Please read and enjoy. ~ Scriffignano
Chapter 9
"Good to see you ol' friend." Ramsey smiled.
"I'm no friend of yours Ramsey." Arc kept calm, but there was an edge to his voice.
"No…? Even after all we have been through together? He stroked his beard. "I'm hurt."
"Yeah… my heart bleeds for you." Arc rolled his eyes. "What do you want Ramsey?"
"Come now Arc. You are my honored guests. Why on earth would you assume such a thing?" He continued his courtesy.
"Well for one you are being overly pleasant and second… we just trespassed and you haven't tried to kill us yet." Edward added. The edge in his voice was just as sharp as Arc's.
As his sentence finished three men armed with tranquilizer guns came out from the barn rafters and shot the animals that were to be stolen. All three dropped without a sound, stranding Arc, Edward and Kylie with no means of escape.
Edward drew his weapon while Arc helped Kylie get out from underneath the Kangaroo, but they all stopped when Ramsey snapped his fingers.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you Edward." Ramsey's face was as cold as steel. "We wouldn't want any casualties now would we."
"You know as well as I do that everyone in this room would be at our mercy in a fight." Arc sneered and drew his glaive.
"Yes… that is true. But Arc there is one thing I should mention." Ramsey snapped his fingers again, prompting two guards with special face shields to step forward. "If you attack… then I can't guarantee their safety."
Ramsey stepped aside to reveal Gears and Mavis held hostage with noose poles. The two little predators tried their best to break loose, but it was all in vain.
"Stunning little creatures you have here Arc. Exceptional quality really." Ramsey kneeled down next to them. "It would be a shame if anything were to happen to them."
"You rotten son of a bitch!" Arc went to tackle him, but was grabbed by the guards and handcuffed.
Edward and Kylie were cuffed in a similar fashion and escorted out of the barn with their weapons in tow. Ramsey followed as well and directed the guards to take them to a place called "the cauldron" inside the estate.
Arc and the others were taken to a huge circular office while their weapons along with Gears and Mavis were taken elsewhere. The room was made of wood, but had similar metal trim all over. The office was also adorned with a crystal candle lit chandelier above an engraved oak desk.
"Leave us." Ramsey shooed his guards away after they were all seated.
"But sir…" One of the guards attempted to speak out, but was immediately silenced.
Ramsey threw a dagger that hit the wall inches from the guard's neck. "Speak against me again and I will cut out your tongue."
The guards quickly left the group to Ramsey, giving the the privacy that he probably wanted. Wiping his brow with a cloth, Ramsey readjusted himself before undoing the restraints on his guests hands.
"Where is Gears and Mavis?" Ark glared at Ramsey. "And for that matter what do you want?"
"Your Dilophosaurs are safe… for now." Ramsey sat behind the desk and clasped his hands. "As for what I want… on what grounds do you think I want something?"
"Well for one you are a greedy bastard who will do anything for profit and secondly you haven't killed us yet for trespassing." Edward cut in. "I do believe we went over this in the barn."
Kylie stayed silent hoping that Arc and Edward would be able to keep his focus off her, but it was a false hope. Standing back up, Ramsey walked around the desk and eyed her up. She stayed stiff as a board, terrified for her life.
"I know many of the people that call this place home… Arc and Edward, The Titans, the other tribes, but you… that's a different story." Ramsey flicked her hair. "First thing I would love to know is your name." He kneeled down to be eye level with her.
Kylie looked at Edward and Arc for help, but they just had hardened inscrutable gazes. She then took the best course of action she could come up with.
"Kylie… Kylie Kendra." She spoke softly.
"Beautiful name." Ramsey got up and sat back down at his desk. " Tell me Miss. Kendra, how did you end up getting involved with this unfortunate lot?"
Arc's temper started to boil."Unfortunate? The Thunderhoof Traders are the most powerful-"
"Were the most powerful you mean." Ramsey cut him off. "Word traveled fast of your tribe's annihilation. I know all about it." He started picking his nails with a small knife. "Now if there are no more interruptions…. How did you come to get involved with the higher powers?"
"He saved me from Terror Birds and took me in."She said quietly.
"I see…" Ramsey looked over at Arc and Edward. "As for you two… you were right to presume that I wanted something." He clasped his hands together on the desk. "There is a rare animal that has been spotted in the south jungle and I want it."
"Oh joy. A capture request."Arc rolled his eyes. "You can't get your lackeys to do this? How pathetic are they."
"Very, but that's not the point. This animal is very secretive and doesn't like to show itself." He slid a rough sketch of the animal towards the three. "I hate to admit it, but you're the best in the business when it comes to animal wrangling."
"You gotta be kidding me Ramsey… You expect me to believe this is a real sketch? It looks like something a kid would draw."
Kylie snatched the picture before going wide eyed. "It's real alright. I've seen it myself."
"You're kidding me? There is no way an animal like this really exists." Edward was astonished.
