Crimson

Disclaimer: How many times do I need to say it? I don't own Lost. By making me write this every chapter, you're just rubbing it in.
Summary: Kate meets the monster in the jungle, and only just survives – but now she's injured, alone, and Cerberus is very, very, mad.
Rating: I'll put it as Teen, because I don't think there'll be anything really explicit... though it could get dark. You've been warned.

A/N – This is where I decided how I could make this fic darker. Because, honestly, that's what it was supposed to be all along. I've actually been making this up as I go along, but this turned out... well, just go read it.

What happened to all my beautiful reviewers? I hesitated putting this chapter up because I thought there might be more...

Chapter ten

Jack thought for a moment she might have woken up. He was dripping the water in slowly, and he thought he saw her eyelids flicker, but he must have imagined it because when he pulled the water bottle away from her lips, there was a twitch and then stillness.

He had, despite his own diagnosis, stitched up the big cuts, and bandaged her chest and legs. He needed to do something. He couldn't just watch her die. He thought that maybe, it was possible she would have lived if it were just her injuries. They were all external. But her fever was running so high he almost burned his hand touching her skin. His only explanation was that the monster had somehow injected some kind of poison into her system.

Sawyer was sitting on the ground by her side. He was holding one limp hand in both of his, and staring blankly into space. It was a grief too great for words. Jack felt the same, but he didn't try to offer any comfort. There was none.

Sayid was still there. He was guarding the entrance to the caves, having considered the possibility that the monster would come back. Very suddenly, it seemed to have a grudge against Kate.

Kate felt herself falling. It wasn't like drifting into unconsciousness, or like sleeping. It was as if she'd jumped off a cliff. There was a rushing sound in her ears, and she could feel her hair flapping wildly. She felt like herself – she could feel her arms and legs, and could probably move them if she tried.

Was she dying? she wondered. She guessed so. There wasn't any bright white light, though. Just the roaring darkness. Well, what did you expect? she asked herself. Pearly white gates?

She gradually became aware of someone watching her.

"Who's there?" she yelled. Whispering. The back of her neck prickled, and she turned. There was no actual motion – but suddenly she was facing around. Darkness, nothing but darkness on all sides.

"Where am I?" she tried this time. The whispering around her grew louder, and she could make out individual words now.

Woman-girl... hurting-dying... save her/should we save her?

"Who are you?" Kate said again, her heart thudding painfully against her chest.

Talking-yelling... loud... we could save her...

"Help me!" she cried. The whispering grew more intense, and a few times, she thought they were speaking English, but then they would grow more indistinct and less human.

Somewhere far off, her body jerked as her temperature raised again, and her teeth started chattering. Jack had been right – it was a poison. It was running through her veins and shutting down her systems one by one.

Kate didn't notice. She wondered what she was standing on, because even though it felt as if she were falling, she wasn't moving.

"Stop it!"

Her scream went unanswered. The whispers continued.

"Either help me or going away," Kate said, her voice weakening with her body. There was a light now – but it wasn't bright white, nor did it she think she should go anywhere near it.

It was a crimson light – it shone out of the blackness, and it looked like luminescent blood. Kate shrank away from it, realising with horror it was growing bigger. And coming closer. She shrieked and tried to run from it, but like a flame hitting a ring of oil, it surged out in front of her and around, trapping her.

"Is anyone there? Please, God, if anyone's there, please help..."

She couldn't move. She couldn't back away. She couldn't escape the spreading light, which was definitely not there to help her. Tears were rolling down her cheeks, and she sobbed heavily. Ever since arriving in this place of darkness and fear, she'd known that Death was following. There had been no pain, and she felt oddly distant from herself.

The whispers started again. It's here! Run... it's here... it's here... save her! No! Leave her to die... save her...

"I know you're there!" Kate called to the voices around her. "If you're there you have to help me."

Are you afraid? Afraid of me, Katie? This time she thought it was the crimson light that spoke. As if she didn't know what it really was.

"Yes!" she screamed. "I'm afraid. God help me, I'm scared..."

Do you want to come now?

"No! Go away!"

It's too late Katie. You have to. You don't have a choice – few people do. The fear will pass. It doesn't have to be like this.

It was inviting her forward, into that spreading, crimson mist. She knew that if she resisted, it would take her anyway. But the fear was so intense, she couldn't move. She wouldn't move. She wouldn't give in to it.

It will only hurt if you fight me

"Leave me alone, let me go!"

Can't do that, Katie.

"Stop calling me that!"

You don't recognise me?

And Kate recognised the voice – had known who it was ever since he had called her Katie. But she knew it couldn't be real. He wasn't real.

I'm real. Come with me, Katie. It won't hurt if you come...

"NO!"

Then another voice joined Tom's. She shrank back, and now she could feel herself shaking. It was here to take her, so why couldn't it just do it? Because she couldn't, just couldn't go forward.

Don't run, Kate.

Help her, should we help her? She fights, she's strong, lovely...

"Just do it," she whispered, tasting her own tears which were freefalling down her cheeks to disappear into the blackness that may or may not have been the ground. She felt another choking sob shake her. "Just end it, then."

She knew there was no escape, so why couldn't it just finish its game and stop taunting her?

I'm not taunting you, Katie. I'm giving you a chance. Because it'll only hurt if you fight me.

Even Kate had to admit how much simpler it would be to give in, to walk forward... but the colour! Like blood spatters on the floor, glowing in the night. The very essence of it was fear and pain.

I can hurt you, Katie, I will make it hurt. Just come...

Don't go! A different voice, this time. The whispers. She hesitated, and turned towards the sound. The crimson mist glittered angrily, and started inching in towards her.

Last chance, Katie

We could help you/save you! they offered.

"Please, please help me," she begged.

Do you trust us?

The mist came closer. She had barely a second before it would touch her.

"Yes! I trust you!"

Will you do what we ask? Anything/anything that we ask?

"Yes! Help me, and yes, I promise I'll do anything!"