abruptly checked by a hand at her collar. She tried to scream, but all that emerged was a strangled noise and she was seized in strong arms and pulled into deep shadow. A calloused hand was clapped over her mouth and a voice at her ear commanded, "Shut it!"
Jack Sparrow!
He loosed his grip, slightly, and she shrank against him. Together they watched her pursuers burst into the street outside their dark alley. The two men looked around in confusion at the many people on the street, then saw the entrance to the alley and seemed to look straight at them! Jack drew her back, behind him, his hand on his sword hilt, but he did not draw the weapon. And he was right: Claypool's men took a few steps toward them and then were distracted by the noise of some fracas up the street. A moment later they were gone.
She would have sagged with relief, but Jack didn't give her the chance. "They might come back," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her along after him, deeper into the alley. They picked their way around or through various sorts of inconvenient and sometimes horrid rubble until they came to the far end: a brick wall. "Can you climb?"
"If you help me," she replied at once, hoping it was true.
"Up you go then," he said, making a stirrup of his hands. She scraped some of the debris off her shoe and set it in his hands. "One, two, three!" he counted, and then she was boosted high, high enough to reach the top.
The bricks tore at her hands, but her clothing protected the rest of her as she pulled herself up, swung one leg over, then the other, and sat. "There's a garden!" she told Jack over her shoulder, surprised.
"I know it. Get down!"
It looked a long way. But needs must, so she scooted forward, steeled herself, and jumped.
TBC…
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she was seized in strong arms and pulled into deep shadow
Jack Sparrow could seize me in his strong arms and pull me into deep shadow any time he liked!
*looks sheepish*
Did I just say that?
Anyhoo... This is really very exciting. Can't wait for more! :)
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Can't wait for more!!! :)
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Have fun at Magic Flute -- we saw it on Friday, it's a terrific production!!!
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Love the suspense here, the chase is very invigorating the way it's described.
Your OC seems to be just as optimistic as Jack: "If you help me," she replied at once, hoping it was true." ;)
Looking forward to more!!!
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