The Long Run

P.O.V: Change: Yaz

"Ryan? Ryan! Come on, wake up!" I cry out as his eyes close. I see Kenji lean down, press his ear to Ryans chest before placing two fingers under his neck. "He's alive, help him get him up." Kenji says as we lift Ryan by his arms. We carry him underneath the treehouse and rest him against one of the foundations. I hold his hand, praying to whatever God that can hear me, to help him...bring him back to me. "We have to clean his wounds before they get infected." Ben says as he takes out some disinfectant from one of the supply bags. "It's a spray, it should help. Get his shirt up." Ben says which I do. The wound on Ryans back is horrifying. Three large claw marks from the small of his back to up and around his left shoulder. Its deep enough to be dangerous but not enough to be life threatening. I cry as I see the wound, he saved us from that thing even after the cost of his own health. We...I don't deserve him...at all.

Ben sprays the wound for which Ryan screams in pain before tighten his hand around my own. "Let's patch him up." Ben says as Brooklynn walks over and unravels some compression bandages. We wrap Ryans entire torso with the bandage, sealing the wound. I see Ben carefully cleaning some of the blood off the scartch on Ryans face. "I've cleaned it the best I can, all we could do." Ben says as he walks away. I look at Ryan, his skin has gone pale, his breathing is short and full of pain, I notice that his muscles are twitching, reacting to the venom. "I'm here, Ryan. Everything's going to be ok." I say as tears fall from my eyes. It pains me to see him like this, he's always been there for us when things haven't gone the they were supposed to. He has defended us with everything he has, and now he is suffering because of it. I think back to conversation we had before the Scorpios attacked. "I shouldn't have walked away...you are my friend and I wish that we were more. I was wrong to say otherwise, I was scared...I ne ed you to come back, please Ryan, come back." I say while crying my eyes out. I need him, need him back.

"Taking the quills out wasn't enough. The venom is already in his system. Ryan needs an antidote." I hear Darius say. "An antidote? Ha, good luck finding something for a creature, no one existed." Kenji retorts back. I drone out what they are saying as I gaze at Ryan. He is in pain and there is nothing I could do to help him. "...Wu was attacked by the Scorpios. They had a vial with red liquid inside. It could be an antidote." Brooklynn says as I perk up. An antidote. I get and speed towards Brooklynn. "It should be in the lab-." I interrupt her as I get in her face. "Where is this lab?" I say quickly. Sammy pulls out a map and hands to me. "Near the raptor pen." Brooklynn says as she leans over me before pointing out a spot on the northeast side of the island.

I look up with determination. "Take care of Ryan until I get back." I say as I hand the map back to Sammy. I bolt through Darius and Kenji and run out of the gate. I hear Darius shout out to me. "Wait Yaz! The Scorpios went that way." I turn sharply back to him. "I don't care what's out there? I'm saving him!" I scream out as I run off into the jungle.

I run through the jungle full pace. My lungs are screaming at me to stop but I can't, I can't stop. I need to get to the lab. A hear a roar from the Scorpios and I hide underneath a large tree. I look up to make sure that it isn't in the tree. I look around to make sure that nothing else is around before bolting off again. "Hang on, Ryan. Just hang on." I whisper to myself. I gasp as I come too a hard stop. The river, it's water has risen from the storm. I look around for something to cross. Nothing. I take a big breath before backing up. "Come on Yasmina, you can do this." I say to myself as I run and jump across the river. I just make it but I slip and fall into the river. "Aahh." I cry out as the strong current pulls down the river. I see hanging vines and I grab hold of one. I sigh in relief as I pull myself up and crawl over to a tree. I sit down in exhaustion.

"So you came up with nicknames for everyone before you even met us?" I ask Ryan while laughing. "It was just a thing that ACU does with its new recruits. It just pop into my head at the time." He says shyly. Even all that he said before down on the ground, he's just a teenager like the rest of us. I thought that I would spend my time at this camp by myself but maybe with Ryan, I can at least have a conversation where someone isn't trying to get up in my personal business. He's a tough guy but I can see that he has a heart of gold. Cute.

I break from the memory of me and Ryan walking back from the gym on our first day. I was shy around people. He was distant around people but together we were just teenagers having a laugh and I felt like I could properly talk to someone for the first time in years. I smile at the memory. He always made me feel that I was a part of the group, always said hi and was never put off by my sarcasm or anger. He helped me where it mattered. I stand up with determination and look around the tree and see a direction sign. I run towards it. Lagoon, aviary...raptor. "The lab is near the raptor pen." I run in the direction of the sign.

