"Stop it! Stop it! Get back!" Maisie yelled at Cheyenne, still barking, believing her cry could scare away the group of predators.
Maisie looked out the window, a move she soon regretted. She could see their giant silhouettes in the mist, their eyes were burning bright red in the darkness, sending a feeling of dread down Maisie's frame. They didn't look like Megalosaurus. They looked like monsters. Whoever augmented these dinosaurs no doubt wanted them to be killers. Maisie noticed that the faint stripes on their backs and the banding on their legs were glowing in the dark.
"Cheyenne stop!" she pleaded.
The lead Megalosaur let out a deep rumbling sound in its throat as if laughing at the German Shepherd's attempt to scare them off. It took a giant step forward and let out a horrible scream, the worst thing Maisie had ever heard in her life since the Indoraptor's roar. It sounded like a hundred women crying bloody murder combined with an owl screeching.
Maisie covered her ears. Cheyenne's ears drooped and her tail went between her legs. She took a few steps back, whimpering as she crawled away from the window. All of a sudden, everything was quiet.
Not even the crickets were chirping, for it seemed even they began to flee from the property.
Maisie heard someone breathing heavily. Whoever it was needed to shut up now. She looked around, wondering who it was.
Then she realized…it was her.
She was so scared she didn't know what was what anymore. She slapped her hand over her mouth and listened. Heavy puffs of air blew out of her nose repeatedly, her eyes darting from left to right, ears listening. Freezing cold sweat poured down her forehead.
Except for the wind and the house creaking, there was not a sound. Not even the Megalosaurs. No snorts, growls, or roars. Were they gone? Did they give up? Maisie wanted to know but she was stuck on her pillow, not daring to move. If the dinosaurs saw her, they would probably regain the incentive to try and kill her.
Five minutes had gone by. Still nothing.
Ten minutes.
Then an hour.
Were they really gone?
Maisie slowly got up and cautiously looked out the window, still covering her mouth. She scanned the area but could see nothing. The moon was shining through the mist and it was bright enough to make it impossible to hide. Maisie felt relieved that they were gone, but before she could take a deep breath, she heard something big running across the forest behind the fence. The leaves and pebbles were crunching under its footsteps, making a loud noise.
Stamp! Stamp! Stamp! Stamp! Stamp! Stamp!
And as quickly as the stomping came, they were gone, vanishing into the darkness. Another big creature started running around the house, snapping twigs and knocking down branches. The wooden shed outside was slapped by something thick, causing it to shudder. Maisie guessed one of the Megalosaurs accidentally hit it with their tails as they ran by.
Maisie tried to stand. "Augh! My leg!" she sobbed. She saw blood staining her jeans. She hobbled to the nightstand to pick up the shotgun. Even though it was barely a foot in front of her, she felt like she was walking a mile. The pain in her leg was unbearable; it was probably raging with infection by now, too.
As soon as she had the weapon in her hands, the house shook with a terrible impact. WHAM! The force was so violent it knocked Maisie off her feet and the shelves fell. Downstairs she heard vases and other decor breaking. Cheyenne whimpered awfully, shivering in fright. WHAM! The house was struck again.
An awful truth suddenly dawned on Maisie. The dinosaurs were striking the house with their bodies. They were trying to break it down.
"Damn it!" she whined. Could she ever get a break?
WHAM!
This time, the other side of the house was hit, causing Maisie to stumble forward. The walls and ceiling began to crack, and she even felt the house tilting to the left, as it was being knocked off its foundation.
A Megalosaurus roared in front of the house and charged towards it. Its body collided with the porch, causing the supports to collapse and the ceiling to fall on top of it. The walls around Maisie gave way, and she screamed in terror. Cheyenne yelped and quickly ran out of the room.
"Wait!" she cried.
Suddenly, a Megalosaurus burst into the room, breaking through the wall. It roared loudly, startling Maisie who screamed and crawled backwards in fear. The dinosaur snarled and tried to bite her, but Maisie managed to reach for the shotgun that was still lying beside her. She fired the gun, hitting the dinosaur's snout and causing it to retreat outside with a loud whimper. Taking advantage of the situation, Maisie crawled towards the stairs.
The family's beautiful photos that once hung on the walls were now scattered on the ground, covered with shattered glass. Another Megalosaurus had smashed its head through the kitchen window, searching for Maisie. The living room's roof had collapsed, and the walls came tumbling down. The house was unable to withstand the attack and was now collapsing, with Maisie still inside.
"HELP!" she cried. She saw something on the floor. One of the tables had shifted to the side, moving the carpet and revealing a wooden hatch. "Cheyenne!" Maisie cried over the destruction. "Cheyenne, come on!"
