Eyes to See the World

By: Raven in Red

Jenae, a young blind woman, joins Will and Jack in pursuit of the Black Pearl. She and Jack soon develop a secret love for each other. But can it survive curses, betrayal, and heartbreak? JackOC, set during COTBP.

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Chapter One: Meeting Jack

As a young girl, it had always been my dream to meet a pirate. I was always running around and playing Pirate Adventure with my little brothers.

All that changed in one day. I was twelve years old.

It was like any normal spring afternoon. My brothers and I were playing in the woods when I tripped and hit my head. I had a terrible headache, and everything started to swirl. I became dizzy and fainted. When my mother managed to wake me up the next day, all I could see was gray. After a few minutes, I could see some very faint outlines, but I had to face the truth: I was blind.

Now I am nineteen. My name is Jenae Elena Godfrey.

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I woke up early one morning before the rest of my family. Mother, Samuel, and Lucas always slept in. Father went to work early. With nothing to do, I carefully crossed the room and opened my window. I sat on the little stool beside it and sighed happily as the breeze played with my long auburn hair. I could hear every bird that sang in the morning sunshine. I could smell the flowers right below my windowsill. Even without my eyesight, the world was still a beautiful place.

Later that day, my father took me to visit my friend Will. He was one of Port Royal's best blacksmiths, and I had known him since my childhood. After my father left to go home, I carefully opened the door to Will's shop and stepped inside. I immediately heard the pounding of his hammer as it came in contact with the anvil. Simply from the sounds, I could tell that he was making a new sword. After a little while, I heard him put the hammer down and walk over to me.

"Jenny, what a wonderful surprise!" He greeted me with a warm hug. He was slightly sweaty, but it didn't bother me.

"Hello, Will," I replied happily.

"How are you?" He asked kindly as he continued working on his sword.

Over the pounds of his hammer, I replied, "I'm very good, thank you. And how is my good friend?"

I could almost feel him smiling. "Good," I heard the happiness in his voice. He rummaged around, obviously looking for something important. He sighed angrily. "I think I've lost one of my chisels. I'm going to go get another one. Would you mind waiting a few minutes?"

"No, not at all," I said. He ran from the shop and down the street towards the general store. I clasped my hands together and paced the shop. Suddenly, I heard the door open. "Will?" I called out.

"Who's Will?" A different voice reached my ears. I became suspicious.

"Who are you?" I folded my arms.

"I am no one of your concern, love," he replied. I heard the jingling of chains, and I guessed that he was in handcuffs. I walked towards him.

"You are in my friend's shop. I do not believe you have any right to be here." My curiosity was getting the best of me. He sighed and stood in front of me, placing his hands on my shoulders.

"I may not have a right to be here, but I am here," he said.

"Don't move," I commanded. He stood still. I brought my hands to his face. I traced over his lips, nose, beard, and hair. His hair was in dreadlocks, and there were a few strands of beads. He also wore a bandana. I felt him smiling under my gentle fingers. As my hands slid down to his chest, he gently clasped one of them. "You are very handsome," I said.

He touched my eyelids gently. "Thank you, love."

"Yes, I am blind," I sighed as I closed my eyes under the weight of his finger.

"That is unfortunate to hear," he said, walking over to one of the anvils. "How long have you been that way?"

"Since I was twelve," I replied, listening carefully to what he was doing. I heard the sound of a hammer clashing with his chains, so I concluded that he was trying to break his handcuffs. "Might I make a suggestion?"

"Of course, love," he said. I gestured to a system of gears above my head. It was powered by a lazy old donkey. "If you can get this animal to move, then you can hook those chains on the gears, and it will break."

He kissed my hand with a flourish. "That is a wonderful idea, love."

I laughed as he went about his procedure. A loud crunching noise caused me to cover my ears, but I heard the breaking of chains and I knew that he was free. Then I became suspicious again. "Let me see your arm."

"My arm?"

"Yes, your arm, your right arm," I grabbed his hand and shoved the sleeve out of the way. I felt a raised patch of skin in the shape of a P. "You're a pirate!" I gasped.

"So?" he sounded uninterested.

"So, I shouldn't be helping you! I should be turning you in!"

He laughed. "Even if you did turn me in, I can be gone in thirty seconds."

"Good point," I admitted sadly. I gasped as his lips came dangerously close to my own. "Oh, and by the way, you're in the presence of the great Captain Jack Sparrow." His breath smelled strongly of rum. Suddenly, the door opened. Will had come back. Jack put a hand over my mouth and pulled me out of sight. Then he drew his sword and went out to face Will.

"You're the one they're hunting…the pirate," Will spat out.

"You seem somewhat familiar," Jack sounded quizzical. "Have I threatened you before?"

"I make a point of avoiding familiarity with pirates," Will said boldly.

"Ah, well then it would be a shame to put a black mark on your record. So, if you'll excuse me…"

I heard Will pull out a sword. I came out of my hiding place and stood between him and Jack.

"Do you think this wise, boy? Crossing blades with a pirate…?" Jack was obviously trying to sound superior. I didn't know who to side with. Will was my best friend, but I had nothing against Jack.

"Will, don't do this," I pleaded with my friend.

"Jenae, move," Will sounded angry. I hated when he used my given name. It usually meant that he was mad at me. "Move! I'm going to kill this man!"

"No!" I shouted as he pushed me off to the side.

"You threatened Miss Swann," Will accused Jack. Jack quipped, "Only a little." The next thing I knew, they were fighting. "Don't worry, love, I'll be fine!" Jack assured me. I prayed that Jack was as good a fighter as I hoped he was.

My eyes teared up as I listened to them fight. It sounded as if they were around the gear system. I heard Jack ask, "Who makes all these?" He must have been referring to the large amount of swords that were lying around the shop.

"I do!" Will answered proudly. "And I practice with them," he paused to throw a few tools at Jack. "Three hours a day!"

"You need to find yourself a girl, mate!" Jack taunted. They leaped out from behind the gears and back into the open area. "Or, perhaps the reason you practice three hours a day is that you've already found one, and are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet. You're not a eunuch, are you?"

"I practice three days so that, when I meet a pirate, I can kill it!" Will shouted back. After that, they somehow managed to get themselves up into the rafters. When they came back down again, I suddenly felt myself being showered with sand. The sword clanging stopped, so I stood up and brushed myself off. I found Jack and stood at his side. He was holding a pistol at Will.

"You cheated," Will accused.

"Pirate," Jack quipped.

We heard banging at the door to the shop. Will stepped back to block the other door. "Move away," Jack ordered. When Will refused, I pleaded, "Please move!"

"No!" Will stood his ground. "Jenae, why are you siding with this despicable pirate?!"

"Because I believe that he is a good man!"

Will started to reply, but he was silenced by the cocking of Jack's pistol. "This shot is not meant for you," Jack said harshly. By the time I heard someone coming up behind Jack, he had already broken a bottle against his head. I knelt beside him and clasped his hand. The door was broken open, and I heard about a dozen soldiers storm into the shop.

"Excellent work, Mr. Brown," said Commodore Norrington. "You've assisted in the capture of a dangerous fugitive."

"Just doing my civic duty, sir," Mr. Brown replied.

"Well, I trust you will remember this as the day that Captain Jack Sparrow almost escaped. Take him away. And take young Miss Godfrey as well."

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