Disclaimer: Do not own, just these prompt ideas/plots – Thank you!

"Random Subject Prompts"

Chapter 026: Owen Grady

Movie: Jurassic World

Prompt: Haunted

Chapter Warning(s): mentions of multiple character deaths

Author's Note: Tried something a little different… a little more… darker… shall we say?

KH*OG*KH*OG

Age: 18

When Mrs. Higurashi woke up that morning, she'd known something was wrong. She wasn't sure if it was some sort of latent priestess senses or just motherly intuition, but she knew Kagome would be making an appearance after one of her usual trips down the Bone Eater's Well. And it wouldn't be good.

So, when morning turned into noon, and noon turned into night, Mrs. Higurashi hoped – prayed – that she was being overly sensitive. That everything was okay, and that Kagome and the others were safe and unharmed.

She had just convinced herself that everything was right in her world when Mrs. Higurashi heard the rattle of the front door sliding open. When it didn't close, her brows furrowed in worry. Grandpa had retired to his room more than an hour ago, and Souta was playing video games in the living room.

That only left one person…

She didn't waste time. She flew out of the kitchen, dread clutching tightly to her heart, almost making it impossible to breathe.

Skidding to a stop at the entrance to the house, Mrs. Higurashi gasped in horror at the sight that greeted her. A hand came up, cupping around her mouth as her mind refused to fully register what she bore witness to.

Kagome was barely standing, the front door wide open behind her. Her clothes were torn in several places, sweat-soaked and blood-stained. The various wounds that covered the young woman were horrific, and Mrs. Higurashi could even see a slice on her daughter's cheek that oozed too much blood.

But it was Kagome's eyes that worried the older woman the most. She had never seen such an empty expression before, especially from Kagome. Her normally lively and bright amethyst orbs were dull and dazed, like she had nothing left to live for. This wasn't a Kagome she was familiar with.

This was a Kagome that had seen war, experienced unspeakable trauma, and… death.

"Kagome…?" Mrs. Higurashi quietly inquired, afraid to speak any louder.

Kagome didn't even flinch in response. She remained still, her gaze unreadable and unfocused.

Then, "They're gone, Mama."

Mrs. Higurashi froze. Renewed horror washed over her. What?

"They're gone… They're all dead."

KH*OG*KH*OG

Years Later – Present Day

Owen's gaze was focused on his girlfriend of seven months with a worried expression. He knew that look – Hell, sometimes he'd get that dazed look too, when his mind wandered back to his days in the Navy. He had seen some things that could never be explained, had lived through events that had changed his life.

Normally, Kagome was bright and cheerful, full of bubbly energy and always had a kind word to say to anyone she came across. It was those traits that had first attracted Owen. Getting to know her, talking to her, is what sealed the deal.

Now, however, the expression that painted across Kagome's face... It was one word:

Haunted.

He didn't know her complete history, but he knew some things. He knew she'd traveled a lot during her teenage years. He knew she'd traveled with a group of friends that became a second family.

He also knew that her second family was gone, forever out of her reach. Dead.

He had never personally dealt with losing so many people close to him before, but Owen was determined to stay by Kagome's side no matter what. Her remaining family lived in Japan. She was essentially alone. Sort of like him. But they had each other, and that was enough.

"Babe?" Owen gently called out, not wanting to startle her.

Kagome blinked. The dull, haunted glaze in her eyes cleared slightly. She looked up, a small smile appearing when their eyes connected. "What is it, Owen?"

"You okay?"

Her voice came out soft, almost whispered too quietly for him to hear. "Just… one of those days. I'll be fine."

He had a feeling it was more than that, but let it go. For now.

Letting an indulgent smile appear on his face, Owen nodded. Wrapping strong arms around her waist, he pulled her closer into the security of his embrace and warmth. "One day, will you tell me about it? About everything that happened to you?"

She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, shoulders slumping as tension left her body. Delicate hands came up to clutch at his vest. "One day," she promised.

"Good." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "So, are you coming with me to the raptor cage or are you working with ACU today?" Owen had serious doubts about her working with the Asset Containment Unit. It was dangerous, the dinosaurs were unpredictable at best, and none of the specially trained forces used lethal weapons despite having them. It would only take one misstep for Kagome to be seriously harmed. Or worse.

Of course, working at the raptor cage wasn't any safer, but at least Owen could keep an eye on her there. Strangely, Blue and her sisters seemed to like Kagome. They could be temperamental and aggressive – they were blood-thirsty predators, after all – but around the raven haired beauty, they could be docile and a little more obedient than usual. But just because they acted like harmless cats didn't mean they would stay that way. Blue and her sisters could always turn around and attack at a moment's notice, and Owen wasn't willing to risk Kagome's safety.

