𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟱: 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆!

-PROOFREAD-

The group trudged through the lush jungle, fatigue settling into their bones. Every sense was on high alert, heads whipping around at the slightest sound. Suddenly, Ben let out a blood-curdling shriek, causing the others to follow suit in a chorus of startled cries. They spun to face the boy, hearts racing.

"Sorry, I stepped on a twig," Ben mumbled apologetically, hands raised in defense. A wave of exasperated sighs and grumbles rippled through the group.

Kenji's eyes flashed with irritation. "I should step on you," he seethed, earning a menacing glare from Vera that could have wilted flowers.

Darius, ever the peacemaker, stepped in. "It's okay, Ben. We're all on edge," he reassured, his voice steady despite the tension.

Yasmina's voice cut through the air, sharp with annoyance. "And lost."

"Yeah, we've been out here for a while now," Sammy chimed in, worry etched on her face. "Darius, are we sure we're still headed towards the park?"

Brooklynn's patience snapped like a taut rubber band. "Well, we'd be sure if I still had my phone, because it has a GPS, a compass app, and is also a phone!" she shouted, advancing on Sammy with accusation burning in her eyes.

Yasmina leapt to Sammy's defense, shoving Brooklynn back. "Sammy didn't steal your phone! No one stole your phone! Can we please stop talking about the phone?" Her hand was swatted away, the tension palpable. Vera bit her tongue, the memory of what she'd glimpsed in Sammy's possession earlier weighing heavily on her mind. She chose silence, knowing a broken phone was of no use now.

"You guys!" Ben's whisper-shout cut through the bickering. "You guys, you guys, you guys! Could you all yell at each other quieter, please?" His eyes darted nervously around the jungle.

Kenji's booming voice silenced the squabbling. "My fellow campers, chill!" He puffed out his chest, assuming an air of authority. "What we need here is someone who can make the hard call on what to do next. Since I'm obviously leadership material..." Vera's eyes rolled so hard she feared they might get stuck. "I'll do this. And my first decree as leader is for everyone to stop talking and just listen to Darius." He gestured dramatically towards the younger boy, draping an arm over his shoulder. They turned away briefly, exchanging hushed words before Kenji released his grip and faced the group. "So, which way, Darius?" All eyes turned expectantly to their unofficial guide.

Brooklynn's scoff dripped with skepticism. "Please. You're just trying to cover up the fact that you're lost, too, Mr. VIP. None of us know where we are."

Suddenly, Darius's face lit up with recognition. "I know where we are!" he exclaimed, dashing forward through the undergrowth. "We're by the Carnotaurus paddock!"

Kenji's smugness radiated like a beacon. "I thought this place looked familiar! Am I an excellent leader or what?"

The group pushed through the thick grass, following Darius's lead. "I remember the fence," he called out. As they emerged from the vegetation, a sobering sight greeted them – a massive, mangled fence lay in ruins before them. "The broken, ripped-down fence," Darius added, his voice hollow.

Ben's breathing quickened, panic rising in his chest. "That means... That means Toro is out here... with us," he gasped, eyes wide with fear.

Darius's brow furrowed, concern etched across his features. "Now we have to deal with the Indominus and Toro." A sudden realization struck him. "Hold up, how do you know about Toro?" he asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.

Yasmina stepped forward, her shoulders slumping slightly. "We all know," she admitted. "Kenji told us, like, the day after it happened."

Kenji's attempt at bravado fell flat. "In my defense, me saving you was super cool," he offered weakly.

Darius sighed, redirecting his focus to the pressing issue at hand. "We know the enclosure is due north of the main park. So, if we keep going that way, we'll hit the visitors' center," he explained, pointing decisively. "We're sure to find Dave and Roxie or someone else in charge there."

"Yes! Exactly what I was thinking, as leader, which I am," Kenji interjected, desperately trying to maintain his façade of control. "Follow me!"

As the group began to move, Ben hung back, confiding in Darius. "I don't think finding an adult is going to help," he muttered, fear evident in his voice. "A terrifying, camouflaged dinosaur trashed our camp. No way they have a plan for that."

Darius's voice was calm, a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding them. "Ben, I know it's scary, but this is Jurassic World. Dealing with dinosaurs is what they do."

Ben's retort was sharp, laced with bitter sarcasm. "They didn't do so well back at their first park, did they? Hmm?"

Darius placed a reassuring hand on Ben's shoulder, his eyes reflecting a determination that belied his years. "Everything will be okay. Trust me."

