A pretty face don't mean a pretty heart

Chapter 4

The preacher and his family

"You must leave this Sodom and Gomorrah or perish. For those who is unclean god will smite down with his fire and a flood." A very intimidating 6ft 5in man carrying a bible strides through the burning wreckage and smoke. Behind him, are his wife, their three sons, the youngest is twenty years old, and their sixteen year old daughter.

He surveys the chaos, nods pleasingly to his wife. "They are in hell Mary. We are the saved, god has watched over us."

"We are Nathaniel."

Amid the screams and cries they walk away.

Thirty days later.

"Hey FBI dude wait up." Connor taps his foot impatiently waiting for Hurley to catch up. Sawyer is just ahead in the jungle. "Jack wants to see to you." Connor shakes his head. "See you later Hurley."

He turns and walks away.

"What did he want?" Sawyer asks. "The same thing he asks for everyday for the past nine days."

Connor walks ahead. "My reply to Jack is the same, something which as a doctor, he knows is anatomically impossible!"

"I think I'm beginning to like you." Sawyer says catching up.

"He's an FBI agent." Locke replied.

"We know." Charlie defiantly answers back. "You believe him?" Claire says raising up her sunglasses.

"Yes I do." Locke sheathes a rather evil looking black knife. "If you mind I have to get to work, or you'll starve."

"Is that Sayid up there?" In the distance, on a mountain ridge, a column of arises. "No, that's the Preacher and his flock, his wife, and four adult kids. They have lived there since the crash." Sawyer takes a swig of water. "They send their daughter to the beach occasionally, mostly for water, other than that they keep themselves to themselves."

Connor points to another ridgeline. "I notice some wreckage come down there."

"Better get moving."

"Harlot!"

A woman's banshee lie voice cuts into the afternoon calm.

"Sorry?" Claire strains to get herself up. She then realises she is heavily outnumbered as well as heavily pregnant. Five very intimidating people, four men and a women stand round her. A great big bear of a man takes a step forward.

"Is there a problem?"

"You are the problem. Jezebel." A younger man called Daniel hisses through clenched teeth, barely containing his anger.

The preacher nods. "Child you have sinned against our saviour, you need redemption."

Claire nervously smiles. "I quite happy here on the beach. Thanks."

"The day of judgement is coming, come with us." He holds out a hand. Somebody help me please. The preacher shakes his head, and withdraws his hand. "You have chosen death, I will pray for your soul."

Mary thinly smiles. "When the angel of death comes for you and your unborn seed." She is almost enjoying this. "You will wish otherwise."

"That's not normal. They're really creepy." Shannon as ever states the obvious. She is goes back to topping up her tan further along the beach. Sayid hands Claire his water ration for the day, and gently smiles. "Go with Charlie back to the caves. Boone go with them." The younger man nods in agreement picking up Claire's maternity bag. Sayid walks over to Michael, Walt is playing with Vincent nearby. Oblivious to what's happening.

"Third time in five days they have come here!"

Michael looks into the Island's jungle. "Must be a record, that French woman goes mad in sixteen years, they do it in thirty days."

Sayid smirks, remembering his encounter. "I wish it were a joke. They have upset Claire." Michael nods. "Two days ago, one of the sons, Daniel was spying on Shannon sunbathing. The day before, one of the other woman, Emma said the other son, Peter followed her. Is that normal behaviour?"

"What does Jack think of all this?"

Sayid frowns. "The saying goes, he has his own problems to seek."

Michael sighs. "So I've heard."

"Those are cargo pallets." Sawyer grins.

Connor whistles, taking an improvised crowbar from his daypack. "I think we'll need a bigger rucksack."

They both walk through the waist high grass, the jungle canopy is dense. There is no noise. It is very peaceful.

" I think somebody's been here." Connor says as they approach the pallets. "How."

"Sides have been opened." Connor points to the closest pallet. Around them the grass has been flattened. Crates have been dragged out and opened.

"Nuts." Sawyer says dejected. "That's a switch."

"We might find something still. I think two hours looking, and we'll be back at the beach by nightfall"

Connor points to one pallet. "You take that one."

"I'll take this one."

The waterfall and the pool was easiest the most lonely and peaceful place on the island. Kate undressed, neatly folding her clothes, before plunging into the pool.

Somebody was watching from the edge of the jungle. Saul crouched behind a rock. His brothers had already chosen. He would take her.

"Somebody's been careless." Connor thought out loud. There was broken glass. He crouched down to examine it. This was medical supplies he held up the remains of the top of the bottle in what light he could. I seen these before. He slowly read the remains of the label. Chloroform. Using a pen torch he searched the inside. Nothing.

Jack has the basics, he would love to have these or what else was in them. Who would scavenge medical supplies, definitely not Sawyer.

He got up. This was a wasted day. Sawyer was inside the other cargo pallet. From the sound, he had found something. He dragged out a crate. It was green. Connor had seen ones like these before.

"What do you think?"

