Keeping Watch: Escape

It took me a minute to think this through but I think I got it where I want it. I hope you all like it and please review.

Her chest constricted as she ran through the forest. Behind her she heard him huffing and the kid's smaller feet struggling to keep up.

"Come On!" she shouted pushing herself harder.

They all ran faster knowing that their captures were close behind. It was a race for their lives because if they were caught, the adults would surely die. So they pushed themselves dragging the children who were about to pass out from exhaustion when they broke through all the brush and trees to a cliff.

She skidded to a halt tumbling slightly when the kids crash against her. She turned back facing him and he shook his head.

"We can't!"

She ran to the edge looking over. She walked quickly back to them. She took a deep breath and she nodded. "We have to." Taking the two kids hands she said, "Hold onto me."

In a flash she ran and then leaped. The kids screamed in their descent. Above her she heard his voice as he let out a yelp. Then she was in the water going deep before she slowed. Pushing herself up, she searched for the two kids, finding the girl moving to the surface. Glancing around she spotted the young boy. She grabbed his hand pulling him up.

"Haaa," she spat. Shaking her head she checked on the boy who was coughing water. She swiveled around trying to find everyone when he popped up with a boy next to him.

"You're crazy Ana!' shouted Michael.

"Fine. Now let's get out of here."

They splashed to the edge, Ana pulling Emma and Zack up out of the water, both coughing. Michael stood trying to catch his breath with Walt staring at them tensely.

"We have to go," he said in a mysterious voice.

Ana nodded rapidly but she too was bent over after having to swim pulling two children. She took two more deep breaths causing her to wince at the pain she felt in her chest. Then she turned, taking the kids hands again.

"Keep running," she said before taking off. Michael and Walt followed. Behind them they heard the cry of the Others making them press even faster.

It was a couple of hours later that they finally rested in a heavily foliage area. They are hiding under a thorny brush that concealed them but still allowed them the ability to see anyone who was coming. Walt told them that they were safe and so did Emma. The children freaked out Ana. They had an almost mystical way about them. They understood and knew things about the island that neither Michael nor Ana could explain. But they came with her when she thought they wouldn't. The Others were trying to thoroughly brainwash the children and Ana figured that eventually those kids may have turned into one of the rank and file others if Ana and Michael hadn't showed up.

She felt the boy Zack move closer to her making her ribs hurt. She hasn't really had a chance to adequately heal from the pain inflicted on her while in the hands of the others. Even now she has to fight the need to pass out from the injuries she has suffered because of them. Still she was alive by some miracle. She fought closing her eyes for fear that she wouldn't wake up and she was determined to get them all back to the saner part of the island and if it means life there then so be it.

Michael sat holding Walt close but studiously watching Ana for any signs that she was about to pass out. Inspecting her face, he noticed that some of the older bruises had gone into the healing phase while the others were dark, blotchy, and painful to the eyes. Michael knew that those bruises aren't anything compared to what he saw under her shirt when he tried to clean her up after she was disposed into his shelter/prison.

Ana had been beaten to within an inch of her life. It was only after cleaning her up that he noticed that her knuckles were raw, probably from defending herself. Michael's anger flared at the idea that someone would inflict pain on anyone but in particular a woman. Maybe that was a sexist thought but he was raised that hitting women was tantamount to murder and he knew that a man hit her. He saw the women in this crazy group holding him prisoner. None of them could have handled someone like Ana not to the extent that she was damaged.

Flashback

On the first night with the group, he was tossed in dilapidated shelter. He demanded to know what the hell they were going to do with him but all he got was a fist in his mouth. Locked away, his mind churned with thoughts about the fate of his son, whether or not he was okay. Further, he wondered about his own fate and that of Ana. She killed one of their own. He bet that wanted satisfaction for that. He saw that they had her, dragging her in the opposite direction of him.

