A/N: Penultimate chapter. Will the Man in Black prevail, or can he be stopped?


When he awoke it was late afternoon and still the storm was raging on. The rain was not hitting his face though, for someone else was knelt over him, speaking his name.

"Kate…" he mumbled. She held him in a warm embrace.

"What happened to you?" she asked frantically.

Sawyer was now sat up and looked about. Penny and Desmond were standing close by.

"How much did you see?"

"We didn't see any of it." Penny told him, referring to her husband and herself, "But Kate said there was a cave in so we came around the back of the caves and found a pile of rubble…"

"Where are Walt and John?" Kate asked him now, "they're not-…"

"…We were captured. By that crazy woman John told us about."

"Melek." Penny said with a disgust that suggested history.

"You know her?"

"We met just the once. It wasn't pleasant."

"She took John hostage cos y'know, he's the Prophet's Son or whatever… but Walt, he uh… Walt didn't make it."

They were quiet for a moment as the tragedy sunk in. Penny sobbed and Desmond tried to console her. Kate was simply in shock.

"How old was he when we first met him?" she asked in a whisper.

"9, 10." Sawyer estimated, casting his mind back, "He was a good kid. Brave… to the very end."

Kate wiped her eyes on her sleeve and stood straight, giving Sawyer a hand up.

"We need to go back to the mines. We can come back for John. Hugo needs that sword."

"But Kate… Melek took that too."

"Are you sure?" Kate then picked up a sword that had been leaning against a tree next to them. It shone summer colours even in the harsh weather around them. It could only be the Phoenix.

"Couldn't find your sword though." She said, "Sorry about that."

Sawyer stared in awe… So the sword Melek had was actually of relatively little value; that was a comforting thought. There was still a chance, a tiny, minuscule chance that they could fight back against the Island's most dangerous entity; the Man in Black.

Kate held the Phoenix out to him. James Ford did not believe in magic, or destiny, or fate. But when he grasped the handle for the first time, he could tell that he could only be harnessing a power that was not of this world. And that terrified him…

"Are you okay?" she asked, pulling him out of a trance. Before he could answer, a furious light tore apart the tree next to them, starting a red roaring fire.

The pair backed away in fear and looked to Desmond and Penny, who both looked just as stunned.

"Bear." Murmured Desmond, he reached for his short-sword and Sawyer swung around. The fearsome polar bear was soaring towards them through water and flame, howling like a crazed wolf. Kate became focussed immediately and landed two arrows in its thick, muddy white fur. Unfortunately, this failed to even slow it down.

Sawyer put all his might into a poorly directed swing, sailing under the bear's belly as it passed and lodging it deep into the bark of the burning tree.

"Shit," he uttered, pulling hard in an attempt to break it free while his company took on the beast.

Desmond had a particularly courageous dance with the bear, deflecting teeth and claws alike with his small sword alone. Kate loosed a few more arrows, aiming closer to the head. One of them went through the bear's neck just as Sawyer wrenched the Phoenix free. He put the animal out of its suffering with one swift cleave, panting heavily from the ordeal.

Penny threw a spinning knife past his head then and he turned to see a second bear fall at his feet with great velocity, the handle sticking out from between its eyes.

"Thanks." He gasped. The fire from the lightning was beginning to spread now and surround them.

"This way." Said Kate, leading them up and across one of the stronger trees, high enough to avoid the tallest flames. Sweating and singed they hit the ground running once more. They were halted for a moment when the ground shook slightly.

"What was that?" Kate called.

"Probably just lightning impact." Penny replied.

"Any of you remember the way back?" Sawyer shouted over the thunder, not caring about small earthquakes at this point.

"I do." Penny replied. She fell in front of them and they continued running exhaustively into the evening.


"They should be back by now." Said Hugo. He stood in the front hall holding his own sword, a wide blade, facing the floor. The hall was empty apart from him and Ben as the others were in the mines or their chambers, preparing to defend themselves and their friends. Without the return of those who had gone to find the Phoenix, they could not barricade the hidden door as a precaution.

