Benjamin Linus

Taking the few back roads that filtered through the dangerous wild lands, Ben began to search the various houses that Ethan had listed for him. The first two were clearly abandoned, with no trace of recent inhabitants. Now on to the third.

Pulling off of Speary Rd, Ben drove the car down an unmaintained road - the kind that kids often use for mudding. A steep ditch lay to the ride side, while a mini ravine snaked around the left side, filtering through the mud during the last rain. One slip of the wheel, and Ben's old car would be stuck fast. Even as it was, the small tires were struggling against the mire that made up the deeply furrowed road.

Shifting the car into first gear, Ben growled under his breath, pressing the gas down and twisting the wheel sharply to the left when the back tires slipped into a particularly deep rut. For a few seconds, the wheels spun and smoked, but refused to grip the ground and send the vehicle forward. Ben eased on the gas, then threw the wheel sharply to the right, gunning the accelerator once more. The car lurched forward again, crawling and fishtailing as it went.

This went on the whole length of the winding, hilly road, making Ben regret having driven the old car. But by some miracle, he avoided getting totally bogged down for any length of time. And finally, they came into view of an old house, with a series of cedar trees and burning bushes scattered about the yard. Hawthorns and locust trees added a particularly eerie touch to the scene.

Then he spotted a vehicle... could it be Michael's? Heart beginning to race, he loaded his pistol with bullets, then handed the case to Conan so he could do the same with his. Now was not the time to be caught without ammo, if this was truly the place where Michael was holding Aralyn hostage. "Are you ready?" The last thing he needed was for Conan's exhaustion to get the better of him at a critical moment.

Michael * Aralyn

Bens cell phone rang again, and here was his message.

Good job, Benjamin. I knew you would find her. Now, heres the dillema. She won't know your here. Shes bloody unconsicious, she is. But, heres what you have to do. Theres a bomb in that house. If you go across that doorway, you have one minute to retrieve Aralyn. If not.... She and the house go up in flames. Have fun.

He was somewhere in the trees, hiding. He wanted to see the show, so why shouldn't he get the chance to?

Benjamin Linus

Feeling claustrophobic,
Like the walls are closing in.
Blood stains on my hands and
I don't know where I've been.
I'm in trouble for the things
I haven't got to yet.
I'm sharpening the axe and my
Palms are getting wet, sweating bullets.

Seeing it was from an 'Unknown' id, Ben turned the volume up for Conan's benefit and answered the phone. Knowing it was pointless to piss of Michael at this point, Ben refrained from making any reply as he hung up. "We're sitting ducks out here." He mused quietly, casting a shifty look about the thick foliage. Benjamin knew that Michael was hiding nearby, but he had the advantage.

Figuring Michael would have seen him loading the pistol, Ben didn't bother to hide it. With a determined look to Conan, he got out and headed towards the house at a quickened pace, but stopped just before entering the door. Again, he cast a suspicious look around, though from past experience, figured this father wouldn't be willing to hear him talk. Words wouldn't help him out of this situation, especially since he knew little of the man. Instead, he directed his voice to Conan, "I'll go right, you go left."

A last look was directed towards the trees before Ben plunged inside, heading for the right. "Aralyn!" He called out, though he doubted there would be a reply. The man began to search through the nearest rooms...

Hello me...It's me again.
You can subdue, but never tame me.
It gives me a migraine headache
Thinking down to your level.
Yea, just keep on thinking it's my fault
And stay an inch or two outta kicking distance.
Mankind has got to know
His limitations.

Conan

I, I feel it in my veins
He’s driving me insane
He laughs, its wicked
And I don't think I'll ever be the same
A mother’s wrath, won't it stop?
A father’s hatred,
Just make it go away
Cause I don't want to feel
Anymore pain today
A little brother, he’s only two
He says to me, I Wanna Be like You
God, if only he knew…
The fear and constant pain
I wish to spare you, my brother
I take this punishment like every other
My mouth tightly closed, I will not scream.
He just can't make me
I'm running towards the light, is it true?
Have I finally escaped this hell,
The one I used to call home?
Or has it followed me, has it pursued me,
Only now to turn and see
Your shadow where mine used to be...
I just wanna be free...
Lift my chains, I know you hold the key
Set me free...

