A/N: Here begins the final act... it dips its toe in the waters of fantasy but the characters are still the ones you know and love. Though as the ending approaches, some may not survive so say a prayer for your favourites right now and have the kleenex ready... The reaping continues.
[2018]
Whispers filled the grey stone hall of the mine, dancing around it with the flame light of the torches on the walls.
"Is it true?" several voices repeated.
The footstep echoes grew louder from the opposite end of the room, where a doorway connected it to the steps coming down from the mountain-side entrance.
Hugo waited in suspense. He had seen this, but had not expected it so soon. It meant several things were about to happen, some good, some bad.
One of the guards came in first, out of breath.
"It is them." He wheezed.
The general crowd then parted to leave a long empty space in the centre of the hall. Hugo stood as John Norwood entered, followed by three faded memories. Three long lost souls, stolen by time… now returned.
Sawyer gaped at how much older his friend now looked, aged by war. He approached slowly.
"Seven years." Hugo told him. "Looks like it was less for you three."
A woman ran towards the group and embraced Desmond.
"Penny," he gasped in exhaustion, "Seven years? I'm so sorry Penny."
"The seven longest years of my life." She whispered through tears.
Kate stared around and noticed how much stronger the people of the Island now seemed, hardened by war both physically and emotionally. Hurley especially, was more sombre than ever. Clearly he was aware of this, for he said then,
"Much has changed, I know. And it is about to change once more."
More whispers followed at the latter sentence.
"How so?" asked John with sincere curiosity.
"This… this is an omen. Through victory or defeat, we have come to the end."
Hugo ushered the four arrivals and Penny out of the hall and into a smaller side room.
"Sorry but we need to discuss these things privately."
"The end?" asked Ben Linus, who had just arrived in the chamber. "Of the war you mean?"
"Quite possibly. Clementine may not have caused the war but she did bring those here that did. No offence." He added to Sawyer.
"None taken, Hugo."
"The way I see it, she's the last piece of the puzzle." The protector explained. "Well… almost the last piece."
"We still have the Hibbs problem." Said Penny.
"These issues aren't completely unrelated." Sawyer interjected.
"For all intents and purposes," said Ben, "They are completely unrelated. Two different wars really."
"Are we missing something here?"
"I don't know. Are you?"
"Hibbs was holding us captive." John told them, "He probably did try to make some sort of deal involving Clem." He scowled at the thought.
"He did." Sawyer agreed.
"Regardless," Hugo put in, "Hibbs is my enemy, he always has been."
"What are you talking about?" asked Kate, looking as confused as Sawyer felt.
"… They don't know." Penny realised.
"You guys…" said Hugo slowly… "Hibbs isn't Hibbs any more. He's the Man in Black."
Sawyer was stunned.
"That means Hibbs is dead?"
"Seven years ago. Not long after you left. We found his body in a cave not far from the temple… he'd been shot. Not soon enough to stop him from executing Mark though, we found his corpse too."
"Mark? Mark was killed?" exclaimed Kate.
"I'm sorry."
She covered her mouth with a hand, overwhelmed by the information.
"What about Miles?" Sawyer asked, fearing the worst.
"Went missing." Ben told him. "At around the same time."
"…Mark had changed." Kate said finally, "He was protecting me. All of us. Remember James, room 108?"
"I remember." Sawyer said sadly. "He saved my life more than once."
"One sacrifice of many." Hugo told them. "All wars take their toll. The time for mourning is soon… but not upon us. We need to deal with the Man in Black. You four escaped his clutches and came here, it's almost certain he's tracked you. Our location is compromised."
"Sorry about that." Said Desmond.
"It doesn't matter now. It's time he was destroyed."
"… how?" asked Sawyer, reminiscing about how difficult it was the previous time.
"That…" said Hugo, "remains to be seen. But I assure you I am not without ideas. John, what did my nemesis do to you lot?"
"We were chained up. Underground."
