Dark Fangs: Forbidden Fugitives

Chapter Two

Drake had already gone to search around in the cages of dinosaurs while his parents talked with the Firestorms and Hal--the only current guard on Sanctuary Island--about their strange operation.

     This is amazing. Drake thought with an inward laugh, passing a cell with a slumbering Ankylosaurus. What did I do to deserve such a treat!? He bounded around, his heart in his throat.  This was like his dream; he'd always wanted to go to Jurassic Park or World ever since he'd heard about them, but his parents--as affluent as they were--weren't interested.

     Until now. He thought with a quizzical glance behind himself. Why are they suddenly interested in this all?  There's a catch, I know it.

     But, he wouldn't ask. He knew the answer already: "We're busy. Not now."

     I think I have an idea, Drake thought, skipping around more cells. I think they have money invested in this place, whatever it's going to be besides a sanctuary, like they've all said.

     But he knew that wasn't all of it. It was only his best guess. They were even wealthier than the Firestorms--the Firestorms were only multimillionaires--so they really couldn't be looking for anymore finances. 

     There was no way.

     A rumbling, guttural growl caught Drake off guard. What was that? It sounded like...A T-Rex kinda? He grinned. I'm totally going to find it out.

     Sprinting around three more cages, eyes wide with excitement, he found, almost in complete darkness, a massive cage, definitely big enough to hold a T-Rex, and more. Whoa, Drake thought as he rushed towards it. It was a massive cage, veiled by a thick, dark brown curtain, and inside, there was clearly a hulking animal.

     Drake gripped the edge of the cloth, rubbing his hands against it; it was thick, coarse canvas, and very heavy, he thought as he lifted it up. Immediately, a thick, whitish tail slammed the bars against him.

     "Whoa!" Drake let the cloth go, stumbling back in shock. What the heck was that? He blinked in wonder, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. "I guess I'll go to the other side..." he mused aloud.

     Carefully and quietly stepping around the cage, giving it a wide berth, Drake came to a halt finally at the head of the cage. He approached the canvas tentatively, his muscles taut. His hands slid over the rough curtain again as he gripped it tightly and lifted, this time backing up and holding it above his head.

     What was inside gave him a shocking bolt of terror. 

     "AHAH!" The teen jumped back, letting the curtain go. It obscured the animal inside again.

     As if his heart were a caged game bird, it slammed so furiously against his rib cage that it almost hurt. Drake panted, his cobalt blue hues stretched wide, his muscles buzzing with adrenaline. 

     The face he'd seen was pale ghost-white with thorny spines and jagged, thick fangs. The creature was enormous, and had been lying on its side, strapped down in heavy, cruel chains and muzzled with steel and leather. If Drake had to guess, he'd say the animal's skull was six inches thick. And it was so much bigger than a T-Rex.

     That was not any dinosaur I've ever seen or heard of. He thought, quite afraid. But his fear was commixed with amazed curiosity. 

     Drake slowly stood again, his limbs still stiff, and walked cautiously for the curtain again. It's muzzled, it's chained down, it's sedated...He thought, but it wasn't to reassure himself. It must be something to be feared if they didn't do this to all of the other dinosaurs....

     With shaking hands--more from excitement than terror now--Drake lifted the curtain again. He took a sharp breath in, careful to be quiet and not upset the animal. Inside, the floor of the cage was all lights, which Drake thought was brutal for the animal's rest. He felt a prick of sympathy in his heart, and wished he could give the creature some peace. 

     I'm probably not helping right now by bothering it. 

     Drake took in the dinosaur's anatomy quickly: It was white-scaled, with more rows of short spikes running down it's spine than Drake could ever count. Above its eyes it seemed to have horns, almost like a Carnotaurus, but they were more spike-like than horn like. The creature groaned, shifting its head to eye Drake, and Drake saw it had maroon red eyes before something electrocuted it.

     "Wait...why? It did nothing..." he whispered. 

      The white monster roared in pain as a thick steel collar around its neck shocked it. Its roar was muffled by the muzzles around its brawny jaws, but it still hurt Drake's ears as if it were roaring full-blast.

     That's savage. It did nothing! All it did was look at me! Sorrow made Drake feel sympathetic pity for the animal. He quickly lowered the curtain, sighing sadly. That thing...I feel like I've seen it before?

     Or maybe heard of it.

     Then, the name clicked into his mind.

     Indominus Rex! Drake almost yelled the name aloud. It was alive? It was real!? Drake's heart fluttered in his chest. She doesn't deserve that! That's really sad.

     Or does she. 

     Drake remembered the carnage she'd caused with no conscience and it brought him back to a place of fear for her. But he also didn't think abusing any animal was going to solve those problems.

     Maybe Jae would understand. Drake thought, remembering the Firestorm's girl who'd been brought here too with her parents. Maybe she knows something I don't? Maybe they're doing this for a reason? 

     Drake couldn't think of a reason for abrasive treatment ever, but he did realize this animal was  more than capable of tearing him to pieces with just her claws; no regrets. But abuse wasn't okay with him, and it wasn't a solution to the monster's behavior.

     After all, didn't they raise her in isolation? Wasn't that one of her main problems? Drake mused, starting back for the others.

     Maybe I can talk to Dad about it. Maybe he'll do something about this just this time.