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 14

Mel kept on through the jungle. A strength she hadn't known she possessed driving her. In the back of her mind she knew that this is what she had been waiting for. A purpose. Since she had come to the island she hadn't really had something to do, a task of her own. Now she did and she wasn't going to let anything get in her way.

Her body was sore from fighting with Sophie. Ben's folder hadn't said to pinpoint Sophie directly to fight with but he had suggested it. The folder said she needed to look like she had been beaten, possibly even tortured. Mel could have found anyone to spar with but Ben hinted that provoking Sophie may be the easiest way since she didn't like Mel for taking Ben from her.

As usual, Ben had been right. Mel had gotten to take out some of her frustration on Sophie while accomplishing her task at the same time.

Mel shook her head. At first she had liked Sophie. She had even thought Ben to be unkind for casting her aside. But now she was beginning to feel that Sophie was getting what she deserved. Mel was seeing what Ben had been able to see all along. Mel and Ben were best suited for each other because they understood that some things needed to be done, no matter who was hurt in the process.

Mel shook her head as if shaking away those thoughts. How was she sympathizing with Ben? What had happened in the last few weeks to make her agree with his views?

She knew she wasn't in love with him, thank God. She didn't think she could ever trust herself again if that happened. But he was growing on her. Maybe that was the reason she was currently risking her life for him.

As Mel reached her target area she began to run through the trees. She didn't try to avoid any branches in her way; she just let them whip across her face and arms. Many of them cut her.

When she saw the survivor's beach she began to scream, "Help!"

She continued to yell for help as she staggered on to the beach.

"Please somebody help me!" she screamed again in terror.

She saw some of the people on the beach turn her direction and she ran towards them. Once they started coming her way she fell to the sand. She continued to crawl towards them as if the devil was chasing her.

Finally two men reached her. She recognized them from Ben's folder. The Iraqi man was Sayid Jarrah and the other was Desmond Hume.

She fell to the sand exhausted and reached up to them, "Please. Help."

"What is your name?" Sayid asked.

"Alice. My name is Alice; please you have to help me."

"Where did you come from?" Sayid pushed.

"Them." she answered shuddering.

"Sayid, we should get her to Jack. She's hurt." Desmond said.

"Don't you think it's curious that we have two mysterious strangers show up within days of each other?"

"You mean the man in the hatch?" Desmond asked.

"Yes, he is one of them."

"Them?" Mel said. "They're here? No! No! I can't let them get me again!" She began to scream hysterically.

"Sayid, she's been beaten and tortured. Probably by these Others you're talking about. She's not one of them."

"I don't trust her." Sayid said eyeing Mel.

"Do you trust anyone brotha?" Desmond asked, "I'm taking her Jack before she ends up hurting herself."

"Be cautious." Sayid warned.

Desmond nodded then bent down to Mel. "I'm going to take you to our doctor okay? But I need you to calm down."

"You're not going to take me back to Them?" Mel said quietly.

"No, you'll be safe with me." Desmond smiled.

Mel nodded as Desmond reached his arms under her and picked her up.

"Let's get you to the hatch." he said as Sayid glared at her.

Mel wrapped her arms around his neck to hold on and laid her head on his shoulder. She hid her slight smirk. Who knew she was such a good actress?

Mel played like she was terribly weak while Jack looked at her injuries.

"What happened?" he asked Desmond.

"She just showed up on the beach yelling for help. Sayid thinks she is one of them, but when he mentioned them she went crazy. Whatever happened, she has been through a rough time."

Jack nodded, "Let's get her cleaned up and then we'll talk to her."

As Jack and Desmond left her to grab some supplies Mel noticed Zoe, the woman Ethan had mentioned the last time she had spoken to him, standing a few feet away. Mel glanced at her through her hair. She didn't think Zoe had ever actually seen what she looked like at the village so she figured she wouldn't have to worry about her.

Mel looked around from her spot in the kitchen and saw a large metal door across the room from her. So far she had followed Ben's plans to the letter.

When Zoe saw that Jack and Desmond were coming back she sighed and went to the metal door. Mel watched her enter the combination and pull the door open.

Mel's eyes widened a fraction of an inch when she saw Ben sitting inside. He had been beaten up as well. He looked as bad as she did. Ben looked up as the door opened. His eyes passed Zoe to the room behind her. His eyes stopped when they reached Mel. The slightest smirk crossed his lips.

Jack and Desmond had their backs turned away from her so she raised an eyebrow at Ben. He nodded quickly and Mel nodded back. She could almost feel Ben gloating to himself that his plan was working just as he wanted.

Mel took a deep breath, "No! Him!" she screamed. Rushing out of her chair as it clattered to the floor.

Desmond, Jack, and Zoe turned to see what was wrong. They found her staring at Ben in horror. "He's one of them!" she yelled pointing at Ben.

She looked at Desmond, "You told me I would be safe!"

Desmond came to her side and tried to calm her, "Alice, its okay. He's tied up, he can't get to you."

"You promised! They'll hurt me again!" Mel pointed again at Ben, "He'll hurt me again!"

Desmond took Mel's hand, "He won't hurt you Alice. I'll protect you."

"You will?" Mel asked.

"Yes. You won't be able to get me to leave your side." he said with a reassuring smile.

Mel looked again at Ben who still sat in the armory. She saw in his eyes that he was impressed and approved of her elaborate performance.

"Zoe, will you shut that door?" Jack asked clearly agitated with Zoe for opening it in the first place.

As Zoe shut the heavy door Desmond turned Mel away from Ben. "Come on Alice. Let's get you into the shower so you can get cleaned up and Jack can stitch up those cuts or yours."

Mel nodded, "Thank you." as she followed Desmond out of the kitchen.

Desmond and Jack were patient with Mel. They waited until Jack had stitched together all of her cuts and bandaged her bruises. When he was finally done they started asking questions. Mel was ready for them.

"Alice, can you tell us what happened to you?" Desmond asked.

"Okay." she nodded.

"Start at the beginning." Jack said.

"I was on a plane, Oceanic 815, when something happened. The plane began to shake and then it fell."

"You were on Oceanic 815?" Jack asked.

"Yes."

"Where were you sitting?"

"Towards the back."

"She was with the tail section." Jack said the Desmond.

"When the back part of the plane broke off I was sure I was going to die. The last thing I remember is everything going black. Then I woke up in the jungle. I was hurt. I think I had some broken ribs and a deep cut on my thigh. I was too weak to stand so I started calling for help. I thought if I was alive then other people may be as well."

"Did anyone come?" Desmond said.

"Someone heard me. But it wasn't anyone who had crashed on the plane. But I didn't know that then. Two men walked up to where I was laying and looked down at me. When I asked them for help they didn't say anything. Then one pulled out this little box and held it towards me. When he pushed a button on it a little dart shot out and hit me in the neck. It was so painful that I cried out, then blacked out again."

Mel sighed, "When I woke up I was in a dark room tied to a heavy chair. You can see for yourself what they did to me there."

"Why did they torture you?" she heard Desmond ask kindly.

"I'm still not sure. It seemed they were trying to interrogate me but they never asked questions that made any sense. I finally stopped listening to what they said. I knew they were going to beat me anyway."

"What about him?" Jack asked pointing to where Ben sat behind the armory door.

"That man, that bastard, is like their leader. He is the one who gave the orders. He told them to hurt me over and over again until I gave them their answers. He even participated every now and then."

Mel grabbed Jack's hand, "You can never untie him. Never let him go. He's dangerous." she warned.