Chapter 14: Power

Maddie and Ray cautiously walked out the door and looked around. All was quiet. Ray constantly fumbled with the shotgun. Maddie could tell he had no idea how to actually use it. "You ok there?" Maddie asked.

"Yea, fine," Ray grumbled. "I don't know why I even took this thing, I have can't hit the broad side of a barn."

Maddie's heart sank. "That's good to know," she muttered. "Let's hope you won't need it."

"Yea," Ray agreed.

The two walked continued to slowly make their way to the visitor's center. As they passed the raptor pen, Maddie noticed the lights on top weren't blinking anymore. However, as far as she could tell, everything looked normal and the raptors were still in there. "Maybe they aren't as smart as we thought," she said. She then looked at Ray. "At least the raptors haven't gotten out yet."

Ray looked over. "Guess not."

"You wanna check and make sure?" Maddie asked. "That way we can let the others know if they do get out."

"I think it will be all right," Ray replied. Maddie sighed, reluctantly agreeing. Although she didn't see anything out of the ordinary, she couldn't shake an interior feeling that something was very wrong.

The two walked into the Visitor's Center and towards the main control room. Instead of going in however, Ray continued to walk down the hall. "Um, isn't that the main computer?" Maddie asked, motioning towards the control room.

"It's the main control station," Ray said. "However it's not the computer's main frame. Basically, that's just another fancy remote station. The actual computer is located in the basement. That way in case something happens, it won't get damaged."

"Ok," Maddie replied before continuing to follow him in silence.

"So Cody," Zack said. Cody looked over. "You think she'll believe you?"

"Who?" Cody asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Our science teacher," Zack said, cracking a smile. "I'm sure she's heard 'a dog ate my homework,' but think she'll believe you when you say that a T-Rex ate it?"

Cody made a face. "Probably not," he groaned. "Ugh, there goes my perfect homework grade!"

Zack rolled his eyes. "You're such a dork."

"What's wrong with that?" Alan asked, looking over as he drove.

"I uh…" Zack began.

"That's what I thought," Alan said. Cody smiled over at Zack, who returned Cody's look with a stuck out tongue.

Finally they pulled up to the front of the Visitor's Center. Alan hopped out of the car, before helping Zack get out. After a few wobbles, Zack managed to stand on his own. "Thanks," he said. Alan nodded. He continued to help Zack walk.

Cody followed them, however his attention was elsewhere. Looking off towards the raptor pen, he saw what looked to be bent metal. Slowly he began walking over towards it.

"Cody?" Zack said, looking back. Cody didn't hear him and continued to stray away.

"Cody?" Alan said, louder. Cody snapped to attention and looked back over. "Come on," Alan finished with a wave of urgency. After another look back at the pen, Cody jogged back over to Zack and Alan. Something was very wrong.

"Don't wander off," Zack said to him. Cody raised an eyebrow.

"So you actually do care about me," he said.

"Hey my life would be really boring if you got eaten," Zack replied with a smile. "So don't do that."

Cody also smiled. "I'll try not to."

Maddie followed Ray for what seemed to be forever. It was a hall, then some stairs, then another hall, then more stairs. "How much further?" Maddie asked after the latest set of stairs.

"Not much longer," Ray replied as he opened another door. Then he tossed Maddie a key. "Go over there," he said pointing to the other side of the room. "When I say go, turn the key."

"Ok," Maddie said. She looked as she walked. A huge stack of servers and power units would be blocking their view of each other. Maddie sighed again as she waited for his signal.

"Go!" Ray yelled a second later. Without hesitating, Maddie threw the key into the hole in front of her and turned it. At that moment, the stacks in front of her came alive. A green light on each began blinking as their cooling fans also turned on, filling the room with a loud whine.

Suddenly, through the whine, Maddie heard what she thought was a scream, but the fans drowned it out. When she looked over, she wished she hadn't, as an explosion of red filled her vision, followed by something that was somewhat thin and brown whipping around. She covered her mouth in shock. It was a raptor and it was standing in the room's only exit.

"I gotta find the others, you guys gonna be ok for a little while?" Alan asked the twins.

Zack looked to his right and saw the cafeteria. His stomach growled. "Yea, yea go have fun. We'll see ya in a little." As if mezmorized, he began to limp towards the food. Cody followed him.

"Ok, then I'll be back as soon as I can," Alan said. With that, he turned and walked out.

Sorry this chapter was a little shorter, but is meant to build some suspense. If you have an idea for the story, please put it in a PM rather than a review (but don't stop reviewing ;). I'll try to work it in if it fits. Please Read and Review