From Innocence

Authors note: This is the first story I started writing. I lost the file for a while and in that time I wrote others, obviously, because they are uploaded on here! But now I've found it and I'm going to continue it! Fingers crossed!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this blah blah blah

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Adeline tugged at her dress as the two girls pulled her through the street. It was her sisters' old dress and so low-cut it was ridiculous. It had suited her sister with her over generous breasts and heaving chest but as Adeline tried in vain to pull it up a bit, she wondered why she bothered; it wasn't as if there was much to see anyway. She was the youngest of three girls, the older two heavily built with long blonde hair, Adeline was tall and slight with dark, almost black hair.

"Come on," urged Giselle, "or they'll only be the leftovers and that won't be pleasant for your first time I can tell you." She grimaced over Adelines' head at the other girl. Both knew just how unpleasant. The two older girls had been plying their trade for a few years now but it wasn't enough. So Adeline was being taken to the street at only 16 to keep up with her fathers drinking costs.

A similarly dressed girl emerged from a doorway and Giselle threw her a dirty look, "that's Scarlet," she said contemptuously, "watch out for her."

Adeline nodded, too nervous to talk. As they neared the alleyway, her hands shook and she started to chew her lip.

It wasn't an uncommon sight. Growing up in Tortuga Adeline knew all about sex from an early age; she had been surrounded by it for most of her life. However, she had never envisioned her first time as a way to get a handful of cash. She sighed as Giselle tugged her arm, breaking her train of thought. They had reached the alleyway. It was full of girls and women surrounded by sailors, drunkards and most of the men from Tortuga. Her sisters set themselves up along the wall with Adeline between them. They winked and threw suggestive glances at anyone who walked past; Adeline watched them in horror. Before long Giselle was approached by a sailor and she followed him off without a backward a backward glance. Adeline and her other sister, Katherine, were left by themselves. Adeline noticed a man in the crowd; maybe it was the way he walked that drew attention to him, or maybe it was the dreadlocks, red bandana and eyeliner. She watched him; he was by far the most interesting there. Suddenly he stopped, looked round and caught her watching him. He started to walk over. Adeline panicked. She turned to Katherine to find she had gone. Looking back at the man, he was still walking towards her; she desperately tried to dodge around a man with one ear and out of the alley but her foot caught in her too long skirts. She tripped, the ground rushing up to meet her. Then a hand grabbed her arm and caught her; a hand adorned with rings and covered in filth. She looked up; it was the man with the eyeliner.

"Alright love?" he asked.

Adeline nodded. He was very handsome she could see now. She studied his face; tanned skin, straight nose, kohl-lined eyes and a plaited beard. He noticed her staring and stood with a half grin, gold teeth gleaming.

"You like something you see love?" he said raising one eyebrow.

Adeline jumped and stuttered, "Yes, I mean no, I mean to say you're very good looking, I mean to some people..." she trailed off.

The man looked at her closely, he could see the fear in her eyes and he knew what it was. He would have to do this carefully.

"So love, want a drink?" he asked. It struck Adeline how much older than her he was. Then she remembered what her father would say and do if she returned home with no money. She nodded.

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Adeline watched from the corner as the man leant over the bar of the "Faithful Bride." It was smoky and dim but there was one hell of a racket as most of the occupants were brawling. The barman shouted over the noise, "Jack!" The man looked up quickly, pulling his hands away from the taps. The barman strode over, "how are you, Jack?" he bellowed.

"Not bad," drawled Jack, admiring his own rings, "an' I'll have two pints o' your finest rum." He glanced back at Adeline. The barman nodded at her.

"Who's the wench?" he asked, "never seen her around before."

"First timer," winked Jack. He picked up the mugs and tripped over to the table.

He handed Adeline a mug, which she accepted and took a sip, expecting ale in a mug that size. She spat the mouthful out coughing. "Rum!" she exclaimed.

"You don't like it darlin'?" Jack asked, reaching his hand out for the mug. She pulled her drink towards her, "yes."

