Make it Through the Chaos

Chapter 8- End of Beginning- Part 1

Chapter 8- End of Beginning- Part 1

Ben POV

"What's wrong, Bumpy?" I asked as I walked over to the dino who had just let out another pain-ridden bellow, throwing herself at the sides of the trailer, before collapsing on the floor again. I had never seen her act like this before, anxiety was building in my chest as I inspected every part of her looking for some indication of what was wrong. "You look okay," I whispered.

Another lighter below escaped the dinosaur's mouth, I didn't know what was wrong, and I couldn't help her. "Are you just hungry? How about some hay?" I questioned reaching over and grabbing some hay from the pile tucked in the corner, and offering it to the Ankylosaurus. Bumpy turned her nose up at the hay letting out another groan. "Bumpy, y-you're not hungry, you don't want pets, what is it?" I asked wishing the dinosaur in front of me would magically begin to speak, so I would know what I was supposed to do.

Bumpy let out another bellow, standing up and flinging her tail around. I felt a hand on my shoulder pulling me back toward the wall. I watched Bumpy flailing about for a few seconds before flopping back onto the floor. A frustrated sigh escaped my lips as I turned to look at the girl whose hand was still on my shoulder.

"Lil, I don't know what to do," I whispered. Lilly looked up at me, I could tell she was searching for the right words, something to comfort me; but I could also tell she was as lost as I was on this. Neither of us knew what was wrong with Bumpy, and I was starting to think, maybe she really was dying.

"It will be okay, we'll figure this out. And I'm right here no matter what," she said finally smiling at me ever so slightly. I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding, I wouldn't say I liked this feeling; not knowing what was going to happen next, not even being able to predict it; and on top of all that now I might lose Bumpy. But amid all my fear, there was one ray of sunlight; at least I had Lilly back.

The sound of the truck horn echoed through the night, and slowly the vehicle began to slow. "I guess we've arrived," Lilly muttered standing next to me as we heard voices outside. "As soon as this thing parks we gotta get out," Lilly told me. Slowly the truck started moving again, I caught a glimpse of the gate as the truck drove through, and the smell of salt water filled my nose, we were at a shipping dock.

Lilly POV

The familiar sound of a cargo bay door opening rang through the air as the truck backed up. I peeked through the slates, we were in a huge warehouse, and from the faint roars and bellows echoing through the building, it was filled with dinosaurs. I heard voices as the truck came to a stop. "We gotta transfer the sick one into the shipping container, quick. Boss'll be mad if we lose another one," I heard an unfamiliar voice say outside the truck.

"No. Bumpy," I heard Ben whisper and I quickly shuffled back over to the boy as a soft groaning came from the Ankylosaurus he was gently petting. "Ben, we gotta go," I whispered as I heard the zapping of a taser stick being fired up. Tears ran down the brown-haired boy's face as he looked up at me. "I'm sorry Ben," I said softly as I opened the hatch and jumped down pulling him with me.

We hid under the truck, listening to Bumpy's bellows as the workers forced her out of the trailer. Ben clung to my arm as tears ran down his face, I squeezed his arm, feeling my heart breaking as I watched Ben's face and listened to Bumpy's cries. "Look at me," I said as quietly as I could reach up to grab Ben's face. "We will do everything we can to get her out of here," I mouthed. Ben took in a breath, placing his hands on top of mine before leaning closer and resting his forehead against mine. "Thank you," he whispered after a few moments, pulling away from me. I nodded in response and then began to move, peeking around the tire.