Ben went to Illana and informed them about Sayid killing Dogen and Lennon. Ben suggested they go to the beach camp and Illana, Lapidus, and Miles agreed to it. Illana then realised that Miles is Miles Straum who can speak to the dead and got him to listen to Jacob's ashes. Miles heard that Ben had killed Jacob, and everyone turned to Ben in shock. They all left back to the beach with Ben pleading that he didn't kill Jacob. They made it back to the camp and Ben continued to plead that he didn't, but no one seemed to listen to him. Jack and Hurley awoke with Jack insisting they go as quickly as they can to the Temple. Hurley tried to lead him around, but they ran into Richard. Richard wanted them to follow him, and Hurley tried to reject but Jack insisted. Lapidus informed Ben that he was supposed to flying Oceanic 815 but overslept and how different his life would be. Ben told him that it didn't matter because the island still got him anyway. Illana held a gun to Ben and lead him to the graveyard where she tied him to a tree and forced him to dig his own grave. Miles went to Ben and Ben asked if he still wanted the money, but Miles rejected because he could just steal the diamonds from the graves of Nikki and Paulo. Miles then told Ben about Jacob even up until his death wishing that he was wrong about Ben. Richard led them to the Black Rock and not the Temple because there were no survivors, but their friends weren't there. Jack then realised Hurley knew because Jacob told him and Richard upon hearing this told Hurley to not believe Jacob and that he is here to die. Richard entered the Black Rock and after looking at some chains before mentioning that it's the first time he has been back here. Richard then goes to get some dynamite, but Hurley warns him about how unstable it is, Richard is aware of this and informs them that he can't kill himself because of Jacob's gift but it's really a curse. Richard asks Jack to light it and run because he wants to die. Jack agrees and lights it but stays with Richard and wants to talk because he believes they aren't going to die. That Jacob didn't put his name on the lighthouse and watched him his entire life to bring him to the island; just die here and now. It doesn't detonate and Richard agrees to listen to Jack, who wants to go back to the beach. Ben digging the grave was found by the monster and told Ben that he wanted him to come with him to his group because he was leading a group off the island and someone needed to stay and be in charge. The monster then frees Ben and tells him about how he'll be on Hydra Island, and that there's a gun which he can use to kill Illana nearby. After the monster leaves, Ben runs to the gun and Illana follows in pursuit. Ben makes it to the gun and aims it at Illana, Ben then tells her about how he killed his daughter and sacrificed her to the island all in the name of Jacob. Ben then tells her that he will never forgive himself and just wants to leave. Illana asks where he will go, and Ben answers to Locke because he's the only one who will have him. Illana listens and says that she'll have him, and he follows her back to camp. Ben sets up a tarp, while Lapidus sits by a fire. Miles looks at the diamonds he took from the graves of Nikki and Paulo, and Illana holds the ashes while looking at the ocean. Richard, Jack, and Hurley return to the camp and are happily greeted while in the ocean on a submarine; Charles Widmore returns to the island.

Everyone follows the monster to a clearing besides a big tree where they should rest as he explains his plan. The monster insists that they need to take advantage of the daylight and leave. Sun, Jin, Kate, Sawyer, Charlie, and Claire all gather in a circle and Kate asks, "what are we doing here Sawyer, why are we following Locke because I thought he was dead".

Sawyer answers "it's not Locke but he wants to get us off this island, so were going with him".

Claire said "if it's not Locke then it must be the thing that took me".

Sawyer said "must be but remember it also told us how to stop the flashes, so it seems to have clear goal and follows them, and lucky for us, he wants to take himself off this island and is offering us a ticket off as well so I'm taking it".

Kate said "how can we trust it, if it took Claire".

Sawyer told them "I don't but just like with the flashes we have no choice because we have to get off this island".

Kate told him "James this can't be the way, maybe if we found Jack then we could think of a plan".

Sawyer responded "I don't about you Freckles, but Locke's got a plan off this island and I'm taking it, and I suggest we all do the same".

Claire said "Sawyer's right. That thing took me, but we didn't have a choice with the flashes and had to follow it, and we don't have a choice now. We need to get off this island and I'm not rejecting any chance to see my son again.

Sun asked Jin "you going with Locke".

Jin answered "he said that if I followed him, I would find you at the Temple and I did so I'm following him, and like Claire said I'm not giving up a chance to go home because I want to see our Ji Yeon".

Sun said "you know her name".

Jin answered "Locke told me, but I want to hear about her from you".

Sun told him "I named her exactly like you wanted and she is so much like you, you'll love her, and she'll love you".

