Survival Instinct
The deafening screech echoes throughout the trees, halting her steps. Squinting her eyes, Beca holds up a hand motioning for Jesse to remain quiet.
Next comes the sound of shuffling leaves and the snap of a branch followed by heavy breathing. Watching closely, Beca observes the bush in front of her as it begins ruffling. Taking a few small steps forward, she brings up a hand to guide her way.
Facing the bush, Beca lets out a low whistle causing the shuffling to stop.
"Hey, Blue?" She whispers, keeping her voice calm and steady. A few moments pass before a hesitant Blue makes an appearance from behind the bush leaves. Keeping her hand still as the animal appears, Beca's feet begin their journey backwards. Her eyes remaining locked with Blue's; the 6-foot-tall Velociraptor staring her down as it creeps its way toward her.
"Easy there, Blue..." Beca eases with her voice as it continues to follow her. "You're doing great." With her other hand, Beca wiggles her index and middle finger, signalling for the door to be opened.
Hearing a click, she glances over her shoulder. Nearing the truck, Beca focuses her attention back to Blue who continues to follow her warily. As the back of her knees hit the bottom of the truck, Beca reaches deep into the pocket of her cargo pants.
Holding up the dead mouse, she begins flaunting it about catching Blue's attention. The raptor's eyes zoning in on it. "You want this?" She holds it up to the raptor's face, letting it get a whiff before throwing it behind her and dashing to the side.
With a loud yelp, Blue's claws leap from the ground and towards the small animal; sinking its teeth into it. Seizing the opportunity, Beca shuts the steel doors, locking them.
"Sorry, girl." She apologizes to the raptor as it dives its nose through the bars adorning the doors. "Don't get out next time, okay?"
Making her way around, Beca jumps into the passenger side of the truck as Jesse gets into the driver's seat. Letting out a sigh, she looks at him, "How did they let this happen?"
Shrugging as the engine roars to life, he answers, "I'm not sure. One second everything was fine and the next..." He lifts up a hand, trailing off.
"I finally get a break from this place and what happens?" Beca asks. "One of my animal's gets out. That's what." She says before letting her head fall back on the head rest. She feels Jesse's hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry."
Shaking her head, Beca gazes out, "Don't worry about it."
XxX
Tapping her foot along the floor, the redhead restlessly waits inside the terminal for her flight. With a sigh, she looks through her handbag before grabbing her phone. Checking the time, she realizes that the flight is twenty minutes late.
"Awes."
Her frown fades as her attention is brought to the lock screen; the smiling six-year-old bringing out a smile of her own.
Going to the contacts of her phone, she clicks on a name before letting it dial. It rings three times before a "Hello?" is mumbled through the speaker.
"Bree?" She says.
"Chloe? Is everything okay?" She sounds worried, making Chloe feel bad.
"Yeah, everything's fine." She pauses, "I just... can you put Charlie on the phone?"
"Yeah, sure." Aubrey answers. Chloe listens as shuffling is heard before a small voice croaks out, "Mommy?"
"Hey sweetie." Chloe smiles hearing his voice.
"Where are you?" He asks.
"At the airport, honey. I'm just gonna be away for a little while."
"When will you be back?"
"Soon. I promise." She assures, before adding, "You're gonna be staying with Aunt Bree for a little while, is that okay?"
"Yeah," Charlie says, "She got me ice cream."
"Ooh. That's nice-" Her voice slightly hinders as an announcement airs through the speakers.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the boarding call for all passengers booked on flight 372A to Jurassic Island. Please proceed to gate 3 immediately. The final checks are being completed and the captain will order for the doors of the aircraft to close in approximately fifteen minutes time."
"Shoot," Chloe mutters to herself. Standing, she grabs her belongings before making her way toward the entrance. Holding her phone in place, she speaks, "Sorry Charles, but Mommy needs to go now."
"Okay..." He sounds disappointed. "Bye Mommy. I love you."
"I love you too," She replies before hanging up.
Chloe didn't know what to expect from Jurassic World, but boy was she surprised. Never in a million years did she think she would be standing within twenty meters of a supposed extinct animal. It was all so surreal.
Reaching into her carrier bag, she pulls out her camera. Waiting for the correct moment, Chloe clicks it when the monstrous Mosasaurus leaps from the water, catching its prey in its teeth. As the animal dives back down, large droplets of water splash over the viewers and suddenly Chloe is relieved that her camera is waterproof.
It's how she spends the day, snapping incredible moments as she ventures through each attraction. But it's when she reaches a particular section of the theme park that her attention is steered elsewhere.
