Eloise, whom I called Ellie, and I were patrolling the woods when we heard the explosion. We led our group to the spot and found three strangely dress people, a white couple and an Asian man. When confronted about the bombs and army, they looked confused, until the white man told us they were scientist with the army. They were lying, but I didn't say anything. We were taking them to Ricardos, I still called him that when no one was around, anyway.
We put them in one of the tents, we had taken over the military camp for now. Ricardos walked in, "Who are you?", he asked the man.
"Who are you?" The man countered, with an attitude. This man was not very bright for a scientist.
"My name is Richard Alpert." He said, placing his hands on his hips with a patronizing smile, "I guess you came back for your bomb." The man and Ricardos went back in forth until the man said he would disarm the bomb. "And how do I know you weren't sent here on a suicide mission, and when I lead you to the bomb you'll detonate it." A very question indeed, I smirked proudly at the white man, who introduced himself as Daniel.
"Because I'm in love with the woman beside me," He said seriously, glancing over her with a look that would make any heart melt, "And I would never do anything to hurt her." Ricardos glanced at me quickly, seeing the sappy smile I had on my face and sighed.
"If you don't disarm it, you will hurt her." He replied threateningly, before sending Ellie with him down to the bomb.
It was at that moment, Charles came bounding out of the jungle, talking about others, and how he had to kill one of our own before he could spill the secrets of our tribe. He argued with Ricardos, saying there was no possible way for him to have been followed because the leader was a 'sodding old man'. Like usual, Charles was wrong, and an elderly bald man strutted out of the jungle like he owned the place.
"Richard? Richard Alpert." The man called, and I gasped when he called my love by name. The older man's eyes found me, "Well hello there, is Richard around?" Before I could answer Ricardos was in front of me, glaring at the man.
"Who are you?" Ricardos demanded.
"Hello Richard, I'm John Locke." Guns where drawn on him, but he smiled at all of us nonetheless.
"Is that supposed to mean anything to me?" Ricardos asked clearly bored.
"Jacob sent me." Now that caught both of our attentions, we were the only ones to ever see or speak to Jacob. Ricardos demanded that the guns immediately be lowered, and led both the man, John, and myself into our tent. John Locke handed a small compass to Ricardos, who looked at him confused, "You gave this to me, after saving me when I was a shot."
"Oh yeah, and when did I do this?" He chuckled, looking at John with disbelief.
"I don't know, what year is it?"
"1954."
"Then about 50 years from now. You said, not to open it until you had it, you said it would make you believe." The man said simply.
"Really, and why would a compass make me," When Ricardos opened it he stopped short, something small falling into his hand. "I gave this to you? Fifty years from now?"
"Yes."
"And why are you so important?"
"I'm your leader." The man was certainly calm, and for some reason Ricardos seemed to believe him. Ricardos looked at me with a small smile and held up what was in his hand. My ring. I smiled brightly, and let Ricardos put it back on my finger.
"Thank you." I told John sincerely, "I've missed my ring dearly." He nodded with a smile, but I knew he had no idea what peace he had given me, knowing my ring wasn't just rusting away somewhere.
Ricardos talked a little bit more, "I do have a question for you, though." He said, and John looked at him expectantly, "Why would I give the ring to you, why didn't I give it back to my wife." Suddenly the man frowned, looking back and forth between us. "What?"
"You don't have a wife 50 years from now." He said slowly, "I didn't know you had one in the past." My heart stopped cold. What did that mean? I was supposed to live forever with him, never die. Why wouldn't I be around in 50 years. Did I leave, did I die? Before I could ask, the man shot up and looked at the sky. He said something to Ricardos, but I wasn't paying attention. Then suddenly the man disappeared.
"Elizabeth," Ricardos said softly.
"Don't." I said coldly, standing.
"Don't what?"
"Tell me everything's going to be okay, you heard the man, 50 years from now I won't be here." With that I left the hut, and ran into the jungle. I ran farther and farther away until I reached our cottage. I went inside, climbed the ladder, and fell onto the bed. My body was racking with sobs.
I had been told for 74 years that I would never die, that I would be with Ricardos, only to be told that that was a lie. I wasn't going to be a part of his life. I was going to be gone. I heard Ricardos come in, climb the ladder, and lay down next to me.
"I don't want to loose you, Ricardos." I sobbed, turning to face him. He had tears trailing down his face as well.
"You won't loose me, I will be with you forever." He whispered, "The future could change." We both knew he was wrong, but neither of us had the heart to tell the truth. Taking my hand in his, he kissed my ring softly, and let me lay my head on his chest. I was asleep within minutes, and when I woke, he was still in the same spot staring at the ceiling.
We didn't leave our cottage for a week. We didn't leave each others side for years.