Cheyenne came running down the stairs and cuddled next to Maisie, whimpering in fright as the house collapsed all around them. The Megalosaurus in the kitchen stuck its head through the window, snarling and screaming.
It pushed farther and farther trying to get to Maisie when suddenly, it gulped in confusion and paused.
The Megalosaurus let out a sad and painful whimper and was pulled out of the house with great force. Maisie felt herself growing cold. What in the world was big enough to grab such a beast like that and make it cry?
Something huge answered that
A roar, unlike any she had ever heard before, rang out over the house, so loud it was like the whole earth was shaking. Maisie looked through the window and saw a brief glimpse of the other Augmented megalosaurs cry out in panic before they scattered.
STOMP!
A huge black leg belonging to some kind of enormous theropod stood in front of her house. It was pulsating with a sort of red fiery aura like it was on fire. The limp and lifeless body of one of the Megalosaurs that once terrorized her hung out of the monster's mouth. The blood was running out of the creature like a river and the blood splashed onto the grass with loud wet slaps. It fell to the ground with a sickening thump that almost made Maisie puke.
Maisie looked up at the beast, terrified and in awe of its size and power. This dinosaur was twice, no, maybe even thrice as big as the Megalosauruses that attacked her. She heard it sniffing along with the almost synthetic-sounding gurgles of air blowing in and out of its nostrils. It sounded like a motor. The new apex predator slammed its foot on the Megalosaurus's torso. Then massive jaws clamped down on its neck. Maisie gasped and looked away in time before whatever it was could bite off the dinosaur's head. She heard awful ripping and tearing sounds, followed by a series of loud cracking noises. Cheyenne whined once, but stopped in fear of getting the same fate as the other Megalosaurus.
Maisie eyed the hatch she had noticed on the floor before she had gotten distracted by the giant dinosaur that just devoured her enemy. It was time to take a risk. She slowly pulled the carpet away, trying not to make much noise and reveal their location. Another loud crunch echoed outside the house and Maisie felt Cheyenne grow rigid next to her, clearly disturbed. The dog gave Maisie a pleading look. Maisie did not hesitate any longer and lifted the hatch open with her one good arm, then slid into the crawlspace under the floor. It started to give way. She tried to catch it but her grip failed.
"No...no...no!" she groaned in panic, trying to push it back. It was too late. The hatch fell back with a loud clatter.
"Raaaaar!"
The apex predator heard her. She ducked and waited for the chaos to ensue. She could hear the predator sniffing the air. It snarled. Maisie could only guess that it was surveying the scene, deciding if there were more creatures inside that needed to be eliminated.
Maisie trembled, breathing hard as she tried to calm herself and keep Cheyenne still. Cheyenne was hunched over the edge, panting, but was still shivering in fright. Maisie's breathing quickened again as the ground around the house began to rumble and shake. The beast snarled and then resumed feeding.
Maisie sighed with relief. "Come on," she whispered.
She went down a set of iron stairs leading into some sort of maintenance bunker with panels, old computer systems and tools strewn all over. In the corner were crates and a couple of metal shelves. There were flashlights hanging on a hook next to some shelves. Maisie hobbled toward them, hoping for some food or medical supplies.
"DAMN IT!" She slammed a fist into one of the shelves when all she found were boxes of spare parts and old tools. Her leg burned in agony. The fabric of her jeans was wet from her own blood, and her skin had begun to discolor from infection. Maisie grabbed one of the flashlights, turned it on and continued looking around. Maybe there was something to use as a weapon, just in case.
She heard the creature outside roaring in dominance as if claiming the farm for itself. She didn't care. So long as she was down here, she was safe. She searched around for something useful, and she found a bunch of old junk in a crate next to some shelves. She noticed a desk with a few small boxes stacked on it. On one side, she saw a Panama hat, and next to it was a CFA Peacemaker Tomahawk still in its leather case. Maisie smiled to herself. Finally, a bit of good news. She limped over to it. She picked up. Oof, it was heavy. She held it in her good arm, making sure it was close enough to use if she needed it. She unbuttoned the protective sheath over the blade and pulled it out. The metal sang as it was unsheathed.
"Nice," she said. Even though she knew it would do nothing against whatever it was above them, at least it made her feel more safe.
"Raaahh!"
A roar bellowed through the house and was carried down through the hatch and into the basement. She didn't know why but it made her feel at ease. The new creature most likely declared this area as its territory. Hopefully, that meant the Megalosaurs hightailed it out of there and won't return.
