Violt was guessing about a week or two had passed since the two sides split, leaving half at the caves and half at the beach, but it wasn't as bad as Violet had expected. Jack, and most people who had gone to the caves spent most of their time on the beach, and people from the beach were visiting the caves more and more, some even deciding to pack up and move there. Violet still stayed with Kate, and Walt on the beach. Besides, the caves were only a twenty-minute walk away, but it still felt weird to be divided.
Violet had visited Katie's grave nearly everyday for the last few days, sometimes bringing Walt with her, where the two kids would sit in silence and remember their loved ones. Nobody needed to say anything; they both knew what the other had been through, and there was no use reminding anybody.
It was a hot morning, and Violet sat on the shore of the beach with her journal, drawing pictures of Katie's grave, and images of what she envisioned Heaven to be like, hoping that was where Katie had gone. She looked up and saw Claire walking down the beach with Jack, who was trying to convince her to take some kind of pill, but Claire didn't seem too happy about that idea. Violet sighed, hoping Claire would be alright. The last couple of nights, she had woken up screaming about someone trying to hurt her unborn baby, sticking needles into her, and threatening her. The first night, Claire had woken up with blood on her hands, which Jack said was due to her digging her fingernails too tightly into her palms. Ever since, Claire had been walking around in a state of fear, looking over her shoulder every few seconds, dismissing everyone who tried to talk to her. I hope she's alright. Violet sighed. With her being pregnant and everything.
Walt arrived with a game of backgammon he claimed to have found along the shore of the beach this morning, so the two sat on a rock near the water, and taught themselves how to play. Neither of them were sure what the actual rules of backgammon were, but they laughed as they made up their own, not seeming to care.
Walt won every game they played, to Violet's surprise. Even when she tried to bend the rules a little in her favour, he still won. She sighed.
"That hardly seems fair." She complained with a smirk as they set up the board for another game. As they did, they noticed Claire heading off toward the jungle, seemingly angry. Walt and Violet exchanged glances.
"What do you think is wrong with her?" Walt asked. Violet shrugged.
"I don't know, but with everything that's been happening with her lately, I don't think she should be alone." She replied, as she stared after Claire. Walt was silent, but Violet couldn't help herself. She stood up.
"Where are you going?" Walt asked. "I thought we were going to play another game."
"I'm going after Claire. I don't think she should be alone." Violet replied. "You coming?"
"Nah, my dad would kill me. Remember the last time we went off without telling anybody? He won't let me go." Walt smiled apologetically. "Are you going to tell Kate you're going?" Violet shook her head.
"Nah, she probably wouldn't let me go either. You know how she is, but if I try to find Kate and tell her where Claire went, there won't be any time to catch up to her." Violet started heading off. "If Kate does ask where I went, just tell her I went after Claire in the jungle." Walt nodded as Violet ran off, following Claire from the distance that had already been put between them. Violet only hoped she wouldn't lose Claire's trail.
Kate had been helping Michael all afternoon, trying to get another fire going. Funny how after two weeks of being stuck on an island, their fire-building skills hadn't seemed to improve. She sighed, as she knelt down by the water to wash the soot and ash from her hands. She wiped her hands on her jeans and looked down the beach, shielding her eyes with her hand. She saw Walt sitting on a rock, playing with what looked like a board game of some sort. Kate looked around and was surprised to see Violet wasn't around. That's weird, she was with him an hour ago. She thought to herself, as she approached Walt.
"Hey buddy." Kate greeted. Walt said a quick hello, as he arranged the stones on the board. He barely even looked up. Kate peered around once more, thinking maybe Violet would have gone to get a bottle of water, or a banana, or something, but she was nowhere in her line of vision.
"Hey Walt, where's Violet? She was with you earlier, wasn't she?" Kate asked, still looking around.
"Yeah she was, but she left." Walt replied. Kate nodded.
"Oh, okay. Do you know where she went?" She asked. She hated how nervous she felt, but she had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach that she couldn't explain. Kate, what is with you anyway? Why do you suddenly care about somebody other than yourself?
"Yeah I do. She told me that if you asked, I could tell you." Walt started. Kate rolled her eyes. Oh great. She thought.
"She went after Claire." Walt said. Kate puckered her brow.
"After Claire? Where did Claire go?" She wanted to know.
"Into the jungle. I don't know why, but Violet said she was worried because of everything Claire's been through the last couple of nights. She didn't thinks he should be alone, so she followed her. She didn't tell you 'cause she didn't think you'd let her go off on her own." Walt replied. Kate sighed deeply. Great, she thought, that's just great.
"Thanks Walt." She said and she headed off to find Jack. She saw him talking to Hurley, and both of them looked freaked out about something. Kate approached them wearily.
"What's wrong?" She asked, forgetting about Violet momentarily. Jack looked at her and sighed, eyeing Hurley nervously.
