CHAPTER FOUR
When Boone stopped running, he realised that he was standing, knee-deep, in the sea. Yet he did not care.
Where was Shannon? What happened to her? What was going to happen to her? He couldn't' understand. She was the strong one. The one who always survived. So how was it that she was captured, and he remained here? How was it that they were so apart? How was it that he couldn't save her? How was it that the one time she needed him, he wasn't there?
He sat down in the waves. They thrashed against his neck, cutting off his breathing for a split second with every beat. As the waves got higher, he allowed the water to enter is mouth and nose. As the tide came in further, he allowed it to flow over his head. He did not know how long he sat there. All he knew was that by the time he felt someone dragging him out of the water, the sun was high in the sky, and he struggled to breathe as of all the salt water he had taken in. He spluttered, causing fountains of water to emerge from him mouth, and landing on his already soaked body. He realised that all the blood from the previous night had been washed away, and in its place, Boone had been given a sense of determination. He would get Shannon back. He would save her.
Boone glanced up at his rescuer, and recognised him as Desmond, the man from the hatch.
"Not going to drown yourself like that, brother. Have to go out further for that." The bearded man attempted a smile down at Boone, which he ignored. Boone stood up, but he barely got a metre before he fell back down again.
"Might want to take it easy." Desmond advised, propping Boone into a sitting position, and sat himself across from Boone.
"So what were you doing out there?" Boone looked down at the ground. Nothing. He hadn't even properly registered that he was in the water at all. All that was on his mind was Shannon. Desmond didn't complain when Boone didn't reply, he just watched Boone in silence. They sat in silence for a few moments, before Boone spoke shakily,
"I'm going to get her back." His voice hadn't quite recovered from the chaos of the previous night.
"Your sister? Aye, I heard she was gone. How you gonna do that then?" Desmond asked.
"I don't know." Boone admitted. He had sat thinking for all that time. He had no idea. He didn't know where to find the Others, and even if he did, what then? Charge in? He couldn't even use a gun.
"I heard you saved that Claire girl." Desmond stated. At this, Boone finally met his eyes.
"Claire…is she okay?" Boone had forgotten all about her. All he had cared about was Shannon. Suddenly, all the images came rushing back to him. The thrashing, the blood, the screams.
"She's alive." That's all Desmond said. That was enough for Boone. He couldn't expect her to be well, when not even a day had passed. Another memory came back to Boone.
"Where's Aaron?" He asked.
"He's fine," Desmond replied. "The Korean couple grabbed him when they saw Claire was out, and ran for it. They're back at camp now." Boone sighed with relief. If Aaron was gone…Claire would be… well, broken was an understatement. "Come on," Desmond stood up. "I'm taking you back." Boone did not protest, he let Desmond take his arm and pull him to his feet.
"Wait," Boone said, as Desmond slung Boone's arm around his own shoulder. "How did you know I was out here in the water?" Boone felt Desmond freeze. After a moment, Desmond replied.
"You don't want to know, brother." Desmond continued propping Boone up. Boone did not press the matter. He only now realised that he was incredibly tired. Desmond supported Boone, and they began to walk slowly back to camp. Or what was left of it.