Ok I lied. There are going to be more flashbacks. If you can't tell, this one takes place a few days after Izzy, Cubby and Skully escape Hook)
July 13 - A Few Days After The Escape)
Izzy POV
After we had finally escaped the Jolly Roger, Cubby Skully and I had flown back to Pirate Island, only to discover that our team treasure chest had been broken into. What else was gonna happen now!? I thought I had already suffered the worst, but the worst was only yet to come. July 13. That was the day it began. That was the day she came back.
At daybreak, I strolled alone on the quiet, sandy beach for a walk as I watched the vibrant sunrise. The gentle waves lapped at the shore, their soothing sounds reminding me that there was still beauty in the world despite our recent hardships. My pink bandana fluttered in the breeze as I moved, and I adjusted my pink shirt that was getting more fitted and tighter since my body became curvier for some reason. I walked down to the shore and let the crystal-clear water come up and cover my bare feet. I closed my eyes and inhaled the salty ocean breeze. For a moment, I was at peace.
Well, that was until I made a move to walk and caught my foot on a sharp rock, sending me sprawling face-first into the wet, cold sand.
"Ow!" I cried out in pain. My back started to throb from the whipping Hook had given me. Yes, it still was not fully healed. I hadn't had a chance to treat properly and it wasn't like he never whipped me again after that day. I felt some of the scars open just now, and I suspected they had begun to bleed. And to throw salt in the wound, literally, the salty ocean water surged up and washed over my cuts, through my shirt. I couldn't help it. Not even bothering to get up, I buried my face in my arms and wept.
"Why me?" I cried, not caring if gasping was blowing the sand into my face. "Just why—-."
"I'll tell you why, Izzy," someone answered, and I gasped, the soft morning light reflecting off my pink bandana as I immediately lifted my head up but saw no one. But that voice… it was all too real. All too familiar. I hadn't heard that voice in years, but it was impossible to forget. But it was not just a voice. It was her voice. It was the voice of my first-ever crewmate. A crewmate I had before Skully or Cubby or even Jake. A crewmate that I recall had been dead for nearly fifty years.
"M…M-Morgan?" I whispered, slightly in horror, my brown eyes darting around the beach, searching for any sign of her presence.
"The one and only, Iz," the bodiless voice replied, and my heart raced. I continued to look around, but I didn't see my old friend, nor her black hair or fair complexion and black eyes. Nothing but the world around me that was lit by the morning sunlight.
"But…h-how? It can't be!" I shouted at the air, my voice trembling with disbelief. "You….y-y-y-you died!"
"A body dies, Izzy. But the spirit lives on forever! So I thought I'd come visit my favorite crewmate," she explained, her ethereal words hanging.
"I was your only crewmate," I said timidly, yet still anxious while being in the presence of a spirit.
"And my favorite," I swallowed hard, my eyes still full of tears from my emotional outburst while my pink shirt and purple pants were now marked with damp sand from my fall.
"What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
"You're in pain, Izzy, aren't you?" she asked, and I couldn't help but sense a conniving tone in her voice. She wants something, I thought, clutching my golden pixie dust necklace anxiously.
"I'm fine!" I shot back, though my voice quivered with defiance.
"I'm sure you are," she replied with an almost mocking tone. "That would explain why you were just bawling your eyes out in the sand. You're still bitter that he left you aren't you?" she asked, I could practically hear the smirk in her voice.
"Leave me alone, Morgan–er not Morgan. Whatever you are! I already have enough problems." I pleaded, my brown hair ruffled by the breeze as I wiped my tears away.
"That is why I am here. To help you," she said in an appealing tone, and I furrowed my brow, her words lingring. This was ridiculous. The girl was dead for crying out loud. She's nothing but a talking voice in the air. If she wants to help me, no doubt she'll get something out of it. The conniving little witch tried to kill Peter and take over Neverland!
"And I am never going away until I do," she whispered in my ear.
"What?" I squeaked, my heart pounding in my chest. But then I heard someone coming and shuffling through the plants and bushes. It was Cubby.
"Iz-zy!" he called. "Are you out here!?" His voice was growing louder, signaling me that he was coming closer.
"Oh and another thing, Izzy," Morgan started, her voice hushed and secretive.
"No, not another word! You will leave if you know what's best for you!" I threatened.
"You can't scare me Izzy, don't even try," she said in the most condescending voice. "Oh and one more thing."
"Say it and go!" I hissed, my eyes dancing frantically, hoping Cubby couldn't see what I was doing. But then I remembered I couldn't see Morgan. So he couldn't either. She was nothing but a voice. And judging by the fact that she was still talking as he came closer, it didn't look like he could hear her either….only I. Lucky me.
"Let's not tell Cubby about our little companionship. Alright?" After that, I heard her voice no more, and I came to the conclusion she left. However, I had a feeling that wouldn't be the only visit she made. Cubby emerged from the bushes, his blonde hair ruffled, and he looked at me with confusion.
