Lava Rock

Joji was wallowing in his mind as he contemplated his death, he was unconscious but he could hear himself think like he was in a dream.

He was slowly waking up and soon he could feel some parts of his body, he felt the grass if the forest brush against his feet and he felt something like a sheet of leather on his back.

He realized he was being pulled in something, but by who? He wondered. Either way he couldn't do anything about it, he was too tired and he had the feeling death wasn't so far from him now so he slowly faded back into the void of his subconscious.

Several images flashed through his mind, he saw her again, lori, I'd almost forgotten her face, how could i. Oh that right i burnt it all, i burnt it all when she left. Memories of her smiling on the beach, memories of her singing karaoke.

Breakfast in bed, cancer, chemo, all of it. It all intertwined in his mind to the point he could no longer tell which came first. Did she still love me before the cancer?

Memories of her living, I'm such a bum, how could I let her go, just like that, why did I think I could do better. Why did she think so little of me?

He could hear loud rains as he slowly regained his consciousness. He woke up and jolted up, he hit his head on a rock and fell on his back.

What the hell was that he screamed, the whole space around him was dark, what's this? And he felt a warm hand touch his chest. It was too dark and he couldn't see a thing as the hand gently pushed him down. He laid on his back and fell unconscious again.

Joji could hear drag, something heavy being pulled across the sand and grass, he could also hear birds singing. It must be morning, he thought.

He slowly opened his eyes and saw the illuminated leaves of the trees overhead, he could see the bright blue sky in small patches through the leaves.

Then he realized he was the one being pulled, he turned and saw a red headed woman struggling with a rope across her shoulder.

He panicked and hopped off the three barks. She turned back alarmed by his sudden leap. "Who are you?" Joji said as he scurried to get to his fit.

She dropped the rope and looked at joji with joy in her eyes, joji felt a bit uneasy

"You're awake," she said. "Thank goodness."

"Yeah, whatever, who are you?"

"Don't you remember me? To her, Joji looked on edge and highly defensive. "You saved me, remember, from the cannibals."

"That was you?" She nodded. "Are you a gamer?"

"Yes" she said with a smile. "It's nice to see another real player."

"Yeah," Joji looked down at the tree bark and saw his spear, "you're the one at the cave yesterday right?"

"Yes, it was raining. I didn't want you to catch a cold so I found shelter." Joji Looked around and then back to her. "Sorry I'm a little hostile, i've had too much trouble, since I got here"

"Yeah," she exhaled. "Me too,I'm sonia"

"I'm Joji"

"Nice to meet"

"So do you know where you're going? "

She nodded, "yeah the temple is that way"

"What temple?" Joji said he looked a bit confused, he bever heard anything about a temple.

"Its where the boats are*

Before Joji could respond the volcano erupted and sent a spree of burning rocks across the island.

They turned and saw that one was headed directly for them.

"What the hell!"Joji screamed, he turned to help Sonia to urge her to run in case she froze with fear but as he turned he saw she'd already taken off.

This girls insane,joji saw quickly picked up his spear and took off running with it. Small fling rocks were already crashing on the ground, sending tremors across the island.

Joji caught up to Sonia, we need to get out of its impact zone, he said. She turn and look at the burning rock in the sky, studying its trajectory

"Are you sure we'll make it?"

"Just keep running."

Soon they heard a heavy step behind them, joji turned and saw a T rex, its foot was about to land on him, he dove to the side avoiding it entirely and he quickly screamed ti alert sonia, she managed to step aside just in time.

They sat on the floor looking around as the droves of wild animals ran through them. Joji's face lights up, I've got an idea he sys, he quickly calls out to sonia who was just getting on her feet,

Hey i've got an idea,

Yes, what is it?

How about we use them, he said pointing out the crowd of animals, the moments he said this sonia spots something and screamed, watch out!

Joji turned and saw a raptor eerily similar to the one he encountered at the pool of quicksand coming for him, he jumped out of the way and Sonia did the same as well.

Joji quickly get up and runs to sonia,

Are you okay, he said.

I'm fine. So what were you saying?

Joji looked up and saw the flaming rock approaching fast. He looks straight ahead and see another raptor coming

"No time!" He said and quickly swung his spear over his hard cutting vine,it fell and he grabbed it and handed his spear to Sonia and said, wait here. He runs at the raptor with the vine in hand.

He runs directly at the raptor and seeing the aggression in Joji's eyes it roared at him to scare him off but Joji relent. Okay,no pressure joji, you have to get thus around its mouth, how hard can that be?

Joji watched the raptors step time every single move perfectly, he could see the shadow of the fast approaching comet like lava rock.

As Joji got very close to the raptor he leaped in the air and the beast roared at him. That's it! joji said. He throws the mid of the vine into the mouth of the raptor, it grazes past its sharp teeth and gets caught up in the edge of its mouth.

Joji's leap had taken him high above the raptor, he had jumped it entirely, escaping harm and had succeeded in the first phase of his plan but then came the next phase.

Joji landed on the ground still holding onto the vines tightly, he pulled back the raptor for a moment but the beast adjusted and quickly pulled him along, dragging across the grass and mud.

The raptor runs past Sonia, and she screams his name, "are you alright" she said.

No, she's behind, I've gotta get up.

Joji raised his head and in front of him was the wagging tail of the raptor.

He turned and saw Sonia behind him keeping up the best she could.

"I'm fine," he said. "I don't think she can keep up for long. Come joji get on your feet, your can do this"

Joji violently kicked his leg against the ground throwing his body upwards and landing on his feet, Instantly he almost trips but he quickly regains his balance.

He legs running on their own a s the raptor pulled him along. He puts in more effort as he tries to get close to the raptor.

Iver got t get on its back, he turned back and saw sonia, he began slowing down, she couldn't kept up the pace. The forest was on fire from the crashed lava rock and the heat was intensifying.

Joji finally gets his footing and with a time attack he leaped, gripping on tightly to the vines around the raptor jas, tugged on it causing it to slow down for a slight bit and he managed to land on the raptor.

He landed it hard skin and regretted instantly as dinosaur skin was no cushion for his balls. He almost slips off the raptor as he suffers from the pain.

Who the hell programmed testicles into a game!

He turned back and saw Sonia, she seemed even slower now. The shadow of the lava rock was over them. Joji pulls the vines back causing the raptor to fight to break free and slowing itself down in the process.

"Sonia, run! You can catch up"

She looked too exhausted and jojo could tell but it continued cheering her on, come you will make it, just keep running.

Joji tried slowing down the raptor by pulling it back some more but the beat fought back, it strong desire to survive was up against Joji's desire to save his friend and joji was losing the vines were starting to break

"Sonia come on, hurry up!"

Sonia look around, she could see the that the hole place her gone dark, any moment now it'll be impact,

Come on, I can do it, she said. He can make it. He can make it.

Her legs were going limp, her strength was almost gone. He'll make it, she said I have to let go of this life.

"Come on sonia, run "

Sonia slows down to a halt.

"What are you doing? Joji screams at her.

"Hey joji, I'll see you soon"

"What"

She waved goodbye and joji finally, come on je screamed at her, don't give me that, you can make you hear me i'll slow it down, you can't die here.

She stopped waving and ran away

What are you doing, you're running the wrong way.

Joji couldn't see her anymore and with tears in his eyes he loosened his grip on the raptor and it ran faster and faster and faster.

And after a little while the lava rock impact burying animal and NPCs and gamer like Sonia in the aftermath of it wake.