Disclaimer: I do not own Lost or any of it's characters (obviously or this story wouldn't have happened! stupid Shoone killers!)
Author's Note: Okay, long chapter this time (biggest one yet) so I hope you all like it (because I don't for some reason…) I'd say more, but that's just a waste of your time so read and PLEASE review at the end!
The group continued on its path towards the hatch that Boone had found with Locke all those weeks ago. A small group of the survivors were apparently trying to get it open so they could all use it as a shelter from the Others that were coming for them. Boone doubted they would get it open, or that it would protect them from whatever was after them. He had a feeling that it was where They, whatever they were, came from. When he told Shannon of his suspicions, she just shrugged it off, saying that as long as she was with him, she didn't care about anything else. Immediately after this she became very embarrassed and stopped talking. Boone was touched by her words though. He held her close as they walked to show that he felt the same way.
By midday, they were getting close to their destination. Sayid pressed the group on, despite protests from the weary travelers, claiming that they could rest once they reached their destination. He made no mention of the hatch. It was almost dark when they came upon the hatch, the metal door blown wide open and gaping like a wound in the flesh of the earth. Sayid strode straight up to it, crossing the wooden ladder running over the ditch excavated around it, and peered inside. The rest of the survivors crowded at the edge of the hole cleared around the hatch nervously.
"I wouldn't get too close if I were you." Called a voice from the other side of the clearing. Everyone looked up to see Locke watching Sayid with his penetrating stare. Sayid straightened and came over to him at once, greeting him and asking about their progress in a hushed voice. With a significant glance at Shannon, Boone moved closer to where they were standing in an attempt to catch some of what they were saying. He had not gotten five steps when Locke glanced up and spotted him. His eyes went wide and he stopped talking to Sayid. Boone met his reaction squarely, standing tall and keeping his face expressionless.
For a long time no one spoke as Locke stared at Boone as though he might not be real. After a moment, Sayid told him that Boone had inexplicably reappeared a few days ago and Locke seemed to accept this explanation without question. He simply went back to talking about what had happened up until they had arrived. Boone shrugged off the old man's peculiar response and made his way forward again to stand right next to them, no longer worried that they might not want him to hear. He managed to catch Locke telling Sayid something about the island monster when three figures emerged from the jungle behind them.
Two of the figures stopped upon seeing Boone, Jack and Kate. But the third was too busy watching his own feet, trying not to trip on any protruding roots. Hurley had almost run into Kate before he realized that they had stopped. He looked at the back of her head in confusion until he noticed where she was looking.
"Dude." He exclaimed in wonder. "Uh, guys? I think I might be hallucinating 'cause I can see Boone right now." Boone almost laughed aloud at his response.
"You're not seeing things Hurley." He told the other young man.
The three continued to stare at him. When it became clear that they needed convincing, Boone moved forward and offered his hand to Jack. The man cautiously reached forward and eventually clasped it with his own. His eyes moved from their hands to Boone's face, searching it quickly. Then he smiled and pulled the young man into a tight hug. When he finally pulled away, tears were leaking from the corners of his eyes and the smile had become one of triumph.
Kate came forward and also hugged Boone, her embrace slightly less forceful, before kissing him lightly on the cheek. When she moved away, Hurley moved in and pulled Boone into a bone-breaking hug.
"So," Boone asked of the group, finally managing to extract himself from Hurley's grip, "What's in the hatch?"
"We don't know yet." Jack answered him. "There's some kind of tunnel leading down, but it's too dark to see anything." He looked over to the hatch and Boone followed his gaze. Casting a look across the other members of the group, he strode over and crouched down beside the opening, looking in with interest.
"I don't think our original plan of hiding everyone down there is going to work." Jack said hopelessly.
"Then what are we going to do?" Sayid asked.
"Stand and fight." Boone said simply, standing and looking at them all.
"And how do you suppose we do that?" Sayid questioned, the enmity in his voice evident despite its calm tone.
Boone smiled suddenly, a very strange and alarming expression. It wasn't his usual kind, helpful smile, it was wicked and cruel. There was an evil glint to the natural brightness in his eyes and the others looking at him all shivered despite themselves.
From the other side of the clearing, the rest of the survivors all watched in anticipation, unsure of what the small group of leaders was talking about. Shannon was getting impatient. She didn't like not knowing what was going on. Squaring her shoulders, she marched out from the rest of the group, right up to where Boone stood beside the hatch and snaked her arm about his waist.
"So what's going on?" she asked silkily, ignoring the odd looks from Jack, Kate, Hurley and especially Locke.
The instant she touched him, Boone's expression changed completely, softening to a calm and happy appearance.
"We don't know yet." He told the girl, looking at her with sparkling eyes. "We can't get down into the hatch so we're reassessing our options."
"Oh, okay." She replied simply. Jack, Kate, Hurley and Locke all exchanged bewildered glances. These two had changed a lot since they had last seen them. Shannon suddenly noticed the looks they were getting and turned to the others.
"By the way, Boone and I aren't really related."
"We noticed." Jack said simply, trying and failing to hide a smirk. He had obviously figured it out earlier.
"So." Sayid interrupted, clearly wanting to keep the conversation away from Shannon and Boone. "What are we going to do now that we cannot use the hatch for shelter?"
"I still think we should stand against them." Boone repeated.
"Boone, are you fucking crazy?" Shannon blurted out, moving back to look at him in disbelief. "There's no way we can survive against them. You haven't been here, you don't understand what's been happening. That French lady, she told us that the only thing we can do is try to keep away from them." Shannon couldn't understand why Boone wanted to stand up to these freaks. Sure, he had always had that stupid hero complex, but what he was talking about was just nuts.
"I think we can do it." Boone said simply, talking to the whole group. "All we need is something that the Others wont be able to stand against."
"Where exactly are we supposed to find such a thing?" Sayid questioned again.
"Where do you think?" Boone snapped back instantly. "From the…" he stopped suddenly, glancing behind him at the open hatch. Before anyone could move, he grabbed Shannon and flung himself off the metal platform, landing with a soft thud on the damp ground. Just as he leapt away, a massive dark cloud burst from the opening, lingering above them all like a beast that had cornered a group of helpless animals. Boone's head snapped around to glare at the cloud and, quick as lightning, he leapt towards it, drawing a knife from his belt and slashing at it.
The thing darted away, disappearing into the surrounding jungle soundlessly.
Boone landed in a crouch, his sharp eyes following the direction the cloud had fled until he was certain it would not return. The moment he was sure, he stood again and moved directly to Shannon, helping her up so gently, it was shocking to think that he had been so fearsome just seconds ago. He pulled her into a tight embrace, pressing his face into her hair and closing his eyes as the adrenaline wore off.
"What was that?" Shannon asked shakily, lifting her head from its place in Boone's shoulder and looking at the others.
"We don't know." Jack told her, shaking his head. "But it's not the first time we've seen it."
"You've seen it before?" Boone asked, sounding shocked.
"Yeah, it attacked us before we opened the hatch." Jack told him, looking slightly disturbed by the memory of it. Boone frowned and turned to look back in the direction the black cloud had disappeared.
"Uh, maybe we should go somewhere else, set up camp?" Kate interjected, indicating the crowd of tired looking survivors gathered on the other side of the hatch.