Part 134: The Burning

The night had slowly fallen before the survivors. Most had already settled in for the night. Others were mingling with other survivors. John walked over through one of the pathways toward the tents at the beach. He looked to his left when he heard a familiar laughter. He saw Natasha in Sawyer’s tent, giggling. The southern man was whispering something in her ear and every time he did, she would giggle some more. Sawyer’s comment earlier to McKay made him think for a second that the scumbag was not the right choice for Natasha. However, all the things she and John went through, made him wonder if he had any right to interfere. He decided against it; it was, after all, none of his business anymore.

The archer walked up to his part at the tent, seeing Mia as already there. She had a small notepad over her eyes and she was staring at it. He slowly leaned down, laying on his side. He said nothing; he just stared at her while she studied the paper. After a while, Mia smiled when she finally understood he was so close by. “Sorry, John,” she giggled.

“Must be pretty interesting for you to take five minutes to realize I am staring at your gorgeous face.” He chuckled.

“Flatterer,” she said, kissing him on the cheek, “I was just trying to figure these out.”

John looked at the pad. “Numbers?”

“Yeah, they were indented on the side of the Hatch,” Mia said, leaning her head on his shoulder, “I’ve been trying to make out what they mean.”

“Four, eight, 15, 16, twenty three and forty two?” John studied them,” It’s kinda funny. This are just the right amount of number to play the lottery.”

“Maybe we’ll play them when we get home?” Mia laughed.

“Yeah, that would be nice.” He smiled at her, “Are you getting a long with the teacher?”

“Yeah, I am. I didn’t bring him an apple but he accepted my grades. Another student got a little upset that I was smarter than him but Professor Locke put him in his place.”

“What student?”

“Boone.” Mia smirked.

“Boone is involved in this too?” John covered his eyes, “Aw, man. Then it’s only a matter of time before Mandy knows about the Hatch.”

“Don’t worry, John. I think Locke can control him. Besides, there is something about Boone which makes me think he has gone through something.”

“Gone through what?” the archer inquired.

“Don’t know, but it was something,” Mia said, twirling her hair, “I can tell by his eyes. One moment they are soft and the other they are made of steel. He’s . . .unique.”

“Well, I am glad there is another class nerd at the Hatch School.”

Mia playfully punched him. John laughed, reeling from the blow. He then made a joke about her homework, giving her back the numbers. The Lakota girl then leaned on his chest, looking at the numbers. John looked around for his friends. Tony and Marita were sharing a moment inside the main tent. McKay was down by the beach talking to Bernard and Rose. Taylor was near him, chatting it with Jenny and Kristy. The other portion of his friends were no where to be seen but he knew they were nearby.


Shanna walked over to the special layout Charlie had made. He said the trees had offered them the perfect sound buffer for their music. The red head placed down the large kettle she managed to find. Seth smiled at her; not recalling a time when she was this happy. She took a stick and tapped on the box, then the kettle, then a trashcan. She was already playing it like a pro. “Magnificant!” Charlie laughed.

“Not really,” she giggled, “These sticks are too thick. I need to whittle them down.”

Shanna pulled out her short sword and began to use it to carve up the sticks into smaller drum sticks. Charlie went back to his pad, wrote down a few more things and then said, “How about . . .Speed Bump?”

“Too bland, “ Seth grunted, “Try again.”

“Loose Digital Panties?” Charlie smiled.

“HELL NO!” Shanna grunted.

“You’re right, “ Charlie said, “It’ll hurt our female fans.”

“Female fans?” Shanna commented, “We don’t have any fans yet!”

“Well there is Claire.” The musician crooned.

“How about . . .Leather Black?” Seth snapped his fingers.

“Maybe . ..Ghostie Congratulates?” Charlie said, wild eyed.

“Dark Wolfbat?” Seth said, then shook his head, “No, wait, that makes us sound like a heavy metal band.”

“Boca Raton-Batons?” Charlie laughed.

“Dune Sea?” pondered Seth.

“Wanton Waves?”

“Hollywierd?”

“Flag Base?”

“How about . .Moxie and Dos Nerds?” Shanna laughed.