As they pressed on through the jungle, the weight of their situation hung heavy in the air. The bubbling tension from the previous arguments, not helping with their current dilemma. The group slowly approached a dinosaur barely clinging to life, sprawled on the grass.

"The Indominius rex was here." Brooklynn stated.

"Predators don't kill prey then just leave without feeding," Darius announced, his voice tinged with unease. "This... this isn't right." Suddenly, a low grumble resonated through the thick brush. The group let out startled shouts as the noise intensified, echoing ominously through the jungle. Panic set in as they scrambled for cover, their hearts pounding in their chests. Darius, Vera, and Ben ducked behind a nearby broken-down gyrosphere, its once-gleaming surface now dull and cracked.

As the foliage parted, two small dinosaurs emerged from the grass. Ben and Vera's faces lit up with recognition, their fear instantly replaced by joy. "Rocky, Bumpy!" Ben exclaimed, his voice cracking with emotion. The duo rushed towards the creatures, their hands outstretched to pet the familiar scaled bodies.

Kenji emerged from his hiding spot, his nose wrinkling in disgust. "And drooly, and smelly," he remarked dryly. "How do you even know those are the same dinosaurs?"

Ben's response was passionate, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Their big head bumps. Dr. Wu said she's asymmetrical, but he's wrong that it's bad." He turned back to Bumpy, his voice softening. "And so what if she is asymmetrical? There's nothing wrong with being different, or bumpy, or getting tired after reading an overly thrilling book! And maybe if her parents had listened to her, she wouldn't have come here and gotten attacked!"

Vera's gaze settled on Ben, her eyes softening with a mixture of sympathy and understanding. His frustration resonated deeply within her, echoing her own conflicted feelings about their predicament. She wasn't alone in harboring regrets about this ill-fated excursion. While her passion for dinosaurs had always burned bright, the events of the past few hours had cast a dark shadow over that enthusiasm. Memories of countless late nights spent in the sterile confines of her mother's lab flashed through her mind – the hum of equipment, the sharp scent of antiseptic, and the endless discussions of genetic sequences. For the first time, Vera found herself yearning for the simple, carefree experiences that normal kids her age took for granted. A wistful sigh escaped her lips as she imagined what it might be like to spend a summer at a regular camp, free from the weight of scientific breakthroughs and the terrors of prehistoric predators.

Kenji's impatient voice cut through the moment. "As fun as this reunion is, shouldn't we keep moving south?"

Brooklynn's protest was sharp and decisive. "I'm not spending another hour walking through the jungle, hoping that we don't run into the Indominus. We need a new plan."

"Uh, yeah, obviously we need a new plan," Kenji retorted, falling back on his self-appointed leadership role. "So, I had Darius figure out a new one. Lay it on us, bro."

Darius's brow furrowed in concentration. "So, uh... we need to find somewhere safe close by. If camp is that way and the park is that way..." His eyes suddenly lit up with realization. "Isn't Dr. Wu's field genetics lab near here? You guys went on the tour. Does this area look familiar?"

Vera's voice carried a note of certainty. "Yeah, it does. I'm pretty sure the lab is that way." She pointed, her arm steady despite the tension in her body.

Sammy nodded in agreement. "That seems right."

Relief washed over Darius's face. "Great! That's where we should go. There's bound to be an adult there who can help or tell us what to do."

A thunderous roar reverberated through the forest, sending chills down their spines. Brooklynn's patience snapped. "Fine, whatever! Let's just go to the lab," she urged, her voice tinged with fear. "As long as we are moving away from that."

Ben's voice was small, worried. "What about Bumpy and Rocky?" His eyes darted between the dinosaurs and his friends, unwilling to abandon them.

Kenji's response was blunt. "She's a dinosaur, bro. They belong out here in the wild."

Yasmina nodded, adding her support. "And they'll just slow us down. We gotta go now."

Ben and Vera exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. As the group set off, they hung back, quietly ushering Bumpy and Rocky along. They traveled stealthily for a while, the soft padding of dinosaur feet masked by the ambient jungle sounds. However, their luck couldn't hold forever.

When they were finally noticed, Ben and Vera made a frantic attempt to shove the dinosaurs into nearby brush. Turning to face the group, Ben's attempt at nonchalance was painfully obvious. "Hey!" he called out, his voice cracking. "How's it hangin'... dudes?"

