Trigger Warning: Suicide

If this is one of your triggers please email me at [email protected] and I will send you an edited version of this chapter without the passages that could be triggering or harmful to your mental health so that you can still enjoy the story without having to suffer to do so.

Love y'all! -ENBYsaurus RAWR!!!

Also please keep an eye out for spelling and grammar errors, I'm a little sick right now and feel like I probably missed a bunch lol

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-Camp Cretacous Fallen: Day One-

Small.

Staring out at the vast inky black waves of the Pacific Ocean the endless roll of water stretching far beyond the horizon where she knew a ship should be, Yasmina felt so, incredibly ...small.

Listening as waves broke with a peaceful crash against the shoreline, rhythm steady, and eased a burning pain in stark contrast to the natural serenity of the scene began to grow inside the girl's chest. Taking a trembling breath Yaz turned her gaze decidedly away from the forsaken dock, littered with refuse and debris from the people who had made it in time, where she had failed.

Above her the midnight sky yawned mightily, expanding well past even the sea, stretching further and further out into the unknown, bands of illumination arking overhead. Beneath the glittering magnitude of the heavens, which under different circumstances the girl might have found beautiful she could feel the very passage of time eking by. As, ageless and seemingly immune to it's consequence a million stars shone down with cold unfeeling light, apathetic to the plight of the campers below. It was in this moment that Yasmina realized exactly how insignificant, unimportant, abandoned, and ...alone she really was.

They left her behind.

To die.

Tears pricking hot and angry at her eyes, she blinked them back with a willful defiance. They had left her behind to die, she thought again, before, over the din of the ocean, she heard the others crying. No, they had left them here, she thought, and they were entirely on their own.

Teeth chattering, Yasmina pulled her arms close to her body shivering against the shock induced chill that had overtaken her. Stretching her new hoodie irritably she tried to cover as much of her lower body as possible, left leg too swollen to move remained exposed, outstretched, and useless. Then, in the dim starlight, she finally had the opportunity to read what it said.

"Don't mess with Mamasaurus, you'll get Jurasskicked." she muttered, reading it upside down. It was stupid, so stupid. An exhausted bout of giddy laughter bubbled within before, finally, the levees broke and like the others she gave into her fear and wept. Fighting an emotional cocktail of bitter tasting humor, and heart-rending sorrow Yasmina could feel her sanity slipping away as she laughed and wailed in manic turn.

She just wanted to go home!

Darius who was still lamenting his role as their tragically ill-fated leader lay weeping where he had collapsed, on the dock. Though as the same bone deep fatigue Yasmina felt settled over him his tears had steadily begun to quiet, sleep threatening to ensnare him. 

Crouched a few feet away Brooklynn shed different tears, staring down at her swollen forearms whimpering, and trying not to draw attention to herself. For once, the athlete thought, before guilty chidding herself for it. Brooklynn was hurt, that was all that mattered, and besides, they were all they had now. She reasoned, trying hard to put their petty squabbling behind her as she watched the pink haired girl grit her teeth in agony. 

Nudging him with her elbow, as she surveyed the others Yasmina had to be sure. Because if it not for the occasional groan, she would have thought Kenji, left lying beside her was dead. His face pale and eyes closed, he hadn't moved since laying down, a loud declarative "Fuck this!" his only response to their situation before he seemingly lost his will to fight and gave up.

Then, there was Sammy. The liar. Who she was and why she was really there, her feelings for Yasmina, what had happened to Bumpy- her list of deceptions only seemed to grow.

Yasmina watched with a narrowed gaze as she put on a good show. The cowgirl who fought back her own tears, turned instead to tending to the others and trying to lift their spirits. Flitting about the campers like a bee drifting from flower to flower she spent precious time with each. Rubbing Darius' back Sammy assured him that he'd done all he could, that none of it was his fault, and that everything would work out in the end before breaking away to tend to the invalids. Fretting over Brooklynn she tried to ease her discomfort with a shoulder massage, and soothing words, offering to make splints for the girl who merely begged in a withered voice for the pain to stop. 

Unsure and unable to do anything more for Brooklynn the Texan pecked her affectionately on the crown of her head before scurrying over to pass a cool hand across Kenji's forehead. Her own brow furrowed with what appeared to be worry, but, the athlete thought darkly, there was no way of knowing for sure. Sammy whispered something to him in Spanish, before turning towards her with a sigh.

"Yaz?" Sammy asked watching the girl who sat shivering.

"Don't." Yasmina replied between clenched teeth. There was nothing that could be done, not for Brooklynn, not for Kenji, not for Darius, and certainly not for her. Why Sammy even tried was an infuriating mystery to the young woman who leaned out of reach when Sammy moved to touch her.

