They traveled onward as soon as the sun came up. Lisa found herself confused by the path John was taking.

"The cabin's that way," she informed him, pointing.

Locke continued trudging through the forest, pushing aside the vines and plants in his way. Lisa ducked under a tree branch, feeling the sweat already forming on her arms. She grimaced in disgust.

"We're making our way there eventually," Locke suddenly said as they marched on, "But I need to take a slight detour first."

Lisa heaved a sigh, still stomping through the brush. She squinted in the sunlight as she tried to look up at the trees, hearing the bird screeching above them. Hurley was puffing along beside her. She caught eyes with him and they shared a tired smile. He soon turned his attention back to his shoes. Lisa's foot suddenly caught on a tangle of branches and she yelped, stumbling. She fell hard to the ground, feeling a sharp pain in her arm.

"Ow!"

She struggled angrily in the skeletal branches, only to have them lash out at her face. A shadow suddenly fell over her, and she stopped flailing around long enough to feel embarrassed.

"Need help?" asked Ben, the slightest hint of a laugh in his voice.

He held out his hand. Lisa made a face and grasped it. Ben pulled her from the confines of the dead tree, frowning as she stumbled. He noticed the cut on her arm and said,

"You're hurt."

Lisa inspected the wound, shaking her head. "I'll be okay- just a scratch." She directed her next statement ahead to John, who was still walking away. "At least someone noticed!" she shouted.

Ben smirked, watching Locke for a moment as Lisa struggled to brush the dirt from her clothes. She and Ben caught up with Hurley shortly, yet they were still behind Locke, who seemed to be on some kind of odd mission. It was as if he was deaf to everything around them.

Lisa noticed Ben still seemed a bit vacant as they traveled along in silence, which was understandable. However, his eyes had their regular glint to them; she could practically see a plan forming in his mind…

She smirked. "Ben?"

His focus now broken, he blinked, looking over at her.

"Yes?"

"What were you laughing at?"

He frowned. "What?"

"In my picture- you and Dad. What was so funny?" Lisa wanted to know.

Ben was interested by the fact that it was now her picture, but he ignored it for the time being. Lisa watched as he considered her statement, surprised to see a smile cross his face.

"Annie," he said.

It was Lisa's turn to frown. At first, she thought he'd completely ignored her question, but soon realized he hadn't. She racked her brain for anything familiar about the name. It was very hot now that the sun had come up, and she wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead as she waited for him to continue.

"She just…said something," Ben murmured, staring off into the trees, "She and Billy had been joking around, trying to get me to laugh." He paused to smile again, shaking his head, "It worked, eventually…"

"Who is Annie?" Lisa asked, "Is she a friend of Dad's?"

Ben sighed, but said nothing. Lisa stumbled over a pile of rocks that had magically appeared in the tall grass, and he caught her arm to keep her from falling again. She swore under her breath and muttered her thank-you. Before she could ask him again, a voice called back to them.

"Hurry up! We're here."

Lisa rolled her eyes and followed behind Ben and Hurley as best she could.

*******

The streets were slick with the evening rain, pools of light from the streetlamps reflecting in the puddles. The sky was darkening, with a few ribbons of pink and gold visible above the rooftops.

She hurriedly walked along the sidewalk, trying to avoid ruining her brand new shoes. It hadn't been the best of ideas to wear them, but they were high tops- she'd never had a pair of them before. They were a dark navy blue, the star visible on the side every time she took a step forward. It made her smile to see it.

The hotel came into view, aglow with warm light. She pulled open the heavy glass door, a slight wind lifting her hair from her shoulders. The lobby felt warmer than outside and smelled faintly of potpourri. She adjusted the black headband she wore slightly, making sure her hair wasn't mussed up. Her clothes were dark and neat, so as to make an impression. Her jeans did not have holes in each knee, as she would have preferred. She wore a nice blouse instead of the Green Day t-shirt she'd picked out that morning; the slight argument that followed had convinced her to change it. A dark jacket completed her look, a small belt tied trimly around her waist.

