A/N: Sorry for my long absence. I was out of the city, but now I'm here with the next chapter. Hope you'll like it. ;)
Juliet stood up and rushed forward. She nearly forgot what she was dealing with. She forgot that she had no weapon. All her thoughts were about running them down. It was why she didn't notice that something was in her way.
She ran into something. Juliet looked up and saw Richard right in front of her. Obviously he had no intention of getting out of her way, so she tried to go around him.
-You should stop. It is not your business anymore.- He said holding her arm.
Again he appeared only to tell her what she couldn't do. That annoyed her.
- You already told this, Richard.- She spoke through clenched teeth.
-Yes, I did.- He answered calmly, releasing her arm. Juliet wondered if there were anything that could destroy his composure.
-The situation changed. You did what I thought was impossible. But! You can't go further.- As if he felt Juliet's anger rising from another one of his lectures, Richard tried to explain.-You already gave him the medicine. All you can do now is wait and hope that it'll work.-
-What do you mean? - Juliet leaned to the tree exhausted. She didn't understand Richard
-He was dragged away by the Monster! Is it your treatment?-She said sarcastically.
-Yes-
Juliet thought that she began hear things.-Yes?-
-Yes. It is the only way to fix him. It is the only way to get him back. – "If he survives." He added to himself. There was too much to tell Juliet about the risks. Especially since HE said that these two had enough strength to make it through this ordeal. Richard didn't believe him then, but he appeared to be wrong about Juliet. Maybe he was wrong now. Maybe they would have their happy ending.
-How do you know this?- Juliet whispered.-Why are you so sure?-
-Jacob told me-
Her life on the Island taught her to believe in those words and she didn't ask questions. No matter who Jacob was or how he did it. He kept his promises. She had no reasons to doubt him now.
-Return to your friends. When the time comes I'll lead you to him.- Richard said and disappeared into jungle.
...
-Return! I should return to the camp- Juliet repeated again and again and again.
The past few days were so trying, she hadn't had time to think, to realize, to be afraid. Now she had enough time for all these thoughts and they overwhelmed her.
How she lost him.
How she found him and lost him again.
How he withdrew from the pain and she couldn't do anything.
How his hand slipped from her grasp.
Juliet laughed bitterly. What a cruel irony. The Swan station. Her hand slipped away from his grasp. He couldn't do anything.
When you are a victim, you think that it couldn't be worse. You think that letting go is the best option. Now she realized she was wrong. Now she was in his place and she hated him. She hated him for leaving her in an attempt to protect her. She hated him for repeating her own actions, for letting go.
This man. He was the key. The key to his freedom. He was the key to getting out of this labyrinth. He just knew it. So he grabbed him without a thought. When he barely touched him he was overcome by a wave of unbearable pain, but it was a different kind of pain. It was a nagging ache. It was all because of this place and this woman. He should go away, as far as he could. He turned and ran while still holding the man. Soon that first pain returned. He felt as if he was cut into pieces and ground into dust. But it couldn't stop him. He ran until his strength left him. He ran until his body became numb transforming the unbearable pain into a dull ache. He knew this pain would stay with him forever. It was his punishment. It was the reminder that he broke the rules. He shouldn't go to that place. But he had, and he had to finish it. He had to learn why this man was so important.
He tried to scan him recoiled from him. It wasn't as easy as usual. He couldn't keep his distance. He was engulfed by the void inside this man. He managed to stop now, but he wouldn't be this lucky next time.
Danger! He must be destroyed!
But he was sure the man was the key. Could it be a trap? They hoped he destroyed the key by himself. Or they hoped he thought they wanted him to destroy it.
These possibilities confused him more and more.
It made no sense to wait. He had to risk. But what should he choose?
The way back took much less time. Maybe because now she knew where she was going. Or maybe she just didn't think about it. Or maybe – as had always been in her life – everything that frightened her came about much more quickly than what she wished it to. Now she went to meet their strained faces and sympathetic looks.
She returned alone. There could be only one conclusion and she didn't intend to explain what really happened. She didn't want to talk at all because it would sound too fantastic and absurd. She knew if she said it aloud, she'd lose all hope, because there were no reasons to believe in happy endings.
She didn't want to think about it. She desperately wished for a miracle. They deserved it after all.
She sat in the shadow and closed her eyes trying to calm herself. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.
He is all-powerful. Nobody could can kill him if he didn't help them. So the choice was obvious. He'll sort this out and then he would be free again. Forever!
He returned to the man on the ground. Now he was ready to confront the strange feelings he got from the scanning the man. He forced himself not to recoil from them; he took another step. There was no way back. It was and wasn't like falling. It was more like an explosion and he was right in the center of it.
Flashes, events, images, feelings.
Had. Lost. Loved. Distressed. Tricked. Stole. Killed. Found. Gave up. Lost. Recovered. Refused. Left.
He tried to return to his previous life. That life was easy. There were no feelings, no emotions. But some part of him didn't want that life. Was it his part? He didn't have such emotions. He didn't have doubts. They were all because of this man. Those emotions belonged to him.
Everything was wrong. He had only to examine the man but with each passing second he lost his understanding of who he was. Which one of them wanted to survive? Which one wanted to return to his life? Why did they have only one life for both of them?
-Feelings aren't necessary. They just hurt you. It's best without them.
-Loneliness. You'll be alone. There will be no one around. She won't be around.
-If you have nothing you lose nothing. You don't have to suffer. It's easier. It's safer.
-The safety is useless if your life has no meaning.
-You have meaning. Your goal is to protect, to save, to destroy for the Island's sake.
-What about love and enjoyment?
-You can love the Island. You can enjoy your life here. Look around it's beautiful place. The Island. Home.
-There is no one to share this beauty. Home is where your heart is. Otherwise it's just a cage. I'll escape from it sooner or later.
-Escape for what? Do you want to be an ordinary man?
-Yes. I dreamed about an ordinary life.
-I don't understand! Don't understand!
He was confused. He began to weaken and the man began to strengthen. They were fighting for the power and he lost the battle. He felt he was shoved back farther and farther. It was as if this man wasn't alone anymore. As if someone or something helped him.
-I don't understand!
That was his last thought.
Two people watched as black smoke swirled around the man. It began pale and finally it disappeared.
-I told you he'll cope with it.-
He went to the man who was still laying motionless on the ground.
-Bring her- He motioned to the second man who immediately went away.