Chapter 8

 

 

The night seemed to crawl as the different members of the group slept. Ellie had fallen asleep not too long after the argument between her and Alan. Now, he was the only one awake. Which gave him time to think about what he had done over the past few years. Unknown to anyone, not even Billy, Alan hadn’t been working at the site because he wanted to, but rather because he was being forced to. Radcliffe had given him money a few months after he had visited the second island with the Kirby’s. The money was enough to fund his dig for a further five years. That was the day when everything went wrong…

 

Flashback

 

“I promise that if you sign these little bit of papers, then you will receive the money for your dig sites,” Radcliffe explained as he handed the contract over to Alan.

 

The two of them were sitting in Alan’s trailer, Radcliffe was in a light brown suit and seemed to be true to his word and demur. Radcliffe had said that the contract was coming from Hammond as a late apology for all the problems he had faced on the second island. Radcliffe went on to explain that the Kirby family had been given a good amount of money as compensation for what had occurred on the island.

 

“I’m still not sure about this Mr. Radcliffe…” Alan began to say before Radcliffe interrupted him.

 

“Call me Tom,” Radcliffe stated with a genuine smile.

 

“Hmm…okay. As I was saying this seems really sudden and with all the problems that occurred with the first island I’m surprise that Mr. Hammond even had enough money to fund my ‘research’,” Alan said emphasizing the word “research”.

 

“I understand completely. But, if you look closely you will see that, indeed, is John’s signature next to the dotted line, the only other one we need is yours and all the money will be put into a special account for your research,” Radcliffe replied with the same smile as before.

 

“Can you give me a few days to think about it?’ Alan asked as he felt a huge headache coming on.

 

“No problem. Here is my card, call me with your answer. Have a good day Dr. Grant,” Radcliffe answered as he handed his card to Alan and then proceeded to let himself out of the trailer.   

 

 

 

End of Flashback

 

A few days later he found out from Billy that they were out of grant money. Figuring he wouldn’t be able to receive any more grant money Alan had finally decided to call Radcliffe and sign the contract. The only problem was that the contract was a scam. By the time he had found out he was in too deep. The only way to cover up the mess he was in was to come to this island and find the information Radcliffe needed, then he would be free. Radcliffe on the other hand had different plans for him and now the rest of the group was involved. Most importantly Ellie meant everything to him and Radcliffe knew that.

 

“Have you been up all night?” a voice pulled Alan out of his daze.

 

“What?” Alan asked confused as he looked at Lex.

 

“I asked if you have been up all night?”  Lex laughed as she looked at Alan.

 

“Yeah, somewhat,” Alan responded with a smirk.

 

“The sun is beginning to rise, don’t you think we should get moving?” Lex asked as she stretched her back.

 

“We’ll wake up everyone in an hour or so. I have a bad feeling that it is going to be a rough day,” Alan responded as he stood up and began to descend down the tree.

 

“Where are you going?” Lex asked as she looked down.

 

“I’ll be back soon, just remember to wake everyone up in an hour,” Alan said as he continued his descent.

 

“What if you aren’t back?” Lex asked quietly.

 

“Then head east and you’ll come across the visitor center in a few hours or so,” Alan stated as he placed his feet on the ground. Alan gave her a quick smile and then placed his hat on his head and headed east.

 

Alan didn’t want Lex to know that he was heading out on his own. He wanted to find Radcliffe and make a bargain. The group goes home safely and he would stay and help him with the experiment, after that they would hopefully part ways and never speak of each other again. The contract had made him turn into the person he never wanted to be. He was holding out hope that Ellie would never find out about it. He was an honorable man and today was a brand new day and he would be damned if Radcliffe would get the better of him.

 

Alan made his way through the trees; he was starting to get tired of the jungle. All the green made him long for brown. Okay now it was obvious that he needed to get out more and see new places. But, in reality he knew he couldn’t, his heart was on digs in the middle of nowhere. As Alan approached a crossroad he found himself debating which way to go.

 

“Left or right” Alan mumbled to himself as he looked at both paths.

 

“I would choose the right one Dr. Grant,” a voice said behind him.

 

“Why that path?” Alan asked sarcastically.

 

“Because it will lead you to freedom or at least the people you love,” the voice declared.

 

“I’m really starting to get tired of you Radcliffe,” Alan replied angrily. He turned around and came face to face with the man he dreaded.

