The Locke and the Key
John Locke hurried about the beach collecting his things to bring them into the hatch. He was about to reach for his water bottle when someone else picked it up for him. "Here you go," the man said in a sweet, Scottish accent. Locke stared at the man, feeling he recognized him for a moment, but then shook his head in disgust. Locke was getting older these days and was repeatedly having the dreaded "senior moments".
"Thank you," John said as he stuffed the water bottle in his backpack.
"I... don't think we've ever met," the man said, extending his hand, "I'm Ewan McGregor."
"John Locke," Locke smiled and shook his hand. He figured he must've recognized Ewan from the island, that's all. Then, Ewan made a strange sigh as if he were angry that John didn't say anymore. This made Locke trace his memory further to see if he knew the poor man.
"Well, I was just wondering if you could get me into that hatch down there. It has a shower, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does," Locke said. But it also has a prisoner...
"Mind if I follow you down there, then?"
Locke paused for a moment to think and zip up his back pack. "Actually, it's not really that safe down there right now." Locke bit his lip when he realized Ewan would tell the others that he was keeping something from them. "But uh... of course, if you promise not to tell..."
"I won't," Ewan jumped.
"Okay, then, c'mon."
"So what is it that's not safe in the hatch?" Ewan asked, as the two of them hiked through the jungle.
"There's a prisoner," Locke said as he shoved a bush out of his way.
"A prisoner?"
"He claims his name is Henry Gale, but Sayid has proven otherwise," Locke grumbled. He realized Ewan would only ask more questions, so he added, "Sayid dug up a grave and the man inside's ID read Henry Gale."
"Oh." Ewan fell silent as he chased after Locke who was much quicker at making his way through the wild jungle. Now, he concentrated on getting to the hatch. But still, one more question lingered in his mind. "Why didn't Jack tell me?"
"Jack isn't your leader," Locke replied.
"Yes, he is," Ewan said, "He's the only one who tells me anything."
He continued following Locke through a winding path that twisted around the trees and bushes. Locke was silent until they reached the hatch. "Here we are," he said.
Ewan marveled at the fact of seeing a metal building in the middle of the "deserted" jungle. That reminded him of some gossip he had heard. "Is it true that there are others out here? On the island?"
Locke didn't respond.
Ewan snapped, "Why don't you ever answer us?"
"US?"
"You and Jack and Sawyer and Kate... you all think you're the special ones. You don't tell ANYONE what's going on." Right then, he snapped the twig he had been carrying to push back the pricker bushes in half.
Locke swung open the metal door and it clanged against the side of the hatch. He motioned for a furious Ewan to head in.