Fractured Luck // Owen Grady

•19

Before

Owen gave the signal to the kid at the top of the tower, who pressed a button that released the four raptors from their cages.

Owen sped after them on his motorcycle, Barry and I followed on the four wheeler, and the ACU in a truck behind us. 

Five minutes of speeding through the trees, Barry slowed.

Owen was stopped on his motorcycle, hand raised to stop the rest of us. "They've got something," he said, then lowered his hand.

The ACU squad exited their vehicle. They moved into position on the ground, laying beside one another, guns pointed ahead.

Twisting my gun from my back to my hands, I stepped quietly across the grass to Owen.

"What should I be doing?" I whispered. 

"Stay low a couple feet behind us," Owen said, shoving the last bullet into his gun. He took my chin, locking our eyes, "If anything goes wrong, you get on a bike, and you go."

"And leave you?"

"You'll have to."

"Okay," I said. I started to walk towards the ACU, when Owen grabbed my arm.

"What?" he asked, "That's it? I just said you might have to leave me behind, and you agreed?"

"We're battling a genetically engineered dinosaur, do you honestly think I'm stupid enough to stray from orders?" I asked.

"Um, yes. Especially for me," Owen said.

"If something goes wrong, and I see you're still alive, I'll get you, then go?"

"Better."

"Go on, Owen," I muttered with a roll of my eyes.

I sat on my knees in front of Owen's motorcycle. I gripped my gun tightly, my head tilted to see through the scope.

A shake of the trees brought the camouflaged dinosaur from its hiding place.

Growls came from the raptors. Two crouched, ready to attack. A series of clicks came from one of them.

I sucked in a breath, awaiting a roar that would signal the start of the bloodbath.

A roar didn't come from the Indominus-- a similar clicking noise did.

Confused, I tilted my gun down to see the scene in full view.

"They're communicating," Barry said.

"I know why they wouldn't tell us what it's made of," Owen muttered, "That thing is part raptor."

The Indominus and the raptors snapped their attention to the crowd of humans.

A paralyzing fear started to grow in my stomach.

"Engage!" 

Distracting myself from the thought of being eaten, I ducked my head to see through the scout, and shot at the largest dinosaur.

Taking the chance, a rocket launcher fired into the trees.

The ground shook differently than it would if the Indominus was walking. 
Getting to its feet fast, it roared, then continued to flee. 

Reloading as they got to their feet, the ACU stepped carefully into the trees after the Indominus.

"Watch your six! Raptors got a new alpha," Owen called, "Lauren, with me."

Walking between Owen and Barry, I continuously moved my gun, using the scout to search for any movement.

With each passing minute, our line thined, unintentionally spacing us out, which was the worst possible mistake.

Any animal hunting would go for the singled out meal. We were practically asked to be eaten.

The first scream came from far in the distance, yet near enough for us to hear.

"Owen?" I asked.

"Fine," Owen said, "You do not leave my side, Lauren. Got it?"

Another scream stopped me from answering, followed by another one only seconds after.

Hearing the clicking of a raptor, the ACU fired their guns spastically into the darkness.

A few bullets flew entirely too close to my body. One passed by my head, and I fell into the tall grass, the only place to completely avoid death by bullets.

Trying to shout over the excessive gunfire, I yelled profanities at the ACU, who should have been trained well enough to only take a shot when they knew where the target was.

When my shouting registered in my own ears, I knew the ACU was either all dead, or had ran for their lives. I was alone in a treeless area.

"Fuck!" I whispered with extreme emotion, "Why did I ever take a job here?"

Without checking to see if there were raptors in the area, I started to crawl through the grass, hiding myself.

Entering the mass of trees, I ran, hoping I was going back the way we came.

Hearing a fast paced crunching of leaves that weren't my own feet, I looked behind me.

Sensing his lips about to move, I continued to run without looking, which sent me into a tree.

Falling to my bottom, I groaned.

"We have no time to waste, come on," Barry said.

He ran beside me, encouraging me to continue, and also making sure I didn't crash again. 

Engines starting nearby halted our running.

"One, two," I counted, "That leaves one bike left."

"Owen wouldn't leave without us," Barry insisted, "We have to find him."

Taking shortcut, I sucked in a breath, ready to scream his name as loud as I could.

A shrill screech replaced my words, as a raptor leaped from the trees, and tackled me to the ground.

Screaming bloody murder, Blue kept one foot on my stomach, holding me still.

"..do not shoot my raptors. Please."

Despite the Alpha change, I was sure Owen's previous wish was still requested.

I shoved my gun between Blue's teeth, pushing against her.

"What is that supposed to do?" Barry yelled.

"I don't know!" I shouted, "Help me, you sack of shit!"

Barry fired his gun into the air, causing Blue to snap her head his way.

In her examination of the sound, she withdrew pressure from my stomach.
I grabbed her foot, yanking it until she lost her balance and toppled over.

I sprinted into the trees again, praying I was following the right path.

As promised, I started yelling Owen's name to see if he was still in the area. The revving of the last motorcycle cut off my first shout.

"No!" I yelled, as loud as I could, "Don't leave! Do not leave!"

Diving past the last trees, I fell into a clearing, the exact clearing we arrived in.

Sitting on the motorcycle, Owen turned his head to hear the unattractive panting exiting the trees. His eyes widened.

My relief about Owen surviving was gone instantly.

"Were you about to leave without me?" I snapped, "Are you serious?"

"Lauren, just get on!"