Chapter Nineteen - Cut-scene

"After you quarreled, you went off on a walk to clear your head. Just a few minutes later, we heard you scream, and all went running to find you, but you were nowhere in sight. He was changed that day, more determined and obsessed than ever, blinded by it. His grief quickly transformed into anger, and he swore to make Jumanji suffer as he had," Nigel explained.

A cut-scene was taking place before her eyes, filling her in on the part of the story she had missed.

"Could it be? Have I finally found it?" A subtle smile graced Russell's shocked face. He looked tired and scruffy.

"What I did not know then was that he now intended on taking the jewel for himself."

"M-maybe he didn't know what would happen..."

"I'm afraid, Professor Ross, that he knew exactly what would happen. As you know, your husband is quite the jewel expert. He told me facts about it that I had never heard of!"

She nodded distantly. "What happened next?"

"I waited until they slept and made my move-" She watched Nigel creep through the camp and over to where Russell sat in a chair, cradling the jewel against his chest in his sleep. Nigel pried it from his hands, only to be caught by the vulture, who squawked, awakening the others, and Nigel fled.

She jumped when Russell fired after Nigel with his gun. "Bring me that jewel! And slaughter anyone who tries to stop you!"

"They've been after it ever since. Luckily, Dr. Bravestone and his team have now arrived, and the jewel is with them, safe."

"Oh Nigel, I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sorry, Professor Ross. It's not your fault."

But it kind of was. "He almost killed you!"

"Thank you for your concern, but I'm happy to say I am alright." A pause. "Are you going to be alright, Professor Ross?"

Was she?

"I'll be fine, thank you Nigel."

She could practically picture the game scheming away, planning this all out, weaving it together. Here, I'll let you remember, and be all intimate and lovey with your husband. And then, after that, I'll reveal what he really did, and make you remember the bad as well as the good, and make you feel guilty... It could be incredibly cruel sometimes, as it was being now.

She remembered their arguments, growing increasing in number, the separation when he would lock himself away with his work, the strain this jewel quest was putting on their relationship, on their marriage. It was all coming back, and a sinking feeling was settling deep within her.

She requested that Nigel drop her off at the camp. She thanked him and then stormed through the campsite to find her husband.

"Tent. Now," she hissed to him.

Speaking of arguments - they were soon in the middle of another one.

"I see what you really care about! Liar! Thief! You told me you wanted to study it, not steal it! Now look what you've done, what you've become. You lied to me, right to my face! You told me they stole it-"

"They did, from me. I found it, but they stole it."

"You almost killed Nigel! You almost killed Bravestone and the others over it! You have killed people! I now see why I left."

"I found it. I did!"

"I don't care!" She had snapped. "Oh you have real nerve! And of course this should come up after we slept together!"

"You're the one who brought it up!"

"Oh, bloody hell!"

"Uh, sorry, Boss?" One of the men peeked their head into the tent, interrupting the couple's heated argument. No doubt the men could hear their shouting from out in the camp. "But-"

"Get out!" Terri snapped, anger consuming her. The man jumped and quickly left.

She turned back to Russell, who was now staring off to the side, as though in some kind of trance. "Russell? Russell? Russell. Van. Pelt-" It wasn't until she shoved him, harder than she would have liked, that he finally snapped from his trance.

He sent her a chilling glare. "What?" he spat out, as if how dare she break his trance - and with what?

But she knew the answer: the jewel. That stupid thing. It must be calling out to him.

Something was wrong, very, very wrong. She had to keep that jewel away from him before it found its way back.

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :)