Sorry I haven't updated! I was on a small vacation with my husband and kids before school starts. I do come with an update today! Also don't forget to check out my Bryce Dallas Howard forum! Link is on my profile. I'll be posting my stories on there as well.
** Read and Review**
Tears mixed with dirt fell like waterfalls from her eyes. She stumbled as she forced her feet to move faster than they were capable of. I stopped running, bracing myself for her impact. She didn't slow down, her body slammed into mine. She trembled against me. Her face pressed into my neck as she continued screamed for me as if it hasn't registered to her that she was already in my arms.
I sobbed into her hair, Owen's hand squeezed my shoulder.
"Aunt, Claire," Zach's eyes were wide. Apologetic.
I pulled Maisie from her vise-like grip around me and Owen immediately scooped her up into his arms. She started crying all over again mumbling his name. He quickly checked over her injuries.
"Where did you go?" I demanded looking back and forth from one boy to the other. "Why didn't you come back? I was so worried about you!"
They didn't answer me. I checked them over quickly. Just scrapes and bruises, but they looked fine. I was grateful for that, but my relief of having them back with us was quickly turning to anger. This all could have been avoided.
"Claire," Owen stopped me just as I was going to scold the boys. "We gotta go."
Maisie was wrapped around him. Her face buried into his neck her arms and legs locked around him as he carried her. He reached for my torn up blouse wrapped in a knot around my waist. Pulling it loose with one hand he threw it over Maisie's head, protecting her from seeing anything more traumatizing. Her body relaxed slightly as soon as she was covered against him, covered from the outside world. Of all the places to be on this island she was finally in the safest spot she could be.
"Let's go," I grabbed the boys and they willingly followed me.
"Mommy?" Maisie whimpered under my blouse, her voice muffled from Owen's neck.
He reached up and padded her back.
"She's right behind us." He soothed.
I reached up where her hands were locked together at the back of his neck. As soon as she felt my fingers she gripped my hand. My other hand held Gray close to my side. Zach's eyes were on the ground as we walked.
"What happened?" I asked him.
He shook his head. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
I let go of Grey's hand knowing Maisie wasn't going to let me go. I reached towards Zach and patted him on the back. "You three are safe. That's all that matters."
He shook his head again, his eyes peering up from the ground to look at me. "I mean about Maisie's nanny." His voice was a whisper as he glanced quickly at Maisie.
My breath caught in my throat and I choked. "Where is she?"
His eyes fell back down to the ground. "Eaten."
"What?" I stopped walking, Maisie's hand slipping from mine as Owen— oblivious from our conversation behind him— kept walking.
"Mom!" Maisie's voice caused Owen to stop. He caught my blouse before Maisie can pull it down.
"She's fine." He reassured her and pulled it back down over her eyes.
"What is it?" Owen asked, concerned of my frozen stature and tears silently streaming down my face.
"Beth," I sobbed her name.
Maisie shuddered in Owen's arms and she threw my blouse off her head. "Beth!" She repeated me.
The stress on her body was too much and she clapped her hand over her mouth. Owen fell to his knees patting her back as she expelled the contents of her stomach on the ground in front of her.
"Oh, baby," Owen soothed her.
Maisie wiped her mouth and threw her arms back around Owen's neck. "A Pteranodon picked her up," she explained through her sobs, "The mosasaurus got them."
She wiped her eyes and looked at me. "Are we going to die, too?"
I hesitated. I knew she was going to make me promise her we wouldn't.
"No," Owen answered for me. "Not while I'm here." He picked her back up and kissed her cheek before placing my blouse back over her head. I was glad she was now oblivious to the destruction around us once again.
"Call in a chopper." Owen told me.
I immediately grabbed my phone to call Lawery. "Lawery, I'm on my way back to you."
"That's a bad idea," his voice was panicked, "the board assigned emergency ops to INGEN's private security division. They've got this insane idea to use the raptors."
My eyes shot to the back of Owen's head. "What do you mean, use the raptors?" I demanded.
"Son of a bitch!" Owen growled. "Take the kids," he handed Maisie to me, she whimpered from the loss of Owen, but held onto me, "get them somewhere safe."
"Shouldn't say bitch." Gray informed him.
The large doors behind us banging as others tried to get through.
"What is that?" Maisie asked from under her protective shield.