She walked up to the reception desk and waited, resting her hands on the counter. With a small smile, she reached out and tapped the bell that was in front of her. The ring echoed slightly in the empty lobby, and she bit her lip in embarrassment. A woman appeared a few minutes later and smiled at her.

"Good evening. How may I help you, Miss?"

"There should be a delivery for me."

The receptionist nodded to her. "What is your name?"

"Lisa Pace," she replied, "My father said it should be here."

The woman searched briefly under the desk before finding something that matched the request. She presented her with a large manila envelope, sealed tightly with the name 'Pace' written on the front in familiar bold handwriting. Lisa took the envelope in her hands, flashing the receptionist a grateful smile.

"Will that be all for today, Miss?"

"That should do it, ma'am- thank-you."

Always be polite, she remembered, always charming and unassuming.

"Have a good night, Miss Pace," the receptionist said.

Lisa exited the hotel, slipping the envelope into her satchel bag. She took a moment to breathe in the fresh air, closing her eyes. The smell of rain still lingered throughout the area; cars drove past her, clouds of mist trailing behind them.

She checked her watch as she walked, beginning to take the usual route back. Her sneakers lightly padded through the puddles and she made face, feeling the coldness beneath her feet. As she stood on the street corner, waiting for traffic to change, Lisa noticed someone further down the sidewalk. She pretended to check her bag and rifle through the pockets, studying the person through the curtain of hair that fell over her eyes. It was a man, fairly tall in size, with dark hair. He was dressed in a black trench coat, a dark blue shirt and black slacks.

He was watching her.

Lisa felt a small pang of fear overcome her as she straightened back up. The traffic lights changed, and she quickly strolled across the sidewalk, already deciding to take the 'B' route back home. She pulled her jacket closer around her, due to the wind coming off the river. Lisa walked alongside it, making sure she kept an eye on her surroundings. The satchel bag bounced around her as she walked. She could hear the water lapping against the shore, her footsteps sounding hollow on the concrete walkway.

To her dismay, Lisa saw the man following her same path, off to the left. She shook her head, as if in disbelief. She moved closer to the railing, burying her hands in her pockets. Daring to look up again and see him, Lisa suppressed a small gasp, realizing he was no longer in sight. She whimpered slightly instead, suddenly hearing footsteps behind her. She bowed her head as a gust of wind came off the water, chilling her.

"Alright," came a sudden, cold voice, "No more games."

Lisa stopped dead in her tracks. The voice had the hint of a British accent. She tried not to tremble, but found it very difficult.

"Excuse me, sir?" she asked, turning slightly to look over her shoulder.

The man clenched a pistol in his hand. Lisa swallowed hard, but remained collected. You must never show them weakness, she had learned, never one hint at it; this only told them she could be compromised.

The man kept his distance roughly two feet away. Lisa took note of the steps in between them; at the fact his hand was slightly shaking. He hadn't clicked the safety off- he didn't want to shoot her.

"Enough of that innocent crap, kid. I know what you've got there in your bag. An' you're gonna give it to me, no questions asked. You hear me right?"

Lisa's heart was thudding rapidly against her chest, but she decided to press him further.

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

"I. SAID. Give me the envelope," the man demanded forcefully.

Lisa squeezed her eyes shut, but she nodded. "Okay…okay. Just- let me get it…please-"

"-Shut up, and just give it to me!"

Lisa complied, hearing her voice quivering. The wind gusted strongly over the river, forcing her hair back. She snaked her hand into her satchel bag, slowly, as if searching for something. Lisa could tell the man was impatient, but that was what she wanted. In frustration, he began walking up to her, reaching for the bag himself.

"I'll get it!" Lisa screeched.

Her hand closed around the item she'd wanted and she ripped it out of her bag. With a small snapping sound, the telescopic baton extended and she swung it in a great arc, shrieking.