"I expected as much. You'll all need a bit of rest then, while I formulate a solid plan."
"You can't plan this thing on your own." Said Sawyer.
"And he won't have to." Ben interrupted, "I will assist Hugo. Your quarrel lies with Hibbs six feet under. Or with the remainder of The Control, out there in the jungle. This entity is not yours to fight."
"John will show you to the sleeping quarters." Hugo told them. Norwood came forward and lead them out of the room. Sawyer lingered back.
"Hugo, you know where I am if you change your mind." He said quietly. His old friend nodded and watched as he followed Desmond and Penny out of the room, before running ahead to catch up with Kate.
They spoke in hushed tones as they crossed the hall.
"You heard him James. Much has changed. Him more than anyone."
"Being a leader ain't nothing special. Being a good leader, now there's something."
"…You don't trust him."
"No, I trust him. I just hope to God he trusts himself."
They came down a wide corridor now, lined with others. Some were casually sitting on stools peeling mangoes, occasionally glancing up at the group and others were standing in what appeared to be armour, holding weapons.
Sawyer stopped to examine a sword one guard held. The blade looked so sharp that it could kill a man three times over in one swing.
"Guns gone out of fashion?" he asked, eyes still fixed on the weapon.
"It's been seven years and unfortunately bullets don't reproduce." John told him, "We had to find other ways." He reached into a barrel as they passed it and threw a long-sword to Sawyer, who caught it.
"You can have this one." He said. "The rest of you can help yourselves too."
Kate took a bow and filled quiver, Desmond a short-sword.
"Did you make these?" Desmond asked.
"Not personally." John told him, "but we have a few craftsmen among us. And craftswomen." He gestured to Penny.
"I've adopted many new roles." She explained to her husband.
"Well I hope I don't have to use this, Pen. I'm so tired of fighting."
"I know Des." She put her arm around him.
"Is that what you mine here? Metals?" Kate inquired interestedly.
"No, not at all." Said John, "They were made from wreckage. Primarily from Ajira flight 423. But some of the earlier models were crafted from Oceanic 815."
"What about this one?" Kate held out the bow she had chosen.
"815's nose, I believe." Penny informed her.
"Wow." Kate ran her hand along the smooth curve, picturing that trek to the cockpit with strangers named Jack Shephard and Charlie Pace. It brought tears to her eyes, seeing such vivid images of a previous life.
"The rooms are this way." John prompted. The group continued to the end of the corridor where stairs lead down. They had to descend deep into the mountain before they reached the right rooms.
Desmond was simply able to move into Penelope's room, which was quite large and higher up. And so those two departed. Further down, John pointed out his own chamber in case they ever needed to find him and Hugo's one opposite too. Even further down, past increasingly lazy flooring and weakened old ladders, Kate and Sawyer were finally shown to their individual rooms, which were disappointingly small.
"Several. How many is several?" Ben asked desperately.
"Does it matter?" asked Hugo. "Does it matter just how many wild plans I have? This is all happening faster than I anticipated. Not one of those plans can simply succeed at such short notice."
Ben sighed, running one hand through his greying hair and the other along the edge of the smooth oak ocean.
"We still have advantage." He said reassuringly. He pointed to the carved mountain rising from the strategic surface. "We have a fortress. How much difference does it really make if he knows we're here? He's not stupid enough to just break in. There are rules."
"The rules… right. You know these days Ben, rules aren't enough. He's twisted, defiled and bent to breaking point all the rules these last seven years! It's something to do with the fact that him coming back was impossible. He's confused the Island. He doesn't register any more… he's an anomaly. Even Shephard Dust is getting weaker."
"Weaker, but not powerless. Not yet."
John knocked on the open door.
"I thought you'd be resting like the others." Said Hugo.
"They need it more than I do. How's it going?"
"Rough." Ben said tiredly, "We're running out of options."