Darius's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Are you two hiding the dinos in that bush?"

"Nope. That could be anything," Ben replied, his poker face crumbling rapidly.

Vera chimed in, her forced casualness equally unconvincing. "The jungle makes all sorts of weird noises."

As if on cue, Bumpy and Rocky came tumbling out of the grass, knocking Ben and Vera off their feet. The pair landed in an undignified heap, their secret plan unraveling before their eyes. Ben's feeble attempt at innocence fell flat. "How did they get here?" he asked, his tone betraying him completely.

The group stood there, a mix of exasperation and amusement on their faces, as Ben and Vera sheepishly picked themselves up.

"We don't have time for this!" Yasmina snapped, her voice sharp with urgency. "There are dinosaurs eating people out there, and Bumpy and Rocky can't keep up!"

Ben's protest was tinged with desperation. "They can move faster. Ankylosauruses run fast. Right, Darius?"

Darius opened his mouth to respond, but his words were cut short as Bumpy and Rocky let out simultaneous bellows before flopping onto the ground, their small bodies heaving with exertion.

"Wow! Yeah, total speed demon," Kenji drawled, his sarcasm palpable. "Say goodbye, you two."

Ben and Vera exchanged a pained look, but as Ben began to rise, something in him snapped. "No!" His rebuttal echoed through the clearing, catching everyone off guard. "You say hello, because they are coming with us! So... there!"

Brooklynn's voice was laced with exasperation. "Ben, you're not thinking this through. Bumpy and Rocky are too slow."

"Then..." Vera's eyes darted around, searching for a solution. Suddenly, inspiration struck. "Then we'll put them in the van!"

Sammy scoffed, "What van?"

"Over there!" Vera exclaimed, pointing to a nearby vehicle partially obscured by foliage.

The group approached cautiously, yanking open the back door. Kenji's face lit up with recognition. "It's an ACU transport!" he crowed. "Asset Containment Unit. Got the tour of their HQ. Super hardcore dino-trapping security dudes." He vaulted into the van, his earlier bravado returning.

Vera's mind flashed back to that tour – Mr. Kon inviting her along to keep Kenji company, oblivious to the growing rift between them. The memory stung, a reminder of simpler times.

Darius's worried voice cut through her reverie. "Then where are they?"

"Is that a tablet?" Brooklynn shouted, diving for the device and nearly bowling over her companions in her eagerness.

As the others piled into the van, Sammy's eyes locked onto a walkie-talkie. She snatched it up, her voice trembling with hope. "What did they tell us? Oh, right. Come on, channel six. Dave, Roxie! Can y'all hear us?"

Only static answered her plea. Brooklynn's frustration boiled over. "And of course this doesn't have communication enabled. Because you know what? Why would it? If I had my phone—"

"Enough already!" Darius snapped, his patience finally wearing thin. "There are bigger things going on here than your phone!"

A sudden beeping from the tablet silenced them all. Brooklynn's eyes widened as she studied the screen. "There's a map program with little moving dots on it."

Darius leaned in, recognition dawning on his face. "They chip all the dinosaurs electronically to track them. See? There's us," he pointed to a dark red dot. "And there's..." His finger tapped a different area, causing multiple red dots to appear.

Kenji's brow furrowed in confusion. "Wait. Here's the Brachiosaurus Grove on the map, so why are the Brachiosauruses way over there?"

Darius's voice was grim. "I think maybe the fences are down. At least some of them."

A loud bellow from Bumpy and Rocky pierced the air, drawing their attention. Vera scrambled to quiet them, but her efforts were in vain.

Ben hopped out of the van, his voice soothing. "Easy, girl." Suddenly, thunderous footsteps reverberated through the forest. "Guys?" Ben called, his voice rising in panic. "Something's coming this way."

Brooklynn's eyes darted between the tablet and the treeline. "That's weird. Whatever that is, it isn't showing up on the tablet."

Darius's face paled as realization struck. "What kind of dinosaur wouldn't have a transponder?"

Kenji's voice was barely above a whisper. "I am not in the mood to find out."

As the footsteps grew louder, so did Bumpy and Rocky's distressed cries. Their attempts to quiet the dinosaurs proved futile.

"Ben, Vera, shut them up!" Yasmina hissed, her eyes wide with fear.

A deafening roar shook the very air around them. "We gotta go now!" Darius shouted. Vera herded Bumpy and Rocky into the truck, slamming the door behind her. The group scrambled into the back, fumbling with seatbelts.