Jin said "then I can't wait to meet her".

Sun smiled before saying "I have your ring".

Sun put it on Jin's finger and after looking at it on his finger, kissed her. The monsters group started to leave, and they all followed. On the way the monster mentioned that they would be there for a couple of days and Sawyer questioned. The monster spoke to him alone about him speaking out of terms and when Sawyer asked "so how did you manage to summon the smoke thing".

The monster answered "I'm the smoke thing".

Sawyer asked "why didn't they take you up on your offer to leave then".

The monster answered "because they're convinced that they're protecting the island from me when in fact all I want to do is leave. So, it's kill or be killed, and I don't want to be killed". The monster then sends Sawyer to Hydra Island to do some recon on the passengers. Sawyer went to Hydra Island and walked past the cages where he and Kate were once held, and even found the Kate wore still in her cage. Kate went to talk to Sayid about Locke and whether he could really take them home. Sayid answered yes but the way he said it, led Kate to believe something was wrong but Sayid insisted that there wasn't. Sawyer checked out the plane and found no one until he followed a trail to a pile of bodies. He then saw a woman and chased her until he tackled her, and she told him that her name was Zoe and was the only one left. Zoe tells him about how she found the bodies and he told her that he could take her to a group of people on the main island. Zoe continues to speak to Sawyer and questions him about his people and if they have guns. Sawyer then pulls a gun on her not believing her story. She whistles and a group of men from the nearby bushes aim their guns at him. Sawyer drops his gun, and they take him to their base where they are setting up pylons like at the Barracks. They take him to the dock where a submarine is docked and force him inside. Sawyer notices a locked door but is forced past it to Charles Widmore. Sawyer informs Charles that the monster sent him and agrees to tell the monster that the coast is clear and then they can have him, in exchange for his people being left alone and given safe passage of the island. Charles Widmore agrees to this plan and Sawyer goes back to tell Locke about Charles Widmore being there and everything they have. Sawyer also tells the monster about the deal, so they can change the plan and catch them off guard. That night Kate talks to Sawyer about what he saw, and he tells her that his plan is to let the monster and Charles Widmore fight it out while they hijack the submarine and get off this island.

At the beach camp Illana tells them that Richard should know. Richard claims he doesn't and that everything Jacob said was a lie. Richard then claimed that they were dead and that they weren't on an island but in hell. Richard then goes out into the jungle because he now is going to listen to the monster. Jack then see Hurley talking to someone and thinks it's Jacob, but Hurley tells them that it isn't and doesn't concern him. Ben then tells the group that Richard doesn't age. Richard goes to where he buried her cross and calls out to the monster that he had changed his mind. Hurley then goes to Richard and tells him that his wife sent him. Hurley then communicates between Richard and his wife Isabella. When Isabella's gone, Richard puts her cross on and Hurley tells him that he has to stop the man in black.

The monster goes to talk to Jin and Sun and tells them "I showed James the cliffs and inside a cave were names on the wall. These names are the names of candidates and most of them are crossed off but names like Reyes, Jarrah, Ford, Shephard, and Kwon still remain".

Sun asked "what does that mean".

The monster answered "that you are candidates to protect the island. Now I don't know if it means you or your husband, but a Kwon is a candidate".

Jin asked "what do we do".

The monster told them "nothing because the island doesn't need protecting at all, it's an island. So that's means all the names that haven't been crossed off have to go together".

The monster then leaves to check in on the other candidates and Sayid tells the monster that he doesn't feel anything anymore. The monster leaves and Claire who was listening to the conversation goes to Charlie and says "we need to find Kate because us three could be in danger".

Charlie and Claire walk over to Kate and Claire asks "can we speak to you alone".

Kate says "sure".

They walk out of sight from everyone, and Claire says "I think we need to be careful with Locke".

Kate asked "why, what did you hear".

Claire answers "Locke only needs these candidates off the island, but Littleton, Pace, or Austen aren't on there, so we aren't needed in that monster's plan".

Kate said "don't worry Claire, Sawyer has a plan, and it will get us off the island".

Claire said "really".

Kate said "he plans to let Locke, and the monster fight it out while we steal their submarine and sail away from this island".

Charlie asked "you believe it will work".

Kate said "no one can lie and con better than Sawyer". They listened and Kate said "I made a promise to get you off and I'm keeping it. I will get you two off and home to Aaron".

Claire exclaimed "thank you" before giving her a hug. They went back to where they were, and Claire told Charlie "I've been trying to not think about it, but I can't. I need to get off this island. Every moment were stuck here, Aaron's at home confused about everything and needs his mummy to be there for him but she can't because she is stuck on this island".