But it wasn't enough for Maisie, though.
"Come on, Cheyenne!" she urged, and she limped down the rest of the steps with her dog right next to her, barking and whining in pain. Her injured leg was trembling so bad she almost collapsed, but she kept going, following the light of her flashlight. The flashlight flickered, telling her she didn't have much time before she'd be left in the dark.
The maintenance bunker looked like a dead end. It was about 25 feet by 15 feet, and the walls were all lined with metal pipes, but that didn't give Maisie any indication where the exit could possibly be.
She shined her light to the right of the concrete room and discovered a workbench littered with old tools, spare parts, and scraps of metal.
"Come on," Maisie said to Cheyenne, leading her towards the bench. Cheyenne whimpered behind her, clearly frightened.
As they approached the bench, Maisie noticed an old dusty black backpack hanging from a hook on the wall.
"Ackk!" she cried. "Damn it!" She felt a sharp pain in her leg.
She leaned on the bench and examined her wound. It was swollen and red with blood, pus, and tissue seeping from the holes. She swiped a rag from the bench and tried wiping off some of the disgusting discharge. The pressure burned her like acid.
Cheyenne whimpered at Maisie's feet and laid down. Maisie knelt to pet her head.
"It'll be okay, girl. Don't worry. I'm gonna take care of you." Maisie hugged her neck. Cheyenne licked Maisie's face affectionately.
Maisie reached for the backpack. It was a big one. But would it contain anything? She unzipped it and began rummaging through its contents, looking for supplies. In the back pocket, she found a box of ammunition. 5.56 which was the right size for the shotgun. She pulled out four magazines and put them in her pocket. In the main compartment, she found some first aid items like bandages and a bottle of iodine. She also found a case. She unzipped it and discovered an X-Sight night vision rifle scope. Cool, but what good would that do without a weapon? There were three MREs, but no food or water. A few batteries and a pair of binoculars.
She sighed. "Better than nothing, I suppose."
She popped the button of her jeans and slid them down her legs. The fabric stuck to her skin due to all the blood and puss. She cringed in pain and sat down to apply the antiseptic ointment and wrap her wounds. Then she stood up and stretched, her entire body stiff with stress.
She looked around once more. If there was another exit, it had to be here somewhere. She saw a hallway to the left that she hadn't noticed before.
"Come on, girl."
The hall ended with a concrete ramp leading to a large steel door with windows on either side. Maisie looked through the glass. Nothing but forest outside.
She turned the handle, opened the door, and stepped out into the cool morning air.
In front of her were two vehicles that she assumed belonged to whoever was working in the maintenance bunker. One was a quad bike and the other was a golf cart, both covered in vines and dirt.
"Let's check those out," she said.
Cheyenne barked and ran over to sniff at the quad bike. Maisie inspected the vehicle carefully. The tires were flat and it seemed like the gas tank was empty.
"Just my luck," she grumbled. Her leg seemed to wail in agony, realizing they had to walk.
"Come on, Cheyenne. Looks like we have to trek this out."
She limped towards the forest and turned. The wrecked cottage was now fifty yards away. The damage was extensive. Even from this distance, Maisie could see the broken window frames and collapsed walls. How she managed to get out alive, she didn't know. The roof of the house was half gone, exposing the bedrooms upstairs. Debris lay strewn across the ground in a large pile next to the building. The giant dinosaur that ate the Megalosaurus was nowhere in sight. But she saw the crushed trees at the edge of the forest where it must have emerged.
Whatever it was, it was huge!
"Come on. Whatever did that can't be far away."
As soon as she entered the jungle, she felt safer. She kept close to the undergrowth, hoping it would give her some protection from whatever lurked nearby. She winced as she walked, the pain in her leg burning and throbbing. She wondered how much blood she'd lost by now. A lot, probably. She tried not to think about it, concentrating instead on the task at hand. She needed to find shelter before dark.
For hours they wandered through the thick vegetation, trying to make their way through the dense foliage. Cheyenne stayed close, whining every so often when she heard something move in the distance or saw shadows pass overhead. At times, Maisie swore she caught glimpses of something large moving along the treetops. A few pteranadons flew overhead, calling out to one another, but they ignored the girl and her dog.
Behind the trees there was a view of a vast meadow where a lone Dreadnoughtus was bathing in the lake, taking in the sun and the cool water. Its massive size was astonishing to behold. It was bigger than any dinosaur she had seen before. It was majestic. She watched the creature for a while before moving on.
"Welcome to Jurassic World," she muttered sarcastically. She hoped they would find a cabin or a small campsite somewhere nearby where they could rest for a moment. The pain in her leg was starting to become unbearable and she needed to find something to eat soon.
