Chapter 2

They had no choice. She fought them with all she could muster, she kicked, she tried to bite, and she spit. They could not contain her. They were forced to bind her to a tree. It was the only way, lest she run off into the jungle.

And so she sat, back pressed uncomfortably against the rough trunk, knees bent beneath her. Glaring at any that came near. She took on the look of a wild animal, caged...trapped and hating the world.

She sat there for hours, not sleeping, barely blinking, only turning her head away when the sun crept into the sky and began to blaze with the island heat they had all become so familiar with.

Jack had tried to talk to her. Using the calm, soothing voice he used when someone was afraid, or panicking. She glared at him and refused to answer. Finally, she spat in his face, pulling her lips back, face twisting into a snarl. Jack calmly got up, and retreated, nodding to her, before he walked away.

Sayid watched it all from the confines of his tent. People gawked from a distance, whispering, and pointing at her. She had not given them her name, so they used generic callings like woman, and girl, and she.

Kate came with water. But She only tuned her head away, face pressed against the tree, as she coughed. Kate said something, and her eyes snapped open, focussing for the barest moment on Kate's face. Something smoldered in her eyes.

Then she closed them, and turned away once more. Kate set down the open jar of water, and began to walk away. She halted when she heard the smash. And turned around quickly.

All that was left of one of their precious water holders were a few shards; the water they had held seeping into the sand at the base of the nearest tree. One of the girl's legs was stretched out before her. She buried her toes in the sand, and smirked at the distress on Kate's face.

Kate came back, and knelt before her once more, this time, without a look of understanding on her face. "WHY did you do that!" She shouted, pointing accusingly at the remains of the jar.

The girl smirked again, and refused to answer.

"I said WHY! Answer me, I know you can! Now tell me, why did you do that!" Kate shouted into her face.

The girl spat, hitting Kate squarely, and fueling the fire of her rage. With an anger-trembling hand, Kate reached up, and wiped the spit away, eyes still locked with the prisoners. Then she spat right back at her.

The girl stared straight ahead, as it dripped down her face, never flinching, never speaking. She stared right through Kate. And infuriated, Kate whirled up, and stalked away.

They left her alone, for the rest of that day. No one came to offer more water; no one tried to speak to her. No one offered her shade. They had accepted her as wild. No one wanted to help her now.

Sayid stared at her from his tent all the while. And never once did she look his way.

OOO