"You're not resorting to the fail-safe are you? I know I said I'd do it if I have to but we'd need time to-"
"Things aren't that drastic." Hugo said with a weak smile.
"…Glad to hear it."
They stood for a moment, deep in stressful thought.
"What about the Phoenix?" John suggested finally, knowing he would regret.
"What about the Phoenix?" echoed Ben sceptically.
"We could wield it against the Man in Black. I know you've said a hundred times it is impossible to retrieve but we have the likes of James Ford, Kate Austen and Desmond Hume now. And I could aid them. Desperate times guys… More desperate than ever, I gather."
Hugo looked at him with hesitation. Ben snorted.
"It's insane. To retrieve the Phoenix would mean going into enemy territory."
"You think we can't get in and out alive?"
"I think you have other reasons for getting lost in the jungle. Could it be that you want to get captured?"
"Why on earth would I want that?"
"You and I both know why. Everyone else may have turned a blind eye to your actions over the years but-"
"Enough, Ben." Said Hugo tiredly.
"You can't seriously be considering this?"
"My nemesis achieved the impossible. Why can't we do the same?"
Ben was almost speechless for a moment.
"You will have to deal with any and all collateral damage Hugo."
"That is an inevitability Benjamin!" Hugo said frustrated, "I am hoping that this way will keep it to a minimum."
"So you think I should take them to the caves?" John asked.
"Take them there tomorrow morning." Said Hugo with authority, "Explain everything to them on the way. It will be a long trip. I have spoken."
John seemed excited. Ben let his anger fade and approached him. He often forgot how young John was due to his skill in battle but he had to appreciate his risk-taking personality. Maybe it would pay off in the end.
"Just… be careful." He said quietly, "There's a reason we've put this off for so long. Do you understand that?"
John stared at him for a long few seconds before nodding slowly.
"Then, believe it or not, I do wish you the best of luck."
With that Ben headed back to his chamber, where his wife was waiting.
"Annie's going to kill you for keeping him this late." John teased.
Hugo wasn't in the mood for joking.
"I agreed with your plan because it's the best we've got. You'd better not let me down."
"Of course not. Will you be coming with us tomorrow?"
Hugo just shook his head. Then he looked up exhaustedly.
"… Go to bed John."
And to bed he went, brain whirring with the excitement of planning ahead. Tomorrow would be an important day indeed.
Later, Kate lay awake. Her thoughts were with Mark, who fate had decided was no longer needed. She would never see him again and she would never speak to him again. Unless…
Kate swung her bare feet out of bed and crossed the cold stone floor. She slipped a few times on the way up, particularly on damp rungs of the neglected ladders. Finally she reached the landing from which John and Hugo's rooms were accessible. Recalling which was which quickly, she rushed over to the door on the right and knocked softly.
It came open.
"Kate?" said Hugo, wiping sleep from his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Can I come in?" Hugo was hesitant, "Please, I won't sleep otherwise."
"Okay…" he led her in and let her sit on the end of his bed.
"…You can speak to dead people." She said bluntly and somewhat expectantly.
"On occasion." He replied cautiously.
"And Mark is uh- he's…" she began to cry. Hugo was taken aback, having only ever known Kate as such a strong person.
"Kate… look, it doesn't work like that. I can't summon him."
"But, but it's been seven years, he must have visited at some point…"
"Do you know what sort of dead people I speak to?" she shook her head. "The likes of Michael Dawson, and the Man in Black while he was without power. Those trapped here, at least until they can move on." His eyes seemed for a moment full of despair, "I yearned for years, to speak to those I wanted to see again. My friends… Jack, Sun and Jin, Charlie, Sayid… Libby." He himself was tearing up, having never been able to open up about this to anyone before. He sniffled and then spoke determinedly assertive words.
