Surviving the Waves

Chapter 9 & 10

Chapter 9: Reaching the Mainland

The relief was palpable as the yacht finally reached the mainland. The sight of the distant coastline, dotted with buildings and civilization, felt surreal after everything they had been through. The group crowded onto the deck, the tension they'd carried for so long slowly melting away as they realized they were finally safe.

They had made it.

Darius steered the yacht toward the dock, his heart pounding as they approached. He could see the marina ahead, bustling with people who had no idea about the horrors that had unfolded on Isla Nublar. For the first time in what felt like forever, they were back in the real world.

As the yacht pulled into the dock, the group disembarked, their faces a mix of exhaustion and disbelief. Brooklyn, Kenji, Yaz, and the others stood in silence for a moment, taking in their surroundings, as if they couldn't quite believe they had made it.

Darius, however, was already thinking about the next step. They needed to contact their families, let them know they were alive, and arrange to be picked up. He glanced at the group, his voice calm but firm.

"Everyone, let's take a minute to contact our families. You guys go first. Let them know we're safe."

The others nodded, their expressions grateful but weary. One by one, they pulled out their phones, dialing numbers that had been memorized but seemed distant after so long.

Chapter 10: A Moment of Reflection

Darius stood back as the others made their calls. He watched as Yaz paced nervously while talking to her parents, Brooklyn wiped tears from her eyes as she reassured her family that she was okay, and Kenji, for once, looked serious as he explained what had happened to him.

Darius could hear bits and pieces of their conversations—Kenji's father demanding to know what had happened, Brooklyn's mother breaking down in relief, Yaz's voice steady but emotional as she told her parents she would be home soon.

He stayed quiet, giving them the space they needed. He could wait. His mom would be worried, of course, but he needed to make sure everyone else got in touch with their families first. That was what mattered right now.

As the minutes passed, Darius found himself walking a little away from the group, standing at the edge of the dock and staring out at the ocean. The memories of the past few weeks washed over him—everything they had survived, everything they had lost. He had been so focused on getting everyone to safety that he hadn't had time to process what it all meant.

But now, standing here with the sound of the waves lapping against the shore, the weight of it all started to hit him. They had made it, but not without scars—both physical and emotional.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned to see Yaz walking over, her phone still in her hand. She looked a little shaken, but there was a sense of relief in her eyes.

"They're on their way," she said softly, coming to stand beside him. "My parents. They'll be here soon."

Darius nodded, offering her a small smile. "That's good."

For a moment, they stood in comfortable silence, the wind tugging at their clothes as they watched the waves. Yaz glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, her voice hesitant when she spoke again.

"What about you? Have you called your mom yet?"

Darius shook his head, his smile fading just a little. "Not yet. I wanted to make sure everyone else got in touch with their families first."

Yaz frowned, crossing her arms as she gave him a pointed look. "Darius, you're part of this group too. You should call her."

"I will," Darius replied, turning his gaze back to the water. "I just... I don't know. I'm not in a hurry. She'll be relieved, but... she doesn't need to hear everything that happened. Not right now."

Yaz studied him for a moment, her expression softening. "You always do that, you know. Put everyone else first."

Darius didn't respond right away. He wasn't sure how to explain it, how to tell her that putting everyone else first was just what he did. It was the only way he knew how to cope.