-CCF Day Three-
 
Empty.

Kenji was just empty.
 
-

-CCF Day Four-

A startling electric hiss cutting through the air first thing in the morning, Darius and Sammy worked with taught bickering to get the tv up and running again. After much infighting, false starts, and a dreadfully long stretch where the screen was black and void they had finally gotten it to broadcast the news. They still had no way off the island, or to contact the people on the other side, but at least they could watch. That had to count for something, right?

Crowded around the screen until Yasmina shouted angrily for everyone to move so that she could see the kids all turned towards Sammy.

Her brows knit, eyes welling as she listened the girl did her best to translate in the incoming news broadcast, the feed in local Spanish. 

"Uh y'all she's saying that they're still taking in numbers and refugees from the island, um some of the boats were just local fishing tugs but it's takin' a while for them to get there..." she explained as the well dressed woman on the screen rattled off the top story, her forehead creased with concern.

A little window opened up just over her left shoulder, the screen stayed small for several moments until it expanded to fill the entire television. The children sitting close together watched as people huddled in tearful masses in a large hanger. Doctors, nurses, and Red Cross volunteers shuffled about the densely packed space rendering aid to people who were bleeding, battered, and some, dying.

"Does anyone see Dave or Roxie?" Brooklynn called standing to get a better look as the camera panned out. It was like trying to pick needles out of a haystack the survivors moving about like a colony of ants, but squinting she tried.

"No." Darius shook his head.

"They made it, I'm sure." Sammy smiled, reaching up and gently tugging the back of the pink haired girl's shirt. Getting the cue Brooklynn sat back down so Sammy could see.

The anchorwoman began to speak again, Sammy sat a little taller as she listened. "Oh my God..." she breathed.

"What?" Darius, Brooklynn, and Yaz all shouted at practically the same time, the anxiety clear in their voices made Kenji's heart start to race as he watched quietly from his spot on the bed.

"Um, uh," Sammy stammered rapidly blinking back tears. "There's thousands of people missing. Thousands... Of the twenty-thousand people who were on the island only about fifteen-thousand are accounted for!" she said voice wavering as she fought not to cry.

"That many people, down there, dead..." Darius muttered looking at his hands in way that ignited something in Kenji that made him want to spit, to yell, to throw something.

"Shut up!" Yaz shouted over Kenji's shoulder.

"Yeah," Brooklynn tried, putting an arm around the boy's back. "Just look on the bright side, think about how many of them are still alive like we are!"

"Some fucking bright side!" Kenji grit.

Yaz used her fingers to shove the back of his head roughly, he turned towards her with a scowl. "Not helping." she whispered.

Like he cared.

"Shh-shh," Sammy said motioning for everyone to be silent. "She's saying that relief and assistance is trickling in from all over the globe, that this is one of the worst catastrophies to ever hit Costa Rica, and that-" Sammy's words where cut short when the screen filled with unstable camera footage of fleeing masses, people fell, there was screaming.

On their feet without warning Sammy and Brooklynn both darted for the door that led out into the living room.

"Sammy!" Darius called out to the girl in a choked tone.

Tearfully she turned back to him, shaking her head Sammy said, "I can't. I just can't watch!"

Darius gave her a pained look his mouth forming a firm line before he said, "I need a translator..."

Letting out a breath between pursed lips Sammy nodded her understanding, leaning against the doorframe, eyes closed she listened. Kenji's stomach in knots as he watched the flying demons swooping down and carrying off people as the footage changed again, shifting to something shot by someone else. He couldn't watch either. Turning his head away the boy maneuvered his arm with agonizing difficulty, his chest protesting and aflame, to cover his exposed ear as silent tears trickled from his eyes.

Yaz who was watching the news with wide horror filled eyes took notice of him. Looking at the boy for a long minute she empathetically pulled the pillow out from under her head, and more roughly than intended smacked it down over Kenji's muffling the sounds. 

Gratefully Kenji squeezed his eyes shut, shifting his hand to press the downy armor tight over his ear, drowning out the sound of the world, only the whooshing sound of his own heartbeat, racing and pained could be heard as blood rushed to his head. The boy, teeth squeaking together willed himself to fall asleep, make the world disappear as he pushed it all far, far away.

Hissing with discomfort Kenji unburied himself what felt like hours later when causing him a sharp twinge Yasmina rocked him back an forth with excitement.

"What?" he grumbled staring hard at the girl who was crying for joy.

"We're going to be saved!" she breathed behind her fingers which were trembling and pressed hard against her mouth. Kenji's brows knit as he watched her hyperventilating, unable to control her emotions as she tried to composed herself enough to go on. "We, um, we just need to hold out a couple more days, they're going to send helicopters, search parties, the US Coast Guard!" she sobbed.

