Chapter 14: Cruel World

Amber sighed as she sat outside with a hand on her stomach. She had found a longer shirt so her stomach wasn't showing that much. She was watching Jay teaching David how to defend himself. Little Bray stood up slowly. "Mumma," he called. Amber slowly stood up and she walked over to little Bray, picking him up.

"MUMMY!" David shouted.

Amber looked down as David ran up to her. "Mummy, daddy taught me some cool moves, wanna see?" He asked. Amber smiled.

"Maybe a little later. Its time for you nap," she replied.

"No nap."

"Jay a little help here."

Jay chuckled and he picked David up. "Nap time," he informed. He carried David upstairs. Trudy came out.

"Still not wanting to take his nap?" Trudy asked.

"When has he ever wanted to?"

Trudy laughed. "I should get little Bray down for his nap," she commented. Trudy nodded and watched as Amber went upstairs.

(Later that Night)

Jay rubbed the back of his neck as he walked over to Jack. "Okay, Jack, the Predator tribe hasn't attacked yet, but we both know that they're not stupid, we need a battle plan," he informed. Jack nodded and he turned around in his chair.

"One step ahead of you," Jack informed.

Jack brought a picture up on the screen. "Since Amber had escaped they're going to choose a new way to attack. According to Bray and Ved, they attacked with all their tribe members in one shot. They sent one by one to capture all the children first and then they took the girls," Jack explained. Jay nodded his head slowly. "So, what we have to do, since we don't have that many guys to protect this place is put around the clock guards outside. Each will have one of Ram's newest technology on their wrists," he added.

"What will that do?" Jay asked.

"I'm not exactly sure, Ram doesn't tell me all his secrets you know," Jack replied.

"Jack?" A voice called.

Jack looked up and he saw Ellie coming down the stairs. "What are you doing it's late," she commented. Jack turned his computer off.

"Sorry, Ell, I'm coming," he answered.

Jack turned around in his chair and he looked at Jay. "Don't worry, Ellie won't find out," Jay assured him. Jack nodded before getting up and walking over to Ellie. Jay let out a sigh. He went to find Ram and went on the other side of the hotel.

Jay looked around the hotel to find that the lights were dimmed. "Ram? Ram!" Jay called.

"What?" Ram answered coming out of his room.

"Jack said you created new technology? Let me see," Jay instructed.

"Follow me."

Jay went into Ram's room to find it full of computer stuff. "Here, it's like a portable alarm system," Ram informed. He held up a wrist band with a computer box on it. "It's almost identical to the zappers, the design I mean," he added. Jay held it in his hand.

"How do you turn it on?" He asked.

Ram grabbed his wrist before he could flip the switch. "You only want to turn that on if you really, really want to wake everyone in this hotel up," he commented.

"So, we'll know they're here when this thing goes off?" Jay asked.

"Hopefully, I'm still running a few tests on it, it's not perfect yet."

"We need a different alarm system, Ram. What if one of our men miss one of them coming in here?"

"Hey, I maybe a computer genius, but don't look to me for a miracle."

"Hey! The girls and the kids are in trouble here…"

"Jay I know what's going on here, I'm not dumb. If Java were alive I'd be just as worried about her as you are about Amber and your kids."

Jay sighed. "Sorry," he muttered. Ram just glanced at Jay before sitting down.

"Now if you don't mind, I'd like to try to get this done," Ram answered.

Jay nodded and watched as Ram got back to work before he left.

(Jack and Ellie's Room)

Ellie was leaning back against the headboard while Jack took off his jacket and shoes. "You're keeping secrets again," she commented. Jack sighed as he sat on the bed. Ellie sat up and she wrapped her arms around him. "What were you and Jay talking about?" She asked. Jack placed his hands over hers.

"It's nothing," he replied.

"You sure?"

Jack looked at her. "What Jay, Ram, and I are planning is going to protect you," he assured her. Ellie sighed as she pressed her forehead against his.

"I'm scared Jack," she murmured.

Jack let her hands go and he wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I'm here, Ell, and I won't let anything happen to you," he assured her. He kissed her cheek. "I promise," he added.

(In the Halls)

Jay was walking down the hall when he almost ran into Trudy. "Whoops, sorry," he told her.

"It's alright," she assured him.
"What are you doing up this hour?" Jay asked.

"I could say the same for you."

"I went to talk to Ram."

"I came to get some water for Brady."

"Oh…well, goodnight."

Trudy watched as Jay went to go upstairs. "Jay," she called. Jay stopped and he looked at her. "You have been talking to Ram a lot lately," she commented.

"So?" Jay asked.

"It's just strange," Trudy replied.

"Ram and I are figuring out a way to keep the Predator Tribe away."

"Oh…"

"Goodnight Trudy."

"Goodnight Jay."

Trudy bit her lip as she watched as her best friend's husband went upstairs.

