His ass was cold, Kenji thought grudgingly as he sat on a windswept bleacher that overlooked the lagoon. Stupid Ben, splashing him with nasty stupid fish monster water. Stupid fish monster, stupid dinosaurs, stupid Jurassic World! He brooded, trying hard not to shiver, the tense trembling and contracting of his muscles causing him nothing short of agony. He had sat down to try and collect his thoughts, and catch his breath. His whole body ached, but now the contact with the metal was beginning to sap his warmth, and strength. He was tired.
Battling heavy eyed against a growing fatigue Kenji looked out at the world around him. The eerie quietness, and solitude could have been beautiful when paired with the delicate colors of the sunset. That was if only the all encompassing silence and lack of people wasn't an indication of a catastrophic disaster and the very real danger that the campers were still in. Trying to put those thoughts aside he focused instead on controlling his respiration, easing himself into long slowly, drawn breaths. The view of the captivatingly painted sky, adding an almost meditative quality to his actions.
As he watched the world unfolding around him Kenji saw Yasmina slinking away on a hobbled leg like a wounded cat wanting to lick it's wounds alone. He wasn't exactly sure what had gone on between her and Sammy but, he felt, she had better get over it quick, because separating herself from everyone else was a sure fire way to get eaten. Speaking of eating he thought, hunger gnawing at his stomach, then he grimaced at the correlation of thoughts in his head. What was his problem? He wondered, secretly grateful that mind reading was purely science fiction.
Bending over the teen pawed at an abandoned tub of popcorn, afraid to bend too far, and hesitant to find out just how far 'too far' really was. Then it happened, a sharp stabbing pain in his side knocked the wind out of him as Kenji snapped up straight like a soldier in an attempted to alleviate the pain, air hissing out of his lungs. He felt his eyes welling, but pridefully blinked them back when he saw Darius walking towards him.
"What's up?" Kenji asked, flashing his pearly whites, pretending as ever he did that things were alright. The same old fake smile only this time it was used to hide an entirely different kind of pain.
"Here." the other boy muttered stooping down to fetch the popcorn from the concrete.
"I could have gotten it." Kenji snapped, giving him a hard irritable glance, before snatching the discarded, buttery goodness.
"Uh-huh." Darius nodded falling onto the bench beside him.
"Thanks." Kenji muttered after a while, munching on the styrofoamy, slightly stale popcorn.
At least it was salty, he thought shoveling an obscene amount of the popped kernels into his mouth. It was ...wet in spots. Barf, was he eating mosasaurs water? Still beggers couldn't be choosers. Darius must have felt the same way as he tore the lid and straw from a cup that had tipped to the side, spilling out much of its sticky, sugary contents, and tipped the brown liquid back.
"It's Pepsi." he announced, holding the cup towards Kenji. Taking the paper vessel the older boy followed his example, taking a swig and passing it back, before offering some of his corn de la pop.
A ripple in the water caught his attention, and then Kenji saw the wake left by the mosasaurs rock the kayaks making them bob up and down in the water. That had been a close call, much closer than he, or any of the others would have liked. Worse still? He had been completely useless throughout the ordeal. Kenji hated that feeling of helplessness inability, he didn't like being at the mercy of the universe, or a burden, he constantly felt like a burden.
As the boys sat together Kenji searched for the other members of the team, the cotton candied head of Brooklynn easily spotted in the dwindling light. That was when he noticed Sammy was tidying Brooklynn's hair. Huh, she had actually listened to him and taken his advice, he thought looking at the way the influencer smiled as they chatted before jumping up onto the bench and saying something energetically, arms sweeping through the air. Maybe he wasn't such a fuck up after all, if he could pull something like that off.
Ben and Bumpy were, somehow, sleeping. Kenji pressed his lips together in a hard line. He was rife with conflicting emotions. How could they sleep right now, he wondered staring with knit brows at the admittedly cute scene. But then it just reminded him of how useless the other boy had been, and how much strain keeping him and the baby ankylosaurus alive had caused. Anger began bubbling in the teen's chest, hadn't they intended to ditch the dead weight somewhere? But Ben wouldn't have it.
Lastly, he realized with a yawn, he was envious. Were they just that much more tired than the rest of them that they could pass out like that? Or did they maybe trust implicitly that the others wouldn't leave them behind? Either way Kenji wanted nothing more than to sleep too, but also kick their bench and scream for them to get their asses up.
Turning away from them he managed to pick out Yasmina, resting her back against a stairwell, her bum leg outstretched. As he watched he saw her shoulders heaving, her whole body pitching forward with a bitter rhythm. She was still crying, he thought. As it often did the little green snake of self despise coiled tightly around his innards, and he felt bad for judging her. The girl was going through a lot but was too prideful to let others see it, and too vain to admit weakness ... kinda like him ... God damnit he was a wounded cat too, wasn't he?