Another hour and she found she could go no further. She hobbled to some rocks and sat down, exhausted. Cheyenne laid at her side, panting heavily. Maisie rubbed her back.
"Sorry, girl."
She leaned against a boulder and closed her eyes.
A soft breeze blew over them and Maisie took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of the forest around her. She looked at her leg. The bandage she had wrapped around it was soaked with blood. Her skin was pale and clammy. She shivered. The temperature seemed to drop dramatically.
"I wish Owen were here," she whimpered, hugging her knees close.
Cheyenne raised her head, alert, looking up at something behind her. She growled lowly, teeth bared.
Maisie heard it too. The bushes rustled loudly. Something was approaching. She reached for her tomahawk, ready to fight. A few chirps sent a wave of fear running down her frame.
"Oh no..."
The bushes rattled and out popped ten Compstagnathus. They chirped excitedly upon seeing the two new visitors.
"Shit! Shit!" Maisey backed up until her back hit the rock. "Stay away from us!" she yelled.
Cheyenne barked loudly and snarled. The bushes seemed to come alive as more of the little dinosaurs poured out of the underbrush.
They surrounded Maisie and Cheyenne. Their razor-sharp claws gleamed in the sunlight and their mouths dripped with drool.
Maisie grabbed a rock and threw it at them. They scattered but quickly regrouped and chirped angrily.
She picked up a branch and swung it wildly. "Go away! Get out of here!"
The dinosaurs continued advancing, hissing and growling. One jumped forward and lunged at Maisie's ankle. She kicked it hard, sending it flying back into the bushes. They could smell her blood and were eager to feast on her flesh.
Maisie frantically scanned her surroundings trying to find a way to escape. But even if she did find a way out, this confounded leg injury would slow her down tremendously.
One of the smaller Compsognathus broke free of its pack and charged towards her. It leapt onto her chest and bit down hard on her shoulder.
"Get off!"
Cheyenne grabbed hold of the tiny beast and pulled it away from Maisie. It squawked in surprise and was tossed aside.
Cheyenne stepped in front of Maisey, the hairs on her neck bristling. She bared her teeth, daring them to attack again.
The others paused and sniffed the air, wary of the bigger animal. They had never encountered one before and didn't know what to make of it.
Cheyenne barked loudly and took a leap forward to scare them off. They just backed away, knowing their numbers were superior. Cheyenne growled angrily and snapped her jaws together in warning. They hesitated, unsure whether or not to continue advancing.
Maisie gripped her tomahawk tightly in her hands and readied herself for combat.
"I'm warning you! Stay away!"
The little beasts ignored her words and instead chose to attack. They lunged forward as one, and swarmed Cheyenne.
She reared up on her hind legs and yelped in pain as they clawed and bit at her furry body.
Cheyenne fell back, howling in agony.
"No!" Maisie screamed as she watched her beloved companion writhe helplessly on the ground, unable to fight off the swarm.
She hobbled towards Cheyenne and tried desperately to pull her out of the fray, but the Compsognathus were too numerous and persistent. She pulled out her shotgun and fired it, causing most of them to flee.
Two of them remained and were still attacking Cheyenne. Maisie used the butt of her weapon to knock them away. They fled into the bushes. Cheyenne lay whimpering on the ground, bleeding heavily from several deep wounds. She managed to get up, and bravely stood in front of Maisie once again. Blood dripped from her muzzle as she snarled at the remaining dinosaurs.
Maisey opened the barrel and jammed another precious shell into it with trembling hands.
The Compies were coming back.
They surrounded the dog, hissing and growling. Cheyenne growled and snapped her jaws at them. One leapt towards her but Cheyenne bit into its throat and shook it violently until it stopped moving. It dropped dead to the ground. Another jumped onto her back and clung on tight as it bit down into her flesh. Cheyenne whined and thrashed about trying to dislodge it, but it held fast.
Maisey kicked it but by the time she realized it was her bad leg, it was too late. She stumbled backwards and fell onto her rear.
"Aughh!" she cried out in pain. The pain radiated through her entire body and made her vision blur. Her heart raced frantically in fear.
She backed against the rock and aimed at one of the compys. It charged towards her and she shot it, blowing half of its body apart. It landed a few feet away from her, twitching in agony.
The sight of their dead companion and the loud blast sent the rest of them fleeing into the forest. Cheyenne had a few bites and scratches on her back but seemed fine. Maisie panted and gripped the spot where she got bitten, groaning in agony.
