The Girl Trilogy *Zach Mitchell*

Vol 1 Ch 4

Chapter 4

Ayana's pewter eyes fluttered open, immediately met by a whirlwind of vibrant green and rich brown. Startled, she quickly scrambled to her feet, her gaze shifting to the hazel-eyed young man who had borne the brunt of their collision. With a hint of hesitation, she extended a hand toward him.

"I am so sorry," Ayana blurted out, her words rushed, as she sought to express her regret to the dark-haired stranger. He simply chuckled in response, his demeanor calm and forgiving.

"No worries. No harm done," he reassured her, prompting Ayana to visually inspect him, ensuring that her mishap hadn't caused any injuries.

"I genuinely apologize. I should have been more attentive," she apologized once more, her voice tinged with sincerity.

"Truly, it's alright. I'm Zach," he introduced himself, offering a warm smile. Ayana reciprocated the smile, grateful for his understanding.

"I'm-" Ayana's words were abruptly interrupted by the intrusive ringing of her phone, causing her to release an exasperated breath. "Sorry, it's my dad."

Zach's smile remained unwavering as Ayana stepped a few feet away to answer the call, granting her the space she needed.

"Hey, Dad? No, I haven't reached that part of the park yet, but I'm just about to make my way over there. Yeah, I'll pass on the message. The flight went smoothly, nothing eventful. You know how she can be, always irritating. Alright, take care. Love you." Ayana concluded her conversation, ending the call with a sigh. When she turned around, she noticed that the boy had vanished. Taking it as a subtle sign, she felt a strong urge to seek out her godfather without further delay. Trusting her instincts, she set off on her way to meet him. The anticipation of their reunion filled her with both excitement and a hint of trepidation.

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The platinum blonde gracefully stepped out of her maroon FS 2007 Jeep Wrangler, skillfully parking it beside the hexagon-shaped paddock. The vibrant squeals and chirps of the resident dinosaurs filled the air, eliciting a tender smile that graced her lips.

Suddenly, her heart lurched, and her body instinctively reacted before her mind could fully comprehend the situation. "Owen, no!" she cried out, her voice trembling with fear. Her feet propelled her forward, driven by a surge of adrenaline. Her breath caught in her throat as she beheld the alarming scene unfolding before her.

Her godfather, oblivious to the imminent danger, stood inside the velociraptor paddock, encircled by three of the four lethal theropods. Panic surged through Ayana's veins as she desperately pleaded, "Owen! Get out of there!"

Time seemed to slow down around her, each second elongating into an eternity. She watched in horror as Blue lunged towards him, teeth bared, while Delta emitted piercing screeches of warning. Charlie fixated on him with a predatory hunger, casting a gaze that made Ayana's stomach churn with revulsion.

"Close the gate," the words echoed in the blonde's mind, threatening to render her unconscious with their weight alone. "Are you out of your mind?" Barry's voice rang out in protest, and she couldn't help but agree. The ensuing conversation was a blur to her, but her heart sank as she witnessed the gate beginning to descend. Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes, and she clung to the bars for support. She watched in anguish as her godfather rolled under the gate just in the nick of time, narrowly escaping disaster. The overwhelming relief threatened to buckle her knees, but her grip on the bars kept her standing.

Approaching her with a gentle tone, he spoke, "I didn't know you were coming." Ayana's voice was barely a murmur as she averted her gaze, fixating it on the ground. Owen sighed, pressing the button to open the gate. Without hesitation, he slipped through and enveloped his goddaughter in a warm embrace.

"Did your old man tag along again, or are you flying solo this time?" Owen playfully inquired, eliciting a chuckle from Ayana at her godfather's choice of words.

"I came with Papa, but he's tied up at the moment, so it's just me," she replied, a smile dancing on her lips. Owen affectionately ruffled her hair, earning a playful slap on his bicep from his goddaughter.

"Do you have any idea how much work it takes to handle this creature?" Owen playfully rolled his eyes at his goddaughter's comment. "Keys!" he called out, and Ayana tossed him the keys to the Jeep, a vehicle her Grandfather had specifically purchased for her visits. With a joyful bounce in her step, she settled into the passenger seat as they embarked on the familiar journey to his bungalow.

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"Hey, Owe, I'm gonna use the head," Ayana called out from her comfortable spot beneath a shady tree.

"Don't take forever. I'd like to have dinner sometime tonight," the ginger-haired young man quipped, earning himself a playful glare.

"Mr. Grady, I hope Ayana is here, and you haven't taken off with her Jeep again," Claire's voice echoed through the air as Ayana emerged from the bungalow.

"You've been borrowing my Jeep for joyrides?" Ayana shot her godfather an accusatory look, crossing her arms with a narrowed gaze.

"Cars aren't meant to just sit there and look pretty!" Owen defended himself, prompting Ayana to maintain her stern expression. "Did you need something?" he asked, turning his attention to Claire.

"I need you to come take a look at something," Claire stated. "If you're not too busy, that is."

"I'm pretty tied up," Owen responded nonchalantly, taking a sip of his cola, causing both females to roll their eyes.

"We have an issue at the attraction," Claire began, but before she could continue, Ayana playfully interrupted.

"That's not what you said the last time I saw you," Owen teased, Ayana's hand covered her mouth to conceal her smile.

"I'm referring to the dinosaurs, Mr. Grady," Claire clarified, her tone returning to a professional demeanor.

"Owen," he corrected with a smirk. "A new species we've created?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yeah, it's kind of what we do here," Claire responded in a matter-of-fact tone, swatting at a pesky fly. Owen, being the show-off he is, effortlessly caught the insect in his hand, prompting a playful eye-roll from his goddaughter.

"So, you went ahead and made a new dinosaur," Owen mused, his tone laced with both amusement and intrigue.

"The exhibit opens to the public in three weeks, and Mr. Masrani wanted me to consult with you," Claire informed him, her tone professional. Ayana's hand instinctively flew to her face, bracing herself for the upcoming exchange.

"Claire, you just dug yourself a hole," Ayana muttered under her breath, earning a puzzled look from her redheaded companion.

"Do you want to discuss this here or in my bungalow?" Owen inquired, a mischievous glint in his eye. Ayana shuddered in disgust, knowing all too well the implications of such a suggestion.

"That's not funny," Claire retorted firmly.

"It's a little funny," Owen chuckled, dashing onto the bungalow's small porch.

"And with that, I bid you adieu," Ayana declared, grabbing her keys from the workbench that was pushed against the porch of the bungalow.

"Hey, be careful out there, and stay away from boys!" Owen hollered after her as she slid into the driver's seat of the Jeep. Ayana rolled her eyes at his playful remark, revving up the engine and driving away. She swore it was like having two dads.