Part 221: Claire's Flashback

Claire whimpered next to Charlie as they were left in the jungle by a psychopath hiding in their mists. The young musician hoped that someone would come for them soon. Jack was tough and so was Sayid. Maybe one of them could beat Ethan? He wanted to make sure Claire was okay but he couldn’t see her; they were both blindfolded. “Claire, you okay?” he whispered.

“We’re gonna die.” She cried.

“Claire, we are not going to die. Someone will come.”

“Who, Charlie?” she exclaimed, “WHO?”

Before Charlie could answer, they heard some stomping of heavy footsteps. Ethan had returned from wherever it was he went and judging by his stomping, he was severely mad. “Bad news, Charlie,” he barked,” Jack doesn’t seem to want to let go. Now you must pay the price.”

“GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU SODDING LUNACTIC!” Charlie made a lunge for him and tried to tackle him but Ethan grabbed him easily.

He quickly twisted Charlie around and slammed him down on the ground. Claire was screaming for her friend to stay alive. Ethan then pulled out a vial of a light blue liquid, and popped it open, pouring a small amount of the strange liquid in the musician’s mouth. He gagged from the wretched taste. “Just in case the doctor is a miracle worker,” he said, hoisting him up.

He then wrapped his arm around the young man’s throat and began to squeeze. Charlie fought best he could but his grip was like a steel vise. He thrashed about and Claire could hear him choking. The pregnant woman screamed, realizing what was happening. The musician kicked hard, then he kicked light and then his kicks ceased. “Claire,” he grunted.

“Charlie,” she wept.

“Run . . . “ he coughed.

There was a small wheezing sound and then silence. “CHARLIE!” Claire screamed, “ANSWER ME!”

“Sorry, Claire, “ Ethan sighed, “Charlie will not be able to answer anybody for quite some time.”

“YOU BASTARD!!” she screamed.

“You have no idea, “ he stood up, and began dragging Charlie’s body through the bushes, “Be right back, sweetie.”

Claire wept a little more, leaning forward. Then as she did, she felt her bonds had loosened. She started to tug and tug, shifting the bonds loose. Her sorrow had filled with rage, over what the scumbag did to the one man who always tried to look out for her. She grunted, rubbing her wrist back and forth. The more she did it, the more the rope loosened. Then it finally came off. The pregnant woman then tossed her rope aside and got up, running. She pulled down to the blindfold and began to dart into the woods. It was difficult to run with a pregnant belly but she had to try. Her tears came back over the loss of Charlie. But she will never forget his last words to her.

RUN.


Night time had fallen and Claire was starting to panic. She was lost in the jungle and had no idea where to go. Charlie told her to run but did it really matter where; just as long as she got away from Ethan. But the loss of her good friend and the despair of being alone in the darkness was too much for her to handle. She slowly collapsed onto her knees and began to cry. It was the only thing she had the strength left to do.

Then she heard a rumbling in the bushes. She stood up and then turned to the sound; praying to God Ethan hadn’t found her just yet. She tried to run but she had been running all afternoon. Her head hurt, and her knees hurt from carrying the baby all that distance. Claire hoped it was somebody who was looking for her. Then an older woman emerged from the wood. She turned to look to Claire and just as the Australian woman was about to hug the woman for finding her; she noticed she had a rifle. The older woman then looked at her, then toward her pregnant belly. “I found you,” she whispered.

“You . .found me?” Claire asked, “Who are you?”

“I heard the whispering,” she walked toward her, “Is . . .is it a boy?”

“Who are you?” the pregnant woman repeated.

“I think you better come with me,” she lunged toward her.

“GET AWAY FROM ME!!!” Claire screamed as the older woman grabbed for her.

Claire fought on best she get, then making a heavy scratch into the older woman’s arm. The mysterious woman reeled from the pain, then smacked her across the jaw. Claire collapsed onto the ground unconscious. The French woman shook her arm, grunting from the pain the girl caused her. She then placed her rifle down, and pulled out her buck-knife. She then kneeled down and pushed up Claire’s shirt, revealing her bare pregnant stomach. “For my child,” the old woman whispered,” I must take yours.”

Before she could cut, an arrow flew through the air and struck the rifle next to her. She rolled out of the way, hearing someone land behind her. She held up her knife to the darkness as a masked man slowly emerged from the bushes, pointing a crossbow at her head. She already knew him; the one the Others called Raven. “So you have come before me again, my masked friend?” she said, “This is of no business of yours.”

Raven fired again, barely missing her head. The crossbow bolt smacked a tree, taking a small amount of blood scraped from her head. The French woman grunted, holding her minor wound. The masked man cocked back the cord and loaded in another one, in a blind fluid motion. He had the crossbow pointed her as he slowly circled her around, getting next to Claire. “GET AWAY FROM HER!” she screamed, as he lunged toward him.

