Levine froze, standing completely still. He couldn't believe what his ears were telling him, but was forced to believe the evidence of his eyes. That doorknob was turning, it was turning, and the scrape of the metal told him no human hand could possibly be turning it. He'd been somewhat prepared for this after all, he'd not been completely blind to the constant rumors out of Costa Rica. He gripped the kid's arm, feeling it grow tense without him even having to tighten that grip. Well, at least both of them sensed that there was something very not right about that. But he knew he had only seconds, maybe even less to act on it.
He stepped back, using his free hand to push the kid into the kitchen. Hopefully he'd grown with a bone of sense in his body and wouldn't talk. Not that it would help much; he knew from experience that it most likely wouldn't. It might give them some more time though, and that was what Levine most needed right now. To figure out some semblance of a plan. Right now there was none, although he really thought he ought to change that sometime in the near future. Particularly if he wanted to still be breathing in five minutes. Just a random guess on that timeframe though, it might be less. The sweat rolled down his forehead as he heard the door opening, not followed through like a human would…but just allowed to be slammed against the wall by the wind. The noise echoed through the house like a thunderclap, breaking the silence.
He slipped his other hand inside his vest, as he and the kid leaned against the wall right by the door. He could hear the sound of something sniffing, the doorframe possibly? Perhaps. Footsteps out in the hall; tentatively sniffing the air. A scent, anything. Too late he realized that both his hands were empty. Damn! He kept making the same mistakes every time…. It would smell the candy wrapper eventually he realized, even though he couldn't see it. By the time he saw it though, it would be too fast, and it would be over before he even got a good glimpse. He knew that, which was why he had to be careful. Nobody ever got killed from being too careful, except when they were trying to cover their ass going out the door.
He risked a quick look around, trying to see what else he could do. Any back way out? There was no way in hell they were going by the hall that was for sure. He let go of the kid's arm, and put a finger to his mouth to indicate that he should be quiet. Make a sound, and they were dead. He could see by the kid's pale face that he recognized the danger that they were in, even if he was incapable of fully comprehending it. Why, you couldn't make these people up. He silently wondered if this kid had got his undergraduate in sociology. Probably, but that didn't matter so much, as getting them all out alive did it. Shush now, he could hear it hesitantly stepping over the threshold.
Any minute now it would start investigating the rooms, he knew. First the bedroom to the side, and then theirs. But it wouldn't give them that much time either. He saw a small island right in the center of the kitchen, which gave him an idea. It would have to do for now, because even any momentary advantage would have to be seized. Grabbing the kid's arm again, he pushed him down to the floor. Gesturing in the general direction of the island, he hoped he got the message. If he didn't that was because it was his own damn fault for falling asleep during lectures during his undergrad. He opened his vest, revealing a holstered revolver. Taking it out slowly, he crouched low against the island.
He could see something moving in the entrance to the hall. However, he knew better then to try to lift his head to get a better look. Slowly, he clicked back the safety to the revolver. He knew it was a piece of shit, if he'd actually had time to prepare for this trip, he would have come up with something better. It was true that this was still being better armed then during his trip to Sorna but not by much. He knew he shouldn't have that that asshole just outside of the airport rip him off like that, but he couldn't used his credit card at the time in case it was being tracked by the board. So goodbye Rolex that he'd packed at the last second, hello crappy six-shooter that looked as if it was a prop from an old spaghetti western.
At least he had ammunition, he thought after doing a last second check. He already realized that he was probably making too much noise. It would notice, and they would all be in deep shit. He rose slowly, keeping his gun leveled at the entrance. He kept Grant's words in his head, slowly repeating them as if they were some sort of mantra. Not from the front….not from the front… There was no motion as he slowly edged forward, not even daring to breathe. He could see the door open from here, wet and muddy tracks leading into the house. None leading out. They were too vague to make out clearly, because the mud tended to stain and spread out on this carpet. Nothing so far, he judged, even as he moved to the side again, to cover the other angle. Like they'd taught him in that police tactics seminar he'd conned the board into paying for. Well only the first day at least, he thought grinning to himself.
