Chapter 25

Chase and Escape

Izzy bounded back down the path towards the Black Pearl. She could see Gibbs standing by a boat by the docks.

"Isabella?"

Izzy whipped around and stood face to face with Captain Morris who was accompanied by his men.

"Isabella, what are you doing here? We need to take you back to your father immediately! He's been so worried."

Instead of answering, Izzy turned and continued to race to the docks.

"Isabella Peregrine, stop this instant! I order you!" Captain Morris shouted.

But Izzy continued to run. She didn't want to go back. Not now, not ever.

"Gibbs, time to go!" she yelled to him.

Before she had finished her sentence, Gibbs had the boat untied and was starting to drift out to sea. Izzy got to the end of the dock and skidded to a stop. Gibbs was too far out; she'd never make it even if she jumped.

"Jump lass!" Gibbs yelled.

Izzy turned her head and saw that Captain Morris and his men had just raced unto the dock swords in hand. She turned to face her oncoming pursuers and drew her sword.

"Lass, now's not the time ta prove ya be brave," Gibbs bellowed. "Jump now!"

Izzy didn't change her stance. The men grew closer and closer. Soon they would be on top of her and she'd have to fight all of them.

Captain Morris slid to a stop, his shoes screeching against the wood.

"Isabella, dear, put the sword away," he soothed. "Your father misses you terribly. Now's not the time to be playing pirate."

"You'd be surprised how much like a pirate I am," she replied scornfully.

Before they could reply, Izzy held her sword in front of her and started screaming at the top of her lungs. She charged a few feet toward their dumbfounded faces and then changed directions. She reached the edge of the deck and stopped.

Izzy looked at the Captain straight in the eyes.

"I'm so sorry."

With that she back flipped off the edge of the dock.

"Isabella!" Captain Morris cried. "No!"

Izzy sprung into the air and landed in the water with a splash. When she felt her feet hit the bottom of the ocean Izzy opened her eyes. She planted her feet and pushed herself back through the water. Izzy looked ahead and saw the small boat that Gibbs was steering. She began to swim in the direction of the tiny speck of brown in the distance.

Izzy reached the boat and somehow managed to pull herself out of the water. She wiped the salt out of her eyes and looked back at the dock. Captain Morris and his men were standing at the dock where she had jumped looking out at her speechless.

"Goodbye Captain Morris!" she yelled back gleefully. "Until next time!"

Izzy waved and watched them fade into the distance. When she couldn't see them anymore she sat, put her new sword back in its sheath and started to wring out her clothes.

She suddenly noticed that it was too quiet and looked up at Gibbs. He stood staring at her, eyes popping.

"I'm fine, Gibbs," Izzy reassured him.

"Upon my soul, lass! Ya ain't dead?"

Izzy laughed. "No, Gibbs. I'm not dead."

"How?" he asked simply.

"I haven't the faintest idea," Izzy replied.

Gibbs shook his head and sat down.

"This be a story ta be tellin' the crew," he muttered to himself. "Never in me own life…. The lass be just as crazy as… and not a bloody drop of rum…"

Izzy sighed. Gibbs was never going to get over this.