Disclaimer: I make no profit from this. The Lost characters and universe do not belong to me.

A/N: This story started out as an RP on a forum I visit. This is the part that I wrote for the RP. Yes the plot jumps around and yes it is full of drama like a soap opera, but that is why I love it. Credit also goes to my fellow writers; tigerlilly, benlinusisagoodguy, and fearandloathin for their input and genius characters.

Chapter 12

Mel watched as Sophie ran into the village yelling for Danny. She was about to leave to go back to the Hydra and was wondering where Ben was.

She soon found out as she overheard Sophie.

"It's Ben" she said panting. "He's in some kind of trap," she pointed towards the jungle.

Mel saw the direction Sophie was pointing and took off. She knew it would take Danny at least ten minutes to get a team together. If she ran she might be able to find Ben before they did.

As Mel ran through the jungle she only had one thought; to get to Ben. She didn't know why but every fiber in her being was telling her that he needed to see her right then.

Mel was beginning to get tired but kept running. "Ben?" she yelled every so often in case he was close. She finally caught a break when she heard an answer to her call.

"Ben?" she called again as she came into a clearing.

"Mel?" he answered.

Mel looked up and saw Ben hanging from a tree in a large net. She had to resist the urge to smile, "How did you get up there?"

"I tripped over the trap." he grimaced.

"You must not have been paying attention to where you were going. I thought you knew this island better than anyone."

"I was distracted."

"Ah, by Sophie. I warned you it wasn't a good idea to distance yourself from her."

"She wanted to know why I picked you over her." Ben replied through the net.

"Of course she did. I would want to know the same if I was in her place."

"Are you going to stand there talking all day or are you going to help me down?" he asked, agitated.

"I'm sorry; I didn't bring anything with me. When I heard, I just started running. Danny should be here soon."

"You ran here?"

"Yes. I don't know why. I felt like you needed to speak with me. Tell me something, like it was urgent."

In the distance they heard voices coming towards them.

"That must be Danny." Mel said.

Ben was silent for a moment then turned to Mel, "That's not Danny."

Mel was confused for a moment then understood, it was the survivors from the beach. The ones who had killed Ethan.

Mel ran to the rope holding up the net and pulled on them. They wouldn't budge.

"Ben, they can't find you here, what do you want me to do?"

Ben had realized it was too late to be rescued by Danny's team. Already a plan was forming in his head.

"Mel come here. I need you to listen to me carefully."

Ben saw the worry she held for him in her eyes as he went on. "In our room at the Hydra there is a folder in the nightstand. I need you to get it and read everything in it. It is very important that you follow it through. I don't want you to tell anyone else about it, do you understand?"

Mel nodded.

"I need you to carry this out for me, to the end. Will you?"

"Yes, of course I will. But how can I get you down before they get here?"

Ben took a deep breath, "You can't. I want you to leave me."

"What, no! Ben you saw what they did to Ethan, they'll do the same to you."

"I need you to trust me Mel. I'll be fine. But you have to make it back to the Hydra. They will be here any second. Leave now and intercept the others. Tell them I'm with the survivors and that they are to wait for orders."

Mel nodded as she blinked back tears. She reached up and stood on her tiptoes to grab Ben's hand though the net.

"Look after William." Ben whispered.

Mel squeezed his hand, "Stay safe."

Ben nodded, "Now go!"

Mel turned and ran into the cover of the trees just as a man and a woman walked into the clearing from the opposite side. She did her best to hide as the man argued with the woman and cut Ben down. She had to stop herself from crying out when the woman's arrow shot Ben through the shoulder. Tears fell down her cheeks as she waited for them to leave. When the man hauled Ben to his shoulders and walked away the woman vanished.

Mel took a few deep breaths trying to calm herself down. Ben, the leader, was in the hands of the survivors. This was bad.

She stood and began to run back through the jungle towards the village. Ben may be gone for the time being but he had given her a task and she was going to see it through.

She was halfway to the village when she heard Tom's voice cut through the trees. She stepped into their path.

"Loud and slow. What a wonderful combination for our so called protectors." she said while blocking their way.

Tom chuckled while Danny looked past her. Mel noticed Sophie behind them.

"Come on Mel. We're trying to go help Ben." Danny said.

"Don't bother Danny. You're too late. He's gone."

"What?" Sophie said pushing to the front.

"They took him. The crash survivors. They found him in the net and they took him away."

"We have to go get him." Sophie said.

"No!" Mel stated, "You all are to return to the village and wait until you receive orders from Ben. That comes directly from him."

"We can't just leave him there." Sophie tried again.

"You can and you will. Ben is on his own now. He's smart and he knows what he is doing."

"Ok, well you heard her. Let's head back to camp." Tom said as everyone started back the way they came.

Sophie didn't move from her spot. Mel looked at her with a hard look in her eyes. She walked up to her and looked down.

"I hope that you are happy." Mel scoffed before leaving Sophie standing there.

Suddenly Mel was caught from behind as Sophie grabbed a chunk of her hair and pulled her backward. Sophie pulled her to the ground, jumped on top of her and started swinging.

"This is your fault!" Sophie yelled. "You took him from me!"

It only took Sophie's fist colliding with her jaw once to make Mel really angry. She shoved Sophie off of her and jumped to her feet. Sophie tried to come at her again but Mel pulled her arm back and punched her hard enough to give her a black eye. Sophie stumbled and Tom reached out to steady her.

In that moment Mel realized that she had been foolish for standing up for Sophie and trying to get Ben to admit his feelings for the girl. Ben had been right all along. Sophie didn't have it in her to be with Ben, but Mel did. It was as if everything became clear right then.

Mel stalked away from Sophie and Tom with Danny beside her.

How dare she attack her? It was Sophie's fault in the first place that Ben had been captured. Mel calmed little as she walked. The more she thought about Ben the more she blamed Sophie. She knew she wasn't being entirely rational but she couldn't help it.

"Danny, I need you to take me to the Hydra." she said turning to him.

"Right now?" he asked.

"Yes, now."