A/N: Sorry life got a bit crazy, here's a new chapter. xo

CHAPTER SIX: THE MAP

Annabelle's clothing helped hide her feminine proportions enough that she could walk around the town without anyone antagonizing her. For how late it was there were plenty of people outside, she could make out the pub easily with how surrounded it was. She lightly pushed past two figures blocking her way keeping her head down. Luckily for her they were too drunk to even notice her and were too focused on yelling at each other.

If she didn't know any better she'd figure that she was still at Tortuga. Rough looking men were scattered everywhere, the type of men Annabelle knew she needed to avoid. Scantily clad women clung to some of them and she couldn't help the eye roll when she watched one push her breasts into a man who could be older than her father's face. It made her curious to how old the young woman actually was. There was no question that she was gorgeous, like some sort of goddess with her long blonde hair that curled around her doll like face. Though Annabelle was annoyed by how forward the young woman was acting she couldn't help but marvel at her as well. A thought creeped through her mind unwillingly, 'If I looked like that I bet I could land myself a fine husband like Will.' Will. That was right, she needed to focus, and Annabelle had one mission at the moment.

The bartender was her best bet. Bartenders saw everything and seemed almost like a knowledge bank of all the locals. Annabelle hadn't seen either Will or Elizabeth in a couple years and she assumed that during that time they lived in this uncivilized town, much to the surprise of her. Elizabeth, who came from finer things, seemed like she would rather be surrounded by finer things such as Will. That must be what love is, not caring where you are in the world so long as you're together.

Annabelle couldn't relate or fathom what a connection like that felt like. What she had with Jack, she couldn't give it a name. All Annabelle knew was that she couldn't escape the devil of a man.

Annabelle ignored the laughter of the pretty blonde and approached the bar rail where a heavily set man had his back turned to her.

"Uh, excuse me sir." Annabelle attempted her best lowered voice, "Can I ask you for some information."

The man turned, and she noticed the tip of his nose was missing. It threw her off for a moment and she couldn't help but stare at it.

"Information isn't cheap around here, better off mindin' yer own business boy." He grumbled so low his voice was hard for her to understand over the loud voices in the bar.

"Yes, well, uh I don't have any gold on me at the moment. I could pay you back? Open a tab?" she offered.

The bartender's eyes furrowed, "No. No gold, you need to get out."

'That escalated rather negatively and very quickly.' Annabelle sighed and he turned his back to her once again. "Wait! I have this blade, worth a pretty penny." This was something she didn't want to part with but she could think of nothing else to do.

The blade that had been tucked into her boot had nicked her ankle a bit and she tried to wipe off the blood as she drew it out. The bartender turned back around and at first shook his head at her but the polish of the blade glittered at the right moment.

"Give it here," she obeyed praying he would just take it and give her the answers she needed, "Hmm, what kinda information are ye lookin' fer then." He grunted.

"Anyone local that goes by the name Will Turner?" she couldn't help hide the desperation in her voice.

He looked at her puzzled, "He yer brother or…" He trailed off his face turning in disgust.

Annabelle could easily assume what he was thinking the 'or' was.

"Yes, he's my brother. He's married to this woman Elizabeth. Do you know them or are you going to give me my blade back." She huffed starting to get annoyed. There was no time for her to try to make up some long story to satisfy his curiosity. She just wanted a yes or no.

"Good lad. Moved in to town a couple years ago out by Marshton Road. It's on the east side of town." He gave her a wave, "Now be off with ya, yer takin' up space."

She didn't need to be told twice. The air in the room was starting to suffocate her. Too many people, their voices, laughs, all of it was starting to give her a searing headache. Annabelle gave a nod and practically bolted out the door. Pubs like that was the sole reason why she refused to make stops in cities when she had her ship. It was like a siren call for her crew, and she always lost one or two who refused to come back. The place was a toxic and lustful. Through the pounding pain her head was giving, a part of her wanted to stay behind and watch the blonde whose beauty reminded her of drawings she had seen of mermaids. Women could be so enchanting why she couldn't seem to enchant Jack the same way Annabelle couldn't understand.

The night felt cool and refreshing after being in that musty pub.

"Alright, he said east of town." She glanced up at the stars wondering if Jack thought her handicapped without her compass. The only time she would use it was during the day, she didn't need it at night. The stars were the only compass she truly needed at night. The one he held hostage was a comfort blanket, and she was determined to get it back. If she couldn't find Will she would take it from Jack's cold dead hands.

Annabelle strolled down the streets, enjoying the solace with the stars shinning down on her. There was no way of knowing if the bartender had actually given her the truth or what kind of reaction Will would have.

They hadn't exactly ended on a good note with her trying to tell Will what she had seen. The memory she had tried to forget that she had witnessed burned in her mind every time her heart yearned for love.

