A pretty face don't mean a pretty heart
Chapter 5
Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa
"What we're doing is a sin." Kate smiles, as Connor nuzzles her neck. It is Christmas eve, in San Diego, they are visiting Connor's parents. In the back row of the church, an elderly woman sitting in the pew next to them casts a disapproving glare. A few rows in front, sits Connor's father and mother, with Connor's elder brother, his sister-in-law, and younger sister and brother. His six year old niece, Amy is in the choir. Adesti Fidelus, they are singing or Oh come all ye faithful, as Connor explains the benefits of an Catholic education. Amy now sings solo. Connor grins, as Kate holds his hands. "She's beautiful" she whispers into his ear.
"God." Connor winces in pain. "You okay?" A voice asks. Connor recognises it as Michael. He touches the back of his head, were the pain is. He sees blood. Then passes out again.
"She's a honey." Jamie, his elder brother, a marine corps fighter pilot, grins. The Sutherland men, are in the dining room, after morning mass, and a heavy Christmas lunch. Scotch whisky is being poured liberally. Connor watches Kate in the living room, showing his younger niece, four year old Emily how to use a camera. Both brothers are drunk, and it is only three o'clock in the afternoon.
"Marry her, start a family." James says. Connor turns to reply, however James has passed out.
"How many?" This voice is Sayid's. There is a pause.
"Four, Emma, Shannon, Kate, and Jack." Michael replies. "Have vanished without a trace!" He whispers loudly. Connor tries to listen in, but his concussion stops him. There is an air of panic in the caves. "Boone has gone to find Locke, we need him here!"
"What's happening?" Connor whispered. Sun is attending him, she puts a cold compress on his wound. It stings sharply.
"Get everybody into the caves." Sayid said firmly. Connor waves Sun away, as he gets up. He leans against a rock. Michael and Sayd turn to face him.
"Are you ok my friend?" Sayid walks over and offers him his hand. Connor grasps it, and uses this leverage to sit down.
"I've been better." He groans. "Can somebody fill me in?"
"She usually comes here." Hurley says glancing at the pool and the waterfall. Sawyer surveys the scene. "We both found it. I wouldn't go for a swim in it."
Hurley frowns. "You don't think?"
"Freckles is a lot stronger than that." Sawyer stands face to face. Hurley gulps, please don't hurt me, he winces. Sawyer backs off, and turns away. He walks a few paces, and stops. Something has caught his eye amongst the rocks. "Get back to the caves." He snarls.
"You telling me, somebody or thing has taken four people?" Connor whispers.
Sayid nods. "Three, we don't think Kate has been taken!" That name for a moment sends a sharp joint of pain in Connor.
"Definitely four. No sign of freckles." Sawyer joins the conversation, he glances at Connor sharply. Hurley passes by, patting Michael on the shoulder.
"Not a hide nor hair?" Michael shakes his head. "Emma and Shannon are no great…"
"I wouldn't let Boone hear that." Sayid interrupts. "Jack and Kate, on the other hand…"
Connor laughs out loud, rather inappropriately. All look at him. Connor winces in pain. "Somebody just kidnapped the leader and the deputy."
"Shit." Sawyer is the first to make the connection. "That ammo. You said it was for rifles."
"Yeah I did, didn't I. Why two others, two women?"
"More importantly were are they?"
"Aren't you happy with the way things are?" Kate whispers across the table. "I think so?" Connor replies sipping very strong coffee. His left hand clasps both her hands. "We're good together."
"We've only just met." She smiles.
"Don't you want more than that?"
"Define more." Kate leans forward seductively.
"Get a room." Into the kitchen, walks Connor's younger brother, Andrew walks in, boxer shorts and baggy t-shirt. He opens the fridge door. "Oh that's right, you're in my room Connor."
A red faced Connor grits his teeth. "I'll kick your ass Andrew."
"Like I haven't heard that one before."
Kate laughs.
A magazine is slotted into an M-16. Nathaniel broods watching in the distance, the beach camp to his right, and to his left the caves. Smoke is rising from both camps, people are awake, hopefully there will be confusion, which will lead to panic and fear. Beside him is his most precious item, his black bound bible which he clasps. He will need guidance over the next couple of days. Saul, Daniel, and Peter join him. Mary and Miriam are guarding their captives.
"God wants us to make a demonstration of our power." One by one, his sons nod.
Shannon and Emma are tied and gagged together. Both are awake, eyes wide with terror. Jack lies on the ground, he tried to escape this morning. The sons beat him, with their rifle butts whilst he was on the ground. Kate watches the scene, eyes taking in everything; she trembles at the figures of Saul, and his father. She turns away as Saul crouches down, and strokes her hair. His father watches. "You have picked well, this one is a sinner and strong in spirit." He smiles.
