New Beginnings - Chapter 3 - Here We Go Again
Previously…
"I didn't know you were so interested in news," Barry observed, his tone jocular.
"I'm not," Owen muttered, concentrated on the job opening. Then, Barry realized what Owen was doing. He stood up, and snatched the article from Owen's hands.
"Hey!" Owen protested. Barry kept his voice stern.
"You are not going to get a job at the zoo!"
"C'mon Barry! Don't you think it'd be great for us?" Owen argued. Barry shook his head.
"This is insane. We have no experience in zookeeping."
"We raised raptors. I think we can handle the local prairie dogs."
"Owen, do you really think raptors are anything like regular zoo animals?"
"Barry, it'll just be like the old days. Just you, me, and the animals. Don't you miss the old raptor days?" Owen said, a bit wistful. Barry's expression softened.
"Of course I miss our girls. But that's in the past, Owen. They're not here." Barry and Owen stood in silence for a second.
"We could at least check it out," Owen suggested.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt. We'll go after work," Barry agreed. Owen smiled and punched Barry's arm lightly.
"That's my man." Barry smiled back, and both of them returned to work. For the rest of the work day, Owen and Barry's minds filled with fantasies of this new opportunity, and reminiscences of the past. It would be great to work with animals again, but nothing could ever come close to the raptors. Owen thought sadly. Then, he chuckled slightly. But this time...no chances of me being eaten.
The afternoon sun radiated upon the Earth, its brilliant rays shining on man and animal alike. There was a perpetual buzz in the air: children's sounds of awe, parents' conversations, and animalistic roars. The sea of visitors shuffled along from exhibit to exhibit, drinking in the sights of the creatures in front of them. Among the mob were Owen and Barry.
"Man, I haven't been to a zoo for so long," Owen said.
"You don't consider Jurassic World a zoo of sorts?" Barry said. Owen shook his head.
"Nope. You don't see any dinosaurs here, right?"
"I saw a crocodile a few exhibits back."
"Quick, get my clicker! Gotta teach that croc' hide 'n seek," Owen joked. Barry laughed in response. The two kept walking, viewing the displays, and commenting on each one.
The two eventually reached the lion cage. The enclosure was essentially a pit in the ground, with the lions living at the bottom. The cage was circular, allowing visitors to walk the full 360 degrees around it. Railing encircled the pit's rim.
Barry and Owen joined the rest of the visitors peering into the cage. There were few visitors around the lion enclosure. With Owen and Barry was a young couple, a small family of 3, a group of women, and a pack of teenagers. All watched the lions roam about their business.
After a while, one of the teenagers stood on the railing. His friends laughed with him as he loudly sang The Circle of Life, holding a stuffed lion from the souvenir shop in front of him. Some had their cell phones out, recording their friend's performance.
Suddenly, a large gust of wind swept through the area, which caused the teenager to lose his grip on the toy. As it started falling, he reached for it, just a little too far, and tipped forward...into the cage.
Everyone rushed forward, gripping the railing, leaning over slightly, and trying to get a view of the boy. There was a loud groan of pain from the bottom of the pit. The lions stopped their activities, their gazes locked on the source of commotion in their home.
Owen and Barry looked on, not exactly horrified, unlike the rest of the spectators. Owen looked around. No employees; no help.
"Son of a bitch," he muttered. He took off his bag, and began to climb the railing. Barry reached out and stopped him.
"Owen, no. This is dangerous," Barry said, concerned. But he knew it was a lost cause. He could see the determination in Owen's eyes. It was exactly like the past.
"No one else is going to help that kid," Owen responded.
"These aren't the raptors. These animals have no idea who you are," Barry tried to reason.
"Well, they're about to find out." Owen shook off Barry's already-loosened grip, and jumped over the railing. He landed alright; no pain felt, just a bit wobbly. His eyes swept the cage quickly. He noted three lions. There was a door behind him and the kid, which he assumed the zookeepers came out of. Then, he locked eyes with one of the lions. Instinctively, he held up both hands.