"Izzy?" he asked, his blue eyes scanning around me. "Who are you talking to?"
"N-nobody."
As if there was not enough darkness in my life already, the sky had quickly turned from light blue to purple and night had arrived just on time. The soft, salty breeze and the sounds of the ocean created a soothing lullaby in contrast to the spookiness of my current thoughts. Cubby was already fast asleep after I kissed him goodnight and tucked him in. Skully had settled on top of the blonde's pillow, his tiny green head tucked under his wings. I smiled at the sight. But my heart was far from at ease. The encounter with Morgan, or whatever it was that claimed to be her, still sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled within me since that incident on the beach this morning. Every creak of the hideout, every rustle of the palm trees in the wind made me jump. No matter where I was I felt as if someone were watching me.
I lit a small candle, casting a warm, flickering light across the room, and settled on the edge of my bed. And I just sat there as I replayed our conversation in my mind.
"Why me?" I had cried out in frustration and fear when Morgan's voice had first spoken to me on the beach. Her response had been spooky, and her sudden reappearance after fifty years had been questionable. I began to brush my hair as a way to calm my frayed nerves. I had so many questions and frankly, I didn't know if I wanted the answers to them. What did Morgan want? Why had she chosen to reveal herself to me now, after all these years? As I set the brush aside, I reached for a small vial of fragrant oil. I pulled up my shirt a bit to reveal the numerous scars from my past encounters with Hook on my waist, stomach and back. I figured they deserved some care and attention. The oil felt cool against my broken skin, and I massaged it rather gently. When I felt the liquid had dried, I let my shirt I began to wrap my torso in white bandages to make sure it did heal for real this time. And then I let my shirt fall back down and let out a yawn, finally letting the thoughts of my old crewmate go. Maybe this was just a one time thing. Maybe I was just daydreaming. Or maybe things were only going to get worse. A lot worse.
I fluffed my pillow and let out a heavy sigh. But just as I was about to be fully at ease, her voice appeared in my head again.
"Iz-zy wiz-zy." she sang like a little toddler. I gasped and staggered back a bit.
"W-why are you back? I told you to leave!" I whispered, not wanting to wake Cubby up.
"Now why would I do that? I think Jake has already covered that after abandoning you."
"He did not abandon me!" I shouted but then quickly slapped my hand over my mouth and anxiously looked over at Cubby, who thankfully remained sound asleep. I peeled my hand off my face. "He'll come back. He's just exploring." I said, though the uncertainty in my voice was just plain obvious.
"For seven years? Seems a bit much." her smug voice said. How I wished she had a physical form so I could just whack her with my pillow. But instead I just collapsed on my bed and covered my ears with my pillow.
"Just go away." I pleaded.
"Alright I'll go away. But you have to do one little thing for me."
"I'll do anything, just as long as you go away," I poured, muffled by my pillow in my face. "What do you want?"
"You." she answered flat out. I shot up, sitting up straight and letting my pillow fall to the ground. I felt myself break a sweat and my heart dropped.
"Me?" I repeated, eyes wide and shocked. But then my jaw gasped when I figured out what she meant. "You….you wanna posse—."
"SHHHHH!" Morgan's ghost hissed. "We cannot use such explicit language like that in front of a little nine year old." she said, referring to Cubby.
"He's twelve."
"Oh whatever. Let's get to the poi—."
"You are getting noth-ing out of me!" I said fiercely.
"Think about it carefully, Izzy. I am offering you a chance to find peace and prosperity. If you don't take my offer soon you will regret it because I assure you that things aren't going to get any easier. I will follow you forever."
"I do not care. Whatever happens, I know I am strong enough to face it." I said with as much confidence I could find which in itself was not a lot.
"Are you though? Are you really?" the spirit asked as I gripped my blanket in fear. 'Probably not' It was quiet for a moment. I swallowed hard, still grasping my blanket close to my face.
"What did you mean by peace and prosperity?" I questioned, timidly.
"A world where you can be free! A word where the sun will shine every day! A world that is absolutely nothing like this awful domain!"
"In your dreams Morgan. I—." I whipped my head around when I heard Cubby groan and stir in his sleep. He rubbed one of his eyes and moved a blonde lock out of his face.
"Izzy?" he asked in his groggy voice. "What are you doing?" I sighed, my head still hung and my hair covering my eyes.
"Nothing Cubby. Go back to sleep." I assured him. Thankfully he obeyed and snuggled right back into his sheets and covers.
"Hmm, I guess I best let you rest for tonight. You will need it," Morgan said. "Oh and one more thing Izzy…." she started. "Until you let me in, I am never going away."
To Be Continued…..
Lots of 'fun' moments and nice little talks between these two yet to come. Yay.