"I…" Kagome answered hesitantly, "I think I want to spend time with Blue and her sisters."

"Consider it done."

KH*OG*KH*OG

As always, everyone watched Kagome's interactions with Blue and her sisters with a sense of awe tinged with disbelief. And, as always, Owen watched their interactions with conflicting emotions. On one hand, he felt proud that his girlfriend was so easily accepted among such vicious animals but, on the other hand, it filled him with a great sense of trepidation every time.

He watched as Blue rubbed her side against Kagome, almost as if sensing the raven haired beauty's lingering distress and wanted to comfort her. Charlie came up on Kagome's other side, head lowering to nudge her hand. The other two, Echo and Delta, surrounded the three as if acting as a barrier against the rest of the world. The way they would growl and bare their teeth at the other handlers said as much.

Barry came up to Owen's side. "It still amazes me how they behave around Kagome," he commented, a small smile on his face.

"Amazes me, too," Owen replied, though only sounded half convinced. He then admitted, "It mostly just scares the shit out of me."

"I don't blame you, my friend." Barry clapped a hand against Owen's shoulder. "I don't blame you. But at least she has you to keep an eye on her."

"Yeah…" It was true. Owen always kept his guard up, especially when Kagome was at the raptor cage and spending 'quality time' with Blue and her sisters. It made him nervous watching them, waiting for the moment he would need to jump in before total bloodshed occurred. It was nerve-wracking at best.

Owen leaned against the railing from the overhead observation deck, gaze intent as Blue and Charlie continued to give Kagome physical comfort. The raven haired beauty seemed to soak in the sensations, fingers lightly – fearlessly – gliding over the scaled bodies that surrounded her, one-by-one. Maybe that was the secret? Maybe that fearlessness was what made Kagome so different from other humans to the raptors? Instincts, after all, played a major role when it came to prey versus predator.

Or maybe Blue and the girls sense something from Kagome that made them immediately submissive?

He wouldn't be surprised. Sometimes, when she didn't know he was looking, he saw a type of darkness enter her amethyst orbs. It was the sort of darkness that spoke of a life involving war and battles.

Fighting for survival.

Dealing death blows.

Becoming a warrior. An alpha.

Owen rubbed his bristled chin, contemplative now.

He may not be aware of everything that Kagome had experienced but he damn sure could take a few guesses.

KH*OG*KH*OG

A Few Days Later

As the days passed, Kagome's mood had seemed to darken and become more solemn. Owen watched with increasing worry as his girlfriend closed off more and more from society – and even from him. She stopped visiting Blue and her sisters; instead, taking jobs with ACU to handle unruly dinosaurs. If Owen didn't know better, he would have assumed Kagome needed the physical exertion to help combat the demons she was fighting internally. But it was just a guess on his part.

And then came the day the Indominus Rex broke free from its cage…

KH*OG*KH*OG

Kagome startled awake, her body screaming in protest at the sudden movement. Her head was pounding, vision blurry, and her left shoulder had to be dislocated from the numbing burn she felt. Blood was slowly leaking from an open wound along her hairline and from the corner of her mouth. Her clothes were in tatters, and her ACU cap was long gone, but all in all she was grateful to still be breathing.

Unlike the other members of her tactical team…

Amethyst eyes closed in frustrated regret, images replaying the utter annihilation they'd faced when trying to track and subdue that… genetic monster the scientists had created. What had they been thinking when they'd concocted that creature?

Kagome softly scoffed. They hadn't been thinking, that was the problem. Money and ambition had blinded them to the true danger their greed would inflict upon the mass population. She shouldn't be surprised. She should have known something like this was going to happen. She'd dealt with people like them before, hadn't she?

Her lips pressed together so tightly they became bloodless, quivering, as her thoughts drifted to that time so long ago when she was merely fifteen and clueless. Her bangs shadowed her eyes.

Bodies had littered the blood-soaked ground of massacred villages.

The stench of death would never leave her senses.

Screams would forever echo within her memories.

Blood would always stain her once pure hands.

And the faces of her friends – her second family – would haunt her for the rest of her life.

Now Kagome had more people to add to her list of tortured regret.

Not again…

Throwing her head back, the former priestess released a soundless scream as her purification powers erupted from her body in a blinding light.

KH*OG*KH*OG

Owen was still in a state of denial over Kagome's death. It was unthinkable. She couldn't be gone. It was impossible. Their relationship hadn't even taken off – not really – and there was so much they still had to do. He refused to believe that the raven haired beauty was forever out of his reach.