"But… I think I understand now. I know, that it is a good thing. Because they're at peace. They are the ones that can rest now. I haven't seen Mark, because however he died, he was content with it. And we should take comfort in that." Kate smiled through her tears and hugged him… He stroked her hair in a fatherly way for a while as they sat there…
That night Sawyer found himself glad to be resting but as his bed was made of stone he had to ensure his blanket went all the way around so that it softened the area between his back and the hard surface.
He laid on the small slab and stared at the ceiling. This felt like the penultimate stop on a long train journey. The home stretch was paved out in front of him…
Late at night Kate crept in and decided to share his bed. Feeling her wrap her arms around him somehow made him feel slightly safer from whatever was still out there. Whatever Hugo was still warring against.
The sun had not yet risen. Despite this, Sawyer and Kate were woken by John Norwood and dragged out of bed.
"I thought Hugo wanted us to rest," Sawyer groaned, feeling annoyed. He had been reluctant to relax the previous evening but he resented having to leave his bed now, especially so early.
Kate climbed out of the bed and returned to her own room for a moment to retrieve her footwear.
"I wasn't aware there was closeness between you and Miss Austen." Said John awkwardly in her temporary absence, "Would you prefer a shared room? A bigger bed perhaps?"
"That'd be dandy." replied Sawyer, having barely listened. He wasn't sure what he thought about Norwood yet, but he always had an odd feeling that John was trying to impress him for some reason.
"Where are we going?" asked Kate, when she came back, tying up the laces on her trek-ready boots.
"We need to retrieve a valuable artefact to aid us in our fight against the Man in Black. I'll let you know more once we've got going."
"I thought it wasn't our fight." Sawyer reminded him.
"Doesn't mean you can't lend a hand." Said John.
On their way up to the hall, Desmond and Penny joined them. Desmond seemed reluctant but Penny was adamant on coming, and he wasn't going to let her go alone.
Walt joined them in the hall, as one of the few people up at the early hour. A rushed breakfast of cold dry boar leftovers was gulped down by the group by a large set of doors that apparently lead into the actual mines in the mountain. A couple of guards were whispering nearby and shooting glances in the direction of the fellowship.
As they were leaving John realised he had forgotten something and dashed back to his room to retrieve a small brown drawstring pouch.
When the six of them departed, they were forced to use a small back door due to the compromised location of residence. The Man in Black likely knew where the main entrance was by now. So they were left to trust the narrower path leading down the hidden part of the mountain not to completely collapse. Several times they had to shuffle along very thin ledges. John first, dagger attached to his belt followed by Kate, bow and quiver slung over her shoulder, then Sawyer with his long-sword kept in a scabbard he'd taken from the weapon barrel. Desmond with his short-sword and Penny with dual knives were next, close together at all times and Walt at the rear with a shield to accompany his own short-sword, watching the crew's back.
The sun began to rise just as the group reached the base of the mountain and started to follow John through the jungle, on one of the most difficult treks they had ever embarked on.
In the past they had looked for small natural paths or at least areas of the jungle that were less dense and easier to pass through, but this time those sorts of things were exactly what they were trying to avoid.
"It's very risky being out at all." Walt explained while they made their way through a particularly painful field rose bushes. "We'll just have to put up with these thorns. At least it's better than running into rogue gang members or the Man in Black."
And so they kept going, often exerting quiet yelps of pain and the occasional curse word. Sawyer cut a solitary red rose from one of the bushes with his sword and handed it to Kate who couldn't help but smile, remembering the charm Sawyer had shown once before, presenting her with a mix tape at the beach camp, back in the day…
The journey certainly seemed to cover most of the Island and tested the physical abilities of each and every member in the group. In the late morning they began to pass some of the more war-torn areas of the Island. Ruins where certain landmarks used to be. John, Walt and Penny would often make remarks about the battles they fought at such locations. It transpired that all three of them, for example, had many stories concerning the Battle of the Orchid Station, and just how the greenhouse had ended up as nothing but rubble.