"So, not to be a total downer but operation find people to help us is clearly a bust." Kenji observed.
"My dad used to talk about coming here for years," Darius replied his voice thin. "and here we are."
Kenji felt a twinge. Dead parents. Somehow since finding out about Darius' dad after weeks of playful teasing and goading it always felt like when the two of them were alone it would always circle back to their dead parents. Well, Kenji conceded, it wasn't the worst thing in the world, it was honestly kinda nice to talk about his mom from time to time. At home, it seemed like no one dared to even mention her existence.
"Yep here we are." Kenji agreed with a sigh. "If it helps my mom would have hated this place, you know, before all the rampaging and carnage. She tried to talk my dad out of investing, but he wouldn't listen, he knew business, she didn't, that made her point of view invalid. She was against zoos all together though, didn't think it was fair to keep animals that in the wild had miles and miles of natural home ranges in little tiny pens." Smiling down at him Kenji elbowed the other boy. "So you know balance out the karmic scales or whatever. Your dad would have loved it my mom would have hated it. Besides I'm sure they're up there watching us right now losing their fucking minds!"
Darius laughed nervously, giving Kenji a side eyed glance, "Yeah."
"Dude, do you know how proud your dad is watching you take charge, saving the day on the zipline, banding us all together, quoting him like he's a president or something?" Kenji enthused, trying to amp the other boy up. "He's up there smiling, and cheering you on I guarantee it!"
"And your mom's probably just as proud of you!" Darius added with a smile.
"Yeah, or she found a way to have heart attack in heaven..." Kenji muttered grimly, suddenly misty eyed. "Sorry, we're good." he cleared his throat. "All I meant was she's probably scared right now. Probably up there shaking her head, grabbing your dad by the ear and scolding him for raising someone so reckless. She would too, just grab him by the ear and start shouting at him in Japanese, I've seen her do it!" they enjoyed a hearty laugh at the mental imagery, a warming comfort found in the absurd thought. "Who knows, maybe one of them will give us a sign or something!"
As the sun sank lower and lower behind the horizon Kenji dusted his hands off and stood up. After much consideration he had decided that checking on Yaz was the best course of action as oppose to leaving her alone. If a little heart to heart could make him feel better, he hoped it would do the same for her.
"Anyway," he smiled as he turned to leave. "Welcome to Jurassic World!"
All of the kids gave a start at the loud, ominous blare of a siren that rang out over the water. Other sirens positioned around the park and jungle sounding as well, adding a foreboding echo as the alarm was raised. Everything was fear and panic as the children rushed to regroup. Racing down the steps Kenji and Darius, met Sammy and Brooklynn at the base, wide eyed and scared.
"What's going on?" the cowgirl asked a nervous shiver running down her spine.
"I don't know." Darius confessed looking around apprehensively as Yasmina limped up to the group.
Nipples, nice, Kenji thought, his eyes drawn immediately to the athlete's breasts her wet undershirt clinging. Nope eyes up, he scolded himself, she's your friend. Then he noticed the way Yasmina rubbed her hands over her arms, trying to drive away the goosebumps, and chill that had overtaken her. Again the boy felt bad for his own selfishness, unaware of the plight of others. Here he'd been griping about being cold from a little splash when she had swam with the damned thing.
Then as they were standing around without direction the sirens stopped and a voice came over the speakers, "Attention: All park goers must report to the South Ferry Dock for immediate evacuation. The last ferry departs in two hours." It said, before another voice came on.
"Atención: todos los visitantes del parque deben presentarse en el muelle de South Ferry para una evacuación inmediata. El último ferry sale en dos horas."
And another "Zhùyì: Suǒyǒu gōngyuán yóukè bìxū xiàng nán dùlún mǎtóu bàogào, yǐ lìjí chèlí. Zuìhòu de dùlún zài liǎng gè xiǎoshí nèi chūfā."
And another "Attention: Tous les visiteurs du parc doivent se présenter au South..."
"That's it? No explanations that's all we get!" Brooklynn said with exasperation as the message was repeated again and again in various languages.
"Come on we have to move," Darius commanded with a look of concern. "And the only way we can get there is if we run."
"Um, are we sure that's the best way to get there?" Sammy asked, trying to look at Yaz with discretion from the corner of her eye.
"I'm fine!" the other girl snapped. "I've competed with a torn ACL."
"Yeah but your leg's starting to look like a fucking hotdog!" Kenji argued gesturing to the tight swollen skin that surrounded the girl's knee. It looked bad, and he doubted if she could even bend it.