A moment of dread silence fell as they realized no one was in the driver's seat. Darius's voice cracked as he spoke. "Wait! Doesn't anyone know how to drive a van?"

Sammy's attempt at optimism fell flat. "No! But we drove gyrospheres, right? It can't be that different."

Ben's retort was sharp with fear. "The gyrospheres had joysticks and a Jimmy Fallon tutorial. I don't even have my learner's permit!"

"I do!" Kenji announced, his voice a mix of bravado and terror as he vaulted into the front seat. "Hands at 10 and 2..." His recitation of driving rules was drowned out by the panicked shouts of his companions.

He slammed his foot on the pedal, not realizing the van was in reverse. "Wrong way! Wrong way!" Ben's scream pierced the air. Kenji fumbled with the gearshift, finally finding drive, and the van lurched forward, the Indominus Rex hot on their heels.

"It's gaining! Go faster!" Sammy's voice was shrill with fear.

"I can't!" Kenji's knuckles were white on the steering wheel.

Yasmina leaned forward, her face a mask of frustration. "You're in the wrong gear!"

"Well, how do I shift gears?" Kenji's panic was palpable.

"How should I know?" Ben's reply was tinged with hysteria.

The Indominus Rex's jaws snapped inches from the rear bumper. Kenji yanked the wheel, sending them into a sharp turn. "Step on that thing!" Sammy urged, her words nearly lost in the cacophony of screams and roars.

"Zigzag!" Darius suggested, his strategic mind still functioning despite the terror.

Vera's incredulous voice cut through the chaos. "Are you seriously signaling right now?"

Kenji's response was a mix of indignation and fear. "Can everyone not yell at me while I'm saving our lives?"

The creature's roars echoed behind them, spraying saliva onto the back window. Seeing as the dinosaur was about to demolish the van, Yasmina grabbed ahold of the wheel steering it to the right, unknowingly sending the truck off of a cliff. As the van careened through the jungle, the terrified teens clung to whatever they could grab.

The truck plunged down a hill, skidding to a halt against a tree. As the dust settled, the group collectively exhaled, realizing the Indominus was no longer in pursuit. Brooklynn, ever the optimist, quipped, "At least we lost Indominus," her weak attempt at humor falling flat in the tense atmosphere.

Yasmina's voice cut through the silence, laced with urgency, "Now, where do we go?"

Vera's keen eyes scanned their surroundings before she exclaimed, "How about into the genetics lab?" Her finger pointed towards a building looming before them. The group's shocked expressions prompted her to shrug nonchalantly, "It's a gift." Her explorer's instinct was proving invaluable.

Cautiously, they entered the building, senses on high alert. An automatic door hissed open, revealing a lit cake perched atop a cart. Darius's bewildered voice echoed, "What?" As he approached the cake, a man in a birthday hat and lab coat leapt out from behind the counter, brandishing a lamp defensively. The teenagers' screams pierced the air as they recoiled in shock.

The man's shoulders sagged with relief as he muttered, "Not dinosaurs. You're not dinosaurs." He slumped over the cart, adding dejectedly, "This is the worst birthday ever."

As the group devoured the cake, Darius attempted to explain their situation between bites. "Again, we are so happy we found you. Things are crazy! There's a giant camouflaged dinosaur out there. Also, regular dinosaurs. We've been hoping to find someone—"

The man's paranoid gaze darted to the windows as he interrupted, "You're sure you closed the door behind you, right?"

Darius's uncertain reply did little to assuage the man's fears. "Uh... I think so."

"You think, or you know?" the man pressed, his voice tinged with panic.

A loud belch from Kenji cut through the tension. "Sorry?" he offered sheepishly. "Did you want it back?" He extended the half-eaten cake towards the man.

The man waved dismissively, his attention still fixed on the hallway. "You know what? Doesn't matter. The dinosaurs got out and no one bothered to tell me; they just ran. So why not? Knock yourself out."

Brooklynn's frustrated groan filled the air as she slammed down a nearby phone. "Ugh! There's no dial tone!"

The man's monotone response offered no comfort. "The landlines are down. So is the radio, and cell phone service keeps cutting out."

Darius, ever the problem-solver, pressed on. "But the park obviously has a plan. So, what's the plan? What do we do?"

The man's hysterical laughter sent chills down their spines. "You're asking me?" he cackled, his composure crumbling.