"Jeezus Chr-"

He never got a chance to finish that sentence. The baton cracked against the man's jaw, and he stumbled away from her, groaning in pain. He raised the pistol, but Lisa was faster. With another swing, the baton connected with his wrist, briefly whining through the air. There came another satisfying crack; the man howled, his pistol clattering to the concrete. Lisa kicked it in a panic, and it scraped across the sidewalk and into the river. Her brief distraction had allowed him to struggle back to his feet.

Lisa took a defensive pose, waiting for the moment to strike. Blood ran down from his temple and mouth. Wiping his mouth, he spat,

"You little bitch."

He lashed out at her, his fist connecting hard with her chin. She cried out, but recovered quickly. She glared at him and he realized his mistake much too late. Lisa struck him once again, swinging the baton like it was a miniature baseball bat. The man let out a surprised grunt; his hand latched on to her jacket, pulling her along with him. Lisa screamed and shoved him away from her. He stumbled absurdly, backpedaling swiftly. In one clean movement, he slipped over the railing with a strange shout.

He hit the water with a resounding splash.

Lisa stood immobile on the spot, panting. She could feel tiny droplets of water across her cheeks as she leaned over the railing to gaze down at the swirling river below her. With a slight shiver, she pressed the baton closed, and tucked it securely back into her satchel bag. She dug her hands deep into her pockets and quickly walked away.

*******

"Disgusting…"

She stood several feet away, her back turned on Locke, Hurley and Ben, trying to ignore the fact that a large open-air grave lay before them. She'd seen it briefly and did not want to go anywhere near it. Lisa was repulsed by the fact Locke was rummaging around inside it.

"So this is the DHARMA Initiative?" Hurley asked.

"What's left of them," Ben dimly replied.

Lisa dared to look over her shoulder at him, scowling. He sat at the edge of the pit, his legs dangling over the side.

"You killed all these people?"

"No, Hugo. It wasn't my decision," Ben told him evenly.

"I thought you were the leader," Lisa chimed in.

"Not always."

Lisa's scowl deepened and she crossed her arms, one hand instinctively reaching for the charm on her necklace. Charlie's jacket hung snugly around her waist due to the heat. Her hair was beginning to frizz and it was constantly falling into her eyes.

"I take it no one survived, then," came Hurley's voice, "I mean…I don't think anyone could've avoided that."

"There were only four survivors, myself and Lisa included," Ben said. He saw Hurley's incredulous expression and added, "She was only a baby at the time."

Before anyone could say anything, leaves and twigs crunched over by the pit, signaling Locke had come back to the surface.

"What's that?" Lisa heard Ben ask.

"A map," Locke answered, "to the cabin."

Lisa turned back to the group, watching as he unfolded a large piece of paper. She stood on her tip-toes in order to get a good glimpse of the map. She wrinkled her nose; it looked more like blueprints than anything else. Lisa lifted her gaze to meet Locke's, who nodded to Hurley.

"You two can head on back to the beach, now."

Hurley frowned. "So that's it? You don't need us anymore?"

"No, we don't…" Locke said, pocketing the map. He began to walk through the dense jungle ahead, ducking under the vines of a nearby Banyan tree.

Ben was on his feet now, watching everything unfold in silence.

"Wait up, dude!" Hurley called to him indignantly, "If we leave now, it's gonna be dark before we get back. I'd rather stay with you two than run into those psychos with the guns."

Locke heaved a sigh, stopping in his tracks. "Fair enough, Hugo. How does that sit with you, Lisa?"

"Same here," she replied instantly, "Where he goes, I go. Besides, I'd get lost anyway…"

She flashed Hurley a reassuring smile, moving to walk with him. Ben and Locke watched them leave in the direction of the cabin, staying behind as if to talk about something. Lisa looked over her shoulder as Hurley said,

"I think they're talking about us."

"I think so, too," Lisa sighed.

They skirted the Banyan tree, Lisa shoving the ever-present vines from her face. Hurley puffed along beside her.

"I want to go back soon," he told her between breaths, "'Cause being with these two is totally creeping me out."