Yaz glared at him before saying, "You should be way more worried about Ben and Bumpy." as the stragglers came up behind her.
"What we should all be worried about is catching a boat out of here, and naturally we have a problem!" Ben explained spreading out a map of the park on a nearby bench. "We're here, and the docks are on the southern tip of the island. Even if we ran at peak Yaz speed there's no way we'd make the last boat out."
"You don't know that!" Sammy shouted fearfully.
Ben looked up with a lost expression of defeat, "Yes I do. I never wanted to come here, so I tried to be prepared for any eventuality. I memorized the evacuation plan on the ferry ride over!"
Everyone groaned, turning away from him.
"Always the fucking sunshine with you!" Kenji yelled, his heart hammering, tiny dark orbs obscuring his vision, he was getting a headache.
Darius never one to give up feverishly tried coming up with some desperate, haphazard plans. "Came we used those somehow?" he pointed to the kayaks. "Or send someone ahead to tell the ferry people to wait?"
"Or we can build a couple of jetpacks real quick!" Brooklynn added her voice dripping with condescension and sarcasm. "Oh we should befriend a unicorn! Face it, it's hopeless."
It was then that a different voice filled the air, "We will be arriving at the main street! Your destination for fine dining and shopping at Jurassic World! Followed by the Jurassic World Lagoon, and the South Ferry Docks." the children watched with awe and hope as the electric train rolled towards them. They were saved.
"Monorail, what-what!" Kenji laughed.
"Nicely played universe!" Brooklynn yielded with a smile.
"Hurry!" their unofficial leader called as he raced towards the station.
Everyone started running, but thinking better of it Kenji ducked down a little corridor that went beneath the stands. He knew where he was going, he reasoned, even as he questioned whether or not the detour was worth the risk. Darting towards a gift shop, he stopped, frozen in shock. There was a dead guy on the floor, no two. Their faces were swollen and bruised, the treadmarks of shoes imprinted on the backs of their shirts. They'd been trampled. Further down the narrow tunnel he saw many other people all killed by mass crowd panic. A kid with a dinosaur shaped balloon that still floated with whimsy tied to their wrist lay crushed, half pinned by a bathroom door, blood pooling from their mouth and nose. The gruesome sight gripped his attention as they lay trod upon, and abandoned.
Trembling with unease, and sickened by the sight he darted into the shop carelessly grabbing an armful of towels from a shelf, and a hoodie from a clothing rack, tacking the whole display down in the process. He had to get out of there. Hurrying to catch up, he found that beyond the giant bowl of the stadium there was much if the same, crows and other birds already eagerly getting to work on their free buffet. Kenji felt the sweet and oily slick of soda and popcorn wet the back of his throat, but fought to keep it down. He was just trailing Ben who with one of her arms around his shoulders was helping Yaz as she fell behind the others.
"You know it's kinda nice having some company back here." Ben smiled in that awkward way he had, trying to make light of their situation.
"Shut up Ben." the girl grit.
Unable to be of much help in supporting her weight Kenji took up position on Yasmina's other side and tossed a towel over her head, roughing the fabric through her hair as they went. She looked at him with surprise, then anger, before muttering her thanks.
They had just reached the platform when Darius and Sammy doubled back, ducking behind a wall, nervously indicating that the others shouldn't venture beyond that point. Shoving the towels and hoodie at Yaz where she slumped against the wall Kenji peaked around the corner to see a large, dark colored dinosaur, with a long gore caked toothy snout. It's fingers at the end of long arms wiggled pensively through the air as it ate greedily at one of the fallen park goers. The nervous way it looked around made Kenji believe that it was fearful that something would come to steal away it's meal at any moment.
"Baryonyx." Darius whispered motioning for Kenji to hide.
The kids waited for several tension filled moments, until Darius made a run for it. Kenji watched as the other boy took a deep breath, picked a soda can up off the ground and threw it, providing the others with the much needed distraction for them to limp over to the stairs. Thank God for messy tourists, Kenji thought as the decoy worked. As stealthily as possible the six kids made their way up the stairs, until Bumpy who thought she knew how this game worked trotted up ahead, knocking a Starbucks cup down after her. Screw you God, and your messy tourists! Kenji swore mentally, wincing as he waited for the rattle of the cup to give them away. To everyone's relief Brooklynn intercepted it.
Racing up to the landing Kenji felt an instantaneous rush, and was about to let out a victorious whoop when Brooklynn slapped her hand over his mouth. Oh, right.
The train pulled up, it's automatic doors opening and, "Welcome to the Jurassic World Lagoon, next stop Dock Landing!" a woman's loud voice announced.