There was no sound from inside the house, and he drew in his breath again. He was now directly in front of the hallway, and he couldn't see anything. Maybe it was in one of the bedrooms? That was his best guess for now, although he still couldn't be sure. He saw the kid looking at him from back in the kitchen, peering from behind the island. Eyes practically begging to know if it was safe to come out now. Well, he couldn't be sure without clearing the house, but that wasn't exactly a proposition that Levine was willing to entertain right now. Hell would freeze over before he did that. Oh, and Roxton would be right, but that was another story entirely.
He edged slightly over to the side again, getting closer to the doorway. Part of him didn't want to get any closer, and the other part of him knew he was trapped here. This was the only way in or out, even if something unknown were indeed lurking there. He leaned over, sneaking a peek out into the hallway. Empty and clear, although he could see the door to one of the bedrooms open. The muddy footprints tracked to there, and he could already hear the sounds of something bumping into furniture. Well at least it was otherwise occupied, he thought to himself. Right now he had more important things to worry about, like getting a scared, and frightened grad student out of the house in one piece. Fact: he had no plan, and he realized this even as the wind started to pick up behind him.
It was a hell of a storm out there it sounded like, and he could hear the rustling of the trees as they blew in the wind. Levine didn't notice it because he was busy gesturing with his other hand for the kid to get out from under the island. God, he seemed so slow, crawling on his hands and knees. Such a pain, since he was trying to keep his eyes focused on the hallway at the same time. The kid was almost at the door now, still moving at a snails pace. Levine was disracted enough to grab Baxter by the arm, in an effort to get him to pick up the pace. He didn't notice the breeze that whistled over his ear, and wafted down the hall. Sending one particular power bar wrapper skittering into the bedroom of the door.
Instantly all the motion in the other bedroom stopped. The sniffing resumed again, and he heard something clatter to the ground. The animal turning around to investigate the source, he realized. Both Levine's and Baxter's heads craned again, transfixed as the animal slowly came into view. First the snout, then the head and then the whole body. No hesitation or nervousness at the presence of the two of them, it stepped out into the hallway, and finally Levine could see it for what it was. He was seeing it in the flesh for the first time in four years. In the flash of a second, the years seemed to strip away and he was on Sorna again. Only this time, no backup-nobody to even care where he had gone.
Velociraptor Mongoliensis "Sornaensis" the last being the name he'd privately given to the mutated INGEN version of the animal. Six feet tall, the raptor was as big as a grown man. The long shadows contrasted sharply with its yellow brown skin, dark brown stripes just like a tiger. It's sickle claw clacked against the ground as it walked, and its eyes shone with a fierce intelligence. It growled at them, exposing rows of razor sharp teeth. It's head low; it slowly slithered out of the other bedroom, stalking them. There were shreds of tattered flesh in its jaws, Levine couldn't help but notice, meaning it had just eaten. But he remembered something else Grant had said. Those bastards kill for pleasure of killing.
He backed up, pushing the kid behind him. "As fast as you can, run." He whispered out of the corner of his mouth. The man didn't need telling twice, and nearly tripped up Levine in his hurry to run. Leaving Levine alone with the raptor. He tightened his grip on the pistol as it stepped forward, snarling viciously. There was no way of really telling how much of an effect the gun would have on the animal. Given its size Levine wasn't sure if it would just piss it off to no end. Might have some value in distracting it momentarily, buying him some time. He tried to steady his arm, ready for the shot. Damn, he thought. Damn.
The raptor leaped forward, hoping to catch him off-guard. Levine's finger slipped, firing a shot out of desperation. Lucky shot, it seemed to hit right on the body, not enough to penetrate. But enough to cut the leap forward, sending it bowling into the opposite wall. It gave off a horrible screech, and he could see faintly a small ribbon of blood where the bullet had hit. Not that Levine paid that much attention. He backed up faster, right up until he was sure that he was right out of the doorway. The raptor was starting to get up now, he needed to go now. He didn't really care where, just somewhere safe and secure. He grabbed the outside doorknob, slamming the door shut.
Door wasn't locked but opening the door would take at least half a minute. Just enough time for him to get away. Before he could even hear the first creak of the metal, Levine had already turned and started running. Even in the driving rain he could make out some semblance of newly disturbed mud just to the left of him. That might be a good path to follow, he thought. He quickly pulled the safety back on the gun even as he chambered it for another round. He just hoped that the kid had enough sense to go try to hide somewhere secure. Where in this village would be safe from that raptor? He tried to mentally check everything down… based on his limited time in the village.