"I, uh, got a copy of the plane manifest, you know, that has all the people's names who were on the flight. I've been going around to everybody, making sure we all know who's accounted for, and, well..." Hurley looked at Jack, who picked up right where Hurley left off.
"You know that guy Ethan?" Jack asked. Kate remembered Ethan. He kept to himself, mostly, didn't say too much to anybody else, just a quick word in here or there. Kate had barely said two words to him, but she had a vague recollection of who he was. She nodded.
"He wasn't on the manifest." Jack said. Kate's stomach dropped and she puckered her brow.
"Not on the manifest? How...how is that even possible?" She asked. Jack shrugged.
"I don't know," He paused, "but I got a bad feeling about it." Hurley looked around.
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen Ethan all afternoon." He pointed out. Locke was walking past at that moment and overheard Hurley's comment. He paused.
"If you're looking for Ethan, I saw him running into the jungle about twenty minutes ago." He offered. Kate's stomach dropped. A man who's name wasn't on the plane manifest, could he have already been on the island?
"Jack, Violet ran into the jungle. Walt told me she went after Claire. The two of them are in the jungle alone, and if Ethan's there, and if he's..." Dangerous? She couldn't bear the thought. Jack appeared to be thinking the same thing.
"Let's go." He said, as he grabbed his bag. Locke nodded.
"I'm going with you." He said, and when Kate and Jack looked at him, he continued. "I know how to track better than both of you. We'll find them quicker this way." Kate nodded and though Jack hesitated, finally agreed, and the three of them trekked out toward the jungle.
Violet tried to catch her breath as she tried to catch up to Claire. Claire had a good head start on her, and Violet couldn't seem to catch up, no matter how hard she walked, or even ran. Claire, slow down. You shouldn't be walking this fast. She seemed to be on her way to the caves - maybe she was going to see Charlie, who had moved to the caves. The two of them seemed to be really close lately. No sooner had she thought so when Charlie seemed to appear out of nowhere, stopping Claire. Violet managed to catch up as Charlie began talking to Claire.
"Claire, what are you doing out here?" He asked. Claire appeared to be crying, as Violet strode toward them quietly.
"Stop trying to rescue me, Charlie. Just because I'm pregnant, doesn't mean I need rescuing." Claire snapped, crying as she did. Charlie seemed taken aback.
"Rescue you? Claire, I'm only trying to help you. The last couple of nights have been...hard for you. I know you're frustrated because nobody believes you. I know they believe you're just sleepwalking, but Claire, I believe you." Charlie said. As Violet approached, she stepped on a twig that snapped. Both Charlie and Claire turned quickly to see Violet emerging from the bushes.
"Sorry to interrupt." She said meekly, as she kicked the twig aside, shoving her hands in her pocket.
"Vi, what are you doing out here?" Charlie asked, seemingly as concerned as finding Claire out in the jungle. Violet sighed.
"I was worried about Claire." She turned to Claire. "I didn't think you should be alone. Not with everything that's...that's happened the last couple of nights." She looked down. Claire sighed.
"I appreciate your concern. Both of you, but I don't know what to do! Somebody is trying to hurt my baby, and I don't know what to do!" Claire shouted, breaking down crying again. The three of them stood in silence, with the exception of Claire's silent sobs. Violet didn't even hear the quiet footsteps from behind, but she saw the fear glazed in Claire's eyes as she looked over Violet's shoulder.
"Violet, watch out!" Almost immediately, Violet felt something hard collide with her skull, and she fell, unconscious before she even hit the ground.
"Maybe Claire was on her way to the caves." Kate pointed out as Locke trailed them through the jungle, following the footprints he found in the mud. They did appear to be leading them down the same trail they normally took to get to the caves. Jack sighed.
"I just hope Violet caught up to her. I don't think anyone should be alone in this jungle." He said, remembering the creature that had chased them down their first few days on the island. Kate agreed, and they continued to follow Locke deeper into the jungle. Jack took the opportunity to talk to Kate.
"How's Violet doing, anyway?" He asked, sparking conversation. Kate considered her answer for a moment, but nodded.
"Better, I think. I think her fever's finally gone, and I've seen her hanging out with Walt a lot more, and smiling more than usual. She doesn't seem as withdrawn anymore, either. I don't know, I think she's doing pretty good, considering the circumstances." Kate replied. Jack nodded.
"That's good to hear." He replied.
"I found something." Locke yelled as he ran into a clearing. Jack and Kate exchanged glances and caught up with Locke, who had already bent down on the ground. Kate and Jack caught up, and saw what Locke had found.
"Violet!" Kate sank to the ground next to Violet who was unconscious, lying in the grass, with a bit of blood dripping from the back of her head, and a bloodied rock lying next to her. Kate grabbed Violet's head and held it up gently so Jack could examine the back of her head.
"She's okay. It's not serious. She should wake up soon." Jack said, breathing deeply. Kate stared at Jack with a questioning stare. It was almost as though Jack could read her mind.
"No, she didn't do this, not with this much force." He confirmed. Locke was surveying the scene.
