As they watched their leader wither away, the team knew they had to act fast. Dr. Taylor pulled out a tranquilizer gun and fired a dart into the creature's body. The Jumpload Leech released Étienne, who collapsed into the team's arms.

As they made their way back to civilization, Étienne's condition worsened. He died shortly after, surrounded by his team, who vowed to study the Jumpload Leech from a safe distance.

The legend of the Jumpload Leech lived on, a cautionary tale about the dangers of meddling with forces beyond human understanding. The creature was never seen again, but some say that on certain nights, when the moon is full and the bayou is shrouded in mist, you can still hear Étienne's screams echoing through the swamp.

The team watched in horror as the Jumpload Leech began to suck the life force from Étienne's body. His skin turned pale, his eyes sunken, and his voice grew weak.