Episode 7: Michael (Part 1)
They had made it back to the hatch. However Sayid, Charlie and Rachel headed back to the beach Ana staying behind to talk to their friend. 'Hey.' She said to Locke as he walked around the corner.
'Hello.'
'I'm getting in there ok.'
'Be my guest.' He said sitting on the sofa as Ana opened the safe door. The man was sat in the corner of the room looking at her.
'Did you find my balloon?'
'We sure did, Henry.' She said.
'So you'll be letting me go?' He said looking hopeful.
'Not quite. I was ready to believe you were who you say you are but luckily Sayid wasn't ready to give up fast enough.' She said reaching in her back pocket and pulling out a wallet. She threw it at the man.
'What's this?' he said looking at it.
'It's the wallet of the real Henry Gale. See Sayid dug up your wife's grave to find this inside.'
The man just looked at it then back at Ana. 'Oh well the jig is up.' He said and looked back down.
'Ok now here the deal. You tell us your name and why you came here and I won't let my buddy Sayid at you again.' He just starred at her not saying a word. 'I'll give you some time to let it settle in.' She said walking back out and slamming the door being her.
-l
Rachel was holding her hands close to her as she walked the beach. Emma ran to her quickly looking that she was with Sayid and Charlie. 'Rachel,' She said smiling slightly at her. 'Where's Will?' Rachel couldn't even look at her she was still crying from what had happened during the night. Tired, confused and scared she just stared at the ground. 'Rachel what's wrong?'
'He... he didn't make it.' Sayid had appeared next to them saving Rachel from her nightmare.
'What do you mean didn't make it? Where Jack, Kate and Sawyer?'
'I found Rachel and Will in the jungle after they had gotten separated from the others.' Sayid said looking at her.
'Ok yeah, right, so where is he?' She said starting to get a little angry.
'He's dead.' Rachel said quietly still looking down.
Emma went to say something until what Rachel had just said sank in. 'He what?' she said quietly looking between them.
'He was a very brave man.' Sayid said.
'No. Don't you 'he was a very brave man me'.' She said raising her voice slightly.
'I'm sorry for your loss.'
'You have no idea about my loss!' she said storming off in the other direction unable to hold back the tears any longer.
*l
'Kids come here.' A woman shouted from over around 20 children's heads. They all ran formally towards her and she quietened them down. 'Ok we're only here for a few hours so be careful and stay with the group.' She started to walk off in the direction of some cows. They never went on any interesting school trips this was probably one of the best a Dairy Farm in the middle of Ohio, could it get any better, evidently not.
'Hey come this way.' A young boy called out to his sister. She looked around quickly her red hair billowing as she turned to make sure the teacher couldn't see and then she followed him. They walked down the long grassy path which hung next to some large pipes.
'Are you sure we should be down this way?' The girl asked looking around as they approached a small lagoon which was filled with the runoff from the dairy farm.
'It will be fine Emma.' Said the boy smiling as he walked closer to the lagoon.
'Be careful you don't want to fall in.' Emma smiled walking towards it too.
'You're right I don't.' Said the boy and Emma turned around looking at him he had a cheeky smile on his face and he pushed Emma into the lagoon. She fell back first into the lagoon filled with things she didn't want to think about. As her face fell under the surface she was almost sick from the stench and as she resurfaced she let out a howling scream.
*l
It had been a couple of days since they had come back from the Drop Station but still things didn't seem any better. Jack, Kate and Sawyer still hadn't returned from Michael and Ana was spending most of her time trying to get Henry to confess why he was there that she never left the hatch. Ana was cutting up some food and looked over at Locke. He was still asleep on the lower bunk of the bed. She opened up the safe again with the cut up food for the man in there. 'How long are you going to keep up this hunger strike Henry?' she said looking at him but all he did was stare blankly into space. 'Did I ever tell you I was a cop? I've been around a lot of killer in my life. You know what surprises me most about them?' She said looking at him. 'How much they love to talk. But you're different, Henry. Quiet.' She said staring at him. He mumbled something under his breath in response to her. 'What was that?' she said moving slightly more towards him bowl still in hand. He continued to whisper under his breath until she her face was a foot away from his 'If you're gonna say something you have to speak...' He slammed the bowl into her face causing her to crash to the floor. He then picked her up and started strangling her his face full of hatred.
