Chapter 3 "Something special"

"Yes. As I look back at the world I left behind, it's all so clear to me. The beauty that waits to be unveiled. The mysteries that long to be uncovered. But people so rarely stop to take a look. They just keep moving. It's a shame, really. There's so much to see…"

Flashback

"Oh, she's doing so much better, Mr.Blatter," the nurse was walking down a long white corridor, followed by the imposing man in his early fifties. His grey hair and beard only emphasized his charisma and made him look a lot like Sean Connery. His eyes never wandered, firmly fixed on the nurse's back. He seemed to be greatly disturbed by this place, eager to get out of here as soon as possible. However, it was not destined to happen, as the nurse was going on bubbling some stories, showing him all that things he couldn't care less. "She's constantly reading or playing the piano or writing something… Such a creative nature she is! And Doctor Roland stopped giving her the medication several months ago. I…"

"Fräulein Gritts," Herr Blatter interrupted abruptly, his voice edged, "I want this to finish as soon as possible." He was speaking with a heavy German accent, so it usually took people some time to understand what he was saying. Nonetheless, the nurse caught the meaning instantly, once he gave her a fearsome firm look.

"Y-yes, sure," she seemed to be absolutely uncomfortable around him. "This way, please."

They walked through the plastic door into a large room. It was occupied by different people: young and old, those who were reading books and playing chess or mumbling something indistinguishable. But there was something about that people, something that prevented them to be called normal. The nurse and Herr Blatter walked past the exceptionally large group, bunched up around a small TV-set, watching a stupid talk-show unable to pull away. It was a frightening sight and it could plunge many into desperation, many but not Herr Blatter.

In the far corner of the room, near the opened window sat a girl of about sixteen, so petite almost fragile, her thick brown hair in a loose bun, her brows knitted in concentration as she was reading a book. As if sensing someone approaching, she looked up and froze. Her eye opened wide, her pupil contracted. The nurse was smiling sweetly, but the girl couldn't see anything except the man standing in front of her. He was smirking grimly at her, like as though he was getting a special kind of satisfaction seeing the girl so afraid.

"Guten Morgen, Lily-May," Herr Blatter said solemnly. The girl jumped at the sound of his voice and all the ghosts of the past assaulted her again.

The End of Flashback

Lily-May was sitting beside her father somberly. Several hours passed since the Doctor had gone to the jungles with Kate and the former rock star, Charlie, leaving her and Boone detailed instructions how to tend the wounded.

She studied her father's face: so troubled even if he was unconscious; his breath was heavy, wheezing sound as the oxygen struggled its way down his lungs. Lily-May took a piece of cloths and, soaking it, put another compress to his burning forehead. Yes, it all was so strange… Even in his sleep he was intimidating and she was almost afraid to be around him. But, he also was so vulnerable, that…her mind started wondering… What if…

Somewhere near, the other man way suffering, dying, but Lily-May didn't hear his cries and erratic breath. What was there on this island? What was that, they saw yesterday? Only yesterday all was so clear, so accurate to her, and now she's like Alice from Wonderland, who had fall down the rabbit's hole.

She was so frustrated she wanted to scream…but it wasn't the time to give in yet. She bended down so that her face was several inches from her father's, a small smile on her lips. Yes, now she would be free…

"Hey, hello there!" A voice behind her made Lily-May jump. She turned abruptly to face Hurley, who tried hard not to look around at the wounded.

"Hm, I, um, I've found your luggage," he handed her two bags. "Those were the only signed in German, so I've guessed that's yours."

"Why, thanks a lot, Hurley," Lily-May smiled sweetly. "Are you going through the luggage?"

"Yep, just thought you shouldn't go there, mate. Y'know it's kinnda gloomy in there." Lily-May didn't answer, but a small smile was still playing on her lips.

Margaret made her way to the crash site. She was more then determined to find her luggage, before it would do anyone else. Despite that her leg was still hurting and, as Jack was changing bandages in the morning, he forbade her to do any physical exercises, it was against her better judgments to listen to doctors. Moreover she wanted to change, as walking round the beach in the evening dress was really strange. She still wondered about the weather changes on this island: one minute it was raining, the other – Sun is burning. She smiled at the pleasant memory of raindrops on her skin, as she was walking in the rain instead of hiding. She took her chance and washed all dirt and blood out of her hair, so that it was shining in the sun now, red against black, the waves cascading down her shoulders.