Only few were allowed through here, she being one of the lucky ones with an entrance pass. Standing at the edge of the railing, Chloe holds her camera in place ready to take her next shot when suddenly a familiar face appears through the double doors opposite her.
Beca stands behind the doors with Jesse beside her. She can faintly see a few people scattered around through the tinted glass. Shaking her head, she fastens the rifle on her shoulder. "I'm starting to think that I'll never get that break." She says making Jesse roll his eyes.
Stepping forward she pushes open the double doors before making her way out. Jesse right aside her. Her footsteps travel to the middle of the railing, bridged over the area below. Looking over, she hears Jesse attach a bucket to the railing before watching him jog over to the others, leaving her alone.
Cracking her knuckles, Beca lets out a loud whistle. Seconds pass before rapid footsteps along with shuffling catches her and the others' attention and one by one, velociraptors become present. They creep their way through the trees, leaving four pairs of sharp eyes to stare up at Beca. And only at Beca.
"Hey there, guys..." She says, causing one of the raptors to snarl. "Now, there's no need for that Delta." Beca directs to the animal on the far right. Delta rises on her feet and lets out a higher pitched snarl, sounding more like a screech.
"Easy girl," Beca calms, tapping the clicker in her hand as she raises the other to steady the animal. "There we go..." She begins to slowly walk her way across the platform railing, the velociraptors following her every move from below. Stopping at the bucket, she reaches in to grab one of the dead mice. Holding it up she catches each raptors attention.
"Okay, this one's for Blue." Beca announces, looking to Blue. Throwing the mouse Blue easily catches it in her mouth. "This next one is for you, Delta."
She continues to do this for each raptor until each is fed. After, she makes a whistling noise again which makes the animals scatter back into the trees. Picking up the bucket, Beca struts her way back to Jesse. He has a proud grin on his face, "You're awesome at that."
"You can do it as well," She answers shoving the bucket into his arms.
"Not as good as you. They barely listen to me, man." He states as they make their way towards the stairway.
"Whatever..." She rolls her eyes just as they're about to descend the steps. Suddenly, her eye's catch bright blue ones making her halt in place. Their gaze lingers for a few seconds before being broke by Jesse who waves a hand in Beca's face. "Earth to Beca?" He snaps his fingers a few times for good measure. Blinking rapidly, Beca's eyes flicker to his. "Hmm?"
"You look like you've just seen a ghost. You okay?" He asks, concerned.
"Yeah... Yeah, I'm fine." She replies, slightly dazed. "Kinda tired."
"Maybe you should get some rest." He suggests, "You deserve it." He says with a pat to the shoulder before continuing his way through the stairway, leaving Beca to stand confused.
Glancing back over, Beca hopes to catch those bright blues again only to come up empty. Sighing, she turns on her heels and makes her way to the exit gate.
XxX
Chloe watches in amazement as the girl controls the velociraptors. Fiddling with her camera, she quickly pulls it up to eye level. Waiting for the perfect moment, she snaps a picture just as Beca raises a hand to the animals.
The redhead lets the camera dangle from the strap around her neck as she stares at Beca. The brunette girl hadn't changed much since she last saw her. She still had that scowl on her face with the slightest smirk peeking through.
Chloe can't help the small smile as Beca talks to the raptors, finding it amusing to watch. Once the show comes to an end, Chloe feels her heart skip a beat as her eye's find Beca's. It only lasts for a split second but she could feel the connection. She can still feel it after all these years.
She wonders if Beca could too.
Chloe gets pulled out thought as she hears one of the security officers tell her that she has to leave. With one last look at Beca, the redhead turns on her heels, following the officer.
Later that night, Chloe sits in the middle of the bed with her laptop in front of her. She takes out the SD card from her camera before inserting it into the laptop. She browses through all the pictures she took that day, smiling as she passes the one she took of Beca.
While looking through them, Chloe comes to realize that she forgot to snap a picture of the velociraptors.
Which was what her boss wanted.
"Darnit..." She mumbles to the empty room. Biting her lip, she tries to think of a solution. Her eyes focus on the phone sat on the bedside table. Reaching over, she picks it up. It connects through to the main desk of Jurassic World where Chloe asks them if there is any way for her to get the pictures.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Beale. But unfortunately, there's nothing I can do."
Letting out a sigh, Chloe falls back against the head board, "So... There's not even a way for me to gain an entrance pass again?"
"Unfortunately, no." The receptionist answers.
"Okay. Thanks anyway," Chloe says. Just as she's about to hang up the woman's voice comes through the speaker.
