In Times of Sorrow

Ch. 4: Man in Black

"Charlie?" Her voice is tired. Her throat is scratchy. He isn't here. Charlie. He said he would meet her here. He promised. "Ch-Charlie?"

"I'm right here, Claire." Not his voice, it isn't...isn't his voice. She screws up her eyes in concentration, walking toward the voice. She's heard it before. Where? A voice whispers in the back of her head. Lock. Lock? That doesn't make sense. Where is the key? She holds her head in her hands, stumbling into someone's open arms. A familiar embrace.

Not Lock. Locke...Locke. John Locke. "John? Where is Charlie, John?" She pounds her tiny, lethal fists on his chest, but he doesn't move an inch.

"Claire, it's me." She steps away from him and timidly meets his gaze. It is. Charlie..John...she doesn't know what to call him anymore. She curls her fingers into the fabric of his shirt, a timid smile on her face. Well, if this is Charlie, then...

"Kiss me, J-...kiss me, Charlie." She stands on her toes and parts her lips slightly, her arms snaking slowly around his neck. Something flashes in his eyes as he holds fast to her.

"No, Claire. We can't anymore." What was that in his eyes? Regret? Anger?

"Why not, Charlie?...John." He shakes his head and pushes her slightly away.

"We aren't doing this anymore, Claire. I don't feel that way for you. Never have."

The world is collapsing. Everything is disappearing, even John. Surely, this is a nightmare. Black smoke. She covers her ears desperately to block out a strange metallic clicking sound, filling her head. "John...John!" Rushing wind. The smoke is gone. John is back.

"You're right. I shouldn't kill you. You've been..." He smiles darkly and runs the back of his hand along her cheek, eliciting a sigh from her. "...useful. I need you, Claire." He presses her lips almost affectionately to her forehead.

She shakes her head and clenches her hands into fists, taking half a step back from him. "W-what do you want me to do?"

His eyes turn solid black, smoke starting to pour from his mouth. "I want you to help me get off of this damn island, Claire." John is gone again, replaced by the black smoke.

She nods and reaches out a hand to the smoke, entranced rather than frightened. "Of...of course I will. Anything for you." The smoke...John...Charlie disappears in the jungle, leaving her alone while she whispers, "I love you..."

A/N: Don't hate, I was totally watching a movie while I wrote the majority of this, so...yeah I honestly don't know if it's shit. Ah. Hope you like it. Read and review!