Jaye: Welcome back! Read and review people! Once again: I am bold, Lils is normal, and Court is italics.
Lils: Yes. Courtny Potter (our guest writer) is our best friend. We have a circle of three, and she doesn't get to be on the computer much, so she is our official guest whenever possible. As Jaye pointed out, Court will be writing her part in italic…so get that straight! But before we continue, it's time to reply to our reviewers!
Starshollow108: Yeah…about the bold and regular, you'll get used to it! I hope it's not too confusing, though. Really sorry it took so long to update…it won't happen again!
Lils Evans: Hello me…uh…moving on…(I'm such a dork)
Mizzle fo' Rizzle: THANK YOU SO MUCH! You're awesome!
S: sorry we couldn't update sooner! We're really sorry!
Dandan2300: I love Sark too! Uh…(gets glared at by Jaye) Well I do! (to dandan: She thinks the only sexy thing about him is his accent, but she is so wrong!) Anyway, thanks for your review…Oh yeah, and when I read the "wots the bold writing for" I really was about to freak! lol!
Agent Pheonix: Yeah, teenagers and lovin' it! Thanks for reviewing!
Luthien and Tari Oronar: You guys have a split account too? Cool! Yeah, the horizontally challenged part was Jaye's idea…and so was the "Die, Scum, Die!" Yeah…Jaye was on a sugar high then.
Cassidy: Hey Cass! How ya doing? Thanks for reviewing! I wish my sis would do that…but she doesn't even know what fanfiction is…the git (jk!)
Guess who:P: Hey moron. I MISS YOU TOO! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO MOVE TO ALABAMA AND LEAVING ME HERE IN MO? Ahh but she's right…this is so much fun! LYLAS!
Lils: Now, on to chapter two!
Chapter Two: Lost and Found
Kate, Jack, Sydney, Vaughn, Charlie, Claire, Sun, Boone, and Locke came back into the caves at dawn. They were talking as if they were long-lost friends…but their light-hearted mood did not last for long.
Sawyer strode over to them, rubbing his forehead, which was bruised.
"What happened to you?" Kate asked.
"Where is that son-of-a-b—"
"Sark!" Sydney and Vaughn said in unison.
"Are you hurt?" Jack asked.
"Lay off, doc. I won't be needin' a lollipop if that's what you mean," Sawyer scowled.
Kate stepped forward, almost smiling. She remembered how small Sark had been, and Sawyer seemed to realize what she was thinking. "'Ey!" he snapped. "This guy…he…"
"…Is stronger and quicker than we expected," Sayid cut in.
Sawyer nodded furiously. "For once, I say Hodgee here is right!"
"Where did he go?" Vaughn asked.
"Oh, right, like I saw him run off after he knocked me out!" Sawyer said sarcastically.
"Judging by the tracks, he must have gone this way," Sayid stated.
"Are you sure?"
All eyes slid over to where Mr. Locke was standing. "Judging by these tracks, everyone from the circle last night went off in their own directions. Now the question is; which one was Julian Sark?"
Jack shook his head, Vaughn noticed. Maybe the two had some sort of feud going on?
"Then we'll split up and search," Sydney stated. "Me and Kate, Jack and Vaughn, Sayid, Charlie, and Claire, Sun and Locke, and Boone and Sawyer. We HAVE to find Sark—he's a threat to us all if he obtains weapons."
"Not if we beat him to them." Sayid looked around the group of islanders, dark eyes lingering on Vaughn. "You said you had a weapons' safe in your helicopter. I believe it survived the crash. It was a standard military model, no doubt, so it was made out of sturdy, floatable material, correct?"
"That's…right," said Vaughn, a bit surprised.
"But that means the case could have floated on shore!" Sydney yelped. "We have to scout the beach…but we can't just rule out the possibility that he's somewhere in the jungle…"
"We'll split up," Kate announced. "Take two larger main groups. One to the beach, one to the jungle."
"All right then," Jack said. "Kate, Sydney, Boone, Sawyer, and Claire take the beach. Vaughn, Sayid, Charlie, Sun, Locke, and myself will take the jungle."
"It's a date," said Sawyer darkly, cracking his knuckles. "I'm really looking forward to finding this guy…"
"Why?" Kate snickered. "So you can have him knock you out again?"