His answers came faster than he expected. He was let out early the next morning under guard. As he walked, he noticed that there seemed to be a perpetual fog hanging in the air. Something in him felt that it was a deliberate action but for what purpose he didn't know. A couple of times he stumbled as the rolling low clouds obscured his vision and the guard would catch him in a vice grip. Michael always jerked away.

They made it to another shelter and he was shoved in the room. He glanced around the dimly lit area wondering. In the shadows he saw the presence of others but none moved forward. Finally, he noticed a man, similar looking to the asshole who took him, whisper to a person sitting next to him. The person stood up a moment later. The person walked over to Michael as Michael realized that it was a child. As the child came closer he noticed the familiar shape of his son.

He started to rush forward but was grabbed by the man that escorted him to the shelter.

"Let me go!" Michael snapped trying to jerk loose.

The man held him until Walt was standing before him. At that time he let him go and Michael grabbed his son pulling him into a tight embrace. He whispered his apologies for not coming faster and asked if he were all right. It took him a long time to realize that his son was not responding to him in any way. Slowly he moved away to stare in his son's face. Walt's face was blank, as if he were a walking shell. There was nothing in his eyes that registered to Michael that at the moment anyone was home.

Michael stroked Walt's face, whispering to him, trying to coax his son back into reality. But Walt didn't respond.

"What the hell have you done to my son!"

He heard a chuckle moving through the air, sending a cold chill down his spine. The man then stood and approached Michael slowly. Michael stood, pulling his son closer to him. The man stopped staring at him closely.

"Your son is special. Very special. He has skills that we could teach him make him even better than he is now. But he won't help us…" the man smirks. "Rather he won't communicate with us so that we can help him. We had to come up with a way to get him out of his shell. So we let him send a little message to you thinking maybe we can take you, though tainted, and that would help us along. But even you don't seem to have the ability to awaken him from his self-induced coma."

The man snapped his fingers. Another man behind Michael came forward and trying to pry Walt from Michael but Michael held tight. Seconds later he felt his son grip him fiercely. This emboldened Michael further.

"You're not taking my son from me again," he roared. He shoved the man pulling on him and took a step back taking Walt with him.

The bearded man glared at him, then at his son. There was a tense moment of wonder. Michael could see that the man had no problem with killing him if it so suited his purpose. It was in the man's cold eyes that were disturbingly sane in a serial killer kind of way. He couldn't shake the fear that he was truly in a land where the rules have not only been bent but broken. He needed to get his son away from these people. He needed to get them off the island.

He noticed that other people in the room were coming closer to him. Michael kept stepping back, his son stumbling forward with him. He didn't know how close to the door he was but he didn't dare look back to find out. He only felt safe with his eyes on the people in front of him.

The bearded man held up his hand and almost like magic Michael stopped. He tried to will himself to move but it was like a power kept him in place. As he struggled, he felt his grip on his son starting to fail. He fought, trying to maintain his hold but he couldn't.

"No, no no. Walt!" He shouted as his hands slipped free.

"Dad!" the boy screamed.

Michael lunged forward, suddenly free of the force holding him only to be knocked back to the ground by a heavy fist. He tried to get off his back but a boot landed heavy on his chest winding him. His hands gripped the boot as the weight attempted to grind his chest into the ground.

"Shit," he gasped as the pain increased. Somewhere in the back of his mind he registered that the man was killing him right in front of his son. The thought angered him. As the boot pressed even harder on his chest, his anger came forward and with a powerful push he knocked the man off his chest. The man stumbled back and when he came forward again, Michael kicked the man in the knee. Michael slid back away from the man coughing. Finally he stood glaring at the others, eyes searching for his son.

Walt was standing closer to his father than he thought and ran to him suddenly. Michael almost stumbled from the force of his son's impact. Michael hugged him again before moving him back to look to his eyes. There was life present, the vacancy gone. He smiled at his son pulling him close. Maybe things would all right after all.

A cold voice interrupted his thoughts.

"You'll live as long as he does what we ask. If you try anything we kill you or maybe worst." The man chuckled.