"Are you-"

"I said, 'don't!'" Yasmina roared all of her anger at the injustice of the world igniting against the kindling in her heart before erupting from her chest in a pyroclastic explosion of pain, remorse, and fear aimed at her former friend and confidant. "Go peddle your weepy eyed bullshit somewhere else cowgirl, because I'm not buying your crap! You lie to us, endanger our lives, and get us stranded here because of it, and then you pretend to care? Nice! Real fucking nice! I meant what I said Sammy, I hate you. Now get the fuck away from me."

Sammy flinched. In the halflight Yasmina could see a shimmer of moisture collecting behind her lashes as she looked down at her. Crocodile tears, Yaz thought, jaw hard set.

"You are such a bitch!" Brooklynn moaned, turning away from staring at her own arms to give Yasmina a glare.

Spite rising like bile in her throat the Olympian opened her mouth to loose her venom like a spitting asp at a new target when Sammy interceded on Brooklynn's behalf. "No, it's alright, really." she said, her voice warbling, a hand pressed to the side of her head. "I'm sorry for bothering you."

Watching Sammy shuffle away to sit by Darius Yasmina caught an immature flash of Brooklynn's tongue as the pink haired girl joined them. She probably would have given Yaz the finger if she could have managed, the downed runner thought broodingly. This was fine, Yasmina told herself feeling the familiar and reliable walls she'd built her lifelong defenses out of raising once more as she pushed the others away. She was better off on her own, always had been. Yaz turned away from them, wiping at solemn tears, besides it was better to be hated, than to be hurt again.

It was as she sat snuffling back her pain, that Yasmina felt something patting against her side. Startled she looked down to see Kenji, his eyes half open and teary holding up a hand for her to take. Her fingers looping around his larger, and somehow softer hand, Yasmina was secretly grateful for the company. Her crying magnified by this simple gesture of kindness.

"Just so we're clear," Kenji murmured after a while. "If I could get up, I totally would have left your crazy ass here too."

With a gasp Yasmina turned to see the boy looking up at her with a pained rendition of his signature shit eating grin. "Just saying." he winked jokingly, and all Yaz wanted to do was hit him as she couldn't help but laugh.

"Is that-" Darius said suddenly, the pent hope in his voice drawing Yasmina's attention. Peering out into the black she could just barely make out a light on the water coming towards them. "I think-" Darius started, the breath catching in his lungs as he found his feet. As they watched the light pivoted, passing from left to right, before going dark, and then repeating the process as it slowly spun.

It was a ship, Yasmina thought her heart beginning to hammer with an exhilarating thrill of hope. That was a search light, it was a ship! Soon other lights appeared through the mire, flanking the original as they steamed towards the island.

"It's a ship! It's several ships!" Darius whooped loudly, leaping into the air for joy, fist pumping high above his head, something he quickly regretted.

"Yes!" Brooklynn laughed up to the sky. Standing beside the boy, she swung her hip into his playfully. "Idiot." she giggled as celebration broke out around them.

"We're going home!" Sammy gasped, wiping at her face.

Head light, her mind trying to play catch up with this newfound rush of adrenaline Yasmina's cheeks were beginning to ache from how broadly she was smiling. Unable to banish the expression she joined in the merriment, shouting and calling out loudly. They were saved! She thought tearily, they hadn't been left behind, they did matter, she mattered, and they were going to go home!

"Aw fuck me!" she exclaimed unable to control the rampant fluxions of emotion that caused her body to practically vibrate, fight, flight, or freeze response begging her to do something with the work her adrenals were providing.

Just then with a low whistle a fiery red streak tore through the air from somewhere to their right. The kids turned and watched with stunned silence as the flare ignited in the cool night air, slowly drifting back down towards the sea. In shock, the cold lance of fear was quick to follow as the light, and ship that carried it turned away from dock and began streaking towards the origin point of the sparkling ruby signal.

"They're, turning away..." Brooklynn muttered, visibly deflating, as the boats fanned out. Turning the campers who had previously been so fixated on the water saw that several signal fires dotted the coast around them.

"They can't see us." Darius said in a whisper, before shouting it again and leaping into action. "They can't see us!"

"What's do we do?" Brooklynn shrieked her puffy hands flopping painfully on the ends of her wrists as she turned this way and that, struggling against her panic.

"We need to make a fire too!" Sammy announced rushing to the treeline she began snatching wood and dry leaves, piling it onto the sand.

Kneeling by the meager, but growing stock a willful Darius began shoving paper, and other, easily ignited scraps between the severed branches. Thinking quickly Kenji searched through Ben's fanny pack, retrieving the sanitizer bottle that had proven to be their salvation once before, holding it aloft. Sammy snatched the bottle, and the prod Yasmina extended towards her and ran to the pile of wood. The campers watched with mounting tension as Sammy squeezed and squeezed the spent plastic bottle, tears of frustration trailing the sides of her face as she tried before giving up and reaching for the prod instead.

Flickering brightly with a crackle, the rod browned and curled the edges of a piece of paper, but that was all. The children stared with a hollow sense of loss, at the would be fire that could have saved their lives, if only they had managed to ignite it. Silence filled the passing minutes before Darius spoke with a clear conviction.