"Hey, I wouldn't go there if I were you," She turned to Boone, who was standing several inches away, busy with his own bags.

"I'm not afraid of dead if you're about that," Margaret answered. "But I'll not lie to you it's not a pleasant work, though I have to wear something instead of this dress. How'd you think?"

"I like it that way," he gave her a smile and she returned it. "Ok, let's go and find your bags."

"Wow, you're not used to travel light, are you?" Boone asked, after they finally had found two large bags. Though Margaret did not tell him, but the most important item of her luggage was missing, and while she as acting like everything was great, she was more then anxious to find it. "What are you carrying there, bricks?"

"I thought you've no problem with that, you have a sister after all," Margaret looked to where Shannon was lying in the Sun, wearing a bikini, getting a good tan.

"My stepsister, to be precise. And yes, Shannon is so much special, so never be anything like her," these words made Margaret laugh. There was a moment of silence, then,

"How's your leg?"

"Well," Margaret tried to choose her wording carefully, "it's not as if I'm…dying or something, but every thought about those usual threads in it makes me sick." Boone nodded in understanding. He was about to say something else, but the shouts cut him short. There were Sayid and Sawyer ready to fight each other. Without speaking a word, both Boone and Margaret made their way towards the fight.

The group of people that gathered around could do nothing to stop the two of them, as Sayid punched Sawyer in the stomach. But he obviously underestimated Sawyer, who, getting used to play without rules, threw sand at Sayid and tackled him. As they both were on the ground, Sawyer seized the opportunity and sat on Sayid and started to punch him in the face. The very moment, Jack arrived and with the help of Michael, they managed to separate them. After that, Michael told that Walt had found the handcuffs in the jungle, after which followed a train of Sawyer's accusatory speech towards Sayid and so on, but Margaret, who took little interest in men's show of ambitions, noticed that strange look in Kate's eyes, when she glanced down at the handcuffs. But as if Kate had felt someone staring at her, she lifted her eyes and Mags had to look aside hastily.

"We found the transceiver, but it's not working. Can anybody help?" Kate asked, eyeing the crowd.

"Yes, I might be able to," that was Sayid who still was under the influence of the recent events.

"Oh, great! Perfect! Let's trust this guy!" Sawyer was not so easy to drop the subject.

"Hey, we're all in this together, man. Let's treat each other with a little respect," Hurley tried to defend Sayid. Instead, all he got was insults. Jack had to interfere with it once again and, only after Sawyer had gone, there was some peace. Boone who had been silent before, walked up to Jack,

"You guys found the cockpit?" All he received was a nod. "Any survivors?"

"No," was a simple answer.

"It's dual band, military spec. Chances are, the battery's good, but the radio is dead. To fix it I need some time," Sayid muttered, examining the transceiver.

Margaret always had what was called a striking intuition. As a child she always knew when her parents lied to her, as a teenager she had no problems in choosing friend, because she saw their intentions in their eyes, now, as a grown-up she could read people as opened books, by their gestures, the way they acted, even by their smiles. It didn't take her a lot time to understand that Jack, Kate and Charlie saw much more then they told the others. Margaret did not like to be kept in the dark, so she wanted her questions to be answered and now.

"Jack!" she followed him as he headed to the infirmary tent to look at the man with the shrapnel. He turned as he heard her voice, frowned.

"Margaret, what did I tell you about walking…"

"Please, Jack, I'm not a baby!" she interrupted him, her voice determined. "Look, I know that you saw something in the jungle, something you don't want to speak about. But I think I have I right to know. What was it?" Jack was silent, he even didn't stop walking.

"Jack!" She grabbed his arm to stop him, and as he turned to her she looked him in the eye. "Was it what we saw yesterday?" she asked quietly. "Look, I know that something is wrong with this island and I don't know how, but I feel that it is no ordinary place. We don't know what is there in those jungles, we don't know where exactly are we, we even don't know when the help comes, if ever. All I ask of you, Jack is to be honest with me. I think I deserved it. WHAT HAPPENED THERE?" He was looking at her intently, silent, then he sighed deeply and nodded. Looking around to check that there wasn't anyone near, he ushered her into the tent.

Lily-May was sitting on the ground, running through her personal belongings, when she heard Shannon and Boone quarreling, again. This time, Shannon had a tantrum, because she wanted to go somewhere. Lily-May looked up to see Sayid and Kate ready to leave. She was smart enough to guess they were heading to the jungles to try that transceiver thing, but is Shannon really going with them? Then why can't she go too. Oh, yes, because…

"I'd like to come with you," Shannon seemed to be determined. Sayid and Kate stopped and looked at each other.

