The Man Under The Mask

Part 5

"What have you done!" Kate's emotions tore from horror to ultimate fear as she took in the sight before her.

Sawyer stood there, his body tilted sideways almost threatening to fall, the gun clutched tightly in his hand, looking dumbfoundedly at the body lying under his feet, a pool of crimson blood steadily forming around it.

"You shot him!" Sayid cried tearing his way to Jack, anxiously pressing against the gunshot wound on his chest trying desperately to stop the constant flow of blood.

Kate's legs suddenly seemed too weak to support her. She feebly went to Jack's side, and crawled close to touch him.

Without warning, it began to rain. The heavy flow of drops descended upon the group, drenching them to the bone, yet none of them seemed to notice.

"We've got to get him to camp," Sayid stated raising his voice so it'd be heard over the powerful sound of falling rain.

"What happened?" Charlie's surprised voice came behind them, sounding almost strange to Kate's ears. Jin joined them as well but Kate didn't notice, her attention was completely on Sawyer now. She stood up and faced him, her eyes full of anger and despair. "Why!"

Sawyer remained just as still and silent.

"WHY!" Kate screamed, "Do you know what you've done!"

Slowly his eyes found hers, his hand released the gun, and it fell with a splash against the wet ground.

Kate sobbed. "Why?"

"I warned him," Sawyer spoke in a small voice.

She stared at him in disbelief. "You warned him?"

Sawyer turned away, escaping her condemning stare.

"Kate?" Sayid called and she instantly turned her attention back to Jack.

They finally managed to find a suitable way to carry Jack with minimum inflicted damage. After he made sure Jack was safely on his way to camp with Kate in tow, Sayid decided it was time to deal with Sawyer, but when he turned around, Sawyer was nowhere in sight.

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Sawyer kept on walking until his legs finally gave way and he crumbled to the ground in a heap. He lay there under the rain, just breathing in and out and trying desperately to shut off the horrid images that kept invading his mind.

It was a losing battle, and after a moment he forced himself to stand again. After few steps, his knees buckled again and he fell forward, only this time there were strong arms to hold him up and save him from the rough contact with the solid ground.

Sawyer tore himself away from the body that supported him, and when he looked up and met Mr.Eko's powerful gaze, he did not look surprised only hurt and so very weak.

"Are you okay?"

Sawyer did not respond.

"Come," Mr,Eko put an arm around him, "Let's get back to camp."

"Let go," but when he tried to pull away, Mr,Eko's hold only tightened around him.

"Sawyer," Mr.Eko's voice turned steel as he shook him, "we are going to go back to the camp. It's not safe to stay here, especially now."

"Is he dead?" Sawyer suddenly asked staring intently at a random spot on the ground.

Mr.Eko shook his head, "I don't know."

"I didn't mean to do it," Sawyer admitted weakly.

"I know."

Sawyer shook his head tiredly, "You don't know anything."

"I know more than you think."

Sawyer blinked, suddenly feeling the cold chill that was running through his body. "You're just saying that; now let me go," Sawyer tried to shrug out of Eko's solid grip again but without success.

"I know about him," Mr.Eko told him, "I know why he's doing this to you."

Sawyer stopped his struggle and stared at Eko with wide disbelieving eyes.

"I will help you."

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"Then why?" Sawyer demanded, "Tell me why."

"First, we have to get back."

"I'm not going back."

"Sawyer,.."

"You don't understand," Sawyer interrupted, "He was there. I saw him."

"You were only dreaming."

"I saw him," Sawyer pressed his words, lowering his voice almost to a growl. "He won't leave me alone, I tell you. There's only one way," he held his gaze, "I've got to kill him."

There was a moment of silence, during which Mr.Eko never loosened his grip on Sawyer.

"You are in no condition to fight anyone."

Sawyer never got the chance to respond before a sound of someone approaching caused both men to freeze in a state of alarm.

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