"We're not beat yet." he announced confidently, turning to look over his shoulder he seemed to size up the situation. "We could make it to those fires!" he said pointing to their right. "But we have to go fast and we have to go now."

Pushing herself hard Yasmina forced herself to stand, ignoring the explosion of pain that shot from heel to hip, sending dark spots darting across her vision. "Fast is what I do." she breathed, taking the prod that Darius now offered back to her.

Looking down at Kenji who passed her a helpless glance, before returning his attention to the sky, the girl found herself doubting if either of them truly had it in them as he called out, "Alright, get me up, let's do this shit." Neither one of them wanted to be the reason the others died here.

Ignoring the persistent pop and grind coming from her knee Yasmina leaned heavily on Darius' good side, though she could tell he was struggling too as the campers raced through the jungle. Her leg was on fire, the constant roll and strum of loose muscles and ligaments shifting in ways they weren't meant to, twanging painfully across her bones like the strings of a guitar, making the girl feel faint.

She couldn't do it! Yasmina thought after a few minutes of racing through the jungle, her eyes closed against the strain, trusting Darius not to run her straight into a tree. Her leg buckled, the pair of them sinking to the leaf litter, before Darius hauled her back up. "We've got this." he assured without breaking line of sight with the finish line, like a true athlete. 

Swallowing hard, Yaz tried her find the same resolve, her leg painfully unstable it refused to hold her weight any longer knee rocking dangerously to the side. Blinded by her anguish the girl was about to give in when Kenji collapsed beside them. "I can't-" he wheezed mournfully as Sammy tried to scoop the puddle of a boy back up. "I just- I can't-"

"Me either." Yasmina confessed lowering herself to the ground. "You guys go, tell them to wait for us."

"What? No!" Brooklynn squeaked pacing back and forth, fighting the desire to race away towards salvation and the need to see the others through to the end.

"No one is getting left behind!" Darius shouted.

"Again." Kenji spat hatefully as Sammy hands on her hips asked "Y'all out of your God dang minds or something?"

"Fine-" Kenji said breathily. "Guess we're- all dying- here."

"Shut up man!" Darius shouted holding his unbound hand out for Yaz to take, his eyes pleading in the cold half-light. "Come on, we can still make, we'll go slow, we have time. There were lots of boats." he said his voice falling to a fragile whisper. He clenched his hand closed briefly before reaching again, with an increased urgency, Kenji's remark clearly weighing on him. More than out of compassion or fear, Yasmina could tell that he needed this. He needed to save someone.

The girl took a gulp of air before accepting his offer. That first step was the hardest, and she couldn't help but let out a ragged scream as her knee refused to uphold it's end of the bargain. Every muscle in her body contracted with a maddened frenzy, then swaying with a bout of lightheadedness she sagged back towards the earth. Only the astonishing strength and grit Darius found in that moment kept her standing until she was able to plant her right foot firmly enough. 

"Come on Mr VIP." Yaz smiled down weakly to Kenji, mopping at the sweat that had broken out across her brow with the back of her hand.

"What part of- 'I- can't' do none- of you- get?" the boy whimpered pitifully, the heels of his hands rubbing hard against his teary eyes.

"You might not be able to," Sammy said with authority. "But I sure can!" Stooping the girl slipped her hands under the boy and hefted him into the air. "Shit." she swore losing her balance momentarily as she held the young man as if they were newly weds.

"Ow- ow- I hate you- I hate- you!" Kenji cried cradling his ribs.

"Yeah, join the club." Sammy grunted, her eyes locking momentarily with Yasmina's as Brooklynn laughed for the sheer relief, "Cowgirl for the win!"

"It's how we do it in Texas, now let's go before I drop the lug!" Sammy said with a groan as she readjusted her grip, turned, and began trudging towards the distant flare.

At a much slower, more controlled pace the five campers persevered, marching on through the dense undergrowth in defiance of the odds, stumbling, and falling, but picking themselves back up every time. They were in this together, and they were going to make it. Fleeting optimism finding root within Yasmina as the illumination of a signal fire found her face through the standing. Mirth was contagious among the children as they burst through the trees and into the warm comforting firelight.

In the clearing however, as if preordained by the hands of fate the children found, only that, the fire there to greet them. Grim faced they watched as the ship's searchlight grew smaller, and smaller in the distance. Crestfallen, they sank down to the sand.

"I fucking knew it!" Kenji muttered voice airy as Sammy set him down and began to sob meekly.

"It's, it's not too late!" Darius said in clear denial, as he helped Yaz hobble to the red-orange flames. "They'll be back, more ships will come. Just you wait and see, we'll-" he choked miserably on his own words. "We'll just keep the fire burning and, and someone will come for us... You'll see! ...you'll see."

Too tired, and too depressed to argue the others settled down around him. No one spoke. 

The five kept vigil, stoking the fire throughout the night waiting in misery until the gentle dawning of morning broke over the waves. Even as the black sky shifted through oranges, pinks, and eventually assumed a crystaline blue no one had come for them.

