Primeval - Season 3

Chapter Six

Terror Birds


The music was flooding the dance floor, it seemed that everyone was on their feet moving to the beat. Everyone but her. She couldn't believe she had turned down every single guy who had asked her to come because she was hoping he would say yes, and even then she had failed at asking him, but now it was too late. The prom had started hours ago.

She should have gone home. It was really embarrassing sitting on the side, watching everyone had a good time but her. How could she have been so stupid? She was 17. What would he have seen in her? She was just a silly girl with a crush. With a small sad sigh, she slipped out of her seat and wrapped her small beaded purse over her shoulder, and grabbed the light blue shrug from beside her. There was no point staying.

Her shoes tapped their way across the dance floor, but they were masked by the beat of the music. No one would miss her, as she reached the door, a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. She turned to see who had stopped her, and nearly fainted at the sight before her. There he stood, holding her wrist, dressed in formal clothing. He led her towards the dance floor, dropping her things onto a near-by stool. She was too mesmerized by him, to even care at this moment.

"Why were you leaving?" he asked her

"I didn't think you were coming," she answered

He didn't answer her, as a slow song started. He placed his two hands on her waist, she placed hers on his shoulders as they swayed to the soft music. Both were silent, just staring at each other. He dipped his head and whispered into her ear, making her laugh softly. Wrapping her arms fully around her waist, pulling her closer to his body, she smiled into his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

This was a dream. It had to be. This would never happen in reality. As the music started to end, he pulled back, her arms slipped from his shoulders and he grasped them in his own. Just staring at one another for longest period of time, they hadn't noticed the music had ended. Then it happened, the point where she actually believed it was a dream. He had dipped his head once again, only this time he had pressed his lips against hers, in a soft and gentle kiss.

Her breath caught. He was kissing her. She smiled, as she kissed him back. Before he pulled back, their lips lingering lightly on one another as they separated. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled. It wasn't a dream.

Because he was still there.


Kara groaned as a stray light, escaped from behind her dark blue curtains, shining directly into her eyes. She shifted in her bed, and rolled over onto her side, a string of curses mumbling from her mouth. Why did it have to rise so early? There was no way she was getting up just yet, it was only.

Raising her head ever so slightly, she glanced at the near-by alarm clock.

7:44am

Another groan escaped her lips as she lay back down, the counts of her dream slipping into darkness. She bit her lip. It had been the first time she had kissed Stephen. She had forgotten about it, in the rush of the new secrets and everything that she had to deal with after it. But it was a wonder she could remember anything after she had turned 18. Because then what she wanted the most really happened. She had gotten with Stephen.

Laying still for a few more minutes, Kara became aware that her bedroom was silent. Nick wasn't grizzling or squealing in his crib. She raised herself up into a sitting position and cast a downward glance at the crib. Nick, wasn't there. She panicked. Throwing back the covers, she flew out of bed, slipped on her slippers and a bathrobe from the chair under her dressing table and reached for the door handle.

Once out on the landing, she could hear the soft thumps of music. Grace was awake anyway. But the music was coming from downstairs, and it wasn't like the usual music her cousin would listen too. Slipping downstairs, the music started to become louder.

Put your faith in what you most believe in

Two worlds, One family

Trust your heart

Let fate decide

To guide these lives we see

Hang on, she recognized that tune. It was a film. One of her favourites from a child if she wasn't mistaken.

A paradise untouched by man

Within this worlds blessed with love

A simple life, they live in peace

She had reached the door leading to the living room. There was the TV was the beginning of the Tarzan movie. In the sofa beside the TV was Grace, and in his bouncer was Nick, laughing happily at the moving pictures on the screen. She couldn't help but smile. Also she was relieved to know that Nick was safe.

Softly tread the sand below your feet now

Two worlds, One Family

Trust your heart

Let fate decide

To guide these lives we see

Kara smiled as she made her way into the room and took a seat beside her cousin. Grace looked up in surprise and smiled.

"Morning," she said softly, and Kara could tell in the sound of her voice that she hadn't been up long

"Morning," Kara answered "How long have you been awake?"

"Not long," Grace answered "Uh, give or take an hour. I heard Nick squealing, on my way to the bathroom. I came in to check on him. You were passed out in bed, some of your father's work papers beside you"

"Yeah," Kara sighed "I was looking through them last night. I gotta remember to go back to the University, to clear out his office"

"I can help," Grace said "We can do go today, given there isn't an anomaly call"

"Mmm," Kara agreed "Knowing our luck, we'll be in work by 12. Have you had breakfast?"

"Yeah, I had some toast and coffee," Grace answered "And I've fed Nick,"

"Great," Kara said as she got back to her feet and entered the kitchen. Grace was aware of the dishes being moved around, and the opening and closing of the cupboard and fridge. Soon her cousin returned with a bowl of cereal, taking a seat on the chair opposite Grace. The two fell into a comfortable silence, the only noise coming from the TV.


When you're the best of friends

Having so much fun together

You're not even aware, you're such a funny pair

You're the best of friends

Grace rolled her eyes at the song that had started to play from her cousin's room. They had been sat in front of the TV for most of the morning watching cartoons with little Nick. Now, they were getting dressed, and readying themselves to head to the University to clean out Professor Nick Cutter's office. This wasn't going to be fun.

Life's a happy game

You could clown around forever

Neither one of you sees, your natural boundaries

Life's one happy game

The Fox and the Hound soundtrack for Best of friends, was playing. Kara had recently acquired the soundtrack, mostly because of the songs. She used to live on them growing up, and Grace was well aware that Kara still loved them. But it wasn't for her, they were for Nick. Although the seemed childish show songs, they held hidden meanings that reflected on real life.

If only the world wouldn't get in the way

If only people would just let you play

They say you're both being fools

You're breaking all the rules

They cant understand, the magic of your wonderland

Hu-hu-hu

She laughed softly. As much as she hated to admit it, the song reminded her of a friend over in LA. Sasha Marie Oliver. The girl was practically a prissy princess. It was always a wonder to Grace how they ever became friends. Sasha was all pink and fluffy and girly. And Grace was all tom-boyish. But they had become the best of friends. Sasha's other prissy friends, had always hated Grace, and kept saying that they two were breaking all the rules.

When you're the best of friends

Sharing all that you discover

When that moment has past, will that friendship last?

Who can say? There's a way!

Oh I hope…I hope it never ends

'Cause you're the best of friends

Although she was on the other side of the world, Sasha would always have been a best friend to Grace. But she was now home. Back in her original home with the one true friend that she always had, no matter how far apart they were. Her cousin. A small smile came to her face as the song ended. Okay, she may not have liked the film, The Fox and the Hound. But she had to admit that song and feeling and it represented a lot a few things in her life. Okay, maybe Kara was right. Disney songs aren't as bad as she thought they'd be.

"Grace, you ready?" Kara yelled

"Yeah," Grace answered and slipping on her trainers and pulling on her coat she hurried out of the room and down the stairs. Her cousin waiting at the bottom of them. Nick was dressed in a Pale green shirt and dungarees, on his feet were a blue pair of converse shoes. Kara in was wearing her usual black skinny jeans with black knee length boots and a black t-shirt.

Grace matched her cousin slightly, but instead of the boots she wore trainers and instead of a black t-shirt she wore a white thin strapped top and a grey jacket wrapped around her waist. Her hair had been pulled back into a low ponytail at the base of her neck, held together by a white ribbon.

"Lets go," she said as she stepped off the last step and grabbing her cousin's car keys she headed for the door, holding it open as Kara stepped out, and headed for the car to strap Nick into the car seat. Grace locked up the front door before handing over the keys to Kara, who started the car, as Grace slid in beside her.

The ride was slightly quiet. Except for the light tapping of Kara's fingers on the steering wheel and Nick in the back chatting happily.

"How did it go with Adam last night?" Kara suddenly asked

"Oh, it was fun," Grace answered absentmindedly

"Doesn't seem that way,"

Grace sighed "He wants me to move in with him,"

It seemed that the ride had become colder. For some reason, Kara didn't trust this Adam guy that Grace was dating, she hadn't met him, and she didn't know him. But there was something already telling Kara that there was something off about him.

"Oh," Kara said, trying to keep a cool head in the news she had just learnt "Uh, are you?"

Grace was quiet as they got out of the car. Kara looked across at her as she took her keys from the car and unbuckled Nick from the car seat. Once everyone was out of the car, she locked the car automatically, before walking alongside Grace up the grounds towards the reception. There were a number of children in the grounds, most of them used to be in Kara's class, they smiled at her and waved as she passed them.

"Good morning," the receptionist at the desk said "How may I help you?"

"Hi, im Kara Cutter," Kara said "I need the keys for my father's office."

"Oh," the woman said, she had short reddish brown hair, and hazel eyes. It was obvious she was new at the University, normally Gail, who usually worked there had the keys ready. "Um, does your father know your getting the keys?"

Kara's face dropped.

