Hi! This is my first fanfiction, and I'm not really sure where it's going to end up. I kind of have the beginning and end figured out, but I probably have to fill in some blanks along the way. Reviews would be muchos appreciatos! Feel free to message me, I will try to respond. I try to proofread as much as possible, but forgive any errors please; I don't write professionally or anything. Hopefully this story ends up well!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean or their characters, only my own .

Happy reading!

- iwishicouldfly

A Cursed Life for Me - Chapter 1

I shrank back into the cold, damp walls of the corner, listening to the distant shouts and laughter of Tortuga. I was so tired, but reminded myself again. Darcy, Darcy, Darcy, lest someday I forget my own name. A wisp of mahogany hair floated into my face, but I didn't have the strength to blow it away. Heck, I didn't have the strength to even stay awake. So I rested my head on my shoulder, pulled my hood a bit tighter, and drifted off.

A loud yell woke me up. Suddenly, I could hear footsteps approaching, but I didn't look up, only listened. "Get back here, you mangy good for nothing…" the masculine voice sounded vaguely accented. Another voice laughed, and faded away into the distance. The first voice started walking away, then stopped. "My god, is that a body?" it said incredulously. Goshdangit. He had seen me. I didn't move as he approached. "Hello?" the man asked. I didn't respond, so he nudged my knee and I curled up a bit closer. He tried to lift my hood but I shied away, starting to get annoyed. I cracked my eyes open a millimeter and saw a dirty face surrounded by messy dreadlocks decorated with beads. I lowered my head, but caught sight of a tattoo on his arm and my I jumped in surprise. Just my luck, I groaned, and he said, "What?" I wondered what I should say. I didn't really know, so I said, "You're Captain Jack Sparrow, aren't you." I could hear the grin in his voice as he replied, "Well. Someone who knows I'm a captain. I like ye already. Aye, I am. What's your name?" I grumbled something intelligible but he persisted, so I said "It's not for me to tell." "Why not?" he asked, "It's your name." What else could he do? I didn't even know, so I told him. "Darcy." He thought for a second and then said, " What a pretty name. Can ye tell me yer last name too, lass?" I was sick of this. "I wish I knew," I said, "but I cannot remember."

I threw off my hood and opened my eyes to see him crouched there, a surprised expression on his face as he took in my cursed violet eyes, the ones that scared everyone away, that tore down my life and kept it down. He made no comment, but said instead, "There's no meat on your bones, lassie. When was the last time ye ate?"

"Please. No more questions. For whatever reason if you want to know more, go see a man by the name of Mister Hearst. You'll find him in a shop called 'The Greasy Pig'. Ask him what you will, but go away." I fell against the wall again, and closed my eyes again.

I guess Sparrow could see I wasn't gonna budge, so he left. I probably made a mistake giving away so much information, but I just shrugged and tried to sleep, expecting never to see him again.

After all, why would a pirate take interest in me, of all people?

Captain Jack strolled down the street of Tortuga, headed for the Greasy Pig. Strange, ridiculous name, but nonetheless a fair shop, selling meats, breads, and such. That girl, the Darcy, she was strange. He was curious, and kind of worried too. She didn't look all that great.

He got to the shop, and shouted, "Is there a Mr. Hearst here?"

"Aye, in the back." An old man wiped his hands on a cloth and turned around, only to jump back cursing. "A pirate?! In my shop? And Jack Sparrow at that?" Jack was amused, but said, "Captain. Captain Jack Sparrow. I kinda got lost, and found a girl named Darcy. She was a grumpy lass, and told me to come here." Hearst looked surprised, and said,"Huh. Right, so what do you want to know?" Jack spread his hands wide, and said, "I don't know, something." The man rolled his eyes and said, "I ain't be wanting to give too much away, but I can tell you that she used to live in a swell old house by the water, until it got burned down. After that she was never the same. She came to live with me for a while after the house was gone, but once she turned sixteen she left. I couldn't see what I could do, but whenever she wanders in every few weeks I offer some food and she leaves again."

"WHAT? She only eats every few weeks? How is that possible?" Jack exclaimed. In the back of his mind, a horrible memory sprang up, but he covered well. Hearst shrugged and said, "How am I supposed to know?" He started walking away, but Jack said "Wait, one last question." The man paused and turned around. "What did her old house look like? And when did she last eat?" Mister Hearst snorted, and replied, "That's two questions, but the house was a little whitewashed cottage, wooden steps and porch, small garden in front, such and such. As for food, I figure about two weeks ago. Now goodbye, and kindly do not take anything." He left, muttering about scoundrels and strangeness.

Captain Jack had frozen after the description of the cottage. He remembered a few years back, when he was a young captain, raiding Tortuga. There had been a house that matched the Hearst's description, and Jack had been holding a torch. A torch that he had thrown at the house. A house that he hadn't bothered to look back at as he ran away from the burning carnage.

He unfroze, and jerkily walked down the street. Not thinking about where to go, he found himself back at the site where the lass lay. She was sound asleep, and he could hear thunder in the distance. He couldn't just leave her here. Jack picked her up, careful not to disturb anything. She was light, way too light to be healthy, and he sighed as he walked back to the Black Pearl in the wake of the setting sun.

"What have I gotten myself into this time?" he asked himself, and continued on his way.