Sayid had not had a good night sleep in days. At each dawn he woke, heading into the forest with a group of others, to search for Kate and the people who had taken her; only to return after dark, empty-handed. There was no sign of anyone; not even Locke, who had been missing for nearly two weeks and had been given up for dead, yet another casualty of the island.
The search had been limited, aimless; how do you find something if you don't know what you're looking for?
Jack and Danielle had both remained unconscious. While Jack's coma-like state could be put down to the horrible smash to his head, the French woman was much harder to work out; There was nothing to explain it, only the wound in her foot. When Jack had finally woken up, he had told them that he and Kate had been near the mountains when they had stop to rest. After that, he knew nothing.
For the fourth morning in a row Sayid woke at dawn, rising to a grey sky and an empty stomach. Food rations had been getting dangerously low; the number of searchers had dwindled as people returned back to foraging for whatever food they could find.
Jin was already working on the boat, catching up on badly overdue work. One of the others, a science teacher, had told them that the raft should have left days ago, and if they didn't hurry up they would be swept south, away from land. Michael had been drawn away from the search, working instead on the only way for them to get off the island.
Sayid looked up quickly as Jack came out of the tent that contained Danielle; he looked worn and tired. Blood stained his hands.
"I got the bullet out of her foot." He offered his hand to Sayid, a small bloody lump cradled in his palm. "Thought it might interest you."
Frowning, Sayid took it. It looked like any conventional bullet, except that the point tapered into a need sharp tip. As his fingers gripped the sides, he felt a hair thin crack circling the sides. He ran his fingernail along the groove, and the bullet split in two. It was hollow; a harsh chemical smell seared his nose and throat as a clear liquid pooled in his hand, dripping through his fingers. He looked up at Jack.
"This is like nothing I've ever seen before. The casing is similar to an ordinary bullet, but it's built like a tranquilizer." He carefully popped it back together, pouring the chemical onto the beach. It sank into the sand and was lost from sight.
The day was long, hot and tense; Jack had been forced to stay at the beach by Sayid and Sun, made to wait while the others searched through the Jungle. He paced restlessly, having nothing to occupy his mind with. Michael had refused his offer to help with the boat, knowing Jack wasn't up to anything so strenuous.
Irritably, Jack went to check on Danielle.
She was awake. As he entered, her head jerked up, eyes widening as he sat down in front of her.
"How are you feeling?
She was silent, watching him with mistrustful eyes.
"You are the Doctor, aren't you?"
"That's right. I managed to get the bullet out of your foot, but-"
"You are sick, Doctor." Jack stopped speaking in surprise. Her eyes were locked on his.
"Why do you say that?" his voice was mildly curious, masking his quickening pulse. She said nothing, looking down at the bandage tied neatly around her foot. Jack tried to question her further, but she acted as though he was not there. Giving up, he got to his feet.
"I'll come back in the evening to give you some antibiotics. Stay here and rest." He turned to leave.
"Where is Sayid?" Glancing back, she saw that she still refused to meet his eyes.
"He's not here." Jack said shortly.
Danielle seemed as though she wanted no further information. Jack walked away, with only his stewing, anxious thoughts to keep him company.
For a whole day she had been running. There was no time to rest; every time she did the heavy crash of footprints would sound behind her, and she would be forced into flight again. Every breath was a knife in her ribs; every step tore the soles of her bloody feet further as she lurched through the trees. The sun was fading, and she was beyond fatigue, beyond thought. She could only run.
The woman collapsed onto her knees, retching as exhaustion spasmed inside her stomach. She threw up, coughs racking through her. Her body shook, and she could run no more.
The crack of breaking branches came faintly in the distance; they were coming. Staggering onto throbbing feet, she stumbled forward. Her legs ached, bringing tears of pain to her eyes.
A small brackish stream gurgled to her left, black water slipping over the smooth rocks beneath. Her feet sunk into to icy water, and she waded upstream. Something scuttled away under her foot, and skin was scraped from the side of her ankle as she brushed past a rock.
The footsteps were quicker now, and the crashing louder.
Glancing back, she saw movement from the trees. Fear drove her from the water, and she scrambled into a hollow between two huge tree roots, pressing her body deep into the shadows.
The hunters were here.
She could hear them, moving near the water. She curled into a ball, eyes shut tight as she fought to keep her sobbing breaths quiet. Voices murmured, a gun clicked as the bullets were checked.
"She's a smart one. Got into the river." They were pacing up and down along the side of the water.
"I think she went this way." She stopped breathing. There was an electronic buzz, then a crackling voice spoke.
"Forget it. We're starting the final count-down anyway. Put Sentinel onto her when you get in." There was another harsh buzz of static. Then quiet.
They moved away, heading for the distant mountains that could be seen through the trees. She huddled against the tree as the shadows lengthened, too weak to move.
Dark was falling. Jack looked up as the search party wandered wearily back into the camp, but there was no one extra amongst them. He turned, walking away towards the tents. Sayid saw him leave, but did not follow. He was too tired, too drained to even eat the slightly rotting fruit offered to him by Hurley. He sank back onto the sands, staring up at the sky. Black smoke was drifting across the stars...
