Part 323: Day 68

The morning had come and finally, the disappearance of the rain. The group of survivors were gathered into the living area. Jack was passing out guns to everyone who was coming along. Locke loaded up the shotgun shells into the breach; cocking it back at every motion. Hal loaded up a Berretta pistol and took a second one just in case. Sayid loaded up a rifle and then slung it around his shoulder. He turned around to take Shannon in his arms and give her a kiss, then hold her for a few more minutes before leaving. Micheal came up to Jack and took a deep sigh. “Jack, I . ..” he tried to say.

Jack then shoved at gun in his direction. “I understand,” is all the Doctor said.

The architect shook his head in agreement; accepting the gun. Charlie then gently left the presence of Claire and walked up to Jack. The doctor looked at him momentarily as he placed on a backpack. “Jack, what do you want me to do?” the singer asked.

Jack then cocked back a pistol and handed it to Charlie. “I want you to not let Claire and Aaron out of your sight.” He told them.

Charlie shook his head in agreement and placed the gun into his belt line. Jack then looked at everybody then motioned them outside. Ecko gently stood up from his chair and began to lead the way of the hallway. Hal kissed Libby on the cheek and followed the rest. Sayid and Locke began to walk out as well. Jack looked to Kristy and then to Jilly. He felt like saying something but didn’t know how to put it in words. Jack then turned and noticed that Desmond was standing at the hallway. “Desmond, what are you doing?” he asked.

“With all due respect, brother,” he said, letting the rifle rest on his shoulder, “He’s my boy and my responsibility.”

Jack just shook his head; finding no way to argument with that statement. He motioned for him to lead the way as he followed. “Jack,” Barbara whispered behind him.

The doctor turned to face the lovely older redhead. She was in tears and judging by the pudginess in her face, she had been crying for some time. “Jack, what I said . . I . . “ she stuttered.

Jack motioned for her to stop. “It’s all right, Barbara,” he smiled, “I wish Tony was here too. If he was, he’d give us a speech to boost our resolve before we went out to face a monster. Lord knows I would love to hear it too.”

Barbara chuckled slightly through her tears.

“I’ll get them back,” the doctor assured her, “I promise.”

The redhead wiped her tears, looking at him. “You keep your promises, don’t you, Jack?” she whispered.

Jack immediately thought of Sarah and how he hurt her. He thought of Jenny and the love they shared. “No, I don’t,” he admitted but took a deep sigh, “But I am going to keep this one . . .or die trying.”

Barbara didn’t know what he meant by not keeping promises. She could tell it was a personal wound; festering on his soul. However, she could tell the sincerity in his voice. She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “We’ll be wait for you all.” She smiled.

Jack nodded his head and turned around; finally walking out of the room and down the hallways. Outside the group was waiting for him. The doctor then shifted to his side and grabbed the radio on his beltline. “Raven, you out there?” he asked.

“Copy that, Jack,” the masked man responded.

“We’re heading in the direction that Goodwin came from. You gonna meet up with us?”

“Yeah. I’ll see you in a bit. Raven, out.”

“Let’s go,” Jack told the others.


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The metal door slowly crept open. Eddie peered out ; holding Sebastian by his side. The poor three year old had his eyes closed, doing his best to concentrate to breathe through his nose but it was barely working. He still had to take deep breaths, trying to breathe. Eddie then began to walk down the hallway and looked into the living area. Like he hoped, there was no one there. More than likely everybody was asleep.

Eddie then continued to walk with Sebastian toward the end of the hallway. The door at the end of it may or may not lead outside. The boy only hoped it did, cause he didn’t want to have to search the whole establishment. Eddie then paused at the door and grabbed the handle. He then began to turn the switch to open the door. “Don’t!” Bunny squeaked.

Eddie turned around and looked at the girl who just appeared in the hallway. Sebastian gripped his chest and gasped; afraid she was going to alert the others. Eddie stared at her with an intense anger. He slowly curled his hands into fists. “Please, don’t look at me like that.” She whispered.

“Why are you here, Bunny?” Eddie asked her.

She turned around and looked back at the hallway they came from. She then motioned for them to follow her through the other hallways. “If you want to leave, you come with me.” She told them.

Eddie blinked in confusion. Why was she helping them? Sebastian took a deep gasp for air, wondering the same thing. His older friend grabbed him by the arms and pulled him with him. The two boys followed the girl through more hallways. She took them down a left handed passage way, passing the game room Abraham mentioned the other day. Then she opened another door that had stairs, leading up. She quickly began to skip up the stairs toward the top with Eddie and Sebastian are in tow.

When they got to the top, Bunny clicked on the light switch toward the right. Eddie looked at the room, noticing the motor oil smell. It was a garage, filled with car equipment, oil pans and two military style jeeps. “If we take a jeep, “ Bunny said, jogging toward it, “We can get out of here faster before they can catch us.”

“Bunny, wait!” Eddie said, pulling Sebastian along.

“Eddie, we don’t have time for this! We’ve got to leave now!”

“Why are you helping us?”

“Does it really matter?”

“YES, IT DOES!!” Eddie grunted, “You were raised by the same scumbag who kidnapped us. Give me one reason why I should trust you?”

Bunny closed her eyes and turned her head. She sniffed briefly, wiping her nose. “You don’t have to trust me, Eddie,” she whispered, “I have my own reasons for going.”

“Huh?” he asked.

“If I get you and Sebastian out of here, I only ask one thing in return, “she looked at him, “I want to go to America with you.”

“What?” the boy asked, “But I thought you said Goodwin told you-“

“But there was something in your eyes, I didn’t see in his.” She smiled, “I saw reality. You were sincere when you said it was not a horrible place.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Eddie . . .” she tried not to cry, “ Do you think my parents hated me?”

Eddie could tell the girl was sincere. She live all her life confined to this bunker. It was probably the first time in their lives when they were smart enough to understand, there was more to life outside the Island. The boy then put his hand on her shoulder, smiling. “I am certain they did not.” He told her.

Bunny smiled, wiping her tears. “I like you, Eddie,” she giggled, “Will you see me when I go to America?”

“Oh, I doubt you’ll be able to keep me away, “ the boy laughed, “Now let’s go.”

“Go?” Abraham said behind them.

Eddie then turned abruptly. The large kid stepped into the garage area, wearing nothing but his pajama pants. The boy who stood with Sebastian and Bunny. The young girl was immediately afraid. “Where do you think you are going to?” Abraham asked.

“Get in the car, Bunny and start it up,” Eddie told her, “Sebastian, you go with her.”

“You can’t leave, Eddie!” Abraham started to approach him.

Eddie began to walk slowly toward him. As he did, more boys began to file out into the garage. These were the ones that Eddie hadn’t seen before. Most of them were mixtures of various races from across the globe. The young ten-year old could only assume they were brainwashed like the others. “You can’t leave, Eddie,” Abraham hissed, “If you leave, we won’t get Walter to lead us and Aaron to be our spiritual guide. So . .you can’t leave.”

Eddie slowly kneeled down and picked up a lead pipe resting near an oil can. “Don’t tell me what I can’t do.” He grunted.