"Whoever did this went that way." He said, pointing toward an opening in the trees around them. Kate heard a strangled sound coming from Violet, who managed to open her eyes a little. She winced at the pain.
"Violet." Kate said, and Jack was right there, helping Violet sit up. Kate was right behind her, holding her up.
"Violet, can you hear me?" Jack asked, as he tried to get Violet to look at him. Violet's vision was blurred at first, but she finally recognized Jack staring at her.
"Jack?" She said. She felt the back of her head and almost screamed in pain. "What happened?"
"I was hoping you could tell me." Jack replied. Violet turned and saw Kate was there too. She saw Locke walking around the clearing, but she didn't see Charlie and Claire.
"Where's Charlie and Claire?" She asked. Jack and Kate exchanged glances.
"Were you with them, Violet?" Kate asked.
"Violet, I need you to tell me exactly what happened." Jack added. Violet struggled to regain her short-term memory, and as bits and pieces came to her, she explained.
"I followed Claire into the jungle, because I didn't think she should be alone. When I caught up to her, Charlie was there. He must have been coming back from the caves. Claire was really upset, and Charlie was trying to help. Then I showed up, and Claire looked past me and told me to watch out, and then...I blacked out." She paused. "I think somebody hit me over the head." She stared at the rock that was on the ground, and groaned.
"We have to find Charlie and Claire." Jack announced, as he stood up. "Kate, you should take Violet back to the beach. I'll dress her head when I get back. She'll be okay until then."
"No, I want to come. I'm okay, I just have a headache." Violet tried to convince. Jack sighed.
"Fine, but can you even stand?" He asked. Violet nodded, unsure herself, but Kate helped her up, and dizziness set in immediately, but didn't last long.
"Alright. Locke, lead the way." Jack said as Locke led the four of them through the jungle, Kate steadying Violet along the way. Violet couldn't make sense of what had happened. Claire had looked terrified before she was knocked out. Who would have done such a thing? Claire wouldn't have been afraid of one of our people. Violet paused, feeling sick at the thought of others on the island. She shuddered.
"Are you cold?" Kate asked. Violet shook her head, but still, Kate took off her own sweater and wrapped it around Violet's shoulders. Violet didn't argue.
The four of them continued to make their way through the branches that were blocking the path, and that was when she saw him.
"Charlie! No!" Violet screamed, running ahead. Kate, Jack and Locke obviously hadn't seen what she had, but they followed just as quickly. They stopped dead in their tracks as Violet stared at the very sight Jack, Kate and Locke saw. Charlie was hanging by a rope around his neck from a tree, blindfolded.
"Kate, climb the tree, cut the rope!" Jack screamed, and Kate did without a second thought. Violet felt so helpless, staring at Charlie, unsure of whether or not he was alive or not. Charlie, please don't be dead, please don't be dead! Her mind screamed as Jack grabbed hold of Charlie's body, holding him up as steady as possible, while Kate grabbed her belt knife and cut the rope. Jack and Charlie fell to the ground sharply, as Jack ripped of Charlie's blindfold. Violet nearly screamed out as Charlie's eyes were closed, and she could see the bruises around Charlie's neck. Kate jumped down from the tree, and help Violet back, as Jack began to try to get Charlie to breath. Nothing was happening. Violet couldn't see Charlie's chest rising at all, as Jack continued to thump on Charlie's chest. It seemed like hours, though was only moments, before Locke finally spoke, in a surprisingly calm voice.
"Jack, he's gone." He said. Violet began to cry again, but Jack would not give up. Violet had to turn her face away as Jack began violently beating on Charlie's chest, until finally, Violet heard a miracle. She could hear a strangled breath coming from Charlie's mouth. She turned around, as her and Kate ran to Charlie's side, who finally opened his eyes.
"Charlie." Violet whispered, thanking God he was alive. Jack breathed a sigh of relief too.
"Charlie, talk to me, are you okay?" He asked. Charlie gasped for breath, but was able to get out three single words; three words that explained everything.
"Ethan...took...her." Charlie continued to gasp for breath, but Violet's heart began beating violently. Ethan? That guy who never talked to anybody? He knocked me out. She reasoned. What did he want with Claire. Jack and Kate shared a glance, which Violet wasn't sure was about, but knew it was serious.
"What?" She asked, feeling her throat constricting with fear. Kate sighed.
"Ethan wasn't on the manifest." She said simply. Violet stared at her with wide eyes, glancing at Charlie, who's breathing became a little more steadier.
"What? What do you mean?" She asked weakly, still feeling her head pounding.
"He wasn't on the plane, Violet." Kate replied. Violet widened her eyes, and as she stared off into the jungle, everything began to make sense. Ethan took Claire. He knocked me out, and hung Charlie to...to die. She grimaced. Why did he want Claire? Violet began to cry again as she watched Charlie gaining strength, and tried not to think about the fact that one of their own had just been taken.