With a gym bag packed full of fun ways to pass the time, Brooke closed her camera after her extensive video tour of the penthouse and carefully tucked it in her bag, walking out her guestroom door with confidence. She looked over to the main entrance and saw Will heading out the door to go home.

"Hey, excuse me, Will, I hope it's not too much to ask, but will you drive me to the museum again?"

"Sorry, I really gotta take care of some things."

"Oh. I understand."

"Here, I'll tell you what." He reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and selected a few bills for her to use. "This oughta get you there and back. Take care." He smiled.

"Thanks!"

"Don't mention it."


A cab pulled up to the museum. It was already half an hour from sunset, and Brooke stepped out with a nervous expression. Looks like I'm pretty late, and it's the first night. Not good. Maybe McPhee will forgive me. He seemed to really like me, so hopefully he won't be too mad. She walked into the revolving doors.

"Well, look who's right on time," McPhee sneered.

"I'm really sorry. It won't happen again."

"You'd better hope not." He looked at his watch. "Alright, Rebecca, you can leave." The docent stepped out from behind the desk.

"Goodnight, Dr. McPhee."

"Goodnight." He waved as she left the building, then turned back to Brooke.

"She works the day shift here. She'll stay here until you arrive. Don't keep her waiting next time, huh?"

Brooke nodded shakily.

"Well, I don't have time to show you around everywhere, so we'll just cover the most important areas." He started to walk briskly to the left hallway, signaling Brooke to come along. She followed closely behind. "Remember to keep the lights on." They headed to the right and kept walking until they entered what looked like some sort of break room.

"This is the locker room. Your locker is right here." He opened a locker with a few shabby pieces of paper taped to the side, ripped them off and handed them to Brooke. "Your instructions."

Brooke took a glimpse at the papers. They were very old and obviously were prevoiusly owned by the old night guard. There were notes scribbled beside each of the instructions, but a significant portion of the words were unintelligible. Why would he hand me this?

"Since tonight is your first night, I will be grading you on how well you perform," he informed sternly. "I'll be here early in the morning to.. examine things. If I find that you are nightguard material, you get to keep the job."

"I thought you said I would be perfect for the job?"

"I did. You would be perfect for the job. But..."

"But what?"

"That doesn't mean you will..."

"W-what do you mean by that?"

"...You'll see. Now, If I am not satisfied with how you managed things..." He didn't finish his sentence but Brooke nodded as though she understood. The idea of being tested frightened her. "Let's carry on, shall we?" He handed the tools over as he called them out. "Your keys.. your flashlight... and your suit. Head right through the corridor, the bathrooms will to your right."

She nodded, temporarily laying her tools on a desk beside her, and walked out of the room. She came back in a buttoned midnight blue shirt and pants. McPhee was waiting for her when she returned. "Alright, let's go..."

She grabbed her keys and flashlight and followed him out the door into the main hall. McPhee noticed the golden glow of the sunset outside the tinted windows.

"No, no, no..."

"What is it?" Brooke gasped.

"I- I've, uh, got somewhere to be."

"But, what about the tour?"

"Forget the tour! There's-I-eh-a map on the desk! I've got to leave!" he shouted as he scurried out the main entrance.

Wow. Busy guy.

She headed back into the break room. I really should start looking for that new wing, but this place is freaking awesome! Mini Fridge, Microwave, sink, snack machine, TV, DVD Player, PlayStation 3... PLAYSTATION 3! I guess he really trusts his employees...

She rummaged through the DVDs and games sitting in a box by the television. Hmm... Motorcycle Racing, not for me... Call of Duty, meh, not right now... Kingdom Hearts- Kingdom Hearts! Memories of her and her brother sitting on the couch on their PS2, wasting the hours away, flooded her mind. She plucked the disc out of the case with care, inserting the game and powering the console. After hearing the 'nostalgic, beautiful piano ballad that only a true masterpiece can offer', she heard loud noises coming from elsewhere in the building.

Seriously? It has to be NOW when I have to deal with burglars? And within a few minutes of actually starting the job? I can see why McPhee was eager to leave the place...

Evidently, fear struck her. It was then she realized she was unequipped with weapons.

I guess they don't trust new employees with weapons. Maybe I'll run across a wax figure with a sword or something... I think I saw Teddy Roosevelt holding one at the entrance.

She carefully crept out into the corridor, shining her flashlight in various places, but seeing nothing out of the ordinary. She peered around the corner of the main hall, and shined the light throughout the room.

Wait, where's the dinosaur... And Teddy Roosevelt... How the hell is someone able to steal 2 tons of bones in that amount of time?!

She walked into the main room and searched every corner. Nothing but the big, spinning globe, the circular front desk, and the platforms where Teddy with his horse and the dino once stood were present. Her apprehensive look faded, and she smirked.

Oh, I get it, I bet he pulls this prank all the time, to scare off the weaklings. Well, I'm not so easily fooled. But, I do have to admit, this is very well executed.

She began to head back to the break room, wiping her brow. As almost reached the hallway, she felt the ground trembling beneath her feet. She slowly turned around...

"Eeeeeeek!"

The twenty-foot-tall dinosaur skeleton was standing before her. Moving. Thinking. Apparently breathing; its breath smelled awful. As she stood frozen in fear, eyes wide in horror, the dinosaur marched towards her. She couldn't move. She couldn't blink. She couldn't speak. All she could do was accept her fate.

Once the dinosaur approached, he slightly nudged her.

"What..."

Without thinking twice, she started to pet the strange creature on the nose.

"Niiiiice dog...dinosaur... skeleton... thing.."

He lowered his back and began to wag his tail. He stomped over to the other side of the room as Brooke watched in awe, grabbing a bone with his mouth, his tail swinging around and knocking over a desk lamp in the process. He returned and dropped the bone in front of her.

This thing isn't a hologram, it isn't animatronic, this thing is alive. It's gigantic, ferocious, and... it wants to play fetch?


I'll leave writer's notes underneath that little bar ↑ when I publish a new chapter, so those will be underneath my most recent chapters. Anyway, thanks for reading, and once again, please share your thoughts on the story!