Claire and Owen: "Run"

Chapter 4

Claire's POV

Delta gives me a deadly look. I back away, still facing the four raptors. Charlie and Echo look at each other, then turn towards me like they've decided something. Blue let's out a shriek and the four of them start running at me.

I turn around and start running faster than I ever have before. Tree branches and bushes claw at my arms and legs, cutting into my skin. I scream loudly, dashing through the bushes.

There's a cliff.

I stop just in time. I nearly fall over, flying to my death. Below the cliff is dozens of jagged rocks shaped like points. Tears fly down my cheeks. I spin around. The cry of the raptors comes behind the bushes.

All four raptors leap out of the bush. I shriek. "OWEN!" I scream. The raptors stop. They turn at each other, sniffing the air. "OWEN, OWEN!" I start crying. Blue looks at me, her eyes slightly softening. They must recognize his name.

"Owen," I whisper. "Please come back." I close my eyes. "Come back.."

My eyes snap open when I hear Charlie let out a bloodcurdling roar. They all come flying at me. I trip and fall down off the edge, down towards the jagged rocks.

"CLAIRE!"

I gasp, opening my eyes quickly and begin crying. I fly into Owen's arms and grasp onto him tightly. I can't breathe. That nightmare was the worst one.

"Shh." Owen's fingers stroke through my hair. "You're safe. No dinosaur, raptor or Rex can harm you. You're with me. I'm alive. I'm here." He says all the same things he has to reassure me each time.

"Y..You were d-dead!" I say between sobs. "I was going to die!" I feel my heart breaking when the memories of all of those people dying five months ago. "Those innocent people died... It's my fault!"

"Claire!" I freeze. Owen pulls me away from him, looking me right in the eyes. "You did nothing wrong..."

"Owen how can you say that--"

"Listen!" He sighs. "I mean, please listen. You never meant for any of this." His finger wipes away the tears on my cheeks. "It's not your fault. Take a deep breath."

I inhale, squeezing onto Owen's hand, then exhale, releasing it.

"There you go." He kisses my forehead, caressing my cheeks with his thumbs.

"I love you."

His lips leave my forehead. He looks deeply into my eyes. I lean in and kiss him softly, afterwards falling into his arms. He lowers me down, keeping me locked tightly in his arms. "It's time to go to sleep," he slowly said.

"NO!" I shake. "The nightmares... They don't stop. I want them to go away." I shut my eyes forcefully, allowing more tears to fall.

"You won't have another one as long as I'm here. Trust me."

I can't fall asleep. There's no way I can. "Why don't you hate me Owen?" He doesn't respond. "Why don't you hate me?"

Claire..." He hugs me tighter.

"I ruined your entire life. Your home... Your raptors... I killed your coworkers. I lost your job. How can you stand to be next to me right now?"

"Claire. No matter what happens, against all of those things. I love you. Nothing can change that. Nothing can tear that apart. You didn't wreck my life. You made it a million times better." I can see his eyes shining in the dark. "You mean the whole world to me. You've made my life so much better. I love you."

Tears well in my eyes. Not from the nightmare. Not from the memories. From his words. "That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me," I said, tears trickling down my cheeks. "You don't know how much that means to me... I love you so much."

I lean in and kiss his lips. "I love you most."

I manage to fall asleep without a single nightmare.