Jack smiled into his rum. "Do you have a name love?" Jack enquired.

"Adeline," she replied, "Who are you?"

"Who am I?" asked Jack perplexed, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow! Everyone knows that." She looked unimpressed. He quickly elaborated, "captain of the Black Pearl, we're the most fearsome pirates in the Spanish Main." Adeline shrugged; she had heard it all before. Even her father used that one.

"You live in Tortuga darlin'," Jack told her, "you can't tell me you've not heard of me."

Adeline looked cynical, "I've heard of Captain Sparrow, yes," she replied. "But that doesn't mean you have anything to do with him."

Jack could tell she didn't believe him. He yanked up his sleeve and thrust his arm in front of her face displaying the tattoo on his forearm. She jumped but looked. She looked at his face again, then at his clothes. Maybe he was telling the truth.

"And how much am I expected to pay for this pleasure?" he asked, jolting her back to reality and reminding her why she was there. There was a sickly feeling in her stomach. Her sisters hadn't actually told her an amount. She shrugged; Jack raised his eyebrows, "Well we'll have to see how it goes love." They left their empty mugs on the table. Jack took her hand and led her out of the door.

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Jack led her through the streets, taking back-routes to avoid the general crush. He knew Tortuga well she could tell. He stopped outside a small, tatty inn and walked confidently through the solid, wooden door. He bowed her up the stairs as he tossed a coin to the doorkeeper. He placed a hand on her back and guided her through a door in her left, which led into a small room. The innkeeper was not too concerned about cleanliness Adeline decided. The bed was filthy, the low window was grimy and another door led to a blackened, reeking bathroom. Jack walked over to the bed and sat on it, patting the space beside him. Adeline hesitated a moment and then sat down there.

"There's nothing to be afraid of love," Jack whispered as he leant towards her. When she didn't pull back he leant further forward and brushed her lips with his. She could smell the rum. She didn't protest and he opened his mouth slightly urging her to do the same. When she did not he flicked her lips with his tongue causing them too part in surprise. He slowly explored her mouth and she shut her eyes and relaxed into the kiss. Gently he pulled away and began to softly kiss his way up her jaw line, tilting her head back with one finger. The other hand found its way to the front of her dress. Adeline jumped back. Then her eyes widened, "watch out!" she cried. A battalion of soldiers burst through the door, their red and white uniforms startlingly clean compared with the surroundings. Jack spun round, "oh bugger." He grabbed his hat and pistol, smashing the window with the butt of it. He grabbed Adeline's' hand and threw himself out of the window dragging her with him. They were falling! Then suddenly they weren't. They extracted themselves from some startled pigs and then they were running. Adeline could hear shouting and crashes behind her. In spite of the danger, she couldn't help laughing. "What?" asked Jack.

"You run so funny!" laughed Adeline.

"I do not," replied Jack indignantly.

Jack flung himself down an alley on their right, hauling Adeline behind him. They emerged on the docks and Jack stopped alongside a ship. He grabbed a rope and saluted to Adeline, "this is where I take my leave darlin'," he said.

"What?" exclaimed Adeline, "you can't leave me to the soldiers!"

"You're absolutely right love," he said. "But as I see no soldiers, I'll be going." He waved and swung himself up onto the deck. His crew had been ready for him and the ship was ready to sail. Adeline glanced round, a red-clad figure rounded the corner quickly followed by two more. She looked back at the ship; it was leaving. But trailing behind in the water she could see the mooring line. Someone had forgotten to make it fast. She heard a shout; the soldiers had spotted her. She needed no more encouragement. She ran forward and threw herself off the quay into the water, arms outstretched to grab the line. She caught it and hung on. The soldiers had aimed their bayonets; they fired and Adeline flinched as the bullets struck the water around her. But the wind had increased and they were soon out of range. Slowly, wearily, Adeline began to pull herself up the rope until at last she heaved herself over the stern and collapsed in a heap on the deck.