Chapter 7

 

 

The time crept by as if fate was toying with Alan’s emotions. He hated being stuck in the room with no way out. If he were to close his eyes and listen he would hear the sounds of deep breaths coming from a corner, with a few mumbles here and there. In an hour or so he could close his eyes, rest his mind, and hopefully get some sleep, but he knew that would be impossible. A long time ago he found out that it was hard to fall asleep when Ellie wasn’t near him, and it was especially hard when she first left.

 

“You okay?” Malcolm asked as he pulled Alan out of his train of thought.

 

“Yes. I was just thinking about random things,” Alan replied as he looked at Malcolm. 

 

“I don’t think we will be in here long,” Malcolm commented.

 

“I think you're wrong. Unless you have some sort of magical powers and can see the future,” Alan stated very sarcastically.

 

“No, just trying to be optimistic,” Malcolm replied quietly.

 

Malcolm knew that Alan was worried about Ellie and he secretly wished he could help him. He watched as Alan stood up and walked to one of the sidewalls and slid down it. Malcolm turned his head and focused on the others who were asleep in the corner, he hated himself for not being able to get Sarah off the island, but he was out of luck and she was going to be with them for the rest of the trip. He looked back to Alan who had leaned his head against the wall, closing his eyes.

 

“Alan?” Malcolm whispered quietly.

 

When Alan didn’t respond, Malcolm smiled to himself and looked at the door. He was determined to stay awake and find a way out of this room. Or at least try and find a way out before the sun rose.

 

He was being chased by an unknown creature. All he knew was that it was big and chased him for the kill. He could feel each step he was running; the smashing of long pieces of grass was drowned out by the sound of his own beating heart. He kept running, in hopes of getting away or finding safety. In the distance he saw a large boat, but he couldn’t seem to catch up to it. He turned his head back every once in a while and he could see the creature right behind him, but it was dark and it blended in with the colors of the jungle. He was unable to breath, his legs gave out just as he reached a hill. As he collapsed against the cold dark earth he tried to capture the air that his lungs were so deprived of. Then he heard the sound of a growl, he lifted his head and came eye to eye with the creature. The creature opened its mouth and…

 

Alan jolted awake. He could feel his heart pounding even harder than when he was in the dream. He started to breathe in and out, feeling the cold air of the room enter each lung as if he were being brought back to life.

 

“You okay?” Malcolm asked as he walked over to Alan.

 

“Hmm…” Alan started to reply but couldn’t find the right words.

 

“You were just dreaming, you’re safe…well somewhat,” Malcolm commented before heading back to the door.

 

Alan ran a hand through his hair and felt the cold sweat of his nightmare. It started to disappear as he tried to remember why he was running and most importantly what he was running from. He closed his eyes and tried to relax his mind. After several attempts he opened his eyes again and looked in Malcolm’s direction.

 

“What are you doing?” he asked as he stood up.

 

“Trying to see if we can pick the lock or not,” Malcolm replied back as he stared at the door handle.

 

“Do you even know how to pick a lock?” Alan asked as he stood behind Malcolm.

 

“No, but you don’t think that could be a problem…do you?” Malcolm commented as he looked up at Alan.

 

“Oh no,” Alan replied sarcastically.

 

“I can pick locks,” Tim stated quietly.

 

Alan and Malcolm turned their heads and looked at Tim who looked as if he was still half asleep.

 

“What?” Alan and Malcolm said in unison.

 

“I said that I could pick locks. I learned the trade when I was younger. It’s how I always read my sister’s diary,” Tim stated as he stood up.

 

“Does she know about that?” Malcolm asked as he rose to his feet.

 

“No, and I would like to keep it that way,” Tim said as he walked over to the door.  “We do have a slight problem, however,” he continued as he looked at Alan. 

 

“And that would be?” Alan asked with curiosity.

 

“Hmm, I don’t have the tools to pick the lock,” Tim stated quietly.

 

“Oh, well that is helpful, and you say I’m the idiot,” Malcolm replied as he looked at Alan.

 

“At least he is trying to be helpful, that is more than I can say for you,” Alan retorted.