Turning the baryonyx alerted their presence came charging up the stairs with a tremendous bellow. Sammy and Brooklynn rushed aboard Kenji following close behind. From where he stood Kenji felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of the beast lunging for and almost nabbing Ben. Then the doors began to slide closed. Darting forward Kenji wedged himself painfully between them. They bounced open with a chime "Please stand clear of the closing doors." the voice said, before the sliding panels attempted to close again. The second time they bounced open the girls jump in too trying to force them open wide.
The trio watched with horror as Yasmina fell, scrambling backwards as the baryonyx snapped greedily at her dragging leg. With a shout Darius pushed passed Ben, grabbing the girl under her arms, the baggy oversized jacket she wore enabling him to get a better grip as her hauled her up a few steps and out of the monsters reach as it tumbled roaring angrily. And like that, he again saved the day, it was kinda hot when he did that, even though he's such a scrawny guy, Kenji found himself thinking before they all dashed for the open door, the hero holding his shoulder sweat broken across his brow.
Kenji collapsed backwards, a bright flash of pain flooding his vision. He almost passed out when Ben running head long for the monorail crashed into him. They skidded across the floor, and when Kenji was aware enough of anything else but the searing fire that filled his lungs, he felt the trembling of spindly arms wrapped around him. Ben's face buried in his chest as he cried. Kenji returned the gesture, holding onto the other boy in spite of how it hurt to do so. It felt good, in a way, felt right.
Then the moment past and all he felt was frustration, and anger. "Get off me man, what are you two?" he asked pushing Ben away. "Go hug your dinosaur or something."
Settling himself on a bench Kenji watched apprehensively as everyone else began celebrating in excitement and relief. Kenji however, couldn't let his guard down, refusing to believe that they were safe, something always happened when they thought they were safe. No way it's that easy, something bad is going to happen, he thought, something bad always happens. As the moon rose no one talked about the baryonyx, or all of the dead people, but their bloated, battered faces haunted the boy.
"It's over. Guys, we did it, we're going home!" Darius breathed, a huge smile spreading across his face. The teens began whooping and shouting jumping around on the seats like maniacs. Kenji who couldn't fight his anxieties, like Ben watched from the sidelines.
"This calls for a celebration!" Brooklynn announced flopping back onto a bench.
"I might be able to help with that," Ben said unzipping his pack and producing several candy bars. "Stashed a few treats for the road."
"Little Ben is useful." Kenji smirked, taken in by the gentle smile on Ben's face. He looks so proud of himself, he thought.
Starved Kenji took a huge bite of what he was surprised to find was chocolate beneath the wrapper, knowing Ben he'd assumed it would be a granola bar or something crappy like that. His watering taste buds were instantly assaulted by a deep nutty, earthy, almost black licorice like flavor that filled his nose. His teeth felt like there was sand in them. Kenji grimaced. "What the hell did you just feed me?"
Everyone began spitting the repulsive bar out in little brown puddles.
"Ben someone stole your chocolate and put dirt in it." Sammy said with concern before throwing a glare at Kenji, like it was his fault, a prank gone wrong.
"Seriously are you trying to poison us?" Kenji asked incredulously. "I did not survive all of that just to be taken out by some shrimp, and a couple of arsenic candy bars!"
Unamused, Ben shared his with Bumpy. "They're carob bars. They pair perfectly with-"
"Carob juice!" Darius winced looking at the little carton in his hand. "Awesome."
"Carob is nature's chocolate!" Ben explained. "Just as delicious, without all the sugar, caffeine, slave labor, and animal abuse!"
God damnit Ben, always with the doom and gloom.
"What's wrong with caffeine and sugar?" Brooklynn scoffed. "As soon as I get home, well, to my dad's I'm gonna hug my espresso machine. I may never let go."
Turning on his charm for the pretty girl Kenji turned towards her with a raised eyebrow. "You know I've often described myself as a tall hot drink."
Everyone groaned.
"You could never be coffee!" Brooklynn snapped.
"I could be coffee." Kenji muttered, pride wounded.
"I just can't wait to get back to training." Yasmina said, gingerly massaging her leg. "But I suppose physical therapy is going to have to come first..."
"It's gonna be weird for things to go back to normal, like are video games going to seem boring now?" Darius laughed. "How about you, what's the first thing you're going to do?"
"Depends on which house I go to." Kenji gloated. "If you're referring to the main house, that also depends on which wing of the mansion. East wings usually off limits, real Beauty and the Beast style, dad and Candy are probably away on business right now. So I guess I'll go down stairs to the bowling alley. The staff always lets me win... Life of a VIP." Loneliness and sorrow, crept into Kenji's demeanor.
"So what have you missed Ben?" Sammy asked brightly, trying to shift the tone of the conversation.
