JURASSIC NATION

Journey

The air was heated, there was a looming grey cloud doming the sky. Little flakes of ash came down like snowfall, tickling Maisies cheek. Maisie woke up on her back, looking at the sky. Her heart rapidly pounding. She slowly raised to a seated position and glanced around frantically. She was cold, yet stuffy at the same time, lying inside a small abandoned building with no roof. The walls cracked and pale yellow colour. Rubble was spread everywhere.

The sky was grey but bright. Day had risen. Maisie glanced frantically through the torn down window to the overturned car in the short distance. Although, it didnt quite qualify as a car anymore. Half of it had melted and remained in a solid drip-like state over the side of a cliff, whilst the half that survived looked warped. Then her memory came back. She stood up and became scared. A tiny chirp came from behind a bush in the corner of the building. Maisie edged closer.

Um. Zach? Grey? She said nervously. She gulped. Maybe she was talking to herself? Maybe they left her? Maybe she died and this is what the afterlife looked like? With her scarred hand, she brushed away the branches and found a tiny chicken-like dinosaur. She immediately felt sorry for it. She got down on her knees and leaned forward.

Suddenly she heard a sharp cry, she looked over her shoulder. Three of them were checking her out. They stood on their hind legs and had a mottled skin. Their front limbs itched. The one that lay in fron t of her yelped and scuttled beside her and then to its friends. Maisie thought, ambush. From every shadow, nook and cranny, they seemed to flock. Surrounding her. They pushed her into the corner. There must be dozens, she thought.

Hey! Get out of here! Zach stood on a mound of rubble made from bricks and sticks and a few poles. His hair ruffled and clothes filled with stains. He picked up a stone the size of his fist and threw it directly at them. Some scrammed, the others pecked around and glared. Zach picked up some gravel and threw it again. This time, they scurried and fled in all directions.

We thought youd never wake up. We over here. He said in an assuring tone.

Maisie followed him. On the other side of the mound, Grey was there lying on the ground. His leg looked inflamed. Zach had torn a bit of his shirt and tied it tightly around Greys knee cap to stop the blood flow.

I Maisie began, I never thought Id meet you under survival circumstances. Her British accent truly revealed itself.

I never thought Id meet you at all! Grey exclaimed. Youre Maisie Lockwood. Grey had such a innocent aura about him. Maisie rolled her eyes.

Yeah, heard that before. She sighed.

The ground rumbled under their feet then stopped. Fear was cast in all their eyes.

Lets get out of here. Maisie whispered. Grey limped up and walked sternly. Through the thick jungle, they could see a clearing about seven kilometres away. They became determined to get there then decide how they were going to get back.

Claire was frantic. Owen too, but he didnt show it. They walked pacefully up the ridge in the earth, looking for a way to cross.

We cant give up! Claire huffed. Ellie and Alan had gone down in the opposite direction. They agreed that after half an hour of searching they would turn around and meet again.

Claire and Owen had been walking about eighteen kilometres now neither of them thought to measure the distance. The black analogue watch on Owens wrist beeped.

Claire, its time to go back. He slowed his steps down and stopped, lagging behind her. His gaze followed her as she rapidly continued moving along.

No. She sternly said. There has to be a way. Her confidence in those words did not match her inner emotions. She felt scared, insecure, maybe traumatised. Her hands were in shaking fists.

Claire. There is not a way across. We have looked. If we go back we have better chances of finding a solution to this problem. Claire! he raised his voice. She was still swatting through the leaves of the forrest. He jogged up to her. Then noticed her mascara leaking over her tears. He put his had on her shoulder and embraced her in a hug. She reluctantly submitted to it and let out a sharp breath.

Ive let her down. She left me to take care of them and I couldnt do it. I couldnt do it at Jurassic World. I cant do it now that the world is jurassic. Ive let her down. Claire wailed.

Claire. Listen. You have done everything. You found them and they found you. You will find them again. He tried to sound as calm as possible but inside he thought this has to be an insane wild goose chase.

Who is going to see to them? See that they okay? Claire was not crying so much anymore, the shock had caught up to her and made her feel numb and empty. Owen did not have an answer. He just kept thinking of things he could say to make her feel better.

Me. Came a young hollow voice from the thicket. Both Owen and Claire froze. They looked at each other with crossed eyebrows. Who said that?

The tall yellow grass showed movement. It swept from side to side. They got worried and gripped each other. The grass fluttered to the left of them and a pale white hand with immensely long black nails stuck out, followed by a body and a head. It was the weird girl. She looked weary and jumpy. Owen clutched his knife concealed in his back pocket. The girl noticed this and leapt across the gauge once again. She landed roughly doing a sommersault. Then she made a dash into the opposing forestry.

How is my experiment going? Wu smiled. He already knew results were promising. The InGen team was tracking her every move. In a small dark room filled with rows of computers and one wide screen up front, they had displayed a map. A small yellow dot blinked, that was their marker. It was her.

Everything seems according to plan, sir. A young female co-worker in dark uniform replied.

Good. Very good. Wu chuckled, Back to your positions. And you know if anything happens anything at all you tell me. Yes?

Of course, sir. She gulped then ran back to her desk.