The voice on the phone made his blood run cold, but he somehow kept the trembling at bay. Whether it was because of the blind rage that had taken control of him or because of the exhaustion he had beaten back for the moment, the voice that haunted his dreams did not instill the fear that it once had.

He began to think this over... trying to decide if it was an advantage or a problem that his father understood sign language. The entire family had learned it because Raven had been very hard of hearing. But the words spoken by the voice blew all his thoughts to the wind...

His father was near somewhere... he could feel the chill of remembered fear run down his spine, feel the eyes boring into his head... but first was first... Aralyn had to be rescued...

His loaded pistol in hand, Conan followed Ben and headed off to the left, moving as quickly as he could and also searching the nearest rooms and kicking on any doors that were closed, hoping, ears straining to hear her voice.

Aralyn

There was a cough and a groan, but no actual voice yet. She was down in the basement, still unconscious but her coughing grew worse and she curled into a tight ball.

Five minutes later, she slowly came to hearing Bens voice. She whispered hoarsly, Ben? Then again, as loud as she could, which wasn't loud at all. Ben... I'm here. I'm right here. Please... Please don't leave me. I'm so tired of being left alone. Just moving her head and her upper body had sapped all her energy, and she lay back down to cough more, blood beginning to come up. She groaned, but it was all she could manage. She hadn't the strength to get up, let alone escape.

Michael watched from the trees, anger roiling deep within him. He cocked his gun and took aim, but alas, it was not a very good one. He shot at Conan, but missed entirely and hit the wall of the house instead. Cursing, he moved so that if they decided to search where the bullet had come from, he would not be there. Quietly, now, he waited.

Benjamin Linus

Just running from one empty room, he caught sound of a faint cough. Benjamin stood still, straining his ears to hear. Then he heard it, the second time she called his name. "Conan, down here!" He ordered, dashing towards the basement door where he was sure her voice was coming from.

Rushing down the stairs, it didn't take long for him to find Aralyn curled up on the ground, the striking look of dark crimson highlighting her pale face. "Aralyn!" Ben yelled, rushing towards her, but knowing there was no time to talk. Not wanting to see whether Michael was bluffing or not, Ben strained to scoop the girl up, before hightailing it up the stairs and rushing out of the house...

Aralyn

Ben.... She whispered, and then her consiciousness slipped again, and all was black. In the light, her pale skin was highlighted with purple bruises, her neck held a ring from a hand print. Each breath was a struggle, her ribs cracked or broken, and for once, she just couldn't find it in her to come back. What was the point? This.... This felt so nice....

Michael snarled in the trees as they got Aralyn out of the house when suddenly.... BOOM!

Barely a second after they were out did the bomb go off, followed by another one in the basement. If they hadn't gotten her out intime, Aralyn would have been dead.

Benjamin Linus

"Hang on..." He whispered under his breath, struggling to carry her as he bolted from the house. BOOOM . It felt like someone had slammed into his back, sending him and Aralyn crashing to the ground with the force of the explosion.

Coughing hoarsely, Ben picked himself up and spared a glance back at the destroyed house. He didn't see Conan, but right now Aralyn was his only concern. Scrambling forward, he crouched down in front of her as he got the pistol out of its holster. "Are you going to hide like a coward, Michael?" Ben spoke out, hoping that he could buy himself a little bit of time with words, and draw the other man into view.

Conan

Ben's voice reached him: he'd found Aralyn. He was now very, very close to the back of the house, and so rather than risk being blown up, he headed for the back door. Putting his gun back in the holster, he fought for a moment with the door. It took a few moments for hi dim brain to understand that the door was locked. Seconds ticked away, and finally... he marshalled himself, and took a leap out the window, arms blocking most of his body from the glass and keeping him basically unharmed.

Just as he got through, the bombs exploded, sending him flying from the back porch and into a tree behind the house. The sickening crack of ribs hit the air, and he sank down for a moment at the base of the tree, struggling once again to breathe. He coughed and spat up a wad of phlegm, cursing silently to himself, but he knew he couldn't stay here long...

He longed to call out to see if Ben had gotten out with Aralyn in time, but of course, he couldn't. For what felt like the millionth time today, Conan dragged himself to his feet, pulled the gun out of its holster again and raised it to the ready, and began to head back toward the front of the house, disregarding the trail of blood his arms left behind him.