His mood shifting with her when the opportunity to harass his favorite doormat arose Kenji was quick to jump in. "Let me guess, you can't wait to get home to your closet of dork pouches!"
"Ha-ha, very funny." Ben rolled his eyes.
"Seriously Ben, you've had juice boxes for days! How much stuff can you fit in that thing?" Darius asked.
"One, a lot, and two obviously the first thing I'm going to do when I get back is restock it!" Ben commented with a laugh. It was bad, it was so bad, that somehow it was funny, everyone joined in his mirth.
"I still can't believe how much went wrong." Brooklynn mused. "Do you remember that time we almost got eaten?"
"Which time?" Yasmina snarked. "What happened just a minute ago, the time with 'Eddie,' or the time with-"
"Jayson..." Darius muttered, the light in his eyes dimming as he stared down at his hands. Running his fingers together.
The train ride was beginning to feel less like a victorious celebration and more like a grim wake for mourning. The children fell silent, and contemplative of just how much death they had witnessed, and how close they had all come time and again to the end of their own mortal coils.
"Let's raise our carob juices, to Jayson." Brooklynn said putting a hand ontop of Darius'. "Who's quick thinking and selflessness saved our lives, and inspired us to keep going, no matter what."
Darius smiled sadly up at her, they shared a hug, and the campers drank solemnly.
"It'll actually be kinda nice to go back to the low level gnawing dread rather than the sense of all encompassing impending doom." Ben observed.
"Jesus Christ, what is wrong with you?" Kenji snapped.
A loud boom split cool night air, the train shuddered. It sounded like an explosion. Everyone hurried to a window, but the darkness shrouded all in secrecy.
"I don't think it was near us, we're ok. We're still ok." Darius reassured everyone, slowly they began to ease up.
"I know camp wasn't what we would have wanted it to be," Sammy smiled. "but at least we're leaving this place with five new friends! To the six of us being friends for life! Clink!" she said raising her carton in a toast.
No one could quite meet her gaze.
"Guys, hello? Wait do you guys not see us as friends?" the girl asked sadly.
"I mean, we only knew each other for a few weeks." Brooklynn replied. "Yeah we've been through a lot together but I'm not sure that really qualifies us for 'friends-for-life.'"
"We were thrown together at random, we have nothing in common, and what friends we did make turned out to be bold faced lairs." Yaz growled, casting the Texan an angry look.
"Besides," Ben mumbled, petting Bumpy sadly. "now that it's over what are the odds that we'll ever see each other again."
Kenji looked about at the other teens forlorn, his heart a flutter with anxiety. He kinda liked having them around, even when they weren't getting along. He didn't want to go back to being alone all the time, not anymore. Misty eyed he turned away from the others, and stared out at the dark vast nothingness he could see. He had finally found people, his people. He didn't want to lose them.
Everyone was quiet.
"Coming up on your right you'll see our eighteen hole dinosaur themed golf course. One of the many things that makes our park Jurassic!"
"What does that even mean?" Brooklynn laughed with exhaustion.
"I thought I knew, I always had this idea of Jurassic World, my dad used to say this place was 'Allosaurus and a bag of chips.'" Darius smiled fondly. "He was so corny."
"Um, was?" Ben asked.
That was when Kenji realized that not everyone knew, and how shitty he'd been to Darius back at the treehouse. God damn, no wonder they were falling apart. Kenji didn't deserve friends like them. If they moved on without him after they all went home, that was fine, better for them anyway. No one wanted to be friends with an asshole.
"Cancer." the other boy muttered dismally.
"I'm sorry Darius." the cowgirl started before smacking herself in the head. "Ugh nice one Sammy you ding-dong. Like sorry is going to help, sorry is what everyone says and it never makes anything better does it?"
"At least you had something with your dad, and a way to remember him." Kenji offered, trying to be of some comfort as he play slugged him on the chin, earning a little grin. "I can count on one hand the number of times my dad and I have done anything together."
"Kenji, that's just real sad. What about your mama?" Sammy asked.
Kenji shook his head. "Only one who probably cares is Candy, but I hate her... And I really don't know why... But did I mention the bowling alley, pool, and arcade?"
"When I get home I'm having an all day spa with my sissies, my mama, and my Abuela!" Sammy declared warmly.
"I don't think my moms are ever going to let me out of the houses again." Brooklynn laughed.
"Come again?" Yaz smiled curiously.
"Seriously, none of you watched my channel?" the streamer scoffed.
"I did!" Sammy said bouncing in her seat.