"They are?" Kenji asked perking up and turning back towards the tv.

The others were celebrating, Sammy and Brooklynn jumping up and down as they hugged one another, Darius had fallen to his knees in a tearful fit of laughter it looked like he was praying. Choppers and men in uniforms flashed across the screen. A half smile tugged at the corner of Kenji's mouth, the expression fleeting.

"What's wrong?" Yaz asked through her enthusiasm. "We're all going home!"

Kenji's heart ached as he shifted back to his former position. They weren't all going home. He tried to shrug, the motion awkward, "It's just too good to be true." he murmured closing his eyes he ignored the others and their jubilee.

Who the hell put corn in macaroni and cheese? Kenji thought dragging a spoon through his bowl later that afternoon. It was an unholy abomination. Stirring the food in circles watching the stringy clumps of cheese clinging to his plastic utensil, stretching like cobwebs he listened to the others making plans for their grand escape.

"So you've still got Kenji, are you sure?" Darius asked motioning with a spork to Sammy, his mouth crammed with food.

"Yeah, I got him, don't you worry!" she said nodding with confidence.

"Alright Yaz, it's you and me." the boy called over his shoulder towards the bed.

"Always!" she agreed.

"And I'll keep a lookout for anything big and scaly!" Brooklynn beamed, rubbing her defective wrists gently.

Kenji shoved a bite ruefully into his mouth, the crunch of the corn against the soft smoosh of the pasta, and the stringiness of the cheese gave the boy the sensation that bugs has crawled into his mac and cheese. With a grimace he spit it back and tossed the bowl callously onto the nightstand. He couldn't eat that trash.

"Nasty Kenji!" Yasmina scolded. "Now no one else can eat it!"

"So," he scoffed. "We'll be outta here in a matter of days, right?"

Still glaring the girl shoved her plate of enchiladas towards him. "I'm fine." he mumbled dismissively as he closed his eyes.

Later, Kenji watched with a cocked eyebrow as teeth clenched Yasmina staggered back and forth at the foot of the bed. 

"You're gonna fuck it up, you know that right?" he observed with sarcasm.

"Shut up." she gasped, turning to sit as she forced herself to bend and lift her swollen joint.

"What are you even doing?" he asked.

"If you must know I'm trying to do what PT I can remember from when I tore my ACL!" she snapped turning to him with a burning gaze. "I will not be the reason we miss those heloes when they get here." she said with determination. "And laying there like a bump on a log is just giving all the fluid more time to collect. I've got to do something!"

Unable to fight the feeling that Yasmina was going to do more harm than good he watched her moan and weep as she forced herself to shift and angle her knee in new misery inducing ways. "You should at least wait for the others to get back." he observed plainly.

"Yeah, why?" the runner asked, jaw hard set.

"Because if you fall on your face, you're crazy ass is staying that way." he said nonchalantly.

"You're a real pain in the ass, you know that, right?" she couldn't help but laugh.

"And you're insane." he countered.

"Touché." Yaz nodded.

"Thank you."

The pair of invalids waited while the others gathered dinner, fresh clothes and whatever other supplies they thought would be necessary for the trek to wherever rescue finally arrived.

"Maybe you should try moving around too." Yasmina observed falling back to the bed, lifting and flexing her leg as much as she dared.

"Ha!" the boy faked a laugh.

"I mean it. It might suck at first, but it's gotta be better for you than just laying there." she went on.

"Yeah, and when did you get your medical degree?" he asked rolling his eyes.

"I'm just saying, if moving an injured leg wasn't something that would help it heal, physical therapy wouldn't be a thing." Yasmina observed, closing her eyes, hands gripping the sheets. "I should have taken something before hand." she whimpered as the tears started.

"You think?"

There were one hundred and thirty two little swirly ammonite shells in the decorative ceiling that stretched across the bedroom. One, two, three, four... he started counting the tiny three toed footprints next.

"Welcome Brooklanders to the infamous, the scandalous, the luxurious room 608!" Brooklynn called announcing the trio's arrival in the obnoxiously bubbly tone she seemed to be cursed with whenever she had her cell on her. Peering through the bedroom doorway Kenji could see a small digital camcorder in her hand. She had it turned towards her face as she led the way for the other two.

"Behold the glory!" the pink haired girl said panning the camera across the living room. "And in here we have Yasmina and Kenji who are out of commission at the moment."

"What the fuck is this?" Yaz murmurs in stunned disbelief.

"I... don't even." Kenji shook his head as Sammy and Darius trickled in behind the videographer, uncomfortable and apologetic expressions on their faces.

