Colt hadn't told her, but there were monsters on this island. Monsters that likely ate meat. As long as they stayed in the rough terrain along the ridge lines they weren't likely to run into anything, but down in the sheltered valleys would be a different story.

She may have his gun, but he still had the flare gun and the pack. She'd made her own bed and she could sleep in it for good for all he cared.

Colt slung the pack on and headed out across the ridge. Part of the hallucinogenic episode of a nightmare gone too far came up into his mind's eye with blaring intensity, "There's nothing good about you Colt!"

Colt stopped as he gritted his teeth before issuing a tight response, "Yes there is and I'm going to prove it to you!"

Colt turned back and headed down into the valley following along after the wide trail that Kim had made. The least he could do was bury what was left of her, but if he found her alive, well then, it would be a different story altogether.

*****

I didn't breathe. I didn't so much as blink as I stayed still in the under foliage. My life depended on remaining unnoticed of that I was sure.

The source of my angst shifted its stance heavily and eyed my location again closely for a moment before it lumbered off in the opposite direction from me. Slowly air leaked back into my lungs. My fist rose to my mouth and I pressed my mouth against it hard to try to hold in a sob.

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Dinosaurs! Seriously!

This place was hell!!!

Something occurred to me then. I wasn't going to make it off this island alone and it was with bitter self-realization that I came to that conclusion.

I wiped at a few tears as I said, "Okay God I'm going to stop fighting You. You've made it very clear where I've gone wrong. Very clear."

I slipped free of the grove of bamboo and started back the way I had come, "Oh God don't let him kill me!"

A snarling growl abruptly stopped me dead in my tracks as all thought of the man I had drugged fled from me. I brought the gun up to take aim on the thing that looked like a mutant dog on steroids. There was more than one of them.

Two others of the strange beasts closed in on either side of me and my finger tightened on the trigger. A roar off in the distance stilled the motion of my finger. If I fired the gun that monster that had just passed me up might be back. On the other hand if I didn't pull the trigger I might become a chew toy.