Raven then twirled and dropped kicked her across the jaw. The French woman flew back by three feet. She coughed, spitting out blood. By the time she got up, Raven already had the sleeping Claire in his arms. “It’s not fair!” she screamed, “Why can she have her child and I can’t have mine?”

Raven responded with a series of chirps. Then he ran off and took a flying leap toward the nearest tree. He left the old French woman in the darkness, screaming at him. Then her screams were replaced by the crying of a woman who lost her only child.


Emeka rested on his makeshift table, using the candles to light his reading. He never read much back in Nigeria but at the moment, time was all he had. He wished he could see his family but considering how wanted he was back home, it would be better to stay hidden. Then he heard the family wisp of his companion that took care of him. He looked to smile at the arrival of Raven but then gasped when he saw him carrying a pregnant woman into the caves. “What?” he gulped.

Raven set down the woman onto the cot, gently as he could. Emeka came to him and looked down at her. “Where did you find her?” he asked.

Raven made a sign language gesture with his hands.

“That crash you saw?” Emeka exhaled, “I could never have imagined that a pregnant woman would have survived the crash. She is very fortunate.”

Raven then made another gesture with his hands. He kept repeating it until Emeka understood. He gently rubbed his eyes. “That woman is insane,” he sighed, “Tis fortunate you arrived when you did. I could not have a forced c-section on my conscious.”

“Uh,” Claire moaned, “Charlie, . ..”

Raven grunted and made his sign language gesture. After he was done, he hit his chest hard. Emeka placed his hand on his shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Raven,” he assured him, “Had you been a few minutes earlier, you could have stopped Ethan once and for all.”

Raven made a gesture.

“Her friend is alive? How is that possible?”

The masked man made a gesture.

“This doctor must be extraordinary,” Emeka sat down, “Well, it is good, my friend. These innocents should not have to suffer in this hell hole.”

“Charlie,” Claire cried.

Raven kneeled down, and gesture caressed Claire’s head. He wanted to take away her pain but he could not speak. He hoped she would awaken and have Emeka tell her that Charlie was all right. The Australian woman then opened her eyes and the moment she saw Raven, she screamed. The masked man was jolted back as she thrust him against the nearest wall. Claire tried to get up to run, as the Nigerian stood up to help her. “PLEASE, MISS, CALM DOWN!” he screamed.

She didn’t listen. She tried to circle him and then tripped on a pile of books. When she did, she felt onto the table, and a bowl of a pale blue liquid splashed in her face. Claire screamed as she covered her eyes, feeling the pain it was causing her. “NO!” Emeka screamed, “THE ELIXIR!”

Raven caught her as she fell back, all of a sudden limp. Raven put her back onto the cart, while Emeka check his pale. He then threw it back in frustration. “DAMN IT TO HELL!” he coughed, “She spilled it all.”

Raven got his attention and made a gesture with his hands.

“I know, my friend, “ the black man sighed, “But it would take me another two years to find the rare plant. I am afraid our unfortunate guest has taken the elixir we meant for Ethan.”

Raven kneeled down again. He was worried about the effects the liquid would have on her memory. He knew she would lose it but not how bad or how much. “Ethan will have to suffer in some other way, Raven. In the meantime, it is best you take the pregnant girl back to her people.”

Raven gave him in an abrupt look.

“It’s for the best, my friend. I mean, just look at her . . .clearly she will give birth in the next coming weeks. Do you want to deliver the baby or should the doctor?”

Raven stood up and made another gesture.

“If Ethan shows up again for her, you must kill him.” Emeka put his hands on Raven’s shoulders, “I know you wanted to take away his memory for what he has done but in the end, just go ahead and kill him. He only got a one way trip for his crimes, you know that.”

Raven shook his head in agreement. In the end, he knew it was the better thing. He walked over the desk, taking a rag and then wiping the remaining liquid from Claire’s face. He then picked her up into his arms and proceeded to walk outside. “God go with you, Raven.” Emeka said.

The masked man turned and made a chirping sound to his companion. He then turned and dove into the night sky to find her friends. Emeka walked outside to watch him leave by leaping and running into the trees. He smiled; blessed that he was a friend to such a noble creature.



Several hours had past and Raven was almost certain he was lost. He hadn’t explored every inch of the island, much to his regret. He held the pregnant woman in his arms as he walked. He thought he had found him a few hours ago but it turned out to be Mole who was making rumblings in the ground like he always did. As they walked, Raven then looked to the side. He then shuttered as he felt Claire’s arms gently wrap around his neck. She smiled, sighing. “I feel so shrinky, oh, so shrinky,” she sung.

Raven chuckled under his breath. The poor woman was then in the drunken stuper created by the elixir. As he carried her onward, she opened her eyes looking at him. The blonde pregnant woman then carried the side of his cheek covered by his mask. “You’re a nice ninja,” she cooed, “I just wished you were a turtle though. Why couldn’t I have been . . .carried by a ninja turtle? It would have been something to tell me mom.”

