What they found when they ran out into the hall that afternoon would be forever graven on the wall of Kat's memory:

The shock in Nick's eyes just before he ducked and rolled underneath his friend's arm as it swung at him—and the slice in the back of Nick's shirt left by Zak's knife.

The utter blankness of Zak's eyes as he turned to slash at his friend again—and the absolute focus that filled them when instead Zak threw himself down the hall directly at Aaron, his knife upraised.

Sound returned with a clang as Zak's bayonet skidded against Aaron's camera stand: Nick's desperate shouts, first for his friend, then at Aaron.

Kat followed Aaron and Nick as they expertly herded a panting Zak toward the open door of a small room. Aaron hooked Zak's ankle with his camera stand stand, yanking him out mid-tumble. Zak stumbled to the floor and remained there, on all fours, head hanging as he gasped for breath, the hunting knife still clutched in one fist.

Nick slipped by Kat and knelt beside his friend in the twilight room.

"Zak—"

"No!" Zak rolled away from Nick, tumbling over and coming up with his knife out. He scuttled backwards on the floor, his knife wavering to point at Nick, then Aaron, then Kat, until he backed into the wall. Breathing hard, his eyes darted wildly about the room.

"He doesn't know where he is." Aaron's voice was gentle as he forestalled Nick's second effort to reach Zak with the hand not holding the camera stand. "Leave him to come to himself."

"But will he?"

No one answered Nick's anguished whisper. Kat remained on guardbut watched in silence. Zak curled slowly into a ball, drawing his legs up, dropping his head to his knees and pulling his arms in. But when Nick took a step towards him the knife came out again and his head jerked up.

"No," Zak said. "Stop."

Nick froze.

"Stop!" Zak's head whipped back and forth as he searched the shadows in the room for whatever was controlling him. "No. Stop! Stop!"

The knife clanged on the floor. Zak's fists clenched in his hair, then he let go and began pounding them against his head. Kat watched as Aaron stepped up just in time to hold Nick back, and they all stared in horror at Zak.

"Stop-stop-stop-no-no-NO-no-no…"

The mantra went on. Zak wrapped his arms tightly about his stomach and began pounding his head back against the wall. Nick fought against Aaron's grip, but it held tight.

"He's going to hurt himself!"

"If it were stone, yes," Aaron choked out. "It's wood."

"How can you stand here and watch—"

"Don't you dare—" Aaron shot back, and Zak gasped. They froze, Zak's head rolled forward, and then he looked up, blinking. His eyes widened as he focused on the group in front of him.

"Nick," he half-sobbed. "Make it stop. Make them stop."

"I'm here, Zak. I'm here." With a determined wriggle, Nick was free and going down on one knee beside his friend. His hands went out, but when Zak twitched, Nick didn't touch him. Aaron was a half a heartbeat behind, though he took care to scoot the knife that still rested on the floor over to Kat's outstretched hand before he, too, knelt beside his friend.

"Zak—"Nick said, but Zak's breath hitched, and he threw his head back against the wall again. Nick's hands were still out, reaching, clenching into fists, reaching again. Then Zak grabbed Nick's hand, his knuckles turning white as he clung to his friend.

"I can't—I can't." Eyes closed, Zak spoke through clenched teeth. "It hurts. Proper man." The twist of his lips made the words an epithet. "Proper—I'm trying—I try,—but I can't. I can't. It won't stop! They won't stop; they won't! " He banged his head against the wall in time with the words, and Aaron wanted nothing so much as to put his hand—his body between Zak and the wall.

"Zak," Nick whispered, absolutely lost. His fingers were turning red where Zak's had locked about them.

"Zak," Nick said gently. "Zak. Look at me."

Behind the dark streaks of his hair, Zak's eyes were huge, desperate shadows in the greying light. Slowly Nick reached out with his free hand, letting the weight of sorrow slow his movements. But as Nick's hand cupped around the back of Zak's head, he jerked away.

"NO! No-no-no!" Yanking his hand free, Zak eluded Nick's quick grab, scuttling away only to curl against the wall and resume pounding his head against it in time with his chanting.

"We need to get him out of here. This has gone on long enough," Kat whispered.

Aaron nodded.

"Zak," Nick called, and Aaron realized the pounding had stopped. But when Nick made a move towards his friend, he whimpered and scooted further away from them until he was almost behind the large chair that had sheltered him before; when Nick stopped, his friend balled himself up against the wall. His breath hitched and he wound his arms yet more tightly around his body.

"Call the Lock Down off. We've seen enough." Kat said, putting her hand on Aaron's shoulder.

Aaron sighed. "We can't get a hold of anyone. There's no cell reception here, and we're on a freakin island-"

"Try. Please. Look at what it's done to us. Look at what it's done to Zak! We need to get out of here." Kat answered with a furiousity that was no where near her character.

"Nick?" Aaron asked. He honestly didn't know what to do, about any of this.

Nick turned away from Zak and looked at Aaron.

"Kat's right. Let's get out of here." He said, making the executive decision.

"Zak?" Nick then asked, turning back to his friend. Zak continued to wimper softly, rocking back and forth in the same spot. He flinched slightly when Nick touched his arm softly.

Kat kneeled down next to Nick, and across from Zak.

"Everything is going to be okay. I promise. Zak. Zak! Look at me." Kat asked, and then waited until Zak looked up at her.

"We're going to make them stop. I promise. We're going to get you out of here, and make them stop." She said softly, locking eyes with him.

And wonders upon wonders, Zak listened to her. He nodded his head slightly, but didn't move from his curled up form.

Kat reached out her hand, her fingers trembled. She knew what she had to do.

"Take my hand."

"Kat are you sure—" Kat heard Aaron start, but he was cut off by Nick touching his arm. Kat never touched anyone, and never let anyone touch her.

"Zak. Take my hand." Kat repeated softly. Zak hesitated for a moment, and then reached out and grabbed her hand. Kat gripped his arm and slowly stood him up to standing as Aaron grabbed Nick's shirt and pulled him back to give them space.

Zak twitched a little and stepped back towards the wall, "I can't—they wont stop, please…" he whispered, ducking his head away from Kat.

"Yes you can. I won't let them hurt you. I promise." Kat assured him, keeping a firm grip on his hand, she put her other arm around his shoulders.

"Come on. Let's get back to base camp." She said, and Aaron could see that she herself was trembling, and trying to remain strong for Zak.

Zak let her lead him out of the dilapidated building, and out into the night sky.

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