Chapter 8

Kate looked around their surroundings. It was still dark but she could see a little light coming through the leaves of trees overhead. It would be more difficult to run and hide from the Others in the daytime. They have to find a good hiding place fast.

Just then Kate spotted it. About 20 feet from them was something glittering from the leaves of a rather tall tree. It doesn't look like part of the forest. Kate whispered to Sawyer, "You see that tree over there? I think there is some sort of hiding place on top of it."

Sawyer squirted his eyes to focus on the tree Kate was pointing at, trying to ignore the pain in his stomach and right shoulder. It looked damn tall in his current state. "Honey, don't think I am in any state to do an impersonation of Tarzan at the moment…"

"You've got to try, come on!" Kate slipped her arm under Sawyer's armpit and hurled him onto his feet. The sounds of footsteps were getting closer. Knowing that Kate wouldn't leave him behind, Sawyer knew he had to do it for her sake. He took a deep breathe, forced himself to stand up and they ran towards the tree together .

When they reached the bottom of the tree, Sawyer gritted his teeth and immediately started to climb up. He knew that he would not have the strength to start again should he stop to rest now. It wasn't difficult to climb as it seemed that someone has cut many grooves on the thick bark where one's hands and feet could grab on to where branches were absent. But Sawyer right shoulder was screaming in protest with every movement and the pain in his stomach is not showing any sign of fading yet. He tried to concentrate on moving his hands and feet in rhythm, and the sound of Kate climbing right below him spurred him to ascend even faster.

After a short while, Sawyer's hands touched a flat platform. He crawled onto it thankfully, collapsing into a heap. Jesus, who would have thought to find a treehouse on this damn island?

Kate reached the platform right behind him. She looked around and saw what she was looking for - an old torchlight lying on the ground. It was its reflection that she saw earlier on the ground. She took it and placed it behind some leaves immediately. It would be suicidal if one of the Others' saw its reflection like she did earlier.

The place wasn't exactly a treehouse as Sawyer called it. It was just a flat wooden platform built on top of a tree, providing a good lookout point for all activities below. Rosseau must have built it, thought Kate. Luckily it seemed strong enough to support the two of them.

She looked at Sawyer. Gosh, he looked horrible. His previously ashen face was now almost completely devoid of colour. Blood was seeping out beneath the makeshift bandage on his right shoulder. He was lying curled up on the platform with his eyes closed, breathing laboriously.

"Sawyer, Sawyer, can you hear me?" Kate whispered into his ears. It was a miracle that he managed to climb this tree at all. She was prepared to grab him should he falter while climbing earlier, but thankfully he didn't as she doubted her hands will have the strength to stop a 200-lb falling body.

Sawyer opened his eyes slowly. Yeah, he could hear her alright but he didn't have the strength to reply her. He just nodded his head and offered her a weak smile, before closing his eyes again.

Kate took out a bottle of water from the backpack the middle aged woman had given them earlier. She raised Sawyer's head a little and managed to make him drink some before he laid back onto the platform.

She turned to look at the ground below her. The sound of footsteps were much closer now and soon 3 figures appeared. Kate couldn't recognize any of them but guessed they must be Henry's mates. She flattened herself low on the platform, hoping that the leaves in the trees covered her well.

The 3 people below were searching the bushes thoroughly. Kate was glad they had not remained among the bushes, as the rising sun was beginning to make the place brighter and easier to spot.

Just then, a huge bird flew across the forest, screeching in a high pitched sound. The 3 people below raised their heads to follow the bird's flight among the trees. Kate's stomach took a sickening lunge as the bird rested itself on a branch exactly on the tree the two of them are on.