"Stupid prehistoric rats," Maisie growled as she slowly stood up.
Cheyenne came up to her and nuzzled her hand, as if comforting her. Maisie rubbed her head and scratched her behind her ears. "Let's go."
Maisie walked over to the carcass of one of the dead compys. She made sure the coast was clear before treating her injuries and taking stock of what she had left.
She checked her weapons, then turned around to survey the area. There was nothing but trees and shrubs. She took out her binoculars and scanned the horizon for any signs of human habitation.
Nothing. Or so she thought until she took a closer look.
A ranger station stood at the edge of the clearing. Its windows were boarded up and there was no sign of life inside. But at least it offered protection from the elements. Maybe even some food and water.
She put the binoculars back into her backpack and started walking towards it.
"Come on! They might come back."
She picked up the pace and limped quickly towards the building, while keeping an eye out for any movement in the surrounding jungle. Cheyenne followed close behind, staying alert for danger.
As they approached the door, Maisie noticed something strange about it. Claw marks covered its surface. Something had tried getting in.
She also noticed greenish-brown patches of hair stuck to it. Maisie assumed it belonged to whatever creature tried breaking in earlier.
The wooden door creaked open and Maisie peered inside cautiously. A few communications equipment panels sat on a desk near the entrance along with a radio transmitter and microphone. Blood splattered the walls and floor.
"What the hell?"
She walked inside and stepped on something cylinder shaped. A red shotgun shell. She bent down and picked it up. It was empty, but it had definitely been fired recently.
She searched the room, checking every corner thoroughly. There was no one here. Not anymore.
There was a battle here. And whatever made those claw marks won.
Cheyenne sniffed around the place, smelling the blood and fear that lingered in the air. She whimpered quietly as if sensing death nearby.
Maisie walked down the hall of the way station, the floorboards creaking underneath her feet. Dust coated everything, giving the place an eerie appearance. Pictures hung on the wall depicting scenes from various parts of the park. Families playing on a beach, a couple riding in a jeep through a forest, children feeding the dinosaurs at the petting zoo.
She looked into a room left of the hall. A lounge! There were a few armchairs and a sofa lined against the far wall. An old television sat atop a table facing them. Some blankets lay scattered across the floor. On the other side of the room was a small kitchenette, complete with a microwave, fridge, and sink. The countertop held a coffee machine, kettle, and toaster.
Maisie walked over to the fridge and opened it. Inside was mostly empty except for some fruit and vegetables. A few jars of instant soup were stacked next to the produce.
"All right," she said quietly. "After we secure the place, let's have something to eat."
Cheyenne wagged her tail happily and followed Maisie back into the hall. The room on the right was another office. Papers and folders littered the desks and chairs. One desk held a computer monitor and keyboard. Next to it was a filing cabinet. A printer stood at the end of the desk. All three items were covered in dust. On the desk was a pistol with an big Osprey silencer and wooden grip. Maisie picked it up and inspected it closely. It was loaded. Good. At least she had something besides her shotgun. She pocketed it.
The pistol was laying inside the red velvet interior of a mahogany box. A brass plaque on its lid read: "Happy Retirement." Maisey snorted. How ironic. She took the ammo clip out of the gun and looked at it. Full. Even better. She inserted it back into the weapon, cocked it, and placed the safety catch on before tucking it into the front of her pants.
"There has to be an armory here or something," Maisie mused. She searched the drawers and cabinets but found nothing useful. She turned to leave when she noticed something sticking out from beneath a pile of papers on one of the desks. It appeared to be some kind of diary. She picked it up and read a very disturbing entry dated a few weeks ago.
This is the third night those devil monkeys have attacked us. They keep coming back every evening around dusk. It's like they know exactly when we close the doors and shut the windows. We've tried setting traps outside and even shooting them, but nothing works. They're too smart. And fast.
They got Paula the other day when she was on her way back from a run. Stupid bitch. I told her to get her ass here before dark but did she listen? Nooo... Always overzealous and going farther than necessary.
I can still hear her screaming as they tore her apart and ate her in the darkness. The next morning there wasn't much left of her except pieces of clothing and cleaned bones. The bastards made sure to feed well that night.
I woke up around midnight when the others started shooting through the window trying to take out one of them. But those little fuckers are quick and agile. The shots missed most of the time.
The sounds they make. Like hyenas laughing...only worse. More sinister. Evil sounding almost. Like demons taunting you before stealing your soul.
After the shootout last night, I think we might be screwed. There aren't any guns or bullets left now. And it seems the devil monkeys know this.
Maisey turned the page.