"We need to regroup." Darius said, his throat dry, voice cracking. "We can't just sit here forever."

"Yeah," Yasmina muttered irritably breath catching at an unexpected jolt of pain as she tried shifting to a more comfortable position. "And what exactly should we do?"

"We should wait here." Brooklynn said, staring out at the water.

"No, we should go back to the dock, that's where they'd look for us, that's where we were supposed to go, right?" Sammy asked, looking to the others with uncertainty for validation.

"Does is even matter what we do?" Kenji cut in. "We're dead either way, Toro, the Indominous, those raptors, they're all still out there!" he was so helpful to remind everyone.

"That's exactly why we should stay put!" Brooklynn shouted. "The more time we spend messing around in the jungle, the more likely we are to wind up dino chow!"

"Not like it's better to sit here and starve to death waiting for people who obviously don't give two shits about us!" Yaz snapped, tongue sticking to the roof of her parched mouth. God she was thirsty.

"Fighting isn't going to help y'all!" Sammy interrupted, trying to play peacemaker, all it accomplished was earning her the spite of the two combatants.

"I think we should go into the park." Darius said then, musing his thoughts aloud.

"The trashed, body littered, dinosaur infested park?" Kenji asked tone dripping with sarcasm and despise as he cocked his head to get a good look at who he was addressing. "Great idea Darius, a lot better than your last one."

"Yeah not to be rude or anything Darius, but I don't think that's such a good idea." Sammy who was still busying herself with random bits of timber, and a few sharp rocks, put in gently. "Isn't that place going to be dino-central now?"

"Maybe," Darius shrugged, drawing a crude sketch of the island in the sand with his finger. "But maybe not."

Edging closer to get a better look the girls watched as he put a big circle near the center of the island. "Here's JW central, main street, shops, all the hotels, restaurants, and stuff." he explained before making an X at the bottom of his sketch. "This is us, not too far from the South Ferry Dock. Now, all of this," he said making a wavey scribble across the part if the map separating the two landmarks. "Was primarily used to house herbivores. The whole ecosystem is going to be in a state of flux now that all if the animals are, presumably, out of their enclosures."

"Yeah, and that's a bad thing, remember?" Kenji butted in, only to be met with a chorus of angry shushing.

"Well, yes, but it also means all of the dinosaurs, predators included are going to be distracted trying to find, claim, and defend new territories for themselves outside of the artificially created ranges, and migratory paths." the dinosaur enthusiast postulated.

"So," Yasmina said through clenched teeth, squeezing the area just above her knee. The pressure helped some, but the moment she let up death was instantly preferable. "What you're saying is that we can take advantage of all that chaos and get to the main park and do... What exactly?"

Darius shrugged, "Use a phone, call for help? Wait it out until someone comes? Write a message on the roof of the grand hotel?"

"So, basic zombie survival guide stuff huh?" Brooklynn smirked giving him a nudge.

"Pretty much!" the boy laughed, scratching his head as if doubting his own plan.

This could actually work, Yasmina thought craning sideways to get a better look at the map. Especially if he was right and all the big bads were too busy playing Godzilla to worry about five tasty little humans running about the place. The only problem, she thought grimly, was getting the dead meat up and walking.

"I don't suppose some sort of car factors into this plan, anywhere?" Yasmina asked motioning between herself and Kenji. "You know, turn this light-bite into some meals on wheels?"

"No, sorry." Darius shook his head, while only the other butt of the joke gave her little comment a courtesy laugh. "You've had a couple hours though," he grimaced, clearly feeling sorry for what he was about to ask. "Do you think you can manage?"

Yasmina let out a sigh before responding, "The real question is 'do I have a choice?'"

"Not really, no." he said apologetically.

"It's alright," Yasmina smiled. "It can't be helped."

Tentatively, as everyone began trying to visualize the plan of action, Yaz began to ease up on the pressure she had been putting on her aching muscles. So far, so good, she thought as she let go of her leg. Then it happened, a lighting bolt shot up her leg and into her spine causing the girl to cry out, throwing herself backwards into the sand she writhed. Everyone rushed to try and help as fingers tightly laced through her hair the girl screamed and pulled tightly, the dull ache in her head doing little to distract from her knee.

"What do we do?" Brooklynn asked, hovering into view, her fat, gray fingers held uncomfortably in front of her mouth.

"I don't know! I don't know!" Yasmina sobbed as the throbbing pain only seemed to get worse.

"Would, would taking your shoe off help?" Darius asked his expression troubled.

"My wha-? It's my knee!" the athlete bellowed.

"I know, but-" the boy said biting his lip.

"Move." Sammy's voice was so forceful and commanding that before Yasmina could even voice her opposition the others had scurried out of the way. The cowgirl moved quickly, and decisively, wrapping her belt around Yasmina's thigh and pulling it tight, making colorful spots dart before the girl's eyes and the air rush from her lungs. "This isn't a permanent solution." Sammy muttered, her tone almost maternal, eyes fixated on her work. "You can't keep cutting off the circulation, even if it seems to help." She went on, but Yasmina couldn't hear her over the ringing in her ears.

