#08 "Hallow"

“What now?” Walt asked as he looked to the ghost of his father.
“Only you can answer that, son,” Michael replied. They both stood face to face at the old abandoned beach camp. The wind had noticeably picked up as it blew through the trees and was the only sound that could be heard, apart from crashing waves.
“I don’t understand,” Walt admitted.
“There are a lot of things you won’t understand because they can’t really be explained,” Michael clarified, “You have to be sure to ask the right questions because more answers lead to even more questions. You must realize that sometimes you have to have faith … and trust your instincts.”
“No, I meant I don’t understand how I’m the only one who can answer my own questions. That doesn’t make sense, dad,” Walt explained.
“It doesn’t make sense now, but it will,” Michael answered.
“I don’t remember you talking like this before,” Walt said skeptically.
“I’ve had a long time to think about things while I was waiting for you,” Michael added.

The ocean waves started to increase in intensity as they crashed upon the beach. The skies were clear as the sun shined down, yet the wind still blew from the ocean.
“What’s going on?” Walt asked.
“It’s the island.” Michael answered.
“What?” Walt asked in confusion.
“Let’s get off the beach. We need to walk inland,” Michael stated as he started to walk into the jungle, but Walt stood motionless, “C’mon Walt. You want answers they are this way.”

Walt followed Michael into the jungle reluctantly. The wind cut through the treetops, which rustled the leaves loudly. Michael walked at a steady pace through the brush and Walt tried to keep up behind him. A few feet later, Walt lost sight of him. He continued on in the same direction at a full speed run. A minute later, he came to a clearing and stopped short. The sun shined through the forest, lighting up the area where Michael stood eerily in the middle. Michael lifted his arm quickly to point at something in a nearby tree. Walt looked in the direction he was pointing to find mango trees. With a smile he looked back at his father, but he was not there. Michael had vanished. Walt looked around and shouted, “Dad??”

The wind still came through the trees and whispers could be heard. Walt felt a chill in the air, as the whispers grew louder. Faintly ‘He is the one’ could be heard repeating in the whispers that now came from all directions. Walt stood motionless, watching and waiting. The whispers seemed to dance around him, spinning. ‘He is the one, he is the one’ they repeated, sometimes sounding reversed. Walt turned around trying to see where they were coming from. He cried out “Who are you?? What do you want?? Dad!! Where are you??”
“I’m right here son,” Walt jumped when he saw his father standing right next to him. The whispers dissipated into the wind. Michael looked into the distance as if watching them leave.
“What was that? Where did you go?” Walt asked.
“What do you mean? I was showing you food so you can eat. You need to eat up now. You are going to need energy.” Michael explained.
“Then you disappeared into thin air right in front of me,” Walt informed.
“I did? Are you sure?” Michael asked sounding confused.
“Stop playin’ around like you don’t know,” Walt warned, “It’s not funny.”
“Walt, as far as I know, I didn’t go anywhere,” Michael pleaded.
“What about the whispers then? Do you know about that?” Walt inquired.
Michael smiled, “Ah, that explains it. You heard the whispers. Did I look strange to you before I disappeared?”
“Yes. Kinda. You didn’t speak. You just pointed to the tree and you looked kinda creepy,” Walt elaborated.
“Mangos,” Michael said.
“Mangos?” Walt asked.
“Yes,” Michael pointed to the tree again, “Mangos. You must eat them.”
“Dad, I need to know, “Walt pleaded, “What are the whispers?”
Michael sighed, “I know, son. You do need to know, but first, I need you to understand that I never wanted this to happen. This life, I wanted so much better for you,” Michael motioned to the mango tree again, “Pick one, then come here and sit. I will tell you what you need to know.”

Walt walked to the tree, climbed up and picked the two ripest mangos he could find. He jumped back down and looked over to his father, who was standing next to a fallen tree. With a sigh of relief, he hurried back to the fallen tree in anticipation of what he was about to be told.
“Here,” Walt said handing one of the mangos to his father.
With a chuckle Michael responded, “I don’t need that, son. I appreciate the thought but I don’t have to eat.”
“Oh,” Walt replied in disappointment.
“I do miss it though. Taste. Smell,” Michael sighed, “among other things.”

Michael sat down on the log and Walt sat next to him.
“What’s it like … being … uh, dead?” Walt reluctantly asked as he ripped open the mango and took a bite.
“Well, the best way I can explain it is the feeling within your soul,” Michael started as he stared out into the woods, “Its like I can feel things in my heart … or like a mood. When I saw you I felt happy and excited to see you. A definite change from the sorrow and despair I have been feeling for so long.” Michael continued, “But like I said I can’t smell or taste. I can’t even really feel anything I touch. I know something is there but I can’t feel the sensation of hot, cold, and texture.”
“And you can disappear also.” Walt added as he chewed on the mango.
“Yea that’s a completely different thing entirely,” Michael advised, “I can go anywhere I want, at any time, as long as it is on this island.”
Walt stopped chewing, “You can’t ever leave?”
“I don’t know. I am somehow tied to this place, trapped somehow,” Michael grumbled.
Walt cleared his throat, “Are you saying this is Hell?”
Michael froze and had a big look of fear on his face, “I don’t know. It is for me.”
“Are you here because of what you did to those two women?” Walt inquired.
“Anna Lucia and Libby. All the terrible things I did to get you back. That’s why I need your help, son.”
“My help??” Walt said in shock, “What am I supposed to do??”
“Time will tell I suppose. I don’t have all the answers, Walt. I wish I did,” Michael said as he looked at the ground in disappointment.
“What about the whispers, Dad? What are they and can they do anything?” asked Walt.
Michael closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Walt could easily tell this was all very difficult for him.
“There are other like me here. Stuck on this island and can’t move on,” Michael started, “Some have been here for thousands of years. Some are more recent. We can’t really be seen in the same spot at the same time, like how you see me now … yet we seem to travel together. The older … stronger ones are tormented, so they make us all suffer.”