Michael just glared as the man told someone to take them out the building. In an instant he and Walt were out the in mysterious fog walking to the place he had previously rested. It was just at that moment when they were halfway to their destination that the fog moved away like a slow rising curtain. In the clear air he saw Ana.

She was hanging arms stretched and stressed. A rope was tied to her wrist and the rope looped over a hook attached to a high pole. Her feet dangle, limp and lifeless. She seemed to be swaying in the windless air. Her face was bloody, bruised and her clothes in particular her shirt was in tatters. She was on display, a warning to him, a symbol to others of what happened to those that cross them. Michael's heart stopped at the sight of her. He thought she was dead until he caught one of her eyes. Thought faint there was life present, a fire in it that let him know that they haven't broken her yet. But just as quickly as it happened the fog slowly closed around her and it was as if she wasn't there at all.

A day passed and he sat with his son talking and asking him what the hell was going on at the strange settlement. Walt said little at first; just content to be close to his father. But slowly he opened up telling him about the return to the island, the trek through the woods, the meeting of the other children. Walt said that the man told him that he was special and that they had great plans for them but Walt had no idea what they were. Walt just remembered shutting down, thinking that his father was dead too and he was all alone.

Michael held him close, telling him everything would be okay. But the next day the man came for Walt. Michael refused to let them take his son but the man told him he'd better or they both will live to regret it. Michael hesitated but then relented telling Walt that he will be there when he gets back. And after waiting what seemed like hours sitting on pins and needles, Walt did indeed return to Michael. He asked his son what happened and Walt told him that they made him do test; trying to guess what was behind cards, asking him if he could sense anyone or other things around him. Michael had a sense that they were making his son into some kind of psychic freak. It frightened him but he kept it together until Walt told him they had to leave.

"They are going to get the other's from our side of the island and kill the rest they don't like. They are going to make us help by going into their minds and finding those who are worthy. They want us to find out everything about them so that they can take them."

"Whose us?" asked Michael.

"The other kids. Zack and Emma. They said we are special but I'm the best. They don't like you dad. They don't think you are worthy but they need me so…" he trailed off.

Michael's eyes darted back and forth before settling on Walt's again.

"We are going to get out of here."

A weird smile formed on Walt's face. "I know. And it will be soon."

Michael didn't understand Walt's belief but in two days he had his hands full. Ana was dumped into his prison. It was around the time when they would drop off food for Michael that he gained a roommate. Ana fell to the ground like a bag of discard trash. Michael stared at her wondering about her life when he saw her side move. Getting up he approaches her. Gently he reached out moving her to her side.

When she lay on her back, Michael got the shock of his life. Her face was a patchwork of bruises, more bruises than when he last saw her. Her face was completely swollen. Her wrist had rope burns around them and through the tattered shirt he saw even more bruises and cuts.

"My God," he whispered before jumping up and finding water.

Tearing his shirt he went about the task of cleaning up Ana, being careful not to hurt her more. He couldn't believe that she was still alive after he finished. Even after he cleaned her up, she still look like she needed real medical attention. But it was her vacant eyes, absent of any awareness that scare him the most.

"Ana. Ana, come on wake girl. It's not time to check out." But she didn't acknowledge him in any way.

When Walt return he asked his father about Ana and Michael told him who she was. Walt stared at Ana for a long time before turning to his father.

"She thinks she deserved what happened to her. She is lost in a very bad memory."

Michael studied his son. "How do you know that?"

Walt shrugged. "I just know." He turned to his father, "We have to help her. She has to help us get out."

Michael knew that himself. He could run but he knew that he would need more help than his son to get out. Michael was able to defend himself yet he felt Ana was trained as a fighter. Besides he wasn't about to leave her there to get beaten on by a bunch of insane people who wanted to use his kid to annihilate others.