Then, as Yaz was trying to sit up and see what was happening Sammy took two of the long, thick branches it had taken most of the night to smooth down and bound them to either side of Yasmina's crippled limb with scraps of cloth scavenged from what had been left around the fire. The runner let out a howl, as the last of the knots was secured. Staring up at blue, Yasmina was only aware of Sammy looking down at her, when the other girl's shadow blocked out the sun 

"I'm really sorry." Sammy said, wiping at red and weepy eyes. "I know it hurt but we had to do it sooner or later, and all this pussyfooting around wasn't getting us anywhere!" she looked away, reigning herself in before going on in a more controlled tone. "I'm not sure if it'll work," she explained motioning to the two inches or so of wood that extended past the bottom of Yasmina's foot. "But I left a bit of overhang, maybe it could help absorb some of the weight."

Yaz blinked feverishly at the steady steams of pain flowing down her cheeks. It hurt so bad, she just wanted it to end already. Unable to contain a whimper when the throbbing started anew, she grim faced nodded her understanding.

"I think the shoe thing should help too, looks like the swelling has gone all the way down." the self-appointed field medic said to Darius before turning towards Kenji.

"Like hell you're touching me!" he snapped, scooting away like a turtle on its back.

"Listen Kenji, the way I see it-" Sammy started evenly.

"I don't give a damn about how you see it! I'm not letting you touch me!" the eldest of the group retorted.

"And I'm not carrying you again!" Sammy shouted catching everyone off guard. "I can't! You're hurting, and you're scared, I get it, I am too. But God dang it Kenji, my head is still swimmin'-" the girl said voice breaking. "I'm so dizzy right now I feel like I'm going to fall over, I can't think straight, and it's taking everything I got just to focus on what's being said! I'm tired, and I just can't do it anymore either." she cried, freely this time, and without trying to make herself stop.

Yasmina watched, her lips pressed together in a firm line, remembering how the other girl had busied herself with easing the pain of those around her, and how disingenuous it had seemed, at the time. Now, as Sammy knelt beside the boy, Yaz found herself moved to shame in herself, and pity towards her fellow survivor, everything else aside.

"Suck it up buttercup!" Yasmina called out sharply.

With a gasp Brooklynn turned on her, "You're a real piece of work you know that!" the pink haired girl shouted. "All Sammy is trying to do is-"

"Not Sammy, stupid!" Yasmina retorted, brows knit. "Kenji: suck it up!" 

The rivals sized each other up for a moment before with a little, "Oh." Brooklynn let the argument go.

"You suck it up!" the boy called back at the same time the truce was formed.

"I did!"

A tension filled quiet settled over the group, no one spoke while the floral clad girl expressed her grief. After a few minutes, when Sammy had composed herself, she called Darius over. Together they did their best with the remains of several tattered, bloodstained shirts, and donated midiffs from everyone's tees amid a slew of swearing. When they were finished, wrapped and bound the oldest boy lay white faced trying to remember how to breathe.

"Not- a buttercup." he announced after a while.

"Fine, a pansy then." Yaz smirked. The two looked at one another, an unspoken understanding passing between them as Kenji, smiling, gave her the bird. 

Darius gingerly worked the shoe and sock off of Yasmina's foot, exposing deep red impressions where the clothing had been dangerously constrictive a few moments later. Taking his lead the Yaz gradually loosened the belt, closing her eyes against the pins and needles, breathing in short puffs until the pain subsided.

Hot and blinding the sun was well in the sky, beating down on the campers when at last they were ready to get their very likely doomed plan underway.

"Slow and steady right?" Darius smiled, taking up his now standard position beneath the crook of Yasmina's arm.

"If you say so." the girl rolled her eyes.

Trudging through thick undergrowth that threatened to snare and entangle the children pressed forward, a tentative faith in their plan and one another galvanizing their resolve. Where yesterday all of their focus and efforts had been aimed south, they had now turned tail and marched dauntlessly in the opposite direction. After nearly an hour of toil the five spilled out onto the smooth, easily transversed asphalt of the main road which led directly into the heart of the park.

Their relief at having found this surefire way to reach their destination was short lived however, as smiles vanishing they took in the sheer number of bodies strewn across the street. A shiver ran down Yasmina's spine, the hairs on her neck rising as she found herself confronting the spector of death with a growing familiarity. Eyeing her feet, she told herself not to look as crows and ravens fought and squabbled with the lithe green figures of several compsognathus, their mouths reddened with blood.

What must of have been like to be here when it all happened? The girl found herself wondering morbidly. What must have been like to be trampled to death, crying, begging for help up, only needing a minute, maybe two of compassion to save your life, yet receiving none. Letting out a long low breath, eyes fluttering, for the first time since the observation tower, and Jayson, Yasmina found herself thinking that maybe, just maybe, they were the lucky ones after all.

