CHAPTER 8

The London Zoological Society? What could they want? Challenger thanked the butler and made his way back to his chair and opened the envelope. Challenger slowly read the letter and realized what it was.

I remember this. It's happened before. They want me to go on an expedition to South America. The same expedition where I found William Maple White and his journals which lead me to the plateau.

"Wow, isn't that something?"

Challenger got up out of his chair and saw the girl from the cave. He sighed and put the letter back in its envelope. "What are you doing here? Back to play more games?"

The girl giggled. "But this is where it gets good. You can't have both you know."

Challenger started to get confused and frustrated. "I can't have both of what? What are you talking about? Can't you say what you mean!"

"It's simple. You can either stay here in London with Jessie and Alex and probably live a long, wonderful life together, or you can choose science. You can't have both. I've let you come here and experience your life as it would be before you make a decision. This is the life you have been wishing for, now is your chance to have it."

Challenger looked suspiciously at the girl. "What's the catch? What do I lose if I choose this life?"

The girl walked closer to Challenger. "Everything you have experienced these past few years will never have happened. No scientific glory other than the position you are at as of this moment, you will never have met your friends, never have gone to the plateau, and other things that have not yet come to pass.

"However, if you do choose to stay here, you will have never have found the plateau because Maple White will die without ever telling you his secret. The plateau will never be discovered and your friends will not follow you on your expedition to get stuck there. Summerlee will not disappear. You have much to consider, Challenger."

Challenger had a million questions but he didn't know which one to ask. "Tell me, if I choose this life, what would happen to me, right now? Will I remember my life as it was on the plateau?"

"Yes."

"And what about this life? Will I know all the things in this life that I don't know now? Alex being born? Him growing up?"

The girl shook her head. "You didn't live this life, how could you remember it?"

Challenger was taken aback. "But, you brought me here to this point in time! Why can't you just make it so I could experience everything from the beginning?"

"You can't always have everything you want, Challenger. You should consider yourself lucky that you even have this opportunity. So what's it going to be? Save your friends and live the life you always wanted, or will you choose science and go back to the plateau?"

Challenger did not answer.

"Hello?"

Challenger looked down at the girl. "Can I think about it?"

The girl nodded. "Yes. I hope you find your true path, Challenger." Challenger blinked and she was gone.

What am I supposed to do? How can I choose? Which path is the right one? I have always regretted not having children, but now I have a beautiful little boy. I'm sure I could grow to love Alex, but if I stay here, I won't have any memory of his childhood. I won't know anything about him, he would not be my child, he would be a stranger to me.

If I stay I would also be with my beloved, Jessie. I thought of her everyday while I was on the plateau, wishing I could make my way back home to her. Now I could have my chance to stay with her here forever. But, at what price? I could save my friends from being stuck on that plateau with little hope of getting back. I could save Summerlee.

Science may have motivated me to go to the plateau many years ago, but that's not my reason now. As much as I love Jessie, these people are not just my friends, they are also my family. I cannot abandon them for selfish reasons. I can delude myself into thinking I'm helping them, but that isn't the case. On the plateau, we helped each other grow and change, to become even better people. I grew bonds with these people that I never believed myself capable to make.

As much as I would love to stay here, this life was not meant to be, it wasn't destined to be this way. I must go back to the plateau. I know now that my life is as it should be.

Challenger heard the door open and close. "George! George! I'm home!"

Jessie smiled as she walked into the room as Challenger was picking up the envelope. She saw Challenger staring blankly at her. "What's the matter, George?"

I love you Jessie. One day, I will make my way back to you. It just wasn't meant to be this way. He opened the envelope and took one last look at Jessie. "Goodbye, my love."

Jessie's face was the last thing he saw before his vision started to spin. When it stopped he found he was back in the cave, back where it all started.

"No, before you ask, it wasn't a dream."

Challenger sighed and turned to the girl. "Are you satisfied that I played your little game now?"

"This was not a game. You had to see that this life is the life you were destined to live. You and your friends would believe that things have gone wrong in your lives, but every obstacle, every single challenge has lead to this place. This is your life, Challenger. Now that you have accepted it, you can go on to fulfill your destiny. The greater purpose your life was meant to have. And you will find it no other place, than on this very plateau. You have realized it, and soon your friends will as well."

"My friends?"

She face held a wide grin. "Shouldn't you be looking for a way out of here?" The girl vanished but her laugh echoed through the passages.

Challenger growled in frustration. "Of course, what did I expect?" He picked up his belongings and started his search again.

TBC

A/N: Thanks for those of you who have reviewed, I appreciate it, next chapter coming soon!