Part 209: Too Late For Fate

McKay ran as hard as his legs would take him into the jungle. Branches and giant leaves smacked against his chest and face; but he really didn’t care. He felt asleep for five minutes. FIVE MINUTES! And in the span of time, they lost one of their own. A little boy he had come to love like a nephew. The little boy who brought them all together and gave them strength enough to bury his father. Eddie was gone and McKay blamed himself. The Australian immediately stopped against a tree, nearly smacking it. He tried to catch his breath but it wasn’t working. The humidity had increased as it always did. He slumped down, feeling like a complete failure. That boy that Tony and Marita cared for so much was out in the jungle, all alone. Why did this have to happen? “EDDDDDIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!!!!!” McKay screamed at the top of his lungs.

No other sounds came out except his own echo. McKay’s legs were logging up, a sign of dehydration. He had been running for two long. The Australian braced himself to stand up but it wasn’t working. In trying to find Eddie, he may have doomed himself. He slapped himself on the forehead, cursing how stupid he was to go alone. It was indeed his fault; he panicked. He hoped no one else would be looking for him; they would only waste their energy and possibly die themselves. “MCKAY!” Taylor called.

The bald man began to chuckle, hearing the voice of his girlfriend. The Angel that came into his life had come to save him again. “OVER HERE!” he called.

The bushes began to move about ten feet in front of him. Then Taylor appeared, clad in one of McKay’s shirt and the red baseball cap she could. Right behind her was Mandy, both wearing backpacks. They saw their fallen friend smiling at them, resting against a tree. “Hey, girls,” he laughed, “Nice day for a run, huh?”

They walked over to him, taking off their gear. Taylor immediately opened it up and pulled out a water bottle. He quickly helped McKay to drink it. “You’re lucky one of us is smart, Mister,” she said, rubbing the sweat off of his head.

“Yeah. Thanks for being the smart one, baby,” he coughed, drinking the water.

“McKay, why did you run off like that?” Mandy asked.

“Eddie is out here, Mandy. I got find him.” He continued to drink.

“And you will, but first you need to get hydrated.” Taylor insisted.

“Sayid is already organizing search parties for Eddie,” Mandy mentioned, “Since he is just a kid, he doesn’t believe he could have gotten far.”

“I still don’t know why he took off in the first place, “ the blonde Californian mentioned, giving McKay another bottle.

“That’s what scares me, baby,” McKay began to chug the second bottle, “I have a bad feeling, he didn’t take off.”

“You think . .the Others got him too?”

“It makes sense. What other reason would he have for running off like that?”

---------------------------------------,

“This is Pristine Cambino, calling any roaming patrol,” the female said into her walkie talkie, “ We hear gunfire, what is your status, over?”

Belmont stood near her with Moe, and Texas. The second-in-command stared at the woman’s radio with intensity. Texas had an abnormal strength and this weird mutation gave him increased hearing as well. He was able to hear a gunshot that no one else could have heard. But their was no obvious threat, so why did someone have the need to fire? “I repeat, this is Pristine Cambino, calling all roaming patrols. Has anybody fired a weapon, Over?”

Five roaming patrols called in and reported no gun fire exchange. Pristine waited to a hear a report from the sixth patrol but it never came. “Benway, talk to me.” She barked over the radio.

Nothing but static.

“Benway?” she called, “Hudson, talk to me? Report your status, over?”

Nothing came by the radio. Pristine then called for another two soldiers to come to her. The moment they arrived, she grabbed one by the collar, pulling the man toward her. “Benway and Hudson were on a patrol. Find out which sector they were covering and check on their status.” She ordered.

The soldiers obeyed and ran off to the duty officer to find their location. Pristine turned to Belmont, who’s face was glowing a soft red. “Raven?” he asked.

“Possibly,” she whispered, “We’ll find out shortly.”

“That freak is becoming more trouble than he is worth,” the blonde man grunted.

Then the radio began to hiss to life. “Uh . .uh . .Priss, . . .” someone grunted.

“Hello? Hello? Who is this, over?” Pristine yelled into the radio.

“It’s Frakes . . .I am shot . .. I am down, repeat I am down,”

Belmont grabbed a passing soldier. “GET FIVE MEN OUT THERE AND FIND HIM!”

