Chapter 4: Without You
"I'm sure they lost track of time."
Claire's head whipped around at the soothing voice. "They've never been this late before," she replied, as Sun sat next to her. "The children must be hungry by now. Charlie doesn't let them miss a meal."
Sun placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "They probably found some fruit in the jungle."
"What if they didn't? They've been gone too long."
"Charlie and the children aren't back yet?" Locke asked, overhearing the conversation as he was walking passed.
Claire nodded. "They left early this morning for the waterfall. I had a bad feeling when I woke up, but I only pushed it aside as usual worry."
Locke's eyes grew wide. He kneeled down in front of Claire. "But it wasn't usual worry, was it?"
"No," Claire replied, grimly.
Locke raised up immediately, alarm painfully obvious on his face. "Walt!" he called, toward the caves. A much taller teenage Walt appeared instantly, wearing a questioning look. "We need to head to the waterfall this instant."
"What do you think happened?" Walt asked, as he and Locke trekked hastily on the path to the waterfall.
"I don't know, but when I looked into Claire's eyes, I could see horror."
"You don't think the Others came back, do you?"
"Nothing is impossible on the Island."
They came to the clearing that housed the pool. An eerie feeling lingered in the air midst the tranquil scene of the pool. Locke searched the ground, finding small footprints in the grass.
"They've been here."
"Mr. Locke, come see!"
Locke hurried to the edge of the clearing, following Walt's gaze. A bare foot protruded from behind a tangled bush. Locke crept toward the bush, steeling himself for whatever he found on the other side. He'd grown fond of the little family Charlie and Claire had made for themselves. The children thought him a wonder to watch. They'd follow him around or watch him make something, asking dozens of questions. If anything happened to Charlie and the children, there had to be a purpose behind it.
The sight that greeted him wrenched his heart. It was Charlie, lying on his back - wrist bound to vines coming from the ground. The inside of his arms were purple with bruises, but his neck was nearly black. The imprints of fingers were visible. Locke knelt down beside Charlie, checking for any sign of life. Walt appeared on the other side of the body.
"Is he dead?"
Locke avoided the boy's eyes. "I need to get him back to camp. Whoever did this to him must have taken the children."
"I'll find them," Walt said, determined. "If it was the Others that took them, I'll know where to find them."
"But, Walt," Locke interrupted, finally looking up at the boy. "It's dangerous out there. I don't want you going alone."
"Mr. Locke, I can do this." Locke knew that Walt could do it. He'd escaped the Others and managed to drive them away as just a ten year old boy. Walt was special with a power no one could explain.
"Go, but don't tarry."
"I won't."
With that, Walt disappeared into the jungle.
The shouting caught her attention. It was Jack's voice, calling out to Sun what he needed. But another voice raised above his, and Claire felt her heart leap in her throat at what he said.
"There's nothing you can do! He's gone, Jack!"
She froze in her tracks, seeing the her husband lying still on the makeshift examination table. Locke moved toward her, but she barely knew he was there. Her eyes fell on the dark shades of color on his neck. She threw herself over the body, sobbing and screaming and running her hands over his pale face.