A/N: Hey readers! Here it is, chapter eight! Hope I haven't kept you waiting that long. (NOTE TO EMOTIONAL READERS: This chapter is dramatic and sad, so be prepared) Thanks for reading guys and enjoy the chapter.

Wanda dropped the kids in front of the Animal Kingdom, wished them good luck, and drove away. They faced the entrance, took a deep breath, and walked in through the employee entrance.

"So which way do we go?" said Amanda.

"I don't know." said Willa. "There's tons of untouched land here. Mary could be anywhere."

"Well then I guess we're going to have to search the empty fields one by one." said Finn. Philby sighed.

"It's going to be a long day." They walked until they found a path marked with a sign that read "CAST MEMBERS ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT."

"I guess this as good a place as any to start." said Amanda. They all nodded and walked through the gate.

The path was long, twisty, and covered in steep hills. The keepers were walking panting heavily. Amanda was walking next to Charlene, and stopped at the foot of a steep hill to catch her breath. Breathing heavily, she looked to her left and saw a bottle of water dangling from a carabineer attached to Charlene's purse.

"Hey Charlene?" she panted. "Can I have a sip of your water?" She looked at Charlene desperately.

"Sure thing" Charlene smiled back. "One sec." She took a large sip from the water bottle and then looked at it.

"Oh too bad." she said. "It's empty. Sorry." She dumped the bottle in a nearby trash can. Amanda was outraged.

"You had water?"she said, as she panted. The other keepers looked at Charlene. Obviously they were not happy with the situation.

"You had water? This whole time we were all struggling to catch our breath and you had water, and you didn't share it?" There was outrage in Amanda's voice. She remained still for a moment, and then stormed up off the hill.

"Amanda." yelled Charlene, but Amanda didn't turn back. She continued up the hill without looking back.

"Amanda!" Charlene called again, but Amanda still didn't turn back. "Fine I'm sorry!" But Amanda kept walking, and soon she was out of sight.

Charlene stood flabbergasted.

"Gosh what's with that girl? I said I was sorry! What more does she need? She really needs to calm her nerves! Am I right?" She looked around, expecting support, but everyone looked at her with blank expressions on their faces. Finn shook his head at her, and walked off after Amanda.

"Finn, come on." Finn didn't turn around. He just kept walking and soon he too, disappeared over the hill. Willa was struggling to catch her breath and leaning on Philby's shoulder.

"Philby?" said Charlene seemingly innocently. Philby walked away as well until it was only Charlene and Willa standing there.

"Wills?" Charlene whimpered. Willa began to cry.

"Last night, when you talked to me…" she said. She paused for a moment and cried. "I thought you were different. I guess I was wrong." She turned around and ran up the hill crying, and turned the corner until she could no longer be seen. Charlene now stood there alone regretting everything she had just said and done. She ran up the hill, chasing after her friends.

Amanda stopped dead in the middle of the path. Had someone just called her name? Again, she heard a familiar voice in the distance.

Amanda! Amanda! It called. Finn ran up behind her.

"Are you okay?" he said, wrapping his arms around her. She pulled his arms off of her .

"Ya I'm fine" she said. "Did you just call my name?" Soon, Philby and Willa arrived too. It wasn't Philby who had called her; it was a girl's voice. Willa was still panting. It couldn't have been her. Then, Amanda realized where she had heard the voice before; it was Jess' voice. Amanda began to run. Soon, the empty field was in sight. The other three keepers came running after her.

"Why did you take off like that?" asked Finn. Amanda was near tears.

"Jess, Finn. She called me. She's close. I can feel it." Finn squeezed her hand.

"We're going to find her." he said. Amanda smiled. Amanda, Finn, Willa and Philby arrived in at the end of the path into an open field. To their right was a large tree. Charlene came running down the path, and into the field. They all looked away from her.

"Come on guys" she said, but nobody said a word. Suddenly, Jess' voice rang through the field again.

Amanda! Amanda! Help! Amanda! Her voice was coming from the tree. Amanda walked around the tree, looking for a passage way. She pulled on a branch, and a door opened on the side of the tree. Amanda walked towards the opening.

This is too easy thought Finn. Something's not right.

"Amanda wait!" he screamed, but she was already walking through the door. Suddenly, she screamed.

"JESS! NO!" She was crying. "GUYS RUN!" she called. "THEY HAVE MARY! AND JESS, SHE'S…" but an overtaker must have covered her mouth, because soon all that could be heard was "mmmmm…" The door slammed shut with a loud bang.

"NO!" screamed Finn. He ran to the side of the tree and pulled on the same branch that Amanda had, but the door did not open. He fell to his knees and banged on the door.

"NO! NO! NO, NO, NO!" He continued to kneel there, crying, banging, and screaming. Willa and Philby were hugging each other crying. Charlene was caught in a state of shock. Finally, when he realized that nothing was going to happen, Finn walked away from the tree. His face was tear stained and flushed. Wiping a tear from his eye, he stomped towards Charlene. As he approached her, he stopped.

"I hope you're happy" he said, and stormed out of the field, back down the path.

Willa was hugging Philby tightly, and her head was resting on his chest. Tears were streaming down her eyes and rushing down her cheeks in a steady water fall. What was Amanda about to say before the tree door had slammed? Jess was what? Tied up; in pain; dead? She shook the last thought from her mind. Was Jess dead? She couldn't stand to think it, but it was possible. Philby separated from her. Neither of them could speak. He pointed towards the path, and Willa nodded. Philby looked at Charlene, shook his head, and pushed past her. Willa tried to speak, but all that came out was a small squeak. She began to cry again, and ran towards Philby's open arms, wiping tears from her eyes.

A/N: And then there were four. Might be a little while before I post chapter nine, kind of stuck, but you never know. It is the weekend! So, while you're waiting for chapter nine, leave me a review with your questions, suggestions, and comments. Also be sure to include this chapter's topics... How do you feel about Charlene? What do you think happened to Jess? Is it Charlene's fault that Amanda got captured, why? Take these into consideration and let me know your opinions. Thanks and remember to keep reading. -Kingdomkeepers365