"Its okay Kat," said a familiar voice

Kara turned to see the head of the University Jenna Thompson walking towards them "She's here to clean out the office"

"Okay, Mrs Thompson" Kat said, as she stood from her seat and approached the safe where the keys were kept.

"How are you, my dear?" Jenna Thompson asked, turning her attention back to Kara "Coping well?"

Kara smiled "Im coping just fine Mrs. Thompson, thank you"

"Such a sweet child," the head said with a soft smile "And who are your lovely friends?"

"This is my cousin Grace Hunter," Kara said motioning to Grace, who had just retrieved the keys "and this is my son. Nick Stephen Cutter"

"Nice to meet you," Grace said shaking hands with the woman, as she pocketed the keys

"Same, my dear," Jenna said before turning to Nick. She picked up on the two names, but didn't say anything. "Oh, he just so adorable," she cooed at the little boy, who grinned his small toothy grin at her.

"Well, best be going," Kara said, "I have to finish the office, before heading to work"

"Oh, I didn't realize you were working," Mrs. Thompson said, stopping her once more

"Uh yeah," Kara said a little uncertainly "I have been now for the past 3 years nearly. That's how im not at the university as often"

"What do you do?" the head asked "If you don't mind me asking of course?"

"Oh, we," she motioned to both her and Grace "We work for the Government"

"Oh, okay" the head said, eyeing the two suspiciously "Well, I'll let you go. Good luck"

"Thank you," Kara called over her shoulder as she led Grace away from the front office and up a flight of stairs before stopping outside her father's office.

"I don't like her," Grace said as Kara unlocked the door. Kara laughed softly, as the key clicked in the lock and she pushed open the door.

Everything was dark, and messy. Papers littered the floor and the desk. It was left untouched. Fossils were still in their usual place, and a thin layer of dust was covering everything. Kara took a deep breath and stepped into the room, walking down the small flight of stairs and moving towards the desk. She pulled back the chair, and placed Nick into it, as she set about collecting the papers from the desk.

Grabbing the last paper from the desk, Kara spottered the Ammonite on the edge of the desk. She placed the papers in her hand into one of the files she had found in the drawers of the desk. Before placing it on top of the many files she had already filled. Curiously, she lifted the Ammonite into her hands.

"Where did this come from?" she asked herself

"What is it?" Grace asked

Kara stared at her cousin like she was mad, before explaining "Its an Ammonite,"

"What's an Ammonite?" Grace asked more specifically this time

"Their a group of marine animals," Kara started "Many of these creatures lived in the open water of ancient seas, rather than at the sea bottom. Many of them are thought to have been good swimmers with flattened, discus-shaped streamlined shells. They preyed on fish, crustaceans and other small creatures; while they themselves were preyed upon my marine reptiles."

When she had finished explaining, Kara turned to her cousin. There was a glazed look in her eye. Telling Kara, that Grace hadn't either not heard a word or didn't have a clue what she had said.

"Just got back to work Grace," Kara said, and laughing softly, Grace did has told. Kara turned back to stare at the Ammonite, she had found one similar on Stephen's grave, a couple of days after they had buried him. No one at the funeral had put one on the grave, so it had happened after the funeral was over. But there was only one another person who would use a Ammonite. And that was Helen. Kara sighed and shook her head, as she dropped the Ammonite into the waste paper bin, she didn't want anything of her mother's littering her father's office.

The office door suddenly creaked open behind them, and Kara and Grace whipped around to see who had come in. A young girl came in, she looked no older than 16, with light brown hair, and blue almost light purple eyes.

"Can we help you?" Grace asked nicely, startling the girl

"Hi," she said softly "Im looking for Professor Cutter's office. The girl at reception sent me up here"

"Yeah," Kara said "This is the place. Um can we help you, with something?"

"No. I was just checking out the office." the girl answered "My mum is taking over soon…uh, who are you?"

"Grace Hunter," Grace said, from beside the bookcase that she was emptying

"Kara Cutter," Kara introduced as she picked up the number of files from the desk and placed them into the bag that she had with her.

"Cutter?" the girl questioned "Are you related to the late Professor?"

"Im his daughter," Kara answered "What did you say your name was?"

"Oh, sorry." the girl said with a laugh "Im Claudia Brown"

Kara stumbled as she worked, nearly dropping everything she was carrying. She placed everything in her hands down on the table in front of her, and looked around at the girl. There was no way that this young teenager was Claudia. The last time she had seen Claudia Brown, she was older than 16.

"Im sorry," Kara stuttered "Did you say Claudia Brown?"

"Yes," the girl said, "why? Is that a problem?"

"No," Grace said quickly "No problem at all. Kara breathe"

Her cousin had explained everything that had happened about the alternative time line that she and her father had stepped through from. And that Claudia Brown had existed and not Jenny Lewis and all that stuff. It was confusing to follow, but Grace couldn't help but believe it, Kara wouldn't have lied about something like that, and the way she spoke about Claudia. Grace knew that Kara had grown accustom to the woman. She would have been the first mother figure, Kara would have had since Helen had left.

Suddenly a phone rang, disturbing the silence. Grace slid her phone out of her pocket. It was the ARC. Connor to be exact.

"They've figured out the Artefact," she whispered to Kara "We've gotta go"

Kara looked around the office, it was half done, but there still remained half of her father stuff.

"We'll come back tonight," Grace said quietly, collecting the bag from the table and placing the many things in front of Kara into it. She zipped it up, before pulling her cousin by the hand towards the door. Nick gurgled in his mother's arms as she hurried up the steps. She stopped at the door and turned to Claudia.

"I know your mother's gonna be the new professor," Kara said "but until everything is sorted, I cant allow you to stay in the room unsupervised. Im sorry,"

"No problem," Claudia said, and she left the room ahead of Kara who locked everything back up and followed Grace downstairs.

"I'll meet you in the car," Kara said as the two split. Grace towards the grounds, and Kara towards the receptions desk to return the keys.


"What's going on here?"

The two cousins had just managed to get to the ARC, Kara's mind still reeling with the discovery of Claudia Brown. Was it possible that the girl she had just met was infact the older woman from the past? She thought that the next time she met the older woman that it would be back in her old time line. Not the younger version of her. But also, the girl looked nothing like Claudia. Maybe it was just a coincidence. But she had stopped believing in coincidences' long ago.

"What's he doing here?" Grace mumbled, as they neared the ARC.

"Who?" Kara asked

"Adam," Grace answered, she was staring a tall man, sitting in a small black sports car just off to the right of the ARC. "He told me he had work today,"

"He's with Christine," Kara said, as she spotted the woman in the car beside him. She had her answer on why not to trust the Adam fellow her cousin was dating. Showing her pass to the guard on the gate, Kara drove into the car park and killed the engine. "I better report this…"

Grace nodded and the two hurried into the ARC.

The Main Ops room was as usual, busy. Connor, Abby and Sarah stood just off to the side with the Artefact. And as Kara made her way towards the ramp, Grace moved off towards her friends. They had dropped Nick off with one of Kara's friends from University. Someone she trusted, but she was rather reluctant to let him go.

Not bothering to knock, and not really caring that Danny and Becker were in the room. Kara entered the office.

"Your late," Lester said when he saw her "Care to explain why?"

"University" Kara answered

"I thought you quit?" Danny questioned

"I have. But they wanted me to clear out my dad's office," she explained "But that's beside the point, and its not even why I am here,"

"Then why are you up here?" Lester asked,

"Christine Johnson is outside," she said, before feeling the office temperature fall rapidly. Figuratively speaking of course. The look on Lester's face was scary. Danny, nudged Kara and showed her the black device in his hand. It was a camera. They were being watched. "The Artefact," she said to Danny, before the two of them quickly left the office.

"Connor!" Danny yelled, as he and Kara reached the ramp.

"Yo," Connor said turning to face them

"They've seen it," Kara said

"Who've seen what?"

"Johnson," Danny said simply "she knows we've got the Artefact"

"She's already here," Kara said, as she and Danny hurried down the ramp and out through the double doors. "We got no means of escape,"

"She's right," Becker said, coming up behind them. "All gates have been blocked"

"Find Quinn and the Artefact," said a unfamiliar voice ahead of them.

Grace opened a door and pulled Abby and Sarah with her through it. Connor and Danny followed as Becker pulled Kara backwards into the room. They all lowered themselves slightly to the floor, as Becker aimed his gun at the door, ready to shoot on site if anyone entered.

"Lets go! Move! Move!" said the man's voice outside the room, Kara looked around at the others.

"That was a close one," Abby mumbled

"I know one of the exits she wont have covered," Danny said

Becker nodded. As the others just looked confused.

Distant shouting was heard outside the door, and up the corridor into the main ops room.

"Lester is looking for a safe house," Becker said looking around at them, Kara was beside him, Grace was beside her as Abby knelt behind them. Sarah, Connor and Danny were opposite them. "Whatever you do don't break cover. We'll find you when its clear"

Exchanging looks, the team nodded.