"Kenj here, is a real trooper," the girl smiles moving in for a close up of the boy who stared with confusion and disgust at the eye of the camera. "Busted up his ribs falling from a zipline and still hauled his sorry butt all around the island with, let's be real here, only minimal swearing and complaints. Yaz-"

"I hate you." Brooklynn's current subject of discussion sneered throwing the blankets over her head.

"Well she's a little camera shy, stage fright am I right?" Brooklynn laughed in a sound that was pure cotton candy, plastic, and lies. Kenji gaped up at her incredulously as she began filming herself again. "Anyways Brooklanders, you would not believe it, but Yasmina out swam a mosasaurs, and then leapt to safety from a falling cable, busting her leg and possibly dashed all her hopes and dreams of ever making it to the Olympics, but she saved all of our li-"

Knocked back by a pillow hitting her in the face Brooklynn held the bridge of her nose where the camcorder had struck her in the melee. "What the hell?" she shouted trying to discern which one of them and thrown it as Kenji and Yasmina both began cursing and yelling wildly.

"Are you serious right now?" Kenji asked, unable to wrap his mind around why she was doing what she was doing.

"Do you even have a heart?" Yaz spit eyeing her up and down.

"Oh, so dramatic!" Brooklynn said rolling her eyes. "I'm just trying to keep the people informed and document what happened here!"

"For your followers, your fans?" Yasmina questioned through her tears as Darius stepped infont of Brooklynn and tried to defuse the situation.

"For the world." Brooklynn said casually throwing all of her weight onto one hip.

"Bullshit!"

And with that, all at once the room was filled with shouting, Yaz and the others criticizing Brooklynn for her behavior and the sensationalized way she was telling their story. Yasmina screaming that she had no right to say that her dreams were at an end, or provide commentary on any of their struggles for that matter as Darius and Sammy tried to remedy the situation. Always the peacemakers Darius put himself in the middle as Sammy started showing off all of their other finds trying to divert their attention elsewhere.

After a while when the two warring parties were separated, Brooklynn musing aloud about taking in the view Kenji looked at the camera she still had rolling and deadpan asked, "Did you tell them about Ben yet?"

Her forced expression wavering Brooklynn seemed to, for a second see things from their perspective, and how distasteful her charade really was. "No." she whispered lowering the device. A tremor threatened to overwhelm her for an instant, but she banished it, assuming her internet persona once again. "Let's go take a look at the fallen kingdom that was once Jurasssic World!" she said making her way out onto the balcony.

"What is her problem?" Yasmina asked no one in particular once she had left.

"I don't, I don't know..." Darius said from where he tidied empty take out boxes. "I think it's her weird way of dealing with things, by pretending everything's alright?" he suggested with a grimace.

"You're just making excuses for her!" Yaz bit out.

"Yeah," Darius nodded. "I am, but it's the only idea I've got."

"I just think she's really scared y'all." Sammy put in as she remade the other bed with fresh sheets and comforters from a supply closet. A fresh set for the others' beds tucked away by the door.

"We're all scared." Kenji pointed out. "But we're not all acting like psychopaths about it!"

No one had anything constructive to say, and the room fell silent.

That night Darius picked a movie, and to Kenji's surprise it didn't include blood thirsty killer monsters, back stabbing, and betrayal. Shocker.

Picking at his food Kenji gave irritable commentary to his bedmate while the movie played.

"Oh my God!" she cried in an angry outburst after a while. "Is complaining all you do?" Yasmina shouted with frustration. "Your ribs are messed up, you're sad, and scared, and hurting just like the rest of us, but nothing is ever good enough for you, and on top of that you've done nothing to try and help yourself! I'm at least trying to make sure I'm not the reason anyone else dies!"

Kenji turned to Yaz wounded. Tears welling in his eyes he struggled for a minute to breathe as everything he'd been refusing to deal with came crashing to the surface, like an iceberg. He'd thought she was his friend, that out of everyone else he was stuck in this nightmare with she was the one who understood what he was going through the best. He'd thought she was on his side. He was wrong. He was alone, even here, always had been.

"Fine!" he said hurling his food across the floor to a chorus of loud complaints from the others, Sammy's voice resounding with annoyance over the others as she had been doing her best to maintain a level of cleanyness, picking up the slack where the others failed.

"You want me to do shit for myself, make sure nobody else dies? I will!" Kenji yelled forcing himself to his feet. Fire igniting in his chest but it was nothing compared to the rage that burned through him. The boy held his breath for several seconds, darkness encroaching on the edges of his vision as he shuffled along the bed sweat breaking out across his brow with effort.

