This is my version of a one-shot my friend @emberstoriesandtales requested! They've already posted theirs so make sure to check it out!
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“Mark?” Kate whisper-shouts.
Kate, Jamie, Erin, and Y/N enter what they think is an empty room to try to find Mark. That is until a large figure jumps out from behind the door, welding a large weapon.
The four girls scream but the man is quick to drop his monopod.
"GUYS! Guys, it's me!" Mark shouts with his arms up in surrender. Kate instantly jumps into his arms, hugging him as tight as she possibly can.
"I thought I lost you…" she utters as Mark holds her just as tightly.
Y/N has to look away, the sight making her heart break. She is happy for them, of course, but seeing them together makes her think of him…
Charlie used to hold her like that… and she can still hear his voice telling her…
‘everything will be okay, love…’
But it won’t be. Nothing will ever be okay for her now. He’s gone. She had watched him burn through a monitor and the image will forever haunt her mind.
“Looks like we're all together now,” Y/N finally says, smiling sadly. Mark and Erin both look at each other nervously before looking back at Y/N.
"Not exactly… Charlie-" Y/N’s eyes instantly light up and she can't help but cut Erin off.
“He’s alive!? Oh my god, he’s alive! Where? Where is he?” Y/N smiles, but her smile instantly drops once she sees the look on Mark and Erin’s faces.
“What’s wrong? Is he okay…?”
“I- We- We thought he was a part of this so…” Erin trails off, too scared to finish her sentence as she watches Y/N’s face shift from worry to anger.
“We tied him up to the fence outside so he wouldn’t hurt us,” Mark finishes for Erin. Y/N approaches Mark, angry tears threatening to escape her eyes.
“You left him outside- ALONE?!” She pushes Mark. “AND DEFENCELESS?!” she screams, pushing him again. Mark just looks down guiltily, taking all her aggression.
“What were you both THINKING?! Du’Met could-” Y/N freezes, her eyes widening before her head whips over to the door.
“CHARLIE!” she screams, pushing past the group and running faster than she ever has to get to him.
“Y/N!” the crew shouts, trying to grab her before she does anything stupid, but she doesn’t listen. She needs to get to Charlie before it’s too late.
She’s outside in an instant, looking around desperately for Charlie, her eyes widening once he sees him. Du’Met has him, and he’s dragging Charlie towards the cliff as he struggles to break free.
No. No. NO!
“CHARLIE!” She doesn’t even stop to think, she instantly runs towards the two men and pushes Du’Met back with full force. The impact shocks Du’Met, causing him to let go of Charlie and allowing him to land safely. Unfortunately for Y/N, though, she loses her balance and falls with Du’Met…
Charlie struggles against his restraints, his cries for Y/N muffled as he watches her graze her head on a rock before falling into the water below.
That’s when the crew finally catches up, Kate and Mark helping to free Charlie while Erin and Jamie look down at the rocks below. They’re relieved but also confused to see only Du’Met’s body lying at the bottom of the cliff.
“Charlie, where is she?” Jamie asks quickly. Charlie starts shaking his head, tears streaming down his face as he stares at the water.
“We need to get her! She hit her head- she’s gonna drown! Oh Christ-” Charlie starts to spiral, making a move to climb down before Kate stops him.
“Charlie no… we have to go.” Kate holds his shoulder tight, but her eyes are on Du’Met.
“What? No! We need to get Y/N!” Charlie stares at Kate angrily.
“Charles, we can’t- he’s-”
Suddenly Du’Met rises, causing Charlie and Mark to jump back in shock.
“What the-'' Charlie stares at Du’Met as Kate and Mark help pull him up.
“WE GOTTA GO!” Kate yells, pulling Charlie along with her. Charlie hesitates, staring at Du’Met for a second longer before following the crew forward.
~~~~
The crew feels safe enough to slow down. They now walk along the shoreline, trying to find the boat Mark found the key for. Charlie starts to slow down even more. With his adrenaline gone, the pain in his chest starts to really get to him. He stops. He's been afraid to look down this entire time, but he can’t take it anymore.
Charlie looks down, trying his best to read the ugly carving on his chest.
‘C O M P L I C I T’
“Christ…” Charlie utters, running a shaky hand along the bleeding letters. The rest of the crew stop and turn to him.
