Chapter 23- Heat of the Night
Jack ran back towards Kate and Sawyer.
He would die for her. Maybe he was crazy, or maybe he was just in love.
As if in slow motion there eyes connected.
Jack could see her fear. He was scared too, but he had to be her hero. Even if they died tonight he had to be the one that was there for her. Jack reached for Kate's hand and then hoisted her up.
Sawyer got up on his own.
An explosion ricocheted through the night air.
Kate screamed.
Sawyer ran towards the door, Kate and Jack were right on his heels.
Their feet pounded against the floor, as fire followed the explosion.
Kate, Jack and Sawyer skipped the stairs that led outside by jumping. Sprinting as fast as they could, they ran to avoid any following explosions.
Behind them the house was being devoured in angry flames of red and oranges.
A final explosion, shook the earth, and falling debris started to rain from the skies.
They were knocked off their feet. Sawyer was thrown onto the grass. Kate and Jack fell into one another. Jack rolled onto his side, and Kate covered her head as pieces of the house started to fly.
Sawyer got up. He slipped on the damp grass and then started to run again.
Jack picked up Kate in his arms once he was up.
"I'm going to slow you…" She tried to scream.
As he ran, Kate signaled for Jack to let her down. Jack ignored her and continued to run.
Another explosion was heard as they continued to run towards the woods.
Kate tightened her arms around Jack's neck. He still wouldn't let her down. All she could see was the fire and the smoke in the sky. No one was chasing them, well at least she didn't see anyone.
Once they reached the woods.
Sawyer looked around frantically, "Those bastards, those good for nothing pieces of…All the damn money I had was in that house!"
Jack let Kate down.
"Why are we stopping!" Kate exclaimed.
"Because they think we're dead, after a big explosion like that they aren't going to hang around for the cops to come," Jack said obviously out of breath.
Kate clenched her jaw. She didn't want to wait around for the cops to come either. "We have to go."
Sawyer stared back at the fire…back at what used to be his house, but now was burning down to the ground. "It's all gone,"
"Sawyer we have to go," Kate said staring back at the fire in fear.
"Go where, without no money we're screwed." He said defeated.
Sirens were heard in the distance.
"I can't wait around here," Kate said shaking her head. She took off running through the woods like a skilled fugitive. Jack was right behind her. She didn't have time to be thankful for that, she had to run.
Minutes later Sawyer was after them running as well.
As they got further away from the house, the sirens died down.
Jack stopped, "Where are we going,"
"Vinnie's, maybe he has some cash." Sawyer suggested.
"They're probably headed there, we can't go to Vinnie's." Kate shot down.
"Well then give me a suggestion bright eyes, because I'm running outta ideas here." Sawyer replied annoyed.
"Sawyer, please…" Kate sighed.
"What? Under these circumstances I'm being …"
"Sitting around and talking is not a good idea. We have to go back and get the…" Jack started.
"The car that blew up too, Jacks?" Sawyer asked mockingly.
Jack clenched his jaw, "Well I didn't know I'm fresh out of ideas but we have to do something besides standing around."
"Then shut up and follow me, I've been doing this running for a while now, so I think I know what I'm doing." Sawyer back lashed.
"Sawyer, Jack please!" Kate pleaded again.
They backed off.
"Follow me," Sawyer ordered. As he walked he turned around. "I didn't mean to yell, I'm just under stress,"
"We all are." Kate said.
"Freckles, you'll get used to this kind a stuff, vacationing with me." Sawyer said looking around. "Doc, keep your eyes open."
"There definitely not closed," Jack sighed.
"Vinnie's house is about a mile away, that's the only hope we have left."
One hour later they arrived at Vinnie's.
"Sawyer, I thought you said a mile," Kate complained.
"What do I look like some kinda genius, I gave you an estimated guess."
"Bad estimate," Kate replied.
"We nearly died, and people are still trying to kill us, can we focus." Jack said.
"Jacks, after your house blows up a couple of times, and your repeatedly pinpointed…the excitement vanishes on you. The only thing I'm mad about is my money." Sawyer surveyed the activity around Vinnie's house. It all looked quiet.