“Frakes, what is your twenty, over?” Pristine called.

“I’m . . .near the fruit growth . . .was escorting the prisoners then . .some . .SOME FRIGGING . . . .kid shot me in the ,. . .Oh, God, I am bleeding, a lot.”

“Some kid shot him?” Pristine said in confusion.

“Kid?” Belmont grunted, “What kid?”

“Frakes, do you have an identity on the child?” the woman called back into the radio.

“The older woman . . .said he was her son . . . IS SOMEONE COMING TO HELP ME OR WHAT?”
“Hold your position, Frakes, I got five men coming toward you,” Belmont took the radio.

“Holding, sir,” Frakes grunted.

Belmont gave the radio back to Pristine and then began walking toward the back area where the control room was. Pristine quickly followed him as did Texas. The second in command continued walking and then opened the door to the control room. The two men sitting at their desks, looking at him with concern; immediately noticing his mad face. “Pull up the map of the island and show me the location of the main core of survivors from that crash.” He ordered.

The tech behind the console stared to type in a few keys and then a topographical map of the island appeared on the large monitor. Then a red haze showed the location of the main survivors. “Where are we?” Belmont asked.

The soldier typed in a few more keys and showed the Liberation location illuminated with a yellow haze. “Now show me movement for the past night, every hour on the hour.” He pointed.

Belmont then looked at the new maps appearing up. The map showed several dots, mostly boar and three polar bears. There was one smaller dot that would progress away from the survivors and made it’s way toward the Liberation Camp. Belmont also noted that the little dot seem to somehow avoid the polar bear and the boar with ease. “You searched the prisoners, right?” he asked Priss.

“Yeah, why?” she retorted.

“Then who is transmitting their signal?”

“No one, sir,” the tech behind the computer replied, “We would have been able to pick it up.”

“THEN EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THAT BOY FOUND OUR CAMP AT NIGHT!!!!!” Belmont explained.

The soldiers remained quiet. They truly could not explain it; not even some of the best soldiers in the world would not bother tracking something or some place in a jungle terrain at night time. Some would classify it as impossible. Belmont took a deep breath. He knew the child was getting help from someone. He then turned and walked toward the door; exiting the control room. “Where are you going?” asked Pristine.

“To talk to the blind man,” he grunted.

The second-in-command was growing more and more upset at the moment. The other survivors were no threat; a mixed up group of bankers, housewives and school teachers. Yet one single boy found their camp in the middle of the jungle at night? It was indeed impossible. The boy couldn’t have done it and he couldn’t have obtained a gun to shoot Frakes without help. Belmont was going to find the answers he needed. He walked up toward the door to his office and then kicked it in. Tony looked up toward him, resting in his chair still. “Something wrong, Belmont?” he asked.

“Have you been holding on me, my dear doctor?” the man grunted.

“No more than normal,” Tony sighed.

“Do not play with me, blind man,” Belmont stepped closer, “I am a patient man but even I have my limits.”

“It seems that telling you I don’t know get you even more upset but I apologize, I must do it again. I don’t know what the hell you are talking about.”

“Three of the prisoners have escaped.”

“Good for them.”

“They were aided by a boy. A young boy no older than ten years of age. One of my men was shot and he was able to tell us the older woman claimed the boy was her son.”

Tony heard what he said and slowly smiled. “Oh, this amuses you?” Belmont leaned down, getting in his face.

“Greatly,” Tony smiled, “If what you said is true, then Eddie has rescued his mother. I personally could not be more proud.”

“Eddie,” Belmont leaned up, “I will remember the name.”

“You leave them alone, Belmont. Whatever your grand scheme is, he doesn’t know anything about it.”

“And neither do you . . . or so you keep saying.”

Belmont then unholstered his gun and stuck it directly into Tony’s head. The blind man gritted his teeth and leaned back as the gun leaned forward. The blonde leader studied him and then pulled the gun away. “You are a unique man, Dr. Largo,” he whispered, “Like any doctor, you care more about others and not yourself. In the end, that will be your undoing.”

“What does that mean?” the blind doctor asked.