Lisa smiled. "I know what you mean; it'll be all over soon, Hurley. Sawyer promised he'd come back for me, and I know he will." She looked over her shoulder again, watching as Locke and Ben made their way around the tree. "Can you imagine me actually trusting Ben, anyway? No thanks."

It was Hurley's turn to laugh.

……………………..

Darkness had fallen once they reached Jacob's cabin, nestled in a small clearing. The trees cast skeletal shadows across the small house, branches cracking against the window panes. Lisa shivered and stood beside Hurley, hugging herself.

"I hate it here," she mumbled.

John handed the torch he was carrying to Ben, shrugging the backpack from his shoulders. Lisa watched him, teeth chattering.

"Alright. I'm going inside," he said.

"Good luck," Lisa whispered.

He nodded to her, then trudged through the long grass up to the front porch of the cabin. Lisa, Ben and Hurley waited with bated breath as he lit the lantern, pushing open the door. He disappeared inside and was soon gone from sight. The small group let out a collective sigh.

Lisa followed Hurley to a lone log that lay in the bushes not too far away. He sat down on it, and she took a place beside him, rubbing her arms for warmth. The hood on the jacket covered her head, casting a large shadow over her face. She rubbed her arms again for warmth, shivering.

"Are you okay?" Hurley asked her as Ben stuck the torch in the ground.

"It's that damn cabin," Lisa hissed in reply, "I'm scared of it, Hugo."

He shook his head and sighed as Ben fell into a seat beside him. They sat in silence for what seemed like an hour, watching the flame of the torch crackle and bend in the wind. Hurley had somehow procured a candy bar, and he broke it off into pieces to share with Lisa and Ben. The three of them sat eating it in silence; an odd, yet somehow comforting moment amidst the chaos of the days past.

Locke returned a few minutes later with the crumpling of the leaves and grass. Ben jumped to his feet; Hurley and Lisa followed, the latter looking relieved that he had come back unscathed.

"Do you know what we're supposed to do next, John?" Ben asked him, his tone devoid of emotion.

Locke smirked, a knowing smirk that made both Lisa and Ben feel uneasy.

"He wants us to move the island."

Lisa's brow wrinkled in complete confusion; Ben's eyes widened unbelievingly. Locke calmly took the torch from the ground and began walking away to some unknown destination. Lisa heaved a sigh.

"Well…this is just great."

*******

The apartment was warm and inviting. The white walls were lined with shelves and pictures. Something was cooking on the stove, and the smell made her stomach twist with hunger. Lisa dropped her bag on to round table in the kitchen, causing the blue vase of crimson anthuriums in the center to wobble threateningly. She watched it spin, happy to note it did not fall over. Two books were lying on the table, along with some papers she'd been working on prior to leaving the house. With a weary sigh, she dug for the envelope and slapped it on to the table as well.

"Oh, you're home," came a voice from the hallway.

Lisa smiled grimly. She moved to sit on the couch, throwing her coat on the hangers by the door; she didn't want to show him the growing bruise on her cheek.

"You left your music on before you left- make sure you turn it off next time."

Lisa rolled her eyes. "Sorry. I thought maybe you'd like it."

He smiled at her sarcasm. Lisa's gaze settled on a picture she'd never noticed before, of a woman with auburn hair smiling sweetly at the camera. She was sitting on the front porch steps leading up to a yellow house, wearing a lilac sundress.

"Thank-you for getting the package, Lisa. I hope it went alright."

She winced, her concentration interrupted. "…You're welcome, I guess."

He opened the envelope and inspected the contents, placing a series of red folders on the table. Lisa sighed, kicking off her shoes and lying down on the couch. She couldn't shake the fear for some reason; it was like the man was still after her. She shuddered at the thought, surprised at how she had reacted. Was there another way that could have happened, without resorting to violence…?

"Dinner's almost ready- do you want to finish your English lesson now or wait until tomorrow?"