"My bios got divorced, my mom married another woman named Nika and my dad's been dating a woman named Emily since I was like eleven." Brooklynn explained. "They're even gonna have a kid together, but I guess the whole my mom being a secret lesbian and leaving him for another woman gave dad commitment issues or something because he still hasn't put a ring on that woman's finger, the asshole." she laughed.
"I consider Emily my third mom, she loves me just as much, and is just as protective of me as the other two. My parents all get along, like scary well too. I'm honestly just waiting for the day when they realize that they're all in love with each other and poly-gang up or something." she said propping her feet up on the adjacent bench, leaving everyone stunned.
"That, that's a lot to unpack there." Darius grinned.
"Eh, maybe, but it's my family and I wouldn't trade them for the world. What about you Yaz?" Brooklynn shrugged casually.
"I already said it." Yasmina said with aggravation as she continued to massage and worked at her discolored knee. "Physical therapy, then training. I'm not going to let a little setback rob me of my chance to run in the olympics. And who knows, after the way I took the mosasaurs tank, maybe I can cut it as a triathlete, and it's not too late to expand my goals. That'll show them."
"I'm gonna bring all the mattresses into the living room," Darius mused, breaking the silence that had fallen over the room. "And all the blankets, and pillows in the house and just have a movie marathon with Brand and my mom."
"Aw, that sounds real nice." Sammy smiled.
Ben was preoccupied looking through his fanny pack with frustration, muttering to himself until he found what he was looking for. "Bumpy stepped in something icky and I'm low on sanitizer." he announced to anyone who might care to listen.
"Ben, why are you even here?" Kenji asked irritably.
"What he means is you're scared of dinosaurs, and the outside, and sometimes the inside, and germs, and people, and-" Darius said rattling off a short part of an extensive list.
"Yeah, seriously that's exactly what I'm talking about." Kenji nodded.
"My mom works... worked for Mr Masrani. She got me into camp, said it'd be good for me to meet new people, and get out of my comfort zone. Turned my own therapist against me..." Ben muttered. Everyone looked at one another with a blend of confusion and concern. "It's been a nightmare, I'm used to being scared all the time, but I'm tired of running, and almost being eaten, and knowing that today is the day I die, and of holding everyone back." his voice broke. "Making you all risk your lives for me. Trust me, I'm not worth it. When I get home I'm going to my room and I am never coming out. A life wasted. I might as well be-"
"Shut up!" Kenji bellowed, leaping to his feet, fire in his belly. How dare he! "You don't get to tell us what's important to us, or who we wanna risk our lives for you asshole!"
"Kenji's right- yuck! I see what you meant Brooklynn! It's unnerving." Sammy starting trying to settle things down as she reached out to put a hand on the now sobbing boy's back. "You matter to us Ben, and if after all this is over you spend the rest of your life alone reading books, if that makes you happy then that's a life well spent!"
"Yeah, what Sammy said." Brooklynn chimed in from his other side.
Ben smiled tearily as he cuddled Bumpy who looked up at him with adoration. "Thanks... I guess it wasn't all bad, if I hadn't of come I never would have met-"
The monorail rocked violently from side to side. The children ducked low, cowering in fear. The car rocked again and the lights flickered. Darius seemed to spot something through the window. The others watched as he ran to the back of the monorail alert and full of dread. He cupped his hands around his eyes and looked out the window, reeling in terror almost immediately.
"Guys, we've gotta turn off the light!" he shouted grabbing a flashlight from the emergency wall mount. They all watched as he climbed onto a nearby bench and started smashing florescent bulbs like a crazy person. Sparks and glass flew everywhere, white smokey vapors roiled around the boy's head, yellow light became blue before dying away. Electricity sizzling through the air, the smell of ozone heavy in the tiny space no one knew what to make of the situation.
Creeping forward Kenji peered out the window and gasped. A whole horde of winged monsters flew after them, screaming with fury. The fear was overwhelming as Kenji ripped a flashlight from the wall and followed Darius' example, doing his best to ignore the way his chest pulled tight and ached as he reached high above his head.
"Flying reptiles are basically sea birds," Darius was explaining as they worked. "And are attracted to shiny moving objects, and with all these lights on-"
"We're a shiny moving object!" Sammy gasped.
The girls made their way to the wall and retrieved the implements of their salvation, and began to shatter the luminous bulbs.
"What should I do?" Ben asked, left unarmed by the quick reaction of the others.
"Just stay out of the way!" Brooklyn snapped when she tripped and nearly fell over him in her haste.
"Stay down Ben, look out for Bumpy." Kenji instructed over his shoulder looking at the boy crouched on the floor.
Kenji was beginning to feel light-headed again, unable to take a complete breath, everything hurt, and in the midst of it all his heart was thundering like mad. Adrenaline was the only thing keeping him going at this point, the screeching of the pterosaurs shrill and constant. The train rocked violently, a hateful winged monster smashing into the window next to Kenji, the boy let out a cry that a mixture of panic and strain.