"That spot over there," John pointed out sadly, "That's where Fernando fell." This brought a solemn mood over the three veterans of the group, who seemed to remember this Fernando character as a great martyr. "You saw that orchid garden back by the mountain?" John carried on. Sawyer nodded, remembering it. "That was planted in the memory of all those that died here on that day."
They paid their respects by clearing up some of the rubble. John pulled out the brown pouch and presented them with what turned out to be seeds for them to plant. Another orchid garden would bloom.
Finally, they left, continuing on with memories on their mind.
"Penny mentioned caves." Said Desmond at a rest stop in the sweltering hot afternoon later on, sitting on a log, "Is that where we're headed?" he asked John. The leader of their company nodded.
"A complex of caves, yes. Not far from the ones the 815 survivors lived in for a while."
"And what's there exactly?" asked Sawyer. "What sort of artefact are we talking about here?"
He sat down on a large rock and was joined shortly by Kate who was admiring the rose in her hands.
John knew that this was the time to give out some answers.
"It is called… the Phoenix."
"Why?" asked Desmond, "What does that mean brotha?"
"It is called that because it was born of ashes."
"Shephard Dust?" asked Sawyer.
"Not quite."
"Well which one protects us from the smoke monster?"
"Both of them in a way. The ash is an ancient way of defending ourselves against it. Forged from the combined ash of previous Island protectors, though more commonly, their right-hand men. It has a strong resistance against the Man in Black. But, Hugo told me that they ran into problems with it. Because that sort of thing is pretty finite. That's when they discovered Shephard Dust. A natural resource, a gift from the Island that, though only offering a fraction of the strength of the ash, would replicate its effect to an extent and was easy to renew. Mines were set up in the mountain, the mountain in which we now take refuge. The dust was named after Jack Shephard after his heroic acts on the Island circa 2008."
"So, the Phoenix." Said Kate, "You've told us what it's called but not what it is."
"It's a sword." John returned quickly.
"Well in that case this is a wasted trip," said Sawyer, "cos in case you haven't noticed I got a sword right here."
"Have you even been listening to me? Born of ashes. This sword is different, special. Your sword would bounce off the Man in Black in human form, and pass through him without making contact in smoke form. This sword though, was forged in the Heart of the Island with the strongest wreckage along with not Shephard Dust, but true ash. Some of the last true ash in existence."
"Why is it not close at hand if it's so powerful?" Desmond asked.
"Hugo made it during a time in which he was being taunted by his nemesis from beyond the grave. He was worried he might one day return. And as we all know… he was right to be. Rumour has it he could not gather enough true ash at first so he dug up Jack Shephard and burned his body in the dead of night. He hid the Phoenix in those caves because he needed somewhere with room to rig the area."
"Rig it?" asked Kate, "with traps you mean?"
"Absolutely."
"Why not just some of Jack's leftover ash?"
"He did that too but you know as well as I do that his nemesis can spin words as fine as silk and thus get people to do his bidding. The traps had to be indiscriminate. By the time war did break out, by the time the Man in Black did return, we were so far from the caves that it was pointless to return without people skilful enough to avoid the traps, solve the riddles etcetera and even then it would still be difficult, with other factions hanging around. I've tried many times before to convince Hugo that it was time to retrieve the Phoenix but only now, with the return of you three, and time running out, has he finally agreed to it."
The group sat for a while absorbing the information.
"I think we're doing the right thing." Walt reassured John, "It's the best plan we have."
"Thanks. Anyway, we need to move on soon so any more questions before we go?"
"I have one." Said Sawyer.
"Make it quick."
"I was eavesdropping on a couple of whispering guards during breakfast… Who is the Prophet's Son?"
"…Me."
"What does that title even mean?"
"John Locke. I'm John Locke's son."
Kate and Sawyer looked at each other in shock, even Desmond seemed surprised.
"I- I didn't know." Sawyer told him."
"Yeah." Said John, "Neither did he. And he never will."
"He was a good man." Desmond said. John nodded and grinned.
