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Lauren pushed herself further, her lungs screaming at her but she continued through as she evaded Kong. She reached for a vine, gripping it tight before swinging across the ravine just as Kong jumped over the trees; he reached for her but she managed to use her size against him. Lauren ran through a crevice in the mountain, the vibrations of the stone alerted her that Kong knew what she was doing. Who knew that being trained by a large prehistoric ape would be so exhausting and exhilarating. She hoped to have beaten him to the other side of the mountain, she cautiously looked out to see nothing but the many mountains in the distance.

As Lauren moved to leave the crevice believing it was clear, she was immediately caught by Kong who smiled at her as she rolled her eyes. Lauren laid back into Kong's palm, she closed her eyes as she felt her lungs ease now that it was receiving sufficient oxygen. "I was still good though, right?" Lauren asked Kong, who bowed his head slightly with a light growl. "I'm taking that as a yes," Lauren told the large ape, she opened her eyes and looked Kong in the eyes. "Thank you, Kong. For everything," Lauren told him, her smile bought one to Kong's face before the two headed towards their home.

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"There's water close by," James spoke as he leaned over a branch where fungi and mushrooms were forming, Lauren had been keeping to herself but Mason knew Lauren was formulating a plan to not only save Kong but protect the soldiers following the crazed Colonel. "Are you lost? Which way?" Brooks asked before looking towards Lauren, hoping she would give an answer to their whereabouts however, she was trapped within her thoughts. Lauren rolled her eyes and made her way past James and towards a mountain where she began climbing, James followed her while Mason stayed back with Marlow, Brooks, San, and Nieves.

Lauren made it to the top of the mountain and looked out to the foggy view, the sun had disappeared and the moon had risen. James stepped up just by her side, "The boat must be around that bend." He looked towards Lauren who had squinted her eyes before stepping forward, the shadow of Kong appeared in the fog before he stepped closer. Kong's eyes focused on James first before turning to Lauren, a light growl coming from his mouth. "I'm okay, big man," Lauren assured him as she moved to step closer, James grabbed her wrist protectively causing Kong's eyes to turn back to him.

"It's fine, James..." Lauren assured him, James let go of her and let her walk forward. He watched in awe as Lauren not only rested her hand on Kong's nose but her forehead against him; Kong's eyes closed as he relaxed. "I'm sorry, big guy..." Lauren whispered before an explosion in the distance pulled their attention. "No..." Lauren whimpered before stepping back into James' arms, Kong looked James in the eyes before stepping back and letting out a loud roar before he made his way toward the explosions. "James..." Lauren whispered as James' arms tightened around her. "Come on..." James whispered before they headed down the mountain.

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Lauren and James rushed down the mountain and toward their group, James warning Brooks to not shoot before Lauren signaled for Marlow to stand with her. "Conrad, which way are we going?" Brooks asked James, it was clear he was done with the Island and its threats. "You five need to get back to the boat. It's that way," James pointed in the direction of the Ploat, instructing Marlow, Nieves, Brooks, San, and Mason to head back to the boat. "Wait for us till dawn. If we're not back by then, just go," James told them, Lauren nodding with his words before noticing the hesitance on Mason's face.

"You ain't gonna twist my arm," Brooks said as he grabs his things. "I'm coming with you," Mason spoke making Lauren sigh, she knew the risks that they were about to face. "Mase, it's too dangerous and I won't let you get hurt. You'd be safer with them," Lauren told her, she had lost so much in the past, and she refuses to lose anyone else. She knew that James and Marlow could handle themselves in a high-risk situation and she didn't doubt Mason could do but if she could protect her and keep her out of harm's way, she'd be able to focus on keeping herself alive.

"Ren, I can't lose you... Not again," Mason said with a frown, Lauren pulled her into her embrace and closed her eyes. "I will do everything I can to come back to you, but I need you safe," Lauren whispered to her, Mason relented and gave in to Lauren's words deciding to protect Nieves, Brooks, and San while James, Lauren, and Marlow handle the others. "Where are you two going?" Marlow asked but Lauren had already assumed that he would help them. "We're going to save Kong," James said bringing a smile to Lauren's face, she knew in the end that James would pull through considering he saw the gentle giant himself. "Not without me, pal," Marlow told him.

