The whispers are supposed to be confusing. Sorry if I totally befuddled you. This chapter came out horribly. I got through one page and realized I didn't have enough for a full chapter-that's why this one is so short. I had to fill it with something, and I wanted Julia to kind of have a head start on things. You'll see more of the whispers. They get her through some hard times.


CHAPTER NINE: LILLIAN MATTHEW LOGAN

"It's okay, just breath," she could say that all she wanted, but it didn't stop me from freaking out inside.

"It's early, isn't it?" I whimpered. "The baby's going to die, isn't he? My son is going to die." The thought made me more scared than anything ever had in my life.

"You're early by about three weeks. He is not going to die, Julia," she added determinedly. The next few moments went by in a blur of pain and fear—I could hardly tell what was going on, just that I was unable to stand up, or move at all at that. The pain was so bad—I don't think I'd ever felt anything worse in my entire life. Even when I knew my mom was going to die—and then she died in my arms.

I thought nothing could compare with that. But this pain was worse by ten.

This pain...was hell. Hell to the 23rd power. I gasped, and Juliet reached out to take my hand. I thought faintly she made a big mistake, because another jolt of pain shot through me and I squeezed her hand so hard I heard a crack! And she pulled away with a cry, rubbing her hand.

"Sorry," I gasped.

"No problem," she growled, backing off a bit. She said something else but I couldn't make it out because the pain was so unbearable, so...real, yet unreal as well. I felt caught between two worlds, the pain on one side, the hope of a new life on the other. I just couldn't wait until it was other. Then someone was screaming, and it was faint...but then midway I realized it was me that was screaming. Then it all stopped. It all went still. My eyes still shut tight—at least I figured they were, because I couldn't see anything. I forced my eyes open. Juliet set something in my arms, and I couldn't help but smile at my tiny baby, snuggling in my arms. It didn't cry—not even once. Not even a whimper. Juliet was laughing and crying at the same time. It really was a strange sight. I don't think I'd ever seen her smile so big. I held it close. "Congratulations," she said. "You have a little girl. You have a daughter, Julia," A daughter. For some reason, I was far from disappointed.

"Lilly," I said. "Lillian. My mother's middle name," I said. "That's her name. Her name is Lillian. Lillian Matthew Logan." Then another jolt of pain hit me like a punch in the stomach, and I almost dropped the baby. I gasped as the pain came again, the same pain, but bigger this time.

"No." Juliet said softly. "No, oh no, oh no no no." She bent down again, taking Lilly from my arms. I cried out a plea, but she ignored me. "There's another." She said. Fear hit me again. Twins? I shook my head.

"No," I shook my head. "The doctors back home said there was only one! It can't be possible!" I shouted.

"Well, it's happening," she pushed her hair behind her ears, and suddenly, I don't think I could bear going through it again. But I did. And there she was, another girl, in my arms.

"I only picked one name," I said quietly. "Matthew for a boy...and Lillian for a girl." I laughed lightly. "But this one's name is Crystal." I said. "Crystal Juliet Logan. After my mother." And maybe, partially, after the Juliet standing before me. Without her, I don't think I could ever have gotten through it. But I didn't voice these thoughts aloud. Crystal was screaming her head off, unlike Lilly. She was so much smaller, and felt more fragile. Suddenly, Juliet plucked her from my arms. I almost screamed in fury. She handed me Lillian instead.

"She's too weak, Julia," she said. "I'm worried about this one. She can hardly breath. She needs medical help. There's a station not far from here that can offer that," she bent down and looked me straight in the eye. "Do you trust me to take your baby, Julia?" The truth was, I didn't trust anyone with my precious daughters. But I shook my head slowly.

"Of course." She nodded firmly, then left me sitting there, alone, with my baby. Unprotected. Completely vulnerable. I tried to stand up, but I couldn't. I could just sit there, terrified the monster should come. Suddenly, almost to confirm my fears, a bush rustled, though there was no wind. I tensed, my arms tightening around my tiny daughter. "Who's there?" I tried to call firmly, but my voice was weak, high-pitched, and cracked when I tried to use it. A voice came from the bush; a woman with an accent I had not heard before.

"What is the baby's name?" She asked. I swallowed hard, fear almost making me choke on my words.

"L-L-Lillian. Lillian Matthew Logan. Her sister is Crystal Juliet Logan." I finally made out.

"Julia," she said. Fear shook me when she said my name. She didn't emerge from the bush. "Is anyone with you?" she asked quietly. I shook my head hard, and she emerged. She was tall, with curly black hair and, to my utter terror, a rifle slung around her shoulder. Of All the people I could be stuck alone with, I thought bitterly. She crouched down and looked me straight in the eye, a look that demanded authority. "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" She asked abruptly. I blinked in confusion. She repeated her question.