Kate stood in between Jack and Sawyer as they watched Vinnie's house. "I still can't believe the house blew up,"
"You'll get used to it sweetheart, now I'm gonna go and see what's goin on at Vinnie's. If you'll want to stay then be my guest. I don't have much time to wait around."
"We'll go with you," Kate said in a shaky voice. She stepped out of the woods after Sawyer.
He held out his hand, "Wait a second,"
"What?" Kate asked looking back at him with wide eyes.
"I don't want you going in there,"
"Well, you're not going in there by yourself, and it's not even an option for you and Jack to go in there, and leave me out here."
"You're so damn stubborn," Sawyer delivered.
Jack started to walk towards the house. His heart was beating faster with each second that passed by. His eyes darted over the area. The truck that Sawyer planned on taking was parked in front, and the house was dark.
He felt Kate reach out for his hand.
Without looking at her, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze as they walked closer. If she would listen he would ask her to go back into the woods, but he knew she wouldn't listen to him.
Once they were at the door. Sawyer reached for a key in his pocket.
Kate's eyes widened, "Sawyer where did you get that?"
"I'm a con man remember suga."
"Before Sawyer could open the door, Jack stopped him. "There could be an ambush on the other side."
Sawyer chuckled, "If there was a damn ambush dontcha think they would've killed us already? Doc, it's too late in the game to be makin' stupid guesses."
"Open it then," Jack said with a hint of anger. He tugged at Kate's hand pulling her away from Sawyer.
"Slowly Sawyer," Kate said looking around in paranoia.
"I don't do nothing slow…"
Kate sighed, "Fine, get killed."
"Everyone will die eventually." Sawyer pulled back his shirt, and removed a gun from a holster that Kate nor Jack had seen before. He then opened the door with lightning fast speed, and sheltered himself on the side of the house.
No gunshots were fired. Quietness remained, and then crickets were heard.
Kate removed her hand from her rapidly beating heart.
Jack was behind her, his arms were wrapped around her tightly as if she was his child. If she wasn't so frightened, she would find it adorable.
"Looks like the coast is clear children," Sawyer said. He held his gun out as he stepped into the darkness.
Kate and Jack moved from the side of the house.
"Keep her out there Jack, lemme check in here really quick."
Sawyer flipped on the light switch. They had already come.
Chairs were upside down, beer bottles littered the floor, and a trail of red liquid led to the door.
"Shit," He mumbled.
"What?" Kate asked.
Jack tried to hold her back, but she went after Sawyer. She surveyed the mess, and then pointed down to the trail of red liquid that led to the closed door.
"What the hell?" Sawyer said.
A car pulled up to the house the lights were killed.
Jack turned off the lights, "Hide,"
"They know we're here! You just…"
"Dammit Sawyer, Hide or die." Jack yelled panicking.
Kate ran towards the closed door, she opened the door, and then opened her mouth to scream.
Jack felt sick as his eyes rested on the sight of him.
As Kate struggled to control herself from screaming she walked around Vinnie's body.
His eyes were open, and a look of fear was stretched across his face. He was dead, and apparently he had been beaten across the head. A large gash was in the side of his head, and his face was covered in blood.
Kate started to hyperventilate.
"Kate, not now." Jack whispered.
Footsteps were heard at the door.
Jack pushed open the closet, and then pulled Kate inside with him. He sunk down onto the cluttered floor. And then placed his hand over her mouth.
Kate's eyes widened as she saw a rat in the corner. Tears started to stream down her face as the rat started to come closer.
Jack watched as the light flicked on and then off.
Kate let out a whimper.
"Kate," Jack pleaded.
The rat was crawling on her leg. Kate struggled to keep the scream from escaping her lungs. She tried to moved her leg, but the rat didn't budge.
The intruder came into the room with them. He then cocked the gun.
Jack fumbled around for anything, a bat, any weapon to protect him and Kate. As he searched around, his hand accidentally knocked down a plastic crate.
"Who's there!" The intruder yelled. "Come out or I'll shoot."
(Hey guys thanks for the reviews!
I will answer your letter questions as soon as they get out of this situation. Basically Kate had written another letter, but she never meant to give it Jack…he kind of found it. And don't worry things will get better soon…well at least better than this…lol. Until next update. Peace.)