"So I hear… We really should get going."
They set off again, this time with a strange silence among them.
The silence only broke when panic occurred later on. Desmond had spotted two gang members through some bushes and was whispering frantically to communicate this to the rest of the group. Silently, Kate prepared an arrow, stealthily loosing it into the neck of the man more easily visible to them. She then moved a little to the left where the other should have been but he was not there. The group ran forward until they stood by the man's body.
"Nice shot." Penny commented, ripping the bloody arrow from the poor guy's jugular.
"Thanks." Said Kate, "Used to hunt with my dad."
"I was sure there were two of them…" said Desmond, looking around hoping to find the missing enemy.
"If there was," said John, "We should move more quickly. He'll be running off to alert Melek of our presence."
"Who?" asked Sawyer.
"Great, more questions. Look, we're almost at the caves, I'll answer 'em there."
They travelled fast and swift through the remaining jungle to reach the caves. The sun was setting by this time and it was pitch black outside when they finally reached their destination.
"You said this cave complex was near our caves, but these are the exact caves some of us lived in." Kate pointed out.
"The sword isn't in this cave though." John told her. He lead them past the ancient Adam and Eve skeletons and to a small waterfall.
"Hope you've all been exercising," he joked before squeezing through a tiny gap. The rest followed, groaning every now and then about how tight the fit was.
"I thought you said Hugo hid this sword." Sawyer grunted as he got splashed by the running water.
"I hear Ben helped." John replied, letting out his breath once out of the tiny gap in the rock.
"That explains it then."
Soon they were all through and sat down to regain their strength.
This hidden cavern seemed to lack majesty however and the sword was nowhere in sight.
"The door to the main test chamber is disguised." Said John, "And Hugo could not remember anything more detailed than that to tell me." He began to feel along the cave wall in search of some lever or button.
"So… Melek." Prompted Sawyer.
"You still want to know about that?" John asked, still searching with his hands.
"Wouldn't be asking if I didn't."
"You sure? It's quite a fucked up tale."
"I can handle it.
"Melek Badem; a criminal psychopath brought here on Ajira 423. Being escorted by whole host of cops with her partner in crime and brother Izzet Badem. I don't know quite how they did it. But a few years back they got partial control over, well over the Control. An allegiance with that guy Jake, the old leader. When poor old Hibbs bit the dust the rest of his thugs signed up, so their army grew. In the end Izzet murdered Jake."
"Why?"
"Well… it's all speculation now… but I hear he was less than happy when he found out Melek was cheating on him with the third member in their trio of power."
"I thought you said they brother and sister."
"I also said it was quite a fucked up tale."
"Indeed you did."
"And as I said, speculation; take it with a grain of salt. But regardless of motivation we do know that Jake was killed and of course it all went downhill from there. Melek apparently executed Izzet in quite a horrible way. The gruesome details of which, will go better left-" He pulled down on an unusual rock and a door slid open. "-Unmentioned." He smiled.
"Looks like you found it then." Said Walt. John nodded.
"One step closer to the Phoenix." He told them triumphantly.
They moved forwards onto a platform the overlooked the much larger cave that was now open to them. Penny suggested that she and Desmond protect the entrance just in case so they left with their weapons. The other four crossed the first line of ash into the premises. It looked like an obstacle course laid out in front of them.
"I always said Hugo watched too many films. We come all this way for some magic sword and we still have a ton of Indiana Jones bullshit to go through. Typical."
"We need you James." Said Walt calmly.
Physical tests came first. The four of them were luckily in good shape, and were able to manoeuvre well in the trials of swinging, balancing and climbing to each subsequent ledge. Kate was possibly the most agile but was forced to stay behind when John accidentally broke one of the bars required to swing on. She was left hanging on the previous bar above a chasm.
"You three go on." She urged the others, "I'll try to head back, join back up with Desmond and Penny."
