Sorry it took so long to update. I have had a MAJOR writer's block lately. CURSE YOU, WRITER'S BLOCK!!!!!!!!!!! Writer's block is like a never-ending disease!!! :(:(:(
Chapter 37: Running through the Rain
Morgan and Jack woke up early the next morning and had a small breakfast of mango and papaya and set off through the jungle. Today was slightly cooler than yesterday, but it was still hot enough that they were sweating within an hour. The dense jungle was beautiful and green and tropical flowers bloomed here and there. The twitter of a bird or the rustle of a bush could be heard every now and then. The sunlight shone down and diffused through the trees and cast a yellow glow through the air in some places.
As Morgan walked, she felt totally exhausted all of a sudden. Her legs felt like lead and her back ached. She felt dizzy and lightheaded. Jack looked back and saw that she was lagging behind.
"You okay back there, Morgan?" he called.
"I'm-I'm fine." Morgan said.
Jack stopped for a second and let Morgan catch up. He got a concerned look on his face when he saw that Morgan looked slightly pale and she was stumbling more that the normal person should.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jack asked.
"I'm fine." Morgan said.
"You want me to take Heidi for a while?" Jack asked.
"I guess." Morgan said, taking the bjon from her shoulders and looping it over Jack's shoulders.
"Thanks." Morgan said.
"You're welcome." Jack said.
Morgan walked forward, her shoulders drooping and her legs feeling heavy. She didn't know how far she'd walked when everything just went black. Jack saw Morgan collapse to the ground several feet ahead of him and he rushed forward and knelt down beside her.
"Morgan? Morgan, can you hear me?" Jack asked as he turned Morgan over onto her back.
Moran was slightly pale and limp as a rag doll. Jack pressed his fingers to the pulse-point on the side of her neck and felt that her pulse was slightly faster than usual, but it was in a safe range. He carefully checked her over for any injuries she may not have told him about and found nothing. Jack took off his backpack and took a blanket out of it and layed it on the ground next to Morgan. He then very gently lifted Morgan up onto the blanket. Her head rolled to the side and she remained limp. Jack took a bottle of water and a clean rag out of his backpack and poured some water over the rag and gently wiped it over Morgan's pale face.
"Morgan, you should have told me if something was wrong." Jack whispered to her as he wiped the rag across her face.
Jack sat by her side, cradling Heidi gently in his arms. Worry coursed through Jack as he watched Morgan's still form. The only movement she made was the slow rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. He sat there watching her for what seemed like forever, but it was no more than fifteen minutes. Morgan moaned and slightly shifted her head, slowly peeping her eyes open.
"Hey, hey. How do you feel?" Jack asked gently, stroking her brown hair.
"Like a truck has been parked on top of me." Morgan answered, "How long was I out?"
"About fifteen or twenty minutes." Jack answered.
"What happened?" Morgan asked.
"You just dropped. Your most likely suffering from a mild case of exhaustion. You've been very active for several days without much sleep and your body just decided to sleep for you." Jack explained, "Why didn't you tell me that something was wrong?"
"I didn't want to worry you." Morgan answered, slowly sitting up, feeling a little stronger, "I think I'm all right now."
"You're absolutely sure?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, I'm sure." Morgan said.
[FLASHBACK]
The group stepped into the Flame station, sunlight streaming in through the large windows. It was a beautiful, cool day. Among the group was Ben, Morgan, and Tom. They had trekked through the jungle to the Flame station because Morgan had been assigned there to assist Mikhail in organizing the place. Lately, all his paperwork, research, and organization had gotten out of hand and Morgan was to help him get things in order.
"Mikhail!" Ben called when they did not see him anywhere.
Mikhail stepped out of the kitchen, wiping a glass clean.
"Oh, I am sorry; I forgot you were coming." Mikhail said, setting the glass on a table beside the doorway into the kitchen and laying his towel over one shoulder.
Mikhail walked over to them and shook hands with Ben.
"Mikhail, this is Morgan. She is the one I told you would come to help you sort things out." Ben explained.
"Nice to meet you." Mikhail said, "Been a long time since I was in the company of a beautiful woman."
Mikhail took Morgan's hand and placed a kiss there. Morgan smiled sheepishly and slightly blushed.
"Will there be anything else you will be needing?" Ben asked.
"I don't think so." Morgan said.
"Well, we'll leave you two to get acquainted." Ben said.
The group turned and left, shutting the door behind them.
"So, how long have you been here?" Mikhail asked once they were gone.
"About seven years." Morgan answered.
"Were you assigned here or did you just want a change of scenery?" Mikhail asked, picking up Morgan's bag, which was setting on the floor beside her.
"Sort of both." Morgan answered, "It was getting kinda boring at the Staff, so Ben assigned me here."
They walked across the living space over to the set of steps that lead up to the sleeping area, which was raised up about six feet and was supported by wooden beams. In the sleeping area, there were two bed that were raised up about three inches off the ground. There was no wall separating the sleeping area with the living area; it was all open. Pictures, postcards, drawings, documents, and a few posters decorated the walls of the sleeping area. Mikhail set Morgan's bag down on the second bed.