Suddenly with a shower if glass, the back car went dark, Ben screamed, and then they could see the creatures swarming, their eyes glowing scornfully against the night sky, their great wide wings blocking out the stars.
The kids turned from side to side, penned in, surrounded everywhere they look. The apprehension lasted only a moment however, and soon they fled into next car to repeat the process. Kenji and Darius worked with a frezied mania at the lights while Brooklynn half dragged Yasmina over the gap. Out of the corner of his eye the eldest camper saw Sammy hurl Ben in like a sack of potatoes, shoving Bumpy forward with her foot before rushing to help.
Panting as they moved to the third car Kenji paused to catch his breath, knees weak he leaned against the doorframe between the cars. "Kenji?" Ben asked, his voice high and pinched with fear.
"I'm fine!" Kenji shouted. "Just keep going."
Ben looked at him eyes watery, but jaw set like he might argue. Instead of saying anything however the boy reached out towards Kenji, wrapping his hands tight around his arm and heaved Kenji up. Looking down at him Kenji ruefully accepted his help.
"Smile, you're at Jurassic World!" the control panel beside the door said with a chime. "We hope you're having a Jurassic ti-" Kenji smashed the panel with satisfaction.
"Oh my God!" Brooklynn gasped staring at something out the window.
"At least now we know what that boom was!" Sammy larked ever the grating optimist.
On the tracks ahead of them at a sharp bend there was another train, it was on fire and under siege. As he stared with a fresh stunned sense that his life was about to end, something struck the glass, splintering it. Kenji heard Ben scream before pivoting forward, catching himself but just barely on a bench. Ben yelling frightened apologies where he huddled onto the floor, covering his head. He was a coward, Kenji thought spitefully as Bumpy bleating made her way to him, but if it was the last thing he did, Kenji knew he had to protect him.
"Front car, there's a control panel," Kenji said in the most commanding tone he could muster, moving towards the door. "VIP tour, I was eight, they let me drive!"
The kids hit the door, shoving and pushing it with all their might, Darius tried vainly to break the glass with his flashlight. "If we can't stop or change tracks," he said, voice hollow with fear. "We're going to hit that thing at full speed."
That was when the boy seemed to have an idea, "The emergency hatch!"
"What?" Kenji balked. "You can't go out there that's where the flying whatevers are!"
"We've got no choice," Darius said with the same grim determination that had carried them this far. "Me and- I'm the only one who can fit."
Darius stood on a seat, one foot on the backrest as he positioned himself for the jump. He took a deep breath and leaped, catching himself with both hands. He went rigid, eyes wide as there was a pop and he sagged drastically to the left before his grip failed him. Hitting the ground screaming Darius held his shoulder. Kenji didn't even need to walk all the way over to see that he had dislocated it again. Kneeling down helplessly he tried to calm the injured boy down and he writhed, feet kicking in the air, tears streaming from his eyes when Kenji heard Ben whispering to Bumpy.
"You're going to be ok," he was saying. "I promise I'm going to take care of you."
They were all too preoccupied to notice something was amiss until they heard the rushing air like a tornado from over head. "Ben!" the name ripped itself from Kenji's chest, as he jump up reaching out to grab one of the boy's dangling feet, but he was too late.
"Distract them!" Darius shouted vying against the pain for clarity. "Use the flashlights, distract them for Ben!"
Please, please let this work! Kenji thought running towards the back of the monorail, shining his meager beam into the pitch beyond the glass. He was fighting back tears, trying hard not to think about what they were doing and why as every passing second stretched into an eon of trepidatious uncertainty. Then the horn blared. He'd done it, he made it to the control panel! Kenji thought. Then they turned, everyone stumbled, the earsplitting sound of glass and metal scraping against each other, sparks flying deafened the teens who covered their ears and braced for the worst. Then the other train fell, and the big scaly birds flew off.
Running to the front of the train where they had left Darius sprawled on the floor they witnessed a victorious Ben emerged from the front car, a broad smile of his face, eyes glittering with life in a way Kenji had never seen before. His heart felt full at the sight.
"You did it Ben, you saved us." Darius said with a troubled smile.
"Ben, Ben, Ben," Kenji chanted with a smirk, the others picked it up, the hero of the hour was practically glowing, his cheeks pink with humble embarassment.
Kenji moved forward to hug him, when glass exploded, a giant winged beast swooped in and grabbed Ben, trying to drag him out the other side. The warmth of the moment was severed replaced by the cold cruel tang of horror. Everything moved all at once, while in the same instant hardly anything seemed to happen at all. Tripping over Darius, who scrambled forward on his belly Kenji lunged after Ben, managing to grab him by the front of his shirt, with his other hand the boy clung to the door.