 

“You know what, you can…” Malcolm began to say when the door opened.

 

As the door opened it revealed the two figures that had originally placed them in the room. The figures looked around and finally rested their gaze upon Alan. One of the figures stepped forward and grabbed Alan by the arm.

 

“You are coming with us,” the man stated matter-of-factly.

 

“Like hell I am,” Alan snapped back.

 

“Don’t make me use force,” the man said with no change to his tone of voice.

 

“Then you will need to use force, because I’m not leaving this spot,” Alan said.

 

The second figure stepped forward and aimed his gun toward Alan, who immediately froze where he was standing.

 

“Once again, you will come with us or there will be serious consequences,” the man stated.

 

“Kill me, I don’t care,” Alan replied with his voice cracking.

 

“I was thinking more along the lines of that pretty woman friend of yours,” the man stated with a slight grin.

 

“ If you do anything to hurt her, I swear will kill you,” Alan said, angered.

 

“Then you have no choice but to come with us, “ the man said as he pulled on Alan’s arm.

 

This time Alan didn’t fight back, he wasn’t sure if the men were serious or not, but he wasn’t willing to risk it. Malcolm and Tim watched as Alan walked out of the door and the men followed him. Not too long afterwards they heard the sound of the door being locked. Malcolm turned his head towards the back of the room and noticed that both Sarah and Lex were awake.

 

“It’s going to be okay,” Malcolm said quietly, even though he was scared himself.

 

 

Meanwhile

 

Ellie sat on the bed quietly, unable to sleep, even though she wouldn’t sleep in this place if her life had depended on it. She was trying to come up with an escape plan, but the two guards posted outside her door were a serious problem. Leaning her head against the wall she closed her eyes and tried to remember some good times. Her mind drifted towards a time when she and Alan had allowed the students to go visit the town while the two of them stayed behind. They had stayed in his trailer talking about life, family, and the future. That particular day had been one where she knew that he was meant for her. Except as the future came their relationship changed, and not for the best. Opening her eyes she sighed to herself. The future was now the past and she was being given a second chance to fix what had happened. If only she could escape this dumb room and find Alan then she would tell him everything, if only she could…

 

 

The door to her room opened up and she saw four figures standing outside it, one was carrying a weapon and had a smile on his face.

 

“I was wondering if maybe you would like to come with us?” Malcolm asked as he entered the room.

 

“Yeah, but where is Alan?” Ellie asked as she rose to her feet and walked over to Malcolm.

 

“Hmm, well I’m not sure but we will find him,” Malcolm said as he lead her out the door.

 

“I thought he was with you guys. What happened to him?” Ellie asked as she followed closely behind.

 

“Well, the short version is…we got locked up, military guys took him away, then Malcolm and I knocked out the next military visitor and came looking for you, knocking out the two in front of your room and rescuing you,” Tim explained as followed Malcolm down a hallway.

 

“I’m afraid to ask what the long version contains,” Ellie said as she followed the group.

 

“I’ll explain it later, but first we need to find Alan before those guards decide to wake up and notify the rest of the unit,” Malcolm said as he turned down another hallway.

 

“Ian, do you even know where you are going?” Sarah hissed.

 

“If I did then don’t you think we would already be there,” Malcolm whispered quietly to himself.

 

“I heard that,” Sarah whispered back with a glare.

 

Malcolm shrugged the look off and continued down the hallway. By the fifth hallway he had started to hear voices, motioning to the group to be quiet he crept over to the room and peeked in. There in the middle of the room Alan was sitting in the chair with his arms tied behind him. In front of him stood Radcliffe with the devilish grin on his face, and next to him was one of his men. Malcolm turned his head slightly to hear what was going on.

 

“I’m only going to ask this once Dr. Grant, tell me where the reports are,” Radcliffe demanded as he leaned close to Alan.

 

“I have no clue what you are talking about,” Alan retorted.

 

“Dr. Grant, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. So once again tell me, where are the reports?” Radcliffe asked angrily.

 

“I don’t know, “ Alan said as he put emphasis on each word.

