Author's Note: It's been some time since I last posted a new story, let alone a chapter, on this category. For long-time followers, I know it's been many times that I posted a story yet failed to finish it. But please trust me when I say that I'm bent on finishing this one. I swear, even though this is the fifth rewrite I've done for this idea. As for the newcomers, hope you'll have the patience to go through this first chapter of this new fic.

Also, this chapter's dedicated to everyone who's been following me for my PotC fics. Especially if you've been here from the start, since my very first fic which happened to be PotC. Because God knows how many rewrites I've done and have never finished one.

E Y E O F T H E S T O R M

( one )

· turning tides ·

"Halt!"

The word came as a shouted order through the loud landings of feet echoing down the dark hall as the chase carried on. Loud panting accompanied the sounds as the hunted risked a glance behind his shoulders only to see the same pair of pirates relentlessly stomping at his tail yet to no avail. Still, he was faster than them which he was proving at the moment.

"Don't let the bastard get 'way!" the next words came, this time from a feminine voice far behind the two pursuers, from the darkness inside the room the hall had began from. Anguish and worry were the two evident emotions the voice had before the silence that followed was once again interrupted by a pistol being shot within the room. Who shot it and who was hit was paid not a mind by Jack as he continued running, as fast as his own legs could carry him away from his pursuers while his arms flailed in different directions.

Almost there.

Just a few more steps, a few more strides. And Jack would be out of the place. Not that he was scared - worried, sure, but he did love chases, especially when he had the advantage - but his current situation wasn't exactly an outcome he expected earlier.

Then the sound of a shot reached his ears again. Only this time, it was closer. And the time he realized so, he was still processing the fact that he was almost hit, the shot missing him by only a few centimeters before it hit the wall by his side.

After that, a swear word followed by the sound of the weapon being thrown behind.

Missed.

For a moment, he let a triumphant smirk creep to his lips before Jack got his head back in the game. Clutching the prized object close and tight to his chest, sounds of a fight still erupting could be heard from the far end of the hall, the likes of which was caused by none other than the infamous troublemaker.

But Jack didn't blame himself at all. If he recalled the recent correctly, he was merely trying to get a hold on the rolled papers by the other's belt before her eyes caught his sneaking hand. It was after she slapped it away did she shout and accuse him of molesting her. Yes, it was a her. And that didn't really help when the people of the place heard her call of feigned distress before proceeding to size up on Jack.

Yes, he was blaming the female for the fight.

How it had escalated to people on the same team now punching and chasing each other, Jack could not recall although he guessed it involved the moment he ducked when a burly man was about to throw a punch at him and ended up landing it on the drunk behind Jack.

Lost in his thoughts, Jack thought he was about to be blinded when the day's lights finally reached out to kiss his tan skin before his hand shot up in front of his face his shield himself. I made it. I'm out.

Though that didn't mean that the men behind him were stopping. Making it out of that hellhole just helped bring the situation to Jack's advantage - he knew his way better around in a place where there were many people going about on their daily routines that he could use to his own benefit.

Take that man not too far from Jack's position who held two hens under both of his arms, screaming something the pirate did not bother to comprehend. The moment his eyes landed on the birds, he made a dash for it with his pursuers still behind him, and when he had finally reached the unwary male, he spun him around. Once, twice, in confusion as he held on tightly to the now panicking hens, before he was knocked out of his own confusion and began screaming in protest. By the time Jack stopped spinning him after a third time, the two were already a feet near him when he grimaced before pushing the protesting man out of balance towards his pursuers.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips the moment the poor man fell forward towards the two pirates, who had failed to see the trick coming and, in an attempt to catch the falling male, ended up tumbling backwards towards the ground, with the two hens clucking and flying around in distressed alarm. Jack could only stare for a few seconds in amusement as white feathers began falling towards the tangle trio, gathering laughs and shouts from those who saw around them.

"OI! YOU!" the infuriated shout came from one of the pursuers with an accusing finger pointed at Jack as he spat away a feather, trying his best to scramble away from the mess. "You'll pay for this!"

But Jack could only smile in amusement in yet another evasion before he gave a curt bow towards the three, who were now screaming in irritation at him while the third could only plead for help, then hurriedly dashing away once again as fast as he could manage through the thickening crowds of people.

He did it. He made it. He finally had the object he had been after since the incident with the Fountain of Youth.

Skidding to a halt before walking towards a dark alley, Jack spared himself the briefest of a moment to catch his breath, back hard against the wall he leaned on. When his roaring heart had regained it's normal pace, the pirate finally reached for the rolled papers he had hurriedly tucked among his other effects during the chase. Untying the cord that held them together, the papers revealed themselves to Jack as he found a grin creeping to his lips.

There, he held in his hands, were a disorganized bunch of papers. Feeling one thoroughly with his fingers, scribbled on the papers were circles, one on each piece, each one growing bigger and bigger, starting from the center. They were translucent, almost see-through; the material was tracing paper.

Aligning each paper, corner by corner and side by side, a smirk curved itself into Jack's lips as an image revealed itself, strongly, perhaps perfectly even, resembling the same map the trickster had stolen from Barbossa.

The Mao Kun Map.

True, they said that only one of the map existed through the decades but as Jack held the stolen papers, rumors proved to be true when they said another copy existed, despite being far less from the original design and rather makeshift. Indeed, someone had dared to make a replica, and all that was left to do was let Gibbs confirm whether it was a perfect copy of the original.

Straightening up from the wall, Jack began to make his way away from the alley as his hand reached for one of his effects. Armed with another copy of the famed map and his compass, the pirate was awfully sure he'd be unstoppable at his quests for seeking the Seven Seas' treasures. But when he failed to touch the cool and smooth surface of his beloved compass, brows knit in confusion as Jack glanced down at his effects.

It was nowhere to be seen.

And the second his eyes landed on the new object that now hung in the place of his compass, the pirate felt his heart stutter painfully as a shiver rushed down his spine. The sparks of happiness and triumph in his chest vanished, and panic twisted his guts. "What in the name of . . ." Hesitantly reaching for the addition, Jack found himself wishing he could so easily refuse to recognize it but couldn't bring himself to do so.

The fabric it wore strongly resembled the clothes he wore, the plushness of the object unfamiliar to his touch. Despite being untidy, it was still in good condition and unmistakable. It was the voodoo doll that Blackbeard himself crafted with his own hands.

Without the pirate realizing it, his other hand went to a part of his chest, able to feel the rough skin of the scar Blackbeard had inflicted upon him using the doll beneath the fabric of his clothing. The image of a trident, after which Angelica had burst in to her father's quarters . . .

Angelica.

Jack grimaced, his grip on the doll loosening. Of course, only she would be able to get away with such a deed. Taking his compass then replacing it with the doll without him even noticing. If he wasn't as alarmed as he presently was, he might've taken a bottle rum then toasted it to her, for getting away with tricking the trickster. He might've been proud of her even. But she had stolen his beloved compass, one of the most precious objects he had always held close. There was no guarantee he'd get it back, unlike in the past where he had willingly let go of its possession when he was so sure that he'd eventually get it back. Then there was the voodoo doll - how had she even acquired it?

As the realization dawned upon him, the message suddenly became utterly clear to him as the pirate began to bite his nails.

She was coming.

She was coming for him.

Author's Note: And there we have it, the first chapter of Eye of the Storm. It's not that long since I originally intended for it to simply be the prologue. You can expect longer chapters after this one. Although I'm not sure when I'll be able to post the next chapter since I've never been able to set a proper schedule for updating my works, ever. Anyways, don't forget to review - your feedback and opinions mean the world to me! Constructive criticism is welcome as well.