Disclaimer: I married JJ Abrams brilliant mind. Not. insert usual disclaimer stuff here
A/N: I got bored of this story for awhile, so I decided to spice things up a bit (you'll see what I mean). I've completely disregarded the first season now because it's hard for me to follow it when I can't remember the order of the happenings too well. Anyway, tell me what you think!
Chapter Five: Nightmares continued
I pushed the leaves aside. Oh, God, there were so many, and they were just there, always in front of me, hard to push aside, like they were trying to keep me from being alone. I want to be alone, but they won't let me. Can't they see how desperately I need to get away from this camp, this horror, my nightmare?
Suddenly, the ground is at my face, and it makes a strangled sound come out of my throat, and I just cant hold back anymore. Tears stream down my face, all of them racing each bead that dripped down. I whisper at them to stop, but they wont. I've waited too long, and I need to release my built up frustration. My legs allow me to stand after a moment, and drunkenly, I stumble around the leaves. Once I found the little lake, my legs give out, and I cry more freely.
Why can't Jack accept me as his sister? It's not my fault. How can it be my fault? I have no control over these things. Can't he see how utterly alone I am? No one's ever been there for me. I confessed to Charlie, but only because I needed to talk to someone, and he was there. Charlie was the only person I could talk to. I just need someone, and Jack just… He can't bloody see.
The air hangs stiffly around me, as it usually is at night. My mind's screaming for rain to cover my falling tears, to erase the evidence. It's disgusting how I can always hide my feelings, but then they come back, and I can't hide anymore once they do.
Some leaves rustle to the left, and my head snaps in that direction. "Who's there?" I croak. My throat's dry from all my crying.
No one answers.
"Hello?" I ask, taking hold of a sharp stone beside me. I don't think whoever's behind the trees is a friend. Definitely a foe.
"Hello," someone says from behind.
Slowly, I turn to find a man with a dirty, white beard. His stomach is a bit round, despite the lack of food. However, I couldn't recognize him from camp.
"Who are you?"
"I'm here to help."
What does he mean by that?
"I don't want your help."
"I'm afraid you have no choice. You need to be taken away from the bad people."
"What bad people?" I ask,
"Them," he says as a sharp pain reaches the back of my head, and I fall into darkness.
My heavy eyelids force themselves open.
They're met with darkness.
Where… Where am I?
I let my hands roam the area.
Stone.
Everywhere.
Everywhere is stone.
I start breathing heavily. Where am I? All I can see is the dark. All I can feel is the stone.
What did that man do to me?
My screams begin to engulf me. The place I'm in echoes this sound, and my screams are the only company I have. There's no doubt that whoever he is, he's listening. I don't know how, but he is.
A shiver travels up my spine.
Footsteps meet my ears.
Something falls to my left, and someone's walking away.
"WAIT! COME BACK!" I scream, as I get up and try to run after whoever it was. That's when I find out that my right ankle is chained to the wall.
Miserably, I sink down back to the ground, and felt for whatever fell down here. I found the object, and my hands felt around it.
A roughly, carved bowl.
My hands dipped inside and found something damp. It could be water… Or it could not be water. I'm not sure if I should trust them.
Then, of course, I notice my dry throat.
I hate my life.
Lifting the bowl to my nose, I sniff the substance.
Well, it smells like water. Water has no distinct smell, though.
Should I risk it?
I place the bowl on the ground next to me. I'm not that desperate yet. My back finds the "wall," and I rest against it. After letting my eyes close, I truly begin to notice my parched throat, and I try to ignore it.
Then, I start to wheeze.
I'm… I'm having an asthma attack? No, it hasn't been triggered since I finished the SATs. It can't come back.
Steadily, my breathing becomes harder.
Cough.
It has to be all the stress lately.
Wheeze.
My hands find my throat and tries to scratch that itchy feeling away, also hoping for the wheezing to cease.
"Drink the water."
I shake my head in response. I can recognize his voice, that man from yesterday. If he says it's ok to drink, then I don't think I want to drink it.
"We don't have inhalers here."
I don't reply.
"We just want to help."
"If… (wheeze) you want… (cough) to help… (wheeze) then… (wheeze) bring me back (cough)… to them (cough)."
"I can't do that. Drink the water, or I'll force it down your throat."
Why didn't I expect him to threaten me? Of course, he would. How stupid of me.
Reluctantly, my hands take hold of the bowl, and bring it to my lips. The fresh, cool taste of water meets my lips, and makes its way down my throat. It tickles the dry areas, and I nearly cough it up.
"Slow down," he says.
I roll my eyes in response. A dummy could've figured out I needed to slow down.
Again, I bring the bowl to my lips and take another sip. This time, it went down more easily. However, I'm still wheezing, but I'm beginning to feel a bit better.
"A lot of stress?"
"Why do you want to know?" I ask, my voice hinting at the wheezing that I'm trying not to do. Trying so hard not to do…
"We've been watching you."
That sounds awful. How long have they been watching me? When do they watch me? Do they know my name, too?
"I'll leave you alone now." I can just see him turning.
"WAIT!"
There's a slight pause, and I realize he's waiting for me to speak.
"Who are you? How many people are in your group?"
"Answers are for another time. You need to rest."
And, that was the end of that.
