Jurassic Park: The Broken Lives Saga by Dinohunter55
Chapter 9: Night Terror
The high velocity flare shot out and caught the young gallimimus at the base of the neck, punched through the skin, and burned hot. Flames and smoke poured from the small hole. It gurgled a pitiful cry as it rocked unsteadily on its feet. Eyes wide in pain and terror, it sought its attacker.
Amanda realized it was not going down fast enough. She grabbed the spear, dropping the gun, and lunged. The spear buried itself deep in the chest. The gallimimus kicked out at Amanda, missed, and then dropped as muscles seized.
The adult gallimimus cried out and the herd rose from sleep. They stampeded away into the night. Their frantic calls echoed in the valley.
Amanda shook, eyes fixed on the young gallimimus as the lasts breaths bubbled from the smoking neck wound. She actually killed something. She felt sick.
Amanda felt breath on the back of her neck.
"Well done," Tyrannous hissed. "I do not think those humans will have seen that however."
"I know," Amanda said, voice trembling. Tear rolled down her cheeks. "I made my choice."
"That you did." Tyrannous ducked past her and sniffed at the hole as the smoke of the flare died. "I would avoid that meat when you eat."
"You're going to let me live?" Amanda pulled the spear from the chest and slipped the empty flare gun back in her pocket. The plane engine was already fading away.
"You made a very interesting choice," Tyrannous stared her in the eyes, "Amanda. Turn around and go straight until you reach the road then follow it to the shed. Carnivores patrol this valley at night so you should be quick about it. The noise and blood will draw them in soon. I look forward to our next meeting, should you make it."
Before Amanda could say anything, Tyrannous turned and ran into the jungle, heading deeper into the valley.
Amanda's heart pounded and she stood for a while, frozen in her disbelief. A distant call snapped her out of it and she quickly tied the rope off around the chest and started dragging the dead weight through the trees. She almost wished Tyrannous stayed to help, almost.
Ellie had screamed at the plane and waved her arms. It flew directly overhead and never saw her. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Rescue was never coming. She sank down on her rock. A distant roar brought her back to the present and she saw the massive dinosaur that attacked the ship. The spinosaurus waded into the water across the lake.
It had seen her.
Ellie rushed to the gate but found the key missing. Her breathing quickened. She left it in the lock like she always did. Ellie dug out a flashlight and shined it around her feet. It was gone.
A chirp brought her light up. Between her and the cart, three compsognathus fought over the lanyard. Ellie's heart dropped.
"Give that back!" Ellie yelled.
The three compsognathus stared at her and then fled into the darkness beyond her light.
"Come back," Ellie cried and sank to her knees. She heard the spinosaurus getting closer.
In the dark, Ellie heard a compsognathus shriek. She turned her flashlight down the tunnel again and saw the eye shine of something much larger at the edge of the light.
Ellie sobbed.
Amanda reached the road as exhaustion fought her nearly as much as the body. Her breaths came hard and fast. Her heart pounded. She felt dizzy.
Something was following her. She did not think it was Tyrannous.
The road made the journey a little easier but still she kept the bloodied spear tucked in one arm while pulling with both hands. The rope gnawed at her skin and she felt blisters forming.
Something flashed across the road. It was hard to see though Amanda was sure it was smaller than her. It ran on two legs like a velociraptor. Definitely too large to be a compsognathus, it counted among one of many other dangerous carnivores on the island. She only hoped that it was alone.
The eyes grew closer and a velociraptor emerged from the dark.
"Silver Claw?" Ellie rose to her feet. Her breaths came hard and fast. She felt on the verge of a panic attack.
The velociraptor stepped closer. The lanyard dangled in its jaws.
"Please," Ellie pleaded in tears. "Bring me the key. Please, please, please!"
Silver Claw looked past Ellie and then rushed up the gate. Ellie snatched the lanyard and fumbled with the lock. This was exactly why she left it in the lock. The lock sometimes stuck. Finally, the latch rasped. Ellie threw herself through the door and slammed it shut behind her.
The spinosaurus was near the shore.
Ellie and Silver Claw backed off into the tunnel. It was too small for the spinosaurus to enter. The spinosaurus walked up and reached in, head just short of the bars. It roared.
Ellie covered her ears and screamed.
The spinosaurus turned and lumbered away along the shore.
Ellie looked at Silver Claw and threw herself at him. Her arms wrapped around him. "Thank you," Ellie wept. Her knees buckled and she dragged them both to the floor. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
The velociraptor said something. Ellie did not understand. He spoke again but this time she caught one word, Amanda.
"Amanda's not here," Ellie released him and wiped the tears from her eyes. "She's somewhere else." Ellie paused. She saw the accusatory eyes she wanted to avoid.
"We had a fight." Ellie said and could not stop herself. "I left her. I left her alone at the shed. Oh god, why did I leave her?" Fresh tears spilled over damp cheeks. "She wouldn't go out in the dark would she?"
Silver Claw was silent. He slowly rose and walked away.
"Silver Claw, wait!" Ellie called.
He stopped and looked at her.
Ellie just pointed at the cart.
Amanda pulled the body as best as she could with one hand. The spear lashed out in the other. The beam of light bounced wildly from where she held the flashlight in her mouth.
The creatures snarled. Three proceratosaurus snapped and circled her. Each of the three creatures was smaller than her with clawed fingers and toes. A small crest ran from snout to eye down the middle of the skull. They had plenty of sharp teeth.
She was at the fence but could not reach the shed. The dinosaurs had guessed her destination and cut her off just outside the gate. In the distance, something larger drew closer.
Amanda thrust out the spear at one. Another darted in and snapped at her calf from behind. She turned and thrust at it only to have the same happened. The attacks were dizzying and fast. They were wearing her down. If something larger joined the hunt, she would lose everything and Silver Claw would starve. She would lose her life.
The next attack, the next thrust, Amanda saw the pattern and pulled the following thrust. The proceratosaurus that lunged for her leg found the sharp end of the spear in its shoulder. It howled and sank its teeth into the spear, kicking Amanda as it did so.
Amanda staggered a step, spear lost. The dinosaur wailed and pulled away from the attack, leaving the circling two. Amanda drew the knife and felt one latch onto her arm. She stabbed at it. It cried and backed away only for the other to leap on Amanda from behind. Amanda fell. The flashlight spun across the ground, lighting the trees like a weak lighthouse.
The proceratosaurus on top of her grabbed at her shirt and thrashed.
Amanda screamed.
A piercing scream replied. The attack stopped. Amanda turned enough to see Silver Claw in the door of the shed. He charged.
The proceratosaurus pack wailed and fled screaming into the night.
"Amanda," Silver Claw roared. He reached her and stood over her.
"Amanda!" Ellie cried as she raced from the shed and knelt beside her. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
Amanda groaned. "Thank you."
A deep roar came from jungle. The proceratosaurus shrieked. It was close.
Ellie helped Amanda up and together they dragged the gallimimus towards the shed. Silver Claw helped where he could. They reached the larger door. Ellie ran inside and released the garage door. With the body inside Ellie slammed the door shut again and locked it. Outside something large entered the fence and growled. The three headed down the ramp towards the waiting cart.
Once the gallimimus was loaded in to the cart from the room, they made the trip back home in awkward silence.