P.O.V: Change: Brooklynn

I take the cold pack off Ryans head. I look at him with worry. "Don't worry Ryan, Yaz will be back with the antidote and you're going to be right as rain." I try to say cheerfully but it just comes out mournfully. "Come on, Ryan, fight it. You are a fighter and you're not someone to go out like this." I hear Kenji say as he begins pacing. "Hey, Kenji." I say which makes Kenji stop as he looks at me with a sad look. "Can you get some more water?" I say softly. He nods as he walks off. I see Sammy sitting on a plank not far from Ryan. "You ok?" I ask which Sammy looks up as she wipes a tear. "He pulled me out of the way of the Scorpios tail. He saved me...and I don't know if I'll ever get to chance to repay him." Sammy says, tears are spilling down her face. I sit beside her and pull her into a hug. "You'll get your chance. Ryan isn't going anywhere." I say as we break apart. "How can you be sure?" I laugh. "Because Ryan is the most determnated and stubborn guy I've ever met. If anyone I know can survive Scorpios venom, it's him." I say as I look back at him. I stand up and look at to the jungle. "Come on, Yaz, Ryan needs you."

P.O.V: Change: Yaz

I'm running and running. I stop by a tree while I catch my breath. I look up and see some Parasaurolophus around...the raptor pen! The lab should be close by. I run parrellel to the paddock and I come out to a clearing. The area is in shambles and the lab has damage done to it. I jump over a large tree that was blown over by the storm. Dinosaur roars and sounds are heard and I quickly jump down to hide. I reach for the door but it doesn't open all the way. I look down and see a tree branches blocking the down. "Come on." I back my back against the wall and hoist my feet up onto the log. I push with all my might but the tree barely moves an inch. I fall down to the ground dejected. A guttural clicking is heard and I see through a gap in the log, the bloody hands of the Scorpios. I hold my hands over my mouth to prevent myself from breathing too loudly just in case. The Scorpios moves on from me, walking away into the jungle. I breath a sigh of relief. What do I do now. The log is too heavy to move and Ryan needs that antidote.

"I wish that too...but it could never happen." I say as I Ryan leans his forehead onto mine. "Don't do this Yaz, don't end it like this." I hear the pain in his voice. I hurts me to do this. I wish over everything else that I could wrap my arms around and kiss him but it...would be pointless. Would we even work after we leave. It's better this way. "I'm sorry." I say as I walk away.

I break from the memory. "I'm sorry, Ryan, I'm so sorry." I say while crying. I remember the day when we had our yacht party, when Ryan nearly kissed me. Out of everything, that is the happiest memory of this place. I really like him and if it wasn't for Darius...I can't imagine. I sit down and push my feet up onto the log. I'm not going to give up right here, I didn't come all the way out here, to turn back empty handed. I push the log with everything I have. Every moment, every talk, every smile, every laugh, everything that Ryan and I have done together. Finally the log gives way, moving just enough space to let the door open and for me to fit through.

P.O.V: Change: Kenji

I feel useless just sitting here and not doing anything. Pacing seems to keep me busy but the sinking feeling in my stomach isn't helping. "Kenji, you need to stop pacing." Brooklynn says to me. "How? Yaz is out there with a monster. Darius and Ben have to come up with a plan to get that said monster away from Yaz before it gets her and we are stuck here while Ryan is literally on Death's doorstep. So please let...me...pace." I say angrily. Sammy stands up and gives me a hug. I go wide eyed but hug for back, silent tears falling down my face. "I know that you are worried but pacing is not gonna help you calm down. Come on." Sammy says as she drags me to where Ryan is laying. "You know? Despite our past, Ryan is the first guy that I can honestly think that would look out for me. I did wrong by him with Allison and his dad. He hated me for it but despite all that he still looked out for me. Even with me being annoying or arrogant, he still went out of his way to make me feel useful to everyone, that I had a place here." I say while tears fall. "Ryan will always look out for you, Kenji. Ryan is basically our babysitter at this point. Can you imagine the amount of danger that we would be in if Ryan wasn't here." Brooklynn says as we all laugh. "He's a warrior defending his family...he's gonna make it." Sammy says which I nod to. Ryan is the definition of a fighter. Someone who doesn't back down from challenge and who would protect those who can't for themselves. "You better come back Ryan otherwise, when I get to the afterlife, I'm gonna kick your ass." I say jokingly which Brooklynn and Sammy laugh too.

P.O.V: Change: Yaz

Running through this lab and it's underground is a fucking maze. Why can't anyone just put directions on every turn rather than me having to guess. I turn a corner and find a broken door with 'E750'. Brooklynn said that this was the Scorpios genetic number. I enter the room and the place is trashed. Claws marks are everywhere and the cyro pod in the corner is broken. This is where the Scorpios must've broken out of. I look through every draw and locker. Everyone of them coming up empty. I look everywhere for where the antidote could be. I check very vial I can find, Brooklynn said the antidote is red. "It's not here." I bang my fists on the table. "It has to be here!" I through the whiteboard down and brush the paper and folders all over the place. I fall on my knees. It's hopeless, there is nothing here.