One of them smashed through the door. Got Mark while he was asleep. His screams woke me up. It dragged him into the hall before anyone could stop it. He put up a fight though. Tried grabbing hold of the floorboards so it couldn't pull him outside. But no luck. Two smaller ones jumped in and aided the big one in pulling him away.
His screams echoed throughout the building for several minutes after they took him. Eventually, they died down as we lost sight of his body being carried off into the trees.
The silence afterward was deafening. Everyone stood frozen in fear waiting for something else to happen. No one wanted to get near that door to board it up. No one dared to move.
Then it came back. Something slammed against the front entrance. We all ran into the lounge but plum forgot Summer was upstairs.
All I could hear was "Wait! Wait!" Before Smith slammed the door shut.
We hid behind the sofa and could only listen as the devil monkeys swarmed Summer. Her cries and screams pierced our ears. Then we heard her croak as life escaped her lungs.
All we could hear was them ravaging her body like wild animals feasting upon their prey. I heard them snapping her bones, most likely to get at the marrow inside. But soon enough, even that stopped. Everything went quiet. Nothing but the sound of rain hitting the roof and the occasional crack of thunder rolling across the sky.
The rest of us sat there shivering in terror. All we could do was wait for morning to arrive and hope that whatever killed Summer wouldn't return.
Damn. She was so hot. That thick, luscious hair of hers. Those smooth caramel thighs. Man, I wanted to get laid before I died. The girls are all gone.
Just me, Smith, and Davis left now.
Maisey gulped and flipped the page.
It's been four days since they attacked the cabin. Not even the daylight will save us from them. Smith and Davis went out to get help but not even a minute passed before those monkeys came swarming the place again.
They chased them down and brought them both back here. It was awful hearing those bastards devour them alive. Screaming like pigs being slaughtered.
But there was nothing I could do. I'm next. They know it. I can still hear them outside, laughing and howling. They know I'm here. After hunting us for two weeks, they probably must have counted all of us and know exactly how many are left.
They know there's one more. Well, I won't go down without a fight. If I go down I'm taking at least one of those fucking monsters with me.
This is my last entry. My name is Michael O'Brien and I will never surrender. I'll be waiting for you tonight. Come and get me, fuckers.
Maisie looked around. It was evident the occupants of this place were all dead.
Devil monkeys? What the hell were these things?
Cheyenne whined beside her and she turned to look at her beloved companion. Her tail wagged slowly and her eyes locked onto hers.
"I know, girl. Let's go."
They stepped out into the hall and headed upstairs to see what lay in store for them. There wasn't much. Just an empty corridor with four rooms on either side. She entered a room that said "Gals. Off limits! This means u O'Brian!"
This must have been the female's sleeping quarters. She took the pistol out and switched off the safety. She placed her hand on the door and slowly pushed it open.
It creaked loudly as it swung inward revealing another small office space. Two bunk beds lined against the opposite wall with lockers at the foot of each bed. A dresser stood next to the entrance, its top covered with makeup products, magazines, and clothing items.
A desk facing the boarded window had a nameplate reading Summer Jones. Maisie walked over and found a pair of mechanix gloves lying next to an old laptop and a belt with pouches attached to it.
She picked up the gloves and put them on. They fit perfectly. She then fastened the belt around her waist and stuffed the various pockets with ammo clips, batteries, and other useful items that might come in handy later. She also pocketed some chewing gum and a packet of beef jerky. She needed clothes too. She removed her backpack and started searching the drawers looking for something suitable. She found a grey tank top with a flower design printed on it, jeans, and socks. They were all clean. Thank goodness.
"These will do just fine," Maisey said happily. She approached the corner of the room belonging to Paula Anderson. There was a bag of chips opened on the desk. Maisey hungrily picked up one of them and popped it into her mouth. It tasted stale and dry but it would fill her stomach for now.
She opened the drawers and rummaged through them trying to find anything else useful. In the bottom drawer she found some batteries and a flashlight. She switched it on and saw it worked perfectly.
"Good."
Cheyenne nudged Maisie and licked her cheek affectionately. Maisie smiled and scratched behind her ear before continuing her search. She found a canteen filled with water, along with several energy bars and a box of granola.
"Thank the Lord," Maisie said as she stuffed her pack full with everything useful she could find.
The rest of the rooms were empty so they made their way back downstairs to the kitchen. A snack machine stood next to the fridge, its glass front smashed in. Maisie checked inside and saw it was empty except for a few chocolate bars and a couple bags of chips. She gripped her shotgun firmly used the butt to break the glass completely. She reached in and grabbed what she could find. It wasn't much but better than nothing.