So he tried to coax her out of her trance. He offered her food but she didn't eat. She barely drank water and he was willing to bet that she didn't sleep. Nothing he tried in two days got her to move or barely blink. She just sat there against the wall he had her propped against looking dead to the world.

It was on the third night that he found Walt whispering to her. There was something eerie about his presence at the moment. He seemed almost ethereal. Michael wasn't sure what to make of his son or even if that was son was even there. Walt just didn't seem like his child at the moment. Then Michael overheard Walt say something that made him pause.

"He is waiting for you."

What could his son mean by that? Michael didn't know but what he saw a second later made him gasp. Ana blinked. She really blinked for the first time in days. Not that slow dragging blink that people do when they aren't really aware of their surroundings. This time there was awareness in her eyes that had been missing. Ana's eyes were filled with unshed tears but those eyes stared at Michael like she knew he was there.

"Where am I?" she asked in a scratchy voice.

"Ana," Michael said as relief washed over him. "We are at their camp. They got us locked in this shelter."

She closed her eyes tightly, taking several deep breathes. When she opened them he saw the fire in her eyes that he witness when he first saw her as the leader of the tailies.

"Then we need to leave." Her voice sounded stronger.

"Amen to that. Good to have you back."

She just nodded.

"You okay?"

"I will be when we leave here."

End Flashback

Ana snapped awake in the middle of the brush, the words she said to Michael ringing in her head. I will be when we leave here. She couldn't remember what happened for most of her stay at the others location. It was like a big blank memory. She just remembered the time before she arrived at the others camp. The bullet fired at her grazed her arm but she cracked her head against the tree knocking herself out. When she woke she was being dragged further away from her friends. She fought and struggled but the men overpowered her and bound her up.

The next thing she knew she was looking through the trees gagged and hogtied watching Sawyer, Jack and Eko. She saw Sawyer's eyes, the menacing glare he was giving to the man. She saw the change in his eyes at the threat of her death, the cold anger there increased. The pure hatred of being helpless to stop what the men may do to her. It touched her in a way that she hadn't felt in years. He was there keeping his promise to her. She tried to scream to let him know she was there but someone slapped her hard on the head before pressing a cool sharp blade on the back of her neck. She felt the blade barely cut into her skin causing an irritating pain there. Still she tried to will him into action while at the same time knowing that it would cause not only her death but possibly his as well. Her mind screamed louder as she watched them go with that girl Kate who got caught by them somehow and was given back. She wondered why they didn't give her back until she realized that they came specifically for her in the first place.

Finally, after Sawyer, Jack, Kate, and Eko had gone, Ana calmed herself. She knew she had to wait for her opportunity. Though angry and afraid, she focused her mind on the look in Sawyer's eyes, the promise of vengeance for what happened to her. It gave her strength and resolve. She was determined to make them pay. However, after being taken to their camp everything was blank. The next clear memory she had was of staring at Michael who had this shocked look on his face like she just rose from the dead.

Something was needling her that she was missing something very significant. That what she was missing was deliberately being kept from her. But she couldn't figure out how or why. Shaking her head, she glanced around realizing that she was half leaning on Michael who had moved closer to her. The kids were leaning on both of them.

"You awake?" she asked softly.

"Yeah."

"You shouldn't have let me sleep."

"The kids said its safe."

"Really? For how long?"

She felt Michael shrug, "I don't know. But you needed the rest Ana."

She just snorted. "We'll let them sleep a few more minutes and then we're outta here."

"Fine," he said.

She settled back against him thinking of their escape. It took a day to plan and Walt said that the other kids would come along. Ana ate as much food as she could stomach that day and Walt brought the other kids to the shelter. Michael asked how Walt got the others to let the kids come with him. Walt said he told the others that he wanted them to meet his father and play. They let it go thinking nothing bad would come of it.

At first Ana was glad to see Zack and Emma but then the way they stared at her, like they could see straight through her made her uneasy. It was only when the boy Zack cuddled under her that she relaxed. She still felt weird about them but she felt that they were okay and she didn't have to worry too much about them. She talked with Emma, asking if the girl was okay. She nodded not saying much but giving Ana a weak smile before saying, "Walt said you would get us away from these bad people. Are you?"