"We send her to the camp, she will deliver a message, if she does not return, and we will kill one, and then take vengeance on the camps."
Boone is out of breath. A look of desperation on his face. "I can't find him." It is answered by murmurs in the cave. There is an air of dread.
"He's somewhere." Sayid says calmly. "I'm looking for volunteers." He addresses the crowd. "To go in twos, and search the jungle. Anyone?"
Heads turn away. Nobody wants to do that duty.
"A better option would be the automatics in the haliburton." Sawyer says. "Jack has the keys." Michael replies. "Whose bright idea was that." A member of the crowd shouts.
"Break it open." Connor whispers. Sawyer turns with a lopsided grin. "Tried that and then some." He turns away. Connor grimaces.
"I guess we better find Locke!" Sawyer sighs. "This just keeps getting better and better." He glances at Connor again.
The rain now comes down in sheets. From a trail leading down from the ridgeline caves to the jungle. Kate is lead by Daniel, the youngest son. A quick glance behind, Saul is five paces behind, he is watching her. He smiles a brief instant predatory smile at her. A chill goes up her spine. She closes her eyes in despair.
Through binoculars, Nathaniel watches them disappear into the distant jungle. Miriam appears behind him. "Miriam, the one called Emma, keep her separate from the other two."
"Yes father."
"It's that preacher guy. It has to be." Michael looks out from the cave. Thunder can be heard in the distance. Connor limps alongside him. "Whoever it is they just wouldn't abduct four people for nothing."
He turns to Connor. "You're the G-man what do you think."
Connor stares out into the jungle. "Taking hostages is a calculated act. So is taking guns. This just doesn't add up." He says. "It's not normal."
"What is it with this place?" Michaels exclaims. Connor thinly smiles. "This." He whispers, he sees a figure emerge from the jungle, a hundred metres away. Michael turns to look. "Don't turn round." Connor harshly whispers. "Get Sawyer, get Sayid, Boone, and Charlie. Kate's walking over here, and there's two men behind her." Michael gets up, and walks slowly away. Connor limps out into the rain.
"I take it this was not planned?" A middle-aged doctor smiles gently. Kate glances away looking out of the window, it is raining very heavily. The doctor is Connor's doctor too. "No." She says under her breath.
"Miss Ryan, are you in a stable relationship?"
She nods. "I am." Kate gulps for air. "What are my options for a termination?"
"I think you need to talk to your partner about this."
"What are my options for a termination?" Kate replies more forcefully.
Oh god. Kate whispers. This can't be happening. Connor stands a few metres away. He says something, but she can't hear it. She does hear the sound of rifles being armed.
"The last time we were this close, I told you to fuck off and leave me alone." Connor is poker faced. "The first time we were this close, you offered me the room in your apartment on first sight." Kate replies
She is crying, trembling. Connor in another time and place, no that's long gone. He thinks.
"They have Jack, they have Shannon and Emma." Kate says. She shows Connor her bound wrists. "If I don't return they'll kill them. Then they'll kill you, me and everybody."
Connor nods briefly. "What do they want?"
"They want everybody to leave the island."
"If they ask Michael nicely"
"They are staying." Kate pauses for a moment. "Somebody actually wants to stay." Connor wipes some rain from his face. "With me, Jack, Shannon, and Emma." She shivered. "Nathaniel, the father wants this place to be Eden. I'm to be Saul's wife in a freaky Noah's ark"
Connor stares at Daniel and Saul. He contemplates rushing them for a brief moment. He and Kate would be dead in moments, others too if they rush out of the caves.
I'm not Jack Bauer today. He grimaces.
"I don't want to go back." Her strong voice is weak, her fear genuine. Kate drops something silver, Connor sees it out of the corner of his eye. "If you have not gone in three days, I'm dead."
"I understand."
Kate takes a few steps back. "I don't know how you can stop them."
"Kate, stay strong, you're never alone." Connor briefly smiles. "We'll try. Do as they say. Don't try to be heroine."
Connor watches the three of them disappear into the jungle again. He waits a few moments more to be sure. He leans down, and picks up a key.
"Well." Sayid demands. Connor throws the key to Sawyer. "Get the guns from the case. Get the knifes, get some rope." Charlie runs with Sawyer into the cave. "I'll fill you in."
"You think this is wise?" Boone demands. "That's my sister up there." Connor looks to Sawyer for some support, none comes. He has a detached look on his face.
"We take one of Nathaniel's sons, let the other one go back. Kate's back in our hands. Plus we then have two M-16s."
"It's risky." Charlie glares at Connor. "But we gotta try." Sayid nods. "Let's go we're wasting time debating it."
"Sayid, Sawyer, myself and Boone, we'll take a gun each. Michael, Charlie find Locke, we don't have time."
