CHAPTER 157
Gary, Marcus, and Logan were the first ones out of the bunker. Logan had shoved a fresh wad of tobacco in his mouth. He had ditched the cup and spit a hefty stream the moment he was out the door. The glob of brown spittle landed clear across the toe of Marcus' boot.
"Damn it kid." Marcus rubbed his toe in the dirt. "Get rid of that shit anyway. You're chewin' so loud every god damned meat eatin' son of a bitch on this island is gonna be comin' your way."
Logan plucked the tobacco out from his cheek and threw it behind him. "You sure they ain't comin' after your loud ass bitching. Shit. I can't wait to get off this ride."
"You know, I could arrange that." Marcus patted the side of his gun.
Gary said, "am I going to have to separate you two?"
While the three of them established a temporary perimeter just beyond the truck the others exited the bunker. Dianna came out next, keeping Seth and Kyra close by. Dr. Conners was right behind them with Shelly on his back and Carrie at his heels. Bill and Hector were the last ones out the door.
As everyone gathered behind the three skulls Seth stood and stared at them, squeezing the handle of his taser gun tighter.
"Are you alright?" Kyra asked.
"Should I be?"
"Fair point."
"Shelly is right."
"You don't think we should've left the bunker?"
"We're all going to die."
"Damn it, Seth. Why'd you have to say that?"
He kept staring at the skulls on the posts. "Because it's true."
Kyra grabbed his collar. "You're not allowed to loose it. You hear me?"
Seth looked her in the eye and nodded. He had been fine in the bunker. It had felt like somehow he could've stayed there indefinitely and the situation would've just resolved on its own, but he knew that wasn't the truth, and now it was hitting him hard. Something about the way Kyra had grabbed him and stared him dead in the face seemed to clear his head though. At least for now he was ok.
Kyra let him go. "Good," she said.
Within moments of them gathering outside, a chatter of compsognathus could be heard. Dr. Conners turned and saw a group of them hopping out of the bushes. It was like seeing a bad omen. He knew they were likely smelling Shelly's wound and probably Hector's as well. Never before had the little scavengers' eyes seemed so dark and heartless. As they blinked and crept closer with hungry trills it was difficult for Dr. Conners to keep in perspective that they were just animals. "Let's get moving," he said.
There seemed to be a unanimous hesitation, and Gary was the first to ask, "do you really think this is a good idea, Doctor Conners?"
Bill spoke up next. "Yeah, I mean we don't really know what the shit is gonna happen if we cross those skulls, do we?"
Dr. Conners said with a firm authority, "We don't really have a choice here. Come on people. We've been over this." Bryce moved to cross the skulls.
"Bryce." Dianna blurted.
He turned around, waiting for her to speak.
She said nothing. She did not want to go either, but she knew it was the only way. Dianna lowered her eyes and nodded forward.
Bryce turned back around and stepped one foot past the skulls.
As Bill watched from the back he looked at the skulls and said, "I kind of envy the fact that their troubles are over."
Hector said, "be careful what you are asking for."