"When those helicopters get here, don't worry about me, every man for himself!" he declared amid arguing, the others finding his words laughably dismissible. "I mean it." Kenji added through the pain as he opened the small square fridge that sat upon the counter, well out of children's reach.

Oh thank God, he thought fishing several glass bottles out by the neck, holding them between splayed fingers with a practiced skill. Turning he slowly and methodically Kenji made his way to the balcony.

"Sit back down Kenji, please before you hurt yourself!" Darius begged, moving towards him with the intent to help.

"Fuck you man, this is all your fault!" Kenji gasped, the anguish growing worse when he pivoted to address the other boy who sat back down with a wide eyed, stunned expression.

"Come on Kenji that's not true and beyond messed up, besides you know that's not what I meant!" Yaz shouted trying to get out of bed now herself.

"Yeah, are you really just gonna sit out there and get drunk?" Sammy asked trying to make it sound like a bad joke, but the worry was written all over her face.

"Sure am!" he smirked before turning to the girl sitting next to her, "Hey Brooklynn, wanna get this for your followers? No? Not family friendly enough, scared you're gonna get demonetized? Bitch." he muttered the last part just under his breath, but still loud enough for the others to hear him as the yelling began again. "You know what? Fuck all of you! You are the four people I'm going to see it hell, and you know what? Even that'll be too soon! Leave me the fuck alone!"

"You'll see us when you come back inside dumbass!" Yaz called getting the last word in as Kenji slid the door closed behind him.

Outside Kenji tried to lower himself into a deck chair, misjudging the distance he fell back into it the last few inches, the air knocking from his lungs in a loud "huff!" Eyes slamming shut, teeth grinding together as every muscle in his body tensed in agony he struggled not to scream no matter how badly he wanted to, knowing that would only make things worse.

When, after a few dizzying minutes later the worst of it had passed Kenji twisted open the first little bottle relishing the familiar fire that blazed all the way down. He needed this, a part of him even missed it. 

The young man's father collected alcohols and wines like Kenji collected hobbies. It wasn't so much an active interest as it was a passing fancy, something to kill the time and make you seem more fascinating at parties when you had nothing else going for you. As a result Xi had no true awareness of how many bottles were actually in the house at any given time, only breaking the stuff out for special occasions, or more often to impress someone. Because of this an unspoken rule had developed between Kenji and the help, if he didn't say anything when they lifted a bottle or two, they didn't say anything and disposed of the evidence when he did the same.

Really, sometimes getting good and wasted was the only thing to do in that big empty building he was supposed to call home...

Brooding about the injustice of it all Kenji shouted "Shut up!" hurling the empty bottle at whatever it was hooting in the night, regretting it instantly. "Fuck..." he breathed, in a hiss.

As time rolled past him, and empty bottles accumulated around the chair, Kenji tipped his head back watching the stars swirling and dancing overhead. He liked this feeling, the feeling when no matter what was going on in his life everything was fine, not good, not bad, just fine... He felt good though, his chest didn't even hurt all that much anymore, and he almost forgot why it should in the first place.

"Fuck 'em..." he muttered to himself. He was glad they all hated him, wanted them to. It was easier this way, on his own. That way no one else got hurt, because that's what he did, Kenji hurt people... Got them killed...

The first sobs escaped unnoticed, Kenji unaware that he was crying until it had turned into loud ragged lamenting. Covering his face with his hands as he wailed he couldn't forget the look on Ben's face when he fell, get his voice screaming his name out of his head. His hands becoming fists Kenji punched himself in the head over and over again, screaming and trashing in his chair oblivious to the extent he was exaggerating his already extensive injuries.

It was his fault! No matter how much he tried to push the blame off onto Darius Kenji knew in his broken heart that it was his fault. He dropped Ben. Him. Because he was weak. Ben was dead, and it was all his fault...

Oh God, Kenji thought listing sideways in his chair, he didn't like this anymore. Why wouldn't the world stop spinning? Falling back against the element resistant cushions the boy held his head as he cried...

-

-CCF Day Five-

His mouth impossibly dry, head pounding, Kenji tried to sit a little higher than his current, lopsided position in the chair, a fallen scarecrow tangled in a blanket he hadn't brought outside. Stopping rigidly when a stabbing pain erupted within, accompanied by the blossoming anguish that radiated outward, a halo of light flaring in his gaze, he froze in place. Unable to move, unable to breathe, tears raining down his face. Kenji needed help.

Small chuffs of air escaping from between his teeth, hands clenched into fists he refused vaguely remembering a range of curses and insults thrown at the others. Pridefully, idiotically, he would do it on his own. Progress to sit up was painstakingly slow, then the door slid open. Turning towards it he watched as for a second nothing happened. The he heard a little, "Ok, let's do this."