The wind continued to move the treetops around them. Walt sat there for a while as he tried to take it all in. He looked down at his hand that was holding the half eaten mango, but he didn’t have the desire to continue eating. He couldn’t begin to comprehend what his father had gone through. The only thing he could think to say in response was, “I’m sorry, Dad.”
“I know it’s overwhelming, son, but there is no need to be sorry for me. You are here now.”

The sunlight started to dwindle through the jungle. Michael looked up at the sky as he stood up.
He looked down at Walt and said, “The sun is setting. Come with me. There is more for you to see.”
Walt sat bewildered, shaking his head. “More?” he asked, “and how is the sun setting already?”
“Well, that is something else I can’t really answer,” Michael replied, “I really hope you can find out.”
“Find out?” Walt asked, “How?”
Michael knelt down facing him, “You are very special, Walt. I know you have heard that before.” Michael put his hand on Walt’s knee, “I just never knew how special you were when I was alive. I mean, you have a gift,” Michael smiled.
“A gift? I keep hearing that I’m special. Hurley and Ben keep saying it. The doctors and nurses at Santa Rosa… John Locke said it. Mom and Brian used to say it,” Walt said, as he got a little frustrated.
Michael looked into Walt’s eyes, “You can see me… Not everyone can see me, but you can.”
“Hurley can also,” Walt stated.
“Yes he can. He is also very special, but not as special as you,” Michael explained, “Walk with me and I will explain.”

Michael grabbed Walt’s hand and pulled him up. The two walked off into the jungle. An hour walk later, they came to a stream. The moonlight was the only source of light. Michael stopped at the top of the embankment looking at the water as the light shimmered off.
“We have to go this way,” Michael advised pointing up stream.
Walt looked at him confused, “Why not walk along the stream? It’s easier. There’s no--”
“I can’t touch the water,” Michael snapped, “So, we have to go this way.”
“Why not? And why is it so dark already?” Walt asked.
“The water is special. Just like you and just like this island,” Michael explained, “Time is different here. To me, there are times it seems like an eternity has gone by since I have seen you. Other times it feels like I just died on that freighter yesterday. Time works differently for me than it does for you normally… but now, on this island … time is altered for you as well.”
“Where is that light coming from?” Walt said as he pointed upstream.
“What light? All I see is the moon.” Michael answered.
“This way!” Walt said as he ran along the embankment.

Walt ran toward the light. It was only a few paces until he reached his destination. There ahead was a cave enveloping the stream that had an unimaginably bright light bellowing out from within. Walt continued towards it.
“Walt! Wait! Where are you going?” Michael asked.
“To look at the light. Look at it. It’s beautiful. I – I – I can’t keep my eyes off it. I want to go in the cave.” Walt said, mesmerized.
“What light, Walt?” Michael asked.
“In the cave. Don’t you see it?” Walt wondered, as he gazed into the light.
“No, son, I don’t.” Michael sighed, “Knowing that you can see it confirms how special you really are.”
Walt turned to Michael and looked him dead in the eyes, realizing what he had to do.
“I forgive you, Dad.”

A bolt of lightning flashed from nowhere and thunder crashed. Rain started to pour down on top of Michael and Walt.
“What did you say?” Michael asked in shock.
“I said I forgive you, Dad.” Walt repeated.
Instantly Michael saw flashes of Walt as a child. Visions flashed before his eyes of holding him for the first time, seeing him at 2 years old, seeing him crashed on the beach. Saving him.
“It was always for you, son. I love you, Walt” Michael exclaimed warmly.
“I love you too, Dad.” Walt answered.
Michael’s eyes opened widely. An excited smile came about his face. “I see it! Oh Walt, I can see the light!!”
“You can forgive yourself now. I saw you beating yourself up. You made this place your Hell for long enough.” Walt explained.
“You have to come with me, son. You are special and there is work for you to do.” Michael pleaded, “You can feel it pulling you in can’t you?”
Walt nodded in agreement.

Lightning flashed wildly…the thunder and rain crashed down. The stream started to rise with the fresh rainwater.
“Come on! Get into the cave and out of the rain.” Michael urged.
They both walked into the stream and into the cave. The water continued to rise and became more forceful as it pushed Walt further inside.

Michael looked at Walt, “Son, I have to leave now.”
“I know,” Walt smiled nervously, “ So do I.”
Michael seemed to drift closer to the waterfall but his legs were not moving, as if he was floating. Walt walked toward him extending his arms. Michael reached out and grabbed on.

They embraced one last time as they both went over the waterfall. A deafening, vibrating sound was expelled as they were both were consumed by the light.