1Author's Note: Thankies for the reviews, guys! I'm so glad that you liked it! And since I never really said it, I'm definitely KJ, CC, MS and SS all the way. (I'm the only person I know who wants Shannon and Sawyer to hook up, but I do!)
Disclaimer: Since I am insane and pretty much inexperienced with this site, I have previously failed to put a disclaimer up, so here it is! I do not own LOST or any of the characters. If I did, you'd know it because there'd be a lot more music going on! Go DriveShaft!
Chapter Three: Little Orphan Alice
She was very small, and she looked young, hardly a teenager. Her hair hung in scraggly, white-golden locks past her shoulders, framing her pale and fearful face. She gaped at Charlie, her eyes like deep grey orbs, wide and unsure.
Charlie blinked. Who is this girl?
"Hello?" Charlie greeted cautiously. The girl stumbled backward as he stepped toward her. She clutched at her ripped and torn clothes, which may have once been a uniform of some sort. Charlie felt great pity for this little waif.
"I promise you, I won't hurt you. I'm Charlie," he said slowly, extending his hand. The girl eyed the waiting hand with mild anxiety, and hesitantly touched it with her own pale, thin hand. Charlie smiled gently.
"That's a good girl. Do you speak English?" he continued, holding her hand as though he were trying to gain entry to her thoughts by touching her. He wanted desperately to help her.
His heart leapt when she nodded and spoke: "I'm Alice." Her voice was soft and meek, like she had been treated rather unjustly before, and she had a light accent that he couldn't place.
"How long have you been here, Alice? Do you know how you got here?" Charlie inquired kindly, sitting her down on a log beside him. She nodded slowly.
"I am not sure of how long I've been on this island, but I do know how I arrived here. As to the reason of why I'm here, however, I do not know either," she explained smoothly. Charlie was surprised at how maturely she spoke, how her sophisticated words blended so eerily with her childlike voice.
"Was it a plane?" Charlie asked her, his heart quickening as he awaited her answer. Had he found another survivor of the crash?
"Yes," Alice said sadly, looking at the ground. Charlie, too, looked down, and realized that Alice was barefoot.
"My plane... its engine failed during the storm, and we crashed into the water. I believe... I believe I'm the only one left alive," she concluded wistfully, pushing a blonde lock behind her ear. Charlie frowned. What? Our plane didn't crash in the water...
"Are you here to rescue me?" Alice asked suddenly, her manner bright and hopeful. Charlie was shaken from his thoughts.
"Well, no, Alice. You see, I was on a plane wreck, too. The plane crashed on the beach, though, so it couldn't have been the same plane, but—" He trailed off lamely. Alice's face darkened again.
"Oh."
This is so strange. Another plane? It can't be! But she isn't lying, no one could act that well. Jack and Kate will want to know about this. It might be important. Hell, it is important. I'll tell them about her when I go back.
But should I take her with me?
Charlie looked over at the girl beside him. Alice. Though he was a rather religious man who didn't exactly believe in such nonsensical mythical beings, Alice seemed like a sort of fairy to Charlie, a sad and wearied fairy. What with her delicate, obviously weak frame and angelic voice, it seemed plausible that she might be, even to the most pious skeptic. And what if... what if this was all just a hallucination? Kate had been pretty concerned for him back at the caves. Maybe he should never have left.
Alice's eyes blinked. Those round grey oceans. There was no way those eyes could be the work of a hallucination. But perhaps he had better not take her to meet all the others just yet. What if she was frightened away by them all? And besides, you never know, it might be wise for him to bring along someone with him next time he went to see her. It seemed impossible that Alice could be a threat of any sort, but this island had seemed to defy in every way what was previously thought impossible.
"Alice?" Charlie said, squeezing the girl's fragile hand in his own. She turned to face him, her expression one of a jaded angel. Charlie's heart ached for her. Poor little thing. I'll help you, I promise.
"I'm going to come back to you later, maybe tomorrow. Do you have a place to sleep?" he asked concernedly. Alice nodded.
"Yes. I've been here a while, so I made myself a little shelter. I'll be alright," she said bravely, as if consoling him.
"Are you sure?" Charlie questioned.
"I'll be okay, Charlie. But... do come back. Please," she pleaded, courage failing only slightly. Charlie smiled warmly, let go of her hand, and stood up.
"Of course," Charlie comforted her. He turned and sprinted away through the darkening jungle, in the direction he hoped to follow to the caves. He could only pray that he was taking the correct trail as the night settled in around him and the moon above glowed.
Chapter Four: To Tell A Secret
Sylvie: Mwahaaaa! Tis fluffy and yet at the same time DRAMATIC! Yayness to the max! Please review if you wish to eat a clementine! -winks and tosses a chocolate bunny at you-