As Becker stood, Kara followed suit and led the others out of the room. Although he was still holding his gun in front of him, he reached behind and wound his hand around hers. Pulling her along behind him. Their talk the previous night had brought them closer. The coast was clear, in the hallway, the doors to the main ops room had closed behind them, and the team crept down the hallway towards another room.

He pulled her into another deserted room and turned to her, just as the others followed them in. Danny, Connor and the girls made their way towards the exit, as Kara stood back.

"Go," Becker said "I'll make sure no one follows you"

"What! Are you crazy? You cant stay here!"

"Go," he urged her, pushing her towards Danny.

"Be careful," she whispered to him, "Just promise me, you'll be careful"

"I promise," he whispered, his breath tickling her face, he then kissed her cheek before leaving the room, without a backwards glance. Kara sighed heavily, as the door closed and she followed Danny up the metal ladder.

Once at the top, she gripped Connor and Danny's hands as they helped her through the opening. She then made her way towards the car. As Danny headed towards the guard, Kara and Abby lowered the hood of the car down, covering the engine, Connor caught the keys that Danny threw at him, and Grace opened the garage door. They all them scrambled into the car. It was a tight fit in the back, what with all four girls, but they didn't complain. They didn't have time to take two cars. They would get caught easily.

The front gates were surrounded by Johnsons men, stopping anyone from getting in or out of the ARC. But this didn't stop the team, Danny, silently, continued onwards, he hit the accelerant as they got closer, and Grace and Abby laughed as the soldiers threw themselves aside to avoid being hit.

Looking around as best she could, Kara spotted a black SUV following after them from the ARC.

"Their coming after us!" she said "Danny, put your foot down!"


"Their still on our tail, Danny" Grace said, as she too was looking over her shoulder at the Black SUV that was still in pursuit of them.

"Danny?" Connors voice sounded questionably "What are you doing?"

This made Kara look around. Danny who was now on the motorway was coming off one lane and onto another, on the opposite side of them, was a large blue truck that was making its way towards them.

"Hold on tight," Danny instructed "This could get lively!"

And he sped up.

Grace and Kara exchanged insane looks, as they were pressed against the back of their seats,

"Danny?" Kara said "Are you sure about this?"

She got no answer, as the car swerved around the truck, just before collision and onto a free lane. Abby and Sarah laughed in relief, as Kara and Grace exchange another look, this time of relief. Connor chuckled, as he turned to look at Danny.

Looking over her shoulder, Grace grinned. The Black SUV had stopped. They had done it. They had escaped.

The rest of the ride was smoother, and quieter. The girls were a little cramped in the back, seeing as it was only made for three passengers not four. Kara and Grace where stuck on the outside of Abby and Sarah against the doors. Squashing the other two into one another on the inside.

"I miss my car," Kara murmured, as Abby moved once more beside her, elbowing her in the ribs.

"Sorry," Abby apologized as Kara wheezed

"Where the hell is this phone call for the safe house?" Grace demanded, how long did it take to find a god forsaken safe house?

Just as the question was asked, Kara's phone rung, and she groaned as she shifted slightly in her seat to get it.

"it's the ARC," she said "Here Connor," and she passed her phone to her friend "When your done…get rid of your mobiles"

"At least we know where we're going," Danny said as he drove on and the others threw out their mobiles. All except Sarah who had a complaint.

"But, I've just signed a new 18-month contract" she complained, but Connor took the phone from her nonetheless and threw it out of the window.

"They can trace it," Kara said, as she remembered they had done it before with Caroline.

Sarah sighed as she flopped backwards into her seat, knocking Abby and Grace as she did so

"Ow," the two girls cried

"Sorry," Sarah apologized

"Hurry up Danny," Kara said as she sighed "We're getting restless…"

"Okay," Danny chuckled as he sped onwards.


About half an hour later, they reached their destination. It was in the very heart of the woods. Not the Forest of Dean, another set of surrounding woods just outside of the city limits. They came to a stop, soon enough later, their way was being blocked by iron gates.

Carefully opening the back door, Kara stepped out of the car, closely followed by Danny. She turned to look at him, as they reached the gates, and took the iron lock in her hand.

"Something tells me this safe house hasn't been used in years," Danny said,

"Thanks a lot Lester," Kara murmured "this place looks terrific"

Looking back at the front of the car, and then down at the lock. Kara grinned, before turning once more to Danny. "Get the towing wire," she said, pointing at the front of the car. Danny seemed to catch onto what she was suggesting, because he grinned at her. Disappeared to the front of the car and started to unravel the thin yet strong wire. They looped and tied it to the gate, before hurrying back to the car. Kara slipped back in beside Abby, and closed the door the best she could. Danny then reversed backwards. There was a crunching sound and the gates were ripped away from their posts.

"And on we go," Grace muttered as once they had removed the wire from the gates they sped onwards into the woods, before parking not that far from an abandoned cabin.

Climbing back out of the car, the four girls stretched and groaned as their bones and joints clicked back into place, having been stuck in various positions and squashed together most of the ride.

"Come on," Danny said, leading the way towards the cabin. Kara hurried to catch up with him, as they stopped near a ledge leading down into the clearing.

"Wow," Sarah said with a smile

"Well, it was never gonna be a four-star hotel, was it?" Kara asked, as the others crowded around them, over-looking the cabin

"This is our safe house?" Grace asked "It looks old and worn"

"Be thankful it something," Kara said as she jumped the small fence, and skidded down the small hill, into the clearing before making her way towards the cabin. The others following her. Jumping up onto the small ledge around the outside of the house, Kara peered in through the window. It was hard to see anything, because it was so dark.

There was a rattling sound. Sarah was at the door.

"Is it locked?" Connor asked

"Yeah," Sarah answered, and Kara noticed her cousin had disappeared from the ground

"Where's Grace?" she asked

The front door rattled again, and the remaining team shared nervous glances. It was coming from the inside. Suddenly the door was pulled open and Grace stood in the doorway.

"How did you get in there?" Danny asked her, as she turned and walked back into the cabin, the others following.

"Window," was her answers as she pointed at the wooden grate over a near-by window "It wasn't that hard."

With a soft chuckle, Kara stared around the room. It was like something out of the 40s. There were candles around the room, old newspaper clippings and papers from journals, diaries and the odd picture littered the table. Reaching for the small table near the window, Grace lifted a picture into her hand, it was old and worn, but showed four people. Two men and two women. What also alerted her to the fact that it was an old picture was the black and white colouring.

"Must be old Welsh," Sarah's voice said, and Grace turned to see her and Kara looking through a number of papers on the table. With a small shrug the two girls placed everything back and turned back to face their friends.

Connor was at the small dinner table, a small loaf of bread on the table. He picked it up and it crumbled under his touch. It was like sand slipping through his fingers. There were dinner plates also on the table, at least four or more of then. Everything seemed so confusing.

Sunlight streamed in through the back windows, as Abby and Danny lifted up the covers. There wasn't much of a view, except from the few strands of sunlight seeping through trees.

"Urgh," Connor said

Grace moved from the table with the picture and towards one of the switches on the wall. She flicked them, but nothing happened. "Well, there's no Power," she mumbled

"Chateau Laffite. Not bad vintage," Danny said, as Kara turned and walked towards him

"Why, is that worth much?" she asked him

"About £1,000" he answered, throwing her the bottle.

"Mmm…" she said looking over the bottle "Could send Nick to college with that"

Danny gave a low chuckle as he walked past her

"Its gonna be like Christmas up your gran's," Connor said, looking back at his friends "Please. God, no one mention Charades"

Grace rolled her eyes although she couldn't help the small smile that crossed her lips.

"Im gonna get some wood for the fire," Connor said and he disappeared

"I'm gonna go help him," Grace said as she hurried after Connor, whenever she spent nights out in the woods back home, her parents always told her to remember the buddy-system. And that was to never go anywhere in the woods alone. It was something she would carry with her, for the rest of her life now.

"Danny," Kara said as she headed for the door, "Come with me," and carrying a few tin cans and some string she headed out into the woods.

"What's up?" Danny asked

"We're gonna need an early warning system, encase someone did manage to follow us from the ARC" Kara explained "When I used to go on tracking trips with Stephen, I picked up on a few things." she knelt down beside a small oak tree, and tied around the base of it with a string, before attaching two tin cans to it. She then moved on to another tree. "Tie those together, and attach them to the base of the trunk," she instructed him to do as she pulled the short wire across the ground towards another parallel tree behind her.

"A trip wire?" Danny asked

"Yeah," Kara said "It'll act as a early warning…give us some time to escape…or figure out who's out here"

"Good idea," Danny whispered softly

"Have any idea how long we are gonna be out here?" she asked him, as she returned his side "We aint got any food…"

"Well," he said, digging into his pocket "I found them in the car," he pulled out several old jellybeans.

