Of course I know people had to be here at some point for there to be dinosaurs. That's not what I'm questioning. I'm questioning why we're here. I know how, all too well. It's the why I can't figure out. And no one is taking me seriously. I thought Ben, of all people, would at least consider the possibility. But he was the first to call me crazy. Sure he didn't actually say that, but I can tell that's what he thinks.
Yes, sometimes I have really crazy ideas. But this just feels wrong. I'm sure our plane had flown that same path a million times. Why, all of the sudden, did it crash? I survey the area as Ben and Casey search the two vehicles buried in grass. We're in the middle of a bunch of mountains. They probably put this place here on purpose, because of that.
The building is quite large. Not all that tall. Looks like there used to be a glass roof, at some point. A large mound of grass and weeds catches my attention, in between the two vehicles. I walk up to it and begin pulling away the foliage. After a while, I start to see some blue lettering with a white background.
I keep pulling, faster. Once the sign is uncovered, I step back and stare at it. InGen. That's what it says. They're the ones who helped Hammond start this mess. They still are making dinosaurs for Jurassic World, as we speak. I walk around the sign and up the first couple of steps. Someone's hand grabs my arm to stop me. I stop but don't look at them.
My eyes stay fixed at the door and the sign above it. Embryonics Administration. In silver letter, written above the door. What I means, I don't know. But I need to. I glance at my arm, still grasped by someone, and then up at the person. Ben's look of concern shocked me for a second. He let go and then walked up the stairs alone.
He entered the building and then disappeared. He came into view a minute later, waving us in. Maddie, Casey, and I walked up the stairs. Everyone else decided to wait outside. I followed Ben in while the other two hung outside. Looks like dinosaurs had their way with this place. A receptionist desk sits a few feet inside the front door.
Everything looks covered in a pound of dust. Every window is broken in some way, leaving this place open to the elements. A phone sat on the side of the desk. I know it's not going to work, but Maddie tries it anyway. A second later she puts it back down. We follow Ben around the corner, down a hallway. All of the walls are cement.
Only a few old pictures hang here and there. We passed three old vending machines as we walked. The one in the middle was shattered and its contents missing. A few more turns and the hallway ends at a closed doors.
"We should probably go back, we've been here long enough," Maddie said. The creepiness of this place was getting to her. Me too. But I need answers. Turning back now is not an option. I quickly step around Ben and open the door before he can stop me. I walked through and stopped on the landing to a set of stairs. I heard the others behind me, as I stared.
The stairs lead down to a large open room, full of old lab equipment. I know what this is the second I see it. They were making dinosaurs here, in this room. I walk down the stairs, shaking off Ben's grip on my arm. I hear him huff as I move further into the room. Large incubators sit in rows, with lager metal claws stationary above them.
The glass dome on each one has been broken, along with all of the eggs inside. I slid my pack off my shoulder and dig around for a camera. I put the pack back on as I bring the camera up to my face.
"This is crazy," Casey said.
"What is all of this?" Maddie asked. I lowered my camera and looked around.
"This…is someone's idea of playing god," I replied. We all fanned out, each looking at something different. I slowly worked my way to the back of the building. It's obvious that some kind of dinosaur was here at some point. I don't think they're still here though. At least I hope not.
I see an open door in the corner and can't help myself. I slowly walk toward it. I stand in the door way looking in. The room looks like a dungeon. It's much smaller than this one and full of metal cages. I walk in, pushing open cage doors out of my way. A few small windows line the roof, each broken. The cages are empty, now. But once upon a time, something was being held here.
I make my way to the back of the room, deep in thought. The door of the last cage on the left is open, like all of the others. But the door is pressed against the wall with its lock latched, causing the door to stay open. I wonder who did this. I hear a cage door creak behind me and jump, whipping around. Ben stood near the door.
"Are you following me now?" I asked, walking toward him. I made sure he knew I was still mad at him for not taking my side.
"Just doing a head count," he said it like it was a fact. Almost like he had orders to do so, so I couldn't blame him. I continued past him, avoiding his face, and out with the others. Yes, Ben's a nice guy and he's not too bad to look at, but I don't need some guardian angel following me around and going first. Taking care of myself is what I do best. The sooner he learns that the better.
"We should get back," I said it without stopping. I walked past them and up the stairs. I heard Maddie call for me, but I kept going. Eventually she caught up. "What?"
"What's up with you, lately?" she asked. I rolled my eyes and then sighed.
"I just need some space, and Ben to leave me alone." I said, "The sooner we get off this island, the better."
"I thought that was the case," she said, taking extra steps to catch up, "That's why Casey is talking to him." I stopped and looked at her. Her sandy brown hair hung wildly around her face. I tightened my ponytail to distract myself before walking again. "How do you know so much about this place?"
"My dad was on the original island many years ago, before it became the theme park you saw," I said, "besides…I use my brain." I looked at her and smiled before exiting the building. I was trotting down the front steps, when a shriek caused me to stop. I looked back at Maddie, but she was looking at me. A second later, the boys came running out of the building.