He was teaching her Hamlet. She liked the story, in all actuality, although she hated how Hamlet knew of his fate and was still going to die…she liked him as a character. He reminded her too much of someone.

"Lisa?"

She understood that she hadn't answered his question, and stammered for an answer.

"Um…I- I don't know…"

Lisa realized it was futile to hide anything from him; he could sense the tone in her voice. He came up to her, a frown of concern across his face. He saw the bruise and pursed his lips.

"What happened?" he asked, voice flat.

"…It was an accident…"

He shook his head, beckoning her to follow him. Lisa heaved a sigh and walked into the kitchen. She sat down in her usual chair, drumming her fingers on the table. She focused her gaze on the beaten copy of Hamlet that rested before her, listening as he rummaged around in the freezer.

"It wasn't an accident. Did you mess up somewhere along the way?"

"No," Lisa snapped, "He surprised me! I followed the safe routes home, just like you told me!"

He nodded, trying to calm her down. "Okay, alright. I just wanted to make sure."

Gently, he brushed the hair from her cheek so he could set the icepack there. Lisa winced, holding it in place. He moved to sit in the chair beside hers, the folders still spread out before him. Lisa frowned at them, asking,

"Is that who's next on the list? We can't do much else, now that he's left us-"

"I'm aware of that, Lisa."

She fell into silence, watching as he got up to pour some soup into the bowls that were waiting on the counter. He set one down in front of her, pushing aside the copy of Hamlet as he did so. The steam curled into thin wisps, carrying the scent up to her.

"We'll work on English tomorrow."

Lisa felt a lone tear roll its way down her cheek and she squeezed her eyes shut in effort to prevent more from falling. She gripped the icepack tight in her hand. It was all so upsetting to her: all of the names, the places different places she went, the passports that were hidden in her nightstand drawer. Phoebe Caulfield, Lisa Pace, Kimberly Moriarty…they were all different people, and yet she had their names…

"Are you alright?"

She had to tell him. It was almost too much to bear.

"I want to go back, Ben!" Lisa sobbed desperately, "I want to go back…"

She threw the icepack on the table and held her face in her hands. Benjamin Linus watched as she cried, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. His voice was calm, almost gentle.

"Go back? You mean-?"

"You know exactly where! I want to go back there, Ben. I don't like it here anymore. You saw how bad I did in school- how all I could think about was how completely dumb their 'problems' were. I told them they didn't know what it was like to have nothing…They think I'm crazy!! Everyone thinks I'm crazy!!"

She left the table and reached for Ben, burying her face in his shirt. He stroked her hair carefully, patting her on the back as she sobbed.

"I don't think you're crazy," he told her.

"So?"

Ben smirked at her muffled voice. She unburied her face, sniffing, leaning against him still. She hugged him tighter, wiping away the tears with her fingers.

"Lisa, you remember our agreement?"

"Yes…"

Ben sighed, taking a moment. "Those files belong to each of your friends, the ones who made it off the island. In a few weeks, we'll be heading back to the United States, to Los Angeles."

Lisa frowned, looking up at him. She searched his eyes and found no sign of deception, as promised.

"Why Los Angeles?"

"I need to get everyone together again," Ben replied, "and you're going to help me."

Lisa pulled away from him, moving the hair from her eyes. She crossed her arms and regarded him critically.

"Why bring them back together? Why would we want to do that?"

"Because, Lisa. Once we do, we can go back. And we can change everything- you'll get whatever it is that you want. Widmore will be there to try and stop us, but you're just going to have to trust me."

She could only stare at him, into his cold blue eyes. The man who had lied to her friends and nearly killed all of them…the man who had made her a promise a long time ago…that she would finally be safe, but rid of all that had threatened them.

"Okay, Ben," Lisa said, "I trust you."

He smiled at her.

"I knew you would."

L O S T

So how bad to you hate me for the flashforward?? ha ha. Hope you enjoyed it! It certainly was fun for me. :D Please leave your thoughts for me, if ya don't mind. ;) !!