"Three days no phone calls." Connor looks at the clock, 22:38 in the evening. Connor hugs Kate, who tries to remain emotionless. "Was it that bad?" He whispers into her ear, Kate nods. "I should have been there with you."
"I just have to face it, I'm not a very good photographer, my agent's going to cut me loose." Connor sighs. "Chrissie says there's an admin job going in the hospital record department, call her tomorrow."
Kate nods. Connor looks at her. "You look shattered."
"I just need you to hold me tight tonight."
They ran, Kate stumbles into the mud. Saul roughly drags her up, Kate struggles. Daniel thrusts the butt of his rifle into the small of her back. She screams in agony. Saul glares at Daniel, Daniel defiantly glares back. "Do that again and I will."
"She is a whore brother." Daniel retorts. "No doubt you will have energy to convert her."
The group hears Kate scream. They run even faster. Boone and Sawyer are in front, Sayid following closely behind. Connor is having trouble keeping up, he is losing sight of the group. The rain sodden track is slowing them down.
Kate stares at the trail behind them. Daniel hears them in the distance.
"They are close." Daniel remarks to Saul. "Take the bitch through the other trail." Daniel then un-slings his rifle. "I'm going to kill some of them."
"Wait up Luke Skywalker." Sawyer is struggling now to keep up with Boone, Sayid has fallen behind, Connor even further behind. His lungs feel as though they are on fire. Each time Sawyer breathes it is killing him worse than the previous one. Shoulda gave up smoking a long time ago.
Rifle bullets whiz and zip past them. Sawyer dives to the ground, Boone falls flat. For a moment, he is motionless, Sawyer starts crawling through the mud. Boone raises his head, as Sawyer crawls along side him. Shots are fired over their heads. Instinctively they bury their faces in the mud.
Sayid mutters a curse in Arabic, as he crouches behind a tree. Connor is across from him, behind another tree. This is slowing us down.
"Boone and Sawyer are pinned down." Sayid shouts. "We show ourselves we risk death."
No wonder we kicked their asses in two wars. Connor thinks. "Pin him down, I'll try to flank him."
Daniel grins. He is sure he has wounded one, perhaps two. He only has one magazine left. He is confident, he has God's strength with him. He reloads. A twig snaps and there is the rustle of leaves. Somebody is behind him. He turns.
Fuck. A rifle butt slams into Connor's solar plexus. Connor falls backwards. He stumbles, recovers, and charges Daniel, however Daniel is ready. A barrage of punches rain down on Connor's chest and face. A bloodied Connor falls on his back. Daniel smiles, raises his rifle, and aims at Connor.
"I would not do that if I were you."
Daniel feels the cold inhuman touch of blade at his jugular. In shock he drops his rifle. Connor breaths a sigh of relief. Locke presses the knife harder still.
"Thanks." Connor pants. Three sets of foot-steps are heard coming. Moments later, Sayid, Sawyer and Boone arrive. Sayid throws Locke a length of rope.
"Are you prepared to die?" Daniel curses.
"Are you?" Locke whispers.
Kate falls to the ground, viciously backhanded by Nathaniel. Jack, gagged and bound looks on in horror. Mary drags Kate away from the cave. Shannon, who was quiet, starts sobbing again, her breathing sharp and shallow. Miriam brings a trembling Emma into view. Peter carries a plastic container, its contents full of siphoned off unburned aviation kerosene. Nathaniel grimly looks at it, then Emma.
"That's it precious. You don't move an inch." Daniel feels a pistol barrel at the base of his skull. Sawyer glances up at the trail leading to the ridge. Connor watches with Locke, who has Sayid's pistol, Sayid has the rifle. It is aimed at the ridge. Boone nervously looks up at the ridge for his step sister.
Nathaniel appears, with Peter. In front of him is Emma. Nathaniel is holding something, but nobody can make it out.
"Release the woman, and we'll release your son." Shouts Locke. Nathaniel shakes his head.
"Crazy fucker what's he doing." Sawyer looks at Sayid, then Connor for answers. "Oh god no." Locke whispers in horror. Nathaniel flicks on a cigarette lighter, and throws it at Emma's feet.
Her scream is the worst thing many of them hear. Within a moment, her body is engulfed in flames. Her struggle to live is horrifying as she stumbles over the edge of the ridge, and falls hundreds of feet. As they all watch stunned. Peter raises his rifle, takes aim and fires a single shot. A pool of blood forms were Daniel's heart is. Sawyer recoils in horror, as Daniel slumps to the ground.
There is a minute of silence.
Then Nathaniel speaks, his voice is like thunder.
"The same fate awaits our hostages and you if you do leave this Eden. If you have not left, in three days. I will kill our prisoners in full view of you all and God. Then I shall smite you all with fire."
"Allah please have mercy." Whispers Sayid. Stay cool Kate. Connor says under his breath.