A/N: Sorry about the delay guys! We've had family in and it's been nearly impossible to write. Now I'm bedridden with a migraine, though, and even though I should be sleeping, I decided that another chapter was in order. So enjoy, and don't forget to REVIEW! :)

When Hope is Gone

Chapter Eleven

Lex paced the length of the camp, his young face screwed up in worry. He didn't know what was going on anymore, and he hated it. Despite being the youngest in the group, he was the smartest – and that wasn't being arrogant, it was just the truth, like it or not – of them all, and now… now, he didn't know what was up and what was down. He felt like the whole world had been turned upside down and there was nothing he could do about it.

How could he have been wrong about something like this? Sure, they had all been through a lot of stress lately – as if crashing on a deserted island and losing the only adult with them to the maze of the forest, not knowing if he was alive or not, wasn't bad enough, they were being picked off, one by one. It was enough to make anyone crazy.

Crazy.

The word and implications of the concept were foreign to Lex, yet he felt a sneaking feeling begin to make its nest in his stomach, curling around his heart. Crazy.

He wasn't crazy! Was he?

Nathan had been there! He had to have been. How could Lex have just imagined that he'd seen his friend tied to a tree. That wasn't something that people just thought they saw. That was scary, sick, and…

Real?

Or not real?

Suddenly, for the first time in his young life, Lex was unsure of himself. His heart began to pound a bit faster and he felt sweat begin to bead his clammy forehead. Crazy…

He wasn't losing his mind.

Or was he?

"No!" Abby's normally brave and tough face was marred with anxiety as she leapt to her feet, wide eyes locked on Captain Russell. The expression on her face was just as unnerving – if not more so – than the fact that their pilot had his big hands meshed in Nathan's curly hair and a knife to his throat. He hadn't known Abby for very long, but every time that he had seen her, or talked to her, in whatever kind of situation she was in, she always had on a brave face.

He realized that he may have taken her bravery for granted, putting her in such a perspective that he perceived her as a strong, fearless, nearly invincible figure. After all, he had seen her stumble into their camp with a sharp stick jammed through her upper arm, having pierced all the way through, and although it had to have hurt like hell, she hadn't complained. She had traveled all the way across the island by herself, through the wild, untamed wilderness that Nathan and his fellow survivors on their side of the island were reluctant to do, even in groups. Thus, when he saw Abby looking so scared and fragile, it shook Nathan to the core. What had happened to their rock?

Taking another glance at her pale, terrified face and shaking hands, while trying to control his own emotions and breathing himself, forcing himself not to move lest the knife at his throat pierce his skin, Nathan realized what was happening to their rock – she was crumbling. And who could blame her, really? He didn't know what she and the others – where were Ian and Rory, anyway? – had been through, but judging by sight of the two murderous drug dealers teaming up with Russell, who, at the moment, had his rusty blade resting lightly but dangerously on Nathan's throat, things hadn't been exactly peachy for them these last few days. What had happened to Captain Russell? Why had he sided with the dealers?

He felt the cool metal prick his skin – barely, but enough to cause a trickle of blood to seep down the chocolate-colored flesh – and he was jerked away from his frantic thoughts and troubled reveries, thrown full-force back into reality, into the nightmare that had become his life.

There was a blade to his throat.

Abby was speaking, her voice trembling and soft, like she was talking to an unbalanced person. "Captain Russell, what are you doing?" The captain didn't answer, but tightened his grip on Nathan's hair, causing the boy to cry out in pain. Abby clenched her teeth as she watched her friend yell out and Nathan locked eyes with her, shocked at the pain and hurt in those dark brown depths. What all could have happened to turn her fierce determination into pure desperation?

She tried again. "Captain Russell, please, just put the knife down. Nathan's done nothing wrong; if you're angry at him for some reason, we can talk about it rationally, can't we?" Her eyes darted to the two Hispanic men that were flanking the pilot and she swallowed heavily. "Who are you? What did you do to Captain Russell?"

One of the men, Juan, Nathan believed, stepped forward threateningly and Abby stumbled back, nearly tripping over a piece of wood. She steadied herself and watched as the man smirked at her. "What are you talking about, sweetheart? We would never do anything to our friend."

Abby looked confused and continued to back away. "Friend? But…"

Juan reached for her and Nathan lurched against the captain, forgetting about the knife at his throat momentarily. All that was on his mind was that he was not going to let those creeps get their hands on his friend. Surprised at his outbreak, the pilot let go, his expression unreadable, and Nathan lunged for Juan, tackling him to the ground, despite his weakened state. Juan collapsed under him, squirming, but Nathan was bigger.

He had forgotten about Hernando, though, and he heard a footstep behind him. Before he could turn, he felt something hit him on the side of the head, and even though he did not black out, he fell to his knees, his vision blurring, dazed.

When he looked up, his eyes watering and head pounding, he was appalled to see that Juan had broken away from him and was standing behind Abby, one arm wrapped around her waist and the other holding a gun to her head.

"One move," the criminal spat, "and she dies."

A/N: What did you think? It was over 1,000 words, which I think is a record for this story! Please REVIEW and I'll update Friday! :)

~Emachinescat ^..^