The tram carrying the two restrained raptors was set several meters from the anomaly. Connor knelt by his device, ready to open the anomaly. Becker and Matt stood by the tram. Both of their weapons aimed at the raptors in case they woke. But as it was, there were still unconscious.

Matt looked to Connor. "Connor, are you ready?"

Connor nodded. "Ready."

"Guys we have a small problem, here." Abby's voice said over their comms.

"What is it, Abby?" Matt asked.

"Jess woke up a few moments ago." Abby explained.

Becker's head rose from the raptors. He felt relief fill him. He glanced toward Connor, who was trying to hide a smirk from him. Becker shrugged. Connor shook his head and looked back down at the device.

"I'm not sure I see that as a problem Abby." Matt replied.

"She can't see anything." Abby said. "It's a side effect form her fall."

Concern replaced the relief that Becker had felt seconds ago. He met Matt's concerned look.

Matt looked back at Becker and nodded. "Alright Abby, we're at the anomaly now. I'm sending Becker your way. Connor and I'll meet up with you once we've sent these two back. Once we get back, you take Jess back to the ARC for medical treatment."

"Copy that." Abby replied.

Becker moved from the raptors and jogged past Connor. He jogged down the hall toward the shop they'd left the girls in.


Abby turned back to Jess. "You hear that?"

"Becker's on his way." Jess nodded. She leaned against the back wall of the dressing room. She was sitting on the small bench in the corner of the dressing room.

Abby grabbed Jess's knee. "Hey, it's gonna be alright. Temporary blindness is just a side effect from a concussion. Give it an hour or less and you'll be seeing Becker's handsome face again."

"What if it doesn't come back, Abby?" Jess asked. "I've read articles of people losing their sight from head injuries. What if I'm like this for the rest of my life?"

"You can't think that way, Jess." Abby replied. "It'll come back."

Jess took a shaky breath and nodded. "Right. Just a little time."

"And the first thing you're gonna see is Becker's face." Abby joked.

Jess coughed out a short laugh, trying not to blush. "Right."

"What are you doing being all shy? You know Becker's a little sweet one you." Abby said.

"He is not." Jess protested shaking her head.

"Is too. The chocolate bar?" Abby said.

"He was just being nice." Jess replied.

"What about calling you while he was on medical leave? Or the pressure bomb?" Abby continued.

Jess shook her head. "Just being civil, Abby."

"You're in denial, Jess. You didn't him while you were unconscious. He was genuinely worried about you." Abby said.

"So? He was worried about you, Connor, and Danny." Jess replied.

Abby shook her head. "Not like this, Jess. Stop denying that he might fancy you."

"I am not. And he does not." Jess said.

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Then what about you and Connor?" Jess asked.

"Me and Connor-" Abby stopped mid-sentence.

Jess frowned. "Abby?"

"Shh." Abby whispered. "I thought I heard something."

Jess was silent. She closed her eyes and listened. She sensed Abby shifted in front of her, moving toward the door. Outside the dressing room, Jess heard something move about the store. Her heat beat quickened in her chest, beating against her ribs.

"Becker what's your position?" Abby asked.

"I've reached the third floor; I'm heading your way now." Becker answered.

"It's the raptor, isn't it?" Jess whispered.

"I think so." Abby replied. "But we need a way to find out without leaving the room."

"You could say please." Lester said over the comms.

"Lester?" Abby asked.

"Yes Abby, I'm here." Lester irritated voice replied.

"Since when can you use the comms?" Abby asked.

Jess smirked.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that, Miss Abigail. I'm in the surveillance system, I suggest you ask for some assistance." Lester replied.

"Lester, Jess and I are in the changing room on the third floor in one of the clothing store. We think the third raptors inside the store." Abby explained.

"Checking security footage now." Lester said.

"Can he do that?" Abby asked.

Jess shrugged. To be honest, Jess wasn't sure anymore. The last time Lester had tried to help, Jess had to adjust the volume of his comm.

"Yes Miss Maitland, I am fully capable of checking security footage." Lester replayed.

"And?"

