Chapter 107
Jack ran through the jungle, his worry for Ana growing with every step he took; he was getting close to where he had left her and he hadn't seen one single sign of her anywhere; his stomach lurched with dread again as he heard a long, drawn out howl in the distance and he picked up his pace.
Hanso and Locke were both crazy and he still couldn't believe that John had actually gone over to them. He wanted to save the Island, and he realized now that it was because of Ana that he wanted to keep it- he'd always known that- but if he lost her to keep it then what did it matter? Horrible visions kept flipping through his head like a slideshow; the monster, the polar bear, Sawyer; she was in danger and he cursed himself for letting her go in the first place, just because he was pissed at Sara.
He was torn; he still wanted to have Ana, and there was only one way for that to happen, but he also didn't want anything else to do with Locke and his new buddies. They were crazy, insane with power and he swore that if he got the chance he was going to kill them both before they got any more dangerous.
He stopped dead in his tracks as gunshot and a loud, agonized yelp echoed through the darkened jungle; he turned towards the sound and took off running.
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The fire was blazing high as they all sat silently, listening for sounds from the jungle. Sawyer's hands were wrapped around Kate, holding her close, protecting her from whatever was coming; they all jumped at a loud gunshot and Sawyer leapt to his feet as it was followed by a tortured yelp. Kate stared to get up and he held his hand out at her. "No, Kate. You stay." He reached into his pack and pulled out his gun, handing it to Sara. He was glad when she took it, reluctantly, the cool metal against his skin was unpleasant. "Do you know how to use that?"
She hesitated and shook her head slightly. "Not really."
He gave her a reassuring look. "Kate can show you quick enough." He turned his gaze back to hers and she climbed to her feet and threw herself on him, her lips meeting his with desperate force, as if she could keep him from going just by holding his mouth to hers. "It's okay, I gotta go. Vincent." He pulled away, smiling regretfully. "Get your gun out too, Kate. Shoot anybody you see." He added quickly, "Except me."
She smiled faintly. "Darn." He grinned at her and took off in the direction of the shot. Her weak smile faded as she watched him go and only Sara's fiddling with the gun snapped her out of her daze. "Here," she said, kindly, taking the gun from Sara's shaking hand and flicking the safety off. "Now, this thing will fire so watch where you're pointing it." She held it out to her, butt first. "When you're ready to fire, just pull back the hammer, like this," she pulled her own gun from her waistband and cocked it. "Then just point and shoot."
Sara nodded, a little disturbed as she watched Kate expertly pop out the clip and inspect it before slipping it back in and putting one in the chamber. Kate could see her from the corner of her eye and she smiled tightly; Sara was a little scared of her. She was used to it. She didn't look at Sara as she spoke. "You're right to be scared of me."
Sara whipped her head around. "Who said I was scared?"
Kate still didn't look at her but Sara could see a bitter smile cross her face. "Everyone is. Except James."
They stood, side by side next to the fire, drawing warmth and comfort from it as they tuned their ears to the jungle; there were no sounds, no shouts, no birds, no insects, just the rustle of the leaves and the popping of the fire in the dark.
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He burst into the clearing and stopped dead; Frank was standing with his foot proudly propped up on a prone and bleeding Vincent, like a hunter posing over his kill. He started to go to Vincent but Frank pointed his gun at the dog's head and Saywer stopped, anguished. He glared at Frank. "I ain't afraid of you anymore, Sawyer." His fingers sparked maliciously and he lifted them but Frank stopped him.
"Wait just a minute, Ford. I gotta proposition for you." He grinned and took his foot off of Vincent, still keeping the gun on his head; he groaned as the weight came off and Sawyer stared at him, helplessly.
"What is it?" His eyes never left the dog's slowly rising and falling chest.
"I know how you can live." He winked at him. "If you really want to."
Sawyer gave him a sharp look but he couldn't keep the elated feeling down, though he knew it was stupid to trust Frank. "What do you mean if I want to?" His heart went icy at Frank's grin.
"Well, I just didn't think you'd want to live with her dead."
Cold panic gripped his chest and he suddenly couldn't get his breath; he'd left her alone. He spun on his heel and started to bolt but Frank's chilly voice stopped him. "You Ford men," he sneered, shaking his head, "You let those damn women get to you. No whore is worth what you're doing."
Cold blue lightning blazed from Sawyer's hands and Frank froze in the bolts for a moment as the electricity coursed through him; Sawyer held the bolt until Frtank began smoking; as he dropped him his ragged, dirty clothes burst into flames.
Sawyer scooped up Vincent, noting he was still breathing, he whispered, "Hold on, buddy. I gotta get to Kate."
Vincent rolled his eyes up to Sawyer and growled weakly, but he shook his head. "No, I'm not leaving you here. Just hold on, okay?" He started to run like the devil was behind him; and he thought with a pang that he was, smoking and burning in a pile on the jungle floor.
He heard three shots in succession and a scream coming from Kate's direction; cold with dread he ran harder, his heart screaming for her as terror drove him on, carrying an angel in his arms.
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The bushes rustled in front of them and Kate brought her gun up, pointing it steadily with her finger ready on the trigger; Sara followed her example but her hand shook uncontrollably from fear. She had to admire Kate's steely composure, though she knew what she was about to see was going to freak her out she knew it had to be done; her love for Kate grew even more as she realized just how strong Kate was, how powerful in her own right, and she thought, Sawyer is wrong. Kate doesn't need me. She wants me though, she wants a friend and I can be that.
Ana stepped from the bushes, her gun already cocked and raised, pointing at Kate. "Hi, Kate."
Kate didn't flinch or drop her gun; she smiled icily and Sara saw Ana quail just a little. "Hi, Ana." She looked behind her, and said sarcastically, "Where's Jack?"
Ana smirked, her eyes sliding to Sara; they gleamed maniacally and Sara felt her stomach drop. "What do you care? I could ask you the same thing. Where's your guard dog?"
Kate was terrified, not for herself, or even for Sara; she had to force her hand down as it tried to creep up to her stomach. "Jack shot Vincent." She felt a little sick. "What do you want Ana?"
Ana advanced closer to them and Kate squeezed her trigger gently; she backed off, smiling sadly, her eyes crazy. "I can't have what I want, thanks to her." She jerked her head aside at Sara. "But if I kill you then I have a shot."
Kate was suddenly terrified and her knees went watery but she hid it, keeping her eyes cold and cruel as she tried to stall; surely Sawyer had realized it was a trick and was on his way back. Sara was shaking beside hr and even if she could bring herself to pull the trigger she'd miss Ana by a mile. "Why me?"
Ana shook her head. "You know that, Kate. Don't play stupid." She nodded at Sara, who paled a little under Ana's insane gaze. "Now, her, well, she decided to drop in and now Jack is gone. You took him from me." Rage welled up inside of her at the thought of him; in her unhinged brain she associated his betrayal with Sara's and she loved him. Sara was an easy scapegoat and as Ana's unbalanced mind tipped over into complete madness she swung the gun around at Sara and fired just as Kate did. Sara screamed and dropped and Ana staggered backwards as Kate's bullet slammed into her but she was gone, she didn't even feel the pain as she brought her gun up to Kate with blazing hatred. A third shot blasted apart the stillness of the jungle.
Jack heard the shots and the scream and he changed direction; it was a woman's scream and his stomach clenched in dread as he ran until his lungs were about to burst; he spotted blazing firelight through the trees and he slowed, closing his eyes against what he was afraid he would see.
He took a deep breath and pushed the bushes aside as he stepped into the clearing.