I looked at the group. They too were looking. I checked the tree line. Nothing. Then I looked at the trees tops surrounding the building. My eyes stopped on something that didn't make sense, to my far right. Above the trees, a mile or two away, a dark cloud of something swirled in the air.
It took a second of staring to realize that there were individual things flying in the cloud. Eric ran up to me. I pointed to the cloud, quickly drawing his attention to it. "What do you think it is?"
"I don't know," he said, as the others joined us.
"Are those birds?" Casey had a point. They do look like birds. But not any from this century. We need to leave in case they come this way. I walked down the rest of the stairs, the others following.
"We should keep moving," I said it loud enough for the group to hear. None of them argued, just quickly fell in line. Maddie and Casey came up to the front of the line, with me. I assume Ben's at the back of the line, but I haven't seen him since we were inside the building. We got the star fruit that Maddie and Casey had picked and then continued walking.
Right now, the goal is to find a way off the island. Even if that means walking to the other side of it. We walked for two hours and then took a lunch break. The water is getting low and people are starting to worry. I can tell something's up with Ben, since he's avoiding me, but I didn't come here to fall in love. And I need his help to find water.
I looked around for another person to bring with, someone that might know where to look. My eyes stop on a young man sitting alone off to the side. I walk up to Casey and tap his arm with the back of my hand. "Do you know who that is?" He followed my gaze.
"Yeah," he said, "Steven Hill. He's a boy scouts leader or something." He brushed it off like it was nothing. I gave him a dumbfounded look. "What?" I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.
"I need a water search party. Can you and Steven come?" I asked. He nodded, still stuffing his face. I always wondered how much vitamin c was in star fruit. I'm sure I'll find out soon. "Okay. Meet me at the tree line in two minutes." I walked away before he could reply. I could probably get by with the Boy Scout leader, but the question is: do I want to take that chance?
I quickly choose yes and move on. I walk over to a log and pick up my pack. Then turn and head to the meeting stop. When I get there, Casey and Steven are waiting. Casey introduces us and then we start walking. We kept an eye out for dinosaurs, but didn't see any. Though I'm not surprised. Steven wouldn't shut up.
We walked side by side with Casey leading. Figured since he's the tallest he might see any danger first. I was about to yell at Steven for his inability to be quite, when something caught my ear. It was just loud enough to hear, if you were listening. A faint rustle in the bushes…twigs breaking…leaves being smashed.
Something's following us. I can't tell how big. Sounds two-legged, though. The foliage around us isn't very tall, so the creature would have to be small. By now I've completely tuned Steven out. All I hear is what's in the bushes. It moves in sync with our footsteps. But…there! I heard it speak.
A small chirp. Followed by another. And another. And another. There must be a lot of them. Probably the compies Eric was talking about the other day. Compsognathus is a very small dinosaur that usually eats insects or carcasses. But I wouldn't put it past them to try and take on one of us. They wouldn't dare until one of us strayed from the others.
I saw Casey talking to me, but couldn't hear the words. Then everything came flooding back in at once. "Sorry, what?"
"I hear a stream up ahead," he looked at me funny, "everything okay?"
"No. A bunch of little dinosaurs called Compsognathus are in that bush right there," I pointed beside me, "so if you value your life, we need to stay together." The boys looked shocked. Casey nodded and continued, but Steven looked dumbfounded. He wouldn't take his eyes off the bush. I patted him on the shoulder as I walked by.
"Don't make eye contact. They hate that," I whispered. I'm not sure if that's true, but better safe than sorry. A few more steps and I hear him run to catch up, bringing a smile to my face. About ten feet away we found the stream Casey heard. It's flowing really well so we filled our canteens and then the bag full of empty bottles we brought.
"So Steven," I said as we filled bottles. He looked up at me. "Do you do anything besides talk?" Almost instantly, Casey spit out the drink he'd just taken. Steven chuckled as Casey whipped his chin.
"Yes, I've been a boy scout leader for four years," he said tighten the lid on his bottle. "So, besides the dinosaurs, this trip doesn't bother me." He's got blonde hair, blue eyes. Looks about as old as Maddie. Too young for my taste, yet he's making me rethink my standards.
But that's a stupid thing to think. We're here to survive. Something I have to keep telling myself. I couldn't have gotten stuck on a different plane? You know… one with some more ugly people on it? "Cool. Where are you from?" I don't know why, but I regret it as soon as I ask it.
"South Dakota," he replied. I nodded. "What about you? Why do they call you Kit?" I wasn't expecting that.
"I…got made fun of a lot in school so I changed my name," I said it kind of sheepishly, as if he'd seen something he wasn't supposed to. Casey stood and tossed his bag on his back. "And no. I'm not telling you what it was." I smiled and then started walking back.
"Okay, then," Steven jumped up next to me, "what's your last name?"
"Jones." I replied.
"Kit Jones. You're right, that does sound better."
"You don't even know what it was."
"I don't need to," he said as Casey took the lead again. Casey looked back with an inappropriate look on his face. I scoffed and looked away. I know he's hitting on me, using all of his pick-up lines. But for some reason, I don't feel the need to hit him anymore. For some reason it feels good coming from him.