“I’m so sorry, Charlie… I was-” Charlie holds up a finger, cutting Erin off.
“I don’t want to hear it, from either of you.” Charlie points at both Mark and Erin, his voice cracking slightly as he tries to keep his composure.
“Because of you both… Y/N-” Charlie cuts himself off as his eyes widen, his gaze on something past Mark and Erin.
“Y/N!” Charlie pushes past the group, immediately running to the washed up Y/N and pulling her ashore. His hands shake as he looks at her. Her pale skin is cold to the touch and there’s blood slowly dripping from the gash on her forehead. He checks if she’s breathing and his heart drops when he doesn’t feel her breath.
“No, no, no, no…” Charlie starts to spiral again as he immediately begins CPR while the group can only helplessly watch on the sidelines.
“Please… please… please…” Charlie mutters, doing thirty chest compressions before tilting her head to give her mouth-to-mouth.
One breath…
Two breaths…
Nothing.
“Fuck!” He immediately starts the compressions again, tears clouding his vision as his whole world crumbles in front of him.
"Come on, love! You can’t… you can't…" Charlie sobs, more and more tears streaming down his face with each passing moment. He can’t lose her… he can’t…
The sudden sound of coughing snaps Charlie out of his trance. He quickly lifts Y/N's head and positions her so she doesn't choke on the water.
It takes her a moment to start breathing properly, but once she does she stares at Charlie in disbelief.
"Charlie?" she mutters quietly. Charlie quickly pulls her towards him, embracing her in a tight hug as if afraid she’ll disappear.
“I was so scared… I- l thought…” Charlie can’t even finish his sentence; he can’t bear thinking of what could have been.
Y/N holds him just as tight, burying her face in the crook of his neck and shaking slightly as she sobs.
Charlie cradles the back of her head with one hand and rubs her back soothingly with the other.
“Shh darling, just breathe,” he coos, the sound of his voice instantly calming her.
Charlie waits a moment after she stops shaking before pulling away slightly, cupping both sides of Y/N’s face so she looks at him.
“You’re absolutely mad, do you know that? Don’t ever do anything like that again." Charlie stares at her pleadingly. Y/N doesn’t reply, instead, she leans forward, gently kissing the lips she never thought she’d feel again. Charlie reciprocates instantly, caressing her cheek with his thumb as they share a sweet, longing kiss.
As they both reluctantly pull away, Charlie slides his hands down her arms till they’re holding hers and he helps pull her up. The second Y/N’s on her feet, the crew finally takes the opportunity to embrace her in a group hug they've been patiently waiting for. They didn't want to ruin the reunion the couple desperately needed.
“We’re so glad you’re okay!” Erin speaks for the group, causing Y/N to smile.
"Me too. Now we're all together." Y/N laughs lightly as the group pulls away.
“I hate to ruin the moment but… I think we’ve been standing around here long enough,” Jamie admits and Kate nods in agreement.
“You’re right. Come on, let’s find the boat and get the fuck off this island.” Kate leads as she starts walking ahead.
“Yes, ma’am!” Mark follows.
“Amen! Let’s go, Erin.” Jamie takes Erin’s hand before following Kate and Mark.
“Right behind you.” Y/N takes Charlie's hand and intertwines their fingers.
As she looks at him, her gaze falls and she finally notices his exposed chest, gasping once she sees the cuts.
She can’t believe she didn’t see it sooner and immediately feels guilty for hugging him so hard.
"Oh, Charlie… I’m so sorry…" she whispers, softly running a finger around the first letter and the gentle action makes him shiver. Charlie takes her hand and brings it to his lips, giving her a small kiss.
"It’s not your fault. It’ll heal and it’ll fade. I’d rather live with the scars than live my life without you…” Charlie confesses honestly. Y/N scoffs lightly but she can’t stop the tears that form in her eyes.
“You’re so sappy… but I feel the same way,” she admits as her hand instinctively goes to touch the cut on her forehead. Charlie just squeezes her other hand lightly before giving her a quick kiss near her cut.
With that, Y/N drags Charlie along and quickly catches up with the crew. Hopefully they'll find the boat and escape the island alive.
