Summary: Sawyer, Michael, and Jin find themselves captured by fellow survivors of Flight 815. After being tricked by Ana Lucia, they are released from their cell, but are watched very closely. But their adventure is far from over. Michael heads into the jungle to search for Walt, and Sawyer and Jin are ordered to show them their camp. Along the way, Sawyer can't help but be attracted to a beautiful survivor. But on an island full of secrets, not all can be hidden for long.
Disclaimer: I do not own any LOST characters. They all belong to the talented mind of J.J. Abrams.
Author's Note: I'm sorry to all "Skate" fans but that is one relationship I do not like. If you are offended by the relationship I am writing, I suggest you stop reading. Istarting writing this after Episode 3 (Orientation)so again if you do not like where I am going, stop reading.And reviews (good or bad – I like to learn from my mistakes) are greatly appreciated. I will try to update every other day. Now without further delay, I present to you:
Strangers Like Me
Chapter 1
Sawyer strained his neck up towards the cell opening. Outside he could hear their captors talking, discussing situations, and what to do with their prisoners. Below him, Michael and Jin waited patiently, or tried to wait patiently. Michael had begun a pace inside the very small cell and Jin kept tapping Sawyer on the leg, hoping for updates. Now Jin was mumbling in Korean distracting Sawyer from the conversation happening above. Groaning, for his bullet wound still burned, Sawyer turned and shot a scowl towards Jin.
"Will you shut up!" he said causing Michael to stop pacing. "I can't hear what they're saying." Jin looked at Sawyer, the usual confused expression on his face. Sawyer rolled his eyes. He had given up trying to translate his words for Jin. If he didn't know simple words like 'shut up' by now then he would never get them.
Somehow Jin understood for he was now silent as a corpse. This caused a slight panic in Sawyer and Michael. The two looked at Jin and saw that he was looking upwards. Following his gaze they saw the oversized African American man standing at the foot of the opening. His gaze was cold, just the way it was when he struck them down. Eyes of fury, cruelty, and power. Now all three men were quiet. They expected him to use the gun Ana Lucia stole from Sawyer to take them out for good any minute, but instead he threw open the cell and threw down a large rope.
"Grab the rope," he growled a faint accent in his voice. Michael placed it as Nigerian, but couldn't be sure. He and Sawyer merely stared at each other, wondering if it was a good idea. Wondered if at the top the others would be there ready to attack. It was Jin who for the first time translated something correct. Pushing past Sawyer he reached for the rope and the man pulled him up.
Michael and Sawyer were still as stone while they watched Jin disappear over the edge of the cell. They listened closely for any sign of a struggle or screams. When nothing vibrated in their ears, they only hoped it was safe. The man came back a second time and Michael was hoisted up. Before it was his turn to go Sawyer took this advantage to look for some type of weapon. No one beats him up without getting something back in return. Just as the rope was thrown down a third time, Sawyer spotted a large brown stone. Reaching out he enclosed his fingers around it and used his other arm to hang on to the rope. After both Sawyer and Michael were on the top they saw that Jin was unharmed and that the survivors had formed a circle around them.
"I guess they were waiting for the full party," Sawyer whispered to Michael who prayed he was wrong. The survivors came closer, but none seemed to be holding a weapon. The only one who had something dangerous was Ana Lucia. Tucked in the front of her pants was Sawyer's gun. He stared at it, devising a way he could try and get it back into his hands. No one spoke for several minutes and it was strange to hear the island so quiet.
"What are your names?" the Nigerian man said. He had a low, deep voice, and it was clear that he was indeed their leader. Neither of them spoke and Michael knew it was probably not good to keep this man waiting.
Clearing his throat, he said, "My name is Michael. This is Sawyer and Jin. He doesn't speak much English. And you are?"
"I'll ask the questions here," the man roared back causing a slight jump to everyone around him. "Ana Lucia tells me you are survivors of a crash?"
"Yes, Flight 815," Michael began. "There were 48 of us, but now only 45. We lost two. Were you all on that plane too?"
"I said I am asking the questions!"
Michael gasped and stepped back a few paces. Sawyer saw his cowardice and knew it was his turn to speak. Taking a few steps forward he began, his voice just loud enough to be considered a yell.
"Listen, Gilligan, we had our raft blown up, I got shot, Mike's kid was taken, and Jin-well, Jin-, and we were beaten, thrown in a hole, and tricked by a dark haired cupcake. We have answered enough of your questions. Now how about answering some of ours!"
Everyone seemed to be staring at Sawyer like he was dead meat. The Nigerian man stepped forward, but Ana Lucia cut in front of him. This is exactly what Sawyer wanted. The moment she was close enough he would use the rock and grab the gun. Michael knew what his plan was and knew that it was not going to work.