"I don't know," I said. She looked sadly at me, then took something out of her pocket. My heart lurched; a smooth white pebble, exactly like the one that man had given me, all those years ago.

"We're looking out for you, Julia," she said. "Never be afraid. We're here for you." And then she was gone. I was shaking in fear. Then this whispers started again, and I thought I was going to scream.

"Too late, too late, you were much too late," one said in a sing-song voice. "three weeks early was much too late. The next time Ilana comes calling with the words of the good brother, you must answer 'Ille qui nos omnes servabit,'" Confusion befuddled my mind, and I clutched the pebble tighter. "Ooh, she has the rock," one said. "How special." it said bitterly. "Poor little baby made Juliet scared. Oh, how she sits weeping on the step. You should see her." I tried to cover my ears. I didn't want to hear any more, but they intruded. "You don't like us, do you, girl? Best get used to us. We speak in riddles, but you'll find we are helpful." I let go a bit, but they began to die down. "Shh! The jungle is moving. The jungle is moving! Stay out! The jungle is moving, go home!" Then they disappeared. I didn't even want to know what they meant by that, but I had a feeling they were talking about the monster. A crashing in the bracken sent my heart into my throat, but it was not the monster that emerged. It was the boy. He looked down at me with a smirk on his face and I wanted to hit him; he was the one that led me here in the first place. Then he turned and ran away. I thumped my head hard against the rock behind me; I was hallucinating. That was the only reasonable explanation. But when I opened my fist again, a glimmer of white shone through. Someone, or thing, whispered in my ear again.

"Oh, how you should see Juliet," it moaned. "Oh, how she grieves, and not just for Goodwin. Poor Miss Harper lost someone that day. You should see Charlie; oh how he moans, for someone just like you." I shook my head hard. I was losing my mind, I thought. "You should see how he loves her, oh yes, he watched her bleed out into the ground."

"Stop!" I begged. "Please, just stop. I don't want to hear anymore!" There was a cackle of laughter.

"But you must know of what goes on on the other side. The child's missing puppy, oh how he moans for him," it sniggered. "Oh yes, Lucia promised she would get them back to their parents. We all lost someone that day. A couple—separated forever? How sad. How very very sad," they said. "I can tell someone will be joining us soon...trapped on the island. Does she know he loves her? She never got to tell him goodbye that night. How can last words be so important? Things were left unsaid that night. The first death, oh the pain she went through. Thought she had it all, didn't she? Now she understands how we feel," I wasn't sure if they were talking about me or someone else. "They really care for their kind. Like the brothers used to. The brothers that protect us." There were those brothers again. "How they squabble—married folks should not fight so. Corrupted by greed. Disgusting and dirty. The other couple. The man only cares for her, just doesn't no how to show it. Feeling so cut off...now they know how we feel. Oh, the shape of things to come. We can tell you things, girl, things that are yet to happen. We are the past, the present, and the future. We are the trapped souls." I shuddered. "Little baby Charlotte met her love thirty years ago—now, how can this be? Her lover was a man, she was only three." Confusion took my mind. "You'll understand soon when Lilly is three. She'll join the Swan, and then you'll see. Danielle has been lost for fourteen years. Raised by another, only a brief encounter. It will mean the world to her, but it's the last thing she'll see." The breath caught in my throat. "'Dead is Dead'. How long has Ricardo stayed? Ask Isabella. How can she still love him? They are separated forever. What Ilana doesn't know won't hurt her. In the end, there will be six. 'Raised by Another' in several cases. First one, then another—all children born to the island will be raised by another. First Jacob, then Alex, then Aaron, then the latter. All babies born on the island will be raised by another." This last prophecy sent shivers through me. What was that supposed to mean? 'Jacob' sparked something in me, but I didn't know what it was. Why were they telling me all this? Did it have something to do with the fact I was 'chosen'? I didn't want to be chosen. They could have someone else. All I knew is, I had to get out of here. I scooped my small, now sleeping daughter in my arms, and made my way towards the direction I saw Juliet go. It was not hard to get lost.


I love the line that said "Little baby Charlotte met her love thirty years ago-now, how can this be? Her lover was a man, she was only three." I didn't realized it rhymed until I'd wrote it. I also noticed that all women who give birth on the island's babies are raised by someone else. Claudia's babies jacob and MIB were raised by the mysterious Mother. Danielle's Alex was raised by Ben. Ethan's mother died in the Dharma raid. Aaron was raised by Kate. So, :SPOILER ALERT: in the second book, I have decided Lilly will be "Raised by Another" as well!