'You killed two of us. Good people who were leaving you alone.' She kicked him but he continued banging her against another wall still strangling her. 'You're the killed, Ana Lucia.' Just as she was about to lose her last ounce of breath Henry was flung against the wall. Ana looked around still struggling for breath and stroking her neck.
'I guess he decided to start talking, huh?' Locke said helping Ana up.
-l
'Hey, hey Rose.' Hurley was running into the kitchen centre.
'What's wrong Hurley?' she said her wise smile inviting him to talk.
'Have you seen that .. .umm... Emma chick?' He said looking at her.
'I think I saw her earlier but she didn't look too happy. There's been another accident.'
'What?' Hurley's face fell. 'Who?'
'Will, he was on the tail section of the flight. I feel bad I hardly knew him.' She said frowning slightly.
'Yeah...' Hurley said looking around carefully. 'Actually... you've just given me an idea.' He said licking his lips and collecting some food.
'Uh what are you doing?' She said watching him carefully.
'I know how to make things better for her.'
'For who?'
'Emma.'
-l
'What happened?' Emma was looking at Ana.
'I cut myself shaving.' She said with a small smirk. 'The guy in the hatch tried to kill me.'
'Are you ok?'
'Yeah I'm fine, but he won't be.' Ana looked at Emma carefully and saw her eyes looked a little puffy and red. 'You know about Will.' She said looking at her carefully. Emma looked down trying not to think about it. 'I'm sorry I couldn't help.'
'It's fine.' Emma said breathing in deeply looking at her and standing up. 'Hey Ana, don't do anything stupid ok?'
*l
The tail end of the plane sank slowly into the water and Emma stared at it unable to move of think. She was covered in sand and her clothes were drenched. Will rushed over to her but she didn't look up. He sat down next to her and looked at her carefully. 'Emma, Emma are you ok?' Emma looked at Will watery eyed and nodded slowly. He brushed the sand off of her knee 'You need to be cleaned off.'
'N..no...' She said looking at him, 'I'm ok. I ... I just...' She stared out to the sea again looking intently at where the plane had disappeared below the surface. 'We're lucky to be alive and there's no point moaning about dirtiness when we now have a lot to live for.' She said nodding slightly. She turned to face Will and leaned in kissing him, he was shocked but settled into it liking the connectivity with her.
*l
'Locke?' a high pitched voice screamed through the hatch. He turned around seeing Kate and Jack dragging in a body. They had found Michael.
'Michael?' Jack said looking at him cautiously. Locke was stood behind him looking worried.
'How did you find him?'
'I was shouting and he heard my voice so he must've come running.' Jack said trying to sort out the unconscious Michael.
'Has he said anything?' Kate appeared again next to Jack.
'Not yet.'
-l
Sawyer was busy picking fruit he didn't want to head back to the hatch just yet when Ana appeared. 'What are you doing?' He said looking at her.
'I need a gun.'
'Why don't you go ask your buddy Jack.'
'I know you've got one just give me it.'
'How about no.' He said turning away and then she turned him round kissing him fiercely. She knew one way she'd get the gun and as she unbuttoned his shirt and pulled off her own she thought of home and how things could be so much better. And before she knew it he had left his gun unattended.
-l
'Hi.' Emma turned around seeing Hurley staring at her smiling slightly.
'Hey Hurley.' She said turning back around and sorting out some of her things.
He scratched the back of his neck feeling nervous 'I know you haven't had the best news recently. But I was wondering if you want to kinda have a picnic with me.'
'I'm sorry Hurley but I'm really busy.' She said sorting her things out.
'Please. Just a small one. I want to see you smile again.' This made Emma blush as she turned around thinking she'd give him a chance to make her happy. She had been down ever since she found out about Will she needed something to cheer her up.
'Ok then Hurley.'
His face lit up and he beamed a smile at her. 'Great if you care to follow me.' He said smiling and holding the canvass open so she could walk out of the tent.
*l
The two camps had conjoined and Emma was settling in building a tent near to Ana Lucia's she hadn't had any contact like she did on the day of the crash with Will again since then. She walked down to the newly built kitchen with bamboo from the forest and the food from the hatch. She picked up one of the spoons which had been on the side and instinctively wiped it on her top. She stopped herself looking down at the spoon. She hadn't realised that her OCD seemed to have vanished, she smiled to herself pulling out a small bowl and filling it with cereal and milk and eating with the spoon. As she smiled to herself sat on the side of the large table a large man walked towards her he smiled at her calmly and sat next to her 'Hi.' He said the light in his voice flowing.