Sammy's voice wavered as she asked, "Is that, like, a good freaky laugh?"

Rising from the floor, the man's demeanor shifted dramatically. "Do you not get it? We're doomed. No one is coming to help!"

Kenji's attempt at reason was met with scorn. "But what about Dr. Wu or—"

"Wu?" the man spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "Who do you think is to blame? Wu got greedy. And instead of dinosaurs, he built monsters!" His tirade continued as he paced the room. "Masrani, Dearing, they're all clueless about what's really going on here. And after everything I did for the other guys—"

Brooklynn's curiosity piqued at this revelation. "Other guys? What other—"

Ignoring her, the man ranted on, his voice rising to a fever pitch. "It doesn't matter, does it? Jurassic World isn't a park. It's a powder keg, and it is detonating all around us! We're all going down. End of story."

Darius's plea for adult guidance fell on deaf ears. "No, you have to know what to do. You're an adult."

The man's response was a mixture of defeat and self-preservation. "Don't look at me. I was just hiding until you all barged in."

As Darius began to explain their journey, the man's eyes lit up at the mention of a vehicle. He gripped Darius's shoulders, shaking him slightly before bolting out the door.

Kenji's sheepish admission hung in the air. "Guys, I left the keys in the van."

The group's pursuit of the man ended in tragedy as the Indominus Rex reappeared, devouring him as he attempted to flee in their van. Faced with another intact fence, Kenji's sarcasm cut through the air. "Perfect! The park's only intact fence!"

As they huddled behind crates, tensions flared. Yasmina hissed at Ben and Vera, "I told you two they'd get in the way! If it wasn't for them, I could have made the van."

Ben's retort was quick and sharp. "And then you would have been eaten."

Vera stood her ground, defending their decision. "Bumpy and Rocky saved your life."

"Why couldn't you two just leave them behind!" The athlete's voice rising.

The argument escalated until Ben's emotional outburst silenced them all. "Because I won't abandon her like we were!"

Darius's solemn agreement hung heavy in the air. "Ben's right. We're on our own."

A bone-chilling roar shattered the eerie silence, reverberating through the air and sending shivers down their spines. The thunderous sound was quickly followed by earth-shaking footsteps that seemed to grow louder with each passing second. Bumpy and Rocky, their small dinosaur companions, began to chirp frantically, their distress palpable in the face of the approaching threat. With practiced ease, the group managed to soothe the agitated creatures, their gentle hands running along the bumpy scales in a calming rhythm.

Darius, his heart pounding in his chest, cautiously peered around the corner. His eyes, wide with a mixture of fear and fascination, darted from shadow to shadow until he caught a glimpse of the monstrous form. The Indominus Rex, a nightmarish fusion of prehistoric might and modern science, emerged briefly from behind a rusted crate before melting back into the darkness. Darius's gaze shifted, landing on a nearby truck that promised potential safety. As he prepared to make a dash for it, he felt a firm grip on his shoulder. Ben, his face etched with concern, shook his head emphatically. "Trust me," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of their rapid breathing.

The group moved as one, their footsteps muffled against the dew-covered grass. Suddenly, the Indominus reappeared, its massive form looming in the distance. With lightning-quick reflexes, they ducked behind another cluster of crates, the peeling paint rough against their palms as they pressed themselves flat against the metal surfaces. As the hybrid dinosaur inched closer to Ben and Vera's hiding spot, its hot breath visible in the cool air, Darius made a split-second decision. He scooped up a nearby rock and hurled it with all his might in the opposite direction. The clatter echoed through the night, and the Indominus, its predatory instincts triggered, bolted towards the sound.

Seizing their chance, the group sprinted towards the truck, their legs burning with the effort. Disaster struck as Brooklynn's foot caught on a protruding rock, sending her sprawling. The tablet she had been clutching flew from her grasp, clattering to the ground with a sickening crack. As if on cue, it began to chime loudly, its cheerful tone a stark contrast to the terror of the moment. The Indominus's head snapped towards the sound, its eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

In a desperate bid for survival, the group split up, each member becoming a moving target. They zigzagged across the terrain, their hearts hammering in their chests as they alternated between drawing the creature's attention and seeking cover. By some miracle, they all converged on the truck, clambering into the back with frantic energy.

Yasmina, her face set with determination, shoved Kenji unceremoniously from the driver's seat. "I'm driving," she declared, her tone brooking no argument. As she turned the key, the engine roaring to life, a horrifying realization dawned on them. "Wait!" Kenji cried out, his voice cracking with fear. "Where's Darius?"