"What did I say freckles?" Sawyer snapped. "He was – "
"Yeah sure…"
Their voices faded away and the two groups separated.
"I'm gonna get that son-of-a-bi—"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah—we know, Sawyer, so shut up." Kate groaned.
"Does he ever stop complaining?" Sydney whispered.
Kate and the dark haired young man—Boone—shook their heads.
"Not since the minute we got here," Boone replied, smirking. Claire was silent, and had a hand on her flat stomach.
"What's wrong, Claire?" Kate asked, noticing this.
"Hm?" Claire snapped out of her daze. "Oh—um, I'm fine…"
Kate gave her a sad look. "It's been really hard on her," she told Sydney in a quiet voice. "She was pregnant when we crashed, and when her and Charlie got kidnapped, something happened…She had a miscarriage. And she lost her memory of everything that had happened on the island. Couldn't remember any of us. THAT was really hard on Charlie as well…"
"So that's what he meant when he…"
"Yeah."
Sydney nodded.
"So…tell me more about how Sark knew you? Why did he call you Agent Austen?"
Kate's pretty face looked pained as she struggled with herself.
"I was in the CIA…part of SD-6 before it was discovered. You never knew me…but I was there…and he and I kept in touch. Until SD-6 was uncovered…" she took a deep breath. "I wanted to run, but he threatened to turn me in. After all, we had had a partnership of sorts…but I ran anyway…and it looks like he found me."
Sydney's face felt hot; Kate looked so lost…but then again…they all were.
"How did that guy take out all of you?" Charlie asked.
"For the tenth time, Charlie, I do not know."
Sayid was busy searching the jungle, looking for some sign of the traitorous terrorist.
"Well I'm just curious you know," Charlie went on. "After all, weren't you in some sort of guard?"
Sayid sighed, leaning against a tree trunk. He gave Charlie a look, and the Driveshaft member finally shut up.
"So…" Charlie walked over to Jack and Vaughn. "How did that guy take everyone out? I mean, Hurley too! Did he feed Hurley Twinkies until he passed out?"
"Charlie. Shut. Up."
"Well fine! The thanks I get for almost getting eaten by the sodding monster to save you!" He grumbled, "I bet I could have taken him. I've got a pretty good swing – " He jumped forward, swinging his fists, and then, out of no where, Locke caught his hand. "HEY!"
"Easy, Charlie," said Locke.
"What if I don't WANT to be easy!" Charlie questioned. "What if I WANT to punch him? HUH?"
"If you wanna get killed, go straight ahead," Vaughn muttered.
"Well what do you know?" Charlie shot defensively. "I could've taken him!"
Jack put an arm around his shoulder. "Charlie," he said slowly, "this guy took out Sayid and Sawyer…"
"You sayin' I wouldn't have a chance?"
"Well…yes."
"Well fine then! I'll find him and I'll show you!" Charlie yelped.
"Don't be an idiot," Vaughn groaned. "Sark would kill you in two seconds flat."
Charlie glared at him then marched off into the jungle.
"Think I can't...well I'll show them…" Charlie stomped along, muttering to himself. He stepped over a leafy plant and into a clearing…where his heart seemed to stop. "I FOUND YOU!"
Sark looked up from what he was doing…he had a case lying on the ground. Charlie took a step back…and in two seconds flat, he was gone to the world.
"I FOUND YOU!"
"My God, he found Sark!" Vaughn whispered in disbelief. "He's going to get shot!"
"Or strangled. Or kidnapped. Or—"
"I GET THE POINT!"
"We have to follow him!" Sun cried. "We have to…help!"
"And what? Get ourselves shot as well?" Jack looked skeptical, but he knew Sun was right. They couldn't just leave Charlie…
"THIS WAY!" he shouted, and plowed through the trees.
"Sun," Vaughn gasped. "Would you be able to go back to the beach and tell Sydney and Kate and Sawyer—anyone else who is strong? Tell Claire about Charlie."
Sun nodded solemnly.
Sawyer sat down on the beach, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"C'mon, Sawyer," Kate grumbled. "We have to keep looking…"
"What's that?" Sydney cried, pointing up ahead.
