Disclaimer: This is but one star in the universe that is LOST. That's all I own-this story. The universe does not, and never will, belong to me.
Shadows of Death
I shall set forth for somewhere,
I shall make the reckless choice
Some day when they are in voice
And tossing so as to scare
The white clouds over them on.
I shall have less to say,
But I shall be gone.
(Robert Frost-The Sound of Trees)
The darkness was overwhelming.
It swallowed Charlie whole, blinding him, choking him…killing him.
He couldn't breathe, he couldn't scream, he couldn't say the one thing that he wanted to say more than anything else.
Claire.
She was gone now, he knew. Ethan had taken her away. But still he couldn't help clawing at the vine around his throat, trying to say her name one last time.
Darkness edged at the corners of his eyes. He was vaguely aware that he was crying, the tears falling helplessly to the ground, mixing with the rain and the dirt.
The air was gone now, and the dark spots at the edge of his vision overtook him. He no longer struggled, the strength gone from him. His body hung limp, swinging in the wind, his clothes pasted to his body. No more thoughts flowed through his mind; but was now a great void, free of thought and memory.
The rain eased, and at last stopped, and still he did not struggle. He was close now, so close to the End. Just a moment more…
The jungle began to whisper, thousands upon thousands of voices; it being impossible to discern what They were saying.
The last thing that Charlie would ever remember of the life he lived before he died…before he was murdered…were the thousands of voices becoming one, whispering a series of numbers over and over again.
4 8 15 16 23 42…