Seth and Charlie paused, looking at her. The redhead laughed for a few seconds before she noticed they weren’t laughing with her. She froze as they looked at her then at each other. Seth then snapped his fingers and pointed toward the musician’s pad. “Write it down.” He ordered.

“Sodding brilliant.” Charlie muttered under his breath.

“Guys, c’mon!” Shanna smiled, scoffing, “I was joking!”

“No way, that is great, Shanna!” Seth clapped at her.

“Yes! Please, can you think of something else? I am running out of names here.”

Shanna rolled her eyes as she continued whittling her drum sticks.



Eddie walked through the jungle, slowly making his way back to the beach. He had time to gather his thoughts and take time to mourn his father. He worried for his mother. Eddie truly wondered if she was alive or if she was also dead as well. It was possible; she was no where to be found. Why should he hope that she is okay?


Eddie sat down next to a tree. He gently took Mr. Kangaroo and placed him to the side. The little boy leaned against the tree and closed his eyes. Tears gently strolled down his face. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out his father’s watch. He rubbed it gently, feeling the engraving on the bottom. The little boy remembered when his father lost it in the pool at Uncle Ray’s house. His father dove in and did his best to retrieve, managing to find it in one of the pool vents. Eddie’s dad said it was the only thing he had left from his father. At that moment, Eddie was thrust into the exact same position. “Will I ever stop crying?” he whimpered.

“Eventually you will.” Mr. Kangaroo whispered.

“I don’t . .I don’t want my mom to be dead.” The little boy gulped.

“If you believe in your heart that she is alive, Eddie . .then she is.” The stuffed toy said in a low voice, “but you must believe it.”

“You didn’t see my dad, Mr. Kangaroo. He looked . .he looked like his skin was made of bad cheese.”

“Your father is in Heaven now. Maybe your mother is, maybe she isn’t. You too will go to Heaven one day, Eddie. But not before your time.”

“When . . when will my time come?”

“Not for a while.” Mr. Kangaroo whispered, “A long while.”

Eddie looked into his backpack and pulled out a bottle of water. He took a sip of it, wiping his sweat. He then handled the bottle to the stuffed toy. “No thank you,” he said, “I am trying to quit.”

“Be careful you don’t get a brain pop like Mr. Underwood, Kangaroo.”

“I have a distinct impression . . .that won’t happen.” The stuffed toy hissed.

Eddie smiled at the toy, then leaned over, patting him on the head. “Thanks for always being there for me, Mr. Kangaroo.” He smiled.

“You needed me. I needed you. We help each other. There is no more to it than that.” the toy whispered.

“When we get off this island, I am taking you with me.” Eddie sipped on his water.

“I would like that. I would like to see you home.” Kangaroo told him.

“If my mom is not alive . .I guess I won’t go home. I would like to live with Marita and Tony . . .but Uncle Ray probably won’t allow that.”

“Don’t worry about that, Eddie. Tony and Marita will always been your Right Now Parents.”

“Yeah, “ he smiled, “I love them. They have helped me so much.”

“Interesting,” the toy whispered.

“What is?” the little boy asked.

“I wasn’t aware that burning bamboo smelled like that.”

Eddie quickly turned to the beach as he saw the raft was on fire. The light from the blaze lit up the small area he was standing in. The boy stood up, looking at it. It didn’t make sense. Why would anybody burn the raft? He thought they wanted off of the island.

Then Eddie saw a shape emerge from behind the raft. It was the little black boy named Walt. He quickly ran into the jungle appearing toward Eddie. The little boy saw him toss what appeared to be a lighter into the bushes. Little Eddie was throw back; How could he burn his dad’s raft? Then in some weird haze, he found himself running after him. Eddie then quickly tackled Walt. The little black boy tried to shove him off. “WHY?” Eddie demanded, “Why did you burn your dads-“

Before Eddie could respond, Walt shoved his head toward a tree. The little boy grunted as his temple felt the sharp bark of the palm tree. The little black boy shoved him away and kept running. Eddie rolled down on the ground, feeling of his forehead, feeling of the small blood enter his fingers.