"Sun?" Boone said.
"What are you doing here? What's wrong?" asked Kate.
"It's Charlie," the Korean woman panted. "He has found the one we were looking for…Sark? And he has been taken!"
"Taken?" Sydney gasped; it wasn't like Sark to take captives…unless Charlie wasn't going to last long anyway. A lump rose in her throat.
Claire's eyes filled with tears. "No…He can't be gone! That man will kill him!"
"Claire!" Kate cried, grabbing her by the shoulders. "We will find him! I promise you we will find him!"
"Vaughn said to…bring strong people. Sawyer, Boone, Kate, and Sydney," Sun continued.
"Great…" Sawyer rolled his eyes. "Here we go after the band reject again…"
"Sawyer, shut up!" Sydney and Kate snapped at the same time.
Charlie woke up, feeling as though he had a hangover…his head was pounding, but he knew it wasn't from any drinks.
He tried to sit up, but felt too weak; his head swam violently, the pain concentrating behind his eyes, making them water and burn.
"Where…am I?" he forced himself to say.
"That would be a brilliant question, wouldn't it, you boy band reject?"
"DRIVESHAFT IS NOT A BOY BAND!" Charlie yelped.
The handsome voice laughed quietly. "They'll find me you know…" Charlie went on, gaining some of his strength back. He found the energy to lift his head above his shoulders. "They'll find me and…and…"
"And what? You must know your story is amusing."
"Well that's just great. Be smart while you can!" Charlie hissed. Suddenly, Sark came into his range of sight. The young man's face was pretty battered, but he still managed to uphold a smirk.
"No, Charlie, what you don't understand is that YOU should be smart while you can. You will die—not me. And so will Agents Bristow and Vaughn when they walk straight into the trap I laid." Sark's smirk widened.
"NO! You can't do this!" Charlie gasped.
"I had my father killed, Charlie. And I'd known him. Think of what I'd do to someone I barely know."
Sark injected Charlie with something, and darkness overtook Charlie's mind. As the fresh smell of rain became the only thing Charlie could take in, a face flitted in front of him.
Claire…
Sark watched the small man's eyes roll in his head with no expression on his face. When the one called Charlie finally collapsed on the ground once again, he scowled. They would be coming soon…he had to prepare.
Suddenly, a rustling sound drew his attention. He turned to see a woman with matted hair and a crazed expression come into the clearing.
Sark took a surprised step back; he had never seen the woman before…she hadn't been on the beach or in the "caves" where they had held their meeting.
"What are you doing here?" she barked before he could get a word out. Her eyes fell to Charlie. "What have you done…Julian?"
"Who are you?" Sark stepped forward to take care of the woman, but she grabbed his wrist, and he howled in pain…He had broken his wrist trying to worm away from that Sayid…how did she know that? Had she been watching?
"You know who I am Julian…" The woman had a French accent.
"No, I can't quite say I do," Sark said coolly.
"I'm Danielle Rousseau… your stepmother."
"CHARLIE! CHARLIE!"
"If you're trying to give me a migraine, you're doing a good job there, doc."
"Quiet, Sawyer," Jack snapped. Sydney ducked her head, walking closer to Vaughn.
"The window's closing," said Vaughn, looking deeply concerned. "We have to find him…now."
"Believe me, I know," Kate replied darkly, then put her hand to her head, blinking back tears. "Poor Claire…"
"Hey! Don't worry…we'll find him." Jack looked at her firmly. "We'll find him. No one else dies."
"But what if we don't?" Kate asked quietly.
"Don't go there. Not yet." Sydney stopped and turned around, putting a finger to her lips.
An alarm of some sort sounded as something began to tear through the jungle. (A/N – Lils: Remember? That's Courtny in italics)Sydney's heart rate increased dramatically, remembering how Charlie had nearly been killed by the strange – she could only describe it as noise – the other day. Now she and the rest of the group looked around wildly as the thunderous booming drew closer.
Charlie's body was in the clearing with Sark and Rousseau, but his mind was somewhere else.
He saw the shadow of someone running ahead of him. "Claire…" he whispered. "CLAIRE!"
The blonde girl turned around, smiled at him, and faded away.