He wouldn't – couldn't – imagine a world where she wasn't in it.

It was that belief that kept him going, kept him moving. If he thought too long or too hard about the possibility, his legs shook and threatened to bring him down to his knees in despair. He had to stay focused. The lives of two young boys were at stake, even if their neglectful and hard-headed aunt was the reason Kagome may no longer be alive. It wasn't their fault, so they shouldn't be punished. As it stood, Owen could barely look at Claire without feeling rage consume him. So many lives could've been spared… She could have been spared.

Owen was suddenly knocked off his feet when a giant rat with wings and big, sharp teeth decided it wanted to take a bite out of him. Oh hell no. This was not happening. Not to him.

Before he could bring up his gun to shoot the miniature terror, however, an arrow that glowed lavender pierced it. With a small cry, the winged creature disintegrated into ash. Owen blinked. What the hell?

"Are you just going to lay there or are you going to stand up sometime today?" an all-too-familiar voice questioned.

Eyes widening in shock – and a painful sort of hope – Owen quickly rolled back onto his feet. His gaze instantly locked onto the figure that stood a few feet away, clothes tattered and bloodstained, but standing strongly with a bow and quiver of arrows. Dirt and dried blood smudged her cheeks but Kagome was still gorgeous to him.

"Kagome…?" he murmured in disbelief.

Despite the panic and chaos surrounding them, Kagome tossed her boyfriend a saucy wink. "Were you expecting someone else?" In the next second, she drew an arrow, aimed, and fired into the sky. That same lavender light engulfed the arrow, turning several flying dinosaurs into nothing but glittering ash that rained down to the ground. "Come on, Owen. I'm not losing any more people. We have to get everyone to shelter."

A slow grin spread across Owen's face. The relief he felt could encompass the entire island they currently were trapped on. "That's my girl," he muttered, mostly talking to himself. He spoke louder to make sure she heard him. "Wait a second."

She made an impatient sound. "We don't have—"

His mouth slanted over hers, one arm wrapping around her waist to mold their bodies together. His other hand came up to cup her cheek, thumb smoothing over soft skin, wanting to make sure she was real and not a figment of his imagination. Everything disappeared, all of their senses focused on the other.

When they finally pulled apart, Owen grinned cheekily. "Okay. Let's go," he said, his tone a little too chipper under the circumstances. He shouldered his gun, ready to march back into battle with the attacking dinosaurs.

Kagome blinked, stunned at the abruptness. "Wha—Owen!"

"Come on, Kagome," he called back cheerfully. "Are you just going to stand there or are you going to help me get these people to shelter?"

In response, Kagome growled and stomped after her boyfriend. Oh, he was so going to get an earful once they were off this godforsaken island!

KH*OG*KH*OG

Owen took a seat on the hotel bed, showered and dressed in clothes he'd picked up at the nearest cheap clothing store. After the incident on the island, generous hotels had been kind enough to give the survivors a place to stay until they could figure out how to get back home. He couldn't help but feel grateful. Most of the Jurassic World employees, himself included, had lived on the island. And now all of that was gone, lost to the dinosaurs that shouldn't have been brought back to existence.

The bathroom door opening caught Owen's attention, and he looked up to see Kagome coming out of her own shower and dressed in comfortable clothes. He smiled, unable to stop himself. It was a miracle she'd survived facing the Indominus Rex, and he thanked every deity he could name for that miracle.

Kagome smiled, a touch of uncertainty in her eyes. "What's with that look?"

"Just glad you're… here. With me." Alive.

"Where else would I be?" she rhetorically replied. Coming to stand in front of Owen, she asked in concern, "How are you feeling?"

He raised one hand to cup her cheek. He couldn't get over the fact that she was real and this wasn't a dream. If it was, he never wanted to wake up. "I should be asking you that."

"I'm not the one all scratched up and bruised."

Owen's expression shifted into his most serious one. "That reminds me… Why aren't you? I saw your clothes, Kagome. I saw the blood. Yet you're not injured at all? How is that possible?" And what was the deal with her glowing arrows? The mysterious power she seemed to wield piqued his curiosity. What other secrets were his girlfriend hiding?

Kagome sighed in resignation, but answered, "I think it would be better if I showed you as well." Slowly lifting one hand, it started to glow lavender with her priestess powers. As she trailed the appendage along his nearest arm, the scratches and bruises healed within seconds. Owen's eyes widened. "It started on my fifteenth birthday, and my younger brother had lost our cat, Buyo…"