Three days have passed. There have been shadows of people bringing me food and water, but I never actually get to see them. I can't chase after them since I'm chained. I feel like I've been here forever. All I do, all day long, is stare into the darkness, thinking about my life, my mistakes, mainly. People I didn't say good-bye to, and feeling guilty about it because they think I'm dead. My last fight with my mom, who thinks I hate her. I mean, she's my mom, and she's made mistakes, but I don't really hate her. I just don't really like her. I do love her, though, because in her really weird ways, I know she loves me, and I regret telling her how much I "hate" her before I left for Australia. Now she thinks I'm lost in sea, and has no body to bury. She must be as miserable as I am, which means she's probably at home, burying her face in countless of expensive chocolates with no one but maids to keep her company.
"We've decided to let you out."
I jump slightly. I hadn't noticed anyone was there.
"Why?" I ask suspiciously.
"You're too weak to run away now. While you're regaining your strength, you'll see we're not bad people. You'll want to stay."
Whoever it was (it wasn't the man from the first night), walked over to the chain and unlocked the lock.
I was free, but I knew they could catch me if I do anything now. The opportune moment is waiting for me, and I'm eagerly looking for it. I'm just hoping it won't take too long to find me. But, like he said, I need my strength back. It's only been three days, so it shouldn't take too long, right?
Light appears in the distance, and I figure this is my way outside. Sluggishly, I begin walking towards it; my legs feel like jelly after so little movement over the last three days.
Gladly, I welcome the rush of fresh air as I step outside. Three days without fresh air, and you really miss it. It's like stepping off an airplane after a ten-hour flight.
I look around the trees, the cave I was in, and the makeshift huts. They seemed like the kind you can destroy quickly if you're in a hurry to move out.
Will I have to move around with them? Oh hell, I hope not. Not now. Not when my legs feel like this. Not when so many pains are running inside my mind, hoping to take control. Hoping to make me cry in front of them.
Well, I won't cry in front of them, and no one can make me. These people are strangers, and unclean strangers at that. They're just starting to come out of their huts. Most of the men have scraggly beards and dirt beneath their nails. Women have tangled hair as if they neglected to brush it; their armpits are filled with hair, obviously not shaving there considering there didn't seem to be a point, and their legs weren't much better. I somehow managed not to shudder, which is good because I have no doubt they could kill me before I even knew what happened, and I didn't want to test my theory. No way will I test my theory, at least, not yet. But, I know I'll have to run away. If they want me this badly, they'll come after me. Guaranteed.
"This is your hut," he says, pointing to a hut across from that cave. "You're free to walk around, but walk too far, and we'll come after you."
I nodded, and turned away. Everyone is staring at me. And then, I noticed the kids. Small, ugly little things. It's horrible they have to grow up here.
After one last look at the lot of them, I walked towards the jungle in hopes to be alone for awhile, which is ironic because I've been alone for the last few days. Anyone who wants to be alone with them are crazy, though.
I met a small stream on my walk, and I sat next to it. Having something other than the dark was nice, but the light was too bright after being the dark so long. I found that I had to blink profusely after a couple of minutes.
Now… Where's the ocean? And how far were they willing to let me wander before dragging me back? Should I test their patience?
Yes, I should. I wouldn't get anywhere if I didn't.
My eyes jumped from tree to tree, trying to make sure they weren't following me. I let my feet follow the stream because I hope it will lead to the ocean. Don't get me wrong, I'm not running away yet. That's just stupid.
When I could just hear the sound of waves crashing the beach, something grabbed me from behind and shoved me against a tree.
He pushed hard against my body, making sure I couldn't get away, and made it difficult to struggle against him. His eyes glared into mine. They were blue and clear. His dark hair contrasted his pale skin, but I couldn't figure out why his skin was pale when he lives outside.
"What are you doing?" he whispered fiercely, breathing hot breath on my face. I turn my face away from him, but his dirt-laden hand grabs it and holds it so I have to look at him. And when I notice he's pretty handsome despite the dirt, I inwardly scold myself. Now's not the time for romance, and he's not the kind of person I should get romantic with. Ever.
"You didn't answer my question," he said with the same ferocity.
Involuntarily, I shuddered, and he thrust his hips suggestively as he realized how uncomfortable I was.
"Answer me."
"I… was just trying to find the ocean."
"Well, why didn't you just say so?" he asked as he went off me. He held tightly onto my arm and started pulling me in the direction of the ocean.
"What are you doing?" I ask him nervously.
"You want the ocean, I'll take you to the ocean."
As we reached the beach, he shoved me into the water. "There's your damned ocean."
Salt water goes up my nose as I sit up, and I cough trying to get it out. When I stand up, the water tries to weigh me down. Before I'm completely out, he comes up to me again and presses his lips hard against mine; even before I could register what happened, it was over. "We better get back before they realize how far you've wandered," he said, still sounding angry. I'm left feeling confused as he takes hold of my arm again and drags me back.
To be continued…
To make sure no one's confused, Liv has been taken by The Others. Now, I haven't read any theories about them, so sorry if that bugs anyone. Is anyone miffed by my change of style? Over all, what do you guys think?
Don't forget to…
Review!
And… Perhaps I'll name an Other after the 7th reviewer on this chapter. If there's no 7th reviewer, I'm simply going to write more, but never put it on this site. Yes, I'm evil. Besides, is seven so much to ask for?