Then came the riddles for those remaining, which provoked more eye-rolling from Sawyer. The first few were easy enough and were designed to confuse anyone that had never met Hugo before. One test actually involved four stones on which elegant carvings displayed human figures. Pressure put on three of the wrong choices would result in traps being sprung, whereas the correct stone (the one that sported the man whom looked the most like Hugo) illuminated the path forward.
The final riddle was slightly more difficult.
'Neither quite heart nor mind, but rather the face of footwear.'
It was scrawled on the wall in chalk and was accompanied by a complex wooden device in which a four letter word could be entered. The trio spent a good while pondering possible answers to the riddle, terrified to try any of them without being 100 percent sure, due to the likelihood of a trap waiting for them.
Eventually Sawyer came up with 'sole', which fit quite nicely. When they plucked up the courage to try it, their patience proved to have been worth it.
"Told you we needed you." Walt reminded him with a smile.
At last the final door slid downward, leading to the chamber of reward. There it was, on a stone slab reminiscent of the beds back at the mines. An angelic blue-silver light dramatically surrounded the Phoenix, making it stand out in the dull cave area.
John approached it, seeing more and more of the sword's magnificence as he edged closer. After what felt like a very long time he gripped the hilt of it firmly and held it aloft. The sword blazed in its bathing moon-light and even stung the eyes of Sawyer and Walt to look at the blade.
"Finally the Phoenix is found." Walt announced, "In the hands of the Prophet's Son no less."
John beamed. But his smile was short-lived.
There was a sound of shouting and then the place was caving in. John now had a look of horror on his face but this was shrouded in darkness and pain. Even in the dark the Phoenix seemed to reflect light. And so bloodied and bruised, Sawyer crawled towards it. Some rocks came loose suddenly, opening a gateway to the jungle and a member of the Control jumped into the cave. Sawyer grabbed at his scabbard but it was empty. He looked back at the Phoenix and noticed his own sword lying next to it. As he clambered in that direction he thought he could hear Kate's voice calling from afar. He felt a fist hit him hard on the back of the head and blackness followed.
Hugo knew he would not sleep this night. He, Ben and most of the mines' residents would be tireless preparing barricades just in case the Man in Black did attempt a more direct attack on the mountain.
At around 3am everyone sat around fires in the main hall. Even Hugo sat on the cold stone floor, leaving his throne-like chair empty.
The mood was sombre and fearful at that time. A low muttering bounced off the walls as everyone exchanged war stories and other anecdotes about their time on the island. Ben and Annie were begged to tell the old favourite of many, which was the story of how they had met as children in the DHARMA initiative and how after decades of separation, Annie chanced to be on Ajira flight 423, which crashed on the Island. Now several years after they met for the second time, they were in love and as close to husband and wife as they would ever get. They had a ceremony once, in the very same hall, but with no official minister some argued it did not count.
Hugo wished Walt was there, for they often liked to talk about the Island and why it acted as it did. The Island had possibly become a bit lonelier since Ben had begun spending so much time with Annie. Hugo had started to bond with Fernando a long time ago and they had charged into battle together on many occasions. The Orchid started off as a battle like any other but in a cruel twist of fate, Izzet Badem and hacked into Fernando's back on the top level of the greenhouse. Hugo recalled that moment when time slowed down as he looked upwards. Izzet had smiled maliciously and kicked his enemy's lifeless body down to the fight below. But all that was in the past. Izzet was dead now, the numbers of the Control had decreased since then and only Melek was left to guide them.
Hugo remembered how lonely Jacob had always seemed and wondered if he would end up in the same position.
Just then he was no longer worried about these childish things for the Island seemed to be showing him something. Many had envied his insight over the years but they did not know that receiving such messages simply felt like an intense migraine. The chatter died down around him suddenly and Ben halted in the re-telling of his love story.
Then the headache was over. Ben leaned close to Hugo.
"… When?" he asked.
"Tomorrow night. That is when he will strike."
