Here is chapter 2 with the apparition of Ben ! Reviews are welcome, I'll post chapter 3 as soon as possible ! :)
She woke up, her head still aching. She had no idea of where she could be, she barely remember of anything but the memory of Ethan, the guy that had given her the druged bottle. Yeah, he drugged me... I was drugged ! She thought as she tried to rise from her bunk.
- Hi ! I hope you slept well enough, say Ethan, a big smile on his lips.
Clémence jumped of fear and surprise, almost screaming.
- God sorry ! I didn't mean to scare you
- You drugged me ! Where are we?
- In a submarine, going to the island you'll be working on. And by the way, I didn't drug you. It's a quiet long jouney, I told you so, I just put a sleeping pill in your drink, nothing else.
- Nothing else !? You could have told me !
- Richard asked me to do so, if it can make you any better, say the man, feeling kind of sorry.
He looked at her for a few seconds, then left. Clémence tried to come round. If Richard asked for it, she thought Then it should be for a good reason. She swore that she'll ask for it once ashore.
- Come here ! A voice suddenly scream somwhere in the submarine. We've just arrived Clémence !
- Where's Richard? She yielded back. I'd like to have a few words with him.
- He's upstairs, waiting for you on the pontoon. Don't worry, come on!
The sun burned her eyes as she rose from the depth of the submarine, blinded by all the light she coming from everywhere around her. She had stayed way to long in that submarine. Once accustomed to the light, she got out of the submarine and walked cautiously on the pontoon. She couldn't believe it. In front of her lied what seems to be like a big, paradisiac island. She could also make out a manly figure at the beginning of the pontoon. Richard ! She thought as she started to walk to this figure, and, as she got closer, she saw a tiny man in a stripped shirt. It wasn't Richard, much to her resentment. The man was smiling and held out one hand to her :
- Hello Clem ! I am Benjamin Linus, and welcome to our island
- Hello. She answered, still kind of disapointed. She took a litlle time to look closely the man in front of her, noticing his big blue and creepy eyes and his tousled hair. She smiled nervously, thinking that, anyhow, Benjamin Linus didn't look like some to be intimited by.
- Why are you smiling? He asked suspiciously
- Well, I wasn't expected to end up in such a place !
She knew that he knew she was lying by the sharp and acusing look he gave her. She wondered if I'd make any remarque.
- Good, Clem ! He finally said, still smiling.
She stayed baffled by the neutral tone he had kept all along their conversation. Moving his right arm to show her the island, he silently invited her to follow him, as Ethan got out of the submarine with her suitcase. He smiled at her, with that smile she hated so, and got closer to Benjamin :
- I'll take it to the barracks.
-Good idea, Ethan. Benjamin answered coldly. Follow me, I'll make you a little visit of the Island
After walking for five to ten minutes, the finally arrived to what Ben has called "The Barracks". It was in fact a groupe big houses, gathered on a huge ground of green grass, circled by the jungle.
- Here are the barracks. You'll stay here with us for the next three months, you'll see you'll soon feel totally at ease. This, he said pointing at one of the house, is were you'll stay. You'll share this house with some of your coworkers. This one, he pointed an other house, is mine. You can come over anytime if you have a question. For anything else, you'll learn fast enough who lives where. See you soon, Clem !
She has been living in the barracks for two weeks now, spending her days with Ben. The strange man spend most of his free time showing her the whole island, its most beautifull spots, where to read the book that Ethan had give her peacefully. She thought that the Island was a place of wonder. She had also met Juliet Burke during one of her ballad. The two women had talked and they became friends in a really short amount of time. Ben had seemed upset about that and unfriendly for the rest of the day.
However, she had not yet discover this excavation site she as supposed to work on, and she hadn't meet Richard yet. But all the wonders and the beauties of the island made her feel almost in holiday, it was hard to focus on whatever could have upset her.
She grabbed one of Ethan's book and sat on a long chair of the terrace of her house. After a few minutes, she felt like someone standing in front of her. She raised her head to face Juliet :
- Hi. Sorry, I hope I'm not bothering you.
- Oh no, it's ok. Said Clem, smiling as she closed the book.
- What do you read?
- A book Ethan gave me.A detective story. She answered, showing the cover of the book.
- Yes, he showed us at the last meeting of our reading group. By the way, you are more than welcome if you want to join us at the next session.
- Yeah, yes why not ! It's not as if I had no free time... In fact I don't really know why am I here, or where is the excavation site I'm suppose to work on..
- If you want, I could talk to Ben about it tommorow. Our meeting is at 4p.m, at Ben's house. Please, you are more than welcome.
On the day of the meeting, Clémence was confidently walking to Ben's house. She had to know the truth about why she was here, and Ben seemed to be the leader of the community, she couldn't give up, she had to fit in. As she arrived in front of the door, she rang the bell and waited to be welcome by the owner. He opened the door, smiling and looking at her with his big blue eyes :
- Clem ! It looks like he had been waiting for her all along.
They both stood speechless, staring at each other until it became weird between them. He shook his head nervously before inviting her in.
- Please, come in ! I'm right to think that you're here for the reading group? Would you like to drink anything? Tea? Coffee? Come on, have a seat, right here, I'll tell everyone you're here.
Clemence didn't say anything as he went to pick up the phone. He's probably calling the rest of the member to tell them I'm here. As if the need me to start... God what is wrong with me, I'm gonna look silly if I think this way.. I need to show them who I truly am, I need to know this people, to make new friends... Or else, it will be three long, long months.
Ben came back, sitting in front of her, hands on his legs. He seems pretty proud :
- I'm really pleased to hear you're joining us in the club. Every month, we pick a book, discuss about it, share our ideas and point of view, what we like... and dislike. You'll have work to do. He said smiling.
This sentence made her barely loose control of herself :
- Yes... About that, there are a few questions I wanted to ask...
- Listening, Clem?
- Why am I here? In my contract I was written that I was supposed to work on an excavation site, for three months, because you needed my approval for god know why... Why does it take so long? I've been here for two weeks
Ben seems confused. He was still staring at her, but his smile had turned into a grin. Then, he answered frankly :
- C'me on Clem... Do you really think you are truly here to work on an excavation site ?
His face has turned harsh and cold, staring without a blink at the young woman.
- You'll know why you are here when I'll want to.
- What do you mean when you want? Clemence was started to get angry. I don't get it ! Richard Alpet asked to meet me, offering me a job which suits me perfectly, so I say ok. Later on, a creepy weirdo came to my house, driving me in a big black car in order to drug me and take me half a world away in a SUBMARINE. I woke up, the weirdo's still here, creepy smile on.. I was supposed to see Richard, but I've been here for two weeks and not even a sign of him ! I was suppose to work, and I've been hiking and riding for all that I know... Give me explcations, now !
She had lost her cool and her self control.
- Are you... upset ? He asked innocently.
She didn't understand, was he stupid?
- Are you upset... of walking around with me? He was smiling. Somewhere in the house, a doorbell rang. Oh ! It seems like they're here. He rose quickly, walking to the front door to welcome his other guests. We'll speak about it later, Clem