Harry Hook was not an easy person to find. After nearly a week of looking for him Uma was beginning to consider him a myth – apart from the fact that she'd seen him, from time to time. But now when she needed him most, she couldn't find him.

She used to see him around school every so often, but not so much anymore. As they all got older people tended to show up less and less, whether from a lack of interest or having to perform family duties. The former seemed to apply to him and the latter for her.

Occasionally his father would come into the Chip Shop with his crew while she was working her shift, but he never brought any of his children - not that they'd want to hang around him.

She couldn't ask anyone where he was either, not without sounding suspicious that was. And she had really no one to ask apart from his sisters, who would only laugh at another female pursuing after their brother. She wasn't interested in him in that way, she had a goal to complete.

She'd almost had a stroke of luck two days before, when she was in the market place for fish for the shop. She'd been haggling at the stall when a group of footsteps thundered across the rooves above her. On habit she'd looked up to see a red coat flash as it leapt across rooftops and ran along the roofbeams of the market place, amidst the rest of the group.

Growing up climbing the masts of ships had made free-running come easy to him. And he was fast, easily overtaking other members of the group. The sight of the young pirate being so agile on his feet made Uma want him more. She'd hoped they would climb down and run past her so she could stop him in his tracks, but they'd continued leaping over gaps and sliding down rooves before disappearing out of sight. On the way back to the Chip Shop she'd dragged her feet in frustration, she was running out of time.

That night she'd stared out the cracked window of her bedroom, looking out at the broken ship in the water. She wondered if she would be able to take it by force but quickly ruled it out, she was good with a sword but she still wouldn't stand a chance against an adult pirate. She also considered whether she could use someone other than Harry Hook, but she ruled that out too. There was no one that she knew of with a better knowledge of sailing than him – sans his father. Plus, she needed someone she could trust and somehow, she knew that Harry would fit that description.

On the Isle it was rare to find a tightknit, unbreakable group with most people settling for the odd temporary alliance whenever it suited them. But the majority of people their age stuck mostly to themselves. Uma knew that the latter applied to Harry.

Aside from the ragtag group of free-runners, who only seemed to hang out together if they happened to be in the same area, she hadn't seen him with anyone else. Not at school, or for that matter, with anyone afterward. Apart from the occasional fight, he never seemed to interact with anybody. Which made her doubt herself on whether he would like to join her in the first place.

But she couldn't dwell on that. As much she didn't want to rely on anyone's help, she needed him.

It was odd that she hadn't spotted him sooner, seeing as they lived around the same area of the wharf, but at last the fateful day came.

Uma was out sweeping the front of the Chip Shop when she saw the red coat weaving its way through the crowd before disappearing into an alley. Without a moment's hesitation she bolted after it, not caring that she was only halfway through her shift, broom still in hand.

"Harry!" she calls out when she reaches the alley, finding him halfway down.

"Odd place to stop someone in an alley, don't you think?" he turns around slowly as Uma catches up to him. "Someone might think you're suggesting something."

"I am – but no" Uma immediately corrects herself with a twitch of her head. She sees him smirk at her in her flustered state. "I have a proposition to make."

"I've heard my wee fair share of propositions from the female population" Harry dismisses easily, making to walk back into the street the way they had come.

Uma stops him from leaving, blocking the alley with the broom.

"You haven't heard one like this before."

Harry looks down at the broom blocking his path and an amused smile spreads on his face, Uma can't help but notice that he looks slightly impressed.

"I can guarantee that I have."

"You haven't" Uma quickly denies with such confidence that Harry steps back from the broom and leans himself against the wall.

"Well, then I'm all ears, lass."

"Your father" – Uma begins before Harry scoffs.

"That's an interesting start."

Uma narrows her eyes are him, and continues like she'd never been interrupted. "Is holding a race for a ship."

Uma watches as Harry's brow furrows and he crosses his arms over his chest, the conversation clearly not going the way he thought it would be.

"I need it, but I don't have anyone to sail with me."

Harry clicks his tongue before replying, "so, I'm guessing you want me to convince my sister to help you."

"No" Uma shakes her head, "I want you."

That wasn't the answer that he'd expected and Uma watches his eyes go wide in surprise before the look is quickly masked away like it was never there.

"Alright then" Harry seems to consider. "What's in it for me?"

"It's a long story" Uma warns.

"I've got time" Harry shrugs before gesturing to her broom, "unlike you."

She looks at the broom and starts to calculate how long she has until her mother knows she's gone, before realising that she doesn't care. Turning back to him she begins, "I'm not interested in the short-term 'stealing what you want to decorate your bedroom' kinda stuff, just to make life in this hellhole that little bit better."

Immediately, she has Harry's attention as he nods along with her with an amused expression on his face. She's not sure whether he's intrigued by her ferocity, or if she's finally found someone with the same viewpoint as her.

"I'm interested in the long-term" she explains, then eyes him seriously. "Can I trust you?"

"Can you trust anyone around here?"

Uma swallows heavily, she knows she can't. But there's something in his answer that she can see through, and she decides to take the risk.

"I'm looking for a way off."

A small course of shock sends Harry pressing his back further into the wall. His jaw twitches like he's about to say something, but he can't will any words to come out.

"And I think I've found it" Uma reveals. "But first I need to win that race."

"I hate to ruin your plan already" Harry cuts in, "but a broken ship isn't going to sail you through the barrier."

"That's not what I wanna use it for" Uma dismisses. "Have you heard about King Triton's trident?"

"I hear about everything in these waters."

"I'm going to find it" Uma tells him.

"Also" Harry draws out, "its magic won't work on this side of the barrier."

"Look I appreciate you critiquing my plan" Uma narrows her eyes, "but I already have it figured out."

"I can see" Harry chuckles, adjusting his position higher up against the wall.

"I want to use it as a bargaining chip" Uma continues.

"You want to trade it for your freedom, after you find it, after win the ship from race that you need my help for?" Harry checks.

"Yes" Uma nods.

"And I'm supposed to get what out of this?"

Uma cracks a smile. "If I get out, I'll take you with me."

Harry chews at his bottom lip before pushing himself off the wall with his foot. "You, lass, have yourself a deal."