Lost and Found

18

"What are you doing here? What's going on?!"

Penny yelled out, turning from Desmond, who still stared at her in shock, to Charles, who kept his gun, and his eyes, locked on Desmond.

"Please go on Penny, this doesn't concern you."

Charles told her, still not moving his eyes from the target before him.

"Why are you gonna shoot him?! What's he done?"

Penny cried out, taking a few more hesitant steps toward her father.

"He's attempted to steal from me. All he's got to do is give me the device from his hand and I'll let him go."

He said coldly, bringing attention to the square device with all the buttons on it, that Desmond held up in his right hand.
Elyse noticed it looked exactly like the one from the photo they had on the boat.

"I can't do that. I'm sorry brother."

Desmond spoke with defeat in his voice while he stared straight at the gun currently aimed at his head.

"Why? What is it? Why do you need it?"

Penny questioned, waving her hands between them now to try and keep her father from doing anything rash.

"I don't know, I just know we've been sent to get it and we'll face the consequences if we don't."

He told her, his eyes flickering quickly over to her for a moment before locking back on the angry man in front of him.

"Of course, Benjamin Linus sent you. Quite a pathetic attempt, though I can't blame him for trying."

Charles spat, his words laced with vemon and his eyes full of pure hatred.

"I'll count to three and if you won't drop it, you'll drop with it."

He instructed, opening his mouth to count when Elyse cut him off abruptly.

"No! Desmond, just drop it!"

She screamed, forcing herself to keep watching the scene in front of her though every fiber of her wanted to look away in terror.

Charles began counting and in the same instant, Penny ran in front of Desmond and ripped the device from his hand, causing him to stumble back a bit in shock when she took his place behind her own fathers gun.

"What now dad? Will you shoot your own daughter over it?"

She challenged him while she stared at him in disbelief.

Charles seemed to be taken aback by her sudden bravery, he lowered the gun just a bit, though he kept it pointed in their direction, and tried to reason with her once more.

"Penny, this isn't a game. You have no idea how important that device is."

He explained, becoming physically more anxious now.

"It may be in your hands now, but I'll still shoot him unless I get it back."

He told her, stepping aside to point his gun at Desmond from the other side of her now.

"I'll destroy right now then. It doesn't look all that sturdy to me."

She yelled at him, furious now while she prepared to throw the device on the floor.

Elyse suddenly had an idea, one that she knew she might regret later. Though in the heat of the moment, it felt like the only choice she had. She didn't think Charles would risk his daughter's life anyway...

"No!"

Charles screamed, about to run toward Penny for the device, when Elyse decided now was her time to put her plan into action.