"Come on Jack…tell me where we are going."

"Now why would I do that?"

I smiled, staring at his feet pick through the undergrowth that blanketed the jungle floor as I walked behind him. Foreign birds chattered and whistled somewhere unseen in the dense canopy. A warm breeze blew lazily through the trees, stirring the humid jungle air.

"Jack…" I started. But as I spoke, he stopped, turning to face me. I felt my stomach tighten as he smiled warmly, soft eyes locking with mine.

"We're almost there," he said simply. He turned back towards the jungle. We walked in relative silence, commenting on a few of our surroundings, a few mundane happenings back at the beach.

"As far as Claire goes, I honestly think that-"

Jack stopped abruptly, so abruptly that I nearly ran into him as he stood frozen before me. He grabbed my arm roughly, silencing me midsentence. Fear gripped my chest as my eyes darted around the trees.

"What's wrong," I whispered. I felt his grasp on my wrist tighten.

"I heard something. Over there," he said, nodding just slightly to his left, but keeping his eyes fixed before him.

"We haven't crossed the boundary, it can't be them," I hissed, my heart beginning to pound. My body stiffened as I heard a rustling in the foliage just behind me. I turned to face it instinctively. I called out in alarm as I heard a loud crash, Jack's hand tearing from my arm. I spun back towards him, but before I got a glimpse of what was happening, something blunt and heavy slams into the back of my skull. I didn't even feel myself hit the ground.

Hot, wet leaves slapped my forehead as I tore through the jungle. Hot tears blurred my vision as I ran. I blinked frantically, trying to clear my eyes.

"Help! Help! Someone! Please!" I shrieked, my arms stretched before me like a child clawing for her mother. I fell onto the beach, my knees slamming into the hot sand. My chest heaved in a final effort to slow my heart rate before a heavy sob finally tore its way from by throat.

I saw a figure leap to their feet in my peripheral vision. They dropped beside me, a hand on my back. Another hand shot to my chin, lifting my face. Tears stung my cheeks as I was forced to look into John Locke's metallic blue eyes.

"Abigail, what happened? What's wrong?"

I gulped at the dry air. "I…we…Jack and I were…in the jungle…we hadn't gone far-"

"Slow down Abigail, what happened?" John demanded, concern creasing his forehead. His eyes darted to my head, widening slightly. He reached out to touch a lock of my hair as if fell in wild clumps around my face and shoulders. "Why is there blood in your hair?"

I ignored his question, feeling my chin begin to quiver. "They took him, John," I choked out. "They took Jack."

I sat against the far wall, my back against the cool cement. My legs were pulled to my chest, my arms lying limply at my sides. I leaned my head back against the wall, staring at the opposite end of the room. I couldn't stop my gaze as it constantly flitted towards the securely closed door. What were they doing? Deciding what to do next with me? I couldn't tell how long it had been. Minutes? Hours? My right index finger tapped anxiously against the floor.

Jack.

He had been gone for almost two weeks now. I winced involuntarily, recalling the moment it happened. I shook my head. I had replayed that scene too many times. Not again. Not now.

I felt my nose burn with the threat of fresh tears. I bit down on my tongue, trying desperately to divert my attention to something physical. I was sick of being trapped in my own head. These images, these scenarios…they were enough to wake me up at night, heart pounding frantically against my ribcage.

My head snapped forward as the door clanged open once again. I stood up, remaining against the wall. I watched as a man slipped into the room, a small tray balanced in one hand as he shut the door behind him. He walked towards the glass, standing back slightly farther than Juliet had. Brown hair stuck haphazardly from his scalp, his blue eyes were intense and piercing. His lips were curved in the slightest smile, thin and unmoving. I stared at him, unsure of how to react. My eyes moved to the tray. A sandwich lay on a paper plate, lettuce poking from beneath the whole wheat bread. A tall glass of water sat beside the plate, a red and yellow apple lying beside it. Saliva sprang to my mouth.