"It is appears the raptor has a taste for cashmere sweaters." Lester answered.

Abby sighed again. "Those racks are along the back wall of the store. That's just around the corner from us."

"What are we going to do?" Jess asked.

Abby sighed. "I'm not sure, Jess."

"Becker's still across the center from you." Lester explained.

Abby grabbed the door handle and quietly unlocked it. Jess heard the unlatching.

"Abby?" Jess whispered.

"I'm gonna have a look. You stay here, Jess." Abby ordered.

"But-" but Abby was already out before Jess could finish her sentence. The latched shut behind her.

Jess drew her legs up onto the seat of the dressing room. She pressed her ear to the wall of the room and listened. She could hear Abby quietly moving toward the corner of the dressing room. She heard Abby slowly move back toward the room. Jess followed her through the wall and grabbed the door handle. She eased it down, unlocking it quietly. She opened the door for Abby.

"Well?"

"It's there, but it's along the far corner of the store. Didn't see me." Abby answered.

"What do we do?" Jess asked.

"Becker, how far out are you?" Abby asked.

"I just passed the halfway point to you." Becker explained.

"It'll take him at least five minutes to reach from where he is." Jess explained.

"By that time the raptor will have found us." Abby finished.

Jess nodded.

"I've got an idea." Abby said.

"What?" Jess asked.

Abby moved closer to Jess. "Okay. I'm going to unlock the door and we're going to move out of the store. If we move fast and stay low to the ground, we can slip past the raptor and close the gate before Becker gets here."

"Are you sure we can make it?" Jess asked.

Abby nodded, knowing Jess couldn't see her. "I am. And I'll stay with you, Jess. All you have to do is keep low and stay with me. Do you trust me?"

Jess nodded. "Yes."

Abby took Jess' hand. "Let's go."

Abby eased the door open quietly. She moved slowly, pulling Jess with her. They walked slowly down the hall toward the store floor. Abby crouched low, pulling Jess into a crouch with her. She glanced around the corner, searching for the raptor.

The raptor was still tearing at a shirt across the room. Abby moved quickly, pulling Jess along wither. They moved between the racks of clothing, keeping low to the ground. Jess kept her eyes closed out of fear. She could hear the raptor ripping at the fabric in the corner. She held Abby's hand in both of her shaking hands. Without her sight, Jess had no idea how far they were form the door, or how far they'd gone. It felt like a great distance. But the chances were, they hadn't gone more than a few meters from the dressing rooms.

As they walked, Jess' foot caught on one of the racks. She gasped quietly and fell to the floor, pulling the rack down with her. It clattered to the floor loudly, catching the raptors attention. Its head turned toward the noise.

Abby quickly pulled Jess from the fallen rack as the raptor moved to investigate the noise. The dropped to the floor behind a table of clothes. Jess leaned against the table, trying to control her breathing. Abby crouched near the ground. She peeked out from behind the table. The raptor now stood by the fallen rack. It smelled the rack. Abby aimed the EMD, if it caught their scent, they'd be in trouble. She aimed. The raptors head turned sharply, staring at Abby.

"Damn." Abby muttered. She fired but the raptor leapt from the path of the EMD's discharge. Abby ducked behind the table again. "Jess, turn to your left and head out. You're facing he store exit. Just go, I'll keep the raptor busy."

"But the raptor-"

"I'll handle it, go!" Abby ordered. She rose from behind the table and turned. The raptor was to her left, circling nearby. It hissed at her.

"Go Jess!" Abby ordered. "Lester, be her eyes!"

Jess rose from the floor and ran to her left.

Abby noticed the raptors gaze shift to Jess. She fired her weapon. "Sorry pal, she's not on the menu."

The raptor crouched low and hissed at her. It stepped toward her, ready to pound. Abby fired her weapon, throwing off the raptors pounce. It leapt to the side, avoiding the shot. Abby followed it, aiming her EMD again. But the raptor moved out of her line of shot, learning her pattern.

Jess ran toward the door. She kept her eyes closed, but she could hear the raptor and Abby behind her. She hated running, she hated being useless and depending on everyone. She wasn't like that. Jess tripped on another rack and fell to the floor. She grunted as her wrist screamed in agony.

