AN: Um wow like thanks everyone. I only had up one chapter to this story and already over 40 people started following it. That means a lot to me and makes me excited to share this story with you all.
I don't know if this chapter is slow but stick with it please because it has a killer ending.
Alfred flickered his eyes open to have them met with nothing but a cloudless blue sky. Wait, the sky!? Was he outside? He found out his answer when a splash of salty water was sprayed onto his face and into his eyes. "Ouch ah-fuck!" He hollered out in pain rubbing his eyes as he sat up. Where did this salty water come from?
The blond blinked a couple of times to wash away the pain and adjust his eyes to his new surroundings, which were what exactly?
He held up a hand above his eyes to help keep the beaming sunlight from them. He gasped when he was able to see of his new whereabouts. He was in a harbor but not just any harbor, the one that was drawn inside the book. And like the book, everything was so beautiful. The shiny blue seawater splashed up against the dock he was sitting on as well as the giant boats that were ported. He watched as darkly tanned men walked aboard ships with a large shaky plank used as the bridge to cross. Most carried cargo boxes while others led animals by rope on and off.
Everything was if out of a scene from a pirate's movie except none of the flags bared the skull and cross-bones. All were flags Alfred hadn't seen before of briefly covered in his boring history class.
Alfred slowly stood and grimaced as his body rejected the movement. Still apparently sore from his arrival here but just where was here? He paused to consider what exactly just happened to him.
OK. First he opened the book and some weird shit happened then he touched the creepy yet strangely accurate picture of himself and now he was in a harbor… Just like the one that was in the book.. Could touching the picture have sent him back in time or was he inside the book?
Whichever it was, he knew he had to get back and that damn book will probably help him out. Alfred looked down at the spot where he lay but nothing was there. He spun around a couple of times than frantically started patting his pockets for anything inside.
"Wait. How could a book fit into my packets? And what am I wearing!?" He glared down himself to notice that his school uniform was gone and he was in some old fashion get up. He couldn't quite tell what exactly he had on but it looked to be like a long white baggy sleeved shirt with a button up pale blue waistcoat. His pants were replaced by a pair of uncomfortably tight tan breeches that went to his knees. The rest of the ways down were long white socks that to his demise, his favorite red converse were gone and he cringed at the sight of black buckled shoes.
"Oh my god… I look like a gay version of Will Turner..." Alfred choked after taking in his new attire. While pulling at his breeches to try and stretch them, someone tapped him swiftly on the back. Alfred spun around in surprise and was met with a young handsome dark-haired gentlemen. This guy didn't look like the rest of the men on the docks but like a lordship of some kind.
"Excuse me but are you Alfred? The one with the book yes?" The man asked with a familiar Austrian accent. For some reason this guy already bored Alfred.
"Who wants to know-wait, you know of the book!? Please tell me you found it!" Alfred slapped his hands together as if to pray. The dark-haired man raised an eyebrow at the blonde's actions and took a step back to further the distance with the loud blond.
"Oh how delightful. You lost it already… Appears you will be of no use here afterall." The man guffawed as he crossed his slim arms. "No matter. She will still want to see you. Come along boy." He sighed then turned to walk in the opposite direction.
Alfred stood there processing what the strange yet familiar man had just said. For some reason he was 'of no use already'? What the hell was that supposed to mean and who was this she who wanted to see him? No matter because this man knew something of the book and that's what he needed. Guess he has no choice but to follow him.
"Hey wait up! You said something of the book," he paused to think the name of it. "The Pirates Compass, right!?" Alfred hollered rather loudly so the other could hear who was some ways down the pier.
The man stopped in his tracks and jerked around to slap a hand over Alfred's mouth just as he caught up.
"Hmph!" Alfred protested at the mans hand.
"You fool! Do you want to be held by swords to our necks?!" He hissed into blonds face. "Don't you dare say that aloud once more or I will leave you to fend alone against these fools!"
Though confused, Alfred nodded and made another 'Hmph' sound in agreement. The dark-haired man growled then let go of the blond who almost stumbled to the floor.
"Just keep that loud mouth of yours shut til we arrive."
Alfred didn't like being told what to do, especially from a prick like this guy but he did mention of the book so that was the only reason he was complying. But then it struck him that how could he even trust this guy? How did some random guy know whom he was and where to find him?
Once Alfred regained his stance, he stood up straight and tall to match the height of the other man. "I'll only stop talking IF you tell me your name and who you're taking me to. I don't do the whole stranger thing." Alfred said placing his hands on his well-curved hips. The man watched his actions and spent more time staring at Alfred's hips than he meant too. He cleared his throat looking away awkwardly then back to the blond.