Or rather what would Elizabeth think of her return? Annabelle tried to convince herself she didn't care. Though she was angry and jealous of the woman the loss of their friendship also pained her.

Her pace quickly brought her to Mashton Road and was proud of herself for how quickly she had located Will. The realization dawned on her quickly though, that the bartender had told her what road he lived on, but not what house. She cursed in frustration.

"That son of a bitch!" she yelled, not caring who heard. "There's so many houses! That bastard couldn't be more descriptive? Couldn't say 'Oh! It's on Marshton Road the big house with a white fence and ponies out front?'"

Seven houses surrounded the road, three on the right and four on the left. The thought of knocking on each one to see if Will lived in one of them gave her anxiety. Would it be childish of her to knock and hide until Will came out? She laughed aloud at the thought but it seemed like it was the only logical one. Plus who knew if one of the homeowners would answer the door with a pistol in a town like this.

She repeated knocking and hiding nearby on three houses. Each one answered by someone she couldn't recognize in the dark.

Annabelle's heart started beating faster and faster after each knock. Will had always been kind to her, and though she said yes to the bartender asking if he was her brother he wasn't. But a part of her wished he was.

Brother or lover in all honesty. A man like that in this day and age was hard to come across. The devotion to his lover was something Annabelle yearned for in another. The one bloody man on this planet that she desired would never be able to solidify his love for one.

Finally, after trying five houses, the door opened to a face she couldn't forget. The house was dainty but well kept. There wasn't a picket fence and it wasn't as big as she thought it would be. It was even a color she found foul. Annabelle was shocked Elizabeth had agreed to live here. This couple continued to surprise her to no ends.

When she knocked on the wooden cream white door she quickly darted to the side of the house, making sure she was completely coated in darkness. It opened quicker than the rest of the houses and the worry of being met with a pistol in her face proved its worth. Though she couldn't see him at first, his voice was one she would recognize in a crowd of people.

"Who's there? I have a gun so don't try anything or you'll be met with lead." Will's voice sounded more rather confidant and rehearsed. Almost as if he opens his door in this way every night. He stepped out more and the light of the stars and street lamps illuminated him.

Will's dark brown hair was tied back as usually and he even looked handsome in his loose white shirt. His dark eyes glanced over her and she felt rooted to the spot. Annabelle was thankful he couldn't see her just yet as she needed to find her courage.

Before he shut the door she managed to force out a whisper as her hear was lodged in her throat, "Will?" his hand pushed the door open even wider and he looked almost franticly towards her.

"Anna?" he asked the confusion clear in his question.

Forcing herself, Annabelle crept out from the shadows and gave him an awkward wave.

"Been awhile," Words were at a loss for her and she hoped he would fill the awkward silence that followed.

"Wha-, Where have yo-, why are you here?" his face gave away all his emotions at once as he lowered the pistol. Confusion, worry and then suspicion, he was too easy to read.

"I need your help…"she trailed off, searching for a way to bring up Jack without straining the situation more.

His eyes glanced at the scar on the left side of her face. It had healed after the few weeks out on the sea after the battle with Jack's enemies but it left her a scar that only diluted whatever beauty she had before.

"What happened to you?" He was angry now, his voice sounded like he was accusing her of something. Maybe he already knew why she was there.

"You want the short version or long?" Annabelle sighed for the thousandth time that night. When he didn't reply she huffed out, "I sold out Jack, stole a ship, bought a crew, was living happily in peace before a certain pirate came back and made my crew hold a mutiny."

"You were captain of a ship?" he asked astounded.

"That's all you took out of what I just said?" she retorted in frustration.

"I'm just surprised a crew followed a woman."

"Money helps with that."

"Ah, and Jack," his voice was cold now, "is why you're here."

"Yes, I don't really have much of a choice. He has my compass as hostage right now."

"Get a new one, there's plenty for sale here."

"That's not an option." Annabelle spat angrily, "I'm assuming you know why Jack sent me here."

Will was studying her and it made her suddenly nervous, "You've changed."

Annabelle rolled her eyes, "It's been two years. Time has a tendency to change everyone."

"Sure." He said sarcastically.

Annabelle groaned. It had been a few hours since she had left Jack's company and though she didn't wish to return so quickly back, she wanted this to be over quickly. "Jack says you have a map."

"You're his lap dog again then." Will stated. He chuckled, "I guess some things stay the same."

"This is impossible. I've already told you…I've already explained the situation. I have no choice."

"There's always a choice." Will shrugged.

Annabelle rubbed at her temple, "Will, please. Just listen to me." His head turned to face away from her, surveying the rest of the road. He was acting almost dismissively of her. "I need whatever bloody map you have that Jack wants."

He chuckled, "And what map is that then?" his eyes suddenly pierced hers.

Startled at his question, she struggled to form words, "I-I don't know." She stuttered. "He didn't exactly tell me much just that you have a map that leads to where ever I'm being forced to taking him too."