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With San, Brooks, Nieves, and Mason heading to the Ploat, James, Lauren, and Marlow make their way toward the soldiers and the explosions they had set off. "Those bombs most likely sent alerts into the vents, we might have Skull Crawler issues," Lauren warned the two men as she watched the ants scurry from the area and Leafwings take off into the night sky. Her heart was pounding as she worried about Kong, she knew the mighty giant would be able to withstand a lot but she also knew Colonel Packard wouldn't back down until he completed his mission. And as the fire blazed into the sky following Kong's roars, Lauren felt tears well in her eyes.

"Packard!" James screamed as he approached the Colonel preparing his detonator, Lauren's eyes widened at the sight of Kong laying burnt upon the soil. "Kong!" Lauren rushed over to him, Jack barely touched her in his attempt to stop her. They all watched as Lauren stepped up to the large ape's face, tears streaming down her face as she laid her hand on his nose looking into his eyes. "You gotta get up, Kong. You can't give up now... Please... get up," Lauren begged the companion she had for the past almost seven years, Kong whimpered as Lauren sniffled. "You're King Kong... You don't go down this easily," Lauren continued before signing, 'I love you, brother'.

James raised his gun at Packard, his focus wavering slightly at the uneasiness he felt about Lauren being in the potential blast radius should Packard detonate the bombs. Chapman, Slivko, Mills, Cole, and Reles all lifted their guns at James following their training and loyalty to ranks. Marlow appeared behind Reles and Slivko, placing his katana against Reles' neck while pointing his pistol at Slivko, "I asked you fellas nice the first time." Slivko turned his gun to Marlow but anyone could see the hesitance in his eyes, the doubt he held to the Colonel. Lauren's focus was on Kong, she knew she'd kill Packard if she turned to him; no one would be able to stop her.

"We don't want a fight here, Packard," James attempted to talk the Colonel down to prevent things from getting bloody. "This thing brought us down! It killed my men!" Packard snapped back at James. "Kong was just defending his territory," James defended, Lauren was thankful that James had woken up to the situation fully. "We are soldiers!" Packard shouted, "We do the dirty work, so our families and our countrymen don't have to be afraid! They shouldn't even know a thing like this exists!" Lauren scoffed as she turned around, "There is nothing to fear! We could protect them by never letting another soul on this island. Kong won't leave his territory, his HOME!"

"You've lost your mind," James spoke up once Lauren moved slightly closer but still stood defending and protecting Kong. Jack Chapman looked from Lauren to Kong, his heart ached for the gentle giant that was protecting his home much like the soldiers did in the war; truthfully, Jack just wanted to get home to his wife and son. "Put the detonator down, sir," Jack spoke as he turned his gun to Colonel Packard, the others watching him. "It's over, Colonel. Let's just go home," Jack added as he moved forward next to James, he didn't care what the others thought of him, he only cared about Grace and Billy.

"The world is bigger than this, Packard. What you're doing solves nothing," Lauren told Colonel Packard, she just needed to stall him till Kong had the strength to get up. "Bitch, please!" Colonel Packard scoffed before turning to Slivko, "Slivko, get her out of there!" Lauren turned her head to the seventeen-year-old, his eyes already on her before Marlow spoke, "You know it's the wrong thing to do, son." Slivko turned his gun on Packard, "Put it down, sir." Colonel Packard reached for his pistol but James intercepted and pulled his attention back on him. Cole lowered his gun first before Reles and Mills followed the action, Lauren let out a breath awaiting what was gonna happen next.

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Rosemary Speaks

No complaints about writing Mason out of the big fight scene, I didn't want to write her a whole new plot due to the obvious fact that I'm gonna have Lauren take her scene with my own original twist to it. My book, my rules.

See you next chapter!