"Actually..." There's a pause. "If you can manage to get a hold of Ms. Mitchell, she may be able to help you out."
"Ms. Mitchell," Chloe repeats, mainly to herself.
"Yes. Ms. Mitchell is our highest qualified velociraptor trainer. She is your best bet on getting the photographs."
Chloe thanks the woman once again before hanging up and laying her head on the pillow. Thoughts of how she was going to find Beca roam around her head as she drifts off to sleep.
The next morning, Chloe goes straight to the main desk and asks about how she can find Beca. They tell her that Ms. Mitchell currently isn't scheduled to attend work that day, so they give her Beca's room number.
At first Chloe didn't want to bother Beca by going to her room. But she's only here for one more day and she doesn't know when she'll get the chance to get these pictures. So here the redhead stands outside room twenty-three. She brings her right hand up, ready to knock when suddenly the door opens.
Beca comes strutting out only to stop when she notices someone in front of her. Looking up, her eye's lock onto those bright blues once again for the second time. The brunette's eyes flicker between Chloe's a few times before any words are spoken.
"C-Chl... Chloe?" She finally stammers out, cursing herself for sounding so nervous.
"Hi, Beca." Chloe says with a small smile.
"What are you doing here?" Beca asks, her eyes slightly widening from realizing how rude that must have sounded. "I mean, not that I don't like it. It's just a surprise you know..." She trails off, looking awkwardly to the ground.
Letting out a breath, the redhead lightly giggles, "I need to ask for a favour." She asks, getting straight to the point. Raising her head, Beca furrows her brows, "What is it you need?"
"Pictures."
"Pictures?"
"As in, I need to get pictures of the velociraptors you train with." The redhead clarifies.
"And you think I can help with that?" Beca questions as she turns, making her way back into the room. Chloe quickly follows, not sure if she should have.
"Well yeah. The girl at the main desk said for me to come to you." Chloe answers, subconsciously tugging on her bottom lip with her teeth.
Beca's eyes flicker to the girl's lips before she sits on the bed, bringing a hand to her neck, "I can help you." She says, smirking as Chloe cheers, "What pictures to you need?"
Chloe plops herself down on the armchair opposite Beca and gives her a list of the few shots that she may need. Squinting her eyes in thought, Beca stands from her seated position and makes her way over to the window, gazing out. "We could go today," She announces. "Now, actually."
"What?"
Turning, Beca's feet move toward the redhead, "You can get these pictures now if you want."
"Really?" Chloe looks at her only to get a nod in return. "Awes."
"Yeah... Awes."
XxX
The ride there is silent. Making it somewhat awkward. Beca decides the best way to break it is by calling Jesse.
"Hey, Beca." Comes his voice through the speaker.
"Hey, man." She greets, "Can you do me a favour?"
"Sure."
"Open up the cages."
"What, why?"
"Just do it. I got a..." She pauses, glancing to the redhead beside her, "I got someone here who needs to get a few pictures of the raptors."
"Pictures?"
"Yes, pictures. It seems important. Look, just open the damn gates, Jess." She says, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Okay, okay. Calm down, man." Jesse replies as he presses the switch to open the gates. The buzzer being heard through the speaker.
"Thank you." Beca says, "I'll see you soon."
The rest of the ride there continues to remain silent with Beca throwing subtle glances to the girl beside her. Chloe gazes out the passenger window with amazement in her eyes as they pass by attractions. The redhead still trying to wrap her mind around being here. Feeling the vehicle pull over, Chloe tunrs to the brunette.
"We're here," Says the girl, opening the door.
Hopping out, Chloe quickly jogs her way around to Beca, who's walking her way to the railing. Standing in the middle, she sees Jesse give a thumbs up from the side and with that, Beca whistles getting right into it.
Her hands are raised, steady in front of her to keep the velociraptors calm. "Okay, guys." She says in a low voice to the animals below. They stare up at her, gazing intently. "You're doing great." Without looking, Beca's voice raises again only towards Chloe this time, "Do what you gotta do now that I have their attention."
Nodding, Chloe steps closer to the railing before pulling her camera out. Zooming in, she clicks it as the raptors' attention are on Beca. Snapping a few more pictures, Chloe lets the camera dangle from her neck. "Is there any way to get a front facing picture?" The redhead warily asks.
Beca takes her attention away from the animals to glance at Chloe, only to snap her head back as they hiss, "Easy..." She steps nearer to the edge, looking over. "I have an idea, it may not work," Beca voices. With one hand, she makes a subtle come here motion directed to Chloe.