"Nothing," I lied. "You're safe."
The door slammed open and a stampede of people and Pteranodon's flocked towards us.
We backed up until we came to an abandoned company car.
"Get in!" Owen opened the passenger door and shoved Maisie and I in.
He ran around to the drivers side as Gray and Zach raced to get in the back.
Maisie straddled my lap and her face dug into my chest.
Owen backed us up until we were away from the stampeding crowd.
"This does not feel safe." Zach half whispered from the back seat.
"Can we stay with you?" Gray added.
"I'm not leaving you for as long as I live!" I explained.
"No, no." Gray stated, placing his hand on Owen's shoulder. "I mean Uncle Owen."
I look at Owen who seemed torn with what to do.
Maisie caught on to the conversation. Owen needed to go to the raptors. She leaned back pulling my blouse off her head once again. Her eyes narrowed at Owen.
"You're not leaving!" She demanded, her voice angry.
Owen looked at her, his face in a state of shock. He composed himself quickly and reached for her dirty cheek.
"You look too much like your mother when you do that." He smiled.
Maisie usually liked when one of us teased her about looking like the other. She wasn't fooled this time. "You're not leaving!" She screamed, her body trembling.
"Ok, ok." Owen spoke quickly to sooth her. "We will stay together." He forced the words out.
I looked at him with wide eyes. The raptors were way too dangerous to have any of the kids there, but I knew he was torn on his decision. There was no way neither of us would allow Maisie out of our sight. His decision was made, he was going to try and figure out how to keep the four of us safe as well as keep his raptors as safe as he could.
I reached over and placed my palm on his cheek. I knew he was having the biggest internal battle of his life.
He turned away from me and drove towards the raptor paddock.
"Claire, if there is one time in our entire relationship that I really need you to listen to me, it's right now." His voice was low as he concentrated on the road more than he needed.
"You have my word." I answered. My arms tightened around Maisie and I glanced over my shoulder at the boys. They were leaning forward hanging on Owen's every word. I knew what Owen was going to say next would most likely be life or death for the kids.
"You stay at the paddock when the raptors are let loose. whatever happens, you do not follow." He peeled his eyes from the road and looked at me.
I quickly looked away from him, trying to hide the tears in my eyes. I didn't want to be separated from him, but I knew my job right now was to keep the kids safe. My mouth opened to speak the words Owen wanted to hear, but I couldn't get them out. I couldn't agree to let him go not knowing if he'd come back to me alive.
As if reading my mind he reached over, taking my hand in his and brought it to his lips. I closed my eyes as he kissed the back of my hand. The tears silently streaming down my face. I forced my breathing to stay normal as to not worry Maisie who was laying on my chest. Her body finally relaxed to the point that I wasn't sure if she fell asleep or not.
"I will come back, Claire."
I shook my head, squeezing his hand. "You can't promise that." I whispered, pressing my lips to the top of Maisie's head. She stirred slightly and I knew she was asleep.
"Can you promise me you'll stay at the paddock?"
I took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes."
He kissed the back of my hand again and held onto it tightly as he let his hand fall down to his lap.
"What do you think Hoskins has planned?" I asked as the raptor paddock came into view.
Owen shook his head. "Nothing. These are my animals and this will be ran by my plan only. Fuck that asshole." His eyes narrowed and I could see his jaw clenching in anger.
"Ok," I said slowly. "What's your plan then?"
"I don't have one yet."
I wanted to laugh at him, but my brain seemed to forget the emotion.
Owen threw the car in park and he grumbled as Hoskins started walking towards us.
"Keep the kids in the car." He said just as Maisie sat back on my lap to look out the window.
His face twisted with anger as he reached for the door.
"He's going to fight him." Zach whispered, his voice close behind me.
"Probably kill him." Gray agreed.
I glanced over my shoulder to see them pressed into the small space between the front seats. My mouth opened to tell them to stop, but I shut it again. I couldn't not agree with them and I couldn't say I wouldn't be happy to see that.
Hoskins' voice caught my attention and I slid Maisie from my lap. "Please stay here." I asked the three kids.
"Mom!" Maisie grabbed my arm as I got out of the car.
"I'll be right by Dad, you can see us the whole time."
She let go and twisted to climb in the back seat with Zach and Gray.