Hey everyone! Here's a new story that popped into my head the other day and has just been festering there since. I promise it gets better, so follow it through, and give me some reviews to read! This is also set in a slight AU, so just be aware of that. Thanks guys! Can't wait to read the reviews you give me so graciously ;)

I ran through the streets, shoving people out of my way, my heart beating erratically in my ears. My lungs burned but I shoved the thought away. I couldn't stop. If I stopped, I would end up with…I didn't want to think about it.

I cut a quick corner and ran into the bookshop that I often frequented. Mr. Holly was behind the desk and blinked at me as I slammed the door behind me.

I gave him a look that silenced the onslaught of questions. "If anyone comes in here asking for me," I whispered heavily, "You never saw me, right?"

Mr. Holly nodded weakly and I ran into the bowels of the store. I went up the rickety wooden staircase to the second floor and buried myself amongst the stacks. No one would find me in here for a good long while, I knew.

I stayed there for hours, listening and trying to put my thoughts together. I had just been sold to a pirate, one who was actively looking for me at that. I tried not to let my anger at the situation get the best of me, but my Irish temper was surfacing.

"Get it together, Mae," I whispered to myself. "You just have to wait him out. Simple as tha'."

I bit my tongue. I was trying to get rid of my brogue, so not to be discriminated against. Fire red hair had skipped me, but in the sun you could see red reflected in my mahogany color. The freckles and light green eyes didn't help me either.

I stood up after a good four hours, wincing at the way my bones creaked from staying in one locked position for so long. I walked back down quietly, glancing out the window to see that the sun had gone down. At least I had night to cover my trail.

"Mr. Holly," I called softly. He emerged from his back room, looking at me with concern.

"What's goin' on, lass?"

"The bitch down at the pub sold me," I growled. "She threatened it enough but I never actually thought she would."

Mr. Holly's bushy grey eyebrows came together. "But lass, yer white."

I looked away from him. "I had a contract with her. I signed myself over years ago and didn't even realize it. It's legal. I had it checked 'n everathin." I took in a deep breath. "I was just tired of gettin' felt up every damned night! Do you know how often I had to fight me way out of a rape? I ain't one of her whores! That's no' what I do!"

He put his hands out, telling me to lower my voice. "Lass, what do ya need? I can get ye passports, documents, anythin' ye need, but it'll take at least two weeks to get."

I ran my hand through my thick waves. "I don't have that kind of time, Mr. Holly," I told him evenly, trying to get my diction back. "The captain that bought me is here in town and he is unlikely to leave until he has me in hand."

"Why would a captain buy a girl like-" I cut his musings off with a glare. "Oh, my."

"So you understand why I need to get the hell out of here and back to the mother land."

"I'm not quite sure there's much for ye to go back to, lass."

I felt that stupid lump form in my throat but I swallowed it down. "Mr. Holly, I need some clothes and a couple of weapons if you happen to have them."

He opened his mouth to say something, but instead went back into his little room.

I turned back to the book stacks before me and sighed. I ran my fingers over the bindings and pages, thinking about the dream to open my own book shop someday, to be the keeper of knowledge from the highest kings to the lowliest cabin boy. I had hoped to buy the shop from Mr. Holly one day, but for now, that dream would have to be put on hold.

I was stirred from my thoughts when Mr. Holly reemerged from his room with a small stack of clothes. Resting on top were two pistols, a knife, and belt with the ammunition necessities rested.

"Jesus, Mr. Holly," I breathed. "Did you spend your youth on a pirate ship?"

"No need to look back into the past, Maeve." He handed me the stack. "Keep it, all of it."

"May I change back there?"

At his nod I went back and changed quickly. Wearing a pair of breeches, a stained undershirt with a leather vest on top, I put on my worn boots and tugged the belts into place, slipping the pistols into the holsters carefully. I tied my hair back with a piece of ribbon and tucked a cap over my head. Walking back into the open, I held out my arms, doing a quick spin.

"So?"

Mr. Holly laughed. "Ye look like a lady tryin' to pass for a lad, but I suppose that you'll do alright for a while." He held out a satchel. "It's got some bread, a flask of wine, another flask of whiskey, and some money that ye can use if ye need it."

My eyes brimmed with tears. I held back no longer and flung my arms around the small old man who had been nothing but good to me since I was seven years old and first arrived to Tortuga with my drunk of a father. "Thank ye so much, Mr. Holly." I whispered to him. After giving him a tight squeeze, I pulled back and wiped my eyes. "Don't let these bastards mess with ye, aye?"

He chucked me on the chin, giving me a chuckle. "Do I ever, lass? Go on, get out a here."

I nodded and went through the back, slipping out quietly into the busy streets of the pirate city. I moved with ease down the back streets, avoiding pimps and thieves like I had been doing for over ten years. I wondered, even now, how I had managed to keep my body mine when so many horned up sailors and no good sons of bitches roamed the streets, but I counted it among my blessings.

I stopped up against a building, listening out for any signs I was being followed. Thankfully, I heard none.

I ran around the corner and no sooner had I turned than I ran straight into a firm, stone chest.

I immediately tried to pull back, but two arms came around me like iron bands, my own arms held captive and completely ineffective at my sides.

A deep chuckle came from the chest my nose was buried in.

"I was wondering when you would be showing your pretty face again, luv."

I managed to look up into the face of my assailant and my face drained of blood.

I was looking into the dark brown eyes of none other than Captain Jack Sparrow, the man who had bought me in an auction just hours ago.