"She's not going. She doesn't want to go," Boone caught up with them.

The argument started all over, but Lily-May didn't follow it. Instead she was making up her mind. Jack told her, father wouldn't regain consciousness anytime soon, because his body was struggling with the infection and so on, and so forth… If she only…for several hours…it wouldn't do any harm, right? Lily-May stood up and casting one final look to the medical tent, walked towards the group, her mind set firmly.

"I want to go too," Kate looked down at her with visible irritation.

"Look, everybody can come, but we're leaving now. And it won't be an easy hike," she and Sayid turn and leave, letting the others to catch up with them. As the group started walking Lily-May smiled widely: yes, now she was free.

Margaret was sitting on the blanket, her things spread around, as she was sorting the clothes. She had changed and now wore dark blue jeans and a red halter neck top. All in all she felt renewed. Though all she had left behind was dear to her, she turned out all thoughts and memories out of her head.

"There. Ha! There -- right there's a foot! Wait, wait, he's moving around," Margaret looked to where Claire, the pregnant woman, was tormenting the Korean, and smiled, shaking her head slightly. Yes, men are cowards when it comes to something connected to the childbirth. Mags struggled to her feet and made her way towards a mother-to-be.

"Hi, you're Claire, right?" Claire nodded, smiling widely. "I'm Margaret, well Mags for short. See you're doing well here."

"Ya, he wasn't moving since…the crash, and now he's all kicking and moving round. God, it's definitely he!" Her eyes were shining with happiness so sincere that for a moment Mags felt a pang of envy, but immediately waved it off, laughing together with Claire.

"I admire you, Claire, you made all this way, in your condition, you're exceptionally brave girl…"

"Yeah, and very modern too, pregnant without a husband," she said sarcastically, but Mags saw there was pain behind her words.

"Hey, who cares? You're here, you're save and your baby is save, and that idiot of a father doesn't deserve even a half of your thought, cause he dared let such a gorgeous girl go!" Claire laughed softly, stroking her tummy. "Here," Mags handed her a pack of sweets, "I've found it among my belongings, don't remember, I took them ever. Anyway, you need them more then me."

"Thank you, Mags," Claire gave her a grateful smile.

Everyone gathered around Sayid listening to the strange message in French. "... Il est dehors... Il est dehors et Brennan pris les clefs! veuillez nous aider... Ils sont morts - Ils sont tous morts... Si n'importe qui peut entendre ceci veuillez nous aider..." It was so exiting and yet frightening to listen to the desperate woman's voice, especially to what she was saying and that she still was saying this. What type of a person would send such a message? Was it another survivor? And who were they? Why this message was still on? So many questions and no answers. The only thing everyone understood was that the help would not come as soon as they thought…

John Locke was sitting alone on the beach, cross-legged, in front of a small travel backgammon board.

"What is it, backgammon?" He didn't seem startle at all, as if he heard her coming close. "I haven't seen it for long."

"You wanna play?" He asked not looking at her.

"Sure," Mags sat down on the opposite side of Locke, so that the game board was between them. "As a child I used to play it with dad," she smiled sadly at the memory. "He adored the game, and I couldn't understand what was so special about it. In fact I always consider it to be rather stupid, it's just I liked to throw dice." There was a minute of silence. "Oh, I'm Margaret Rid."

"Lock. John Lock," he answered, shaking her extended hand.

"John Lock? Like the philosopher?"

"Surprisingly, that someone as young knows of him."

"Oh, my job requires all-rounded education," seeing his puzzled expression she explained, "I'm the professor of Intercultural Communication in Los-Angeles." She threw the dice and moved a black piece. "You know, I can't help, but feel miserable and useless, with my leg injured. I'm not used to sit idly, especially here, when there's so much to be done. Instead I'm walking back and forth, talking with anyone to pass away the time. Oh, it's killing me!"

"There is something special about this island, Margaret," Lock answered looking at her intently, "It's not an ordinary place. And you know what I think? I think it will heal all your wounds." Margaret started, alarm in her eyes as she felt he meant much more then he said. Her heart skipping a beat she asked,

"W-what kind of wounds do you mean?"

"Any," he answered smiling, and she wished he wouldn't. "Any, Margaret."

So, what d'you think? I'm waiting for your reviews. Suggestions and ideas are very welcomed.