"Come on." she croaked, after a minute when no one else had dared to move. "We're wasting daylight, and we don't know how long Toro and the others will be busy playing king-of-the-mountain."

"She's right." Brooklynn agreed, swallowing hard. "Besides, there's not anything we can do for them now."

The campers pressed on in silence, ice water chilling their veins they shuddered as they carefully picked their way across what felt like hallowed ground. Ignoring the fire creeping up her leg Yasmina refused to look, keeping her gaze fixed on the glittering spires of glass and steel not too far in the distance. This time, she was going to make it.

A thunderous roar tore through the jungle then, as they hobbled along, causing all of them to stop, limbs electrified with fear as they crouched low to the earth. It had been a distant bellow, but the power it's echo carried shook the children.

"T-Rex, I think." Darius said low whisper before nodding. "Yeah, that was the T-Rex for sure, territorial call. Like I said she's probably-" Another roar, lower, rasping came up in response from somewhere to the left cutting him off.

"I'd know that one anywhere." Sammy said nervously glancing about while Kenji, superstitiously spit the name "Toro." between gasps.

"See," Darius said with an apprehensive confidence. "They're all too busy-"

A third call sounded, this one new, sharp and keening. "G-giganotosaurus?"

"Will you stop trying to show off already?" Brooklynn snapped leaning forwards to lock eyes with the dino-nerd himself.

"Yeah, you're smart, we get it. Be smart in the hotel or something." Yasmina added throwing her weight forward onto her good leg, pulling the boy with her.

"Sorry." he smiled sheepishly as they walked on.

Spirits low, and tensions high as the kids slumped against a roadsign welcoming guests to "The Most Jurassic Place on Earth," they listened cautiously to the nearby calls and howls sounding out around them. Fatigued Yasmina had just begun to feel herself doze under the hot, oppressive power of the sun, and South American humidity when a loud crack split the air. Heart hammering she turned instinctively to the sky, when Darius tapped her, motioning down the road.

Chuffing loudly a pair of pachycephalosaurus were squaring off down the way, preparing to go at it again. As the campers watched they charged, domed heads crashing together with a sharp "wham." Separating they circled with light chortals, before gently coming together to groom one another, beaked mouths murmuring.

"They seem happy." Yaz scoffed watching the tender pair with annoyance.

"Well yeah," Darius intoned as he leaned forward, the familiar old gleam returning to his eye as he watched them preen. "Look at it from their perspective. No more fences, no more cages, or electric prods. They're finally free, and they're together. It's basically Dinosaur Independence Day."

"Yeah," Yasmina nodded with a yawn. "Now I know the heat's getting to your head!"

"Agreed." Brooklynn rasped from where she sat on his other side.

It was just after mid-day by the time the campers finally staggered into the park. Main street was a ghost town, choked with broken glass, litter, and even more corpses. Through the shimmer of tears, a blend of relief, fear, and heartache Yasmina took the gruesome sight in at a glance before Sammy broke the silence.

"There." she said pointing towards a shaded rest area that was lined with misters.

Limping over the pilgrims enjoyed the respite as fine water droplets fell upon hot, thirsty skin, miniature rainbows arching overhead. Overheated, Yasmina fanned and fluttered her hoodie relishing how what moisture made it through the neckhole alleviated her discomfort.

"This feels nice." Brooklynn sighed dreamily.

"You know what would make it even better?" Darius asked with a grin. Everyone followed his outstretched hand as he pointed to the vending machines across the walkway.

"Yes please!" Kenji chimed in as Sammy forced herself back up.

"I can help you carry it back." she smiled, helping Darius to his feet.

Moments later Yasmina was tearing the wrapper off a Payday bar. Her taste buds exploding with the salty goodness of the peanuts the girl wiped her chin with embarrassment as she began to salivate uncontrollably. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until that moment, as looking up she saw the others wolfing down their sugar laced sweets just as savage as she was. 

Recognizing the bright red bag of Doritos when she saw them, Yaz snatched them up, eat now, manners later. It was as she worked the cheesy, savory delicacy around that her mouth became chalky. Struggling to swallow she and the others gradually recognized their mistake, dehydration drying out their mouths after the initial salivary rush. 

Recoiling from the too cold sensation of a bottle touching her arm Yaz turned to see Sammy holding a soda out towards her. Taking it wordlessly the athlete used the bubbly slurry to force the food down and wet her parched throat, until, eyes watering the carbonation flooded through her nostrils with a burn.

Smiles all around as they ate, the very real but unspoken fear that they wouldn't ever experience the simple joys of eating another candy bar, or drinking another soda ebbed out of the group having found a little patch of paradise in hell. Tempted to overstay their welcome, sedated by the shade, and intoxicated by sugar filled stomachs the five eventually remembered their end goal and grudgingly picked themselves back up. This time however, they walked with a little more optimism, and pockets fully loaded.