"Do not worry." Said Ben, "You agreed to John's plan because the three strong enough to end this war finally came back. They will not go missing again. I am sure of it."

"They're not the only strong ones." Hugo told Ben with a brief, meaningful smile.

"Whatever happens-…," began Ben but suddenly a guard came running. The pair turned in alert but then they saw he was followed by Sawyer, Kate, Desmond and Penny. Hugo sent the guard to seal off the hidden door and barricade it. He looked back to the arrivals and there it was in Sawyer's dirtied hands. The Phoenix.

"Where are Walt and John?" asked Ben…

"John was captured." Sawyer announced, "He was taken hostage by that Melek woman. She wants to bargain with him. But Walt… Walt did not survive the encounter." Hugo blinked in shock, "I'm sorry."

"No, that's impossible." Said Ben in denial, "Walt is in training to become the next leader of this island. He can't be dead."

"I'm sorry." Sawyer repeated awkwardly.

"What does the Island say Hugo?" Ben asked frantically. Hugo was choked up.

"The Island… doesn't anything." He said shakily.

"Ask it."

"Ben-"

"We have to know."

"I trust Sawyer's judgement. If he says Walt's gone… then he's gone."

Ben put his head in his hands in disbelief. Hugo approached Sawyer, who presented the sword to him.

"Thankyou for bringing this back." He said, taking it in his right hand, handing his own blade to Sawyer.

"Here, have mine. It is called 'Esperanza'."

Sawyer asked him what it meant, all the while gazing at the sorrow in his eyes. Hugo smiled through his teary state.

"It means 'hope'."

He sniffed and turned with the Phoenix then another guard came in, Annie close behind.

"Night has fallen." The guard called out.

Hugo nodded, for he knew the time had come. Thunder struck ominously outside and he could hear the rain falling, could feel the heavy drops shaking the mountain.

"We cannot put our lives in the hands of this Island every time we need help." He said to Ben, who was now sharing a sad embrace with Annie. "Sometimes, we need only to look to each other. I came to this Island with less than humble beginnings but as much as it changed me, I have never before been more influenced than I have been by the people."

More of those people were pouring into the hall now. There was no chatter though, no hum or buzz of excitement nor fear for they were all silently fixed on Hugo's words.

"Walter Lloyd died today. He died while on a mission to bring me the weapon that I once promised you all would one day slay our greatest enemy. And as much as the deaths have taken their toll, it over-joys me to tell you all that the day is here. Because we have waited and are now ready. Because we have learned our weaknesses and made them our strengths. Because we are not the lost, my friends… we are the found."

The hall erupted into a fierce cheer from every warrior there. Hugo smiled and his heart swelled. These were his people and it was his heart that desired so fiercely to live up to his promises.

The cheering died as quickly as it had come for then came a deep thud. All heads turned towards the doorway, which was barricaded with wooden bookcases and chairs and various chunks of stone and rock brought through from the mine. Beyond it were steps that lead up to the front door, which too was heavily barricaded with such items and even the addition of any scrap metal found that had not been forged into weaponry. Surely the tireless effort and hours put in preparing those barriers had not been for nothing, Hugo thought to himself.

He heard the front door being torn apart and then heard it again and again as it echoed around the hall. He gripped the Phoenix tight.

That familiar unnatural noise taunted and tortured the waiting warriors, seeming to get louder and closer with a deliberately cruel, slow pace.

Just as it reached its loudest it suddenly faded. Then there were three light knocks on the barricade in the doorway.

"What do you want?" Hugo asked loudly.

"…Retribution." The voice of Hibbs replied.

"If you leave my people alone, I will make it a painless death."

"You couldn't kill me if you wanted to."

"What rule is there to stop me now that you have stretched them so thin, crossing so many ancient lines and boundaries? Your efforts are admirable but they have only aided me."

No reply.

