The Nibiru Effect

Memory 39

The Tyrannosaurus rex—also known as a T. rex—is one of the deadliest predators ever to have walked the surface of the Earth. The fact that such a vicious killing machine now stands before us is enough to scare me to death, yet that's not what worries me the most. Nor is it the fact that it's the size of a Greyhound—the bus, not the dog. Not even the razor-sharp claws and teeth get to me. What truly terrifies me is the fact that its eyes glow an intense shade of red.

"Is that—" begins Jonn, but he's interrupted mid-question when the T. rex lets out a bone-jarring roar. This not only damages my eardrums, but it sends the Triceratops into a frenzy. They stomp around and cry out in fear as they struggle to escape the deadly predator. Unfortunately, they are restricted in their movements by their closeness and end up bumping into each other in their desperate race for survival. I'm just realizing this when Kara yells for me to be careful.

I tear my gaze from the T. rex just in time to see a Triceratops barrel toward me. I dive out of the way and barely avoid getting trampled. I scramble to my feet, only to be knocked back down. At first, I think it's a dinosaur, but I soon realize it's Jonn.

He saved my life. Again.

"Thanks," I mutter as I pry myself off the ground.

I dodge another fleeing reptile and offer Jonn a hand. I'm a little surprised when he takes it, yet I pull him to his feet. Moments later, we're both scanning our surroundings in search of Kara.

She's gone.

"Where is she?" I ask, panic rising within me.

"There!" yells Jonn. I follow his gaze all the way to Kara.

She's cornered, trapped between two thrashing Triceratops. It's only a matter of time before she gets trampled.

I want to help her, but my fear overpowers me. I can barely take care of myself, let alone someone else. But somebody has to save her. Since both Korri and I are out of commission, that leaves only one person.

Jonn rushes forward. He dodges a dinosaur. A second one. Finally, he reaches Kara. But it's too late. She's about to be crushed. Or so I think until Jonn circles around the two beasts and starts yelling and waving his arms. While such a desperate strategy may not always work, it succeeds with surprising ease. Already terrified beyond repair, the Triceratops gallop away, barely avoiding Kara as they flee.

I can't believe it. Kara is safe. So is Jonn. They hurry back to me just as the only remaining Triceratops—the biggest of the bunch—turns to the T. rex and charges it.

The Tyrannosaurus may be bigger, but the Triceratops has momentum on its side. It barrels forward like a freight train, its massive horns howling for blood. I think the T. rex is done for, but it dodges the incoming mass of flesh, scales, and horns at the last second. The quadruped speeds past, and unable to stop, slams into a tree. Its horns dig deep into the trunk and remain trapped. The animal struggles to free itself, but the T. rex doesn't allow it. It rushes forward and wraps its massive jaw around the ensnared beast's neck. I look away just as it snaps its mouth shut.

I don't see the carnage, but I hear it. It sounds like dozens of branches snapping simultaneously, yet I know what I'm actually hearing is the Triceratops' spinal column shattering. Moments later, the ground shakes as the beast's corpse slams into it.

It takes a while, but I finally muster the courage to look. I expect to find the T. rex feeding, but it just stands there, staring at us with glowing, unblinking eyes. That can only mean one thing.

We're next.