"Ew," she said in disgust and scrunched up her face "Their gonna find us sooner or later," she mumbled looking down at the leaf strewn forest floor

"Eventually," Danny mumbled "But we're not gonna give up without a fight…are we?"

Kara grinned at looked up at him "No," she said

"Good girl," he said, getting to his feet and pulling her up with him, as they headed back to the cabin, where they had left Abby and Sarah.


"Oh, that was funny," Grace laughed as she jumped down the side of the ledge that Connor had just slipped. He was standing in front of her rubbing the bottom of his spine and glaring at her. Possibly for the fact that she had gotten down unharmed, using his disadvantage as an advantage.

"No, it wasn't," he said "It hurt,"

"Now, im glad I stepped away from you" she said

"Yeah, I should have caught onto you," he said, as they turned and carried on walking.

They had pretty much lost the wood for the fire, so had to start their search again. Rounding the brick laid wall, they stopped in their tracks at the open door ahead of them. Looking around Grace became aware that there was more than one opening. Looking back at Connor she pointed at the other two doorways.

"You go one way, I'll go the other" she said

And before he could stop her she had disappeared into the darkness.

Humming quietly to herself, Grace walked through the darkness of the doorway, down a small flight of steps and out into another room. The walls around her were covered in cobwebs, there was even some hanging from the ceilings covered in dust. Turning around as she walked, she stared at the opening behind her, before whirling around and ducking as she nearly walked into the cobwebs. She shuddered, she had never been one for spiders or insects for that matter.

Crouching down as she walked under the cobwebs, she straightened when she came to a left turning. It was really dark. She shuddered slightly once more. She wasn't afraid of the dark in general, but it was more to the fact that you couldn't trust it. She wouldn't be able to see where she was going, and could end up just about anywhere, maybe even as far away from her friends and the only exit that led from this place. She could get lost.

Leaning against the wall, she sighed and lay her head back. She had two choices, she could turn around and go back the way she had came, out of the exit and try to find Connor. Or she could face her fear, and carry on walking down the new dark corridor, and pray it brought her out into a cross junction with Connor. It was then that she heard it. It was the soft soothing sound of music, it was floating in the air up the dark corridor beside her. Curiously, she turned and dragging her hand across the wall, she entered the darkness.

"Hello! Hello! This is Connor Temple. Is anyone receiving me? Over"

Grace sighed in relief, a she followed the voice and music. She had found him. Thank God. Still running her hand across the wall, she carried on walking. The corridor seemed to go on forever, but at least she knew that Connor was at the end of it.

"Keep talking Connor," she mumbled as the darkness pressed down all around her "Keep talking"

"Hello -"

Silence. Grace stopped frozen, Connor had stopped speaking. And so had the music. The darkness was all she could see, and silence was all she could hear. What had happened? Why had Connor stopped? Had something happened? There was a faint light ahead of her, was the tunnel coming to an end finally? Deciding she best carry on the way she was going, Grace started forward again. She reached the end in under 2 minutes and stepped out. The room she was in was empty, completely. There was nothing but the dusty walls around her. Her heart sank. She was lost.


"Get it off me!" Connor yelled as he lay on his back with the fully grown skeleton on him. Whoever the skeleton was, the clothes were still attached to him, which meant he had died wearing them. It was possible that his body had decomposed and the skin and just eroded away leaving the bones of his skeleton behind.

"What are you doing?" Kara asked, as Danny and Abby pulled the Skeleton off him, and she pulled him to his feet

"What?" Connor asked, as he shuddered in disgust "I just opened the door and it fell out on me"

"He must have gotten trapped inside," Danny said

"Looks like some sort of viewing room." Sarah explained looking around in fascination.

"Where's Grace?" Kara asked, noticing her cousin wasn't present

"She went off on her own," Connor answered as he brushed past them, and pulled a cord on a machine behind them. The same ethereal music that had been once heard, sounded again.

"What do you mean she went off on her own?" Kara asked, turning to face her friend "You're supposed to stay together! That was the whole point in her coming with you!"

"Talk to her about it." Connor said turning to face her "She's the one who decided to go off,"

"Oh I will!" Kara snapped and turned to the door as she stalked out of it. Danny, Sarah and Abby had been looking through some diary beside her as she left, but she didn't stop to see what was happening. She had a cousin to find, and possibly kill.


There was that music again. It was coming for a distance now. She sighed and turned back to the darkness. She had gone to far. There had to be different corridor leading in another direction somewhere inside the darkness. How could she find it? If wherever the music was coming from, could it mean her friends were there? Would they realize that she was following the music, to wherever it was they were. She prayed they were, because she didn't really like the idea of being stuck down here for the rest of her life. Or at least until her cousin found her.

On that thought she shuddered, she'd have rather been stuck down here than face her cousin after this. Kara was gonna kill her, unconsciously, she pictured her cousins face in her mind. Yup, Kara was not gonna be happy when she found out that Grace had gone off alone. This wasn't gonna be pretty, and although she was nervous because she had possibly gotten loss, it was looking much better right now, that the possibility of facing one very angry Kara Cutter.

Running her hand once more across the wall, this time leading back up the dark hallway she had just come, she gasped, as it missed the wall. She had found the opening, but she couldn't see anything. Reaching out along the new wall, she smiled, it seemed that it was just another hallway, just like the one she was in. Taking a step forward, she screamed, as her foot came in contact with nothing but thing air, and she dropped. With a crash, onto the cold earth below.

"Ow," she groaned, before looking up at the huge round hole above her, it was a great huge drop. Pushing herself to her feet, she grumbled as she looked ahead of her, there was a small opening, but it wasn't as dark as the corridor above her. Stumbling slightly as she got to her feet, she stumbled into the wall and pushed herself to her feet. Her legs seemed to weak to hold her weight, and so she had to hold onto the wall for support.

Please let this be the way out, she thought as she edged along the wall, her leg aching beneath her. Was it possible that she had sprained it when she fell? It was very possible. She was just thankful that there was a thick layer of leaves beneath her when she fell, because she could have done worse damage. This was the last time she went against her own buddy system. Next time she was out with someone in a strange environment, she never left their side. This was a lesson well learned, but now all she had to do, was get out.

"Hello?" she called out, as she reached the opening, she looked both ways. One lead to a dead end, but the other led into a new room. She pushed off the wall and stumbled towards the iron door, and into the new room. It seemed to be a viewing room. There was a skeleton on the floor, and she had only now realized that the music had stopped. "Connor? Kara? Anyone?" she called again, as she headed for the second doorway, where the light was streaming in from. It lead out into the woods.

Ahead of her, she could see the retreating forms of her friends.

"Guys!" she yelled, catching their attention

"Grace!"

It was Abby's voice who sounded the loudest and the blonde was hurrying back to her side, Connor not that far behind her.

"Are you okay?" Connor asked, as Abby helped Grace out of the viewing room and into the sunlight "Kara's gonna kill you,"

"Yeah, I know" Grace mumbled as she looked up to see her cousin heading towards her, a look of anger on her face "Might as well get it over with," she grumbled as her cousin finally reached her and opened her mouth to speak.


The ethereal forties dance music was playing once more, this time from the old record player inside the Lodge. Connor was standing near it, he was wearing a black dinner jacket, with black pants, jacket and a shit shirt. Even his cufflinks were black. He made his way towards Abby who was wearing a shimmer strap dress, it came right down to her knee, and it was the colour of blue. Sarah, who was sitting at the table reading through the diary that Danny had found in the viewing room, was wearing a red halter strip dress. It was almost floor length.

Grace who was sitting beside Sarah, smiled as she watched Connor and Abby twirl around the room to the music. She too was wearing a dress. It was a lovely silk charmuese spaghetti strap prom dress with a sweetheart neckline accompanied by a Swarovski crystal bust. She looked across the room at her cousin, who seemed to be in a deep conversation with Danny, as they both looked through the many papers that had once littered the table at which she and Sarah now sat.

Danny chuckled as he leant against the door frame, watching Abby and Connor. Kara was beside him looking through the mass numbers of papers in her hand. She was wearing an exact duplicate dress to the one Grace was wearing, the only difference being the colour. Where Grace's was white, Kara's was Black.. He himself, was wearing a similar clothing to Connor, black pants, white cufflinks attached to a white shirt and White dinner jacket, accompanied by a black tie,

"Guys, listen to this," Sarah said, from the table, and Grace looked across at her as Connor and Abby stopped twirling and Danny and Kara looked up from the paperwork, and made their way forward. "'There's no one left. The others are all dead. God, help me, its happening again, their here -' and that's where it ends"

"Who's here?" Grace asked

The record scratched behind them, and Connor smiled sheepishly as he mumbled an apology before moving towards the record player to turn over the record.

"Who was it written by?" Kara asked

"It was written by a Professor John Morton" Sarah explained "He was a military scientist who came here with his team to do meteorological tests by then…Then something happened. They found something in the woods, but Morton doesn't say what"

Smiling at Connor, as he returned, Grace jumped and snapped her head towards the record player as instead of soft relaxing music started being played, a terrible screeching noise was heard. Everyone turned towards the record player, as Danny brushed past them, and slid the pin of the record before pulling it free. He looked up at the others when he had finished.

