Although they could hear it coming for them, they realized they were pretty far from it when they came to a dead tree, with a hole large enough to fit a person.
"Claire! Hide in there!"
Without another word, he gently pushed Claire inside. The howling and the clicking started to become louder.
"I'll hold it off. Stay in there! Don't come out until I've come back."
"No, Charlie!" Claire sobbed. "You won't come back! I won't lose you again!"
"Claire! I will always come for you. Just please, wait for me this time."
Claire sobbed harder, but she realized how she doubted Charlie would come back for her, and was proven wrong. Though not likely, maybe he will return to her after this too.
It took a moment, but she sadly nodded. They held each other's hands as they looked into each other's eyes.
"No matter what happens," Charlie whispered, "wait for me."
And with that, he pulled away from her and saw the monster coming closer.
"HEY! HEY YOU! OVER HERE!"
Once he got the impression that he got its attention, he took off with it behind him. He didn't have to look back to know it was after him. The howling and the trees getting smashed behind him was enough.
It seemed like he ran forever when he suddenly tripped on a root, and hit the ground face first. He turned over to see the great black smoke looming over him, a threatening growling sound coming from it.
Here he was, lying helpless, nothing he learned from Sayid's crew was a match for this demon. He was going to die. He was going to break his promise to Claire. He was going to leave her alone again.
That's when he heard a familiar popping noise. He suddenly saw his salvation and leapt to it. Just as the smoke reached for him…
WHOOSH!!
A flame spurted from the ground, hitting the smoke. A terrible, high pitched shriek erupted and the smoke fled, it's howl faded away.
"Charlie? CHARLIE!"
He had been gone for almost an hour. It was all silent. Claire feared the worst.
Her sobs grew.
"CHARLIE!!"
"CLAIRE?!"
He suddenly emerged from the darkness and was limping over to her. His leg was injured and he used his sword as a cane. Claire cried harder as she ran out of the tree she hid in and hugged him. Charlie hugged her back. He was so relieved to see she was okay after all he went through. As he looked up, a smile grew on his face.
"Claire, look!"
She turned around. Sure enough there was a clearing before them. And without running into another flame spurt, quicksand, or any black smoke, they left the jungle.
"We did," Claire breathed.
"Now, was that so terrible?" Charlie teased.
Claire giggled softly as she drew closer to him. But they were interrupted by the sound of horses. Prince Locke and his men were suddenly before him.
"Surrender!" Locke demanded.
"You wish to surrender to us?" Charlie mocked. "Very well. I accept."
Locke grinned, but it was almost a sneer. "You're brave. I'll give you that much. Don't make yourself a fool."
"Ah, but how will you catch us? We have unraveled the mysteries of the Fiery Jungle. We can live there safe and happy and you're free to come visit if you feel like dying."
Claire looked about and saw several men with crossbows emerging from the trees, aiming at Charlie.
"I'll ask you again," Locke demanded. "Surrender!"
"Not going to happen!" Charlie growled.
"For the last time! SURRENDER!"
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!"
"I'LL HAVE THAT ARRANGED!"
"PROMISE ME YOU WON'T HURT HIM!" Claire shrieked.
"What?" Locke and Charlie asked in simultaneously.
"I'll go with you," Claire spoke to Locke, "if you promise me you will not hurt him."
Locke looked at his men with the crossbows and signaled them to stand down. "You have my word, dearest."
Claire continued. "This man is a sailor on the pirate ship the Nadia. Promise me you will return him."
Locke smiled. "I swear, it shall be done."
Locke then looked towards Cooper and whispered. "The moment we're out of sight, take him back to the island and throw him in the Looking Glass."
Cooper grinned. "I swear it shall be done."
Charlie glanced at Claire, with a look of feeling betrayed. Tears began to well in Claire's eyes.
"I lost you once, and it destroyed me. I cannot bear to lose you again. Not when I have a chance to save you."
Charlie did not speak to her. And he lost his chance to as Locke swooped the princess onto his horse and rode off.
"Now then," Count Cooper said politely to Charlie. "We'd best take you back to your ship now, eh?"
Charlie knew a liar when he saw one. "We're men of action. Lies do not become us."
Cooper looked at one of the crossbowmen and smiled. "A poet. I like this guy already. Ethan, take this guy to my ship and prepare a cell for 'im."
Ethan smiled. "Sure thing, Mr. Sawyer."
Something clicked into Charlie's brain as he looked at Cooper in shock.
"Sawyer?"
But Ethan knocked Charlie over the back of his head using the butt of his crossbow, and he knew no more.
A/N: So it took me a while to update. That's because it took me a while to get a review. I almost thought nobody likes my story.
But I got a review, and so, I'm back.
So if I get another review, I'll get another chapter up.