 

“Okay, well then you give me no choice,” Radcliffe said as he stood back and nodded towards the guard.

 

The guard smiled and pulled out his weapon. Flipping it over in his hands he stepped closer to Alan and aimed the blunt end towards his face. Alan felt his body tense up as he looked at the guard.

 

“Tell me, and I’ll call him back,” Radcliffe requested one more time. Alan didn’t say anything, instead he closed his eyes and prepared himself for the pain that was soon to appear.

 

“Your funeral Dr. Grant,” Radcliffe said with a laugh and nodded to the guard. The guard raised his rifle above his head.

 

“Drop it!” Malcolm yelled as he entered the room. The guard turned around and looked at Malcolm.

 

“Drop it, or he gets killed,” Malcolm stated shakily as he walked over to Radcliffe and pointed the gun at him.

 

“Sir?” the guard asked as he focused his weapon on Malcolm.

 

“I’m not kidding, drop it or he will be killed,” Malcolm stately with a fear in his voice.

 

“Drop it,” Radcliffe stated to the guard.

 

The guard lowered his weapon to the floor and backed away from Alan. Maclolm then nodded to the group to untie Alan. Ellie reached him first and looked at him with pure happiness, he was alive and that was all that mattered. Tim made his way over to the back of the chair and started to untie the knots.

 

“You okay?” Alan and Ellie asked in unison.

 

“I’m fine,” Alan said as he felt the ropes being pulled off his wrist.

 

“Same here,” Ellie replied as she looked up at Alan.

 

Alan smiled and slowly sat up, he wanted nothing more than to pull Ellie into his arms and hold her, but the time wasn’t right, they needed to get out of here and sooner the better. He nodded to Malcolm to back away and then motioned to the rest of the group to begin to exit the room.

 

“Have you told them the truth Dr. Grant,” Radcliffe quipped in as the group began to leave, but at the sound of his voice they stopped.  “Have you told them the real reason why you are here? Have you told them what you have been doing all these years?” Radcliffe asked with a grin. 

 

“Ignore him, “ Alan said as he walked over to the guard and grabbed the weapon below him.  “I think I’ll be taking this with me," he commented.  

 

“You tell them the truth Dr. Grant, “ Radcliffe tried once again as the group exited the room.

 

“Shut the hell up Radcliffe,” Alan shot back with anger.  “And if you follow us I will have you killed," he continued just before leaving the room.

 

“I could have killed him way before he pulled the trigger,” the guard stated when the group was out of earshot.

 

“I realize that, plus Dr. Maclolm had the safety on,” Radcliffe replied with a smile.

 

“Then why let them leave?” The guard asked.

 

“Because, Dr. Grant has the information I need and I believe that prey on the run is more fun than if they’re caged up,” Radcliffe said with a laugh.

 

 

The group was running through the hallway towards the exit. Malcolm and Alan would look back every so often to make sure they weren’t being followed. As they exited the building they stopped to catch their breath while Alan looked around to see if he knew where they were.

 

“You okay?” Malcolm asked as he looked at Alan.

 

“Yeah, and thank you,” Alan replied with a smile.

 

“You would have done the same thing if our positions were reversed,” Malcolm said as he walked up to Alan and held out his hand.  “Friends?” he asked.

 

“Yeah,” Alan said as he shook Malcolm's hand.

 

“Well, I’m glad you two made up but have you forgotten we have some serious killers after us,” Lex stated.

 

“You’re correct, why don’t we go this way,” Alan said as he pointed in front of him.

 

The group nodded and got into a single line. Alan lead the group followed by Ellie, then Tim, Lex, and Sarah.  Malcolm was last with his weapon ready for anything that might pop out from the trees and bushes. Nightfall began to fall upon them as the group found themselves in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by dark green trees and bushes to match. A person could hide himself or herself and no one would ever find them. As if their luck couldn’t get much worse they had begun to hear the sounds of a T-rex not too far away. Each member was focused on the events of the day. Each was wondering what was to come and when they would get off this island, that is if they were to stay alive long enough to leave it. Alan looked up at the sky and began to see some stars through the thick leaves of the trees. Deciding that it would be better to start their trip again in the morning he stopped and turned around to face the group.