"Open it."

A few moments later. Both stared curiously at each other. Connor then crouched down. "Bullets. 7.62 millimetre NATO ammunition for assault rifles!"

"You some kind of gun freak?" Connor sighed. "I'm FBI, I know these things."

"What use are bullets without guns."

Connor got up. "Because somebody has taken the guns."

"Whatever it is, its no use." Sawyer looked disgusted. "The gunpowder in the bullets would be handy. The metal can be melted down. Everything in this life has a use." Connor lifted the crate, it fitted very tightly. Connor hoisted it over his shoulder.

"One thing for sure. I definitely have something to talk to Jack about."

Sawyer grinned.

"This I have gotta see."

Saul watched her, he felt thoughts that he shouldn't have thought. He prayed to himself, asking for forgiveness for the lust he now felt. God would forgive him, his father would beat him for them.

"Thank you for the water Jack." The girl smiled. "It's what my parents need." Hurley handed Miriam a day sack. Jack grinned, if he didn't know any better, he'd thought she had a crush on him. "If there is anything else you need just ask!" He reached out pat her shoulders. Miriam recoiled in horror. "I am just here for the water." She whispered, before turning and running.

"Religious chicks, not worth the effort!"

Hurley sat down on a rock. "No sign of Connor?"

Hurley shook his head. "I've seen him. He's definitely avoiding these caves."

Jack snorted. "Its not the caves he is avoiding."

"I know, he's got issues."

"Not with me."

"Dude you better sort them out."

"I think Kate can take care of herself."

"God will guide us tonight."

Nathaniel watched his Mary, Saul, Daniel, Peter and Miriam in prayer. The sun was beginning to set over the island. If this place was to be destroyed, his family must survive. God promised Noah, and told him what to do. They were safe in the mountain. However they were a few, his sons must find wives, and his daughter must have a husband, if they were to survive, they must plant the seed of the pure on this Eden. He walked further down the naturally made tunnel. God had given him what they needed.

Five modern assault rifles, and medical supplies.

Hell was coming. He knelt down, closed his eyes and clasped his hands in prayer.

The flickering glow of the camp fire in the cave was eerie. Shadows jumped up about. Connor walked past an sleeping, snoring like an elephant, Hurley. He found who he was looking for.

Eye contact was made for the briefest of moments. Jack got up. Connor removed his daypack and threw it onto the ground. The noise woke everybody up. Bullets split onto the ground.

"Four miles North West of here, Sawyer and myself found a couple of cargo pallets, they were stripped clean. This is what's left."

Jack crouched down. "These are"

"Bullets. Bullets for an assault rifle." Connor sat down. "I also found what was left of surgical equipment, anaesthetics, and bandages."

"It wasn't anybody from here." Connor continued. "My guess other survivors."

"This can wait until morning!"

"Uh-ah" Connor shook his head. "Speaking of rifles, bullets. A little bird told me, you have a small arsenal here as well."

Sawyer, Jack scowled. Connor was enjoying this. "I believe you have given a gun to a known criminal."

"Kate."

Connor smiled. "Don't act dumb, you're a neuro-surgeon, Jack."

"In the morning I want the gun taken off her, and the rest under my supervision."

"Can't do." Jack replied.

"I can make you." Connor whispered. He got up. "One other thing, when I find my handcuffs, they fit lady's wrists very nicely."

"Try it." Connor took a step forward.

"I don't know what issues you have with Kate, but I won't allow you to persecute her over them."

"Ask her why I've got it in for her!" Connor retorts icily.

"Harm her, and trust me you'll regret it!" Jack is face to face with Connor.

"We'll see." Connor swears, unaware of the crowd that is gathering behind them.

"That was short." Connor walks away from the caves. Sawyer walks behind him, grinning. "You not going through the jungle tonight." He exclaimed.

"I'll be alright. With a little luck something will eat me."

It's quiet. Connor stops to sip some water. Then he notices it. The jungle even living by the shore, you could hear it being alive above the waves. It's too quiet. Instinctively, the knife he has with him is drawn. He hears something behind him, rustling.

"Sawyer, is that you?" He shouts. Behind him a massive figure ghosts in silently.

A thud is heard, Connor is struck across the head. He falls to the ground, knocked out.

At the edge of the beach camp, Emma is strolling. She is attacked from behind by Peter, he places a bundle of rags soaked in chloroform over her mouth. She struggles briefly, then she goes limp. Peter binds her hands, and lifts her onto his back.

Shannon is sleeping by the edge of the cave, Miriam, and Daniel watch her. Daniel nods. She is for him.

Her, Nathaniel and Mary walk in, they know who they want for their daughter. Jack is sleeping, close by.

Kate, is alone she is by the waterfall. She is reading the letter that was meant for Connor, she leans against a rock, her only light is the moonlit sky. Through her tears, she does not see Saul's arms wrap a chloroform soaked bandage around her face. She falls into darkness.

Grinning, Saul drags her into the jungle.