"NO! CLAIRE! Come….back…"
As Charlie faded back into unconsciousness he heard, or at least thought he heard, Jack and Vaughn arguing over some stupid ordeal. He soon figured out that it was just another dream. As Charlie's mind faded away he flashed back to the time he first met Claire. She seemed so helpless and yet so independent in a mysterious type of way. Her glittering blue eyes seemed to lead strait to her heart… and yet she barricaded it with her life.
Claire…I would give anything for you now…thought Charlie, and his powerful thoughts broke the blockade…his eyes snapped open…and he looked up into the sunlight…or was it sunlight? Seemed like a light bulb…but how –
"You up then?" a distinctly familiar voice laughed. "After that last fix, I thought you'd never wake up, little bro!"
Charlie sat up. "Liam? How did—where did you—where am I?"
"Lil' bit hungover, eh?" Liam Pace, Charlie's older brother, snickered. "You deserve it, too, mate after the crap you pulled last night!"
"What…" Charlie was utterly lost. What the sodding crud is going on here? He thought.
"You were crazy last night, Lil bro. You were all over the place. Oh and exposing my secret, that would have pissed me off if I wasn't hungover myself!" laughed his brother.Charlie's mind was still numb…but he felt himself getting father and farther away from his brother…from his room…until he was in between. The sensation of being nowhere…feeling nothing…was overwhelming…Until…
Air exploded into his lungs, and he felt as if he had just broken the surface of an endless, crushing ocean. This time he was sure he was awake….and as he looked around, he wished he were still asleep…still floating…still nowhere.
Sark was standing over him. Rousseau was standing behind Sark. Charlie soon found that his arms were latched above his head, and his legs were tied.
"Where…I?"
"You, babbling idiot, are here with me and my psychotic…um…stepmother for no exact reason except for that you had to find me and begin babbling like the idiot that you are. You tried let the others know that you found me. Now, if you would have kept your mouth shut I might not have noticed you, and I might not have had to put up with a prisoner, but then again I am glad you began babbling so now I have someone to torture for the fun of it." Sark smiled. "In words that you may understand in your current…condition; enjoy being my ransom, Charlie Pace."
Charlie moaned, trying to kick his legs.
"The…the French Lady?" he gasped, gazing at her curiously. Then he turned his eyes on Sark, hatred pouring out of him. "YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS! I WON'T BE YOUR RANSOME!"
"You may want to calm down," advised Sark. "I am not entirely sure the last of the drug left your system."
Charlie breathed hard through his mouth, trying to shake off the pain that was making his head throb. He glared straight up at Sark and fought off the panic that was threatening to pull him under again. "I won't let you! You…won't…do…this…to…me…"
He faded back into darkness.
Jack, Kate, Vaughn, Sydney, Sawyer, Boone, Locke, Sun, and Sayid continued searching hopelessly through the jungle.
"So, are you and Vaughn seriously agents of the CIA?" Boone questioned Sydney as they jogged hastily along.
"Yep," was Sydney's short reply.
"Soooooo…what was your….um… mission? " asked Boone.
"We were actually…"
Before Sydney could finish Vaughn collapsed to the ground. A small puddle of blood lay around him.
"His stitches!" Sydney cried, bending down to him. "JACK!"
Just as Jack was about to come running forward, the ground behind him was flattened. The earth shook, and the all-too-familiar howling vibrated through the air.
AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
"Get him up!" Kate screamed. "And RUN!"
Sydney grunted as she pulled Vaughn across her shoulders, and with the help Kate, dashed after the rest of the group.
"S-Syd…" Vaughn muttered as he was jostled around, but she couldn't listen to him…what ever was behind them was getting closer…she could feel it…and the terror that set in pushed her forward.
Boone grabbed Vaughn from Sydney and slung him over his shoulders. "RUN!" he yelled to Syd.
Sydney began to run as fast as she could, but as she did she couldn't help but look behind her and please her curiosity. As she turned her head, she tripped over a tree root and fell to the ground with what would have been a loud thump, but it could not be heard over the wailing of the monster.
Sydney tried to call out but the air was ripped out of her lungs as the monster grabbed her stomach and pulled her backwards. Boone turned around and gasped.
"Jack!" screamed Boone.