"I suppose I should have acquainted us before hand. My name is Roderich Edelstein. I have been sent to find a lad by name of Alfred at the peers. My wife, Elizaveta, has requested you. Do not ask anymore because I was told no more than that from her."
Alfred studied him for a long minute before he finally agreed to himself that this man 'Roderich' was telling him the truth. He looked too much of a clean-cut kind of guy than one who hunts down and kidnaps good looking boys.
"Hm fair enough I guess. I would tell you my name but I guess I don't gotta no more since you already know it. So fine whatever take me to your wife." Alfred slipped a sly smile onto his face as he thought of something. "Kinda funny though how your wife is looking for another good-looking man who you don't even know. Does that make you jealous?" He laughed aloud and slapped Roderich hard on the back that almost sent him over the piers edge.
"Oh I can tell you're going to be lovely in company already…" He mumbled while slicking his hair back into place. "Now come along, I don't want to keep her waiting. It would be rather rude of us both." He said as he gestured the way for Alfred to walk.
As the two began their walk up the pier towards shore, a parrot rest upon some crates where Roderich and Alfred once were discussing.
"The compass! The pirates compass!" It squawked several times then flapped its wings in excitement and took off towards the other end of the harbor where a large ship with black sails was at rest.
.~.
Alfred was at awe when they walked into the small, Oceanside town. He gazed at the amazing buildings he passed as they walked through the old streets. This place really was something out of the movies but this was actually real! Wait real? Of course this was real. Alfred mentally slapped himself for that.
"Here we are." Roderich suddenly stopped walking and grabbed at the door handle to open it for Alfred.
"Why thank you kind sir." Alfred smiled teasingly making the other older man groan and roll his eyes.
Alfred strolled on inside but suddenly stopped and scrunched his noise at an unsettling familiar smell. The entire house seemed to smell of old musty books. He took several steps more in but leaped in surprise when he heard the door shut loudly behind him. The suspicious blond turned around and glared at Roderich who looked rather annoyed.
"I do not mean to trap you in here. You are more than welcome to leave when you insist." He promised.
Alfred was about to speak but was cut off by a loud thunk followed by a crash from the other room causing both men to jump and turn in the direction of the noise.
"Elizaveta!" Roderich yelled and shoved the blond out of his way while running to the crash.
Alfred ignored that and when running after him to a room where there was, no surprise, more books. Roderich crotched down next to a women with long wavy light brown hair who sat rubbing her head as if it were sore.
"Dear are you alright? What happened? Is it your head? What can I do?" The man panicked helping the woman up who Alfred was guessing was Roderich's wife. She swatted away her husband's hands and carelessly laughed at both of their actions.
"You worry so much for me dear! I can assure you that I am fine. Now did you find the boy Al-" She froze when she saw the young handsome boy standing awkwardly in her homes door arch way.
She flipped her head back to husband than to young blond, not believing what she was seeing. She has waited so long for this moment.
With a wide cheery grin on her face started laughing at the sight.
"You found him! Oh look here Roderich dear! He's right here in our very home! How exciting is this!" She cheered and went running over to Alfred grabbing both his hands into hers tightly. She smiled up at him with such excitement that Alfred couldn't help but to smile himself.
It then smacked Alfred with being this close to the woman that he had seen her before.
"You're her! You're my school Liberian!" he exclaimed hopefully. The woman's smiled dropped as she tilted her head to the side as if confused.
"Hm? I do have no idea what you are talking about… But I wonder…" She whispered the last part and looked past Alfred as if deep in thought. Alfred didn't know what to do so he awkwardly stood there and waited.
Roderich still stood in the same spot as before was staring at them both. Frowning when his wife grabbed the blonde's hands eagerly. He cleared his throat loud enough to pull Elizaveta out of her trance.
"So is this the boy you speak so much of to me my dear? Is he the one?" He asked eyeing Alfred questionably up and down as if unimpressed.
Elizaveta turned her head around and smiled at her husband. "Yes of course he is! I think…but I am almost positive he is him! There is only one way to find out." She smirked turning back to face Alfred who was completely lost in their conversation. Why was here again? Oh yeah for that damn old book.
Alfred pulled his hands from the woman's small ones and looked at them both. "Ok look Ms. Liberian lady or whoever you are. I'm here because your husband said something of a book, which happens to be what I'm looking for. So if you can give me the book I'll-"
"You lost the book already!? Oh dear whatever shall you do?" she giggled as if she already knew what has been done.