 

“We need to camp here tonight, start out again at daylight,” Alan stated as he lowered his weapon to the ground.

 

“Were do you plan on us sleeping?” Sarah asked as she looked around the area.

 

“I think you need to look up,” Tim suggested as he walked over to Alan.

 

“What?” Sarah asked.

 

“If I’m not mistaken I believe we are going to be sleeping in the trees, it is the most safe spot on the island. And Alan, here is your bag. I grabbed it before we came to find you,” Tim stated as he handed the bag over to Alan.

 

“Thanks Tim, and you’re right. So start climbing the tree,” Alan stated as he motioned to the tree next to him.

 

Tim smiled and headed over to the tree. He started to climb the trunk and was soon followed by Lex, Sarah and then Malcolm. Alan watched as each member made it to a safe branch on the tree and he then turned his attention to Ellie who hadn’t yet moved away from his side.

 

“You can go next,” Alan said as he bended on his knee and opened his backpack.

He pulled out his jacket and slung it over his shoulder it was then he noticed something (deleted "in") sitting on the ground. He reached out and picked it up, as he cleaned the dust off (deleted "it") and examined it more closely. He smiled to himself. The object he had found was the fossil of a raptor claw that he once owned but had tossed away when he first visited the island. He laughed to himself quietly.

 

“Isn’t that your raptor claw?” Ellie asked as she bent down to join him.

 

“Yup, I tossed it away when we first visited the island. Actually I got rid of it when Tim, Lex, and I were hiding in a tree from the T-rex. Which would mean that I know somewhat where we are,” Alan said as he stood up and placed the raptor claw in his pocket.

 

“Well, at least that is a good start for tomorrow,” Ellie replied as she stood up and looked at him.

 

“Umm, Radcliffe and his guards didn’t do anything to you did they?” Alan asked as he looked at Ellie.

 

“No, I was more worried that they might do something to you,” Ellie answered as she placed her hand in his.

 

“I’m fine,” he replied as he gave her hand a squeeze.

 

“Are you two going to join us, or stay down there all night?” Malcolm asked from above them.

 

Alan and Ellie looked up and smiled. Ellie pulled her hand out of Alan’s hand and walked over to the tree and began to ascend up it. Alan looked once more around the area and then proceeded to make his own climb up the trunk of the tree. When he reached the top he looked around and noticed the group had broken up in pairs with each sitting close to the middle of the tree. When he finally got settled on the tree he looked around the group to notice that they were each staring at him.

 

“What?” Alan asked as he leaned against the trunk of the tree.

 

“Hmm, should someone take watch, just make sure nothing happens?” Lex asked quietly.

 

“Yeah, and I’ll go first,” Alan stated.

 

“You sure?” Malcolm asked.

 

“Yeah, I’ll wake one of you up in a few hours and then I’ll go to sleep, okay.” Alan replied.

 

The group slowly nodded and then proceeded to try and get comfortable against the tree. Alan turned his head left and noticed that Lex and Tim sat next to each on one of the bigger branches of the tree. Both of them look exhausted and he could tell that they would be soon asleep. Alan gave them a quick smile before turning his attention to Sarah and Malcolm who were sitting to his right. Sarah had cuddled up to Malcolm and was already asleep, and Malcolm was soon to follow. Malcolm gave him a quick smile before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep. Alan breathed a sigh of relief as he rested his head against the trunk of the tree and looked to see where Ellie was going to sleep.

 

“You can sleep next to me,” Alan suggested as he raised his right arm and invited her to join him.

 

“I was already going to do that,” Ellie stated as she moved over to Alan.

 

“Well it is good to know I can be used as a pillow,” Alan replied with a smirk.

 

“You can be used for more than just a pillow,” Ellie said quietly as she laid her head on his shoulder. Alan smiled and wrapped his arm around her.

 

“You should get some sleep, I can stay awake,” Ellie suggested.