Once again, Cheyenne whined beside her causing her to look down. She gave her some potato chips, which she ate eagerly.
Maisie sighed with relief when she saw an orange emergency box on the wall with a first aid kit and a flare gun. She pulled both items off the shelf and examined them closely. The flare gun appeared unused while the medkit was dusty. She decided to keep the gun anyway since it might prove useful in case she ever needed to signal someone for help.
She opened the medkit and found bandages, antiseptic ointment, and other medical supplies. "Oh yeah, this is awesome!" she exclaimed as she pulled up a chair. She unbuttoned her jeans and shimmied them down to reveal her swollen bloody leg wound. The ointment from earlier was almost gone already, so she applied more onto her wounds. Then she wrapped bandages around her injured limbs and secured them tightly.
"Better," she muttered. A syringe with anti-biotic lay in the bottom of the kit. She ripped the cap off with her teeth. It came out with a pop and she spit it across the room.
"This is going to suck," she said under her breath. With trembling fingers she inserted the needle into her thigh and injected herself with the contents. Pain flared up through her body making her grit her teeth and grunt loudly.
She leaned against the table panting heavily as the medicine took effect. After a few minutes the pain subsided enough for her to relax. She rested her head on her arms and closed her eyes. She didn't notice Cheyenne nuzzling her hand until she felt her wet tongue licking her skin.
"Let's give you some, too. Who knows what those Compys did to your back." Maisie looked over Cheyenne's shoulder at the scratches. They weren't deep, but there was no telling what kind of bacteria those little monsters carried. She rubbed some ointment on Cheyenne's wounds and wrapped them up as well.
Maisie stood up slowly, stretching her legs. Her injuries still hurt but at least she could move without feeling like she would fall over any second.
Maisie finished wrapping up Cheyenne's injuries and checked on the windows. All three were boarded up tight. But that just left the door. If she was going to stay the night here, she needed to secure it. She found a hammer and nails on the desk and went to work covering the entrance with boards. She pushed all the furniture she could push against it for good measure.
She hoped whatever Michael O'Brian fought against hadn't returned. She'd had enough excitement for one day and just wanted to rest.
Her stomach growled and she remembered the food she had packed away in her backpack.
Night fell and a thunderstorm raged outside. Lightning flashed followed by loud crashes of thunder. The wind howled through the cracks around the windows and doors. Rain poured down in torrential sheets hitting the roof hard enough to make Maisie fear they might collapse.
Maisie huddled on her makeshift bed consisting of an old couch covered in blankets. She had a lantern lit next to her. It flickered every time lightning struck nearby sending shadows dancing across the walls.
Cheyenne lay beside her, curled up in a ball snoring softly. Maisie petted her head gently trying to ease her fears. She knew she was safe inside this building but couldn't shake off the feeling something terrible lurked just outside. Something hungry and evil.
Thunder roared directly overhead causing her to jump up in alarm. Cheyenne awoke startled by the noise and looked around nervously.
Maisie sat back down and tried relaxing again. She stared at the ceiling watching the flickering light above her. A fire crackled in the stove providing some warmth and comfort. She yawned and stretched out her arms before opening her pack and pulling out a can of beans she found earlier. She used her tomahawk to pop open the lid and set it on the stove to heat. While waiting, she took stock of her remaining supplies.
Maisie opened her pocket knife and cut a hole into one of the cans. She stuck her fingers in and pulled out two meatballs, which she ate hungrily.
"I'm going to get a tummy ache later," she grumbled. She stuffed in her mouth. "But..." She chewed. "It sure beats starving to death."
After eating, she went over to the window and peered through a gap between the boards. Outside was pitch black except for occasional flashes of lightning illuminating the trees in front of her. She saw nothing moving around so she decided it was safe to rest for tonight.
She grabbed the can and brought it along with some water over to her bed. She placed both items on the floor next to her before settling under the blankets. She laid there quietly listening to the sound of rain pouring down outside, waiting for her beans to cool off enough to eat them.
Thunder clapped loudly as if someone was slamming doors upstairs. Maisey jumped up and stared wide eyed at the ceiling. She couldn't see anything. Nothing moved or stirred. Just darkness.
The storm intensified. The wind blew harder shaking the walls violently. Then she heard the sound of something sinister laughing. It sounded like a thousand people cackling simultaneously. Whatever made that noise was close by. And it knew exactly where they were hiding.
Cheyenne whined anxiously next to her. Maisie reached for her gun, knowing she wouldn't be able to shoot straight while shaking uncontrollably. She wanted to turn off her lantern but it was too late. Whatever was out there already knew they were here. She'd rather have light than sit here in complete darkness surrounded by creatures who could see perfectly well in the dark.