Jack spun around and instantly saw Sydney. Sawyer, Jack, Locke, Sayid, and Kate began sprinting toward her. When they reached her, the wailing had stopped and Sydney was left unconscious with bleeding wounds on her stomach.
"Oh my God…" Kate muttered, and bent down to the fallen Agent.
"It's gone," said Locke in a metallic voice.
"How long'd it take you to figure that one out?" Sawyer shot, looking pale, but hiding his fear behind a scowl.
"Turn her over!" Jack ordered, and Sydney was rolled over on to her back, exposing many deep gashes across her chest and stomach. Sydney sputtered in pain and fear.
She was on an island…who would help her…would they ever be found…and what had just attacked her? These thoughts swirled around her mind as day turned into cold night around her.
Sayid and Kate picked her up and proceeded back to the beach.
"What an idiot!" The Southern accent brought Vaughn back to reality.
Vaughn opened his eyes slowly. "Wha…"
"You can't run at top speed if you don't want to lose half of your blood! Look, we have to take you back to the beach," Jack said, starting out irritated, but ending with concern. "If you lose anymore blood…Let's just say you won't be finishing your mission. Whatever it is."
"I will return to camp as long as you and the others agree to continue after Charlie," stated Vaughn gravely.
"I promise, but...I may have to stay for another patient."
Vaughn turned pale as Jack told him what had happened and that Sydney was in critical condition.
After Jack replaced the stitches, Vaughn requested to see Syd. As he walked over to her, tears came to his eyes.
What have I done? I should have taken care of her. These thoughts surrounded his mind as they returned to camp.
"What are you planning to do with him?"
"That's really not your concern." Sark paced his clearing, eyes flicking from the unconscious Charlie to the crazed-looking French Woman. He had already forgotten her name. It didn't seem important.
"I hope you know what you are doing, Julian."
Sark gave her an annoyed glance and crossed his arms, standing arm's length away from her.
"Who are you?" he asked again.
"You have become much different from what your father and I hoped for…you should know that." She looked directly at him, and reached for his face. Sark staggered back.
"Get out of here or die," he said sharply; ignoring the hurt look the woman – his stepmother – gave him.
"Where is Alex? I know you have her. You stole her from me. SHE'S MINE! NOT YOURS! GIVE HER BACK!"
"I'm getting sick of your ramblings, woman," Sark sneered. He smacked her with the gun she had been holding. The gun she'd dropped when she'd seen his face.
"Nighty night…" he whispered.
As Jack and the others reached the caves, they were greeted and then questioned by the others. Jack just ignored them, and laid Sydney down behind a curtain that, in a way, was known as the hospital.
When Vaughn walked in, Jack began to talk, "I know I made a promise, but without immediate and continuous attention, she may die."
At this Vaughn just nodded his head and walked out. He noticed that the others were already preparing to leave. Just as he was making his way out, the blonde woman stopped him, her eyes red and dry from crying; lines went down her face.
"Did you find him?" she asked, her gaze pleading with him; begging him.
Vaughn felt hurt as he looked at her, and shook his head sadly. Claire then put her head in her hands and sobbed, coughing and sputtering from lack of energy.
Kate watched all this, her heart swelling. Julian Sark had already ruined her life…she wouldn't let him ruin another.
Without saying a word she turned and left.
Charlie squirmed around, trying to get his arms loose. Bloody handcuffs…
Sark saw this and strode over to him. "Don't even try it. They're unbreakable. The only way you will escape is with the key."
"Whatever, Starch," Charlie hissed.
"My name is SARK. For that smart remark…" Sark pulled out two knives from the case.
Charlie stared wide-eyed at Sark.
"Your bloody insane!" screeched Charlie.
"On the contrary my friend, the woman fallen beside you is insane. Although she may be my stepmother, but I doubt it."
Sark got up and walked over to Charlie, knife in hand.
" Where did you get the scar around your neck? You know that's an impressive scar, but I think that I can make it better."
Sark then drug the knife delicately around Charlie's neck, re-opening the shallow wound. Charlie flinched back as he felt the warm blood dripping slowly down his neck, staining the collar of his shirt. He knew the cut was shallow, just barely cutting his skin, but he couldn't help but panic.