Belmont then went to the corner of the room and grabbed some rope. He then walked back behind the blind doctor and yanked his wrists back, proceeding to tie him. Tony grunted as he did, struggling to resist but it was too late. “I told you, you don’t need to tie me up!” the blind doctor barked.

“No, now I do, Tony,” Belmont hoisted him up to his feet, “Cause after want I do to one of your friends, you’ll definitely would prefer to get your hands around my throat.”

Tony was about to scream but Belmont got him in a headlock and proceeded to drag him out of the building. The blind doctor jerked, and yelled, trying to fight him. The soldier saw what their leader was doing. He walked toward the area where the giant tree where they hung most of their captives. “Bring out the old man!” he screamed.

Two soldiers ran off to the interrogation room where Pristine had spent the majority of the morning to retrieve Locke. Belmont thrust down Tony, making him grunt when he hit the ground. The other soldiers began to flock around their leader. Belmont motioned for Titus who wasn’t disobeying his orders at the moment. “Titus, take four men into the bunker and pull out one of them to hang, “ Belmont said, giving the rope to Texas, “I don’t care which.”

“How about the Squaw?” Titus laughed, “I’ve always wanted to hang a redskin.”

“Fine, whatever,” Belmont grunted.

Tony immediately knew they were talking about Mia. “NO!” he screamed, trying to get up but the second in command immediately kicked him down.


Marita heard the noise and saw what was happening. She winced when she saw Belmont kick her boyfriend hard into the stomach. Then the five soldiers approaching her gave her cause for alarm. “There are some men coming.” She told the others.

The group came in and huddled together. Then metal door came open and the others stepped down the slope. Titus walked up to them first and immediately pointed his rifle at John, as did another soldier. “Make a move and I’ll plug you.” He whispered.

The other three then grabbed Mia. The Lakota girl then struggled as they dragged her forth. John made a move to reach for her but Titus forced him back, gun barrel at his chest. Mia yelled and scratched but they got her out of the bunker. Then the other two quickly followed and locked the door behind him. John then ran toward the barred window, and stared in horror as they were dragging Mia toward the noose they just lopped over the large tree branch.

Locke grunted as he was led to the tree. For a brief second, they thought they going to hang him. Then he gasped when he saw them tying up Mia and bringing over kicking and screaming to the tree first. “What?” he gasped, “Why are you hanging her?
She knows nothing!”

“We’ll soon see,” Belmont grunted.

“Belmont, don’t do this!” Tony screamed.

Mia stopped just shy of the wooden platform. She gasped when they tied the noose around her neck and straightened it. Texas then picked up her and placed her on the platform like a doll. Then someone pulled the rope and straightened it up, making her gently choke. She started to swell up tears in her eyes. In the distance, she could see John screaming his head off and doing his best to rip the bars out of the windows. Locke then jolted and got to his feet, running for the girl whom he considered a daughter to him. “STOP!” he screamed, “KILL ME BUT LEAVE HER ALONE-“

Locke grunted as one of the soldier kicked him hard into the gun, making him landed on his bound hands and knees. Then Titus grabbed him by the chin, forcing him to look up at Mia. “That can be arranged, old man!” the solider barked in his ear, “But first, you watch the squaw choke to death.”

“Tony,” Mia cried.

“Mia!” Tony yelled, trying to get up, but two soldiers held him down.

“Last chance, gentlemen!” Belmont screamed, “Tell me what you know!”

“BELMONT, I SWEAR TO GOD, WE DON’T KNOW ANYTHING!” Locke screamed.

“You should have sworn to me, old man,” the blonde pointed.

“Tony, tell John, I love him.” Mia wept.

“NO!” Tony continued to fight,” NO! MIA!!!”

Mia felt loved to hear Tony fight for her. In the distance, she looked and saw John fighting like an animal to get out the bunker. She wanted so much with him; she wanted to marry him and have his children. She hoped that he would find someone in the future; she couldn’t bare the thought of him being alone. Hang on, granny, she thought to herself, I’ll be with you soon. “DO IT!” Belmont screamed.

Mia felt the small table kicked out underneath her feet. She gritted her teeth as she rope began to cut the air from her chest. The pain was starting to shoot into her brain. It wasn’t going to be long now.

And all she could see was Tony and Locke fighting like monsters trying to get to her.