First Jump
Desmond opened his eyes to discover that he hadn't died.
He was standing on a bustling street, looking down at a tie that lay on the paving stones. This was the same tie that Desmond had removed and thrown down after the interview with Penny's father. He shuddered as he realised that he had been sent back to this day again. He was standing on the pavement outside the Widmore building and the young busker was just finishing his song.
"I said maaaaybeeeee…you're gonna be the one that saves meeeeeeee…and after aaaaalllll…you're my Wonderwaaaall…"
The lyrics clawed at his heart, tormenting him. Desmond barged through the throng of onlookers and came to stand in front of Charlie.
"I need to talk to you," he insisted, urgently.
Charlie blinked, startling. "Hey?"
"I need to talk to you right now," he demanded again.
Charlie swallowed. He looked nervous and shifty, ready to bolt. "You're not a copper, are you?" he asked with a guilty wince.
"No. Just come with me and I'll explain everything."
Charlie drew back, his eyes narrowing.
"Yeah, sorry mate…" he muttered, turning his face away. "My mother told me never to go for walks with strange men."
Desmond forced a smile, trying to seem less creepy.
"Well then…maybe you'll join me for a pint in that pub over the road. What do you say, pal? The drinks are on me."
Charlie looked at him again, raising an eyebrow. "Listen…I'm straight, okay? Sorry if you got the wrong impression."
"No, it's not like that!" Desmond threw up his hands in exasperation. "I'm not trying to…listen, how old are you?"
"I'm legal, but the answer is still no."
Desmond took a step closer and grasped the sleeve of his leather jacket. His eyes grew tense. His voice became a rattling hiss.
"Five or six years from now you're gonna die! You're gonna drown in an underwater station at the bottom of the ocean."
Charlie's eyes widened, a perplexed smile teasing his lips. He looked nervously to the crowd of onlookers, hoping for their support and possibly their protection. He shook off Desmond's grip on his arm.
"Well, I've had hecklers before, but never death threats!" Charlie said in a loud breezy voice. "Not an Oasis fan I take it, sir?"
The crowd laughed, taking Charlie's side and seeming equally baffled by Desmond. Charlie looked thankful that there were so many witnesses gathered around them. He smiled brightly, encouraging them to stay.
Desmond shook his head, starting to feel desperate. "This is no joke, brother, you've gotta listen to me or else…"
"I'll die horribly? Yeah right..." Charlie rolled his eyes and turned back to the crowd. "So do you guys fancy another song or shall we just stand here listening to this nutter? Can I see a show of hands, please?"
"Charlie, for Godsake, I know you!" Desmond exploded. "We were friends! We were stranded on an island together!"
"This is why we don't do drugs…" Charlie quipped.
At that moment the heavens opened and rain began to pour down on the London streets. The crowd took out their umbrellas and hurriedly dispersed. Charlie packed his guitar away into its case, protecting the instrument from the sudden storm. Then he turned to give Desmond one last suspicious glance before lifting the guitar case and walking briskly away from him.
Desmond held out his hands and felt the rain sliding through his fingers. All those little droplets slipping from his grasp. Not this time, he thought. This time he was going to change it. He was going to do it right.
He followed Charlie down the street.