Blue turned her attention back to Owen, giving him a small purr. I could see his shoulders relax.
Blue— sad to admit she was the only one I could recognize— stood her ground, protecting us.
I wanted to yell out when she was suddenly thrown into the wall. The Indominus not showing any signs of weakness.
Owen glanced quickly at the remaining two raptors. He whistled and they stalked forward. He had them under his complete control.
As if we knew our place; Owen followed his raptors, shooting at the Indominus. I led the kids to a souvenir booth. Zach jumped over the counter first, landing on his feet he spun around holding his hands out.
"Maisie!" He yelled and I all but threw her over the counter to him. He caught her easily and shoved her behind him. Gray was next and he leaped over without any help. I threw my legs over, landing hard on my knees.
Maisie fell into my lap, crying out for Owen.
"I hate it here!" She screamed as loud as she could. "I hate it!"
I closed my eyes, trying to fight back the tears. I hated it, too.
"We need more," Gray whispered. His voice shaking.
I looked over Maisie's head at him. "More what?"
"Teeth," he answered. "We need more teeth."
I immediately caught on to what he meant. He was right. If we were going to bring down this beast we needed something her size.
There was only one dinosaur I knew who would be strong enough to take her down.
"Ok," I took a deep breath, standing up with Maisie in my arms. "just wait here," I handed Maisie over to Zack.
I opened the first aid kit in the booth and took out a radio and flare.
"Where are you going?" Maisie squeaked.
I ignored her, only looking at Zach. "Do not let her go."
He tightened his grip on her.
Three sets of scared eyes stared back at me, as I glanced at each kid.
"It's going to be fine." I said and swung my legs back over the counter, running towards the T-Rex paddock.
"Mommy!" Maisie's screams echoed in my head as I ran.
"Claire!" Owen's voice followed hers, but I didn't look back at him. If I looked back he would have seen it in my eyes. The risk I was about to take. He'd all but tackle me to the ground, so I knew I had to stay far enough ahead of him.
"Lawery, you still there?" I asked into the radio.
"Hey, where are you?" He answered immediately.
"I need you to open paddock nine!"
"Paddock nine?" He asked, panicked. "You kidding?"
"Damn it Lawery, be a man and do something for once in your life!" I was done being nice. If he stalled any longer it would cost my family's life.
"Why'd you have to make it personal?" He asked.
I threw the radio, starring at him through the security camera. I was done talking.
The light flashed and the alarm blared as the door opened. Knowing the T-Rex followed the flares to her food I had to make sure she knew what she was going after.
I lit the flare in my hands, the flame was hot, but I gripped it tight in my hand.
The sound of her feet on the ground grew faster and louder as she spotted me. The moment I saw her eyes set on me, I spun and ran as fast as I could. The vibrations of the ground under my feet made it feel like she was right on me, ready to snatch me up. I didn't dare look behind me. I'd rather not look back into her mouth the moment before she ate me.
Thankfully I made it back alive. I threw the flare as hard as I could towards the Indominus.
Throwing myself to the ground so I was out of the way, I looked up to see the T-Rex standing directly above me.
My eyes scanned the area for my family. Owen had his left arm across Maisie's chest, holding her against him. His right hand clapped over her mouth to keep her screams from being heard by either of the dinosaurs.
Getting myself out of the way I hid behind a fountain.
I kept my eyes on Owen as the dinosaurs slammed into each other. He had backed the kids up, shoving Maisie behind his back.
"No!" I yelled when the Indominus shoved the T-Rex through the wall where Owen and the kids were.
He moved them out of the way just in time, but I could see the dinosaurs directly above them, the booth crumbling around them.
"Run!" I screamed as loud as I could.
Maisie was first to listen to me. She took off running and Owen shoved the boys to follow her. I opened my arms and she wrapped her arms around my waist.
The boys dove behind me and Owen grabbed my arm.
"Are you insane!" He hissed, and leaned over Maisie to kiss me.
"Yes," I panted.
With one hand still tight on my arm, he laid his other protectively on Maisie's back.
"She's going to kill her," Gray whispered beside me.
The Indominus had the T-Rex pinned and was going for her neck.
The familiar coughing of Blue caused all of us to turn in the direction she was coming from. She ran right to the Indominus, leaping into her back. This made the Indominus stumble back away from the T-Rex.
She was able to get back on her feet and help Blue fight.
"We have to move," Owen, still holding my arm, half dragged me along with him.
Blue smashed through the window in front of us, but she got back up and didn't even notice we were there.
Maisie was silent as we ran and I worried she was injured. Looking down at her, her hand was relaxed in mine. I was the one squeezing hers. Her face was emotionless. No more tears streamed from her eyes. She was shutting down.
"Owen," I tried pulling my arm from his grasp. We made it to the edge of the shops, far enough from the fight.
I shoved Maisie at him and she went willingly. Not even bothering to grab onto him.
Owen noticed immediately. Kneeling down in front of her he took her face gently in his hands. She didn't meet his eyes. She looked right through him.
"Hey, sweetie," despite the destruction going on around us he spoke softly. "I need you to look at me."
The noise behind me caused me to jump. The Mosasaurus jumped out of the water, grabbing onto the Indominus, pulling her down in the water. Though the fight was done my worry was now focused on Maisie.
Owen didn't seem to notice the fight was over. He stroked Maisie's cheek. His voice stayed low and soft as he spoke to her.
I sighed when she blinked, and her eyes focused on Owen.
"There you are," he smiled and leaned in to kiss her cheek. She slowly brought her arms up to wrap around his neck. He stood up, keeping her tight in his arms.
Blue wondered over to Owen and he froze. I reached up and grabbed Maisie's leg and my other hand shot out to grab Gray's.
Blue and the T-Rex moved off in opposite directions. Leaving the five of us to stand alone. Nothing but destruction surrounded us.
We walked slowly towards the innovations center, no longer needed to rush.
Gray's shoulders slumped and Zack wrapped his arms around him to help support some of his weight. I patted Zach's back and he smiled at me.
"I'm proud of you." I told him.
"Same to you," he lightly punched my arm.
We walked into the control room and it was eerily untouched. Walking in felt strange. It looked like a normal day inside, while utter devastation laid just outside the door.
"You did it, Claire!" Lawery cheered, jumping up to hug me. "That was the most badass move I've ever seen!"
"Thanks, Lawery," I yawned. Suddenly exhausted.
"Chopper is here." He said and led the way to the helipad.
The boys climbed in first and I helped them buckle their seatbelts. Maisie stayed clung to Owen, still not making a single sound. The moment we were in the air she slumped against him and was asleep.
Owen draped his arm over my shoulder and I leaned into his side. We were alive. All of us were alive. Where we went from here it didn't matter. Together is all I needed.