The Crumbling Island

three

"Claire Dearing is coming today to aid in the retrieval of the dinosaurs from Isla Nublar. Reveal any of this plan and I will personally see to it that those mutts make it into a lab," Mills threatened.

Alexa nodded and continued preparing the twins' lunch. Mills went back upstairs to take a call, leaving Alexa alone. The woman let out a breath of relief. She was always tense whenever he was in the room. Iris walked down the stairs, spotting Alexa in the kitchen.

"Do you need help, dear?" the old woman asked.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you though, Iris," Alexa replied, smiling.

The old woman nodded and left through a door. Alexa picked up the bowls and put them on the outside porch. She whistled for the twins and sat down on one of the porch chairs. The dogs ran out of the surrounding forest and started wolfing down the meal.

Neph's ears perked and she looked up from her lunch. Alexa watched as Neph stared at the trail that went around to the front of the house. She clicked her tongue and Neph ran around the front of the Lockwood Estate. The dog returned quickly and went back to eating.

Alexa leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. She could hear the sounds of the surrounding forest. If the woman focused, she could hear the muffled voices from upstairs.

Alexa opened her eyes to find Cain wagging his tail and smiling.

"Maisie, I know you're there."

The young girl walked in front of Alexa. She sat down in the wood and scratched Cain's head.

"What's going on? Anything exciting?" Alexa asked.

"There's this woman who came in. She was looking at the model of the island in the museum," Maisie replied.

"Interesting."

Neph walked over and laid down at Alexa's feet. Maisie watched Neph as she moved. The older canine wasn't trusting to anyone but Alexa, but she was working on it.

"You better go Maisie. I'm sure Iris will be looking for you," Alexa said.

"Alright."

The young girl reluctantly got up and left through the open door.

"Alexa."

"Eli."

"I want you to go to the island."

"Excuse me, what?" Alexa stood up to face Mills.

"You heard me. I want you to go to the island and aid in keeping the dinosaurs contained."

"Out of all the things to ask me to do, you know this is one I'd say no to," Alexa snapped.

"And that is why you are doing it. You can't refuse anything I tell you to do while those mutts are still alive."

Alexa glared at Mills, but he obviously didn't care.

"Speaking of, where are their muzzles?"

"I take them off when they're with me. And for god's sake they were just eating."

Mills let out a breathe and turned around to walk back inside.

"They better have them on later. I don't need dangerous animals running around the estate."

Alexa seethed at his words, but there was nothing she could do to him. Not while he held all the power.