"What are you –?" Charlie gasped.
"You don't know much about me, Mr. Pace," Sark stated calmly. "Now, if you do not cooperate…"
"I get it!" Charlie yelped, close to tears as he realized something: He couldn't let himself be the bait to draw his friends in…to draw Claire in…he had to either get free…
Or die.
Melanie Simms and Carter Phipps walked through the jungle.
"So…think we'll find him?" Mel asked.
Carter ran a sun burnt hand through his jet-black hair and sighed. "I hope so Mel. The guy that took him seems like a psychopath…"
Mel's copper colored hair was slipping from its no longer tight ponytail. Her hazel eyes were shining. She tugged at the front of her black Driveshaft—Second Tour of Finland concert – tee. "But, man… Do you think its really Charlie? I mean, Charlie Pace, Carter, Charlie Pace! I hope he's okay. It would suck if he wasn't, eh?"
"Yeah, I guess," Carter grumbled, rolling his intelligent looking amber eyes. "What a tragedy."
The two friends stumbled through the jungle, trying to be quiet but not really succeeding.
"My gosh, Charlie Pace is on the same island as me…" Mel moaned dreamily. "I could just DIE."
"Or you could just shut your freakin' mouth," Carter mumbled.
Mel looked at him. "Wha?"
"Nothing… Just wondering why you're so obsessed with a boy band," Carter replied.
"Driveshaft is SO not a boy band!" Melanie fumed. "THEY HAVE INSTRUMENTS! THEY ARE NOT A BOY BAND!"
"Yeah, sure, whatever," her skeptical friend muttered.
"You know what? You've really changed since we've gotten here."
"Well, nearly dying in a plane crash kinda does that to you, Mel."
"But…c'mon, Carter, you used to be a lot of fun. You used to be cool. Now you act like you're forty instead of sixteen."
"Seventeen," Carter whispered. "Yesterday…was my birthday. I calculated the days this morning. I turned seventeen yesterday…and I didn't even know it…"
"We seriously need off this island." Mel paused. "But not until we find Charlie. Driveshaft will die without him."
Carter smiled softly as Mel walked ahead of him. He had always liked her as more than a friend, though she was a little bit oblivious to the obvious. But he was trying. And maybe… if he could save that idiot guitarist for her…
I've got a plan… He thought, as his smile turned into a smirk.
Sydney's eyes fluttered open. She didn't know where she was or why she was covered in blood. Her breath came in short gasps and every one hurt ten times worse than the one before. Her chest hurt and she cried out as tears flowed from her eyes. It became harder and harder for her to stay awake. As she began to be over come by darkness once again she saw Vaughn and Jack walk in.
"Syd, are you okay? " Vaughn asked frantically.
"Tell her to stay awake, if she falls asleep she may go into shock." Jack told Vaughn.
"Syd, you have to try and stay awake, you're going to be okay; just stay awake."
Vaughn grabbed her hand and held it tight. Another cry of pain came from Sydney as Jack examined the wound closer. More tears ran down her cheek as Vaughn's voice seemed to fade away.
"The bleeding hasn't stopped yet, and the wounds look like they are infected. If the bleeding doesn't stop, she may need a transfusion." Jack stated solemnly.
Jack went to go find Sun and left Vaughn alone with Sydney.
"You will be okay Syd, I promise."
Kate cut through the jungle, ragged and exhausted, but she pressed on, her thoughts keeping her going.
Ever since those Agents had shown up with…him…everything had gone wrong. First with the memories…they were so painful…
The day SD-6 had been discovered he had arranged a meeting. "I had no idea…" Kate had gasped, but Sark had stayed calm and collected. "I don't know what to do!"
"Well, one thing is for certain, you can't go to the CIA with your story."
"Why not?" Kate remembered feeling numb and confused. "Then…I'll run…"
"And leave everything behind?" Sark's eyes had been so penetrating and demanding…it was impossible to look away. He had changed…from back then…on that day. Now his eyes were deeper and darker…less alive. "You can't leave."
That day, Kate had walked away…knowing that her decision would haunt her for the rest of her life…"You'll be labeled a rouge Agent, you know, if you run."
"But what else is there to do?"