"Are you sure?" Chloe asks cautiously, her attention being brought to the velociraptors. Beca nods, urging Chloe to take a few hesitant steps forward. As she places her right foot along the platform, a loud creaking noise erupts causing the raptors' heads to snap to it. Noticing the new body, they begin snarling at her.
"Woah, easy there guys." Beca raises, gaining back their attention. "Calm down. This is Chloe," She points to the redhead, the raptors following the movement. "Now, you're going to be nice to her." She orders before signalling Chloe to walk forward.
Taking a deep breath, the redhead lets her feet guide her over to the brunette. When she reaches Beca, she looks down to see the predatory stare the animals have on her. Lightly jumping, she knocks into Beca who looks worriedly at her. "You okay?"
"Y-yeah." She stutters.
"You still okay with getting the picture?"
Instead of answering, the redhead chooses to nod.
"Alright, then." Raising a hand, Beca grabs the animals' attention once again before reaching into the bucket attached to the railing. "Which one of you want this? How about you, Blue?" Said raptor's eyes gleam from the dead animal in Beca's hands. Smirking, Beca holds it up high, "I got their attention on this." She pauses to wriggle her hand, "Now would be the best time to snap a few shots."
Not wasting any time, Chloe leans forward on the railing. She lets the lens focus before pressing the button on her camera and listens to the click, doing it a few more times she quickly pulls back. "Got them," She says.
"Already? That was quick," Beca chimes with a small smile. "Okay, Blue. Here ya go," Throwing the mouse, she watches as Blue quickly eats it with one bite. "Next is you, Echo. Then Charlie." She voices.
Chloe's head plucks up from hearing the familiar name. Noticing the redhead's sudden movement, Beca raises an eyebrow. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah." She answers, noting in her head to call Aubrey to check on Charlie.
"And finally," She hears Beca trail off, who grabs the last mouse. "Delta."
Picking up the bucket, Beca looks to Jesse who stands watching from afar. Raising it, she gestures for him to come over.
"Did she get what she needed?" He asks, motioning to the redhead who's now stood by the side railings.
"I think so, yeah," The brunette answer's handing him the bucket. "Thanks for opening up this place up, Jess."
"Eh, it was no biggie." Nodding to the side, he says, "You should probably get them back in their cages." Pausing he looks at them, "Don't need one of them getting out again, right?"
"Right."
Jesse makes his way past her as Beca glances down to her animals. "You know the drill, guys." She says to them before whistling. Each velociraptor scatter's their way through the leaves, leaving only a rustling noise behind.
Gazing away from the trees, Beca's eyes land on Chloe. The redhead, oblivious to the brunette's stare, browses through her camera. Biting her lip in apprehension, Beca stalls before wandering her way over. "Ready to go?"
Hearing the voice, Chloe's head snaps up, "Uh yeah. Sure."
XxX
The ride back is just as entertaining as the ride there. It's filled with an uncomfortable silence, which bothers the two inside.
Clearing her throat, Beca attempts to breaks it, "So uh... how've you been?" She asks, keeping her eye on the musty road in front.
"Good. I've been good." The redhead answers letting silence fall over them once again. A few moments pass before she sighs, "I've missed you."
Beca's eyebrows furrow, "Missed me?"
"Bec." Chloe speaks, the old nickname making Beca look at her. "Of course, I've missed you. It's been six years since I last saw you. That's a really long time not seeing my best friend."
Bringing her gaze back on the road, Beca exhales loudly, "Best friend." She mumbles. "Has it ever occurred to you, that you were the one who left?" Her eye's find Chloe's again before straying back to the path in front.
"I'm sorry." Chloe says," I just... I had to leave."
"Whatever."
"Beca, you have to realize that I never wanted to leave-" Chloe's ramble is cut short by a loud rumble. The impact radiating within the car causing Beca to push down on the brakes, stalling the car. "What was that?" The redhead questions as Beca knocks off the engine.
"I have no ide-" Suddenly the ground below rumbles once again making Beca begin to feel uneasy. It's not until the third stomp that Beca realizes what's happening. Frantically turning the key, she pushes down on the gas.
"Beca, what is happen-" Not getting to finish, Chloe is interrupted by a tree falling and a very large, very dangerous Tyrannosaurus Rex making an appearance from behind the falling tree.
"Oh shit."
XxX
Let's see where this brings us. That is if you guys want more... let me know!
So yeah, not sure where the hell this idea came from. It wrote itself, basically. If you guys want to see what happens next, let me know. Also, if I do continue this, it won't be a long story. Maybe only another chapter or 2.
Sorry for any mistakes.
