Anya panted as she ran through the crowded village streets, clutching the tattered stolen map to her chest. The pounding footsteps of the two pirates chasing her grew louder. Their shouts got closer with every step. She knew she couldn't stop. Her legs burned, but with the fear she had of getting caught, she urged her tired legs to keep moving.
Cries and curses filled the air but Anya couldn't afford even a sidelong glance or remorse, not with those two men swiftly closing the distance at her back. She panted heavily while trying to remove strands of her sweat-drenched hair that clung to her cheeks.
Ducking and weaving between merchants' stalls, Anya risked a glance back and cursed under her breath. They were gaining fast. She began shoving aside anyone in her path.
"Outta my way, please!" She yelled politely and hoarsely whilst shouldering past a bewildered fruit vendor and sending his carefully stacked pyramids of ripe melons crashing to the ground.
"Sorry about that!" She yelled and continued running. She had to think of a plan, and quickly.
Spotting a stack of hay bales waiting to be loaded onto a wagon, Anya got an idea. She bolted for it just as the pirates emerged into the town square, cutting off any other escape route.
"We've got ya now, girly!" one taunted. "Hand over that map and we might go easy on ya."
Anya backed up to the edge of the building's low roof, inching closer to the hay. "Come and take it!" she yelled, hoping to draw them in.
The pirates lunged, closing in for the catch. But Anya had timed it perfectly. As the wagon horse started forward, she leapt with all her might, landing safely amid the scratchy straw.
"Captain Blackbeard's not going to like this at all. We have to find the girl." One of them muttered to the other.
Hidden in the hay, Anya allowed herself a small smile of relief. She quickly checked her pocket—thankfully, the map was still there, intact. But her moment of triumph was short-lived. She needed to get down from the wagon without drawing attention, but before she could make her escape, more hay was tossed onto the pile, burying her deeper.
She tried waving her hands and signalling to the men loading the wagon, but they paid no attention. Anya struggled to climb out of the thick layers of straw. Her hair got tangled and her body was covered in dust. Just as her head emerged from the haystack, she found herself face to face with the angry wagon driver.
"What are ya doin' in me wagon? Get out now!" he shouted with his face red with anger.
Quickly, Anya scrambled out, clutching the map tightly as she dusted off the remaining straw from her clothes and sweaty hair. Without another word, she hurried away, heading toward the safety of her home.
When she arrived, she spotted Jack entertaining a group of wide-eyed children with one of his tall tales.
"And then the fearsome Captain Shark-tooth grabbed the mermaid by her hair!" Jack cried dramatically. "She opened her mouth to sing her deadly song, when—"
"Jack, enough with your silly stories," Anya interrupted with a sigh. The children booed in protest.
"But we were just getting to the best part!" one piped up.
"There's no such thing as man-eating mermaids. You shouldn't fill their heads with lies."
A little girl named Bella spoke up. "But my brother Will said Captain Larkspur and his crew went searching for the Siren's Hoard and never returned. The mermaids must have got him!"
Anya's frustration boiled over. "That's not true! There's are no magical creatures like that!" Anya yelled without meaning to, startling the children.
Jack himself was shocked by her outburst so he shooed the children away. "Off you go now. I'll finish the tale another time." Once they had scattered, he turned to Anya with concern. He noticed the roughly squeezed parchment she had on her hands and asked what it was she was holding. Anya quickly brushed it off with a "nothing".
"What's gotten into you?" Jack asked worriedly.
Anya took a shaky breath. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell. It's just been an awfully long day." She replied in a teary tone and then ran off to her room. Jack followed.
He knocked softly on Anya's door. "It's me, may I come in?" Through the wood, he heard muffled sobs. "Anya, I know it's hard to get by every day after what happened but open the door, please, let me help you." Jack begged
The door then opened to reveal Anya's red, puffy eyes. "I'm sorry for yelling earlier," she said in a small voice. Jack shook his head and pulled her into a hug.
"You have nothing to apologise for. I shouldn't have filled the little ones' heads with such tales." He guided her to the bed and sat beside her. "But there is some truth to what Bella said, as fantastical as it seems."
Anya frowned in disbelief. "You can't honestly believe in mermaids and sirens."
Jack took her hands in his. "I know it's hard to accept, but your father went searching for treasure and never returned. The Siren's Hoard is no mere story - it lures men to their doom."
"But he could still be alive!" Anya protested desperately.
"The only man who's ever survived its waters is Calypso. He was a cabin boy back then. If anyone can provide answers, it's him. People say he's quite strange though. But who's blame him. The man saw a lot of things he shouldn't have seen as a kid." Jack then squeezed her hands comfortingly. "I know you want to hold onto hope. But facing harsh truths is the only way to find closure."
Anya fell silent, processing his words. After a few moments, Jack let Anya be.
"I'll speak to this Calypso myself. And I won't stop until I know Father's fate for certain." Anya said to herself filled with determination.
She retrieved the stolen map from its hiding place. Rolling it open and placing it flat on her bed, it revealed depictions of hurdles she was going to face and at the centre of it was an X marking the treasure's location. Could the legends be true after all?
"I'm coming for you, Father," Anya vowed. "This map will lead me to the Siren's Hoard. I don't care about whatever dangers lurks beneath the sea. With Calypso's help, I'll learn what happened to you. I know you're still alive… I can feel it."