Surviving the Waves

Chapter 19 & 20

Chapter 19: Kenji's POV

Kenji stared at his reflection in the mirror, straightening his tie with a sigh. He didn't belong here, in this corporate world of his father's making. It wasn't him. He missed the days of adventure, even if those adventures had been dangerous as hell.

But dinosaurs? Again?

He thought back to the island—how scared he had been, how useless he had felt at first. But over time, they had all grown stronger. They had survived because of Darius. And now, Darius was the one who needed help.

Kenji threw the tie aside and grabbed his jacket. There was no way he was staying in this office, playing his father's assistant, while his best friend was in danger.

"Kenji," his father's voice came from the doorway, sharp and impatient. "Where are you going? We have a meeting in fifteen minutes."

Kenji turned to face his father, his jaw clenched. "I'm leaving. Darius needs me."

His father's expression hardened. "That boy has always been trouble. You're wasting your time."

"No, I'm not," Kenji shot back. "You don't understand. He's my friend. He's always been there for me, and now it's my turn to be there for him."

Without waiting for a response, Kenji turned and walked out of the office. His father's disapproval hung in the air behind him, but for once, Kenji didn't care. He had a bigger mission now.

As he headed to meet up with Brooklyn and Yaz, a feeling of determination settled in his chest. Whatever Darius had gotten himself into, they were going to get him out of it.

Chapter 20: Darius' POV

The facility felt like a prison.

Darius paced the small break room, his mind spinning as he tried to keep up with the demands of his new job. The research facility was heavily guarded, with top-tier security ensuring that no one unauthorized got anywhere near the dinosaurs they were breeding and studying.

Dinosaurs. He hated the word now. It represented everything he had tried to leave behind. And yet, here he was, standing in the thick of it once again.

He had convinced himself that it was just a job—a way to save his mom—but every day, it felt more like a mistake. The scientists working here didn't care about the dangers, about the past. All they saw were the dollar signs. And the dinosaurs... well, they weren't as contained as the facility liked to pretend.

Darius' phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it. He couldn't talk to Yaz, Brooklyn, or Kenji right now. He couldn't lie to them, and he couldn't tell them the truth, either. Not after everything they had been through.

Suddenly, the alarms in the facility blared, red lights flashing as an automated voice came over the intercom. "Containment breach. All personnel, please proceed to emergency lockdown."

Darius' heart skipped a beat. Containment breach? He raced toward the nearest window, his worst fears realized as he saw the massive silhouette of a dinosaur in the distance, its powerful form moving through the facility grounds, crushing everything in its path.

He grabbed his gear, knowing what he had to do. He couldn't let this get out of control. Not again.

But as he prepared to act, his phone buzzed again. This time, he glanced at it and saw the message from Yaz.

We're coming for you, Darius. You don't have to do this alone.

Darius' breath caught in his throat. They knew. They were coming. And suddenly, for the first time in days, a sense of hope sparked in his chest.

He wasn't alone after all.