Crossing the Bridge

Chapter 16

[The scene opens on an exterior shot of the Isle before cutting to Pirate's Bay. Ben could be seen tied up as Harry approaches, jumping down to close the distance.]

"You could have just walked?" Rachel said, looking confused. "Was the jump really necessary?"

"Coochy, coochy, coo," Harry said as he scratched Ben under the chin with his hook.

"Okay then?" Neal said, looking very unsure as to what was happening. "Is this normal behavior for kidnappers?"

"Just ones that insist on carrying a hook when they have both hands," Mal said, glaring at Harry.

"How's it feel to be the king now, eh?" He asked, smiling and chuckling at Ben's lack of response. Harry turned to leave only to approach Ben on the other side of the mast.

"Gods, he's creepy," Robin muttered. "And something tells me that crew would have kidnapped Ben whether he was the king or still the crown prince."

"Give it a rest, Harry. Give it a rest," Uma told him as she approached. "We don't want damaged goods."

"He's a person," Rowyn growled. "Not something you barter for something else."

"I'm pretty sure that's the very definition of a ransom," Aziz pointed out. "Demanding someone give you something in exchange for the person taken for the purpose of getting said item."

"My brother the walking dictionary, ladies and gentlemen," Ashaki chuckled.

"You said that I could hook him!" Harry growled, hanging from the rigging on the side of the ship.

Belle paled and Adam/Beast was legitimately concerned that his wife was going to pass out.

"Well well, First Mate Coat Hanger actually arguing with Shrimpy?" Mal asked, trying to keep the panic out of her voice at the thought of Ben getting hurt or worse. "I thought you were her loyal lap dog."

"I said at noon," Uma shot back.

Harry dropped from the netting and walked up to Ben. "20 more minutes," Harry said, dangling his pocket watch in front of Ben's face.

"That says 11:30," Ben said after getting a quick look at the pocket watch.

"Is it a wise idea to provoke the pirate who has you tied to a mast?" Hyllus asked.

"Ah."

"You better hope your girlfriend comes through," Uma told him from her spot on the deck.

"Of course Mal will!" Hadie exclaimed.

"Mm-hmm," Harry muttered in agreement.

"But she's not my girlfriend anymore," Ben told them. Uma seemed a little surprised at this news and Harry chuckled.

"Why?" Mal muttered. "Why would you give her that information? Presumably Uma wants to see me suffer, hence why she kidnapped you. If she knows you and I are no longer together..."

"And that's enough of the worst case scenario channel over there," Evie told her. "This hasn't happened yet. Ben's not going to go to the Isle so Uma won't be able to kidnap him."

"Leave us alone, Harry," Uma told her first mate.

Mal tensed. If she didn't like the idea of Harry and Uma being around Ben, then she absolutely hated the idea of Uma being alone with Ben. Even if it was on the Isle. Wait, what was she saying? Especially if it was on the Isle.