"Do you understand?" Hugo asked. He approached the barricade quietly. "Because if you do… then you will know that today, there is no hope for you."

There was a long silence. Hugo knelt slightly and peered through a tiny gap in the barricade.


But Hugo had just noticed how much his neck ached. He took in a deep breath, blinked a few times and realised he was on the floor of the main hall. There was a smell of burning in the air. He sat up and choked on thick grey smoke. The Phoenix was still in his loosened hand. He gripped it tight and stood up dizzily. The hall appeared to be empty but he could hear screams and rumbles from somewhere close by. He looked around and saw parts of their precious barricade lying on the floor, splintered wood which was scattered after the Man in Black had blown the barricade apart in his volatile airborne form.

Hugo turned and saw the huge torn out hole where the doors to the mines had once been. He stumbled in that direction, frequently tripping on large chunks of debris. He squinted and made out the blackened field of smooth scorched stone through which the tall, angry flames were spreading relentlessly. A few human silhouettes were running back and forth in hysteria, presumably looking for a way out.

Hugo forced himself to enter the fray and reminded himself that these people were his responsibility. He headed for the closest person to him.

"The way out's over there!" he shouted. The man turned and smiled with Hibbs' teeth. Before Hugo knew what was happening, his nemesis had grabbed him tight by the neck before throwing him with great strength into the wall of the cavern. Hugo fell to the dirt floor wondering how many bones were broken for it felt like every one in his body had split painfully in two.

Then the howl of the enemy indicated he was smoke again. Hugo strained to stand up and turned his head around. The smoke from the fire was so thick, so dense, so dark that it could easily be him.

He swung in the dark but the sword cut only through air and hit the floor.

His nemesis seemed to laugh some more through the other-worldly mechanical sounds.

Hugo swung again but hit nothing. Part of the smoke flashed suddenly, like lightning in a storm. Hugo cried out in anger this time at the one cloud that stood out from the others.

A wretched shriek came from it as the Phoenix sliced into it as if through flesh. Hugo hacked at it a few more times, getting carried away. An tendril of black smoke crept beneath and pulled hard on his legs, causing him to lose balance and topple over. He jumped right back up ready for more but his enemy had slunk back off into the shadows.

"Hugo!" screamed a woman nearby. He turned and saw Annie, covered in blood, running towards him.

"Annie, what is it?"

"Ben. He's trapped."

Hugo looked wildly around to check if his nemesis was going to spring back out at him.

"…Show me." He said finally. Annie nodded and lead him running across the burning dirt, avoiding flames and dodging fleeing men and women, each of whom they would point in the direction of the exit.

They carried on through the smoking semi-darkness until they reached a wall of boulders. Annie knelt by it and looked at Hugo.

"In here."

"…Are you okay, Ben?"

"A cave in." explained Ben's muffled voice from the other side. "Just a few scrapes. Nothing to worry about."

Hugo breathed out.

"What were you doing in this area Ben?" he said finally.

"…I think you know."

"You don't have to do this, I can take him."

"Maybe you can. But how much of you would he take with him? And how long until he comes back? This is the only method that will be foolproof, the only one that is sure to stay in place. That's why they call it a failsafe right?"

"What's he talking about?" Annie asked Hugo worriedly.

"In this area there is a hidden tunnel. It leads to a room we built just in case the Man in Black launched an attack here. Four hand slots in a wall. One purpose. Trapping him… permanently."

"With Shephard dust?"

"Yes. A full cave-in designed to hold him within these walls until the end of time. No escape, no resurrection. Just an eternity of confinement."

"Four hand slots?" asked Annie. Hugo nodded.

"He'll need mine too then."

"It is also designed as a suicidal last resort. We have the sword. The Phoenix. There is no need for this."

"I have said before," came Ben's voice suddenly, "That I would give my life for this Island. But I can't do it alone."

"You will not be doing it at all." Said Hugo loudly. "We don't have time for this nonsense."

