Dark Fangs: Forbidden Fugitives

Chapter Fifteen

It wasn't far, walking back to his house, but in the pouring rain and Drake's torrent of thoughts, it felt like a hundred miles. Plus, he wasn't going back to his house: He was going to the beach, but first, he had to lose his tagalongs. 

     The heavy wrought iron gates were slippery in Drake's hands as he pulled the huge metal frames on their hinges back. "Come on, Swifty." He said, ushering the Greyhound Collie mix towards the opening.

     Coco gave a sharp trill in Drake's ear, snuggling closer to his cheek, which made Drake clench his jaws in sudden pain. "Coco...Shhhhh!" he growled, losing patience with his pets.

     Swifty's Collie-sighthound ears drooped and she gave a reluctant whine, but trod in, her forelimbs muddy and heavy in the storm. Coco whistled dolefully, but Drake didn't trust his curious Cockatiel to stay in the yard. After all, he had wings. He padded into the doors, let the bird in, and closed them behind himself. Swifty would have to stay out until he got back because he wasn't willing to take an argument from his Grandmother about her trailing mud into the house.

     "Sorry, Swift. Just stay on the porch; I'll be back soon." He said listlessly, traipsing for the gates again.

     Drake proceeded to travel quietly down the muddied earth road that led to the warehouse, and turned into the jungle half way down the broad path. He slithered and staggered through dark jungle, at every unfamiliar brush of a leaf or twig jumping with alarm.

     Relief hit him like a strike to the skull when he egressed the shadowy foliage and walked into open ground, the stretch of beach sand. 

     And there she was....

     The biggest cage--Indominus's--was positioned near a large barge that Drake thought was going to be impossible to get out the shallow waters and into the open ocean. She was roaring and slamming herself around her cage, and it made Drake's heart hammer with pity. Right next to the massive cage was a smaller one, in which Drake could see the Indoraptor pacing around and screeching as two guards--being battered by the raining wind--paraded past him and Indominus.

      This'll be easy. 

     Drake kept to the jungle long enough to sneak out of the two mens' line of sight. He swung around widely to the back of Indominus's cell, and made a run for it.

     He slowed as he approached, and smiled. "Shhh, I'm here, girl." Drake whispered, but he didn't know why; the sound was barely audible above the crashing of screaming winds and waves and pattering of rain. 

     The Indominus turned to Drake, gripping her bars and crouching to meet Drake's cobalt hues. She rumbled a loud growl, and Drake smiled at her, radiant to see she was tranquil again. 

     But that was ruined when none other than the Indoraptor screeched his lungs out at Drake, thrashing against the bars in fury.

     Ughhhhh. Jae! Why did you have to be so stubborn! Drake ran to the black hybrid's cage, hoping maybe, just maybe, he'd Bond with Drake so he could take care of him when Jae wouldn't.

     But he knew it wasn't true in his mind and heart; a dinosaur could only Bond once truly. Especially a hybrid so violent in nature. "Shhh....Calm down! Please," he rasped. "The guards'll-"

     Indoraptor lunged with a scream so maniacal it alone made Drake's heart skip a long beat. Drake leapt back out of shock just as the Violent Creature stretched a lithe arm out, striking the air where Drake's face had been not even a millisecond ago.

     But one of its cutting edge claws caught on something.

     Drake yelped as the razor extension cut through his jacket and sliced an incision into it. He nearly fainted, his breath coming in choking gasps.

     And that's when he realized he was backed against the I-Rex's cage.

     Drake wanted to scream, but his throat was too tight to. He ducked under the cell just as one of the ghost-pale hybrid's long claws brushed the back of his head. He rolled under, his eyes stretched so wide he was sure they would pop. His limbs felt as if they were made of ice, numb and freezing with adrenaline. 

     You need to be more careful! his mind screamed at him. That was WAY too close! WAY TOO CLOSE! 

     Drake felt about to faint again, and rolled out as quick as he could from the Indominus's cage. He bolted for the jungle, his heart beating like thunder in his throat. 

     The last sound he heard from the Indominus was a roar of sorrowful pain, but even that didn't startle the fear out of him.

     I'm sorry Jae, he thought frantically. I'm sorry; you were right. They are still animals.

     They are still absolutely feral.