Charlie held her "it's okay, we'll get home soon and then we'll be there for him. We will have a proper wedding, and a proper marriage just you, me, Turniphead, and whoever's in there".

Claire laughed "you really believe it already worked".

Charlie said "I do believe it, one because of the amount of sperm the male has on the island and two because I put all that effort into it. It had to work".

Claire told him "I've believed it since that very next morning".

Darts then come from trees and knock everyone out. Zoe comes out from the tree and says to the men around her "unfortunately we can't take this one because he could help us with finding the pockets of electromagnetism on the island, but this will still prove its purpose". They then leave taking no one but await the response the monster will give. The monster finds everyone knocked out and that they've been hit by darts. The monster asks Sayid about who attacked them, but he doesn't know, the monster is thankful that no one was taken but has to talk to Charles Widmore. The monster and Sayid goes to Hydra Island and Sayid stays there in wait as the monster sees the pylons. Charles Widmore appears wants to know why he's there.

The monster said "you attacked my people, obviously as a message to me but messages like that causes wars. A wise man once said war was coming to this island and I think it just got here". The monster then left and returned back to the main island.

On the beach Richard returns and wants to stop the monster leaving the island by blowing up the plane. Miles says "the planes our only way off the island right so why are we blowing it up; even if it is to stop this thing if it means were stuck here forever".

Richard told them "we have no choice we have to stop it from leaving".

Miles responded "but why do we have to be stuck here forever".

Illana said "because it's part of Jacob's plan".

Jack said "okay we'll get the dynamite and tomorrow stop the plane from ever leaving this island".

Miles responds "great it's not like I wanted to get off this island in the three years I've been here".

Illana volunteers "I'll go get the dynamite from the Black Rock".

Everyone is Locke's camp await the monster's and Sayid's return but only see the monster. Sawyer questions it but the monster reminds him of the locked room Sawyer told him about and that he doesn't like secrets. Sayid watches the dock as they bring Desmond out and Sayid is surprised to see him.

Desmond awakes on Hydra Island and is surprised that Penny isn't there but more so that Charles Widmore is. Charles Widmore tells him that both Penny and his son are safe, but he had to take him because he would never voluntary go back to the island. Desmond attacks him but is pulled off and held as Charles Widmore and Zoe go to the generator room. They enter and begin to test the equipment but when it fails, they send someone in to check it out. As the person was checking the machine out, someone realised it was a bad breaker and as they turned it on. The machine turned on and killed the person inside before they could turn it off. They take the body away and place Desmond inside to conduct the experiment which they believe he will survive due to his exposure to electromagnetism before. They turn it on, and the machine works. Charles and Zoe check on Desmond who awakes perfectly fine and is immediately ready to help Charles Widmore. Zoe and a few men take Desmond with them, but they are stopped by Sayid who kills everyone but Desmond and Zoe, he tells Zoe to run, and she does. Sayid wants Desmond to follow him, and he does.

Hurley lays flowers at Libby's grave as Illana goes and informs him that she's leaving now for the Black Rock. Hurley still unsure questions her whether it's the right move but she tell him that it's the only one they have. Illana leaves and Hurley sees Michael appear before him and is here to stop him from killing everyone. Micheal informs him that he has to not blow up the plane or everyone will die. Illana returns and Hurley tries to stop her from going to blow it up but as she pleads with him, she place her bag down to forcefully and the dynamite detonates killing Illana. Sawyer and Kate talk to the monster whose carving a tree branch and complain that he's doing nothing. Sawyer says "those bastards on the other island attack us and you come back without Sayid and were sitting here twiddling our damn thumbs".