Yasmina stepped out, right leg first, her injured limb catching on something she wasn't quite able to lift it over. She stumbles out onto the balcony, catching herself on the railing. Lower lip between her teeth, she bites it hard as a cry of pain dies off within. Kenji watched, struck with a pang of guilt as she shuffled towards him. Assessing the situation for only a second, the girl didn't hesitate even when Kenji yelped to push him up by the shoulder. Satisfied with her work she collapsed into the chair next to him, holding her knee, chin bouncing, teeth chattering as she lets out a long slow breath.

"Oh that hurt." she announced before fishing around in the neck of her shirt. "No pockets, no judgement, or else no drugs got it?" the girl who had been going whatever the opposite of cammando was for the past few days said in an accusatory tone, before pulling out a small white pill and offering it to the boy.

"No problem." he muttered taking and downing the chalky godsend.

They sat quietly watching the sun rise over the horizon before Kenji pulled the covers he'd been given under his chin and turned trying to get a look inside. "What'd you fall on?" he asked earning an eye roll and a wry smile from the girl who seemed to be expecting something more, an apology, maybe, but seemed resigned to the fact that she wasn't getting one.

"Darius," Yaz yawned jabbing a thumb over her shoulder. "I swear that boy stayed up most of the night just watching you from the other side of the glass like a creeper."

"Seriously?" Kenji gaped incredulously.

"Yep, I think he was scared something was going to happen to you. ...Or you were going to do something really, really stupid." she shuddered with memory before asking. "You done being a self destructive asshole yet?"

Riled by her comment Kenji snaps, "That depends, you done being a self-righteous bitch?"

"We're cool," Yasmina says holding her hands up in surrender. "Chill, we're cool. I know what it's like to burn bridges when you're angry..."

"Sammy." Kenji who's wrath had been stoked to life sneered.

"Darius." the similarly hotheaded Yaz countered, brows knit.

"Fuck you he got Be-"

"I didn't come out here to fight!" Yasmina yells cutting off further debate.

"Yeah," Kenji grumbled, adjusting a numb, sleeping butt cheek. "Then what did you come out here for?"

"You." the girl laughed as if it were an obvious answer. "You ok?"

"I'm fine." the boy lied.

"Kenji," Yasmina said leveling him with a 'really-how-stupid-do-you-think-I-am' look. "We could all hear you last night. You are not fine."

"Like you're doing any better." he grumbled.

"Actually, I am." she intoned.

"Self... righteous... bi-" Kenji tried spelling it out for her, she always had to be in the right.

"Fine. Whatever. See if I care." she waved him away turning to look back at the park.

Stretching out over all the concrete, glass, and steel already the monsters they shared their new island home with were on the move. Howls, calls, and baritonous roars filled the air. In the distance a rolling wave of migrating bodies spread out across the streets using the man-made avenues for easy travel. Whether the buildings provided much needed cover and protection for the herd, or more likely Kenji thought, an ambush full of teeth and claws, remained to be seen.

The others began to stir a short while later, the clatter of them bumping around inside could be heard as they talked, made beds, and probably devised battle plans for the day. Faintly Kenji could hear the white noise of running water, someone was taking a shower. It sounded nice. Half out of fear that it would hurt to have all that water hitting him, half out of stubbornness and pride, Kenji hadn't bathed since the morning of Indominous Rex. He could really, really use one though. Maybe he'd bite the bullet and just do it, he mused with a yawn, rubbing a hand over a stubbly cheek as he thought, watching the world that was laid out before him.

At some point, the glass door rattled as if someone was about to pull it open, but no one emerged through the portal. The odd occurrence happened a second time making both early birds turn to look, seeing only the back of someone retreating away. Brooklynn, her hair dripping wet thrust the door open several minutes later, annoyance written on her face, and in her tone.

"I'm supposed to ask if either of you want anything to eat, because these two are too afraid to risk pissing you off again." she sighed.

"Brooklynn!" Darius snaps from further in the room while Sammy standing just behind her whines, "You didn't have to say it like that!"

"And you didn't have to keep interrupting my shower!" the privileged internet personality quipped.

"You'd been in there for almost half an hour!" Darius yelled.

"Yeah girl, what more you got that needs soapin'?" Sammy laughed, adding. "Anyways don't we need to be ready when those helicopters get here? Whatcha gonna do, streak across the whole island if they come while your in there practice for a Pantene commercial?"

Indignant Brooklynn turned away from the pair sitting in the fresh morning air. "This is fun!" Yaz fake smiled. 

"Yep." Kenji agreed as an argument broke out inside.

