Only one more chapter after this one. I'll probably get it up sometime tomorrow evening or something like that. I'm thinking of working on my new story, and then doing my sequal to this, and then maybe even doing another new story.

Chapter 26

Non essere spaventato

"Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair."

The night was peaceful, thanks to Kate's good dreams. She stayed fast asleep, not even tossing and turning like she normally did. Tomorrow was the day that her world would end. She wouldn't have to worry about anything anymore. She'd be dead and things would be fine once again. It seemed official now. Her friends were gone and they were never coming back. She was alone in this horrible place and it was going to stay like that unless she did something about it. Her tears were all cried and her heart felt like it was stone cold, no longer feeling any emotion what so ever.

A light breeze blew over the warm dark island, making the trees and bushes shake slightly. The rainy season was almost over, but Kate didn't care. There was nothing to enjoy if she had no one to enjoy it with. Once tomorrow came, things would be different though. Maybe she'd finally be happy, the cruel world no longer in existence. Once tomorrow came, maybe things would be better.

A loud sound seemed to shake the island quite suddenly, Kate and Vincent both bolting upright. Eyes wide with terror, Kate's grip on the gun tightened and she slowly stood up. She grabbed Vincent's leash and made her way out of her shelter and onto the beach, turning to face the jungle. Her body was shaking as she watched the trees and bushes shake, the smoke monster making it's horrible noises, making her ears feel like they were about to explode.

Vincent also stared into the jungle, baring his teeth and making growling noises. He shifted so he was slightly in front of Kate, wanting to protect her from whatever it was that was in the jungle.

Kate pointed her gun towards it, glancing around. The dark was terrifying to be in alone, and she was glad that she could see signs of the sun rising out over the ocean. It would be easier to see once the sun was up. She would be able to shoot better and hopefully see the thing if it tried to come out of the jungle. Time seemed to move in slow motion, and the monster seemed to not want to turn around and give up.

For once, no thoughts of her friends even crossed Kate's mind. Maybe she was getting was getting over that they had died. Or maybe she was finally breaking and going crazy. She stood there for hours, just staring into the jungle, holding her gun tightly. Nothing seemed to be happening, except for the monster shaking the trees and making it's horrible noise.

The sun slowly made it's way into the sky, casting an orangish light down over the island. Oranges, yellows, and light pinks filled the beautiful sky over the clear blue ocean. It looked sorta like a painting, like nothing that beautiful could have actually existed. Maybe it was a miracle. A sign that better times were coming. A sign that the beach would soon be empty. That Kate would be no longer living there, finally finding peace in death. That Vincent would no longer be frolicking across the beach chasing a tennis ball. That no more pain, fear, or sadness would be suffered. That for once, everything would finally be okay.

Another salty breeze blew in from the ocean, the monster not giving up. Before Kate even knew what was happening, it flew towards her, stopping right in front of her. The puff of black smoke stared at her with its dark eyes, hatred filled. The noise didn't quiet, nor did it get any louder.

Kate could feel herself fill with fear. The gun slipped out of her hands, and she no longer even knew why she had brought it with her. After all, she was going to die anyway. She stared back at it, trembling slightly, not able to move. She found her mind so cluttered with thoughts, that she could barely think either. As she stared at it, she noticed pictures flickering inside of it, crashes of thunder and lighting surrounding them. Her eyes seemed to be drawn to the pictures, her mind focusing in on them. Pictures of her. Of her family. Her friends. Her past. Pictures of Sawyer. And Jack. Oh Jack. Memories of the terrible, not very many of the good. Pictures showing herself all that she had done. All that she had ruined. All of the horrible she had ever done. The feeling was overwhelming. But maybe, it wasn't all about her.

The smoke stared at her for moments, more before swooping down. It grabbed the golden retriever, taking it back into the jungle before it could even make a sound. The leash had ripped in half, and Kate slowly looked down at the half that she held. Her companion was gone. He wouldn't be there with her until she felt that she could take her own life away, right after taking his.

Slowly, she looked back up, staring back into the jungle as the trees shook even more violent, the painful cries of the dog echoing throughout the island. She took a step back, barely even realizing it. She'd had enough. Physically and mentally, she had had enough. Tears began to pour down her face for what seemed like the millionth time. Maybe it was time for what she had planned to do today. Maybe it was time to end her life. To make everything simply stop.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion as the gun was slowly brought up to her head. She closed her eyes, trying to gather her courage to do this. Her last thoughts seemed to be focusing on Jack. She flipped the gun off safety and was about to pull the trigger then the monster made another horrible noise.

The half dead, ripped up, golden retriever landed on the sands that were still slightly pink with blood from the last deaths that had taken place on the island. Heart wrenching noises escaped the animal, causing Kate to reopen her eyes.

Kate slowly moved the gun back down, staring at Vincent. There was no way she could do this. There was no way she could just kill herself and let the dog lie there and suffer. She slowly pointed the gun at him and shut her eyes.

Mwahaha. Cliff hanger.