"I would ask if you wanted a glass of wine, but I see you're pregnant." Mikhail said, motioning to Morgan's six-month pregnant belly.
"I'll accept some tea if you have any." Morgan said.
"Sure, sure." Mikhail said, rushing off to the kitchen.
Just then, Morgan felt something brush against her leg. She looked down and saw a grey-and-white, fluffy cat rubbing back and forth against her leg.
"Hey, kitty." Morgan said, bending over and picking up the cat.
The cat meowed as Morgan picked her up. The cat started purring as Morgan scratched her behind the ears.
"Nadia seems to like you." Mikhail said as he stepped out of the kitchen carrying two glasses of ice-cold tea.
Mikhail walked over to Morgan and handed her one of the glasses.
"Thank you." Morgan said, taking the glass.
"You're welcome." Mikhail said, sipping at his tea.
[END FLASHBACK]
Jack gently helped Morgan stand up, supporting her with one arm around her back. Morgan swayed on the spot, but the dizziness slowly passed and she could stand on her own.
"You sure you can go on?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, I just want to get back to the beach camp." Morgan said.
Suddenly, there was a huge clap of thunder that made both of them jump with surprise. Heidi immediately started crying from the sudden bang of the thunder. Morgan gently took Heidi out of the bjon and held her in her arms, gently rocking her back and forth, trying to sooth her.
"Looks like it's gonna rain soon." Jack said, looking up and seing dark clouds starting to form in the sky.
"Shhh, shhh, it's okay, baby. It was just the thunder." Morgan said, trying to sooth Heidi's cries, "Do you think we should make a shelter or something?"
"I don't think so; not right now. We'll continue on and if the rain gets too heavy, then we'll make one." Jack said.
Morgan nodded and they continued on, going slower this time so Morgan wouldn't tire as easily. Jack draped the bjon back over Morgan's shoulders and she gently placed Heidi back in it, giving her arms a rest. As they walked, it started raining; just a light shower at first, but it gradually picked up and began puring within an hour. They walked through the rain, the ground squishing underneath their feet. A loud pitter-patter could be heard as the heavy raindrops hit the large leaves on the bushes and trees. Every now and then, a loud clap of thunder could be heard and the sky was dark from the rainclouds. Morgan pulled the bjon further around Heidi to shield her little face from the torrent of rain.
"Jack, I think we should try to make a shelter." Morgan called through the rain.
Jack was about to reply when they heard a loud crash that sounded like metal banging on metal and a series of mechanical whirls and a loud, echoing howl. They would recognize that sound anywhere: The Monster!
"Run, Morgan!" Jack called, taking off.
Morgan broke into a run, holding Heidi secure in her arms so she wouldn't bounce around. The crashing and howling increased and got louder and closer. Morgan's heart pounded against the inside of her ribs and she panted for breath as she ran. She lost sight of Jack through the dense jungle and the torrent of rain that continuously fell. Tears fell down her cheeks as she heard the howling and crashing get closer and closer. She could almost feel the hot breath of the Monster on the back of her neck, but she kept running. She ran until she came to a large patch of bamboo. She dove into the bamboo, trying to hide from the ever approaching Monster.
"Jack! Where are you?!" Morgan called; no answer.
Suddenly, there was a loud, long howl of the Monster and everything went silent. Morgan sniffled as more tears slid down her cheeks. She hardly dared to breathe for fear that the Monster would hear her and come at her.
"J-Jack...." Morgan whimpered, leaning against a large stalk of bamboo.
Suddenly, a figure appeared from behind a tree and approached her. As the figure came into focus, Morgan felt a sense of dread fall over her and she fell backwards, landing on her backside. She scurried backwards, backed up against a wall of bamboo as Ethan approached her. Ethan was drenched in rain and he had an enraged look on his face.
"You should not have escaped." he said, "You will never leave this place. You belong to me!!"
"JACK!!!" Morgan screamed, her breath hitching from fear and tears, "JACK!"
Ethan ran off into the jungle, disappearing from sight. Jack came running with a terrified look on his face. He was soaking wet and panting for breath.
"Morgan, are you all right?! What happened?" he gasped, rushing over to her and kneeling down.
"It was h-him! It was him!" Morgan cried.
"Who?" Jack asked.
"Ethan! I saw him again! He was there!" Morgan cried, pointing to the spot where Ethan had been standing just second before.
"It's all right. He's gone now. He won't hurt you." Jack gently soothed, taking Morgan into his arms.
Morgan leaned her head on Jack's shoulder and cried. Would this ever end? Would Ethan ever go away? Jack wrapped his strong arms around her and gently soothed her, rubbing her back as her breaths hitched from tears. He was bound and determined to get Morgan out of here if it was the last thing he did. He wanted her to have a home and to know something besides pain. He desperately wanted to let Morgan know how much he loved her, but she would never know because it was impossible to put towards how he felt for her....
A/N: Well, there it is.....finally! LOL! Hope you like it. If you have any ideas, please let me know! Well, I have to go now; it's 4:00 in the morning and I am just about dead on my feet! LOL!