"So y'all want somethin' or not?" Sammy asked poking her head out a short while later.

"Nope." Kenji answered, a cocky grin on his face when the runner remained silent, expression stone cold in the cowgirl's presence. "We're both fine."

Watching the massive herd shuffling through the streets from so far up, the two chatted idley about a whole lot of nothing, until Yasmina sat up perplexed, but smiling like Cheshire cat with disbelief. "Oh my God," she laughed. "Is that a person?

Kenji pushed himself forward in the chair, his pain dulled by the medicine the boy craned to see what he was looking at. A speck in the distance, insignificant, and small Kenji squinted trying to discern whether it was really a person or just another dinosaur he couldn't quite tell.

"We should try to get their attention or something." Yaz said leaning to knock on the door to bring the others out to see what they were seeing. "Seriously what if it's an employee or something, what of they have a way to contact the mainland? This could be our ticket out of here! I bet there's others too!" the girl rambled getting ahead of herself in her excitement as diverted by the rubble bands of the lumbering beasts were split apart the a sprawling river delta.

As they watched the diminutive figure tripped and fell. They stayed down for a long while. "Oh..." Yasmina whispered, goosebumps racing down her arms. She hadn't considered the possibility that they were hurt.

Something happened then, roused by one of the smaller animals the person got up. There was something, almost, familiar about the way they moved janky as it appeared from where Kenji sat, the way they hugged themselves before ...anxiously rubbing their hands together.

Time stood still. The world that had previously lost all of it's color spun rapidly out of control, saturation blaring as the boy's senses came screaming back to him with new life. Kenji was only vaguely aware that he was holding his breath as the eye of the world narrowed into a pinhole around the staggering figure so far below. Everything else fell away. In all the universe there was nothing save for the two of them, and the unseen thread, thin but strong as spider's silk, that connected them.

"Ben." Kenji breathes.

He was on his feet in a second, shoving Darius who had just opened the door out of his way he raced across the hotel room. Heedless of any obstacles Kenji ran like a linebacker crashing through all barriers that stood in his way. Only just could he hear the others calling after him. 

Heart pumping so wildly it hurt, the pressure could be seen in bright flares behind his eyes Kenji let out a shout of frustration beating his fists against the elevator doors as he waited for the metal box to arrive. It wasn't him, he thought rationally as the tears flowed, beating his head against the cold metal, it couldn't be. He'd fallen. He was dead. Kenji knew these things to be true. And yet every fiber of his being raged against these facts. It was him, it had to be, it just had to be. It was Ben.

Giving an impatient thought for the stairs just before the doors slid open Kenji who'd been leaning against them stumbled inside, turning on his heel jamming his thumb against the 'close' button as the others spilled out of 608 after him.

"Come on, come on!" he grit, dizzy with nausea, a fire creeping into his lungs.

Running, his breathing labored Kenji caught himself on the desk in the lobby. Pushing off an unparalleled drive propelling him forward he continued on and out into the street where he had to maneuver around the slowly undulating mass that was a stegosaurus. Slipping into the herd that paid the boy little mind he moved towards where he had last seen the figure. It was as he was cut off by an angrily snorting triceratops that the others, save for Yasmina managed to spot him through the crowd.

"Kenji!" Sammy called waving to him like he was a lost child she'd been separated from at a grocery store. "Where did you see him?" she asks tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with apprehension.

"I don't know! I don't know!" he responded in a shriek, fingers tangling into his own unkempt mass of hair.

"Kenji," Darius murmured coming up along side him, looking ready to cry. "...Are you sure it was-"

"Yes!" Kenji berated, turning on him with fury. "It was Ben. I'm not crazy!"

The frantic young man could see the looks on the others faces from the corner of his eye, his breathing starting to become difficult requiring thoughtful effort, ears ringing, he knew they didn't believe him. Trapped in place, swallowed up on every side by the gentle giants that lumbered past, someone reached a hand out to grip his shoulder. He pulled way sharply.

"It's ok Kenji." Darius whispered.

"Yeah, we all miss him." Brooklynn adds, lowering her God damned camera.

"Keep telling yourselves that, but you're the ones who left him for dead, not me!" he hisses plunging into the sea of massive bodies once more.

"You know I don't know how this shit works!" Kenji muttered in probably the worst start to any prayer ever. "Thanks for bread or whatever, forgive us, and please God fucking damnit-" his voice became a pinched shrill. "Please let this be Ben! Please let us find him! Please!" he begged wiping at his face that poured with snot and tears. "Because if it's not Ben I'm going to be really, really fucking pissed!"