"You can't read it."

"I can read any map thank you." His doubt in her abilities bothered her, "And you just admitted you do have it."

"Even if I did have this map, and I decided to give it to you. You wouldn't be able to read it."

"So you are acknowledging you know about the map Jack is talking about." Annabelle noticed he still had not invited her in. Perhaps she preferred it this way.

Will rolled his eyes, shutting the door behind him. "I'm not giving you the map. You have no idea where it even leads. Or what the map supposedly leads to do you?"

"No, but you could inform me."

"It was Davy Jones's. My father gave it to me before he captained the Flying Dutchman. You know what Jack is obsessed with." He waited for her answer.

"Immortality," Annabelle stated easily. Jack was mad, even after everything they had all saw he still sought something so impossible.

"It apparently leads to such a thing." His voice lowered, "What happens if you go back to him with nothing?"

She shrugged, "I have no idea. Jack will probably kill me."

"I doubt he'd actually do that."

"Will, I don't have time for games. Please, can you help me or not."'

"I'm not giving the map to Jack. You need to leave." Will said angrily and pointed away from the house, "Now. It was great seeing you but you need to go."

"Please," Annabelle was pleaded.

Will shook his head slowly, "Anna, please. Don't push this. Just forget about that bloody compass Jack has and get away. I'm sure Jack assumed if I were to hand it over to anyone it would be you. But he's wrong. Feel free to tell him such, and that I no longer have it in my possession."

"Do you know where it is then?" Annabelle already knew what answer he was going to give her. He was not being nearly as helpful as she assumed he would be.

"Even if I did I wouldn't tell you."

"What's the harm in him having the map that leads to this imaginary immortality?"

"You know as well as I do that there are things in this world we can't explain and if it does exist," he paused, "a man like Jack should never possess it." Will's eyes darkened in anger, "Now leave. I've asked you enough already."

Annabelle huffed, "I hope you can live with a clear conscience knowing Jack's going to do something terrible to me if I don't bring anything back." She was tried to guilt trip him but it wasn't having the desired effect.

Will opened his door enough that he slipped back inside without her being able to make much of anything behind him, "What happens between you and Jack is no one's fault but yours."

With that last sentence he attempted to slam the door in her face but a hand pushed against the door, not letting it latch.

"Will. Let her have the bloody map."

To say Annabelle was shocked that of all people trying to help her it was Elizabeth would have been an understatement.

Will's loose hair clung to his skin in the heat and he wiped it off his head with frustration. "Elizabeth, she's giving it to Jack."

Like a beautiful phantom Elizabeth appeared behind him, the light from their house cast almost a glowing light around her. Annabelle still envied her beauty, how could she not.

"What does that matter? Let her have it and we can be rid of it and Jack. We can start anew. Please Will." Her hand glided down his arm, defeated.

Will sighed, and glanced over at Annabelle, "Fine, take the bloody thing and whatever curses it brings with it."

Annabelle's eyebrows furrowed, 'Whatever curses? What does that imply.'

She wanted to ask but felt as if she was already pushing her luck.

"Thank you, both of you." She looked at Elizabeth who gave her a small smile.

"Hold a moment, I'll return with it." Elizabeth moved aside as Will disappeared into the house.

The awkward silence grew between the two as he waited and Annabelle refused to break it. Though Elizabeth had just convinced him to give up the map it didn't change her feelings toward the woman who helped break her heart.

"Annie," Elizabeth started before Annabelle shot her a glare, they weren't close enough for her to try to call her that, "I'm sorry."

Before she could clarify for what she was apologizing for whether it was calling her Annie or what had happened between the two, Will returned. His clothes appeared dirtier than before, as if he had just dug up the map.

He practically thrusted the map at her and Elizabeth retreated inside. Whatever conversation she had tried to start would always remain a mystery to Annabelle.

"Please, don't come back." His voice sounded almost pleading and all Annabelle could do was nod her head as he shut the door.

Left in the darkness she started walking back to the port. Her heart felt heavier than it had in a while. Will and her had once been close, almost what she considered a brother. But in this moment she felt like nothing more than an impeding stranger.

'You won't be able to read it" his words echoed in her head mockingly.

"I can't read it? I can read any map." She huffed to herself and stopped in the middle of the dead street and opened it.

The map's age showed. It crackled loudly and she feared for a moment that it would rip. Her face fell as soon as it had unfurled, Will was right. For once in her life she was stumped at the markings on the map. There were no numbers, not even a compass drawn on that showed any sort of direction. The only markings on the map were that of differently shaped dots. Will was right.

On one hand, she had down what Jack asked. Almost effortlessly and much quicker than she anticipated she had retrieved the map. He should be thrilled. The only problem was he undoubtedly expected her to read it.

The cosmos were still against her; nothing could ever be so simple for Annabelle.