'Hello.' She said smiling back at him.
'I'm Hurley, it's Emma isn't it?'
'It is indeed. Nice to meet you Hurley.'
'Nice to meet you too Emma.' Hurley said smiling widely at her.
*l
Ana made her way back and found Kate, Jack and Locke surrounding Michael. 'He's back.'
'Hey Ana.' He said looking at them all. 'I found them. After I left I hiked to the beach and followed the shore line. Then I found one of them.'
'One of who?'
'The Others. They were all dirty and worn clothing. All of them. I followed him back to his camp. They live in tents. Canvas tents and tepees. They eat dried fish, they're worse off than we are.'
'How many of them were there?' Kate asked from crouched on the floor.
'I counted 22.'
'Did you see Walt?' Jack asked.
'No.' He said downhearted. 'But I know he's there.'
'What about everyone else they took? Artie, did you see any other kids?' Ana said looking at him.
He shook his head at her 'But I think they're with Walt. They have two guards and two gins. And two guns is all I saw. They're barely armed. Most of them are old and half of them are women. I came back to tell you. To tell you that we can take them. As soon as I get my strength back, I will take us back there. And we are gonna get my boy back. '
Ana was left alone with Michael as the others went to find Sawyer and get the guns.
-l
Hurley and Emma made their way down the beach a bit further and went to settle down. 'Shall we have the picnic here? Come on give me the blankets.' She said smiling at him.
'Blankets?'
'You forgot blankets, how about drinks?' He looked guiltily as he had forgotten that too. 'It's ok I'll sort the blankets if you get the drinks. I think Rose and Bernard have some in the kitchen.' She said smiling at him.
'Ok I see you soon then.' He said smiling at her and walking off towards the main beach as she headed back into the jungle.
-l
'It's time to give us the guns.' Jack said facing Sawyer sharply.
'What makes you think I'll do that?'
'Take us to the.' Kate said trying to convince him.
'You bring her along for a sympathy vote?' He said looking away from Jack. As Jack pulled out a gun pointing it at Sawyer.
'Take us to the guns. Now.' He said looking seriously at him. Sawyer reached to the back of his jeans.
'That bitch.' He said angrily. 'She stole my damn gun. Ana Lucia.'
'Why would she need a gun?' Jack asked confusedly.
'Son of a bitch!' Sawyer yelled angrily.
'Jack. I need to tell you something.' Locke said looking worried.
-l
Ana Lucia was sat on the sofa in the hatch and Michael had woken up. He walked over to her slowly as she played with the gun 'Where is everybody?' He said looking around at the deserted hatch.
'What you said got them worked up. They went to get the guns.'
He sat down on the seat. 'At least you have one.'
'Yeah, too bad I can't use it.' She said looking disappointed at herself.
'Use it on what?'
'We caught one of them. The Others. He's locked up in there.' She said indicating her head towards the safe.
'How long has he...'
'Nearly a week.'
'And you're what, taking care of him?'
'He tried to kill me today.' Ana said staring down at the gun. 'So I wanted him dead. I couldn't do it.' She said holding back the emotions which ran through her body. 'I couldn't even kill him. I looked at him and he ... I can't do this anymore.' She said shaking her head.
Michael stood up walking to the door. 'Then let me do it.' He said looking down at Ana 'They're animals. I've seen these people and they are animals. They took my son. Right out of my hands. They took my son... I'll do it. Give me the gun. I'll kill him.' He looked at Ana intently 'Cause that's what they'd do.' And slowly she handed over the gun. 'What's the combination?' he said standing up again.
'23 left, 16 right, 8 left.' She said monotonously.
Michael stared at the safe door looking carefully at it handling the gun in his hand carefully. 'I'm sorry.' He said.
'Sorry for what?' Ana said as Michael turned around and shot her in the stomach. Ana head fell to the side as she fell limp the blood oozing from her wound.
'Michael?' Michael turned around pulling the trigger twice accidently his face in shock as he saw Emma crumple to the floor. The blankets she had gotten for her picnic with Hurley bloody. He stood there for a few seconds looking at what he had done before he turned to the safe opening it. He stood there looking at the man stand up. He then pulled the gun pointing it at his arm and pulling the trigger.