Back at the beach, people started shouting. John leaned up from holding Mia and looked at the distance. The raft was ablaze. More and more people started to run toward it. Tony could hear the panic in the people’s voice. “JOHN! WHAT’S HAPPENING?” he screamed.

“Michael’s raft!” he screamed, “It’s on fire!”

Mia and John then got up and ran toward it. Tony stood up and Marita grabbed him arm, leading him toward. Micheal was screaming in defiance of his boat burning. Yolanda was with him, holding her hair, shocked this was happening. Then Walt appeared looking at it. He stood staring at it for a few seconds. The little black boy saw John, Mia and Sawyer trying to toss sand on it. But the bamboo went up to quick in a blaze of glory. Walt then ran forward and tried to toss sand on it. “No, Walt!” Yolanda grabbed him.

Micheal grabbed them both, pulling them back. “Both of you get back!”

The bamboo started to shoot up even more fire. John grabbed Mia, worried some embers might burn her jacket. By instinct, he grabbed Sawyer, pulling him back too. The southern man didn’t object; he was too busy being depressed over the boat burning.

Micheal held onto his son and then looked the Korean woman named Sun. “Where is he?” he asked.

Tony listened in to the black man’s ranting. Sun then replied in Korean, not understandable. “Where . .IS . .HE??” Micheal grunted.

“Micheal, I don’t think she can understand you.” Yolanda tried to hold him back.

“Yeah, man, back off.” Jack told him.

“WHERE IS HE?” he screamed in her face.

“Micheal, stop this!” Kate screamed back.

“No, her husband did this, and she knows. You're trying to protect him now, is that it?” he hissed.

“She was with me!” the brunette pushed him back.

The raft then exploded in a crash, shooting out one more gust of fire. Sun then took that moment to turn and run. Kate quickly turned and called to her but she kept running Micheal then made a maneuver to go after her. “I’m gonna break his damn neck.” He muttered.

John watched as Kate and Jack stepped in to stop him. “Hold on, man” the doctor ordered, “we don’t know that Jin did this.”

“Oh, are you serious?” Sawyer exclaimed.

“Shut up, Sawyer,” he immediately retorted.

“Jack, c;mon, we saw him on the beach this morning!” Charlie pointed out.

“That doesn’t mean he torched the raft.” John commented.

“Then who did, archer boy?” Sawyer demanded.

“Yeah, Jack, who did this then?” Micheal said, pushing him away.

Tony could feel the heat from the raft as it continued to go up in a blaze. Marita was concerned over the hostility brewing between some of the people. It wasn’t like this on their beach. She looked to see McKay with Taylor, plus Bernard and Rose looking onto the fire. The Bernard looked downward and immediately said, “Boy, are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Eddie whispered.

Marita turned down to look at Eddie, gasping at the small stream of blood coming from his open wound in his forehead. She quickly kneeled down and checked him out. “Eddie, what happened?” she asked.

“Eddie, are you hurt?” Tony then heard he was near.

“No, Tony. It’s just a scratch.” The little boy whispered.

“Tony, he’s bleeding from a wound in his forehead.” The Latina pointed out.

Tony quickly kneeled down, and felt of his forehead. Eddie grunted from the touch of the pain. “Eddie, how did this happen?” the blind doctor asked.

“I heard a lot of screaming and saw the light of the fire,” he whispered, “But it wasn’t that well lit where I was running. I ran smack into a tree. I didn’t mean too, Tony.”

“I know you didn’t, champ,” he said, taking his hand, “C’mon. Let’s get you back to camp and clean up you.”

Tony, Marita and Eddie began to walk away, holding hands. As they walked, Eddie turned around and stared at Walt. The little black boy heard the whole thing; wondering why Eddie didn’t give him up. The young boy stared with hatred at him but then turned around, and kept walking.

Sawyer watched his escape ticket go up in fire. He rubbed his forehead from the sweat. He then turned around and looked at the people leaving. His eyes quickly fell on McKay. Micheal asked the question who else could have burned the raft. The black man assumed it was a person who had a beef with him.

Maybe it was someone who had a beef with Sawyer?