Kate shook her head, wiping the memory from her mind. She stumbled and nearly fell, staggering forward and falling into the dirt. She had made it to the beach for the second time without meaning to.
"CHARLIE!"
She looked out to the ocean, and then behind her…but this time, something had changed. Two shadows lingered behind her…not very tall…almost like children. "Who's there?"
Two teenagers walked over to her. "I'm Mel," the girl said. "This is Carter. We were in the back of the plane. Are you looking for Charlie too?"
"How do you know Charlie?" Kate asked slowly.
"Well, duh, he's only the hottest guitarist on this side of Pluto!" Mel acted like even asking that question made Kate a complete and total moron. "We're going to save him!"
"How do you know he's been kidnapped?"
"Oh, Ana Lucia found out from Rousseau and she told us someone'd been kidnapped, and Carter said he would go look for him, and then I asked who it was, and she said some singer dude named Charlie, and I went OMG IT'S CHARLIE FROM DRIVESHAFT! So I went along too."
"Jeez, Mel, take a breather," Carter laughed.
Kate looked at the teenagers, bewildered, and unable to say anything. Finally she cleared her throat and struggled to push her hair out of her face.
"Y-You're from the back of the plane?" she asked in a hushed voice. "Then…did any others survive?"
"Um, I'm not sure," Mel admitted, looking sad. "Carter's parents were sitting right across from us…I don't know where they went. But. Anyway…about Charlie…we might know where he is."
Vaughn's eyes shot open. The only thing flashing through his mind was Sydney. He ran into the tent/hospital only to be stopped by Jack.
"What have I told you about taking it easy with those stitches?" Jack said irritably.
"How is she? Is she going to be alright?" Vaughn asked impatiently.
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Jack replied with a smile.
Vaughn ran into the tent to find Sydney laying down, facing the opposite direction. When she saw him she shot up straight and then yelped in pain, for the wounds were still fresh and raw. Vaughn walked over to her and grabbed her hand. For a moment they just exchanged smiles. For that moment, to them, nothing was wrong…until Syd winced in pain.
"I'm glad your back." Vaughn struggled through a smile.
"I'm glad to be back to," replied Sydney in a near whisper.
Just then, Sayid came plunging into the tent, followed by Jack, who was wide-eyed and had apparently just received some sort of news. The only thing was, judging by the look on their faces, it wasn't good news.
"Kate is missing," Sayid announced.
"What?" Sydney coughed. Vaughn tried to steady her, but she wouldn't stay down. "What's happened to her? Was it – "
"Sydney!" Jack cried, running over to her. "You have to stay still. Your wounds are healing. You have to give them a chance before you go off again." His eyes were hard and serious for a moment, but then he managed a stressed smile. "I don't know what kind of miracle medicine you had in the CIA, but in case you haven't noticed…this isn't it."
Sydney returned the grin, nodding as she stiffly lay back down.
"Now…what were you saying," asked Vaughn, "about Kate? She's gone missing? Another one?"
"I am afraid so," Sayid replied solemnly. Jack puffed out his cheeks with air and blew it slowly out toward the ground.
"So…what do we do? Every time we send someone out looking for this guy…another one of us goes missing."
"Yes, but this time, there were no signs of our quarry, Sark…"
"But that doesn't mean he wasn't there!" Sydney spoke up, her voice hoarse and ragged. Vaughn patted her hand comfortingly.
"I know," he said. "And we'll find him."
Charlie's neck burned, and somehow he knew the fresh cuts would get infected if they weren't treated soon. He thought about how is life could've been if he hadn't left Liam's house that fateful afternoon almost two months ago.
He could be playing with his niece, writing songs, playing guitar… The only thing wrong with the picture was that he would still be an idiotic druggie…and he wouldn't have met Claire.
But you also wouldn't be lying here, being tortured by a psychotic terrorist for ransom, the small voice in the back of his mind whispered.
Charlie pushed the voice down. He thought back to everything… Since he had come to the island so many horrid things had happened to him.
Going through drug withdrawal. Being hung from the vines. Hearing Claire screaming, calling his name and sobbing…
"CHARLIE!" Claire screamed. "You monster let him go! What did he do to you? Let him go!"