"That sounds like some sort of birds distress call," Abby said

"What type of bird would make that kind of sound?" Sarah asked

"I don't know." Abby answered her

Just then, there came a soft tinkering from outside. And everyone looked up startled.

"it's the trip wire," Kara said, looking around at Danny as he appeared at her side

"Have they found us?" Abby asked fearfully

"Get round the back," Danny ordered, and Grace, Abby and Sarah hurried out the back, Grace stopping at the door as Kara remained stationary beside Danny. "Go!" he said to her, and without argument she tore off with her cousin after Abby and Sarah.

"Hide in the bunker," Kara said as she neared her friends. Abby and Sarah had stopped dead in their tracks, when Kara and Grace had reached them. There sparkling in front of them, was the Anomaly.

"Lets get to the car," Kara said, and the four of them turned and hurried back to the Silver SUV.

"Get in the car!" Connor was yelling as the girls reappeared on their run for the SUV "Get in the car!"

Kara stopped at the back of the car with Sarah, as Abby was on the other side with Grace.

"it's a creature!" Connor yelled

"Get in!" Kara said as she pulled open the door and pushed Sarah inside. Abby had already crawled in the other side, and Kara and slammed the door in which Sarah had just climbed in through. Grace, who was in the passenger seat, whipped around to face her cousin, and Kara could see terror on her face. This was the actual first creature she had faced.

Connor slammed the door to the driver's seat,

"Where's Danny?" Kara asked, as she leaned forward in her seat, to look at her friend "Connor?"

But the engine had sprang to life and drowned out her question. But he was going slowly, turning her head slight as movement caught her eye, Kara became aware of Danny scrambling up on to the back of the car.

"Go!, go, go, go!" Danny said through the back window.

There was a screech in the distant and Connor put his foot down, and sped through the forest. The screeching growling louder each second. She scream, and Kara looked up to see a huge bird like creature running behind the car. Danny had ducked down for something but when he looked back up the creature had gone.

"Where's it gone?" Connor asked

Grace's scream sounded and Kara looked around just as the front driver's side window shattered. The creature had tried to get at Connor. The car swerved and Kara fell into Sarah as she in turned fell into Abby.

"You okay?" Connor asked, as he finally regained control of the car

"Yeah," came four separate answers

"I cant see it," Grace said "Its gone again!"

"Its behind us!" Kara said as she caught a glimpse in the rear view mirror and looked behind her

"Danny!" Sarah screamed frantically

"Connor drive faster!" Kara yelled

"Put your foot down!" Abby yelled from beside Sarah as the three turned to see how Danny was doing.

Up front, Connor threw the gear stick into 3rd gear, and slammed his foot down, the car sped up. Before coming to a slamming stop. The bird hit the car and disappeared into the trees, screeching as it went. These things were fast, the bird had disappeared in an instant. The bird suddenly reappeared, in front of the car. Connor had to swerve to avoid an collision, this sent Abby and Sarah flying into Kara, and poor Danny over the edge of the car.

"Oh my God," Connor said, looking around at the back window "I think I just killed Danny"

"No!" Kara said, as Sarah and Abby managed to push themselves off of her "He's alive! Danny!"

The ex-copper had managed to latch onto the side of the car and attack the creature that was trying to take a bite out of him. As the creature disappeared for the fourth time at least, Danny managed to pull himself back up onto the back of the car. He smiled in a way at the three girls in the back of the car, that were reasonably pleased that he was still alive.

"Well done mate," Connor said, as he looked around.

The look on Danny's face change dramatically, and Kara looked around in her seat at Connor. A scream erupted from her mouth as Sarah, Abby, Grace and Connor whipped back around to face the front. A fallen Oak had landed in the middle of the pathway, one of its branches protruding out in front of them. It was aimed at the front screen window.

Before anyone had a chance to react the branch had crashed straight on into them. Sarah and Abby where pinned against one side of the car, as Kara was pinned against the other. Connor had taken a head on collision and was lying against the branch unconscious, and Grace was pressed against her side of the door. It seemed she was unhurt but slight winded.

Danny however had been flung off the back of the car by the branch. Kara feared the worse, but sighed in relief as the back door opened and Danny stood there, looking down at her.

"Are you okay?" he asked

"Yeah," she answered as he helped her out "Yeah. Im okay"

"That's it, good girl" he said helping her towards a near-by tree as Sarah and Abby slid under the branch and out of the same door. Grace, meanwhile had slid quietly out of her door and closed it lightly before making her way around the back of the car and towards them. She stood, leaning against the same tree as Kara was. She noticed how Sarah was wincing slightly, but she noticed how Kara's breathing was coming in short gasps, like she had been hit in the chest or something and was having some form of fit. One of her cousin's arms was slung around Danny's neck, and the other was wrapped around his arm, as he held her up by her waist. He seemed to notice her short breathes too.

"Are you okay?" Kara asked, trying to regain control of her breathing, she looked towards Sarah, Grace, Abby and Danny awaiting her answers

"We're fine," they answered, in one.

"Connor?" Abby said softly as she settled beside the drivers side door "Connor, speak to me" she added turning his head to face her. His eyes were closed and he was bleeding from his forehead. "Connor," she whispered

Screeching could be heard in the distance. Grace looked up startled.

"Its coming back," she said, looking around at her two leaders

"Danny," she said looking up at him "We're never gonna be able to out run it - Abby! Listen!"

Her blonde headed friend sighed and turned, but remained by the car

"We have to get back to the lodge. it's the only place we might be safe." Kara continued to explain

"And what about the creature?" Sarah asked

"I'll take care of it," Danny said, "I'll take care of Connor. I promise" he added seeing the nervousness not just in Abby's eyes but Kara's too. They were the only ones left of the original team. Of course they were gonna be nervous and look out for one another. "Go! Go!"

"Connor!" Abby said, before Sarah gripped her hand

"Come on!" Grace said, as the four girls hurried back into the woods once more.


The screeching was coming from every direction now. Was it possible that there were more than one creature? Was it from the same species? Or were they dealing with a flock, or herd of more than creature. On that terrifying thought, the girls stopped as a screech could be heard from nearby. But it wasn't only screeching that could be heard, it was also clucking. Like a chicken would make.

"There's more of them," Sarah said

"This way," Abby instructed as she held her hand out for Sarah to take, and helped her across a fallen log as Kara did the same to Grace.

As they continued their run, their dresses got tangled in amongst the brambles, Grace fell forward as the bottom of her dress was snagged. "Argh!" she said, "Great for dancing. Not so good for cross-country" she added, as she raised the bottom of her dress and ripped it, so it came to the top of her knees. The others had copied her actions, and soon they were off again.

Chirping from behind them is what alerted them to the fact that they were being followed. Looking back over her shoulder, Sarah screamed, as a bird came running full out towards them.

"Run!" Kara ordered, and grabbing her cousin's hand the four of them sprinted in one direction. Their hands intertwined so they didn't get lost or separated. As they ran, they made it to a new clearing, but instead of seeing the lodge in front of them, they saw a field of what appeared to be bamboo sticks. "Hide!" Kara said as the four of them fell to their knees and started to crawl. This would be the perfect cover for them. Until they could get back to the safety of the trees.

Near the middle, they stopped.

"I think they've gone," Abby said, as there was silence all around them. Sarah nodded, and carefully, the four girls stood. They looked around, and right enough it seemed the birds had gone. But they could hear clucking. Whirling around, the girls came face to face with a huge flock of birds.

"Oh no," Grace said

One of the birds had spottered them and let out a screech at the sight of them.

"Run!" Kara yelled "Head for the trees!"

And once again, hands wrapped tightly around one another the four friends headed for the safety of the trees. The bird on their heels. Coming out of the trees once more into another clearing, a whirl of black and white caught her eye.

"Danny!" Sarah yelled from beside her

The two men were ahead of them. They stopped and turned, as the girls were making their way forward

"Woah!" Danny yelled "Stop!"

"Stop!" Connor repeated

The four stopped short

"it's a minefield," Danny explained as the girls exchanged a confused look.

More screeching and clucking came from behind them. The bird was still in pursue of them.

"How was your hopscotch at school?" Kara asked

"You know what?" Abby said

"Pretty good actually," Grace added

"Yeah," Sarah said, and the four of them started out onto the field. Using their initiative and the instructions of Connor and Danny to get themselves to safety, and not blown to pieces. Finally they reached Danny and Connor.

"Okay," Danny said

"Lets go," Connor mumbled and they started off again.

"Go to the Lodge," Danny said, and pushed Kara in Connor's direction had she had stopped, turning to him ready to say something. Now wasn't the time to argue. They could do that later.

Danny whistled and Kara spun to see as the bird changed its direction from her fleeting form and to him. There was a second where Kara wanted to scream, as there was an explosion. The bird exploded and Kara sighed as she saw Danny getting to his feet, throwing a tuft of feathers away from him, before making his way towards her.

