Hey everyone. Welcome to my story, please read and review 

None of the characters belong to me, apart from Ella. I'm just borrowing the rest!

The Heart of the Island

Chapter One: Curiosity

When having lived on the island for any period of time, one came to realise that being alert to any activity which was happening on the island was of definite benefit. You didn't survive in this place, unless you knew what was going on around you at any one time.

Generally she was a curious sort of girl, but also recognised the need to be sensible and cautious in this place and had thus made a decision to keep away from most of the other inhabitants where possible after discovering in her first days on the island that they couldn't be trusted. The survivors of flight 815 had been an exception to this. She had even eventually come to make a few friends amongst the group of people who had survived the crash after she had watched them secretly for a good while and decided they seemed friendly enough. However she had always refused to move to any of their settlements instead preferring to stay in her own little home which she had built up since she had arrived.

Despite her preference for avoiding those who she referred to as 'Ben's lot' she still liked to keep track of what they were up to (usually something worth keeping an eye on) which had proven useful on several occasions. This mindset of needing to be alert at all times to protect herself and also a healthy amount of curiosity were the very reasons why at this particular moment, Ella was paying special interest as to why the helicopter she had seen earlier had once again appeared, swooping over her head and landing some way away in the distance. The circumstances at this point had seemed important enough to merit her attention, besides, she had reasoned, 'the others' didn't have helicopters. So she had, gathered together her usual gear in her worn old backpack and set off, trekking in the direction towards where she estimated the chopper had landed.

Sometime later upon hearing a commotion nearby, she rushed towards the scene. Slowing down as she neared and dropping into a crouch, she crept closer. The sound of gunfire had dispersed quickly, leaving the area quiet, but as usual, not quite silent, this place was never silent. She supposed Ben's people had taken care of the gunmen that she had heard. Always watching, waiting, creeping around in the jungle they were, ready to sneak up behind you and slit your throat when you least expected it, all the more reason to pay attention to what was going on around you.

So... There's the helicopter.

You couldn't really miss it, the large metal monster glinting in the sunlight in the middle of the clearing. What on earth was a helicopter doing here? Edging around the patch of open space she moved in towards the chopper. Her ears picked up on a clanking noise, followed by a curse. Ducking lower immediately she held her breath for a moment, listening. There was no more movement. She hadn't been spotted, which was a good thing. She had never particularly enjoyed being shot at.

A few seconds later there was a shuffling noise and she saw the source of the curse emerge from inside the helicopter. She hadn't been able to see inside it from the angle she was at. The person who emerged was definitely a he and it took her a moment to realise that this 'he' was handcuffed and trying, seemingly in vain to remove the cuff. So that was what the clanking noise had been. After a few more attempts at striking the handcuffs the man turned his head in Ella's direction and called out.

"I know you're out there so you might as well come out".

Confusion slid across her face and she froze for a second when she realised he was talking to her, she hadn't made a sound. Taking a good look around the clearing trying to determine whether it was a trap, Ella made the decision to stand up and step into the open, keeping her eyes warily on the man in front of her. For his part he kept his eyes trained on her frowning at her as she stepped carelessly over a body moved to stand in front of him.

He spoke again.

"Let me guess, another native?".

Ella raised an eyebrow.

"I suppose you could call me that" she offered.

The man suddenly grinned and held out his free hand.

"Frank J. Lapidus, pleased to meet you".

Ella stared dumbly at his hand for a moment, his sudden change of demeanour unsettling her slightly before deciding that he looked fairly trustworthy and reached out to take it. The pause didn't go unnoticed.

"Ella" she stated, shaking his hand and nodding, "My name is Ella".

"Well Ella" he spoke still grinning, "Can you get me the hell out of these things?"

He held up his arm and jangled the cuffs.

"Sure" she replied, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as his laid back attitude caused her to begin to relax in his presence. "I'll give it a go".

A few minutes later Frank's wrist was finally free of the offending item. He rubbed his wrist massaging away ache from having to hold it in the same position for so long.

"Thanks" he said, noting that the girl had moved a good few paces away from him since he was free, but not taking offence.

"No problem", she smiled.

Ella ran her hand along the side of the chopper, studying the smooth metal which was now peppered with bullet holes thanks to the gun fight. She turned to question the man stood next to her.

"How on earth did you manage to get a helicopter here?"

Looking up from her hand that he had been watching glide over the chopper to her face he replied,

"I flew it".

It must have been enough of an answer for her he figured, as she didn't question it any further.

She shook her head and made a strange humming noise to herself.

"You're lucky you landed in one piece" she pointed out.

"So I gather" said Frank wryly.

Ella opened her mouth ready to ask him another question when a noise came from the edge of the clearing. Both of them turned quickly on guard then relaxed when each respectively realized who it was approaching. The first to speak was Sawyer.

"Well if it isn't little Ellabelle. Fancy seeing you here missy".

Ella smiled at him,

"Hello James".

Sawyer grinned wolfishly, grabbing hold of her and giving her a huge squeeze, his hands as usual wandering to grab a handful of her rump.

"Surprised we ain't seen you around sooner".

Ella blushed (also as usual), but kept her composure and extracted herself from his grasp.

"Well you know me" she quipped.

"I suppose I do" he replied and moved past her to slap Frank on the back.

"I see you got yourself free then" he remarked.

"With a little help" said Frank, nodding in Ella's direction.

"Ella" greeted Kate, "Hi".

"Hey" she replied to the older girl, smiling and giving her a quick hug.

She then turned to greet Jack and the rest of the party.

After everyone had said their hellos, Jack took hold of Ella's elbow and led her to one side. When Ella looked at him questioningly Jack spoke.

"Ella, we're leaving the island. There is a ship off shore; Frank here is going to fly us there now".

Ella, having realised the implications when she had seen the helicopter earlier nodded.

"Do you want to come with us Ella? There's room on the chopper for you".

Ella faltered for a moment. She had been on the island for so long now she had become used to this world. Did she really want to leave, was there anything actually out there for her in the real world. Looking up at Jack, his face full of hope and excitement, she felt hope begin to fill her own, despite her reservations, she found herself nodding.

"Yes Jack, I'd like to come with you, please".

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Ok so that was chapter one, chapter two to come soon, let me know what you guys think!

XxX