"Never Afraid to Feel"

Rating: PG-13 for some language

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the character of Pirates of the Caribbean (unfortunately!)

A/N: Hi everyone. This is my first attempt at a POTC fic. It's rather long, I warn you. I hope you'll review and let me know what you think. I have it all written, but I'm going to post chapters one at a time. I really hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

It must have been around midnight when I crawled out from under the covers. My parents had fallen asleep hours ago, I was sure. I had borrowed some of my father's clothing, a white button-down shirt and a pair of worn breeches. It would be a lot less suspicious to see a young lad on the streets of Port Royal at night than it would be to see a lady. I was nervous and breathing in heavy, sporadic gasps as I tied back my long, dark hair and wrapped it in a red bandana. No matter how nervous I was though, I knew this was my only chance to get away from this hell that was my life. I had never been one to succumb to conformity. I hated all the corsets, petticoats, tedious eating habits, and overly-polite conversation of the upper-class women of Port Royal. It was the end of the line. I was seventeen and had yet to experience life. I had to get out while I still could. I left a brief note for my parents, grabbed my bag, and looked at my room for the last time. No more lace and canopies. No more corsets and shoes that pinched my toes. No more acting as though I was a porcelain doll, simply there for the viewing pleasure of the men. Finally, it was over.

I crept silently out of my room, then grasped the banister firmly as I made my way down the dark stairwell. Beads of swear gathered on my forehead; I was terrified of being caught. I counted the steps so I wouldn't stumble at the bottom. Thirteen…Fourteen…Fifteen. I continued stealthily down the hall, opening the door as quietly as I possibly could, and I slunk out without a sound, gently closing the door behind me. Appearing as nonchalant as possible, I made my way down the dirt road, towards the port. My body and mind ached for excitement and adventure. I wasn't entirely sure what I would do, but I knew any alternative would be better than what I was living with now. That's what I thought then, anyway.

I got increasingly closer to the port when a voice pierced the silence of the night. "You! Lad! What you think you're doing out 'ere at this hour?" an unfamiliar voice questioned harshly. I turned around, keeping my head to the ground. I saw the flash of a red coat, indicating a member of the Royal navy. I cleared my throat nervously, making my voice seem deeper than it truly was.

"Jus' out for a stroll, sir. Needed some air." I answered simply, hoping my voice wasn't trembling.

"Bit late for a stroll, no?" he retorted suspiciously. I had been backing up slowly, but unfortunately for me, I tripped on a bump in the road, falling backwards. As I got up, I realized my hair had come undone, and it tumbled gracefully around my shoulders. This is where being a member of one of the most prominent families of Port Royal did not work in my favor. "Miss O'Conner?!" the man cried out in shock. I held up my finger as if to explain, then sprinted down the road as quickly as my feet would allow. Unfortunately for me, running was not something I got a lot of practice at, so the naval officer caught up with me quickly, pinning me against the wall of Brown's blacksmith shop. "Hallie O'Conner, wha' do you think you're doing out 'ere at a time like this? Do you know wha' your parents would say?" he snarled. As he began to pull my arms behind my back, a strange noise in the distance caught his attention. "CANNON FIRE!" He shouted in his thick English accent. I kicked him in the shin, and then bolted for the port.

As more time passed, I could hear the cannon fire becoming fore frequent, and less distant. It wasn't until I was very near my destination that I saw the first pirates scrambling down the dirt roads of Port Royal, burning everything in their path and, in general, wreaking havoc. I quickly sought shelter behind a stone statue while they passed, then continued my sprint down the road. It continued like this for a while, sprinting then hiding, sprinting then hiding. Finally I made it to the docks, where I saw a large pirate ship docked. I waited as it appeared that most of the pirates had left the ship, and then bolted for The Navigator, one of the enormous ships of the Royal navy. As I climbed aboard and went below deck, I heard the crackling of fire and pirates laughing, and the Royal navy opening fire on the pirates. Sweating and panting heavily, I huddled into a corner of a small storage room of the ship. Eventually I must have drifted off, or more passed out from complete exhaustion, because that was the last I could recall of that night.

A/N: I know this wasn't a particularly exciting chapter, but I promise it gets better. Just have to get through introductions. So what do you think? Should I continue? Reviews would be great appreciated. Thanks everyone!