"I thought I told you to go?" Danny said, as he reached her

"And I thought I made myself clear, when I said I don't take orders from you" she grinned as they hurried to catch up Connor and the others.

"Hold it right there," said a voice from ahead, and Kara stopped short of her friends as she saw two of Johnsons' men standing before them brandishing the Artefact. So they had found them. Of course they had, the stupid Anomaly had given them away. That and the fact that their screams of terror probably carried for miles on the wind and so anybody who happened to be in the woods at the time had probably heard them. "Your under arrest"

Kara and Danny had now caught up with the others. And where standing fully behind them.

"What was the explosion?" Johnsons solider asked

"It was a creature," Danny informed them

"You have to get us out of here," Connor said "Please"

"Mate there are more of them" Danny said

"All in good time"

Movement caught Kara's eye and blinked looking towards the left of them. A creature had found them. Probably following the explosion of one of its one. It was closing in and the soldiers had no idea it was there. She nudged Grace who was in front of her slightly. It seemed she wasn't the only one noticing the creature now. Abby, Connor, Sarah and Abby had spottered it.

"Trust me, we need to hurry up" Danny said, he was the only one who hadn't see the bird. Kara nudged him too. Her eyes never leaving the bird.

"Shut up!" the solider ordered and Kara bit her tongue to keep from retorting

Soft clucking could be heard. But the soldier's seemed oblivious to everything going on around them

"What are you looking at?" the solider asked

The young man, that was with him, turned in the direction they had been looking and screamed. The bird had latched onto him. He didn't have a chance to fire any rounds, he was dead before he even hit the floor. The bird already ripping the flesh from his bones. Kara cringed. She had never been one for flesh ripping or blood. And this was enough to make anyone, even people with strong stomachs, go sick.

The first man, holding they artefact let it drop as he scrambled to get back inside the SUV. Connor made a dive for the Artefact before he and Abby threw themselves aside to avoid being hit by the oncoming car. Grace and Sarah where now behind Kara and Danny. Who infact was holding a slightly pale and sickly looking Kara Cutter in a close embrace.

The car drove past the place Connor and Abby had been moments before, hit a mine that had been hidden well by fallen leaves and exploded. Parts of the wheels flew in the creatures direction, decapitating it. Kara shuddered once more at the sight, and turned her eyes closed tight against it.

"Come on," Danny said, moving her away from the site and towards the lodge.

"Abby!" Sarah called as she followed

"Connor!" Grace called over her shoulder, she glanced up briefly to see her friends in pursuit of them.


Crash,

The door to the Lodge had been thrown open by Abby, the rest of the team filed in behind her. Abby, Sarah and Grace heading straight for the back of the lodge, Kara followed but came to a stop at the entrance beside Danny and Connor as she started to help file out planks of wood into the main part of the lodge. They had to try to at least get away. If they were supposed to be safe in this Safe house then this was the best place for them. Wasn't it? Well, it had to be safer out in the woods. It just had to be,

"Cover the windows," Kara said over her shoulder to the other three girls, and she could hear the slamming of wood on wood.

Once all the windows had been covered, Abby and Kara edged further into the main room to block up the windows. They placed many chairs and tables upon one another as a type of barricade. To help against the up coming attack from the outside.

"You never know," Connor said, as Kara handed Abby the last of the chairs and she placed it on top of the rest "Maybe the explosions just, uh, scared them all off"

"More than likely," Abby said as she turned to face them "they're gonna be gathering somewhere. Like hyenas preparing to seal a kill"

At that moment the foundation of the entire house and its occupants shook. They each shared an equal look of terror. The birds had found them. The barricade that they had been building was blown apart, the force of it had blown both Kara and Abby backwards. Kara stumbled into Grace and Sarah as Abby landed on the ground a few meters away from them.

"Are you okay?" Connor asked, as he held out his hand and helped her to her feet.

"Yeah," Abby answered, as she made her way towards Kara, Sarah and Grace. They had only just realized that things had become hell of lot more dangerous.

The safe house was a wooden lodge, the birds in which wanted to make breakfast, lunch and dinner of them, had razor sharp beaks and talons which could rip the house to bits in seconds. It seemed, they stood no chance. How on earth could they do that? It was mission impossible it seemed, but they had to. If they were to survive the attack. Then this was the time. They only had one shot at it.

The frantic screeching that could be heard from every angle outside of the house, was terrifying it was enough to give even a grown man nightmares. The wooden walls were being slashed at and crumbling down amongst them. It seemed pointless to cover the windows because they were disappearing fast. But they were the only protection they had to keep the predators at bay for the time being. Equipped with nothing for protection. No firearms nothing. They were like sitting ducks. But they couldn't give up. Their lives depended on it.

"Girls," Connor said loudly over the screams and crashes of the wood. He threw each of them a weapon of defence. It wasn't much, but it helped. Although there about half a dozen birds and six of them, the odds were against them. But as adrenaline coursed through the veins it was enough to keep them fighting.

One side of the lodge was only a few slashes away from disappearing. They couldn't let this happen, because the birds would then have easy access to the room. They had to cover it. But how?

"The wardrobe," Grace suddenly shouted "Use the wardrobe!"

Kara looked around, Danny and Connor where infact leaning against a tall wardrobe. Abandoning her post, she helped them push it into position over the forming gap in the side of the lodge. It proved large enough to keep the creatures at bay. But the sound of slashing was still heard, as they frantically continued to get in.

"Sarah! Grace! Abby!" Kara suddenly yelled as the other door, with the deadbolt was being rammed against "The door!" they were trapped in the back of the lodge with no means of escape or help. As, Danny, Connor and Kara maintained a hold on the wardrobe, the other girls pushed against the main doors, in hopes the creatures would just leave. But that was impossible and they knew it. They only time they would leave, is when they had gotten what they wanted. And what they wanted was them.

"I gotta go back in that room," Danny said

Kara looked at strangely. Was he crazy? Well, that was a stupid question to ask, but the point remained was, why? He was about to enter a room, beyond a locked door. There could have very well been creatures in there.

"Your kidding?" Connor asked

But it was evident on Danny's face that he wasn't. "Nope," he said, and he pushed off the wardrobe.

"Danny!" Kara yelled after him, as Connor pushed off the wardrobe too and hurried to close the door "Girls…help me!" she added, as she felt the wardrobe move behind her, pushing her forward. She couldn't hold it alone.

"What are you doing?" Grace demanded, when Danny had reappeared

"I got an idea!" Danny said, showing them the record "I've got to get - to the bunker"

And he hoisted himself up onto a small table beside him, before breaking the only sealed window in the lodge. Before hauling himself up and onto the roof,

"Connor," Sarah yelled "This thing is moving again"

Danny had been gone a mere 20 minutes if that, before his voice carried on the winds, echoed all around them. There was one name in particular that he screamed. Connor.

"Connor!" Danny yelled in hope of an answer "Connor! Do something!"

Climbing up onto the table Danny had previously used, Connor dropped down and made his way towards the wardrobe "Come on," he said, and pushed open the broken wall beyond. Grace and Kara exchanged looks each questioning what was happening outside. Connor's voice carried back into them from beyond the wardrobe and the broken apart wall.

"Hey! Over here! Over here! Im so much more tastier than him!"

"What the hell is he doing?" Grace whispered nervously

"Knowing Connor," Kara whispered back "Nothing smart!"

"Connor!" Danny's yells once again filled the mayhem

"Come over here!" Connor yelled once more "Its Dinner time"

That seemed to have done it. Because the screeching was louder this time round. Letting them know that the birds were closer to the house. What had happened to Danny and Connor? Had the birds already claimed to lives, possibly in return of the two lives the team had claimed of the predators?

"Connor!" Danny yelled

Okay, so Danny was alive. Soon, the girls were aware that Connor was alive too, because they could hear him screaming like he was under attack, and he actually was. He had practically served himself up on a silver platter. But his screams seemed to be coming from under the house. Had the birds driven him under there? Had they attacked him? Was he okay? No one could tell, because they didn't know. The screams were frequent, but masked by the screeching of the birds.

"Connor!" Abby's tearful scream broke through Kara's rapid thoughts. She looked around at the girls of her team. It was her job to come up with the tough decisions, to protect them. Looking towards the roof, the window in which Danny had left through to be exact.

"Come on," she said, and moving Grace towards the window she helped her cousin up. "Go!" she ordered and turned to Abby as the blonde followed after Grace. "Come on," she continued as she beckoned Sarah to the table, Abby had disappeared from view. She helped Sarah up onto the table but as the brunette was reaching for the window, the birds hit the side of the house and it shook, sending Sarah flying back down into Kara.

