Finding Ethan
He's nervous. They're all nervous.
It's a man-hunt. That's what it is. They all know it. They go to find him, to bring him back, to keep everyone else safe.
But something about it... it smells wrong. There's fear in the air, and a feral sort of hunger as Charlie approaches the door. The smell that reminds David of time spent running around jungles in his youth.
He swallows as Charlie's hand rests on the doorknob and he looks back at the others. Faith standing strong and ready, Liam ready to protect Charlie no matter the cost, Sawyer with the gun hidden below his sweater, and he himself waiting.
So when Charlie throws open the door and David smells his jungle for the first time, he knows he can't go.
The sun is high in the sky, beams breaking the trees randomly where the foliage allows it, and the heat and the smell, and David sways and sits down heavily.
"Here we go," Charlie says before he looks back again and sees David sitting.
"Here you go," David replies quietly, eyes fighting to stay open against the harsh glare of daylight.
The others stay where they are, and David just waves at them.
"Bring him back. Bring him back here, and make sure nothing happens to Charlie. Not again."
I'm sorry, he says to Charlie, skin shivering in a bloodsweat.
"Now go."
Charlie knows better than to argue. He holds the door open as Liam, then Sawyer, then Faith step through the door.
And then Charlie.
Take care.
And the door closes behind them.
It's a man-hunt. That's what it is. They all know it. They go to find him, to bring him back, to keep everyone else safe.
But something about it... it smells wrong. There's fear in the air, and a feral sort of hunger as Charlie approaches the door. The smell that reminds David of time spent running around jungles in his youth.
He swallows as Charlie's hand rests on the doorknob and he looks back at the others. Faith standing strong and ready, Liam ready to protect Charlie no matter the cost, Sawyer with the gun hidden below his sweater, and he himself waiting.
So when Charlie throws open the door and David smells his jungle for the first time, he knows he can't go.
The sun is high in the sky, beams breaking the trees randomly where the foliage allows it, and the heat and the smell, and David sways and sits down heavily.
"Here we go," Charlie says before he looks back again and sees David sitting.
"Here you go," David replies quietly, eyes fighting to stay open against the harsh glare of daylight.
The others stay where they are, and David just waves at them.
"Bring him back. Bring him back here, and make sure nothing happens to Charlie. Not again."
I'm sorry, he says to Charlie, skin shivering in a bloodsweat.
"Now go."
Charlie knows better than to argue. He holds the door open as Liam, then Sawyer, then Faith step through the door.
And then Charlie.
Take care.
And the door closes behind them.