Their eyes, wide with horror, turned to the window. Outside,they saw Darius sprinting towards them, the Indominus hot on his heels. Its jaws snapped mere inches from his back, the sound of its teeth clicking together audible even over the rumble of the engine. With a final burst of speed, Darius hurled himself into the van. Yasmina floored the accelerator, tires screeching against the pavement as they peeled away from the monstrous predator.

As the adrenaline began to ebb, nervous laughter filled the vehicle. They exchanged glances of disbelief, each face a mirror of relief and lingering fear..

The crackle of the walkie-talkie brought a familiar voice. "Kids? Come on, pick up! There's something going on. Stay at camp. We're heading to you."

Darius's reply was breathless but determined. "No, we're heading to you!"

"Darius! Wait, why are you—" Her words trailed off, laden with confusion and worry.

Darius's reply came quick, his voice tinged with a mixture of relief and urgency. "We're all fine, but we had to leave camp." The counselors exchanged bewildered glances, their faces a canvas of confusion. Sensing their unasked questions, Darius added, "Long story."

Yasmina, her eyes still focused on the rough terrain ahead, interjected with her trademark bluntness. "Short story: a dinosaur ate camp." Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel as she navigated the van through the dense foliage.

Kenji, never one to miss an opportunity for self-promotion, puffed out his chest and declared with a smirk, "Shorter story: epic leader Kenji somehow got everyone out safely." His boastful tone filled the cramped space of the van.

Vera's eyes rolled so hard they might have seen the back of her skull. With lightning-quick reflexes, she snatched the walkie from Kenji's grasp. "Ignore him," she scoffed, her voice dripping with exasperation. "We made it as a team no thanks to him."

Ben's soft voice chimed in, a hint of excitement breaking through his usual timidity. "And then we found a van and Rocky and Bumpy!" As if on cue, the two small dinosaurs chirped from their makeshift nest in the back of the van.

Darius leaned towards the walkie-talkie, his voice taking on a more authoritative tone. "We're cutting through the jungle and heading to the main park," he instructed, his eyes scanning the dense foliage whipping past the windows. "Should be there soon."

Brooklynn's face lit up with unbridled joy as she exclaimed, "We're getting out of here!" Her enthusiasm was contagious, and suddenly the whole van erupted into a cacophony of cheers and laughter, the sound of their celebration drowning out the rumble of the engine and the crunch of leaves beneath the tires.

In the midst of the jubilation, Kenji turned around in his seat, his usual bravado replaced by genuine gratitude. "Great job not getting me eaten, bro," he said to Darius, a rare moment of sincerity shining through.

Darius, attempting to match Kenji's cool demeanor, replied with an awkward, "Thanks 'brah'." The word sounded foreign and stilted coming from his mouth.

Kenji's face scrunched up in mock disgust. "Oh, no, you— you made that sound weird," he teased, shaking his head dramatically. "No more bro-talk for you."

The van continued to bounce along the uneven jungle floor as Brooklynn, her face flushed with excitement, extended her hand towards Sammy for a high five. "We did it, camp family!" Sammy exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with joy. "And not a moment too—"

Suddenly, the van lurched violently as it hit a particularly large rock. The impact sent everyone jostling in their seats, and in that moment of chaos, something small and metallic slid out of Sammy's pocket. It clattered to the floor of the van with an ominous tink, instantly drawing everyone's attention. The celebratory atmosphere evaporated in an instant, replaced by a tense silence as all eyes turned towards the mysterious object.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Brooklynn's eyes widened in shock. "My phone," she stated flatly, before her voice rose to a scream. "I knew it!"

The tension in the van skyrocketed as Yasmina's eyes locked onto Sammy, momentarily distracted from the road. In that split second of inattention, the truck careened off course, crashing into a tree with a sickening crunch.

𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘳𝘪 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴！
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Sorry this chapter is late!! Im on my way to vacation and I've been so busy this morining. I love seeing your feedback btw and I appreciate the tips. I know Vera didn't say much in this chapter which wasn't my plan but there wasn't too many places to add dialogue. I usually don't like to steal other characters lines but I unfortunately did. I only did so that she could at least say something and not just be in the background. Anyway don't be a ghost reader, leave comments on the book or on my conversation board and make sure to vote!! I love you all and thank you for reading!!

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©-CRETACEOUS , 2024