I look up and see a small box. It has the same symbol as the medic centre where Darius, Brooklynn and Sammy found Limbo. I walk over and open the box. It reveals a smaller black box, I open it and I see a syringe and two small vials. 'E750 antidote'. "Yes! No fucking way." I curse out in sheer joy. I close the box and hold it close to me as I cry. Thank you God, thank you.

I run out of the lab and bolt through the jungle. Hold on, Ryan, I'm coming. I'm running past the raptor paddock when I stop when I hear snarling. I look around for where it could be. I stop when I hear crunching, like something is eating. I tense up and turn around and see a dead Parasaurolophus, a shadowy figure standing over it. The Scorpios stands up and sees me. It's horrifying mouth open with blood and bits falling off of it. That thing is a demon not an animal. The creature roars. It's shriek is so loud I drop the box and cover my ears. I look down and see the box is slightly open. I lean down slowly but the Scorpios matches my movement. It slowly crawls over the corpse. I look between it and the box, I move slowly as the Scorpios does as well. It's waiting for me to make a move. Like it wants to savour the hunt. I close the box with a soft click and the Scorpios dark pupil widens as it snarls. I get into a launching position, ready to by off into the jungle away from the monster.

I bolt off into the dense jungle as the Scorpios screeches at me. It's thumping footsteps are echoing behind me. I move between the trees to get some distance between myself and the hybrid. It's terrifying shriek is echoing in the back of my mind. It's right on my tail, I can almost feel it's breath down my back. I see the river up ahead and I speed up before jumping across. I land wrong and fall over the ground. I look back and I do t see the Scorpios anywhere. My ankle feels really bad. Almost like it did at the Mosasaurus Lagoon.

"We can't go anywhere without fixing this. Goddamn it, Ben give me some bandages." Ryan says angrily to Ben. He takes the bandages and elevates my ankle. I hiss in pain. He wraps quickly and wrong. I look at Ryan, he is panicking. I hold his hand, stopping him from wrapping. He looks at me while nodding. I smile and unwrap the bandage before doing correctly. "Thank you." I say quietly which he nods shyly and gets up to away. He cares so much but he doesn't want anyone to see but I can. He cares so much.

I break from the memory. "You cared for us. And I'm going to return the favour!" I shout out. I hear branches creaking and silent snarls. I look around for the Scorpios before looking up at the tree in front of me. I see glowing red eyes amongst the shadows. I scream as I back away from the tree. The hybrid crawls down slowly to the ground. It's methodical approach and twitching is scaring the fuck out of me. I narrow my eyes in anger, fuck this fucking hybrid. "Come on then, you ugly motherfucker!" I scream out as the hybrid stands up on its feet and tilts its head like it's confused. "If you're going to do something, than do it already!" I shout out as I stand my ground against the creature.

The hybrid roars and goes to lunge at me but a loud explosion causes the hybrid to turn and look. I also look and see that the boom came from Lookout Point. The hybrid turns and bolts away from me, running towards the flames in the distance. I see my opportunity and run off into he jungle towards camp.

As I run, my ankle starts to hurt again. It is slowing me down. I didn't see the tree root in front of me and I fall down. Flashes of memory are going off as I get up and continue on. Memories of Ryan ambushing Mitch and Tiff, saving me, Darius and Sammy from the hunters. The moment after Tiff escaped Ryan hugs all us in a group hug. When he helped me with the Ouranosaurs. When he came back for me when Rexy caused the stampede. The yacht party. The gondola where he played me into going alone with Brooklynn. And when he hugged me when Kenji and I showed him his father's grave, nor far from camp. Alm these memories rush through my mind as I push through the pain. I burst from the shrubbery to see camp. I notice Brooklynn, Kenji and Sammy huddling around Ryan. No, please be ok. I pull myself through the pain on my ankle as i run through the courtyard. "Ryan, it's Yaz, she's back." I hear Sammy cry out as I barge through the gate and collapse down next to Ryan. "I'm here, Ryan, I'm here." I notice Brooklynn with the syringe filled with the antidote, she injects it into Ryan's vein.

I look over and see Darius and Ben come back from wherever they went. "We got back as soon as we..." Ben goes to say but he spots Ryan. "Is he...?" Darius asks. As we gather around Ryan. There is no sign that he is getting better. "Come on, come on, come on, come on. Please, wake up. You have to. Forget what I said before. What I said to you and Sammy. We will always be friends. You need to come back, Ryan. We need you. I need you." I say while crying. He hasn't moved or anything. My head falls down onto his chest. Ben has turned away. Brooklynn is hugging Darius and Kenji is comforting Sammy.

"Yasmina...?"

I hear a quiet voice say, I perk up and colour is returning to Ryan. His eyes are fluttering open. "Yasmina...?" He questions again. "Ryan? I'm here, I'm here." I say as I hold his hand. His eyes open up to seeing everyone crowd around. His eyes focus on me. "How's it going?" He says groggily. I laugh at him. "Better now."