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FINN'S FUTURE...

"Challenger, why do I have to go?" you complain as George Challenger stuffs empty specimen jars and fishing line into his backpack. Love every minute of your torture, Marguerite and Veronica sit and the table, grinning furtively to themselves. You sigh loudly and roll your eyes. Challenger isn't even listening to you. "Challenger!"

"Hmm?" he grunts, though you're not sure he even heard you that time. "Something wrong, Finn?"

"Why do I have to go on this stupid bug hunt?"

"We all have to do something around here" he replied. "Roxton does the hunting, I work in the lab, Veronica gardens and Marguerite does alot of the cooking. It's only fair, Finn." You wish you had never asked. You nod and once again roll your eyes. "Well, must be off. Come along, Finn."

You scowl at Marguerite and Veronica who laugh the second you turn your back to them. 'I hate doing this.' you think to yourself, though your facial expression says it all. You hum a tune in your head as Challenger lowers the elevator down to the ground.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Once you begin walking, you lighten up a little; walking in the jungle can be quite relaxing, save for times when 'ravenous raptors' as you like to call them or tyrannosaurus rex's aren't trying to eat you. You even manage a smile and quicken your pace to catch up with Challenger who has sped off ahead, muttering to himself about bugs and 'ending disease'.

You finally catch up with Challenger who has sat himself down by a small, bug-filled pond. As you lean over his shoulder, you wrinkle your nose.

"Great," you say. "Most people find paradise in the trees and wildlife and you? You find it in puddles of mud." Challenger laughs and pulls out his fishing line, attaching a small hook-like device onto the end.

"We all have our small pleasures, Finn." Challenger replied, lowering the fishing line into the water. It bobbed for a minute, but despite Challenger's hook it refused to sink. He wriggled the line around. "Needs to be heavier..."

"What?"

"Finn, be a dear and get me some rocks from inside that cave." he said, pointing to a small opening behind them. "I need a heavy rock, not too large."

You nod absently and trudge towards the cave. You decided you would take your time; no point in rushing back to the oh-so-fabulous Challenger bug hunt.

As you get inside the cave you realise that since you don't have a torch, it is strangely light. Forgetting all about running Challengers little errand, you follow the light through the honeycombed tunnels until you stop dead, suddenly. There in front of you, an almost blinding blue light emits from the rock face!

"What the hell is that?" As you move your hand closer to the wall, you feel a slightly pull, almost like gravity. You quickly recoil your hand and run to get Challenger.

Outside, Challenger is still fishing for insects. You run over to him, shocked and breathless. He glances at you, confused for a moment, then frowns as he finds you empty-handed.

"Where's the rocks?"

Panting, you attempt to tell him what you just saw in the cave. "Forget the rocks. I just saw something in there that's gonna interest you much more."

"Well, what is it?" he asked impatiently.

"A vortex, I think." Catching your breath, you barely have time to blink before Challenger drops everything and heads for the cave. "Damn it, can't that guy walk slowly?"

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

"Good lord" said Challenger, his mouth hanging wide open between words. You laugh and shake your head.

"You said that already. What is it?" Challenger hovered his hand infront of the strange blue light, feeling the pull of its gravity.

"I think you were right, I think it's a vortex of sorts."

"Well where does it go?" you ask, trying to peer inside. Challenger pulls you from going to near to it.

"I don't know." his tone of voice was ominous. "It might not be a vortex." He scratched his head and pondered over the light for a moment. "For all we know it might be devouring the cave as we speak. It's probably do us best to just stay away from it. If it's still here tomorrow, I'll come back and have a look."

Your eyes widen and you almost laugh. "Wait, am I hearing right? The world renowned George Edward Challenger, turning up a scientific discovery. Now I've seen everything." Challenger frowned but tried to hide the small grin on his face. You're right, he doesn't usually pass up opportunities.

"So what should we do?" you ask.

"I think we should most certainly leave it alone." replied Challenger. "In fact, I think we should leave the cave." he said, gathering a few small rocks for his bug hunt.

DO YOU...

Jump in anyway and see where it leads to

... or ...

Take Challenger's advice and leave the cave