Disclaimer-This is but one star in the universe of LOST. That's all I own-this star, this story. Nothing else. I will never own the universe.

Fear

When you're scared just count to ten, you will feel all good again
When you see him count to five, pray that you will stay alive…

(Boogieman movie preveiws)

Kate ran.

It was gaining on her, but she had the advantage, as fast as it could run, fueled by lust and hunger for her; she was born to run.

She ran all her life: from her past, from herself, from that thing…that monster chasing her…

She stopped in a bare patch; she vaguely noticed that it seemed to have been burned by a large fire, perhaps a bonfire. She didn't care. Not then. Not anymore. She doubled over, gasping for the breath she didn't have; she heard it behind her. Heard it's rock-grating metallic noise, and for the first time in a long time, or perhaps her whole life, Kate felt true fear. She could taste it. It was closer now, there was no time. The trees began to shudder, and the whispering began. Thousands upon thousands of voices, blending into one…

4 8 15 16 23 42…

…she ran from the jungle whisperers…

It was so close that she could imagine it breathing down her neck. She stopped, and hid in a bamboo grove, holding on to the bamboo so she wouldn't fall. Her breath came in short, failing gasps. Slowly, she began to count, murmuring the numbers so loudly that to her, her voice seemed to drown out the whispering and the metallic noise of the monster.

Some said that when they were in the jungle all alone, they could hear Kate's fearful whispers, counting to five to make the fear go away. So she would stay alive.

But the fear had overtaken her. The fear had stolen her away.

1 2 3 4 5…