Lanced with dread when confronted by an adolescent steg who seemed keen to drive out the intruders Kenji back peddled, falling. It took all his strength to get back up, orbs floating, speckling the world around him as he stood swaying. That was when he heard Brooklynn scream.

"Oh my God!" she shrieked. "Ben! It's Ben!"

Rushing towards the sound of her voice Kenji could just barely make out her pink hair through a pallet of dull gray blues and greens. Following her gaze he spotted Ben. Kenji felt weightless with relief, a smile spreading across his face, even at the mournful sight of how Ben was jerking himself forward, lurching, and flopping about as he flung one foot in front of the other, leaning against a stegosaurus for support, Bumpy bounding ahead happily to greet Brooklynn.

Pushing towards them Kenji was close, so close as he watched Ben between a gap in the bodies as he moved like a marionette with tangled strings, shuffling away from Brooklynn and Sammy head down.

"Ben it's us!" Sammy beamed awash with tears of her own.

"Oh my God Ben, what happened, we thought you were dead!" Brooklynn added. "Are you ok?"

Sammy tries to reach out to touch him but Ben moves away as Darius and Kenji struggle to close in on the group from opposite directions. Close enough Kenji can hear Ben mumbling about having to stay with the herd, his voice sounded wrong, muffled somehow, like he had a mouth full of cotton.

"Move your lard ass!" Kenji shouted with aggravation, punching a huge dino in the leg. His actions don't seem to phase it, as it carried on, but eventually he made it through the crowd, to the spot where the others are standing, to Ben.

"Ben?" he asked in a sob watching the clearly disoriented boy shuffling back and forth like a caged animal cut off and surrounded by the fellow campers. "Ben, it's me... It's Kenji..."

Blinking hard Ben, caked in dirt and dried blood peered about himself confused, and afraid. His messy brown hair, and the way his hands were held, limp wrists, and close to his chest reminded Kenji of a mouse. "Ben?" he tried again, reaching out he took a slow step forward.

Squinting the lost boy inched closer as if trying to get a good look while Kenji struggled to keep his balance, Bumpy chortling loudly nearly bowled him over when she jumped up on him with her front feet honking and happy to see them.

His face crunched up in bewilderment Ben wobbled over before the tension drained from his body. "I know your nnn-nnn face! I know your face! Your nnn-nnn-nnn smug arrogant face!" Ben sobbed in a slow, halting manner, his throat closing around his words as he spoke sending an unnerving chill through the other campers.

Ben collapsed with relief. Kenji acting quickly was able to catch him if only just, the stabbing sensation in his ribs almost making him regret it. He caught him. Kenji let out a wail that was a mix of heartbreak and sheer exhilarating triumph. He didn't drop him, not this time! Holding on with a trembling grip afraid to wake from this dream he relished in the moment. Kenji had caught him when he fell!

"I remember nnn you!" Ben cried into Kenji's shirt. "You're, you're nnn-nnn an asshole!"

"Yeah! Yeah, I guess I am!" Kenji laughed scooping him closer as his internalized pain subsided, alleviated by Ben's nearness. This was nice, he thought in a flicker of illumination.

"Nnn-nnn." Ben groaned unconsciously as the others exchanged looks filled with trepidation.

The five children waited amongst the sea of dinosaurs while Ben wept holding desperately to Kenji, the others wrung their hands together silently questioning what to do next, what was wrong with their friend, and more importantly what were they able to do about it?

Surprising him Ben pulled away sharply, a floundering hand grabbing Kenji firmly by the jaw. A grim seriousness washed over his otherwise muddled and distant expression. "Kenji." Ben said firmly.

"Y-yeah?" The other boy asked between forced fish-lips, nervous and perplexed.

"I, nnn-nnn, nnn-nnn, I nnn-nnn-nnn," Ben tried clearly growing frustrated with his own inability to articulate his meaning.

"Take your time!" Sammy called gently from the sidelines.

"I nnn-nnn," he stammered. "I have your shoe!"

"Cool." Kenji replied with uncertainty, the initial euphoric rush wearing off he found himself staring into the blank eyes of the boy who was paper white, and reeked like wet garbage. "I have your fanny pack."

"You do?" Ben sighed. "Oh thannn-nnnk goodness!"

Making Kenji's heart leap into this throat Ben slumped unconscious in his arms. Fresh fear in his gaze he looked to the others for help. As he held him, a slow realization surfaced in his mind. Ben was hot. Like seriously hot. Laying a hand flat against his forehead Kenji felt himself beginning to crumble again.

"Guys, Ben's burning up!" he said tearily to the others.

Sammy was at their side in an instant, her hand pressed against Ben's forehead, then his throat, his chest. Her eyes flickered from Kenji's to Brooklynn's, then Darius. "We have to get him inside."

