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 Two: Escape
Later that night, Jack and I were locked in a dirty cell in Port Royal Prison. Scared, I knelt in front of the bars and clenched the cold steel in my angry fists. Jack knelt beside me and placed a gentle hand on my back. I shoved it off as I let out a few tears.
"I'm not supposed to be here! This is all your fault!" I shouted at him.
"I agree," he said calmly. I was confused.
"What?"
"I agree. This is all my fault. I apologize," he went and sat below the window.
"Oh, alright. I thought you were going to yell at me," I leaned against the bars.
"Why would I do a thing like that?" his voice was relaxed.
"I have no idea. I'm just under a lot of stress right now." I went and sat next to him.
After a few silent minutes, he asked, "What's it like to be blind?"
I sighed. "It was awful at first, but I've gotten used to it. I remember what most things look like, such as colors and shapes. Usually I just have people describe things for me. But sometimes it feels lonely. I miss the beauty of the world. Now that I can't see it, I feel helpless." Jack edged closer to me and held my hand. I smiled and let my head rest on his shoulder. Then I laughed at the men in the next cell who were trying to tempt the dog holding the keys. They were holding out a bone, but he was well over six feet away, and he was refusing to move.
"You can keep doing that forever. The dog is never going to move," Jack stated.
"Oh excuse us if we haven't resigned ourselves to the gallows just yet," One of them answered rudely.
"Jenae?"
"Call me Jenny," I laughed a little.
"Alright, Jenny, when I get us busted out of jail – and that will happen – would you like to come with me?"
"I guess I'll have to. I can't go home, or else I'll end up right back here. Where are you planning on going?"
Jack tightened his grip on my hand. "We're going to first commandeer a ship of the Royal Fleet. Then we'll make our way to Tortuga and assemble a crew there."
"Tortuga…I've heard stories about that place."
"It's the best place in the world," said Jack.
"We'll see," I leaned my head back a little. If I listened carefully, I could hear his heartbeat. It was so soothing and gentle that it nearly lulled me to sleep. Then I felt a sharp twinge in my back, and I cried out in pain.
"What's wrong?" Jack sounded worried.
"Back hurts," I complained. Within seconds, I felt his warm hands on my back, giving me a massage. His touches were like magic. In only a few short minutes, I couldn't feel any more pain. "Oh, don't stop," I whined when he took his hands away. Laughing, he pulled me back into his arms and cradled me to his chest. Then I came to a sudden realization.
"I hope my problem won't be a hindrance to you. I hate the amount of special care I require."
He kissed my forehead. "That won't be an issue, love. Everything will be alright."
All of a sudden, I heard a loud booming sound coming from the bay. Cannons. And cannons meant pirates.
"I know those guns," Jack jumped up and looked out the window. "What is it?" I asked with fear and curiosity.
"It's the Pearl," he replied.
I had heard of the Black Pearl. She was the fastest and most fearsome ship in the Caribbean. Her sails were tattered and black, and she was captained by the most filthy and despicable pirates around. Fear shot into my heart. Port Royal was under attack.
"I've heard stories," a man from the next cell spoke up. "She's been preying on ships and settlements for near ten years…never leaves any survivors."
"No survivors? Then where do the stories come from, I wonder?" said Jack. I walked up to him and tugged on his sleeve.
"Jack?" My voice was fearful.
"Yes, love?"
"Are we going to be alright?" I reached up and held his hand.
"No worries, love. After all, you're with me, aren't you?" He helped me carefully stand on the bench so that I was next to him. His strong arm held me safely against him. "Just stay close to me, and you'll be perfectly safe. I won't let any harm come to you."
"I can do that," I smiled and kissed his cheek. All of a sudden, he grabbed me and jumped down to the floor. His body shielded me against the rain of rubble that came when a cannonball crashed through the wall. I walked over and felt the whole that had been blown through the wall of the other cell. All the men were escaping. The hole overlapped into our cell a little, but the opening was nowhere near big enough for either me or Jack. I slumped to the floor and pulled my knees to my chest.
"Shh, shh, don't worry, love. I'm here," he whispered, pulling me into a gentle hug. Then he lifted me up into his arms and moved me so that I sat across his lap. He cupped my chin in one of his gentle hands and brought his lips down to mine in a sweet, caring kiss. It didn't last very long, but it made me feel safer. "We'll get out of here. I promise," he assured me.
