A Close Encounter: Secrets Out

Taylor and Aaron were ready to head back to the caves after being at the beach for the entire morning. It was now late afternoon and Hunter, who was feeling a little stir crazy, decided a change of scenery was needed and was preparing to go with them. They all agreed it was nice to have someone different to talk to on the long walk to the caves.

"So what's new with you Hunter? Haven't seen you in awhile." Taylor said feeling guilty for not balancing her work and friends very well.

"Nothing really. I hear you're up at the caves saving lives! How does it feel?" Hunter seemed really interested.

"I love it. It's really great." Taylor answered simply.

"I guess. I heard from Bo what a great job you did on him. He said to thank you by the way." Hunter dug his elbow into her ribs playfully. She giggled and punched his arm back.

"Well, I did what I had to." Taylor took Aaron's hand as they were walking. No one said much after that but it wasn't an awkward silence it was just…silence. Just three friends walking together.

But all of that was broken when a noise came their way. It was the same sound as the night of Taylor and Aaron's wedding. That eerie, almost mechanical howl.

The three froze didn't know what to do. Should they run? Should they hide? Should they stay right where they were? Taylor did know however and took Aaron's and pulled him along to the side of the path. In return Hunter followed.

Taylor winded her was through the roots and low hanging branches of a near by tree, carefully wedging herself between two protruding roots. The monster screeched again as Aaron and Hunter huddled with Taylor under the tree.

"Should I be afraid?" Hunter asked.

"Yes. Shh." Taylor frustrated told him the truth. It was silent after that except for the monster's howling and the shake of the ground as it came closer.

Aaron grabbed hold of Taylor and drew her close. He held fast and tight to her. He knew all he needed to hear about this 'thing' and wasn't going to loose the love of his life to it. She clung to him as well, making sure that he wasn't going to leave her.

Taylor had no idea she could ever be this scared. She'd never had a reason to be scared before. Now danger stood all around them and she didn't know which way was up. Thank god she had Aaron there for her.

Hunter was pressed close to Aaron's back. He didn't have anyone to hold and he wasn't man enough to hold Aaron so he just stayed close with his eyes shut tight. He didn't want to see this. He figured if he couldn't see it, it wasn't real. Or at least that's what he had convinced himself.

The ground shook once more and a near by tree flew into the air spraying the trio with mud. Taylor and Aaron shut their eyes and shook against each other. They were afraid.

Everyone stood vary still as the monster let out one last cry then they could hear it walk off into the distance. The pound of its footsteps becoming further apart as the seconds went by.

Taylor let out a breath for the first time in what seemed like hours. She leaned her head against Aaron's chest and breathed deeply. He rapped his arms around her waist and brought her in even closer to him. They were safe.

Hunter on the other hand, still couldn't breath and was clinging firmly to a root. Taylor and Aaron looked at him with his eyes wide and face pale and snickered as they helped him regain control of himself. The three walked cautiously the rest of the way to the caves. They had survived their first encounter with the monster. Unfortunately it wouldn't be their last.

000

"Oh my god! What is that sound?" Christy stood far away from the jungle line but still curious and wary of what was producing the sound that could be heard on the beach.

Jack could hear it and looked horrified. Taylor, Aaron, and Hunter were in there with the thing. Jack prayed they had enough common sense to hide or run, even. Tina and Sawyer came running up behind him.

"Hey doc! Is that what I think it is?" Sawyer asked with a rare showing of concern.

"I'm afraid so." He said quietly back to the southern man.

"It's been almost fifteen years, hasn't it? Why would it show up now?" Tina asked fearful that life was going to get really hard all of the sudden.

"I don't know." Jack whispered to himself. "I just don't know."

Will, Noah and Mia had joined Christy in starring at the jungle. They had never heard that sound except for once. At Taylor and Aaron's wedding about two months ago.

Christy was the only one who was really listening to what the adults were saying a few feet away from them and she couldn't believe her ears. They knew what it was. And they hadn't told all of them. She didn't know exactly why this enraged her but it did. She thought hard for a few moments before confronting the elderly islanders.

"Who it hell's name do you think you people are?" She asked in an angry high-pitched voice.

Jack and the other's just stared at her. What was she talking about. "What?" Someone finally asked.

"Oh! Like you don't know. I could hear every word you just said! You know what that thing is and it's a danger to my friends that are in there!" She screamed pointing to the jungle.

Tina pushed past Sawyer and Jack and tried to calm the girl. "Honey listen. Everything is fine and I'm sure Taylor, Aaron and Hunter are already at the caves. This thing is nothing to worry about." She assured with a very fake smile. She had never been a good actress.

"Tell me the truth." Christy said with diction and confidence. Tina looked at her with ashamed eyes and them looked at Jack and Sawyer. They looked down as an answer to Tina's unarticulated question.

"Christy why don't you come with me." She nodded with her brow still furrowed.

Now, Noah, Will, and Mia who were all witnesses to this little outburst and hadn't heard a word of what the adults had said before, wanted answers as well. They looked to Jack and Sawyer who looked at each other and took the young adults aside to tell them everything.

A/N: Now I'm stuck! HELP! If you have any suggestions that would be great. I have a twist that I'm going to throw in no matter what but it won't be for a while…I decided. Sorry! Review please!