Lightning flashed once more revealing three shadows standing in front of the entrance. They stood upright like humans but had tails and long snouts similar to a dog's.
"Oh, goodness!"
They looked around curiously sniffing the air. Their eyes glowed red as their heads turned from side to side looking for prey. One of them caught sight of her and pointed directly at her face. It let out an ear shattering shriek followed by several more.
Maisey knew exactly what they were.
Dinopithecus! A prehistoric baboon-like creature from the Pleistocene discovered in South Africa.
The monsters started banging against the door trying to force entry inside. But the barricade held firm. They began circling the cabin snarling and growling angrily as they searched for another way in.
Maisie crawled back toward the stove hoping its flames would scare them away.
"Hoo! Hoo! Hooo!" the beasts growled in unison as they circled the perimeter. Cheyenne growled menacingly. Maisey heard a bang behind her and then the roof started creaking ominously. They were on top of the building trying to find a weakness in its defenses.
Dust sprinkled down from the spots they walked around. The dinopithecuses howled excitedly at the prospect of eating sweet human flesh. Maisie kept her shotgun aimed at the ceiling, ready to fire at any second.
As she listened closely to the sounds above her, she realized there was more than one predator out there. Three sets of footsteps paced across the tiles while four others skittered around on the ground outside.
She heard a growl and gulped. Cheyenne was snarling fiercely. Something was at window. Maisey slowly turned her head. Behind the boards, piercing through the darkness, were two glowing red eyes staring right at her. The ceiling creaked and the beasts laughed and howled.
"Oh shit! Cheyenne. We shouldn't have come here!"
A few moments later, she heard something crash against the side of the building causing debris to fall down onto her. A crack formed in the wall next to the kitchen stove. Another hit was all it took to completely shatter it open.
Before she could react, one of the creatures charged forward and leaped into the room, screeching and howling.
Cheyenne grabbed the lantern and tossed it a the ape. It shattered and flames erupted everywhere. The beast screamed in agony as the fire engulfed its furry body. It fell over thrashing wildly trying to put out the blaze.
It ran outside, screaming frantically before crashing to the floor. Its cries were silenced within seconds as its burning flesh melted away.
The remaining creatures roared loudly and jumped through the gap. Two of them attacked Cheyenne, biting and clawing at her with their razor sharp teeth. Maisey remembered the gas stove and quickly moved out of the way. She kicked the pipe leading to the tank under the table sending it tumbling off the side of the building. Gas hissed violently.
"Cheyenne run!" Maisie shouted.
The dinopithecuses saw the opening and lunged towards her. Cheyenne ducked beneath one and sprinted into the night.
Maisey had just one chance. She led the apes a little deeper inside the cabin where she hoped to create enough distance between herself and the beasts chasing her. They pushed and shoved on the stairs, stupidly trapping themselves in the narrow space.
They were too big to fit through the doorways and windows. She backed up until she reached a corner of the living room. One of them tried jumping over the banister but failed miserably when its hind legs got caught on the wooden railing.
She heard the others on the roof. They were searching for a way in. Their claws clicked against the tiles. There was no time left. This was it.
Maisey jumped through a window and rolled into the mud outside. Her bandages came undone during her landing, but that didn't matter now. Survival was the only priority.
She stood up, covered in blood and dirt, looking like hell, and took the lighter from her pocket.
"Here's goes nothing," she said before flipping open the lid and striking the flint wheel. The flame burst forth instantly. She hurled it into the kitchen before running away as fast as she could.
The flames ignited the leaking gas creating an explosion that tore apart half of the structure. Flames engulfed everything around her while debris rained down. Pieces of wood flew everywhere. The apes on the roof squealed as they were tossed through the air by the blast wave.
Several trees burned brightly illuminating the area. Maisie looked around frantically searching for any sign of Cheyenne. But she was nowhere to be found. She continued running towards the treeline hoping to find cover among the shadows.
Woof! Woof!
Maisie spun around and saw Cheyenne racing towards her. "Over here!"
They met near the edge of the forest, panting heavily. "Come on, girl, let's get away from this inferno."
The dinopithecuses ran out of the burning house engulfed in flames, screaming in pain as their fur melted off their bodies. Maisie watched with satisfaction as they collapsed to the ground writhing in agony before finally succumbing to death.
Maisie held Cheyenne close to her chest.
"Girl. When you're raised by Owen Grady, you learn all sorts of tricks. Come on. Let's get out of here."
And with that she walked away leaving the blazing ruins behind.