He's running. Subconsciously, he's taking in the fact that he's actually outside. The sun on his back is the sun itself, not what he had down there, in the hole that he had lived in for three years. And this time, he wouldn't have to go back down there. Without paying attention to where his feet were falling, he tripped and rolled down a bank. Standing, he looked to his wrist, it was pounding with a sharp agonizing pain and he couldn't help but remember a time very much like this one not all that long ago.

He was nine and it was his first year as a boy scout. His parents were concerned with his lack of speaking and socialization, so they enrolled him in the program. They said it would be good for a boy his age; it would build character.

"Johnson, you're with Smith." The leader called out and Desmond heard Adam Smith grumble about being with a loser for a buddy.

Holding his head up high so as to appear that he hadn't heard what Adam had said before going the few feet to stand beside him.

After the other boys were paired up, Adam turned to Desmond, "Listen here, freak, don't get any ideas of callin' any boars our way. If I had it my way, we wouldn't be together, but I guess my parents like you or somethin'." Giving Desmond a glare, he joined the others where they were getting ready to start the hike.

It was only a few miles, nothing major, just something to get the kids some exercise and nature all in one. The buddy system was used, as always, and it had never failed them before, so why now?

A few minutes into the hike, Adam received a sharp reprimand for not being with Desmond, who was in the back of the group, trying to figure out why the others would think that he had powers or call him 'freak'. He supposed it was because of his accent, which he never hated or resented before this year, or the fact that he happened to stare and smile more than speak. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he gave up trying to figure them out, and decided that when he got home, he would tell his parents that he was going to quit. All he had to do was survive this last outing. He kept his head down, not wanting to get anymore attention than he really wanted when he heard Adam beside him, "Thanks to you, he's gonna to tell my parents about this. I'm gonna get in big trouble 'cause of you, freak."

Desmond didn't respond, but kept walking when Adam's arm shot out and pushed him off of the rock that Desmond had been walking on. Impulsively, he stretched out his arm to stop the fall and was rewarded by a sharp pain in his wrist. Clutching it to his chest, he clamped his eyes shut as Adam hovered over him, saying things that only Desmond could hear. He said that he wouldn't be anything more than a freak and that he'd always be alone. Desmond cried out for him to stop, repeating the word over and over again.

"Stop."

Desmond looked up, half expecting to see Adam there, but it was Jack. A wave of confusion crashed over him when he realized that he had been lost in his own thoughts. Glancing back to his wrist and then back to Jack he realized that Adam was right. The system never worked. Kelvin was supposed to be with him and he was gone. The girl was gone and now, even with Jack in front of him, he was alone.