Was this chick crazy? What the hell was even going on... Alfred rubbed his forehand and slid his hand down his face growing agitated.
"Listen lady. Do ya got the book or not? I kinda need to get back to scho-uh home. Yeah home." He announced sternly but knew he going to get no help when the cheerful woman just kept smiling at him and didn't flinch at his request.
"hm-mh of course! I very well know of this all." She smiled.
"Wait…you do?" Alfred said in disbelief.
"Yes silly! Why do you think I cast my husband to go and retrieve you? You're him from the book. You need the book to return home. I already know all of this because you're him and-"
"Hold up. What's with all this 'him' crap?" He asked quoting with his fingers. "You and your husband over there both said that. Am I missing something here? First off I have no freakin idea where I'm even at or how I even got to this island or whatever. All that I recall from all this is that I was in a library, reading a book, touched the book then ZAM! I look like a young peppy Will Turner. Can I just have the book so I can go home already?" He begged at the last part falling to his knees from exhaustion.
Roderich and Elizaveta both looked at each other worried.
"Show him…" Roderich said lowly to his wife. She nodded and left the room soon coming back with a long scroll in her slim pale hands. Alfred glanced up just as Elizaveta stood back to her spot before him. She looked down at him wistfully and offered her hand to help him up which he took. She held on to him and led him to a wooden counter covered with books and candles.
She glanced back to her husband and he nodded as if knowing what she was going to ask. He walked to the front door and locked with several clicks then went to every window and sealed any light or wondering eyes from pecking in.
Before Alfred could freak out about the sudden darkness, a candle was lit as well as another and another.
Alfred watched as she carefully set the long scroll before them on the counter. He also noticed that Roderich didn't join them. He didn't turn around but he could feel his presence somewhere about the room.
"What is this?" Alfred curiously asked staring down the tan scroll still rolled up securely. Elizaveta watched the blonds face as she delicately undid the seal the bind it together letting the scroll roll open before them both.
"What do you see?" she asked distinctively watching the blonds face trying to read it before he answered.
Alfred eagerly scanned the old paper up and down before finally realizing what it may be. It looked as if it were a pirate's map and if so, an old one at that. In the corner were the arrows that pointed north, east, west, and south. But besides that, there was nothing else. It was blank except for title. Not believing what he was reading, he read it aloud to himself.
"The Pirates Compass..." He could feel the edges of his lips cringe upwards at the words. Something about that made him excited but also nervous.
Elizaveta couldn't hold back another giggle as clapped her hands together to cover her mouth.
"You can read it Alfred. You really are him." She breathed in amazement.
Alfred pulled his eyes away from the pirate map and looked confusingly at her.
"What does this have to do with anything?" He asked.
"You read what was written on the paper out loud which I can not. Whatever is written on this map is blind to my eyes and anyone else's but yours. And that Alfred, is what makes you him." Alfred noticed her eyes water as she spoke.
"Wait. You can't see anything for real? Why am I the only one who can then?"
She smiled and picked up one of his hands again in her own.
"Because you're him silly!"
"Who the hell is this HIM!?" Alfred almost shouted.
"The Pirates Compass! It's not the name of the map but it's you! You are The Pirates Compass!"
Alfred gulped at her words and yanked his hands free. Stepping back he tripped over some items on the floor and clinged onto the closest thing to him, which was the windows curtain. Gripping on tight he yanked it down with him and fell to the ground with a crash as items fell off selves onto him and the floor.
"fuckin books" He mumbled when he popped his head from the destruction. He was about to apologize for his actions but halted when he caught sight of his hostess's faces. They look absolutely petrified…
Were they staring at him? No. They were freighted at the sight of something behind out the now un-covered window. Alfred slowly turned around to face the window to where the tip of his noise skimmed the glass.
He then realized what caused their distress. Right on the other side of the glass was a man with emerald-green eyes peering back into Alfred's blue ones. Scared, Alfred stood there and gulped when the man on the other side of the glass slowly walked up the window as close as he could. Less than an inch of glass was all that were separating the two.
The emerald-eyed man made a sinister grin at Alfred before closing his eyes and blowing his warm breath onto the glass making it fog up. Alfred felt as if the other man were blowing into his mouth. He could almost feel it.
With the fog on the glass still present, the stranger brought up a gloved hand and drew an X onto the window over Alfred's face with a finger.
Claiming, that he had found his treasure and Alfred was it.
AN: *le gasp* Comment and tell me what you think. Remember that its you all that encourage me to do more! I thought that ending was pretty creative. I write best on zero sleep and 8 cups of tea haha. Sorry for any erros.
~Thanks bellas.