We join Alex's group yet again…

The climb up to the cave was difficult, but everyone seemed to manage. Even Claire was doing alright on her own. Alexandra smiled at her bravery and determination. Sayid was right behind her and Jack was climbing ahead of her.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, they reached the cave. Alexandra's fears had grown worse as they climbed higher and higher, but she tried to shove them aside as they stared into the entrance of the cave. She wasn't very successful, but then she remembered Charlie and how he had helped her wake up from the nightmare, and that helped to push her fears aside, too.

Jack cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled into the cave, "Charlie!" A deep, resounding echo sounded through the cave. They listened for a few seconds, when suddenly the group heard a small "Mmm!" sound through the darkness. A muffled sound, like the person was being gagged.

"That's him! That's Charlie!" Claire practically shouted. "Charlie! We're coming for you!"

"Mmm! Mmm-mmm! Mmm-mmm!"

Alexandra said, "I'll go in there. I'll be right back. Sayid, give me your pocket knife."

Jack stepped up to her, shaking his head. "Uh-uh, no way are you going in there by yourself. Sayid and I will go. You stay out here with Sun and Jin." Sayid squeezed her hand in reassurance, and with that, they both took off inside the cave.

Alexandra sat down with a heavy thud, upset with Jack about not letting her go. Sun and Jin also sat down on the opposite side of the cave and turned their backs to Alexandra, talking in Korean all the while.

Alexandra sighed, and then suddenly, there was a sharp rap on her head and the world went dark. Sun and Jin didn't notice at all.

Kate's group has gone away from the creepy shack…

Kate sat with Shannon and Hurley after going back to the beach. Kate would shudder from time to time, thinking about how closely that knife missed her. Trying to make small talk, she asked Shannon about Walt and the baby.

"The baby was fine, it's just that Walt kept running off and I would have to get up and chase him back here. He and that dog are, like, best friends I guess. Walt has a bit of an attitude problem, if you know what I mean. Marie here was just fine for me. Been sleeping for the most part…I kept her out of the sun by sitting under that wing of the plane."

Hurley said, "She's so adorable…for a kid, I mean. She looks a lot like Claire, too. Especially her eyes and her mouth…" he stopped, for Kate and Shannon were giggling. "What? What's so funny? It's true!"

Kate laughed, "Do you have a crush on Claire, Hurley? 'Cuz the way you're talking about her baby…" she broke off laughing.

Hurley's face turned pink with embarrassment and he got up and stormed off. Kate and Shannon just kept laughing and laughing. Sawyer sauntered over and sat down next to Kate. Shannon immediately got up and walked away. She didn't like Sawyer at all.

"So, Freckles, what do you think about that shack? Pretty creepy, huh?"

Kate stopped laughing instantly. Her face grew serious and she said, "Do you think that might have been Ethan's place? I mean, with all those knives…" she stopped, unwilling to continue the sentence.

"I don't know, but he ain't gonna use it any time soon. I say we go back there and get some of those knives and some of the other stuff he had lying around."

"Well, if you want to go back there, be my guest. As for me, I am not going anywhere near that place ever again."

Sawyer paused. He said quietly, "That knife really scared you, didn't it?"

Kate looked at him, slightly questioning, and slightly sad. "Yeah, I guess it did. I don't even know why it's just...I felt that that place was, I dunno, haunted I guess. That knife, how it pointed at me like that, with the blood on it and everything…I just freaked out."

Sawyer leaned over and gently kissed her. She returned the kiss willingly. When they broke apart, all Kate could say was, "Wow…"

A couple hours later

Nightfall had come and Kate was pacing on the beach, waiting for Jack's group to come back. Suddenly, she heard people coming up behind her and she turned around. She jogged towards Jack, smiling, happy to see him. Her smile dropped when she saw him. He looked very worried about something.

She forced a smile anyways. "Good, you found Charlie. Where was he?"

Distractedly, Jack answered, "He was in the cave. That cave that Alexandra dreamed about in her nightmare. You haven't seen her, have you? When Sayid and I went down into the cave to get Charlie, she wasn't there when we came out again."

Kate paused, confused. "Woah woah woah…that cave actually exists! And no, I haven't seen her. Shit, that means she's gone, too. Ugh!" Kate kicked at the sand furiously.

Jack called another missing-person meeting. This time, it was hard for him to say that Alexandra was gone. He could barely make out the words that they would look for her without tearing up.

Sayid meanwhile had said nothing the entire trip back. He had walked back like a desolate ghost, unwilling to move and forcing himself to. Everyone could tell he wanted to be left alone. This tragedy hit him the hardest out of any of them.

He excused himself after the meeting and went to lie down to sleep. But he just couldn't do it. Her face kept floating in front of his mind's eye, her laughter kept sounding in his ears…tears started up in his eyes and he let them fall. Eventually, he cried himself to an exhausted sleep.

Oh no! Alexandra's missing! Eeep! Stay tuned for another great chapter! lol

A Bleeding Rose