(Jay and Amber's Room)

Jay carefully opened the door and he found Amber asleep with a hand on her stomach. He smiled as he walked over and he kissed her forehead. Amber slowly woke up. "Jay…" she murmured.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up," he answered.

"What time is it?"

"It's almost two in the morning."

"Why are you up so late?"

"I was talking to Ram."

"About what?"

"A new security system."

Jay pulled off his jacket, shirt, and boots before climbing into bed. Amber scooted over and she placed her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and he kissed the top of her head. In a matter of minutes he was asleep.

(4:00 AM)

Ram was still working when he suddenly heard someone coming through the backdoor. He slowly reached over and he put his zapper on his wrist. He grabbed the alarm bracelet, putting it on his other wrist before getting out of his chair. He slowly opened the door and he saw that in the dim lights, a member of the Predator Tribe. "There's one!" One of them hissed. Before Ram could react, someone grabbed him from behind and the air was knocked out of his lungs when one of them used the hilt of their clubs to hit him in the stomach. The Predator threw him aside. Ram coughed and gasped for air. He looked at his alarm bracelet and flipped the switch and a shrieking sound went through the hotel.

(Jack and Ellie's Room)

Ellie sat up. "What is that?" She asked. Jack sat up.

"Oh, no!" He gasped.

He quickly got out of bed and he pulled on his jacket and shoes. "Jack?" She asked. Jack turned around.

"Ellie, remember the spot I built for you?" He asked.

"Yes," she replied.

"I need you to go there now."

Jack ran over to a room and he knocked on the wall a bit before he found the spot. He pulled the wall apart. "But Jack…" she started.

"Ellie, please," he insisted.

Ellie nodded and Jack held her hand before she went in. "Remember, any trouble at all, just blow that whistle," he reminded. She nodded before going into the hiding spot. Jack closed the wall and he grabbed his zapper he had hidden in the nightstand by his and Ellie's bed.

(Jay and Amber's Room)

Jay had David sitting on his hip. "I don't know how much time we have…" Jay trailed off. Jay looked up when the door opened and a Predator stood there. "Take David," Jay told her. Amber took David and she held onto little Bray.

"Hand over the girl and the brats," he ordered.

"I don't think so," Jay answered.

The Predator threw a dagger. Jay rolled over to the other side of the bed before firing his zapper. The Predator fell to the floor. "Amber, take the boys and hide," he told her. Amber nodded and she kissed Jay quickly before hurrying out of the room.

Ved came in after they left. "Cloe and Lilly are hidden," he informed.

"Good, let's go," Jay answered.

(Lobby)

Sounds of fighting could be heard throughout the hotel as Jay and Ved just jumped over the lower railing instead of running down the stairs. Jay saw that one of the Predators had Jack pinned to the floor. "JACK!" He shouted. He ran over and kicked the guy off him. "Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yeah," he replied.

Jay helped him stand up. But then, Jack heard a loud whistling sound through all the racket. "JACK!" Ellie screamed.

"Ellie…" Jack trailed off.

Jay pushed him towards the stairs. "Go help Ellie," Jay insisted. Jack nodded before running up the stairs. Jay watched as his friend ran up to save Ellie before a Predator took aim at his head. Jay kicked him in the stomach and fired his zapper.

"Jay, there are too many," Slade stated.

"We have to keep fighting," Jay answered.

(Jack and Ellie's Room)

Jack ran into the room and saw three guys trying to drag Ellie out of the room. "LET GO!" She screamed.

"HEY!" Jack shouted.

He ran over and he elbowed one of the guys' in the stomach, making him drop Ellie's legs. He punched the other two in the face. When they tried getting back up, Jack used his zapper on them and all three of them dropped. Jack looked over his shoulder to find Ellie on the floor, trying to salvage her ripped shirt from when they dragged her out of the hiding spot. "Ellie…" he trailed off. He kneeled in front of her and he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Are you okay?" He asked. Ellie looked at him and she burst into tears. Jack pulled her in his arms and he let out a sigh. Ellie then pulled back. "What?" He asked.

"BEHIND YOU!" She exclaimed.

Before Jack could turn around, something hit him hard on the back of the head. "JACK!" Was the last thing he heard.

(After the Fight)

Jay looked around, wiping the blood from his lip. "You alright?" He asked Ved. Ved nodded his head slowly and he stood up.

"Yeah," he replied.

Jay placed a hand on his shoulder. Jay looked around. "Where's Jack?" He asked.

"I haven't seen him since he went to get Ellie," Lex replied, holding his shoulder.

Jay hurried upstairs. "JACK!" He shouted.

Salene had a rag pressed to the back of Jack's head. "What happened?" Jay asked.

"I don't know, I found him like this," Salene replied.

Jack started to wake up. "Ellie…" he trailed off. Jay let out a sigh.

"We have to find Ellie," Jay stated.

Salene nodded in agreement.