"Okay, it's just you and me," he said. Then he turned his gaze to the other two lions, making eye contact with each animal, acknowledging them, and making sure they acknowledged him. "And you. And you." Behind him, Owen heard the kid shuffling.
"What the-," the kid mumbled as he began to stand, a bit disoriented from the fall.
"You okay?" Owen said, still maintaining his eye contact with the lions. They slinked around, slowly getting closer and closer.
"Yea...wait, what?!" the teenager seemed to wake up and realize he was in a cage. With lions. "Dude get us out of here!" The lions growled at the loud outburst, crawling forward a bit more. Owen straightened.
"Hey! Back. It. Up," Owen said sternly to the approaching creatures. The lions didn't listen completely but they did stop for a second, and roared at Owen and the boy. One lion broke off, and attempted to leave Owen's sight. Owen twisted his body slightly, so the lion's attempt failed. It froze as it was caught in Owen's vision. "Don't think I don't see you."
"Oh my god, I'm going to die!" the boy sobbed, his voice shaking. The lions roared yet again.
"Stop doing stupid shit, like yelling at the top of your lungs," Owen said angrily.
"Excuse me?"
"Just listen to me," Owen said, ignoring the teenager, "When I say so, make a break for the door behind us."
The lions were getting too close. Owen thrust his arms out yet again, taking a small step forward. The lions took a small step backwards. "Good, good." Owen knew he couldn't do this for much longer. He watched their body language, looking for when they decided they had enough. The lions crouched a bit. They were about to pounce.
"Here! Come here!" Owen heard a voice yell behind him. From the source, he knew the zookeeper door had been opened. Now or never.
"Go!" Owen commanded, as he turned and started running towards the exit, right on the teenager's heels. The lions roared, and he heard them dashing right behind him. Just...a few more...seconds… Owen could have sworn he heard the lions' breaths.
3…
2…
1…
Owen and the teenager dove into safety, and the zookeeper slammed the door shut.
Owen laid on the ground for a bit, his chest heaving. He faintly heard the zookeeper saying a thousand apologies, and the teenager whispering slurs of curse words over and over.
"Sir, are you alright?" the zookeeper questioned. Owen coughed and nodded. He slowly stood up, and looked over at the shaking teen.
"You know, dangling yourself over a lion pit isn't the smartest thing," Owen said. The boy looked at him.
"Are you, like, some lion whisperer?" he said, ignoring Owen's comment.
"Hm, I'd prefer something cooler than lions," Owen remarked, "But, no. I just...know what I'm doing…," he trailed off. His mind flashbacked to so long ago, in the raptor cage.
"Owen!" Barry called. Owen turned to see Barry rushing towards him. "Thank God that went well."
"Looks like I've still got it, huh?"
"Don't let this get to your head, friend. I better not see you attempting this with the local squirrels or something."
"You betcha. Let's just call it a day, head home, and hope I never have to do that again."
A muted TV casted a faint blue glow upon a shadowy office, being the only source of light. On screen, shaky cellphone footage was projected of a certain someone surrounded by three lions. A man sitting in the dark office turned on the sound, his interest stimulated by the news story.
"A teenager had fallen into the enclosure. As you see in the footage here, a man jumps in after the teen, and keeps the lions back. Many wonder…-"
"Sir!" a woman burst into the room. "We fou-"
"I know," the man said, grinning slightly at the television. The man turned to face the woman. "Get the team ready. I think this plan is ready to commence." The woman nodded, and the man grabbed the office phone, dialing a number. He heard the other side pick up.
"The plan has started. Begin phase one…," he said. He looked up at the TV, as the footage zoomed in on the man in the cage.
"...and obtain Owen Grady."
a/n: yea what happened was a bit farfetched :? hope that didnt spoil the scene :| thanks for reading yet another chapter! hope to see you in the next one :)