Ana Lucia was inches from Sawyer. Her dark eyes glaring into his light ones. Everyone knew something was going to happen. The anticipation was too great in a place like this. Sawyer concealed the rock best he could in his hand while using his other hand to rub the bullet wound. Ana Lucia smirked and noticed the rock behind his back.
"What you got there?" she said moving a little closer to him.
"Nothing," Sawyer replied in his best innocent tone.
"Are you looking to get some revenge?"
Before Sawyer could answer Ana Lucia took a hard swing and punched him. The bolt wasn't hard enough to knock him down, but just hard enough for a small bruise to be left behind. The rock slipped through his fingers and fell to the ground.
Sighing, Sawyer looked back at Ana Lucia and said, with a threatening tone, "Do that again, I'll kill ya."
Ana Lucia turned back around and looked to strike him again, but Michael interrupted.
"Please, all we want to know is if you have seen a little boy? 10 years old?" he pleaded while Ana Lucia walked back to stand beside the Nigerian man. "Please? He's my son, Walt. I need to find him."
"No, we haven't," Ana Lucia replied, a sense of sorrow in her voice. "You are the only people we have seen in days. Except for the 'Others'."
All three men shot a glare at her and seeing this she scoffed. "So I guess you've heard of them too."
"Heard of them? We've seen them! They are the ones who took my son!" Michael shouted.
"Why would they take your son?" the Nigerian man responded. He felt awkward not being in this conversation, especially when it was about people as despicable as the "Others".
"I have no idea, you tell me."
"Look, this conversation is getting us nowhere," another survivor shouted. She was a woman in her thirties with golden blonde hair and was leaning against a long twig.
"Libby's right," Ana Lucia said and turned towards the Nigerian. The two began a quiet conversation. Sawyer, Michael, and Jin formed their own little triangle and began talking as well.
"What are we going to do?" Michael asked Sawyer more than Jin. "Do you think they are the 'Others'?"
"No, they seem too clean to be them," Sawyer replied while looking at each of the survivors closely. "Each of them looked like the everyday person who unfortunately was caught in a plane crash."
"Camp." Jin said, stuttering the first few tries. Michael and Sawyer looked him a little confused. "Camp," he said again and used his palm as a platform. With his other hand he used his index and middle finger to make it look like someone was walking. Michael was first to translate.
"Take them to our camp?" he said and Jin nodded. "Why would they want to go there?"
"Oh, because maybe they don't have any food here and want to salvage ours," Sawyer added rubbing harder every second at his wound. "Ugh, forget it, I don't know."
Just then Ana Lucia and the Nigerian had finished talking and turned towards the three men.
"You will take us to your camp," the man said. It was clearly a command and not a request.
Sawyer looked at Michael who looked at Jin. Sometimes Jin's mind scared them. Though he spoke little English, he seemed to know the way their minds work. They then continued to listen as the man gave more orders.
"Ana Lucia, Libby, Roger, Gibb, and Valerie will come to the camp. The rest of you will stay here and keep an eye on things." The man suddenly started to search the crowd and saw that only four of the five names he called were present. "Ana Lucia, where is Valerie?"
"She went into the jungle earlier," she replied also looking for their fellow castaway. "She's been gone for nearly an hour now."
"We must find her! Everyone spread out and take different entrances. Gibb, Libby, watch these three!"
Sawyer, Michael, and Jin watched while the group scattered to look for their missing survivor. Sawyer wondered if the "monster" came to their side of the island as well. Michael thought the same thing with the polar bears.
Another hour faded away and there was still no sign of Valerie. Ana Lucia met with the Nigerian first and then slowly everyone started coming back, disappointment written all over their faces.
"No luck," Ana Lucia said patting him on the shoulder. It was clear to Sawyer, Michael, and Jin that they thought they had lost someone. "She's was tough, but maybe it was the 'Others'."
"Think again," a voice suddenly said. It was an unfamiliar voice to Sawyer, Michael, and Jin, but to their fellow survivors, it was a voice known and loved.
Staggering from the jungle, exhausted and a little sweaty, was Valerie. No older than twenty-three, she had childlike eyes and a woman's body. Her hair was fine and the color of milk chocolate which stopped inline with the middle of her neck. Her turquoise shirt was sleeveless and wet. Her jeans were vintage with slits at the knees and faded at the hips.
Ana Lucia and the Nigerian ran over to her, checking her bruises and cuts. Sawyer could see their mouths moving, but they were too far to make out any words. He froze when they looked at him. He knew Valerie was asking who they were and within a few seconds the three were walking in their direction.
"Other survivors? Where?" Valerie asked while whipping the dirt from her pants.
"On the other side of the island," Ana Lucia replied. "They are taking us there now."
"Oh, good, so I didn't miss all the fun."
"By the way, Valerie, where were you?"
"In the jungle, escaping from the 'Other's."