The first place of course would be the bar, but that might be a bit too far. There were not enough bullets in the gun to distract the dinosaur that much. Plus, if any of the doors were locked, would be pretty damn well screwed. The other houses would not serve as long-term solutions. He thought vaguely that his Hummer might provide a safe haven, but again it was too far. He thought maybe his only option would be to try to follow the kid, maybe stop him from getting himself killed. Going into the jungle was suicide, even in the day. The kid would get lost, easy prey for a predator who knew the jungle.
He risked a look back; saw the door just starting to open. Oh god… he just turned back, hearing the slipping and sliding as the raptor was chasing him. He imagined he could feel the hot breath of the animal right behind him, damn how fast was it? He was running past a row of houses, following the trail as hard as he could. He could see where it all led, or seemed to lead. Up a moderate hill, slightly paved. He knew what that meant, some sort of private residence, probably better and more secure then the ones down here. It seemed his only chance, or at least the best one he was going to get about now. There was really no more time to think about his options.
Looking back behind him again, he realized that the raptor was almost on him. He brought his gun over his shoulder, and fired a shot haphazardly. It missed, but he still kept on running. By this time he was already somewhat up the hill, trying to make progress. The driving rain kept him from gaining a good foothold on it. It was a shame, but at least it would be slowed the same as he was. However, he had a feeling that the most direct route was most likely not on his mind. No, with those animals to assume anything would get you killed. But he did see disturbed mud up ahead, meaning the kid had indeed come through here, and just missed him by seconds most likely.
He could see the top of the ridge now; it seemed rather flat up there. Couldn't really tell though. It distracted him enough that he slipped on the mud, causing him to fall flat on his face. Trying to get up, he heard a thump. But from the side… He saw a snarling mouth, sickle claw aimed high. Ready to disembowel him here in an anonymous Costa Rican village. The gun too far away…he felt his life pass before his eyes, at the ridiculousness of it all. He grit his teeth, feeling its hot breath close to him as the raptor snarled in triumph. He was going to die, despite all his careful planning; he was going to die.
The Raptor made another lunge, and Levine shut his eyes. Two seconds later, he clearly wasn't dead, so he opened them again. The raptor was backing up; he could see something streaking down its side in the rain. Blood, it had been hit on the side…. Shrieking in pain, it snapped at nothing for a second. Levine wasn't waiting however, and he turned over, grabbed the gun and ran in the direction the shot had come from. It might be enough to distract it for a few more moments, but he wasn't gambling on it. People who took those kinds of chances usually ended up dead, in jail, or both. So he cleared the top, and made a beeline for shelter.
He could see it, right ahead of him. A large compound, he'd would've said belonged to one of those freaks who liked to hide out in the desert near Bakersfield. Anyway there was a fence around it. Perfect, he thought to himself. Barbed wire at the top, just the right sort of protection. There was another figure running too, just slightly ahead of him now. He guessed the kid must already be inside because this new man was of a different build. But all he could see in this damned rain was that he wore a hat, sort of like an old fashioned game warden. Screw that, he thought to himself as the renewed snarl was already right behind him.
He slid right in through the gate, the man waving him through. Great, but…He landed on his back, watching in horror as the raptor immediately started climbing the fence. Damn it was almost at the top now…he heard the gate close with a slam behind him. "What the hell good does that do?" He said, already standing up, backing towards the door to the compound. He had his hand on the door handle, just as the gate interlocked with the rest of the fencing. There was a brief shower of sparks and a hideous screeching noise from the raptor. It let go of the fence, and he could see the scald marks on its claws. So that was it…an electric fence…
The man turned to him, ignoring the raptor giving one last snarl before slipping into the forest. His shotgun was raised at him, a questioning glance in his eye. Levine knew he might have only one chance with this guy, so he raised his hands slowly, dropping his gun as he did so. "Marty sent me," he said, though that wasn't exactly the truth. He could see a little clearer now, because the entrance had a little overhang above it. The man's face becoming visible and clearer. He thought he recognized him… He couldn't be one hundred percent sure, but just going by what Malcom had told him it very well could be.
"I know about Nublar," he said. "I'm a friend of Grant and Malcom." Hopefully that would be enough…. He held his breath as the man stepped out of the rain, onto the porch.
"A 'friend' huh?" Robert Muldoon said as he shook his head. "Tell me… who are you exactly?"
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