Chapter 4 – Not the Time

Kate couldn't see anything and she couldn't feel anything but the rain dropping down on her body. She didn't have the strength to move. She was being carried on something by people... but who they were, she did not know. She could hear them talking.

"Why didn't we just take the guy too?" The first man asked. There was a shushing sound.

"She may be awake." another man replied very quietly, so quietly she could not recognize the voice. The dragging stopped and she felt someone starting to wiggle her. She tried her hardest not to move.

"She's still sleeping. We are fine." The first man replied. The dragging continued. Kate tried to move her hands but she found they were tied behind her back. She could feel the cloth that was tied around her mouth. She had a dreaded feeling deep inside. She felt like she could cry.

"We don't need the man yet." the second man said. Instantly Kate's eyes grew wide. The bearded man? Kate thought. She listened.

"What do you mean by we don't need him yet. It would have been much easier to just take him while he was with the girl!" The first man said. Kate did not recognize him. She heard Tom, the bearded man, groan.

"Just shut up will you?" Tom said.

"Why did you kick that boar? We could have gotten him there that way we won't have to come back." They first man said. Kate heard Tom laugh.

"You idiot. They got out before when they were together. What makes you think they wont this time!" Tom said louder than usual. The first man hushed him. Obviously they hadn't found out that Alex had helped them out their camp.

"This way, we can get them at separate camps. We all know what Jack is going to do once he realizes his little girlfriend is gone." Tom said in a lowered voice.

Jack? Girlfriend? Kate thought. She couldn't hear anything but the pounding of rain and the sound of her being dragged through the forest.

"You really are stupid. He is going to come and get her!" Tom yelled. The first man yelped in surprise and laughed.

"Good thinking. Henry will be happy with that." The first man said. She could hear Tom laughing with the first man and then the laughing subsided. They stopped talking. Kate was left listening to the rain.

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"Locke?" Jack said. He looked to see John, Desmond, and Eko in front of him.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" Sawyer said. The moment Locke opened his mouth Sayid pushed forward.

"Charlie told us you hid in a hatch, by the plane. You and Desmond." Sayid said looking confused.

"He told us you were DEAD!" Sawyer said in awe as he looked at Eko. "And you definitely do not look dead 'oh holy man'." Sawyer said sarcastically.

"I am not dead." Eko replied. Jack looked up at Locke.

"Where have you been? Have you been in that hatch?" Jack asked. Locke looked surprised.

"I didn't know anyone else knew about it." Locke replied.

"There is another hatch?" Desmond asked. He still looked drunk from the day they found him. Ignoring him Jack sat down.

"What the hell happened to you?" Jack asked. Locke took the time to sit down as everyone else followed suit. Locke took a deep breath.

"Now is not the time to talk about the hatch." Locke said. Jack was about to throw a rock at him when he spoke, looking very concerned.

"We followed a man through the forest." Locke said. Jack dropped the rock he was tightly holding.

"A man?" Jack asked.

"He was with another man. But he left him a while back and came to the camp." Locke said. Sayid took a deep breath.

"What did the man look like?" Sayid asked.

"One was tall and lanky, dark brown hair. The other was bigger, had grey hair and a beard." Locke said.

"FAKE beard." Desmond added. "We some him take the thing off. Why would anyone want to wear that?" He stopped and looked at Jack. Jack's eyes were bulging and Sawyer's mouth was hanging open.

"What?" Desmond asked. Jack gulped.

"We know the bastard." Sawyer replied. Locke went to open his mouth.

"WE KNOW HIM!" Sawyer yelled.

"Sawyer..." Sayid started.

"HE'S THE ONE WHO TOOK US AND TIED US UP! HE CAPTURED AND BEAT ME! YOUR TELLING ME THAT YOU FOLLOWED THIS MAN HERE, AND YOU DIDN'T RUN AHEAD TO WARN US?" Sawyer yelled. Sayid pulled him back down.

"Sawyer!" Sayid yelled. "You must be quiet!" Sawyer took a deep breath and sat down.

"Where are they now?" Jack said.

"They are gone." Eko said. Locke turned and gave Eko a warning glare.

"Where?" Jack asked. Desmond laughed.

"They had a girl with them. The one you are always with." Desmond said. He laughed as Jack's eyes widened. Sawyer and Sayid followed suit.

"The girl with the brown hair, Kate I believe is her name." Desmond added.