"Maybe we should hit up one of these?" Yaz suggested thumbing over her shoulder as they milled through Restaurant Row.

"Yeah totally!" Darius agreed. "Maybe Sammy and I-"

"I'm not completely handicapped I'll have you know!" Brooklynn snapped with a slightly irritated smile.

"Sorry." Darius apologized.

For almost a minute things felt normal, and Yasmina could have almost forgotten as they joked and teased with one another. Then Sammy said, "Um, guys. Is that?"

Turning towards the hotel they had been working towards all day it took Yasmina several minutes to see what Sammy was pointing to. Hand shading her eyes she squinted until, with a vivid contrast of yellow against blue Yaz could make out a sundress clad woman standing on the balcony. They weren't alone! There could be others, she thought excitedly, maybe rescue was on the way and Darius was right about coming here! A lightness to their step the kids hurried forward as fast as they could manage calling out and waving, trying to make themselves seen, ignorant to the unwanted attention they might be drawing to themselves.

Concentrating hard on her each and every step, Yasmina's gaze was focused on the ground until Brooklynn gasped, "Oh God, no!"

Looking up in a panic Yasmina stared at the pink haired girl trying to discern from where the danger had come. But Brooklynn wasn't looking at any creature looming and ready to pounce, rather she was staring straight at the hotel with wide, frightened eyes. Following her lead Yaz looked to see the woman, now crying stood on the railing, something clutched tight in her arms. No sooner had Yasmina wondered, "Is that a baby?" then the woman stepped out into the open air.

The image of mother and child hurtling towards the ground burned into Yasmina's brain in an instant while the scream that followed only to be cut short rang in her ears with a heinous shrill. It wasn't a baby, she thought trying to blink away the damning sight that occluded her vision. It wasn't a baby it couldn't have been, not if she- It wasn't a baby! It wasn't a baby! It wasn't a baby! she thought trying desperately to convince herself that this was the truth, turning away from gory sight.

"She fell..." Darius said with a distant numbness to his voice as Brooklynn shrieked and Kenji began to swear and mutter incomprehensibly between his teeth.

Struggling to control her breathing, each respiration a shallow gulp as the tears emerged Yasmina remembered that nothing was ever going to be normal ever again.

"I can't." Kenji stated firmly, heels digging into the ground. "I won't. We have to find somewhere else. I can't."

"It's alright, we'll find somewhere else, right Darius?" a quaking Sammy said from where she had crouched, face covered by her hands.

"Darius?" Brooklynn said nudging him, when he failed to respond.

"What I didn't mean to- I-" he startled jumping away, knocking Yasmina backwards.

Left leg planting firmly as she instinctively caught her balance Yaz yelped in agony before the world went black... Coming to moments later the girl saw her friends staring down at her with worry.

"I'm fine." she said, dismissing their concerns. Heart still hammering with the terror of having witnessed- what she'd witnessed, Yasmina closed her eyes wishing she could forget. Then as the radiating heat from the concrete became unbearable Yaz motioned urgently for help up, leaning against Brooklynn while Darius, huffing loudly tried to compose himself.

"My dad- uh-" he started, batting away tears. "When my dad and me were planning our dream trip-" Darius stopped blowing out a shaky breath. "There's a nice hotel- cheaper than The Grand- I-" he paused to take a few breaths, his warm chestnut eyes locking onto Yasmina's. "I'm sorry." he whispered swallowing past a lump in his throat.

Tears spilling Yasmina shook her head. "Don't be. Let's just go."

Inside the "Historic" Pre-Historic Plaza, the children shivered in the air-conditioning that should have been a blessed relief. Wandering about the lobby that, aside from the disarray of a few overturned suitcases seemed ready and waiting for them to check-in Yasmina half expected a bellhop to emerge at any moment, or some receptionist to chase Darius away as he snuck around the desk and picked up the phone.

It was they way he closed his eyes, jaw set, that told Yasmina all she needed to know. "It's completely dead, not even dial tone." he announced sadly.

"It's ok," Brooklynn reassured joining him behind the desk. "Zombie 101, remember? At least we have a place ride it out and wait for rescue." She went on, gingerly sliding things across the desk.

"And this place has kitchen." Sammy piped up, trying to help. "So, we've got plenty of food and- Brooklynn, you're gonna hurt yourself what are you looking for?"

"The master key." the girl explained with a sympathetic smile. "I could really use a shower and a bed."

Leaning against a chair, her throbbing injured limb outstretched Yasmina couldn't decide which one sounded better as the cowgirl joined in the search. When at last they'd discovered what they were looking the kids made their way to a room only to stop looking perplexed at their young leader. He was staring brow furrowed at the door handle, anxiety emanating from him.

"I don't think we should sleep on the ground floor, just in case..." he announced giving the handle a superstitious jiggle. "Raptors..."

