The Woman from the Plane [Lost Fanfiction]

Chapter 17: A Vigilant Watchman

Sawyer was out of breath and wild-eyed as he tried to explain to Ben what was going on.

"James—slow down. Where's my daughter?"

"I don't know—Valerie said she was safe. I think she didn't tell me in case we got captured—I don't know."

"And what did she want me to do?"

"Leave."

"Leave this place? This is the safest place on the Island," he replied, gesturing at the wall of the Temple.

"It's the other people," Hurley explained softly. "They're looking for you. If they find you here—everyone else is in danger."

"She said you should go home," Sawyer added.

"Did she say why?"

"No, but I think she had a plan."

"You think?"

Richard emerged from the Temple, tailed by Locke.

"What's all this?"

"They blew up the Looking Glass," Ben explained calmly. "The survivors had gone in to unjam the signal. There were a couple of them inside at the time."

"Who?" Locke asked sharply.

"Charlie—and Hurley's friend Libby."

"Oh. I'm so sorry Hugo," Locke said.

Hurley sniffed back tears and tried to hide his frown. "Thanks dude," he answered grimly.

"So, Valerie wants me to meet her at my house?" Ben asked again.

"I don't know," Sawyer repeated. "That's where she wanted me to tell you to go."

He glanced at Richard. "What do you think?"

"It could be a trap."

"I suppose it could. What are the risks if I stay here? Do we risk losing everyone?"

"They've been blowing stuff up, Glasses," Sawyer interjected. "I'd say that's a pretty big risk."

Richard nodded. "He's not wrong."

"I'll go," Ben decided.

"I'm coming with you," Locke offered.

"You don't want to stay here?"

"I want to talk to Jacob, Ben. Valerie's my best shot at that, apparently."

Richard glanced meaningfully at Ben.

Ben shrugged. "Suit yourself. I could use backup if things go south."

"I'm coming too," Sawyer announced. "I don't know what she's planning, but if you could use an extra trigger finger, I'm in." He turned to Hugo. "Hurley, stay here."

"No man, I'm coming with you."

"It's dangerous, Hugo," Ben warned.

"I just watched my best friend and my girlfriend die," Hugo replied. "I know I'm not going to be much help—but I can't sit around hiding."

Sawyer nodded.

"We better get going, then," Ben told them. "Richard—you're in charge. Do whatever you need to do."

"I will," Richard answered, a deep tiredness in his voice. "You're not taking the tunnels?"

"Charles knows about the tunnels. If we bump into those mercenaries while we are underground, there'd be nowhere to hide. It would be a massacre."