The monster tells them that there is a difference from doing nothing and waiting and that they need to wait until Hurley and Jack are here, like how they came back to the island. Kate didn't think it would happen and the monster hoped she was wrong. Sayid returned and wanted to talk to the monster alone, the monster agreed, and Sayid led the monster to what Charles Widmore was hiding, Desmond. Hurley found Jacob's ashes as Richard attempted to get more dynamite, Jack suggested that he didn't because Illana died but Hurley insisted, they did because it's the only choice they got. Jack listened and they all went to the Black Rock. The monster kept Desmond tied up until Desmond informed him that he had nowhere to run. The monster untied him, and Desmond told them about what happened to him with Charles Widmore. The monster sent Sayid back to camp as he went off alone with Desmond. Richard led them to the Black Rock with Ben referring to the fact that Illana died even though she was handpicked by Jacob to protect the candidates. Richard is about to enter alone because he's the only one that's safe when he realises Hurley isn't there, that when Hurley runs towards them telling them to get down because the Black Rock is about to explode. It does and it sends everyone backwards. Richard wants to know why Hurley did that and Hurley answered that he was protecting them. Hurley then tells Miles that Micheal told him to do it because it would save them. The monster and Desmond walk and see the kid Jacob again, but the monster insists that they ignore him. Richard wants to go to the Barracks and get the explosives that Ben had but Hurley insists that they go to Locke. That Jacob wants them to go see Locke. Richard doesn't believe him and wants to know something only Jacob would know but Hurley tells him that he can go with him or continue to try and blow stuff up. Richard wants to go blow it up and both Ben agrees with him, Miles goes as well because he saw the monster in action and knows it doesn't want to talk. go with him. The rest go with Hurley and by nighttime Hurley confesses to Jack about not seeing Jacob. Jack is following him because ever since Juliets death he wanted to fix it, but he can't. Jack is struggling to let others tell him what to do but thinks it's the point that he needs to let go. Hurley confesses to not knowing where he is going when they all hear the whispers. Hurley understands now and goes to see Micheal. Hurley understand that Micheal is stuck on the island because of what he did and that the whispers are the dead that can't move on. Hurley wants to know where the monster is, and Micheal points out where the camp is. The monster and Desmond reach a well and the monster tells him about how old the well is and that the people dug it by hand to find out why compass needles spun here. The monster then saw that Desmond wasn't afraid and through him into the well. The monster returns to camp and Sawyer goes to talk to him when they realises Hurley is now here. Hurley wants them to team up and join forces. The monster agrees and Jack and Lapidus come behind him. Kate is happy to see Jack and the monster says hello.

The monster wants to talk to Jack alone, and they talk alone about what he was, why he was in the body of Locke and how he used to be his father. The monster tells him that he wants to help him leave because Jacob had trapped him here before he even arrived. Jack asks why he hasn't left yet and the monster answers that they have to leave together. Jack mentions that Locke was the only one that believed in this place, but the monster insists that John Locke wasn't a believer but a sucker. Sawyer tells Hurley about the plan and that Kate is telling Sun. Hurley asks about Sayid, but Sawyer tells him that Sayid isn't welcome due to him going over to the dark side. Jack and the monster return but just as Kate goes to talk to Jack. Zoe enters and insists that they took something from them and want it back. The monster rejects them, but Zoe calls in a mortar strike which hits near camp. Zoe threatens to not miss if he doesn't return what's theirs by nightfall. He send Sawyer to Desmond's boat and Sawyer takes Kate with him. The monster goes off with Sayid while Sawyer informs Jack about his plan to go to the boat with Hurley, Sun, Jin, Lapidus, Charlie, and Claire with Kate and himself going to meet them all there. Jack asks about Sayid, but Sawyer insists that since he's a zombie he's not welcome. The monster gets Sayid to kill Desmond, and he agrees. Sayid goes to the well where Desmond is but can't kill him. Sawyer then tells Kate about the plan and Kate is shocked and unhappy to only hear about the plan now but is happy to have a plan that will get herself and her friends off the island. The monster goes back to check if no one is left behind and Jack signals to Hurley, Jin, Sun, Lapidus, Claire, and Charlie that it's time to go and all six follow him. The monster catches up to Sayid and tells him that he killed Desmond. They catch up with Sawyer and Kate and all seven jump aboard. Sawyer tells them his plan to get close to Charles Widmore before putting a gun to his face and making him take them home. Hurley, Claire, Charlie, Lapidus, Jin, and Sun go down to the galley to get food while Sawyer talks to Jack and Kate takes the wheel. Jack admits that this doesn't feel right. Sawyer was confused by this, and Jack told him that they came here for a reason and if the monster wanted them to leave then it might be afraid of what happens if they stay. Sawyer threaten to throw him overboard if he continues to talk crazy like that. Jack pleads with Sawyer that this is a mistake, and the island isn't done with them. Sawyer proclaims that he is done with the island, and that Jack should get off the boat if he wants to take a leap of faith. Jack apologises for getting Juliet killed before jumping into the water and swims back to the island. Kate wants to go back but Sawyer tells her that they're done going back. Jack arrives back on the main island and is met by the monster as Sawyer leads his groups to Hydra Island and they are immediately held at gunpoint by Widmore's people. Sawyer tells them that the monster is still on the main island and Zoe alerts Charles Widmore. Zoe then captures them all and tells them that the deals off before they launch a mortar attack on the monsters group. Jack is blown back by the first blast and the monster carries him to the safety of the jungle.