A chill racing down her spine Yasmina didn't argue as they turned towards the elevator. On the sixth floor, which after some mild debate was deemed safe enough without being too far from their food supply they found the first few rooms were left standing open. Snapshots of time and the lives left behind captured by their door frames the kids ambled past scenes of streaming televisions, laid out dress clothes, toy dinosaurs posed around the floor, a bottle of champagne in a bath of long ago melted ice. 

Finally they found a door that was closed tried the key card. The room looked clean enough walking into the living area of the suite. Shuffling in and down a short hallway both queen sized beds were made, as off to a little room on the side they saw a disheveled bunk bed, cartoons blaring from the tv in there.

A family vacation, the girl thought sorrowfully. She just hoped that they'd all made it out in time. "Good, at least for the night?" Darius asked with a nervous hope.

Nodding everyone concurred as Darius half drug Yaz towards the nearest bed. Laying down, Kenji taking up the space beside her Yasmina could feel the ache and strain flowing out of her body. Eyes closed sleep threatened immediately. Then it happened, the dull pain she'd been ignoring all day, inconsequential when compared to everything else became stabbing and urgent.

Sitting in the bed motioning people to her with desperation she gasped, "Bathroom! Bathroom, bathroom!"

Sammy and Brooklynn rushed to her aid instantly, but even with their help Yaz knew she wasn't going to make it. "Please, don't let me piss myself, please!" she begged internally. Then as the porcelain throne came within reach and the other girls were struggling to lower her shorts and underwear it happened. Warmth spreading down her inner thighs and running towards the floor. Seating herself seconds too late a mortified Yasmina covered her face as she started to cry in frustration.

"I'm sorry," she said helplessly. "I'm so sorry!"

Hushing her the other girls tried to assure her that it couldn't be helped, and they weren't upset in the least. "Do you want a shower?" Brooklynn offered delicately trying to maneuver Yaz's soiled clothes over the wooden splints, her index and middle fingers working as pincers no longer able to make her thumb meet her other digits.

Yasmina shook her head, voice a whisper. "I can't, my leg, what if I slip?"

"It's alright we got you." Sammy promised grabbing a washcloth from the counter and wetting it.

"Oh!" Brooklynn said shock coming over her face. "I gotta- be right back!"

"See, you're not the only one." Sammy went on as Brooklynn raced away towards the second bathroom they'd seen attached to the living room.

Yasmina withered inside. She felt so stupid, useless, and juvenile. Really she had to pee her pants? This place was truly hell. Trying to reign herself in embarrassed and sobbing as Sammy gently mopped her lower legs. Yaz accepted the cloth a few minutes later and was cleaning herself up the rest of the way when Brooklynn returned, a small lavender hued bundle in her hand.

"I could only find 'mom jeans' and I didn't think denim would play nice with your knee." she said smiling apologetically. "But hey, no stains!"

So, this is what survival meant, wearing someone else's underwear? Yaz thought staring at the bundle. "I fucking hate this!" she whimpered. The others silently agreed as they laboriously helped her into them.

Darius was waiting with several plastic bags of ice and a first aid kit pulled from the hall when the trio finally hobbled out of the bathroom. "On the bright side, lots of ice!" he tried.

After getting situated, her monstrously swollen and discolored limb unbraced, propped, and iced Yasmina lay staring at the ceiling. Was all of this really happening? She wondered then, the past forty-eight hours feeling surreal, more like a nightmare than reality. It was as she was trying to come to terms with everything that had happened that Sammy began lamenting.

"Don't cry. It- it'll be alright, we're safe here." Darius said gently as he dabbed at the cuts on her back with an alcohol wipe.

"She's scared asshole, let her cry!" Kenji snapped in response.

"It's not even that," Sammy sobbed. "All of this, everything was for nothing! Without those samples- Oh God without those samples Manta Corp isn't going to be happy. They still have the deed!" she wailed. "My family is going to lose everything, and there's nothing I can do to help!"

Her words hit Yasmina funny, and hurt her chest. Turning she saw the other girl weeping into her hands on the edge of the other bed. Brooklynn was slumped against the wall staring ahead vacantly. Even after all this, she was more worried about her family?

"Did that woman really have a baby in her arms?" Brooklynn asked then in a whisper.

"No! A mom wouldn't do that!" Kenji retorted.

"Are you sure?" Brooklynn asked with a shudder.

"No..." Kenji confessed beginning to cry.

"What about all those people?" Yaz heard herself add, shock and horrendous visions flooding her mind. "I can't, I can't stop thinking about what it must have been like to- to-" Overwhelmed, before she even realized it Yasmina howled out with fresh mourning. 

Soon they were all crying, the weight of getting to this point an unbearably heavy burden to bear. The knowledge that they might not even get off the island even more so.

All she wanted to do was see her family. To hold Sameera, have her mom smooth her hand over her hair and sing to her like when she was little. To have her baba tell her that everything was going to be alright and that he would chase all her fears away.

All she wanted to do was go home.

All she wanted was her family.

She just wanted to go home...