Charlie couldn't see anything, but he could feel the vines cutting into his neck, could feel the air draining from his lungs… But worst of all was Claire's cries for help… He struggled to free himself… But he couldn't. I have to help her! He screamed to himself. I won't…let him…hurt her… But with that his breath—possibly his last—was gone.
Charlie's eyes stung, and he gritted his teeth against the pain. Don't remember that, you git, he yelled at himself. Are you trying to break yourself down for that prat?
Just as Charlie finished re-building his confidence, psycho walked in.(A/N - Courtny: Not the psycho that you are thinking about…or maybe you are, but the other psycho…you'll find out.)
"Hurry, he won't be out long," Danielle said impatiently.
"Oh great, first him now you," Charlie replied sarcastically.
Danielle cut Charlie free and he stood up abruptly and prepared to run, but fell over because he was still partially drugged. After that the French lady left him because he couldn't keep up.
"H-Hey!" Charlie staggered forward…or to the side…or backwards…he couldn't tell. "Wh-where are you…Ahh!" He tripped on something then fell over, his arms failing uselessly above his head as he went down, landing with a dull thud in the dirt.
Muttering curses, he rolled over, got sick, and crawled away, feeling somewhat relieved.
Suddenly he heard footsteps. CRAP! He thought. He squirmed—as much as he could, anyway—to safety behind a bush.
"Charlie?" someone said in a carrying whisper.
Charlie's ears perked up. He knew that voice. It was Kate.
"Kate?" he said in a hoarse whisper. "Is that…you?"
"Oh, God, Charlie!" Kate ran over to the bush he was behind.
Her eyes filled with tears when she saw the cuts around his neck. "Oh, Charlie…" she said softly. "C'mon, let's get you out of here. Claire hasn't stopped crying since you left…"
"I…can't move much. Sark…he drugged me, the bugger."
"Well, we can carry you."
"We…? Who else came?"
"You don't know them. They say they were from the tail end of the plane. Two teenagers." Kate signaled to Mel and Carter.
"OMG IT'S CHARLIE!" Mel whisper yelled. "You rock!"
Charlie smiled weakly. "Thanks…"
And then he passed out. Again.
As Charlie awoke he heard a sob, and then someone grabbed him and hugged him.
"Charlie, I never thought I would see you again!" cried Claire.
"Ah…Claire…I love you," whispered Charlie.
"What did you say?" Claire asked, surprised.
"Nothing," replied Charlie. His heart burned…why couldn't he tell her the truth? But at that moment, he was swamped by the islanders, and carried away.
Sark opened his eyes groggily, pain exploding from behind his head. He realized he was sprawled on the ground, with the gun that woman had used lying next to him. It was empty…and they were both gone. She had got up behind him while he had been…well…he had been careless.
Refraining himself from screaming in frustration, he sat up, let the world spin a few times faster, and then settled himself down. What had happened? Was that woman…could she really be…and who was Alex?
At any case, he got up and checked to see if the case of weapons was still were he had secured it, and smiled. At least one thing was still under his control…and it turned out to be the most important thing.
Claire sat in the caves, mind whirling. Charlie was back. He was safe. But that monster, Sark…he had hurt Charlie so badly… He'd reopened the scars around Charlie's neck…
Claire saw Charlie being tied by the vines to the trees by Ethan. "CHARLIE! You monster, let him go!" she screamed.
Claire shuddered and stood up, walking over to Charlie. "Charlie," she whispered. "Did Ethan…did he really hang you?"
Charlie started to sit up, but Jack gave him a look that said: "Don't even go there."
"You remember?" Charlie asked, shocked.
"Yes…just that…and that Rousseau was trying to hurt me…and I scratched her. Nothing else." She smiled faintly. "Well, other than peanut butter, of course."
Charlie smiled. "Yeah…peanut butter."
END OF CHAPTER
Lils: Aww! Peanut butter! So, what did you think? Well don't tell me now…click go and review! Duh. ((mutters)) simpletons. Hmm…It seems Jaye and Court forgot to leave A/Ns…MORE SIMPLETONS! Haha. I am the only intelligent person here, I suppose. HA! I sound conceited, don't I? Well I'm really not…most of the time that is. Anyway, review!