Reacting on reflex Kenji pulled Ben away when Sammy moved to take him from her. "It's alright Kenji," she smiled. "I got him."

The cowgirl lifted Ben with some difficulty, his dead weight ragdolling, limbs flailing it took a minute for her to adjust him just right. Pushing off the ground Kenji tried to get up too, the air squeezed from his lungs, he felt dizzy.

"It's ok we got you." Darius assured, bracing Kenji as he threatened to tip over. With Brooklynn's help he hefted Kenji up, struggling under his weight, they turned to set off, only to have their path barred by a weathered steg who's tail thrashed against the concrete pathway.

"Whoa! Easy there girl!" Sammy said walking backwards as other animals nearby began to grow agitated, calling and colliding into one another.

Bumpy called out defiantly to the stegosaurus, whose minute head swung towards them. Sniffing and snuffling against the strangers. She bellowed mightly tail still swinging in a mock attack she seemed to be giving them warning as Bumpy chirped at her. The children sensing an opportunity slowly backed away. Listening to the old girl huff before moving on the five eventually slipped back into the surge.

Struggling to keep a steady pace, every movement igniting to new kind of torment within his chest Kenji wished he had exercised just a little more restraint, the oxy he'd taken earlier doing nothing to touch the pain.

Bumpy trotted about with an electrified excitement when they entered the lobby of the Pre-Historic Plaza. Slowly the kids made it to the elevators, where they fell panting for breath, nervous smiles all around.

"Bumpy?" Sammy called when the little animal seemed far more interested in nosing around loose, abandoned papers, and over turned suitcases than she had in following them.

"Bumpy, come on!" Brooklynn who kept pressing the 'door open' button sighed, already annoyed with the baby animal's antics.

"Bumpy!" Kenji yelled angrily after a minute as he slid across the floor towards Sammy, motioning for Ben.

Slowly the little ankylosaurus made an appearance in the doorway, bleating as if asking for permission to stay and play.

"Come on girl!" Darius tried in an excited tone, like he would use talking to a puppy, he pat the floor beside him. Conceding she ambled in, and Brooklynn let the doors slide closed.

Eyes shut Kenji tugged Ben over by the tattered remains of his shirt, and emersed himself in the first sense of peace he'd felt in a long while. It didn't last long, guilt ebbing towards the surface he opened his eyes after a minute, gaze lingering on the boy who had helped haul him back to the hotel. A conflicting torrent of remorse and shame, clashed against his sense of righteousness, and pride.

Nudging Darius roughly with his foot he said. "Hey." pausing, unsure of how to begin mending everything that had happened between them, the muscles tugging at the corner of his mouth all he could think to way was. "Junior... We're good."

Darius smiled meekly, giving him a nod.

Sticking her leg out the door when they had reached the sixth floor Brooklynn kept it from closing the doors and going back down. As they sat together quietly Bumpy pushed her way out earning a cry of aggravation from Yasmina who had drug herself to the bank of elevators, and had just begun making her way towards the one with the open door.

"Was it-? Ben!" she fell awkwardly to the ground, shifting her weight on the way down to keep off her bad leg.

All at once, the crying started anew. Hugging and holding onto one another, for the first time since being left behind they were whole once more. Kenji sagged where he sat, his energy spent he felt, physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. 

With only distant awareness did he hear Sammy talking in a low nervous tone. "He smells like infection y'all, and he's burning up. We need some real medicine... What are we going to do?"

Fear seized Kenji's heart, but hugging Ben tighter he refused to let it win.

-

Author's Note: I always intended for Ben to speak with slurred words after the fall, but while working on this chapter and trying to figure out of to externally convey his injuries I remembered my late uncle who suffered severe brain trauma and damage while in the Marines. (He fell from a helicopter from what I was told by some, a concussive blast from what I heard from others)

We didn't live in the same state, so when he visited or I talked to him on the phone he honestly scared me when I was little, I had no idea how to talk to him or what was "wrong" with him. He struggled and had to concentrate on his words, and made an "nnn-nnn" sound when he spoke, or sometimes while he was just sitting there. He had no control over it, his jaw would just clamp shut and he'd make that sound.

It wasn't until I was older that I realized he was just like everyone else, he just had trouble with translating thoughts into words, and words into concepts which was why he asked people to repeat themselves occasionally because he couldn't understand them the first time. But people treated him as less than, and like a child whenever he went out anywhere, even some family members did this to him, and it hurt.

I love and miss my uncle. So while it might be jarring I gave this trait to Ben too and retroactively altered chapter 25.

Sorry for any confusion this might have caused. Have a good one!