Chapter Two- Painful Memories

"I know," said Sayid, looking up at the girl pressed against the rock wall. "If she was, why would she be so frightened of us?"

His words seemed to have an effect on the strange girl, for she marched up to the edge of the rocks and jumped.

This took Sayid by surprise. Surely the girl would hurt herself! But when the newcomer landed in a crouch on the rocky floor, she immediately straightened up, not a scratch on her. This baffled Sayid. What kind of girl was he dealing with?

A very pretty girl, he could see. With her silky blonde hair swirling gently in the breeze, her penetrating aqua eyes and her smooth complexion, how could she be anything other than pretty? Not only pretty, but beautiful.

Sayid mentally shook himself. Don't loose your concentration. He told himself. He gazed into the girl's eyes, for she really was just a girl, probably not a day over twenty. The girl suddenly spoke.

"Who are you?" she inquired in a sharp voice, her eyes narrowing, not trusting the people in front of her.

"My name is Sayid. This is Jack, Sawyer, and Kate."

"Yes, I already know that," interrupted the girl impatiently, "I heard you talking. But that doesn't tell me anything about you."

"Who are you?" Sayid countered, his eyes searching hers.

The girl paused, deciding how much to tell him.

"Alex. My name is Alex." She said finally, her tone softening.

Kate's eyes flew open wide, Jack choked and Sawyer actually took a step backward. Sayid just stared at her. After a few moments, he broke the silence.

"Alex? Alex Rousseau?" he asked her in a low voice.

Alex jerked her head around to gape at Sayid. "How do you know my last name?" she asked slowly. "Where did you hear it before?"

Sayid spoke quickly, he heart beating rapidly. "We have been stranded here for over a month. During our first few weeks here, I decided to map out the island. So I set off, alone. Along the way, I met your mother, Danielle."

Alex drew in a sharp breath. "She's still alive?" she whispered, her face full of hope. Sayid nodded slowly. "All this time…I thought she was dead. I thought they killed her, just like they tried to kill me. That's why I didn't go back, or stay in one place for too long. I was so afraid they would find me…"her voice died, and a few tears trickled down her face.

Kate saw them and touched Alex's shoulder in what she hoped was a comforting way. Alex gave her a watery smile, and then looked back at Sayid. "Where did you find her?"

Now it was Sayid's turn to pause. He looked into the tear-filled eyes of the girl in front of him. His heart was telling him to show the girl where her mother was, but his mind was telling him to ask Alex about the others before he let her go.

If I let her go at all. Sayid felt instantly ashamed for his thoughts. It wasn't his place to make the girl stay with him. Even if he was growing quiet fond of her.

"Alex, who are the 'others'?" Sayid finally asked, his eyes questioning. Alex's expression changed drastically. Her face darkened, her eyes lost their shine and she stared at some point beyond Sayid, into a place only she could see.

"The others," she began, her voice hollow, "the others are evil people, people who were stranded here many years ago. They are prisoners, convicts, murderers, sent to this God forsaken spit of land to die. But instead of dying, they formed a community. The strongest, meanest and most blood thirsty were made into leaders. The ones left formed ranks and became a kind of army. When ever a plane or boat crashes here, the others find them and kill them all."

Kate shuddered, and Sawyer put his arm around her. Jack mouthed wordlessly. Sayid just looked at her, his eyes dark and shadowy.

"When did the others take you?" his voice was soft and full of concern.

Alex shivered, and then continued her story. "We crashed here when I was four years old. I don't even remember it. The island is the only home I have ever known. When I was seven, the others raided our camp. They killed a few people and took me prisoner. For some reason, they thought I knew where my mother's distress call was broadcasting from. I told them I didn't know. So they tortured me."

Tears were pouring down Kate's cheeks, her shoulders shaking slightly with silent sobs. Sawyer pulled her into a tight hug. Jack sank to the ground, the horror of what Alex was saying finally sinking in. Sayid, his eyes full of pity, reached out and touched Alex's hand. She smiled sadly at him, still remembering her terrifying childhood. She took a deep, shuddering breath and finished her story.

"After three years, I escaped. I didn't try to go back to where I used to live because the others told me they had killed everybody and left them out in the sun to rot. I've been living on my own ever since."

Her sad tale over, Alex closed her eyes, trying to block out the memories that haunted her dreams. The only sounds in the caves were Kate's soft sobs and Sawyer's whispered words of comfort to her.

Sayid looked at Jack, who was still sitting on cave's floor, then turned back to Alex, taking her hand in his.

"If you want me to, I could take you to your mother."

Alex opened her eyes and gazed back at Sayid, her face hopeful. "You would do that? For me?"

Sayid squeezed her hand and nodded. Alex's face broke into a smile. The change was amazing. Her smile lit up Sayid's world, and he was happy that he was able to bring her joy. Alex threw her arms around Sayid's neck, and whispered "Thank you, thank you so much!" Sayid hugged her back, smiling.

After a few seconds, he let go of Alex, and thinking, I would do anything for you, Alex.