The Grant Files: Stranded on Isla Sorna

Chapter 8

Freezing in his tracks, Grant finally turned to face him, "some of the worst things imaginable have been done with the best intentions," he said calmly, "you rushed in with no thought to the consequences, to yourself or anyone else."

"I have lost all respect for you, Brennan," Jasmine said from behind them, crossing her arms, "and you lost the right to call me Jasmine," and with that she looked away toward a silent, listening Jami.

"Billy, as far as I'm concerned, you're no better than the people who built this place," Grant walked away from the conversation.

Jami was still standing nearby and heard every word. She was angry, furious even, too much so to speak at that moment. Her fingers were balled into fists at her sides, her face twitching; nose, lips, eyes blinking. Her breathing quickened, becoming heavier. Her jaws gently moved, causing her teeth to gently clack together which vibrated the entirety of the lower half of her face. Finally, the young paleontologist stopped the clacking with a hard slam! of her teeth together before gritting them together, furiously.

Ignoring her honorary sister, Jasmine huffed a sigh and uncrossed her arms, moving to follow her honorary uncle, "you fucking idiot," she walked passed the young man with a shake of her head and a disappointed look on her face.

Jami was frozen in place, unable to comprehend everything that Billy had said. She didn't want to believe it but if her father was as furious with him as she felt then it must be true. After a few minutes, the Kirbys followed Jasmine toward the building behind them, leaving the two alone. It was at this moment that the young man turned to the girl he couldn't help but love, "Jami?" Billy spoke her name softly, reaching for her.

This action caught her attention, "don't touch me!" Jami exclaimed, glaring at him with tears in her eyes. She took a step back to prevent herself from becoming violent as she preferred to stay non-violent.

"I-I'm sorry," Billy replied, pulling his hand back to his body. He missed the way she held him like she needed him, he missed the way she looked at him like she might have loved him, now all he could feel were daggers stabbing his skin from the glare she gave him.

"I cannot believe you," she said softly. She swallowed hard, turning away from him. She closed her eyes tightly, she took in a deep breath and slowly let it out, "if we ever get out of here alive, I never want to see you or speak to you," she turned to face him once more, "ever."

Billy stared at her in disbelief, but he understood her pain, "I-I understand," he finally spoke, softly, hesitantly. "Can I just say one thing before you give me the silent treatment?" The young man asked, wincing shamefully.

Jami rolled her eyes, "what?!" A snarl, harsh and irritated.

With a wince, the man spoke, "I know that it's wrong right now but-," there was a brief pause, "I love you, Jami."

This shocked the young woman, but she masked it very well as she shifted to slap him across the face, something she had wanted to do the moment he reached for her but had hesitated. Breathing hard, Jami walked away from the man she loved to catch up to her father and honorary sister, leaving Billy to nod his head in complete understanding while frowning.

The group entered a structure with giant windows designed to look into the canyon beyond -- only there was nothing to see but a thick fog. Toward the center of the room, a spiral staircase led to a lower level. With Billy lagging behind the group, Grant approached the stairs and peered down the circular opening in the floor. There was not much to see, just fog, a glint of sunlight. Step by step, Grant led the group down a rusty spiral staircase below the observation room. The stairs ended in a lower level. Although they were technically outside, the whole place felt strangely enclosed. There was a thick fog at this level -- clouds, really -- but far below the river flowed, and at its banks, a barge.