CHAPTER NINE: Escape

Tim followed the fence surrounding the roller coaster for a while. It was far too high to climb and with his twisted ankle, Tim didn't think he was up to playing Tarzan today.

"Ouch!"

While he was inside the Jeep he hadn't noticed the mosquitoes. They seemed to be everywhere now that the lights were turned on. Quickly, he swatted at his leg.

Looking down at his palm he saw the squashed mosquito and felt his stomach turn. They were huge! The sky – though dark – was filled with black dots now.

Crossing his arms, Tim lowered his gaze to the ground. Hopefully he'd get out of the ride area soon and back to the warmth of his hotel room.

But suddenly he heard something. The faint sound of voices was coming from beyond the chain-link fence he was following. Stepping behind a support pole, Tim hid from the path beyond the fence, listening to the voices.

"Ow! Brooks! Will you hold onto that feakin' handle?!"

A second voice, timid, apologized.

"Sorry, Tucker. This damn thing is heavy! What the hell's in it?"

"None of your damn business. They told me it was top secret, so I'm leaving it at that. I'm not one to ask questions."

Tim heard an enormous sniff followed by a loud snort.

"Damn – smells like something died in there!"

This was followed by the sound of shuffling feet.

"Where the hell are we moving this...thing anyway?"

"Stetson told me to move it to the Visitor Center basement. That's where the headquarters are."

Tim found himself caught in realization. Stetson? Wasn't that James' last name? And what was he moving to the basement of the Visitor Center?

Hearing the voices fading off into the distance, he quickly came out of hiding and moved from beam to beam, hoping to hear more. The track followed along the path for a ways, so he'd be able to follow the two men and get to the ride exit at the same time.

Staying far enough out of the light so as not to be seen, Tim listened on.

"Oh – thank God we're almost there! Tell me again what we're getting out of this?"

The heavier man gave an annoyed sigh.

"Stetson told me personally we'd get a pretty large raise when this is released for the public to see. I'm guessin' it's some kind of animal or somethin'."

"Still smells really rank! Should've given us some nose plugs or something!"

Tim blinked as he took in this new information. An animal? Maybe he was right. Maybe he wasn't seeing things in the Visitor Center earlier that day...

He was just about to jump to the next support beam when he heard a loud crack from behind him. It was the unmistakable crisp sound of a twig being snapped. It echoed into the woods and the two men on the path stopped.

"Tucker – you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"That snap –"

"Oh quit being a pansy and let's get movin'! I don't like it out here..." There was a silence before Tucker urged them on. "Well – get going! You're in the front after all!"

The two of them turned down a side path and disappeared into the woods. Tim was then left alone...

Or he though he was alone.

Crouching low to the ground, he listened as another crack was heard followed by a rustle of leaves.

Tim's heard was racing a mile a minute as he looked out into the woods surrounding the roller coaster. What was making all that noise? Was it –

But Tim didn't want to stick around to find out. Sprinting towards the fence, he jumped as high as he could. The chain links bit into his fingers as he clung to them, climbing slowly up and up until he was almost straddling the top.

Then, mustering all his courage he swung both legs over and jumped to the ground.

An enormous pain erupted up Tim's leg as he collapsed to the ground. It felt as though a fire had started at his ankle and ran up to his knee. His hands shot to it, massaging the kneecap. Could he walk on it any more?

But then two headlights came towards him from down one of the paths, slowly getting brighter and brighter as they got closer. When it stopped before him, Tim read the words MAINTENANCE VEHICLE splashed across the side.

The drivers' door opened and a man stepped out. He looked shocked as he rushed to help Tim.

"Holy – what happened?"

Tim groaned as the man grabbed him by the arm and helped him to his feet. Then the man recognized him and gave him a stern stare.

"We were looking for you. How'd you get off the ride?"

Tim looked up at him guiltily.

Slowly the man lowered him into the passenger side of the jeep and got in himself.

"We're getting you to the Visitor Center right away."

"Good." Tim said as he fastened his seat belt. That was where he wanted to go anyway.

Dr. Grant waited in the lobby at the Visitor Center, pacing slowly back and forth as he watched the woman at the Service Desk listen to a staff member on the phone. Lex was dozing on a comfy chair in the middle of the Lobby. They'd been waiting there for almost twenty minutes.

Tim had still not showed up anywhere. Dr. Grant had the hotel room phoned twice. No answer either time. The ride had since been repaired and Tim had not appeared there either. Dr. Grant was getting a bit anxious.

"Yes," the woman at the desk muttered politely into the phone. "Yes, a boy with brown hair. He was last seen at the T-rex coaster. Yes. Yes." She looked up at Dr. Grant, then avoided his eyes. "You haven't seen him? Alright. Oh no – that's okay. Thanks Jones. Bye."

Dr. Grant walked over to the desk and rested his knuckles on the shiny black finish as he looked the woman in the eye.

"So – what's the verdict?"

The woman shook her head.

"They haven't seen him. I'm sorry, sir."

Dr. Grant sighed as he hung his head. This had not been on his agenda for the weekend. Lex was already nervous enough.

"Alright. I'll ask again later."

The woman continued to apologize as he walked back over to Lex.

"The park just opened. There's lots of things going wrong. I'm sure he just decided to go on a few rides or something. I wouldn't be too alarmed."

Dr. Grant nodded as he took a seat beside Lex. She was sound asleep, hair in her face. As quietly as he could, he brushed the hair out of her face.

This tiny act caused Lex to awake, her eyes flickering open as she yawned.

"Aaah – oh, Dr. Grant. I must have dozed off."

Dr. grant smiled as he put an arm around her. "It's okay. It's been a long day."

"Did they find Tim?"

Dr. Grant stopped for a moment, almost telling her no, but his features softened.

"Yeah...they did. He's on his way to the station right now."

"Oh good," Lex said, yawning once more. "Are we heading back? I'm pretty tired."

Dr. Grant helped her up.

"We all are. Come on. I'm sure things'll be better in the morning."