"Yeah. Michael and I are gonna get you out. I promise." Emma gave her a real smile then.

Walt told them that they had to leave that night. Ana was fine with that. She said she would be the bait. No one would expect her to be up and moving if what Michael said about her being out of it was true. So later that night when Ana was about to execute the plan she was surprised to find the door unlocked. She glanced back at Michael.

"I thought you said the door was locked?" she hissed.

Michael shook his head, "It was when I last tried it."

Ana started to say something else but let it go. Changing tactics she opened the door stepping out into the night. The guard posted near their shelter stood up to her, shocked. Grabbing her arm, the man tried to drag her away. Michael came up from behind bashing the man in the head. The man fell forward and Ana stomp him in his balls before kicking him in the face completely insuring that the man wouldn't be getting up any time soon.

They then ran with Walt telling them where to go through what seemed like a dense fog. Even when she was sure they weren't in the camp the fog persisted.

"What the hell is going on with the fog?" she whispered to no one in particular as she ran.

Emma stopped running. "What fog?"

Everyone stopped then. Ana and Michael frowned at the girl like she was crazy. Before Ana could say anything else to Emma, a sharp pain pierced her behind the eyes. She heard Michael groaning too. Blinking rapidly she tried to see but she couldn't focus because the pain was blinding. Then unexpectedly the pain went away, her vision was clear and the fog was gone like it was never there in the first place.

"They're coming," said Walt.

Michael and Ana stared at each other for a moment before Ana reached back, grabbed Emma's hand pulling her towards the others. Michael lifted Zack and told Walt to run. They pushed forward until they reached the cliff.

Now waking the kids, Ana wondered about the fog and the pain they went through before it went away. Ana, escape first ask questions later. Taking her time, she got out the brush, pulling out the kids next. She let them relieve themselves while checking out her surroundings hoping that after more than a day and half of running they would have come close to familiar territory.

"Damn. Where the hell are we," she mumbled to herself. They couldn't afford to get lost. So far they tried running in a straight line but that didn't mean that line would get them closer to their people. She winced at the pain in her side. She knew that she had some fracture ribs and all the running and jumping wasn't helping her none. Her legs were going numb too especially in the places where someone apparently kicked the shit out of her. Ana was bone tired. Her body screamed for more relief but she ignored it and the fever that she was also developing.

"Let's go." She started forward but Zack grabbed her hand pointing to her right.

"That way?" she asked wary. The boy nodded. Ana glanced at Michael who looked to his son.

"He's right." Said Walt.

"That way it is," she said starting forward. As she walked she glanced around until she saw a big sturdy long stick. It reminded her of Eko, making her smile at the thought of seeing him again.

They trekked rapidly though woods. Though all were hungry, no one complained. Fear was a wonderful killer of the appetite. As they moved, Ana began thinking about Sawyer. She wondered if he was keeping watch out for her or if he saddled back into the group, writing her off.

Don't ever doubt it. In the instant of remembering those words, she didn't. For whatever reason, they made a promise to each other and she knew he would keep it. The belief in his words helped her push forward when all she wanted to do was collapse. She was seriously injured and she wished the hell she could remember how it happened.

"Ana! They're coming!" screeched the girl with Walt saying the same thing. Even with the imminent danger, Ana didn't feel like running. She knew her body couldn't handle it. Michael saw it in her eyes like a flash before the determine blaze hit them. Whatever she was feeling, she pushed back and nodded at him.

Without a word they ran like hell, Michael again held Zack despite the drain on him carrying the extra weight. Ana used the stick to keep her upright as her right leg began cramping. Walt held Emma's hand and pulled her along running.

They ran at an intense pace, Emma almost screaming when the whispering started up around them. The fear in the children's voices made both adults push harder. The whisper meant only one thing. The others were close, almost on top of them. Ana stumbled, Michael caught her arm to keep her up.

"You gonna make it?"

She nodded. "Yeah keep going." He moved forward but stopped waiting. Ana pressed the large stick into the ground and propelled herself forward.

They ran and ran until Ana stumbled again unable to move her legs.

"Get out of here!" she screamed to Michael.

Michael put Zack down and ran to Ana. He tried to pick her up but she slapped his hands away.

"I can't move. You get them away from here. I'll keep them occupied."

Michael shook his head. "No. I'm not letting them get you."

"This isn't like it was with Sawyer. You can't drag me and carry Zack. Go Michael before they catch up with you. Don't worry about me." She shoved him with all her strength falling to the ground as she did it. What did they do to me! Her mind yelled. Why can't I remember!

Michael froze in indecision. He had to get the kids safe but he couldn't leave her. He knew those others would kill her this time.

"Ahhh!" he shouted in frustration before grabbing Ana in a hug. "I'm gonna get you some help. I promise."

Ana stayed silent. Both knew it would be too late.

"Tell him I know he kept his promise."

Michael stared at her. "What?"

"Tell him I know he kept his promise. Promise me that you'll tell Sawyer that."

Michael nodded. "Okay but you'll tell him again yourself."

She just smiled at him before shoving him away. It was at that moment that Walt came to them.

"The water is just over there. We are by the beach."

"What?" Ana said shocked.

"The water. We need to get to the water and we'll be safe."

Michael stared back at Ana before he turned to Walt saying, "Get Zack and Emma to the water Walt." Then he turned picking up a protesting Ana.

"That doesn't change anything…"

"So what, we can try."

He ran as fast as he could with her in his arms. As they ran, Ana thought she saw something in the trees. A moment later she knew she saw them. Her breathing quickened as Michael broke through the brush. They were on the sandy beach with the blue waters just ahead of them.

"Michael put me down."

"No."

"Yes. Put me down now." She jerk hard making Michael trip. She fell out of his arms hitting the ground hard but she managed to stand weakly. It was in the process of standing that she saw the familiar blond hair in the distance.

Oh. My. God. She recognized where she was now. They were not too far from where she had her tent. In the distance was Sawyer walking away from where she used to live.

"Sawyer!" she shouted. He kept walking not hearing her. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw someone coming for them.

She whipped around to Michael. "Run to the water now and then head towards to left as fast as you can. I'll hold them off."

"Ana are you crazy! Come with us."

"Michael, think of your son. Go!"

Michael swore but ran with the kids to the water.

"Sawyer!" She screamed again. She noticed that he hesitated. Ana screamed his name again and this time he turned around just as a man flew out the brush, a huge blade brandished towards her.

Ana turned and the knife embedded itself deep into her left shoulder. A bloodcurdling scream came from her lips as she swung out at the man. The man jerked back yanking the knife from her, blood flying out in a wild arch. Ana fell back to the ground. Just before she landed she heard a gun fire. An instant later blood and flesh hit her in the face and dead body laid on top of her.

She tried sliding out the way as the gunfire increased. She finally managed to flip the body off her. The pain in her shoulder was unbearable but she endured, gritting her teeth. She flipped to her stomach, trying to crawl with her good arm towards the water. Someone grabbed her hair jerking her up.

"I don't think so bitch!"

CRACK

She was loose face falling in the sand. She spat out the sand before glancing over her shoulder. The man lay bleeding on the ground. She turned to her left and saw that there were more people out with Sawyer shooting. But there were also others there between her and them. She had no choice. She faced the water again and this time she pushed herself onto her knees. She placed one foot under herself, then another. Finally she stood, disregarding the bullets flying around her. She had only one focus and that was the water.

With a will that would have many think she were superhuman, she ran and dove into the blue waters disappearing into it's depths, just as the others with guns starting firing at her and her defenders.

Just did a quick edit. Thanks for reading!