.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

"--aeh, Analeah?" James' voice pulled Analeah from her sleep, she groaned as she tried to move however, a shot of pain seared through her body causing her to scream through gritted teeth. "Leah!" Slivko called out as Analeah tried to pinpoint where the pain was coming from. She looked around and realized that she was pinned under one of the seats that had broken free, she cringed at the sight of a piece of metal through her bicep. "How bad is the damage?" James asked as he tried to keep himself calm. "There's a damn piece of metal through my bicep and it feels like my ribcage isn't in place," Analeah answered as best she could.

James looked at Slivko, the two nodded before Slivko climbed up onto the helicopter and laid down on his stomach to look down at Analeah. "Leah," Slivko spoke gaining her attention, he looked from her to the injury on her arm. "I think the metal is stopping me from bleeding out... I know I have supplies to bandage it up in my bag but I can't get myself out," Analeah told him as she felt her head lighten, "I don't... think... I'll..." James looked up at Slivko with a worried expression. "Don't close your eyes, Leah! I repeat, do not close your eyes," Slivko ordered before he maneuvered himself to cautiously climb into the sideways helicopter.

"I'm trying..." Analeah told him as Slivko managed to drop down next to her, his smaller figure was perfect to get himself into the small space next to her. "My bag..." Analeah told him, he spotted it hanging from one of the seats that hadn't snapped free. "There's a medkit that will allow you to tourniquet and bandage my wound once you remove the metal but... you have to be quick," Analeah explained to Slivko who didn't look too willing to do this. "Leah--" Analeah cut Slivko off, "--It's just another battlefield, I am your fellow soldier that needs medical treatment in the field... get it done!"

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Analeah groaned as she pushed herself out of the helicopter, Slivko below her helping her into her brother's waiting hands. Slivko tossed Analeah's bag over his shoulder before climbing out of the helicopter and landing next to where James had helped Analeah sit. "You mentioned your ribs?" James spoke causing Analeah to lift her shirt, thankful for the black sports bra she wore that showed enough of her ribs. "It's already bruising," Mason spoke with worried eyes. "It's alright, I bruise easily," Analeah assured Mason while trying to ignore the pain she felt. "I don't think any of your ribs are broken but it might be smart to be careful," James warned Analeah.

James grabbed his binoculars and moved towards the edge of the cliff, looking out to the battlefield and spotting the titan ape walking away. Slivko sank down to the spot next to Analeah with his radio on his lap, he glanced at Analeah before focusing on the radio. "Calling all units! Is anybody airborne?" Slivko called into the radio, "I repeat, is anybody airborne?" Analeah looked towards Slivko noticing the worry in his eyes, she knew he was still concerned about her but his worry about his friends was clear too. Analeah just hoped that Cole, Mills, and Reles had survived their crashes as they were Slivko's closest friends.

"They're all down. Every one of them," James told Slivko as he approached the group. Analeah looked up to see Nieves, Brooks, and San standing around the small clearing while Mason leaned against the helicopter by Analeah. "We're on the South side of the island. There's a river a couple of klicks from here," James explained as he looked around at everyone, "If we stick to its banks, we'll make it to the exfil site on the North shore." Analeah nodded in agreement with her brother's words, she used her uninjured arm to push herself off of the ground. "Then let's get moving," Analeah spoke as she walked closer to the group, Slivko following behind her.

"And then what? All our choppers are down," Nieves spoke up as James was approaching Mason causing James to turn around. "We'll find a way to signal the ship, they'll send a search party. We just have to make it by the exit window," James answered him. "I should be sitting at a desk," Nieves commented making Analeah roll her eyes. "Well, too damn bad, Nieves. You're trapped on an island in a jungle filled with unknown threats and a large titan ape so do us a favor, shut up, and let my brother and I keep you alive," Analeah snapped out with a slight wince. "My best guess is that we are scattered over a four to five mile radius," James said to Analeah and Mason directly.

"We should head north and join anyone we find," James continued while Mason shook her head slightly, Analeah smiled to herself as she recognized the way James was looking at Mason; he was interested in the woman and so, he was seeking her advice in his plan. Analeah stepped to the side noticing the panic in Slivko's eyes, she lightly grabbed his wrist to stop him from pacing while drowning in his thoughts. "Hey, I know it may not seem like it, but it's gonna be okay," Analeah assured him softly. "Leah... We were just attacked by an ape larger than any building I've seen... And then I pulled a piece of metal from your arm like it was nothing..." Slivko replied to her in a freaked-out tone.

"Trust me when I say, that was not the worst injury I've had," Analeah told him as her hand slipped from his wrist into his hand, "As for the titan ape... I don't really have an explanation for that except for the knowledge that it was just defending its territory... either way, I know it's been crazy but right now, we need to focus on surviving and getting off of the island." Slivko stared into Analeah's eyes, she sent him a reassuring smile as he closed his eyes and nodded. "All right, let's move out," James ordered. "Can you, uh... can you stay by me?" Slivko asked Analeah who nodded, he squeezed her hand before letting go so he could hold his gun.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Analeah stayed by Slivko's side as they walked through the jungle, she had made a sling using a T-shirt she had in her bag to allow her to relax her aching arm. Analeah had spent time listing the different plants she was seeing along with the concerns that they hadn't encountered any typical jungle animals. "Why does it matter?" Nieves asked her. "Because Nieves... if there is a titan ape then you can guarantee that the other animals in the ecosystem are going to also be titans in some form," Analeah answered him before glancing at Brooks, "I knew that there was something more about this bullshit expedition. You better start talking, Brooks."

Brooks sighed, "It's called the Hollow Earth theory. Randa hired me because I wrote a paper substantiating what most people think is a crackpot idea." Analeah rolled her eyes at his words before scoffing, "So what? You knew that the ape was here?" Brooks shrugged, "It was a theory based on Monarch's theories, much like the Hollow Earth theory." Analeah shooked her head as Slivko stopped her from tripping, he held her uninjured hand as he helped her over a fallen tree. "That there are these massive underground spaces isolated from the surface world," Brooks continued before San spoke, "Passageways. Randa believed this island may be one of those."

"An emergence point for whatever lives below. Ancient species like what we just saw," Brooks continued while Analeah and Slivko shared a look. "Anyone else feels very used? Randa can consider himself lucky if he survived," Analeah spoke up. "Why is that?" Brooks asked with furrowed brows. "Cause if I wasn't injured, I'd punch him in the face," Analeah answered before focusing on her footing on the jungle floor. Slivko smirked at Analeah's response, he looked down at Analeah for a moment before looking ahead again. "Look, I thought he was out of his mind," Brooks said after a moment of silence. "He is," Analeah muttered.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Rosemary Speaks

I really enjoy writing OCs who are outspoken.
I wish I was more outspoken in real life.

See you in the next chapter!