The waves were undisturbed on this beach. The view from where the waves met the sand was nothing but serene. Sun high in the sky, blue eyes blink open, shocked by the harsh light. Blinding white light pierced her vision, but the pain in her eyes was nothing compared to the churning sharp pains in her abdomen.
Blinking uncontrollably and gripping her stomach, the woman with blue eyes peered around at the serene water in front of her. Beautiful. But this wasn't where she started. Ouch. The pain seared through her belly once more. Something was wrong. In fact, as the woman thought more, everything was wrong.
The woman stared at the sea, her ears ringing and her eyes watering, what happened? Another sharp pain coursed through her stomach, and she glanced down. Panic set in. Her round stomach loomed below her and she hunched over in horrendous pain. The baby. Something was wrong with the baby. She began to count. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… OOOOF. Another contraction.
"SOMEBODY HELP ME!"
"PLEASE!"
Her muffled ears reverberated her pleas for help. The pain in her stomach, the ringing in her ears, and the watering in her eyes all distracted her from the chaos that unfolded behind her. She didn't see the remnants of the airliner that she had been on, she didn't see the bodies littered around her, she couldn't hear the screams of terror and pain. All she knew was her own terror and pain.
The pain had subsided for 108 seconds before the woman with blue eyes was able to see. She glanced away from the beautiful waves and turned to see a nightmare. Blood, smoke, and wreckage was all she saw. The lush green jungle and high green peaks of the mountains above were out of mind. Her blue eyes dodged from dead body to injured person, to fires, back to dead bodies. There was nothing serene or beautiful here.
"PLEASE HELP ME!" She screamed again as a contraction tore through her stomach.
The pain was stronger now, like glass tearing at her insides. Fear coursed through her veins. This isn't how it's supposed to be, she thought, he said it would be different.
Just then a man appeared before her. She could see blood on his hands but she grabbed them and squeezed anyway.
"I'm having contractions." She gasped as the agony continued.
"How many months pregnant are you?" Her blood soaked knight asked.
"Nearly 8 months" The pain soared and then stopped.
"How far apart are they coming?"
"I'm not sure, I think I just had one."
The man called over someone standing nearby, a heavy-set man with curly hair in a blue shirt. He gave the curly haired man orders and then as soon as he appeared, her knight was gone. She heard the man say his name was Jack.
She had to move apparently, the fumes were dangerous. But how could she get up? She feared if she moved then all the pain would come rushing back. The curly haired man put his arm under hers and heaved her up. Light headed and unsure of her footing in the sand, she struggled to get her balance. They walked for a moment, but the dizziness nearly knocked her over.
"Just over here, it will be ok. Can you make it?" The curly haired man asked.
The blue eyed woman just nodded and did her best to keep moving.
They made it to some shade under the wing of the wrecked plane.
Still counting, she was up to a minute and a half without a contraction. If the sight before wasn't pure destruction, maybe she would have felt some more ease. Her hearing had come back fully and the chaos surrounded her. Just screams for loved ones, for help, screams of unadulterated terror. Could she deliver this baby right now?
"What's your name?" The curly haired man asked, "I'm Hurley."
The woman blinked, momentarily confused why in all of the pandemonium her name would matter.
"Claire."
"How are you feeling?"
"I think I am ok,"
She spoke too soon. As she exhaled another contraction began.
"OH MY GOD"
This pain was unlike anything she had felt before. It felt like the baby was trying to claw its way out of her womb.
"What's wrong, Claire? Is it another contraction?"
Claire managed a nod, gripping Hurley's hand tight enough to break it.
Through gritted teeth, Claire said, "GO. GET. JACK. Something is wrong."
Hurley glanced around the destruction, removed Claire's hands and got up and ran in no one direction in particular.
The claws were sure to scratch through her skin based on the pain she was experiencing. Her blue eyes saw black spots and all the wreckage before her spun. Alone again, Claire squeezed her own hands and felt her nails pierce her own skin. The pain in her hands very briefly distracted her from the contraction, but when Claire felt her water break she froze completely.
Wet sand beneath her and liquid dripping down her leg, Claire was sure this was the end for her and her baby. I'm only 8 months…. This can't be happening. Scanning desperately for Jack or Hurley, she screamed. No words, just a shrill gut wrenching scream.