"How about you help me into there," Annie told him slowly, "And Ben and I can wait there safely on the other side of these rocks where he can't reach us. So that if by some tragedy you cannot slay him… there will still be hope."

Hugo stared at her. Had she and Ben gone mad? So ready to give up their lives, so ready to protect others over themselves. They put him to shame. How had he gone from loving, willing Hurley, to Phoenix-wielding warrior? This argument was eating up time. He knelt by Annie and pulled on the bottom rock as hard as he could. It created a tiny gap but Annie was agile enough to slide through moments later.

Hurley groaned as he let go of the boulder.

"Hope I can get that back up later." He said breathlessly. "Ben, are you wearing a watch?"

"Yes I am."

"If I don't return in the next fifteen minutes… you know what to do."

"…You can count on me. As always. Good luck."

Hugo stepped away from the wall of boulders and turned to search for his nemesis.

He took a few steps across the wasteland, fanning flames away from him with wind from the swing of his blade as he went.

Desmond was cradling Penny further into the mine. She was not dead but was completely knocked out.

"Falling rocks?" Hugo called out. Desmond shook his head.

"It was him. Your bloody enemy."

"Which way?"

Desmond pointed further into the darkness still.

"Thanks Desmond. The exit's that way, if you're up for carrying her."

The Scotsman nodded and stood, reminding himself of the training he had once received in the army. He pulled his wife onto his shoulders and began the tough traversal through smoke and shadow.

Hugo left him and continued the search. How long had it been? He wondered. Perhaps as much as ten minutes already.

He should have given himself more time. Just as he began worrying he would never find his nemesis he saw it.

Sawyer in a ferocious fist fight… with Hibbs. Or rather he who had taken Hibbs' form.

Hugo stood shocked for a moment at how relentless Sawyer was being. He was screaming with each throw of his arm, drawing blood too.

"Rules can bend both ways." Hugo muttered.

He gritted his teeth and ran in. The Phoenix's sharp point headed straight for Hibbs' spine but when it should have made contact the human figure dissolved frustratingly once more into that wretched black mess.

Hugo roared in fury and swung his sword angrily. He calmed down after almost taking Sawyer's eye out.

"Sorry," he panted, choking and coughing through the thick air. Kate came out of nowhere then and ran to see if Sawyer was alright.

He was bleeding everywhere it seemed, and she let out a sob when she saw the state he was in. Hugo decided it was time for them to leave.

"The exit's-" before he was finished Kate was wrenched down by black smoke. Hugo slashed madly at the darkness and to his delight cut the tendril in two. There was a loud wailing and the smoke was suddenly Hibbs once more, howling and clutching a bloody stump where his arm had been. Kate came back to her feet, watching in horror and disgust.

He crawled backwards in what Hugo could only assume was fear. He felt sickened by the sight of this wreck of a man, snivelling and whining on the edge of a chasm in the cavern. Hugo approached him slowly and held the sword up lightly.

"You know that I have to do this." He said simply and quietly to the Man in Black. He could feel Kate and Sawyer's eyes on his back.

Hugo held the Phoenix in front of him and prepared himself for the motion of lifting it high then ripping it down. He closed his eyes in anticipation of this. It never came. Instead the blade was wrenched from his loosened hands. His eyes snapped open in time to catch his nemesis swing the sword behind him with his remaining hand. The Phoenix was swallowed instantly by the shadowy chasm.

Hibbs cackled as Hugo watched with dismay while his hopes were tossed away. His hands lingered clutching air only.

Hibbs stood and grabbed Hugo, spinning him around and slamming him down on the ground. Hugo felt his curls hanging over the edge of the bottomless pit behind him. He felt rocks pressing painfully into his spine.

It had all been for nothing then. The plan had failed. Walt died for nothing. The Prophet's Son taken, for nothing. It had all been pointless. Hugo did not hear Kate and Sawyer's cries as they pulled Hibbs away from him, throwing him down.

Sawyer kicked him. Then he kicked him a second time. The third time he did it the ground shook. Fifteen minutes were up.


L O S T