Lost and Found

25

They'd taken off running until they made it far enough from the camp to move at a normal pace. Elyse tried her best not to panic about how much time they had, or whether or not they'd make it to the hatch in time. There was a nagging voice in the back of her mind wondering if they were just meant to die, and since they'd escaped drowning before the universe was trying again.

They'd been trudging through the jungle in silence for a little while before Desmond finally spoke, ripping Elyse from her intrusive thoughts.

"Are your wrists alright?"

He asked her, slowing his pace so they were side by side now.

Elyse scanned his face in awe, smiling lightly to herself at the irony of him asking if her skinned wrists were okay, while his face was a bloody, swollen mess.

"They're fine."

She said hesitantly, wincing at the sight of them before looking back at Desmond.

"Is your... face...alright?"

She asked him, humor in her tone though she was genuinely worried about him while she examined his injuries more closely

"Aye, I suppose we've got bigger things to worry about for now anyway."

He responded with a solemn nod, looking forward while he walked again.

Elyse forgot what she was so afraid of for a moment, when he eyes trailed down from his face to his broad shoulders and toned chest, which peeked out from the top of his button up shirt.

She quickly snapped her head forward when he made eye contact with her again. She felt grateful that his golden eyes were brewing with thought and it didn't seem like he'd noticed her staring.

"Were we friends?"

He asked her, tilting his head curiously while he flickered his eyes from her to the path in front of them.

She thought for a moment about what he was asking, and figured he must've been talking about what happened before- or what hadn't technically happened yet. The things that only she remembered.

"You mean.. when we knew each other before?"

She asked him to confirm while she contemplated what her answer should be. She glanced up at Richard who walked a few feet ahead with his back to them, knowing he wouldn't want her to share too much.

"Aye. Did we get along? How long had we even known each other?"

He replied, his eyes scanning her face in an attempt to read her reaction.

"Yes. We got along just fine."

She uttered awkwardly while she tried to remain calm and casual. She knew she couldn't tell him they'd fallen in love, but she refused to lie. She figured dodging the details all together was the only way to go.

"We knew each other for a month or so, but it felt much longer..."

She trailed off, realizing they really hadn't known each other very long. Did it even make sense to fall in love with someone so soon? She figured it didn't matter now. There was a possibility they would all die in a minute anyway, she tried to focus her mind back on that instead.

"Richard, how far are we?"

She called out before jogging a bit to catch up with him, without waiting for Desmond to respond, so that he wouldn't ask anymore questions.

Richard kept his piercing eyes forward, not acknowledging Elyse's presence. His eyes looked completely serious, with almost a bit of fear in them.

"We should make it there in time, it's only a few miles from here."