Raven smiled and then placed her down. She grunted on her back, being carried. He gently took her hand and began to walk with her through the woods. Claire just stumbled under her drunken haze. “Can we go shopping later?” she asked him.

Raven chuckled again.

“Why thank you! I think you are cute too.” She giggled.

Raven made a gesture with his left hand in sign, quickly saying You don’t know what you are talking about.

“Yeah, I thought Van Halen was better with David Lee Roth too,” she smiled, “I always like that hand jive he did on the Jump Video.”

As they walked along, Claire started to sing the Van Halen song. Raven found it amusing; considering he never heard the song before. Then he immediately gasped, grabbing his ear. Claire let go of his hand and put her hands on her hips in a weird form of disgust. “Oh, c’mon,” she giggled, “My singing isn’t that bad!”

Raven shook her off and leaned up. He looked over the horizon and saw a bald man with a younger man. The bald man then put a piece of wood to his lips and blew. The sound he emitted was piercing Raven’s brain. The mask man grunted, knowing these were the men from the crash and Claire would be safe with them. “I feel so sleepy, Charlie Brown,” she massaged her head.

Raven gently took her arm, leading her toward the direction of the two men. Claire just smiled, half closed eyes and kept walking. Raven slowly backed away, watching and making sure she made it. When she reached them, she passed out again, while the bald man grabbed her. The two men then immediately ran off into the other direction, no doubt going to get her help. Raven smiled; happy she was safe. He then turned around and fled back into the treeline above.

. . . . . . . ……………………………………

“Wow,” Jilly giggled after she had just got done translating Raven’s sign language gestures.

The group of young adults had flocked around the ninja-clad man. It seemed like they had a minor fan following toward him; the one truly unique person to enter their lives. Claire sat next to Raven, holding her baby softly. “The moment I saw you it all came back to me,” she whispered, “Thank you for helping me, Raven.”

Raven made his chirping sound smiling at her. He then pointed toward Charlie and made a gesture with his hands. Jilly smiled and tapped Charlie on the arm. “He said he is glad you are alive, Charlie.” She replied.

“No more than me, mate,” he said, giving him a pound.

“So, Raven, dude,” Seth said, sitting to his right, “You’ve been living on this Island for what, 50 plus years?”

He should his head in agreement.

“Then . . .why show up now?” the singer said, “Why help us to get our friends back?”

Raven began to make his sign language and Jilly was quick to respond. “He said, that we offer the best chance to beat the Liberation and . . .get to Watchman.” She pondered, “It will be the only way to achieve rest for me and my family.”

“What does that mean?” Jenny poked her head up from the book.

“Yeah,” Kellye said, standing by, “Who is Watchman?”

“THEY ARE BACK!” someone screamed.

The group then turned their attention to the entrance of the cave. McKay, Sayid and Eddie walked in, panting slightly. Barbara ran to her son, who quickly embraced her. McKay looked back outside and then motioned for someone to come in. Within seconds, Danielle walked up into the cave holding too large duffle bags. Charlie then immediately poked his head up. “WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS SHE DOING HERE?” he screamed.

“Charlie, calm down,” Sayid stood up.

“That bitch stole Claire’s baby! And you sodding let her back in the cave?”

“Her daughter is being held hostage by the Liberation,” McKay panted.

The crowd went silent. Danielle stood her ground, crossing her arms. She didn’t even acknowledge the appearance of Raven. The masked man looked at her curiously. He could tell by her demeanor that something was indeed troubling her. Andre and Flower then walked forward. They quickly asked McKay about who her daughter was in French and he responded by Andra. Danielle paused. “Andra?” she asked.

“They called her that do they wouldn’t be confused,” the Australian told her, “Their leader’s name is Alexander. Alexander and Alexandra would have been took confusing for them.”

“They. . . . know her?”

Danielle then asked them a question in French. They started to talk to her. She cried, as they must have been telling her tails of Andra and how she grew up. “My daughter is afraid of me,” she whispered, “I must find out why.”

“Who is that?” McKay pointed toward Raven.

“This is Raven,” Seth said, patting him on the arm, “Unstoppable Ninja who has come with us to defeat the evil ghost men Liberator . . .people . . .thingies.”

“How can you make jokes about this?” Shannon grunted.

“It’s how I handle stress, sweetie,” the bookstore worked grinned.

“Everybody, listen up!” Sayid called them around, “I have seen the Liberation camp and our friends. They are alive but for how long, we don’t know.”

“Did you see Walt?” Micheal asked.

“No, I didn’t but all that means he was not with them.” The Iraqi assured him.

“I take it you have some kind of a plan?” Hal asked.

Sayid smiled his special smile; a mixture of devious and intelligence. “I do.” He whispered.