Chapter 2: A New Exhibit
I couldn't stand there and watch Barry congratulate Owen on doing what he did, so I walked away from the padlock and both of them. "Hey Shelly!" Owen called but I ignored him and continued my trek along the road, heading straight for my house again. I was grumbling to myself as I heard the bike heading for me, revving and sliding up to me. I jumped out of the way as Owen laughed and laughed. "Oh so funny Owen. You're hilarious!" I rolled my eyes and went to walk off again, but he turned the bike of and ran over to me. "Come on, Shels. It's just a joke. Lighten up." "Yeah so funny when you nearly get yourself killed, then go after me! I'm sorry if I don't see the joke."
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, making me pause. "What would you had me do? Let them shoot the girls and lose their trust forever? I've been with those four since they were hatched, I've imprinted them and they are part of my family, part of my heart. I couldn't let them get hurt because that new guy had a dumb moment." I turned and saw he was being serious, for once in his life since he got here. "Owen, I understand why you had to do it. It just scares me the way you are so careless with your life. You may be their Alpha but they will turn on you if given the chance. Did you not see how they went after you as soon as you turned your back on them? You need to be more careful." he threw his head back laughing again and I inhaled deeply.
"How can you say that about me when you're the caretaker of the T-Rex? You clearly don't understand that she is more dangerous than the raptors. She hasn't been around you that long, she doesn't understand that you aren't food. You're just as careless as I am." I blinked, he never brought up my business with the Rex as he wanted me to help him and Barry with the raptors. "Owen, you don't get it, I bond with that old girl every time I go see her. She will still eat me given the chance, I know that too. That's why I am very cautious and everything. I always make sure that my life comes before that creature. Yes she is beautiful and unbelievable in being alive. I still can't believe how strong and powerful she is after all these years, Jurassic Park was her beginning and she lived freely on this island before InGen came back to start up this park. She is and will always be a wild dangerous predator. I won't ever forget it, but I care about her and her wellbeing, as you do the raptors."
I seemed to have gotten to him as he wasn't smiling and laughing anymore. "Owen, I'm going home for a while. I have to go see T-Rex before long and want to get a couple more hours of sleep. Just go back to Barry and the girls." he got on the bike and pulled it next to me. "I almost forgot to tell you, Claire called for you after you left, she wants to see you ASAP at the T-Rex padlock. Get on, I'll give you a ride." I wondered why Claire wanted to see me, we were going to meet up for lunch later. I sighed and climbed on, sliding my arms around Owen's stomach. "Oh yeah, feel free to hold me close as you want." he joked and I dug my fingernail into his ribs. "Like this?" "OW! Geez, you're crazy woman." he didn't give me a chance to reply as he gunned it and sent us flying down the road.
He dropped me off at the gate and peeled out before I could even say anything to him. I exhaled, now I was going to have to make something nice for dinner to appease him into not messing with me while I slept. "Shelly!" I turned and saw Claire waving for me to come over to the glass. "She is about to get fed, I want to show you something." I looked out and my smile faded. It was awful that they tied a goat up and threw a flare out for her. Ever since Jurassic Park, she associated food with the flares. I often wondered exactly what happened all those years ago, it was taboo to speak of it. "I wish they would just release the animals and let her eat like she wants." "What good would that be for the guests, they might not be able to see her eat that way. They pay good money to come see the dinosaurs."
I rolled my eyes when she looked away, she was a really great friend. However she always looked on the wrong side of things, always about the profitable side. I get that it was her job but still, she really needed to lighten up a little. "Mr. Masrani wants to talk to you. I showed him our new attraction and now he is saying that I need Owen to check out the padlock first. I'll be going to get him after this. Mr. Masrani has invited a few special guests for the grand opening of the new dinosaur, so everything needs to go according to plan. He has asked that you give them the full tour of the T-Rex, along with the Raptors as we make sure everything is ready for the new one. If it is, you'll bring them to see her." I scoffed, I wasn't a tour guide.
"I am a caretaker of the dinosaurs, not people. Why can't someone else do it? All they are going to do it gawk at the creatures. They don't really care about what they can do or their personalities." "Shelly, I'm not sure how you can say they have personalities, they were made in tubes." "But they don't know that, to them, they are living creatures in this world and they are predators ready to eat the guest." she said I still had to tour the special guest and I gave up, knowing she didn't give up and I needed to just get it over with. "Now, they'll be arriving later, something about the hot sun and easily burned. I'm not sure." she left me to do my quick round with T-Rex and then I was to head over to the Office to meet the guests.
I walked along the window until I came to the door that entered the padlock. I used my card and entered my passcode, opening the door and walking out onto the walkway. "Hey there girl, how are we feeling today?" I asked as she finished the goat in one last bite and turned her eyes on me. "Easy there. That's plenty for now, you'll be getting fed a lot today as the guests come and go. Just relax for me." I spoke in my soothing tone, hoping she would be having a good day and not feel like attacking. She roared and I had to cover my ears to block some of the noise. "Oh come on now. I know it's not the best but still just be good. You got a large enclosure to roam in and food daily. You're retirement isn't that bad is it? You don't have to fight for food and run it down. You can just come get it every time."
I realized she probably wanted to feel young again, the chase, the fight. The enclosure may be big, but it's nothing like she has been used too since the old park abandoned all the dinos here. I sighed and her eyes bored into mine, she deserved to be free, to live her life as she wanted. Instead I was her caretaker…when she probably just wanted to eat me. I watched her for a while and talked to her as she roamed around, she didn't seem to go far, like she was actually listening. "Well, I need to get going. I have to meet some new special people and take them to our new dinosaur." she growled and I chuckled. "Oh don't worry, no one will ever replace you. You are the mama dinosaur."
I waved bye as she roared again, seemingly to back my words and let me know that I better not say differently. I got into a car and drove toward the Office, when the car phone rang. "Claire?" "Shelly! Don't come to the Padlock! Go to the operating room! There's been an escape. The new Rex escaped!" I hit the brakes hard. "What do you mean the new Rex?! What happened? Where's Owen?" "He's back with the two guards, trying to figure out how she got out." I realized that he might be in trouble and gunned the car directly toward the padlock. "Shelly, you hear me? Don't go to the Padlock! It's dangerous!" I clicked the end button and shook my head.
"Sorry Claire, I need to make sure Owen is alright." I pressed the gas harder and the car zoomed forward. I reached the padlock and stared wide-eyed as the gate was ripped opened, like the doors was busted by this new Rex. I jumped out and looked around, seeing blood on the ground I began to call out for Owen. "Owen! Where are you?!" I knew it was stupid to call out like that, but it didn't seem like it was still around. I stayed by the car with it running and the door open in case it was and I needed to make a quick escape. "Shelly! Get in the car!" Owen was running at me then, his face showing his fear. I got in and he slid in beside me, shoving me to the passenger side.
I watched as he revved the engine before tearing out like something was actually chasing us. "Owen, you stink." I commented, opening the window as the fumes were overwhelming. "Hey, it's the only reason I'm alive. Those fucking morons! How could they create a new dinosaur like that! God Damnit!" he cursed at them as we drove. "Owen, what happened?" I asked and he glanced at me before shaking his head. "They created a new hybrid. She marked up the wall, pretended to escape to lure us in. she masked her heat signature! Un-fucking-believable!" I took it in as he explained what happened and he stopped the car in front of the Operating room.
