"Abby, are you coming?"
I sat on the sand, staring at my hands as my fingers snaked through the warm crystals.
"Abby…we're leaving. Are you coming or not?"
I blinked, looking over my right shoulder. Hurley stood behind me, looking down quizzically. His hair seemed to have grown so much in the few months we have been on the island. Tight brown ringlets framed his round face, warm caramel eyes peered from behind bushy brows.
"Dude…are you with me or not?" he asked, a small backpack slung over his shoulder. I blinked again, quickly rising to my feet. I smiled, brushing a strand of dark hair from my face.
"I'm with you. Sorry."
Hurley stared another moment, mouth pressed into the hint of a frown.
"You know you don't have to come if you don't want to. I mean, with the whole…you know…I mean, just, if you'd rather not-"
I laughed, touching his arm. I smiled, forcing my eyes to lock with his.
"I'm fine Hurley…thanks. But I want to come."
He stared at me, unblinking. I felt my chest tighten.
"…okay. Come on. I wouldn't be surprised if they left already."
"Work," I said flatly. It was more of a question than a statement, but I couldn't muster the emotion. Juliet nodded once, the sad smile frozen on her lips.
"Yes…work. What you do is very important to us here…we could really use your he-"
"Where's Jack."
I knew what she was going to say. And I didn't want to hear it. Juliet sighed, frowning some. She had been waiting for that response.
"Jack's fine. He's with us, on the other side of the island."
"I want to see him."
"I'm sorry, we can't do that."
"What could possibly lead you to believe that I would want to help you?" I spat, feeling anger flare in my chest. I had done better than I thought I would so far, I couldn't lose control now. Not yet.
Juliet took another deep breath.
"Abby…don't make this harder than it has to be. You don't want to do that."
"And why the hell wouldn't I?" I hissed, my jaw clenching. My anger faltered as I caught a glimpse of what I was nearly positive was genuine pain flit across Juliet's features.
"…I don't think you want anything to happen to Jack…do you?"
Anger gripped my throat. I lunged at the glass, my left fist landing on it with a loud thud. I glared at her, my upper lip curling back over my teeth slightly. "If you pieces of shit have laid one finger on him, I sweat to God-"
"Abby. It's not worth it. Please…just hear us out," Juliet pleaded, cutting me off.
"No, you hear me out. I will never do anything for you people. Who the hell do you think you are? Why are you doing this to us? Where did you even come from?"
Juliet sighed, closing her eyes momentarily.
"I'll bring you something to eat in a while."
Before I could get another word in, she disappeared through the heavy door, the cling of metal echoing behind her.