The man's small smile grew as he followed the direction of my gaze.

"I hope you like turkey," he said, placing the tray on a small table near the far end of the room. He turned to face me, stopping only feet before the glass. He wore a light blue button down shirt, khaki pants. Similar to the pastel colors Juliet had worn. Hadn't these people been described as barbarians? Savages? Wearing nothing but tattered, weather worn clothing?

The man's cold blue eyes were studying mine, darting between them. I felt uneasy, and I couldn't place why. I wanted desperately to let my eyes fall to the floor, but I forced myself to hold my gaze let out a hint of a laugh, blinking to break the stare. I released a breath I hadn't noticed I had been holding. His eyes scanned over me once, quickly grazing my body up and down. My brow creased. Why was he looking so intently?

"My name is Benjamin Linus. I believe you met my colleague, Juliet, earlier." He paused, much as Juliet had. I had no idea what these people wanted me to say to them. He waited a moment longer than I thought necessary before continuing. "I believe you were also told that your skills are something we could use to our advantage here. Is that correct?"

I stared at him, determined to let no emotion penetrate my features. He continued.

"We don't normally come out and tell people exactly why they are here. It simply doesn't work like that. But you…we don't necessarily have much time to waste," Benjamin said slowly, his chin tilting upward just slightly. "But, I would probably be correct in assuming you aren't going to do so willingly." It was more of a statement than a question. I continued to stare at him. He chuckled again.

"Well…for a start, how about you sit with your back to that wall, and I set this food down for you?"

I stared at him. He smiled, picking up the tray again. "Please?"

I thought for a moment. I hadn't eaten in at least a day; I had lost too much track of time to really know. Regardless, food and water were something I did want an knew I needed. I slowly backed into the wall, sitting down. Ben watched me for a moment, seeming to gauge my temperament. He exited the room, the metal door within my holding cell clanking open a moment later. He stepped through the door, his blue eyes already locked on me as he entered. He slowly approached the stainless steel table in the center of my room. I turned my head to follow his movements. I felt my blood pressure rise, my jaw tighten.

I saw it register in his eyes a split second before I leapt to my feet, giving him just enough time to turn his body to face mine, bracing himself against the impact. I collided with him at full force, the tray of food flying from his hands, landing with a loud smack on the hard ground, water leaping onto our pant legs as the tall glass shattered at our feet. My hands clawed at his throat as he tumbled backwards, his shoulders slamming into the thick glass wall. Before my fingers made contact with his skin, I was behind pushed backwards. I felt my back slam onto the steel of the table, Ben's figure blocking out the glare of the fluorescent bulbs. His body pressed against mine, his hands clamped onto my wrists, pinning my arms above my head against the cold metal. I was shocked by the force behind his actions, he was much stronger than his small frame suggested. I felt heat spring to my cheeks for a reason I could not pinpoint. I could not control my heart rate.

"Abigail…this behavior is not going to get you anything but more isolation," Ben hissed through his teeth, his face inches from mine. My cheeks burned. "If you do not cooperate with us…you will never see Jack again. And that doesn't begin to compare with the other consequences that I am certain will follow. Not just for you, but for all of us."

My stomach dropped. My body went limp under Ben's.

"Now…are you going to be a good girl if I let you go?"

I couldn't decide how I felt about his tone. I looked up at him, my lips pressing together slightly. He slowly released my wrists, lifting himself off of me. He stepped back a few feet as I also rose from the table. To my surprise, the small smile returned to his lips. What was he reading in my face that seemed to please him so thoroughly?

"I'll be back, Abby. In the mean time…enjoy your sandwich." He moved toward the door, shutting it securely behind him. I stared at the door for a few moment in silence before my eyes fell to the remains of my meal. Turkey, mustard, lettuce and bread strewn in soggy remnants a five-foot radius from where we had fallen. At least the apple was still appeared edible.