Two screams were heard as both Kara and Sarah landed on the lodge floor. The boards of the house had been ripped apart as the birds leered down on them. Pulling Sarah away from the side of the house where the birds were coming in, Kara knelt beside her friend in the middle of the room, staring at the birds before up at the window where Abby and Grace where. There was no way they could get up there without getting caught. Besides, only one at a time, even if she did get up there, Sarah would be trapped. She wasn't leaving her friend behind.

There was a trap door a few meters away from them, it was trapped by a box, and it was moving. Had the birds managed to get under the house and was trying to break through the floor boards. The trap door was moving ever so higher, and looking at one another in terror, the two brunettes knew it was the end. They were trapped. There was no way out. The windows were blocked with flocks of birds, and it now seemed they were under them too.

"Kara!" Grace yelled

"Sarah!" Abby's voice rang out "We're slipping!"

The trap door opened again, and crashed back down. Whatever was trying to get through was having trouble but also putting up a fight to get through. Suddenly the box was thrown backwards and Connor appeared. Kara stuttered as she saw her friend appear.

"Connor" she and Sarah said with a soft smile, he was alive.

"All right?" Connor asked

One look at the windows gave him an answer.

"Move over," Sarah squealed as she slid towards the trap door

"Move over!" Kara demanded

Connor looked around, before dropping down on the floor under the lodge. Sarah slid down after him, as Kara followed, closing the trap door as she went. Landing beside Connor, she covered her face as the wood above became splintered.

"Where's Abby and Grace?" Connor asked

"Their on the roof," Kara answered breathlessly "Whatever Danny is doing he better hurry up!"

Sarah's scream, caused Kara to look up. She was staring in the yellow eye of one of the birds. They were in the Lodge, and they had found them. They knew that three of the people they wanted were under the house. Kara was aware of the screams of Grace and Abby from the roof above them, and the screams of Sarah beside her. She became aware, that it wasn't only Grace who was knew to being hunted by a predator. So was Sarah.

That was when she heard it. The screeching from earlier that day, was heard once more, this time louder. Danny had done it. He had made it to the bunker. Which obviously meant he was alive. The screeching echoed through the surrounding forest, calling out to the birds. Hitting trees and re-bounding backwards. Soon, all was quiet again. The birds had disappeared from above, the house remained motionless and the birds were dispersing. Returning to the Bunker. And Danny.

"Where have they gone?" Connor asked

"As far away from here as possible," Kara mumbled, as she sneaked a peeked out from under the base of the lodge, "I hope" she added, before she pulled herself up into the free space. There was no protection out here, so if she was wrong, she was in immense danger. 5 minutes passed, and still the birds didn't appear. She breathed a sigh of relief. She was safe. "You can come out now," she said, ducking under the house at Connor and Sarah before helping them out.

"Kara?" Grace said, and Kara looked up "Is it safe?"

"Yeah," Kara said with a nod "You two can come down now"

Seconds later, both Abby and Grace were down from the roof.

"We have to get to the Bunker," Connor said, and after making sure everyone was alright the five of them headed in the direction of the bunker.

They entered the deserted bunker, it had been turned upside down, from the rampaging birds, but it was still deserted. Danny was no where in sight, and the anomaly had been closed. Had he gone through in hopes to protect them? Now they had to find him. Maybe he was still alive? They could hope couldn't they?

"Danny" Connor said, his voice in a whisper

Sarah picked up a white strap from the machine beside them, it had been the belt from Danny's clothing.

The door clanged behind them, the five members of the team turned. Danny stood there, he was live. And they didn't have go through any anomaly to find him. A breath of relief whispered through the five members of the team, before they broke out laughing as Danny spoke.

"Anyone got a belt?" he asked "These trousers are a nightmare"

"Oh!" Connor said "Im not bothered"

"Come on," Kara said with a smile and a laugh as she nodded towards the Bunker. And with Kara and Danny in the lead, they lead their team back out towards the ruined lodge.

"Good idea to use the record to attracted the birds" Abby said, from behind and Kara turned to Danny, as he looked over his shoulder at her.

"Im just chuffed you care so much, Connor" he said

"What?" Connor said in disbelief, and Kara let out a chuckle

Before they stopped at the sound of Guns cocking. And a familiar voice stopped them in their tracks.

"You're all under arrest"

Kara's heart stopped beating as she stared up at Becker, who was overlooking her and the rest from the banking before her. She couldn't believe it. It was Stephen all over again. Betrayal coursed through her veins. Her heart, was beating ever so slower and she was sure that in a few seconds tears would be cascading down her face. But she couldn't cry. She just couldn't believe that she had done it again. Put herself on the line, only to let down once more.

He was staring at her. And she was staring right back, but she couldn't see anything but his betrayal. She wanted him to more than anything to put his gun down and say he was joking. She wanted more than anything for him to approach her, and say he wasn't serious. But he also, wanted her to see the bigger picture. But she couldn't see anything…nothing but bitter betrayal.

"Oh, you've got to be joking," Danny said from beside her, and Kara closed her eyes to look at him.

All around them, were Johnson's men. Abby, Sarah, Grace and Connor where exchanging looks of confusion, and when Danny met Kara's eyes, she knew he could see hurt and betrayal, because her emotions were reflected in his eyes. She felt him squeeze her hand reassuringly and she managed a small smile. But that was all. She was still hurting internally. Was everyone out to hurt her? Was she ever meant to feel happiness? It didn't seem that way.

"My orders are to take you back to the ARC" Becker said "Im authorised to use deadly force if I have too"

"You're a Johnson's man now?" Connor asked

"Im just following Orders," Becker answered, reverting his attention back to Kara, who was once again avoiding his gaze, although he did notice her hand intertwined with Danny's.

"Like a good little solider boy," Danny said

"Where's the Artefact?" Becker asked

Exchanging a look with Connor, the friends sighed.

"At the Lodge," Kara said, she wasn't in any mood to fight. And with one of Johnson's men following her, she re-entered the destroyed Lodge, collected the Artefact and walked out. She returned to Danny and the other's side, refusing to hand over the Artefact.

"Hand it over," the man who had followed her said

Kara stared at him, "Go to hell!" she said, maintaining her grip on the artefact. At that moment Becker appeared in her line of vision. He ordered the solider away, and stared down at her, reaching out for the Artefact in her hand. He pulled, but the Artefact didn't budge. His dark pools bore down into hers but she was resistant. She study every inch of his face, her betrayal reflected in his eyes just like they had Danny's. She wanted to say something, anything. Her eyes traced across his lips, she could feel them against hers, like she had the previous encounters ago.

She blinked and looked away. Leaving the Artefact go. He pulled it from her grip and handed it over. She heard him sigh as she refused to look back at him. And looked anywhere, but at him. He then walked away, she felt him walk away. And she sighed. Before following.


"You might want to restrain Kara when we enter that Office," Abby whispered to Danny who was in front of her. Kara infact was in the lead, walking behind Becker. She was looking positively heartbroken and her eyes had been cast downwards to avoid anyone's gaze.

"Why?" Danny whispered

"Because she's gonna head straight for Christine," came his reply

And infact, as soon as the doors ahead of them were opened. Kara lifted her head, her eyes narrowed and she started to quicken her pace. Danny reached forward and gripped her arm tightly, pulling her back and pressing her against the railing of the room.

"Calm down," he whispered to her, maintaining a grip on her as the others entered behind her

"Calm down?" Kara asked, not caring who heard her "She may as well had signed our death certificates today Danny! And you want me to calm down?"

Danny's face softened, and she sighed. Looking away she felt him move from in front of her and stand beside her. Although she noticed that he and Grace where standing slightly in front of her, keeping her as far away from Christine as possible.

"Excellent work, Captain" Christine said, from Lester's chair "I can see you're a man of real potential"

"Very kind, madam" Becker said

"I think im gonna be sick," Kara murmured her glare turning back to Becker, who chose to ignore her

"I'd have a little more respect if I were you, Cutter" Christine said, and Kara smirked "You're looking at a very serious charge or government property"

"Hello Christine," Lester's voice sounded, and the team turned towards the door of the office.

"You're not authorised to enter this facility James," Christine said, sounding surprised

"I think your sitting in my chair" Lester said

"Captain," Christine turned to Becker once more "would you mind escorting this troublesome man from the building"

"Im afraid I cant do that Ma'am" Becker answered

"What?"

Becker moved forward, and placed a small hand-held recorder onto the desk and pressed play.

'The Minister is a imbecile who can barely blow his own nose. Do you really think im going to let a white hall glove puppet with the IQ of a root vegetable tell me how to do my job?'

The tape cut off, and Kara looked down with a small grin. Becker hadn't betrayed them. It was all for show. A lure, but not for them.

"Yes, Captain Becker recorded it and I sent a copy to white hall" Lester said "Oh, that reminds me. The Minster wants to see you. Actually, he did seem a bit upset"

Kara finally caught Becker's eye and smiled softly at him.

"Christine," James continued "I did tell you it wasn't over"

"No James," Christine said, setting the artefact on the desk and getting to her feet "I assure you it's not"

Danny let out a low whistle, and Kara bit back a grin as she watched the interaction between Becker, Lester and Christine, before the woman was escorted out by two of Becker's men. Once she had gone. The team started laughing.