After thinking for a while, Jack picked up the bone left by the other men and stuck it out between the bars. After a few whistles, the dog began to walk towards us. When he was almost close enough for us to grab the keys, there was a crash upstairs, and two guards fell down the stairs, dead. The dog, scared, ran off with the keys. I groaned in anger and frustration. Then I heard two men coming downstairs.
"This ain't the armory!" One of them declared angrily.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here, Twigg," One of them laughed. "Captain Jack Sparrow." He spat in the dust.
"Last time I saw you, you were all alone, on a godforsaken island, shrinking into the distance," Twigg taunted. "His fortunes aren't improved much."
"Worry about your own fortunes, gentlemen. The deepest circle of Hell is reserved for betrayers and mutineers," Jack said boldly. The other man reached through the bars and grabbed Jack's throat. "So there is a curse," Jack said with fear. "That's interesting."
"You know nothing of Hell," the man let go of Jack and walked out with his partner.
"That's very interesting," Jack wondered. Everything was so confusing to me.
"Jack, what just happened?" I asked him.
"Two members of my old crew. There was a time when I was captain of the Black Pearl," he said sadly.
"What happened?"
"Well, after two years, they decided to maroon me on a deserted island. After three days, I managed to escape. And now I'm here. I'd do anything to get out of here and kill their captain, who used to be my first mate."
"What did you say about a curse?" I wondered.
"After they marooned me, they came across the treasure of Cortes. There were 882 identical gold coins, and they took them all and spent them all. Eventually, they realized that they needed them all back, so they went out and found them. Now there's only one left to find, which may be why they kidnapped Miss Swann. They don't usually take captives."
"But what about the curse?"
"I was getting to that. Supposedly, whenever they stand in the moonlight, they look like skeletons. When that man grabbed my arm, the moonlight shone over it, and his arm looked as if it had no skin or flesh."
"That's downright creepy," I shuddered. "It makes me glad I couldn't see it." Then I thought aloud, "Is there a way to lift the curse?"
"The curse will be lifted when every coin is returned to the chest and blood from every man who took a coin is put with it."
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The next morning, I woke up to find Jack unsuccessfully trying to pick the lock with what felt like a bone that had been shaved down to a sharp point. Laughing a little, I tried helping him, but had no luck. When we heard the door opening from upstairs, Jack ducked back and lay on the floor.
"You, Sparrow!" I recognized that voice. It was Will.
"Aye?" Jack answered. Will seemed to be completely ignoring me.
"You are familiar with that ship, the Black Pearl."
"I've heard of it," Jack sounded bored and uninterested.
"Where does it make berth?"
"Where does it make berth? Have you not heard the stories?" When Will didn't answer, Jack continued, "Captain Barbossa and his crew of miscreants sail from the dreaded Isla de Muerta. It's an island that cannot be found except-"
"By those who already know where it is," Jack and I finished together.
"The ship's real enough. Therefore, its anchorage must be a real place. Where is it?" Will was getting impatient.
"Why ask me?" Jack taunted.
"Because you're a pirate," Will admitted in shame.
"And you want to turn pirate yourself, is that it?"
"Never!" Will clenched the bars in his fists. "They took Miss Swann," He was referring to Elizabeth Swann, the governor's daughter. I could tell that he loved her.
"Oh, so it is that you've found a girl! I see. Well, if you're intending to brave all, hasten to her rescue, and so win fair lady's heart, you'll have to do it alone, mate. I see no profit in it for me."
"I can get you out of here," said Will.
"How's that? The key's run off," Jack said in disappointment.
"I helped build these cells," Will said. "These are half-pin barrel hinges." He picked up the bench outside the cell and hooked the legs between the bars. "With the right leverage, and the proper application of strength, the door will lift free!"
"What's your name?" Jack asked.
"Will Turner."
"That would be short for William, I imagine. Good strong name. No doubt named for your father, eh?"
"Yes," Will sounded suspicious.
"Ah," said Jack. "Well, Mr. Turner, I've changed me mind. If you spring us from this cell, I swear on pain of death I shall take you to the Black Pearl and your bonnie lass. Do we have an accord?"
He and Will shook hands.
"Agreed," said Will.
"Agreed," Jack was happy. "Get us out!" I heard a loud combination of sounds, and then the door came unhinged. Jack took my hand and pulled me out of the cell.
"Hurry, someone will have heard that!" Will warned.
"I certainly did!" My ears still hurt a little.
"Not without my effects!" Jack declared.
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