"Jess get up." Lester ordered.

Suddenly Jess heard Abby gasp. Jess turned her head in the direction of Abby's voice. She heard the raptor's talons on the floor. Abby grunted somewhere nearby. She was in trouble.

"Lester is there anything I can use as a weapon?" Jess asked.

"What are you-?"

"What is it?"

"Clothing racks." Lester answered.

Jess took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She stared down at a green blur. Jess lifted her head and turned around. Everything was blurry, but she could make out outlines of racks and counters, and Abby on the floor at the feet of the raptor! Jess pushed herself onto her feet. She reached out, grabbing the closest rack she could find. She knocked off the clothes and picked up the rack. It was heavy, but she managed. She heaved it across the floor at the raptor. The raptors head turned. It leapt away from the rack at it clattered toward it. Abby rolled out of the racks way. The raptor turned its head toward Jess and hissed.

"Jess run!" Abby ordered.

"Get away from her!" Jess yelled. She heard the raptor growl, growing closer toward her. Jess bit her lip in anticipation. She grabbed another rack, knocking the clothes off.

The raptor took off toward her.

Jess watched the blurry figure of the raptor charge her. She gripped the rack tightly in her hands, holding it in front of her. She focused her vision on the blurred form of the raptor charge her. The raptor screeched and leapt into the air.

"Jess!" Abby yelled.

Jess bit her lip and swung the rack. She swung hard through the air. Her arms shuddered as the rack collided with the raptors side. The force sent the raptor crashing to the ground by Jess. Jess exhaled, dropping the rack to the floor. The raptor thrashed on the floor, flailing its leg out, lashing them against Jess' leg. Jess screamed as the claws slashed over her ankle. She crumpled to the floor and crawled from the raptor's flailing legs.

Abby rolled onto her stomach and rose to her feet. She ran to Jess' side. Abby grabbed Jess by her shoulders and tried to raise her to her feet. "Come on Jess."

Jess groaned as she rose to her feet. Abby grabbed Jess around her waist and took part of her weight. Jess leaned on Abby, limping as they moved from the raptor. Jess groaned with every step she took. She felt the blood seeped from her cut. She limped out of the store with Abby.

The raptor rose to its feet. It turned its heard, searching for the girls. Its yellow eyes narrowed on the girls retreating forms. It hissed and followed them.

Abby and Jess moved down the corridor from the shop. Jess limped against Abby as she tried to keep the pace. She felt her foot slip against the floor from the blood she was losing. But Abby held her firmly, not letting her fall. They could hear the raptor coming up behind them. Jess looked behind them. The raptor was gaining on them. Its claws reached out, clawing at the air.

"Get down!" Abby yelled. She pulled Jess down to the floor with her.

Jess fell to the floor with Abby. She heard the firing on and EMD. Jess looked up from the floor to see Becker standing two meters from them. His EMD was held tight against his body, aimed at the raptor. Jess looked over her shoulder, finding the raptor lying unconscious on the floor.

Becker knelt down by them. "Are you two aright?"

Jess nodded. "I think so."

Suddenly her ankle flared with pain. Jess was caught by surprise, she gasped in pain. She looked down at her ankle to see Abby holding it tight. Abby met her eyes.

"How bad is it?" Becker asked.

"It doesn't look like the raptor did much damage. Just a scratch." Abby explained. "But we'll need to have the medics clean it thoroughly."

Becker nodded. He pressed his earpiece. "Matt, I've reached Abby and Jess. And we have the third raptor accounted for."

"Is everyone alright?" Matt asked.

"Jess may need to lay off the heels at the office for a time, but she'll be fine. Abby's fine too." Becker explained.

"Copy that. Connor and I are on our way." Matt said.

"How's it feeling Jess?" Abby asked.

Jess winced. "Uh…well…it stings a bit. A lot actually."

"Well we'll get it taken care of back at the ARC." Abby said.


okay so seeing Jess do what i wrote does seem a little off...but hey i can dream.