Benjamin Linus

While using himself as a sheild for Aralyn, Ben had other plans for Conan. When he spotted the boy coming around the side of the house, Ben spoke up again, directing his voice to the woods as he again attempted to get to Michael, "There's your son, Michael, and he is here to kill you." Benjamin declared, flashing the briefest of glances towards the fiery-haired teen and his gun. He hoped to make the son a target for Michael to fire at first. That way, Ben would have an idea where Michael was hiding and send a few bullets his way.

Ben held his gun ready, but angled towards the ground so that he looked less of a threat than Conan. But he was ready to weild it the second shots were fired their way.

Conan

The boy caught sight of Ben as he came around the corner of the house, and also of Aralyn, on the ground behind him. His face contorted to see the marks Michael had left on Aralyn's pale skin, marks that matched ones that had long ago faded on Conan's flesh. For just a moment, the left hand reached up to the bare shoulder, suddenly uncomfortable without his shirt, as though he had only just now noticed its absence. The deft fingers ran along the raised scar tissue as crimson liquid leaked from the wounds, down his arm, down his body, eyes glazed over as he stared at his badly beaten sister. Michael had just taken the game too far.

With a sense of finality, the hand dropped again to support the gun, realizing that Michael had the advantage at the moment. But just now, Conan was not opposed to taking a few more bullets, if it would leave him an opening to return fire. His bloodied left arm was raised in such a way that it prevented Michael from planting shots in any vital part of his anatomy, forcing his father to pick a non-lethal target. You've only got one shot, he thought, And that isn't enough to kill me...

Michael * Aralyn

Michael growled at Bens words, itching to shoot him, when suddenly Conan came into view. Rasputin. He hissed. He aimed, took careful aim, and shot at the teens arm, hoping to have it drop and leave him unprotected. He was about to move, when he felt something on his leg. Looking down, he realized his pants were caught on the branch, and wouldn't allow him to move. Cursing under his breath, he struggled with it.....

Aralyn moved not an inch, and if it wasn't for her chest barely rising and falling, one would think that the fallen angel was dead and gone to the world around them.

Benjamin Linus

As soon as the shot was fired, Ben followed through with a counter. Raising the gun in a flash, he fired off three rounds into the woods, aiming where he heard Michael's shot coming from. He spared a quick look at Aralyn, knowing he had to move quick and get her to either the hospital, or take her to Ethan's.

When the three shots of his were fired off, Ben remained crouched on the ground near Aralyn, straining his ears and searching for any sign of movement past the foliage. He hoped he had hit the man, and was ready to go in and finish him off execution-style if he had.

Conan

A grimace split his face as his father's bullet lodged in his arm, but he spared it only a single glance. Studying the angle of the bullet for just a moment, he turned his gun to match the angle and fired off four rounds of his own toward the treeline.

Benjamin Linus

Just as the final four shots were being sent off, sharp and bitter squall rushed in from the north. The fierce winds lashed at the trees and sent their branches and leaves in a mad dance. There was suddenly a brief window for escape, where Michael - if he had survived the assault of bullets - would have his line of sight obscured by the wildly moving foliage.

While the squall blasted through the area, Benjamin scooped up Aralyn and heaved her into the backseat of the vehicle. Then he hurried into the driver's seat and quickly started the motor up. There was a brief second of indecision as he looked to Conan, before he then leaned over and opened the passenger door, "Get in! Hurry!" If Conan dragged himself back to town, Ben didn't want to have to explain to Aralyn why he left the kid behind.

Conan

Ben's words made the boy look at him, and for a moment one might have said he was unwilling to leave, not when Michael was so close, so easy to target.

But then, that mental picture of Aralyn came back to mind, and in a split second he moved quickly toward the car and jumped in, closing the door behind him. Holding his arms over his lap so as to avoid getting blood all over the inside of Ben's car, he leaned his head back against the seat, eyes closing in exhaustion as he waited for Ben to drive away.

Benjamin Linus

Stones and shards of grass and leaves were thrown into the air as tires squealed over the ground. The old car was whipped in a tight circle before charging forward and rocketting back down the lane. Keeping up the speed, the vehicle bounced violently and haphazardly as it was guided down the muddy path. Ben did his best to avoid slipping into the previous tire ruts, or sinking into the oily-slick patches of mud.

A few times, the car nearly bogged down completely. But thankfully, it never stopped completely. And before long, it was roaring off of the unmaintained road and speeding down the highway - towards the Hospital.