 

“No, I’m not tired. You go to sleep. I’ll be fine, I promise,” Alan vowed.

 

“All right, but if you start to fall asleep I want you to wake me,” Ellie ordered as she yawned. 

 

“Deal,” Alan submitted.

 

Alan smiled as he watched Ellie snuggle closer into him, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead he then looked out into the open island. Night was in complete motion; the only sounds heard were from different dinosaurs miles away. The quietness would allow the rest of the group to sleep peacefully, or somewhat peacefully considering where they were.

 

Alan, using his free hand, held up the old raptor claw he had found. The memories of when he first dug it up just a few days before visiting the island came back to him. Life seemed simple back then. He could get funding for his digs and most of all he had Ellie. Then came the visit to the island and the collapse of everything he knew. If he had known then what he knew now he wouldn’t have gone to the island and wouldn’t be in the mess he was in now.

 

The mess; Alan smiled to himself. He had made a deal that might cost him his life and he knew that Radcliffe knew about it. Hell, Radcliffe had created the deal and managed to convince Alan to sign the paper. Except there was one problem he hadn’t told anyone about the deal, not even Billy. He had promised himself before leaving for the island that he wouldn’t allow anyone to know about the deal and that he would make it disappear before leaving the island itself. Alan closed his eyes wanting to forget about his problems, but that soon came to be a mistake as he felt himself drifting off into sleep.

 

 

He was being chased by the unknown creature again. All he knew was that it was big and chased him for the kill. He could feel each step he was running; the smashing of long pieces of grass was drowned out by the sound of his own beating heart. He kept running, in hopes of getting away or finding safely. In the distance he saw a large boat, but he couldn’t seem to catch up to it. He turned his head back every once in a while and he could see the creature right behind him, but it was dark and it blended in with the colors of the jungle. He was unable to breathe, as his legs gave out just as he reached a hill. As he collapsed against the cold dark earth he tried to capture the air that his lungs were so deprived of. Then he heard the sound of a growl, he lifted his head and came eye to eye with the creature. The creature opened its mouth and…

 

Alan tried to stay asleep, he needed to see the creature. He wanted to understand why the creature was chasing him. Alan tried to focus on the creature before him and as he began to see the features of it Alan saw the creature change to Radcliffe. He motioned Alan to stand up and look at him, but Alan couldn't make his legs work if his life depended on it. Radcliffe shook his head and dropped a piece of paper in front of him and then started to laugh as he walked away. Alan looked down at the piece of paper and tried to make out the words, but his vision was going blurry.

 

Alan jolted awake, his body was in a cold sweat and his breathing was short. Ellie stirred awake next to him and looked up to see pure terror in his eyes. Concerned, she sat up and placed a hand against his face feeling him jump at her touch.

 

“Alan?” Ellie asked in concern.

 

“Hmm, I…” Alan tried to speak but couldn’t form any actual words.

 

“What happened?” Ellie asked softly as she looked him in the eyes.

 

“Nothing, I’m fine. Just go back to sleep,” Alan said as he shook his head trying to rid the dream from his mind.

 

“You’re not fine. Tell me what you were dreaming about,” Ellie stressed.

 

“Everything is fine, please go back to sleep,” Alan begged as he looked out to the distance.

 

“Fine, then I’ll stay awake until you tell me,” Ellie stated matter-of-factly.

 

“Ellie don’t be childish,” Alan hissed, not trying to wake the rest of the group.

 

“I’m not,” Ellie replied back.

 

“Fine, then stay awake,” Alan replied angrily.

 

Alan was in no mood to argue. If she wanted to stay awake then so be it. The two of them sat looking out into the trees and jungle not saying a word to each other or making eye contact. Alan looked at his watch and shook his head, it was still early in the night and now with what happened it was going to be a long night ahead. He looked once again to the sky, cursing himself mentally for ever coming to this island but mostly for signing the contract he had signed. 

 

 

 

 

·        Please read and review. I would also like to apologize for the lateness in this chapter I had some problems coming up with a good idea. Hope you like the story.

 

·        Happy Holidays to all my readers.