Kong: Skull Island- Beneath the Surface

Chapter 13

James leads the way. His tracking skill is the only way for the group to retrace their steps through the black corridors. Bo takes the rear with his rifle in case any more mole bears or giant centipedes decide to pay a visit. Mason is walking in between them supporting a limping, irritated Jin.

"I hate bugs," Jin growls, "I hate the cold, the dark, and I hate the fact my foot feels like a HUGE elephant decided to sit on it!!!"

Bo chuckles softly.

"It's a good thing your injury didn't affect your mouth," He says, "then you'd have nothing to do."

Jin shoots him a glare and Mason smiles. It's nice to have people around again. She looks up at James. He's crouching in front of them, examining the patterns in the dirt. His fingers follow the curves of the soil and the footprints in the sediment. Mason studies each movement. For awhile there she hadn't been sure she would ever get to see the details that made James, James ever again. Right now she counts her blessings.

The group travels in silence for a bit before Jin's eyes scrunch up, a thought coming to her mind.

"Hey Mason..." Jin says.

"Hm?" Mason grunts, pulling more of the small girl's weight onto her shoulder.

"If you don't mind me asking...how did you survive down here so long."

James looks up from what he is doing. Bo doesn't turn but listens quietly. Mason takes a deep sigh. Putting her experience into words seems like a big effort.

"Well...I don't know...I didn't give up," Mason said, looking at Jin, "a lot of it was good luck."

"Well yeah," Jin said stubbornly, wincing as she shuffles along, "but like what did you eat? How are you not dehydrated? How did you get around?"

"Jin..." Bo warns, "don't push so many questions on her--."

"No it's ok," Mason says, taking another step forward. She feels James' eyes watching her carefully but doesn't meet his gaze. "She's curious. I'd be too. I had some supplies from my friend Hu--"

"The guide?" Jin asks.

"Yes," Mason nods, "I rationed it as best I could. That hadn't been a problem yet. I ran out of water, well," she paused to think, brushing her wild hair out of her eyes, "I'm not sure, maybe the second day. I was in trouble for a bit until I came across a spring. That thing was my saving grace."

"Wow," Jin says, her eyebrows going up, "that was lucky."

Mason chuckles. "Yeah, I was happy to find it. I doubt I'd be here without it."

"And the bugs? How did you survive those so long!" Jin looks at her curiously, "I had one of those creepy things come after me! They're terrible!"

"Well, I heard them," Mason says, brushing her fingers across the familiar stone wall, "And I had my machete."

"A machete hm?" Bo says behind them, "remind me not to get on your bad side."

"You...you heard them?" Jin states incredulously, then shudders, "gosh, I wouldn't have survived. Had Conrad not warned me, I wouldn't have known it was coming."

Mason laughs a little on the inside. I'm sure none of you would be here without him. We probably wouldn't have made it off of skull island had he not been there.

"Let's stop for a second," Bo says, "We need to conserve our energy."

Mason gently lowers Jin to the ground. Jin grimaces but doesn't complain. Bo re-examines her foot while James comes to lean against the stone wall with Mason. The headlights give the corridor an eerie glow. Stalagmites and stalactites protrude from the ceiling and floor like monstrous teeth. For a second the teeth appear to be moving, almost like the skull walkers from skull island. Mason shakes her head. The rock formations look normal again.

"You okay?" James says, looking over at her.

"Yeah," she nods, resting her head back against the wall, "just tired."

James grabs her hand gently and turns it so that her wrist faces upward. He shines his headlight down upon it. James' fingers trace the cuts in her forearm.

"What's this?" He asks.

"That," Mason smiles, bittersweet, "Was my attempt at a map of this place. I was operating on one flashlight for who knew how long...so I tried to keep a record of everywhere I'd been." She sighed, "Was working too till I can back to find you lot. Stupid monster made me take a wrong turn. Got lost."

James smirks, "Clever girl."

Mason grins back at him.

"Aren't I always?"

Silence falls like snow between them. Quiet, peaceful. James looks both ways down the corridors: his headlamp cutting through the dark and checking for threats. His body tenses in worry. Mason knows he's in survival mode. She reaches over and grabs his hand. His deep blue eyes meet her hazel ones. No words were spoken, merely a feeling shared between them. I'm glad you're alive.

Many hours pass until finally James announces they are getting close. They travel as fast as they can with an injured companion. However returning has been faster then going. The cave opens into a big chamber. Mason's eyes widen in recognition.

"This was the room I first fell into," she says, looking around.

The group hobbles over to a rope dangling down from the hole in the ceiling.

"Garret!" James shouts, "Garret you ready to help us up?"

Everyone stands still but no noise is heard. Drops of moisture from the ceiling hit the floor in little patters and echo. The chamber groans. James frowns. Bo cups his hands around his mouth to shout as well when a small voice calls down from above.

"Ready," Garret says softly, "I have orders to bring Mason up first and secure the camera."

Mason's eyes narrow.

"I don't think that's a good idea," she says, looking between James and Garret, "Jin's hurt. She needs to go first."

"Sorry miss," Garret says, his voice monotone, "but those are my orders."

James steps over to Mason and puts his hand on her shoulder.

"It's fine Mason," he says, nodding, "it'll take us a second to rig a harness for Jin anyways. We'll be right behind you."

"Yeah, I don't need any babying!" Jin chimes, sticking her chin up defiantly.

"Right," Mason says, stepping up to the rope.

She plants her feet and begins ascending. After all she's been through, this is easy. Soon enough she is right below the hole where Garret's face leans through. Garret grabs the rope. Mason thinks he's steadying it for her.

"Give me the camera," Garret says quietly.

"Give me a second," Mason says, peering at the rocky entryway, "if you'll move to the right a bit I can squeeze up there."

Garret doesn't budge.

"I'll be needing that camera first."

Mason stops climbing, alarms going off in her head. She meets Garret's gaze.

"Everything going ok up there?" Bo calls up to them.

Mason narrows her eyes, "Why do you need it now? Why not when I get up there?"

Garret's eyes are colder than the caves she's been stuck in. They remind her of a snake's eyes. Faster than Mason thought possible, Garret pulls out a 40mm and brings in to Mason's head.

"You're not hearing me," he says, "Give. Me. The. Camera."