Surviving the Waves

Chapter 11 & 12

Chapter 11: Families Reunite

One by one, the families began to arrive. Kenji's father was the first, pulling up in an expensive black car. He didn't say much as he hugged Kenji, his expression stern but relieved. Brooklyn's parents weren't far behind, rushing to embrace her as soon as they stepped out of their car. Yaz's family came soon after, her mother wrapping her in a tight hug while her father stood beside them, his face etched with worry.

Darius watched all of it from a distance, his heart aching a little at the sight of them reuniting with their families. He was happy for them—more than happy—but a small part of him couldn't help but feel like an outsider, like he was watching something that didn't quite include him.

Yaz pulled away from her parents and walked over to him again, her expression serious. "Darius, your mom is probably worried sick. You need to call her."

Darius sighed, knowing she was right. He pulled out his phone and dialed his mother's number. It rang twice before she answered, her voice a mixture of panic and relief.

"Darius? Oh my God, where are you? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, Mom, I'm okay," Darius replied, his voice steady. "I'm safe. We made it back to the mainland."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and Darius could hear the sound of his mom trying to hold back her tears. "Thank God. I've been so worried about you. When can I come get you?"

"Soon," Darius promised, glancing over at the others. "Everyone else's families are here already. You'll be able to pick me up soon."

They talked for a few more minutes, Darius reassuring her that he was fine, that they had made it out alive. He kept the details vague, not wanting to relive everything that had happened on the island, but his mom could tell he wasn't telling her everything. She didn't push him, though—she was just glad he was safe.

When the call ended, Darius slipped his phone back into his pocket and turned to Yaz, who was waiting nearby. "They'll be here soon," he said.

Yaz smiled, relief washing over her face. "Good. You deserve to get home just as much as the rest of us."

Darius nodded, feeling the weight on his shoulders start to lift. For the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, things were going to be okay.

Chapter 12: Darius' POV

The hum of the hospital machines was constant—too constant, in fact. It became background noise after a while, blending in with the sterile scent of antiseptic and the too-bright fluorescent lights. Darius sat beside his mom's bed, her breathing slow but steady. He had been here almost every day since she was admitted, watching as her condition slowly worsened.

The doctors had told him that her sickness was rare, something they hadn't quite figured out yet. It wasn't impossible to treat, but the treatments they did have were experimental—and expensive. Far too expensive for him to manage with what little he made.

His heart clenched as he looked at her, pale and fragile in the hospital bed. This wasn't fair. After everything they'd been through—after everything he'd been through—he couldn't lose her, not like this.

But as the days turned into weeks, it became clear that he couldn't afford to sit idly by. If he wanted to save her, he needed money, and a lot of it. Working two jobs had crossed his mind more than once, but neither of them would pay enough fast enough. He had to find something that would actually make a difference.

That's when he came across the offer. At first, it seemed impossible—too strange, too much of a coincidence—but there it was, staring back at him from his laptop screen. A new company, deep-pocketed, offering ridiculously high pay for anyone with "experience in dinosaur research or survival."

His stomach churned as he read the fine print. This was it—his way out. But it came with a price. Going back to the world of dinosaurs was something he had promised himself he would never do again. The nightmares, the danger, the endless running—it had taken years to push it all down.

But this was different. It wasn't about him anymore. He had no choice.

He closed the laptop and leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling. He couldn't bring the others into this. They had moved on with their lives. Brooklyn, Yaz, Kenji, Ben, Sammy—they all had their own futures now, and he wasn't about to drag them back into the nightmare they had all survived.

He could handle this on his own. He had to.