Kenji felt something tearing in his chest, a halo of light narrowing his field of vision as he struggled to hang onto the twig of a boy that had never seemed more heavy. Darius who's good hand clutched tightly to Ben's forearm, was saying something, but Kenji's ears were ringing and he couldn't make out the words. Everything became a pinprick, the world fading away into the meanless nothing that it was, all that mattered now was Ben. He was so frightened, Kenji thought with abrupt clarity, his gaze locked onto Ben's wide, tear strained blue eyes as they looked at each other.
Kenji felt the fabric slipping out from between his fingers and in a desperate ploy to hold on just a little while longer released his grip on the door frame, and grabbed Ben's fanny pack. Kenji felt himself sliding forward towards the edge, when someone grabbed him around the waist. They just had to pull him back in, Kenji thought, it wasn't hard, they just had to pull him back in! But he didn't have the breath to say so.
Turning with a wheeze he tried to make Darius understand, that was when he saw the terrified expression on his face. To Kenji's shock, Darius pulled away, recoiling from Ben. It was only a half a second's worth of hesitation before Darius tried to reaffirm his hold on Ben's arm, but that half a second was just enough time for the boy to slip between his fingers. Ben's full weight pulled down on Kenji, then the strap broke, buttons snapped, and he was plummetting towards the ground, plagued and harried by pterosaurs who fought and tore at him with their beaks and talons, his scream of Kenji's name fading into the distance.
Laying across the floor Kenji watched until there was nothing left to see. He sat up and looked Darius who stared down at his palms. "I-I scratched him..." Darius whispered, his voice far away, removed from what was happening all around him. "I didn't want to hurt him- not like- I scratched him- I-"
Reeling back Kenji hit the other boy across the face as hard as he could. "Kenji!" the girls screamed trying to break things up, Brooklynn retighting her grip around his legs as the combatant tried to stand.
"Get off me!" Kenji bellowed kicking the girl away from him.
"You let him go!" Kenji raged, going after Darius again. "You let him go!"
"Enough!" Yasmina shouted, putting herself between them. "It was an accident. What did you want us to do, jump after him?"
"I would have if that bitch hadn't-" Kenji started, only to stop. His whole world tilted, listing savagely to one side like a capsized ship. "I would have." he repeated falling backwards in shock and dispair.
He was gone. Ben was gone. Kenji hadn't realized, hadn't known, until now, how much that pesimistic bookworm had really meant to him. This wasn't just some casual hook up in the coat room at one of the few parties his dad had actually allowed him to attend. It wasn't even a mutual arrangement between classmates to bang one out in the school bathrooms when class was boring, their confidence that their families wealth would carry them through life making education feel optional.
They hadn't even kissed and yet, somehow Ben, and his stupid nervous smile, and the stupid way he clung to him, and even the smell of his stupid fucking hand sanitizer meant so much more to Kenji than any of the others.
And that Kenji realized was what made it so damned scary. Why he couldn't accept it. Why he had to sabotage it every chance he got.
That was what made it real.
"We're going the wrong way!" someone said.
The others began rushing to and fro in a panic as Kenji sat despondent, wishing he could cry, but something had broken inside. He just didn't feel anything anymore.
"We have to jump!"
"Kenji?" It was Sammy, she was jostling him. "Kenji we have to jump." The other campers broke off in an urgent conversation, before the girl tried again, laying a piece of fabric over the young man's hand. Kenji's eyes drifted to the strap of the fanny pack, the frayed stitching staring at him, and still he felt nothing but a growing emptiness inside. "Kenji," Sammy sobbed. "Someone has to take care of Bumpy now. I think Ben would want it to be you."
"Bumpy?" Kenji heard himself say.
Turning he saw the baby animal calling out into the wind beyond the open door balefully crying for her adoptive parent. A rush of tears welled in the young man's eyes. "Bumpy. It's alright, shhh, I'll protect you. You're not alone. I'll protect you..."
"The only way to do that is of we go right now!" Brooklynn shouted coming to stand beside him.
"Go where?" Kenji asked, failing to understand the meaning behind her words. Tearily the pink haired girl pointed to the jungle that blurred past them.
"We're waiting for that hill, the slope should help." she went on.
Kenji stood, flooded with terror, as he watched the hill grow closer and closer. He didn't want to jump. His whole body was quaking as he readied himself and his new charge. He didn't want to do this. He held tight onto Bumpy. He didn't want to jump. Oh God, is this what it felt like for Ben?
Kenji jumped.