"It's true… I saw it the day Roach was killed by Tyrannor. Tyrannor was actually chasing it." Kylie defended herself.
"But it looks like a dinosaur that mated with a camel… How can such a creature exist? It's unrealistic." Arc tossed the sketch back on the table. "You're a fool if you think I will be going on some wild goose chase."
"This wild goose chase is the only thing keeping you, your friends,and your Dilophosaurs out of the slaughter house Arc. I've tried playing nice with you, but it's clear you don't respond to reason!" Ramsey slammed his fist on the table. "So now you will know fear. Bring this animal back to the compound or your animals will never leave."
He then shot an angry glare at Kylie. "And to make sure there is no funny business… the girl stays here."
"You wouldn't…"
"Arc… it's fine. Just bend to the guy this once. We have bigger issues to deal with." Kylie submitted to Ramsey. "I'll be fine."
"At least one of you can be reasonable." Ramsey calmed down and held a gentle hand out.
She stood up and took Ramsey's hand. She held a straight face, but shot Arc and Edwards a wry smile before being escorted to the door.
"Alright. Now that everything is settled, I hope you two are going to cooperate with this." Ramsey slid back behind his desk. "It would be a shame to waste her trust in you two."
"Should we do it?"
"We have no choice. The guy has us by the sac and there is no way out. The sooner we do this the better." Arc gruffed. "Where was the animal last seen?"
"Headed south towards the red obelisk. My scouts have told me there have erratic shifts in local fauna behavior."
"Erratic shifts… that could mean we have an Introduction coming soon. Animals always act weird before an Introduction."
"We will need some equipment to get this done. Bolas , Narcotic, arrows or darts, food, and other supplies."
"Done. Look out the window."
Peering out the glass panel window, Edward and Arc saw two small piles of gear along with a saddled blunt nosed blue and green dinosaur.
"Pachyrhinosaurus… I guess it will do."
"You have a fortnight from today to bag this creature. If you don't return… well let's just say the consequences will be deadly. Not for you of course, but still."
With their captive meeting adjourned for now, Arc and Edward were once again handcuffed and escorted outside. Once there the two found their weapons that they had brought with them. Kylie was also there, but her hands were bound and a guard stood by with his weapon drawn. He even had the audacity to put the blade of his weapon up to her throat, pressing the cold steel against her skin.
Arc said nothing, knowing his temper would get the better of him, but glared at the guard all the while. He had to keep calm if this was going to be successful. So instead of saying anything at all, he threw the Pachyrhinosaur's reins to Edward and walked out of the compound.
"I hope he is successful… for your sake." Ramsey hissed as the two left. "Those Dilophosaurs though… they will be dealt with tomorrow."
"And for your sake… I hope you're smart enough to leave those animals alone." Kylie sassed back. "I can't guarantee your safety otherwise."
The two glared each other for a good moment or two before Ramsey huffed. "Lock her up."
The guards forcefully grabbed Kylie and led her to a secluded building in the far back corner of the compound. Inside there were empty cages lined with straw and some other equipment that looked like they could be used for torture. The only light was a single brazier where the guards huddled to talk and gamble.
"Stay there." The guards threw Kylie in a cell and slammed the door.
She stayed down and huddled in the corner. There was no way for her to escape do instead she tried to get some rest. She could only hope that her friends would come back soon.
Her eyes were soon heavy, the exhaustion of the day finally setting in. She gave in to her thirst for sleep and fell into her wakeless dreams. The crackling fire in the brazier was her only lullaby.
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She awoke with a start to see several men standing outside her cell door. Two of them held weapons at her while the third had a tray filled with food. After opening the door, the guard slid the tray in the cell and closed it.
She ate quietly keeping her gaze fixed on the armed men. They seemed almost afraid of her. It was as if she was actually the one in control despite being behind cell bars. The only one who didn't look afraid was a big brutish man sitting by the brazier. He eyed her up lustfully, making Kylie feel really uncomfortable. She wanted to run from the man's disrobing gaze, but there was nothing she could do about it for now. So instead she averted her gaze to eat in relative peace.
"If he tries anything I'll fucking castrate him." She thought as she chewed on a piece of bread.
Things didn't get better after that. The brutish man made it a point to pass her cell several times. He was sizing her up much like a cat did a bird, but she knew what was going on. He was planning to take advantage of her.
"You know…" His voice was surprisingly suave. "It's been awhile since I've the pleasure of talking to a woman. Years in fact. What is your name beautiful?"
"None of your business." She hissed at him.
"Oh. I like them fiery." He laughed. "Don't worry hot stuff. You'll open up eventually. All women do."
She gruffed at him and turned back over. Despite his calm and rather alluring voice, she saw him as nothing more than a sleezey pig.
The man said nothing more and walked away, muttering to himself. She heard him say soon, but other than that his words were nothing but a jumble of sounds to her.
"And after this guy I'm going to kill Arc and Edward if they take too long." Her thoughts wandered.
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