LOST

Chapter 6: House of the Rising Sun

Isabella was the last to group up with Charlie, Kate, and Jack, each with backpacks, as they aimed to head towards the caves that Jack had found. Isabella had emptied the backpack she'd taken from the fuselage into a different suitcase (another 'trophy' from the fuselage... She claimed she couldn't find hers, and this woman's stuff looked like it would fit.) She caught Charlie mid conversation, responding to something Kate and/or Jack had said. "We have a beach full of people waiting for us to go get them some drinking water... and the Great White Hunter's getting restless."

Charlie indicated Locke, waiting by the tree line. Stoic. He was shaving his stubble with a disposable razor.

"Okay. Let's do this," Jack said.

"Hey, Bella," Kate said, noticing her. "Ask Jack about his tattoos."

"Why would I do that?" Isabella asked as Charlie said,

"You two have an inside joke. How wonderful for you both."

And Jack and Kate, followed quickly by Isabella, actually laughed as the four headed off.

***

The group walked through the forest, Locke and Jack towards the front, Charlie in the middle, and Kate and Isabella towards the back.

"You and Sawyer have been spending a lot of time together," Kate commented.

"So?" Isabella asked, looking at Kate.

"Any reason?"

"He found me. Trying to make sure I was okay."

Kate shook her head. "Doesn't sound like Sawyer."

"Well, you've known him for, what, 7 days?" Isabella asked.

"You've known him longer?"

"Maybe," Isabella said. "He reminds me of my brother. We haven't seen each other in ten years, so he could be."

"Ten years?" Kate asked. "That's almost as long as you said you've been hunting for."

"The same ten years. Well, I've been hunting for nine."

"So, what, you lose your brother, and you pick up hunting?"

"Something like that," Isabella said. Kate wasn't all that off, but she was missing one detail: Isabella didn't choose to start hunting. She had to in order to survive.

"Why? Why'd you start hunting?"

Isabella wasn't really sure what to say. If she told the truth, she had no idea what would happen. But if she lied, it would come back to bite her, and she had no idea how hard.

"Because my husband encouraged me."

"You're married?"

"I'm 28, Kate." Not a flat answer. Maybe it was enough.

"Not all 28 year olds get married." It wasn't.

"I did," Isabella said. "I mean, it wasn't big or anything, just the two of us. We wanted to get it done."

"Why did you want to hurry?" Kate asked.

"Because I was pregnant."

"You have a child?"

"She's waiting at home, desperately waiting for her mother to come back." Isabella looked at the leaves as she walked.

"You'll see her again, Bella. I promise. What's her name?"

"Rosemary."

"Pretty name."

"Thanks."

***