He did not know how long he had slept when the shouts woke him, the screams echoing across the dark sand. Sayid leapt to his feet, glancing around wildly. A gun shot cracked through the air, and people began to run, panicking. It was too dark; no-one knew what was happening. Sayid fought against the tide of running people, heading for the sound.
A man lay on the ground, blood leaking from a bullet hole in his leg. Claire stood stock still, her eyes wide in her white face.
Charlie was stiff like a statue, gun pointed directly at her heart.
His eyes were staring straight ahead, straight through Claire towards the horizon. He did not move as Sayid came racing up, or when Sawyer stood to Claire's left, eyes focused on Charlie.
"What are you doing!" Sayid demanded, eyes flicking from Charlie to Claire. The situation was inconceivable. Charlie would never, ever draw a weapon on Claire. Claire was shaking, staring at the muzzle of the weapon.
Charlie was silent. It was as though Sayid had not even spoken. He could see Hurley and Shannon at the corner of his eye, ashen faces glowing in the flickering red light as they came closer.
"Charlie…" Claire stopped as Charlie cocked the gun.
"Shut up." His voice was emotionless, cold. Sayid watched the gun intently, waiting. His muscles tightened. Shouts echoed from the left; Charlie's head flicked ever so slightly towards them-
Sayid leapt forward, pushing Claire out of the line of fire and onto the sand. His clenched fist smacked against the gun, and it flew from Charlie's grip, sailing through the air-
BAM
The punch knocked Sayid to his knees. He saw the next one coming, barely blocking as Sawyer aimed a kick at his ribs.
Sun rushed towards the tent, lost in the ebb of confusion.
"Jack!" She through open the tent flap. Jack was rummaging through his packs, searching.
"Charlie, he's gone crazy-"
"I know." He said, oddly calm. He turned, and she did not even see him swing his fist. It smashed into her temple and she fell, her gasp of surprise lost ion the chaos. Jack reached into a pack, then stepped casually over her limp form before slipping away through the tent flap.
Claire wrenched in Charlie's grasp, kicking at his legs as he fought to contain her. His grip tightened around her waist, crushing the air out of her lungs. She gasped for air, her thoughts racing. Why was Charlie doing this? Sawyer received a punch in the stomach, staggering back as Sayid leapt to his feet.
A gun shot cracked through the air again, and for a moment everything was eerily still.
Everyone froze as Jack came forward, his arm wrapped around Shannon's neck. A gun was pointed at the back of her skull.
" Get back." He said coldly, eyes locked on Sayid. Sayid stepped back slowly, eyes on the gun in Jacks hand. Charlie let go of Claire, reaching for the discarded gun.
Sayid searched vainly for any signs that this was some kind of sick joke, that one of them was on his side. But he saw nothing in their dead eyes, nothing of the people he thought they were. The man with the gun shot wound groaned, clutching at his leg. Claire stepped back as Charlie pointed the gun at her.
"Get him."
"What?" her voice shook slightly.
Shannon gave a half moan as the gun was jammed against her quivering throat. Jack ignored her, staring at Claire.
"Get the baby." Claire's eyes widened in horror, and she glanced at Shannon, who dragged on Jacks painful grip, almost sobbing in fear. Claire saw the absolute terror in Shannon's eyes. How was she supposed to choose between her son and her? Something cold prodded her in the back
"Get him." Claire glanced around helplessly, vainly searching for help. Sayid was frozen in place, eyes locked on Shannon. Defeat sunk into her bones like poison. Claire stepped forward as her mind began to shut down, knowing that there was no choice.
Sayid followed the procession across the deserted beach. Sawyer walked beside him, eyes staring ahead.
"Why are you doing this? Sawyer?" he did not react. Sayid scanned the beach, and saw that people were gathering on the fringes. Hurley was lying on the sand, a puddle of black liquid pooling in the sand beneath him.
Claire bent down over the cradle, shaking hands pulling back the blankets. Sayid saw her go stiff, frozen over the cradle. Charlie poked her with the gun.
"Get him"
"He's not here."
"What….Where is he!"
"I…I don't know…"
For a moment, Claire felt sweet, beautiful relief sinking into her heart. Someone must have grabbed him in the rush….An angry hand cracked a gun handle across the back of her skull, and she collapsed forward, darkness gushing through her head.
Blood blossomed through Claire's blond hair as she fell, limp from crumpling on top of the wooden cradle. Sayid started forward, brought up short as a hand gripped his arm, fingers digging into his flesh. He glared at Sawyer, who watched him with level, blank eyes. For a moment they were all frozen; Sayid could see people coming closer, surrounding them in a wide ring.
Jack shoved Shannon to her knees, pressing the gun at the back of her neck. Sawyer pushed Sayid away, turning to help Charlie lift Claire from the ground. They disappeared from Sayids line of sight.
"If you follow us, we will kill her." Sayid turned to Jack, whose eyes were pools of darkness in the faint light.
"Why are you doing this?"
Jack acted as though Sayid hadn't spoken. He pulled the gun away, heading after Charlie and Sawyer. The beach was silent as he vanished into the trees, gun still in his hand.
I realize that this seems slightly- no, extremely- out of character, but let me assure you that is the idea. Chapter title is a hint
