Homecoming
Chapter Five

Jack, Charlie, and Sawyer ran towards the direction of the scream. Charlie knew that Jack and Sawyer were both worried about Kate, and he was too, but he found his mind floating elsewhere..

Charlie rolled to the side as he narrowly avoided being crushed by a chest of some kind. He felt the plane going down, and he realized he had nothing else to hold onto but the seat in front of him. Holding on with all his might, Charlie forced himself to open his eyes and take in the scene around him.

He felt like he was in hell. This was how he, and dozens of others were going to die, he could feel it. Right here on flight 815. The plane was now going down full at full speed, and with the side of the section in front of him gone, he thought for sure he was going to die. Then, without warning, the seat he was grabbing hold of ripped forward, and he let go just before he flew with it, disappearing into the air. Charlie felt pressure pull him down, and at the edge of death, he said a small prayer, though knowing it wouldn't help. That was when he felt a hand grab his arm.

Charlie realized he was slightly behind the other two. He hurried to catch up..

Hold on! Charlie heard the voice scream into his ear.

He did, while thinking the entire time, maybe there is a God. He felt himself being pulled back back by a strong grip, until he safely fell between two seats. The wind rushing through him like ice, Charlie tried to catch his breath as he kept his hands glued to the seat. Finally able to breathe a little, Charlie turned to look at the guy who saved his life.

The man was at least forty, maybe more, and looked like a man who traveled a lot, and knew airplanes. He looked positively in shock that anything could ever happen while he was on the plane.

Charlie said.

The man just nodded as screams filled the air once more. The side of the plane next to Charlie and the man had broke off. Charlie watched in horror as the man was sucked out. As Charlie grabbed his arm in a weak grip, he realized how he had never really known how incredibly weak and out of shape he was. His eyes met with the man's and they both knew: he wasn't going to make it. But Charlie was going to do whatever he could to prevent that. Trying to block out the scene of people and baggage's flying out of the crashing plane, Charlie closed his eyes, trying as hard as he could to pull back. When his eyes opened, he saw the man shaking his head.

Let go, son, the man said.

Charlie shook his head. No way.

Let go! The man repeated. I'll only bring you down with me!

Charlie looked at him, staring him in the eye, and saw that he was serious. In slow motion, Charlie felt his sweaty hand slip out of the other man's , and watched as the man who saved his life fell into death..

When Charlie looked up, he realized he was no longer with the other two. He looked around, taking in the unfamiliar area that he was in. He was about to continued moving in hopes of finding some kind of trail, when the bushes began rustling.

Charlie said slowly.

The bushes rustled again.

Guys? Charlie repeated, stepping back slowly. Come on, this isn't funny..

The bushes rustled again, and Charlie realized that that couldn't be human.

......

Shannon asked cautiously.

Boone groaned, tired of her questions.

His head was leaning against the wall behind him, and he had Shannon's shawl, much to her disgust, tied around his leg, and was bravely trying to put up with the pain and the rapid loss of blood. His head was pounding, and he could tell each time another drop of blood left his body. The funny thing was, he was beginning to shiver, a little cold, rather than burning up underground.

I can't breathe, came the answer.

Boone stared at her as he saw her take large breaths, barely able to talk straight. He also saw that she was paling.

He said, not wanting to believe it.

That was the last thing they needed.

was all she could say.

Sitting up the best he could, Boone winced as his leg scraped against the ground, and tried to remember what Jack had done with her first asthma attack.

Okay, just slow breaths, he said, guiding her with his hands.

That's a little.. hard to do! Shannon gasped.

Don't think about the attack, Boone coached, the memory playing vaguely in his mind, just try and relax. She gasped, running out of breath easily. If you haven't noticed.. we're burried six feet under!Just shut up all right? Boone yelled, unable to stand her bickering. Just- be quiet or you'll never get over this!

Shannon's eyes met him, and she surrendered, knowing he was right. Slowly, she nodded her head.

......

Sawyer and Jack had turned paths. No one had talked for the last few minutes, so there wasn't any suspicion that Charlie wasn't with them. Sawyer was just about to suggest to Jack that he should go the other way, and Charlie a third, cover some more ground and get them out of his hair at the same time. Kill to birds with one stone, but he changed his mind when he saw a piece of luggage sticking out from under some bush. An open piece of luggage.

What the hell? Sawyer muttered to himself, stepping closer.

Jack followed, curious, and they both bent down next to the luggage as Sawyer wedged it out of the bush. It was Kate's case, and Jack recognized it immediately, with Sawyer not missing the recognition on his face.

He asked. You recognize this case? Jack said a little to quickly.

Sawyer eye him, knowing he was lying.

It's not yours is it? Sawyer said, then you don't' care if I take a little peek.

Jack didn't say anything as Sawyer brushed off the leaves and dirt that covered the items in the case.

He stopped at what he saw. Three guns, ammo, and a package. Sawyer looked at Jack, who had managed to keep a straight face the entire time.

You sure you don't know who this package belongs to? Sawyer asked him, wondering what was going on.

Jack shook his head, and looked up at the sky.

It's getting dark, he noted.

Sawyer said sarcastically. Is it?

Standing up, Jack decided to try his best to drive the conversation away from the case.

We need to get going, he said, she's still out there.

Suddenly the bushes behind them began to rustle loudly, like someone running through them, and Jack and Sawyer turned to see Charlie running from something.

Charlie, what is it? Jack said, thinking of the monster, then thinking of Kate.

Charlie eyed them both, just now taking in that they were just standing there in the jungle with some kind of silver case in front of them, obviously not having heard anything.

You didn't hear it? Charlie asked him.

Hear what? Jack said, not remembering hearing anything unusual.

Charlie stared at him another moment, as if trying to decide if Jack was telling the truth or not. Meanwhile, Sawyer had been loading the guns. Charlie and Jack turned at the sound of a click, and just in time to each catch the small guns that were thrown at them.

Were you actually considering leaving them here? Sawyer asked, laughing under his breath. And they think you're the smart one.

Sawyer kicked the case back under the bush and stuck the gun in his back pocket.

Well you said it, he said to Jack, she's still out there.

And as they left, no one had noticed that Sawyer had also pocketed the long, grey package.

Author's Note: Sorry this took a while to get out! After school, I can only be on for two or three hours, so I was doing a lot at the same time. Hope you liked it!

October Sky