 

“Well, the feeling is mutual,” Radcliffe exclaimed with a grin.

 

“Why don’t you just go throw yourself in a raptor nest and die,” Alan said sarcastically.

 

“Oh, wow and you’re a doctor, you show such great maturity,” Radcliffe answered.

 

“Okay, I’ll bite. What the hell do you want?” Alan asked with annoyance in his voice. 

 

“Well, other than a million dollars,” Radcliffe stated with a smirk.

 

Alan rolled his eyes.

 

“I want the information and that’s it.”

 

“I’ll give you the information, under one condition. You let my friends get out of here as soon as possible and then you’ll get the information,” Alan explained quietly unsure of his own voice.

 

“Let me get this straight. I let your friends leave and you will stay and give me all the information I need?” Radcliffe asked.

 

Alan nodded his head yes.

 

“Very funny, but I can’t make that deal.”

 

“Why the hell not?” Alan asked enraged.

 

“Because Ellie means too much to me,” Radcliffe explained.

 

“What does she have to do with you?” Alan asked but already knew the answer.

 

“Because you love her, and if you refuse to help me I have nothing to bargain with,” Radcliffe explained.

 

“You have my life,” Alan growled

 

“Your life isn’t important to me, but if her life is in danger than you will do anything. Won’t you?” Radcliffe asked.

 

“She goes, or no deal,” Alan demanded.

 

“Well, then no deal my friend. You should go meet your friends they might be missing you soon. If you change your mind I’ll be waiting at the visitor station. I do ask that you think about my proposition Dr. Grant. It could mean great things for you in the years to come,” Radcliffe lectured before turning away and heading down the path to the left.

 

“What information?” A voice asked from behind. Alan turned around and noticed Lex standing a few feet away.

 

“What are you doing here?” Alan scowled.

 

“I asked you first,” Lex said without hesitation.  

 

“Listen, I’m trying to get the five of you out of here. Now the information has nothing to do with you, and I would appreciate it if you went back to the rest of the group,” Alan explained as he felt his anger rising.

 

“Let me guess you sold your soul for money,” Lex stated.

 

Alan sighed and dropped his head.

 

“Yes”

 

“Why?”

 

“I needed the money for continuation of my work.”

 

“Mr. Radcliffe offered me a deal that if I was able to create information about how to program the dinosaurs not to attack humans than I would be released from the contract. I agreed to do it. But now I realize it won’t happen or at least not completely. Now Mr. Radcliffe is after me to get the information,” Alan revealed slowly.

 

“What kind of contract was it?” Lex asked.

 

“Basically all research I did was property of Hammond. Except the contract was bogus and the money I received belongs to the government, who is after me because my name is on the paper,” Alan explained.

 

“Alan you need to tell Ellie, maybe she can you help you or at least tell Dr. Malcolm,” Lex stated.

 

 “NO! Lex, listen to me and listen good, this is my problem, no one else. I need to solve it on my own without anyone else getting hurt. You understand,” Alan declared.

 

“Yes,” Lex said quietly a hurt expression falling over her face. Alan noticed and then swore under his breath.

 

“Listen, I don’t mean to sound like a jerk but it is my own problem,” Alan said in a normal tone of voice.

 

“A jerk? More like an ass-hole, Lex shot back.

 

“Who is an ass-hole?” said a voice from behind them.

 

“Alan,” Lex stated as she looked at Malcolm and the rest of the group.

 

“Why is that?” Ellie asked.

 

“What are you doing here?” Alan asked angrily.

 

“We followed Lex, and now answer the question,” Tim replied.

 

“No reason, just because,” Alan stated as he started to walk away.

 

“Tell them,” Lex yelled.

 

“Tell us what?” Ellie asked her voice a little shaken.

 

“Nothing, just like before,” Alan snapped.

 

“He has been lying to everyone in the group of why he is here. He is here because…” Lex began to explain.

 

“LEX,” Alan yelled loud enough for all the birds in the area to fly away.

 

“What is going on Alan, and don’t lie to me,” Ellie said as she walked up to him and looked straight into his eyes.

 

“Well…it all started…

 

 

To Be Continued

 

 

Writers Note:

 

Sorry this is short and very late but I’ve been busy with school and work. Hopefully you all like it.