"Then we'd better live this night as if it were our last." He said with a smile. From there the night became a time of making merry and the mood became lighter. Laughter rang in the halls once more but it felt alien to Hugo's ears. Laughter was not heard in his halls. It hadn't been for many months before this night and after this night, it never would be again.
When Sawyer came to, it was raining heavily in the grey morning hours. All colour had drained from the world. He gazed upwards and saw John, who looked really out of it, only semi-conscious, sitting next to him. They were both bound by their hands and feet. Walt was kneeling opposite them at a close distance. He was bound too and had his eyes closed. He appeared to be muttering prayer under his breath. Behind him was a beautifully deadly woman. She held in her two hands what looked like the fabled Phoenix sword.
"Hugo sent you three didn't he?" She spat at them in an entrancing accent, rain cascading down her face and clothes, her dark red-brown dress becoming water-logged. She waved the sword at them as she spoke, "he still wants that girl back. 'Clementine this, Clementine that', all of his soldiers always plead the same. I'm sick of it. Oh and the occasional 'join with us. There is a threat bigger than all of us.' Such notions are laughable. How much of a savage would I have to be to side with native scum. You three come wandering into my parts of the jungle for what? This? You think we are dangerous but it is you going after these precious weapons of yours." She stopped pacing directly behind Walt. She moved her arms back and then pushed the sword through his back.
John let out a cry. Sawyer just blinked, trying to take it all in. Four thugs were surrounding them too. One of them cleared the space where Walt had been kneeling, preparing it for someone else.
"We used to blow up sections of the jungle, you know. Lucky that got boring. Meant we had some old C4 to blow open those caves last night. And just as we expected, an infestation! Anyway… who's next?"
One of the gang members dragged John to the execution spot now. This had to be a nightmare, it certainly felt like one.
"Wait." Croaked Sawyer.
"Did you say something mate?" asked the thug closest.
"Stop." He said louder.
"Now…" Melek crouched next to Sawyer, who was aching from his bruises, "why would we do that?" she asked him with genuine interest.
"…Because he's the Prophet's Son."
It was a gamble and Sawyer knew it. Even if they did know or care who the Prophet's Son was, there was no telling whether they would believe him or not. There followed a long, intense silence while the thugs looked at Melek and each other.
"Well," she said finally, "have any of you ever seen the Prophet's Son?"
There was a pause.
"Johnson," said one of the thugs, nudging his friend, "you said you have."
"It- it was two years ago ma'am." Stuttered the man that must have been Johnson.
She stood up and went over to him. Suddenly, the sword was being held tight against his neck.
"Is… it… him?" she asked venomously.
Johnson stared for a few moments at Norwood, squinting through the rain.
"… Yes ma'am I believe it is."
She smiled and put down the sword.
"Excellent. Hugo Reyes will likely give a handsome ransom for his favourite warrior."
"What about the other one?" Johnson asked. Melek looked to Sawyer.
She then kicked him onto his side where his head could sit on a raised rock. She held the blade high, ready to take off his head.
"STOP GODDAMNIT!" Sawyer shouted. Thunder rumbled above them and Melek stood still and listened to his breathless words.
"I… can deliver the message. About… the ransom."
She calmly put down the sword once more. Then she knelt by him. He looked into her dark eyes and as if he had challenged her, she stared back into his as she untied his bonds.
"Tell Hugo to meet us at the Orchid ruins when he is ready to talk about the Prophet's Son, Clementine or even this pretty sword."
"We… really need that sword." He pleaded.
"And that is not my problem." She replied.
Then Sawyer's limbs were free and they both stood.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" she asked. Melek gave him a violent push and sent him running through the storm "we'll be waiting!" she called after him. He looked over his shoulder and saw both John and the sword getting smaller and smaller.
He ran for at least an hour, lost and alone. Finally, his legs got caught on a wide, wet log and for the second time he was knocked out cold.
L O S T