"You are my hero," Sarah said as she kissed Becker's cheek and looped her arm through his

"And mine," Lester spoke up "But don't expect any kisses from me"

Kara and Grace looked at one another and shrugged. Lester was once again behind his desk, back in his position. Like it was suppose to be.

"Well, don't you all have work to do?" Lester asked, looking back up at them

Danny sighed from beside her, and Kara turned to face him, as Grace opened the door leading out of the office. "Sorry mate, I was out of order" he apologized

"No problem," Becker said "Just don't call me 'solider boy' again"

"No," Kara said speaking for the first time "I think he prefers 'Action Man'" and with a smirk in Becker's direction she headed down the ramp with Grace.

"Ooo," Danny said from behind "Action man or Solider boy?"

Kara glanced over her shoulder too see he was faking a thoughtful look

"I'll stick with Solider Boy, if that's okay with you Kara" he called after her

She laughed and turned to face her team mate as she stepped off the ramp before jumping up onto a near-by desk.

"Feel free Danny," she said "Im gonna continue using 'Action Man' though"

As she turned to face the ramp, Becker appeared behind her. She smiled and spun around to face the other way, so she could see Christine being led out, so she could see everything around her. As she leaned back, she looked up to see he was still there, she smiled softly at him resting against his chest as the room around her erupted in applause. Everyone was happy to have James Lester back in charge.

"Whooo!" Kara cheered "Yeah"

Around her, Danny, Sarah, Abby and Grace were banging their hands on the table, as the entire team laughed together. They were back.


Later that evening, at around 7:00pm. Kara and Grace sat opposite one another. Nick had been put to bed, after he had been bathed, changed and fed. The two cousins where readying themselves for their show to start, although they had around 2 hours left. They wanted everything to be done before it started.

"What time does it start?" Grace asked

"9:00 o'clock" Kara said for what felt like the umpteenth time "Relax, its only now gone 7,"

Grace sighed "Its Day Four. We find out the truth tonight…"

"I am aware of that Grace," Kara said "But we cant speed up time"

"No, but we can time travel" Grace said "Oh, that's freaky"

"What?"

"They can Time travel," she said "So can we…what if we're one of the same?"

Kara looked at her cousin strange "Your serious arent you?" she asked

Grace nodded.

Kara laughed.

"Shut up, will you?" she asked "We fight dinosaurs…they fight aliens, how is that the same?"

"Not always," Grace argued her point "They don't always fight aliens,"

"Okay, so strange people fall through the rift," Kara said "But how many people have you known to fall through an Anomaly?"

"Just cause it doesn't happen, doesn't mean it wont, one day"

Kara laughed again. "Fine. Whatever you say. Maybe we are one of the same. Maybe" she stressed, before getting up and heading into the hallway as the doorbell rang.

"Who could that be?" Grace asked as she followed

"You expecting anyone?"

"Might be Adam," Grace said, leaning against the door way leading off from the living room and into the hallway "Might be Becker,"

"Oh shut up" Kara said, over her shoulder as she flipped on the hallway light

"Im just saying," Grace said holding her hands up in defence "He has been showing up here late in the night lately"

Kara waved her off, as she reached for the door and pulled it open. She could almost see the smirk on Grace's face in her minds eye, as Becker stood before them, wearing his usual Army uniform. He smiled when he saw them.

"Hi," he said, his deep voice sending thrills through Kara's body

"Hi," she answered

"Oh, nice vocabulary you both have," Grace said, as she turned and headed back into the living room

"Ignore her," Kara said, loud enough for her cousin to hear

"Nice to hear you care," Grace shouted for the other room

Kara shook her head, as Becker chuckled softly "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," he said, meeting her gaze one more time. "I was wondering if you could come with me? There's something I'd like to show you"

"Oh?" Kara questioned "Um…sure,"

"If this is a bad time," Becker said trying to reason

"No. Its okay…" Kara interjected quickly "Just give me two seconds? Please?"

He smiled, and nodded. As she invited him and lead him to the living room.

"I hate to leave you with a nut-case like her," she apologized as she turned to him "But I'll be two minutes I promise"

"Are you sure, she's safe?" Becker asked, playing along

"Ha-ha," Grace laughed sarcastically "You two have your fun…carry on, act like im not here"

"That wont be to hard," Kara said, laughing softly as she hurried up stairs to change. Dodging the pillow Grace had thrown at her as she left. In exactly two minutes, Kara was back in the room. She was wearing her usual skinny jeans and boots with a black t-shirt and jacket.


The drive was about 30 minutes, and in that time, Becker hadn't given her any thoughts of where they were going. She was left to her thoughts, but she trusted him. He wasn't about to do something stupid. She knew that. If any of his promises of not hurting her were anything to go buy, then he cared for her as much as she cared for him.

"Almost there," he said softly, and she smiled.

She had noticed a while back that the scenery outside the windows had changed, and that they were heading towards the outskirts of town. But she didn't complain. Once the car stopped, she climbed out and smiled up at him. Before he covered her eyes with his hands.

"What are you doing?" she asked

"Just keep your eyes closed," he whispered "And take my hand"

She did as told, and she felt him lead her through the many trees surrounding them. Soon they stopped.

"Open your eyes," he whispered, his lips grazing her ear as he said them. A shiver run down her spine.

Her eyes opened and she gasped. She was standing in a small thicket of trees. A small river glittered through the trunks. The shadows cast by the trees made the basin of water a cool, green shade. Beside her a small hill, which was surrounded by the trees. But that wasn't the sight that made her breath catch. Before her, in the distance she could make out the London skyline, and the colours that the dying sun made. The whole sky was painted a light pink, yellow and orange. It was simply beautiful and breath-taking.

"Wow," she breathed, "Its beautiful"

There was a soft murmur of agreement, and she turned to smile up at him. She didn't realise he was so romantic. She had never had this before. No one was this romantic to her. Not even Stephen. She then realised had could disagree, Becker was better in so many ways. And she enjoyed her time with him. Be it spent flirting or just talking. She enjoyed being around him. And she hoped that wouldn't change.

"This is my way of apologizing to you," he said, stepping up beside her and looking down at her "For hurting you earlier today"

"We see to be doing this often," she answered him "Apologizing"

He smiled.

And she smiled back.

And then once again, his lips were pressed against hers. In a way, that was more than friendly. She backed up against a near-by tree, as she slipped her hands around his neck, the kiss becoming more passionate, desperate. But neither of them pulled away. It seemed neither of them wanted to let go.


"I cannot believe your gonna miss this," Grace Hunter said, as she switched the channels as her show started "But I guess, you don't really care"

And with a small smile she settled in to watch her show. Torchwood: Children of Earth. Although she couldn't help but smile at the happiness she had seen radiating off her cousin's face when she left with Becker earlier that evening. Those two were perfect for one another. It was hard to believe that at first, they didn't seem to agree. And now it seemed they were inseparable. And she wasn't the only one who had noticed. The rest of the team had too. Well, Abby and Sarah had noticed. She wasn't so sure about Danny and Connor. But they were men, it was a flaw of theirs to be slow.

Then it happened. The opening credits appeared, and a hand clamped over her mouth. She struggled but her eyes had started to close, there was something on the cloth that covered her mouth and nose. Her vision was becoming bleary and soon the darkness appeared. All she could see as her eyes closed and she was lowered to the couch, was a very poor vision of a person looming over her. Whoever it was. She wasn't sure.

"Good night, Graciey" said a voice "and now,"

Heading towards the stairs, she climbed them slowly. She was aware that Grace was home alone. Reaching the landing, she headed for the correct room and lightly pushed open the door. There in the crib, he lay. Sound asleep. A smirk littered her face, as she reached into the crib and lifted him into her arms. She cradled him to her chest, wrapping the blanket around him, tightly. Before leaving the note on the bed.

"Sweet dreams sweetheart" she said once more, before removing an object from her pocket. There before her eyes, the shimmering prisms of an Anomaly appeared. With one fleeting glance of the room, she stepped through. With one last message.

"Let the games begin!"


A/N: I know im late. I apologize. But I hope this chapter is up to your satisfaction. I worked really hard, this time round to get it out to you sooner than this. But things have been pretty hetic. For the past week, at exactly 9:00pm. I have been disappearing for an hour, because of the start of Torchwood: Children of Earth.

That and the fact that, I have two other stories that need to be updated.

If you like Connor/OC, then Primeval The Beginning is for you.

But I also have a Torchwood story that needs finishing.

Anyway, thanks for the reviews. For the past few chapters. You have all been great, and I look forward to hearing from you all again. Have a good day/night whatever. And leave us a review, when you have finished. Just tell me what you think.

Thank you

~Kara

PS. Im off to bed. Lol.

P.P.S. the dresses Kara and Grace wear in this chappie will be posted on my Profile. If you wish to see them.