Rustle...
The bushes swayed slightly. Realizing she had been spotted, Charlie didn't hesitate for a second. With a low hiss, she lunged, pinning Wheatley to the ground with the full force of her weight!
Feeling the crushing pressure as he was tackled, Wheatley reacted instinctively. He thrust his tranquilizer rifle horizontally across his chest, successfully wedging it into Charlie's snapping jaws and blocking a lethal strike aimed at his throat.
Her scimitar-like toe claws dug into Wheatley's abdomen. While his cut-resistant tactical vest stopped the blades from disemboweling him, the agonizing pressure radiated through his nerves.
"Get it off me!"
The surrounding mercenaries raised their rifles, centering their sights on Charlie and burying tranquilizer darts into her flank.
But Charlie fought like a demon possessed. She refused to back down, biting down on Wheatley's rifle and flinging it aside, baring her teeth for a final lunge at his jugular!
BANG!
A gunshot echoed through the jungle. The bullet tore through Charlie's lower chest, forcing a pained shriek from her throat as she tumbled to the ground.
"Ao!"
Inside their cages, the other three raptors erupted into a frenzy, the sound of metal bars being slammed and rattled filling the air.
Wheatley lowered his handgun, which he had barely managed to draw in time. He lay on the ground, gasping for air in the wake of his near-death experience. Then, he scrambled to his feet, erupting into a fit of rage.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
If not for his employer's specific orders, he would have kicked the dying Charlie right then and there.
"Phew…"
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to settle.
"Take this beast and the vet! We're moving out!"
He barked the orders. Several men seized Zia, restraining her and forcing her toward the vehicles.
"Is this it? Where's the rest of the team?"
"Dead. The raptors killed ten of our men."
CRUNCH!
In a fit of pique, Wheatley hurled the tracker to the ground, shattering it into a million pieces. "Fucking hell!"
Inside the cages, the three raptors stopped their futile battering of the bars. They simply sat there, their predatory eyes locked onto him, unblinking.
…
Rumble—
Mount Sibo erupted. This time, it made no effort to mask its fury.
Massive tectonic debris mixed with black smoke rained down upon the land. The lethal volcanic plumes, trailing molten lava, continued their rapid expansion.
Inside the control room, the electronic displays flickered and distorted into static. Sparks showered from the consoles before the screens went black for good.
"Let's go!"
A shout echoed from behind Claire and Franklin, but it wasn't directed at them.
Sensing something was wrong, Claire stood up and realized the heavy gates Franklin had hacked open were slowly cycling shut.
"No, no, no! Wait!"
With a heavy thud, the motorized doors sealed shut. Claire slammed against the metal. Franklin rushed up behind her, staring at the closed exit in confusion.
"Wait... what happened? Are they locking us in for protection, or...?"
Claire frantically punched her code into the keypad beside the door. A sharp beep immediately shattered Franklin's delusions.
[LOCKOUT ERROR]
The desperate words flashed before Claire's eyes. She turned to look at Franklin.
"I'm afraid not."
The volcano unleashed a violent shudder. Even within the fortified control room, the approaching cataclysm was palpable. The tremor sent debris and equipment crashing to the floor, knocking both of them off their feet.
"Why did I even come here?!" Franklin screamed in despair. But the volcano spared no mercy for the living.
The mountain groaned as ridges collapsed. Fissures split the earth from the stone, and magma surged through the gaps. Hot winds thick with volcanic ash swept through the forest, snapping trees like dry twigs.
BOOM!
Rocks shattered and black smoke swirled, yet a colossal silhouette remained standing amidst the chaos, unyielding.
"ROOOAR—"
With a long, thunderous cry, Carlo slammed his foot into the earth. The ground fractured like a spiderweb, and a massive rift tore through the soil, carving a canyon-like gorge through the forest.
He took up the rearguard position, ensuring no dinosaur was left behind. Guided by his roars, Giga Dad and Giga Mom led the herd toward the coast. To get there, they had to navigate the chaotic nightmare that the northern side of the island had become.
Many would lose their way, fall behind, or be scattered, but even more would survive.
Dinosaurs that had stumbled during Carlo's Ground Stomp scrambled back to their feet, following the procession toward life. The searing winds were broken by Carlo's towering frame, and the molten lava poured into the canyon-like rift he had created, unable to advance another inch.
"ROOOAR—"
The giant's voice filled the sky. The herd began to pivot, charging into the forest.
With the rear temporarily secured, Carlo strode to the front of the line to join Giga Dad and Giga Mom, steering those who had strayed back onto the correct path. His biological radar clearly marked the location of the humans. As long as they reached the coast, the dinosaurs would be saved.
CRASH—
Carlo's massive bulk crushed trees into splinters, leaving a clear, unobstructed path for the dinosaurs following in his wake.
BOOM—THUD!
Burning volcanic bombs fell like meteors toward the herd. A Datanglong was struck directly, its life extinguished instantly. Even if the lava couldn't reach them, the volcano refused to let them go. Stones continued to rain down, pelting the ranks. Ash blanketed the world in an instant, a grey fog carrying the proclamation of death.
"ROAR!"
Carlo gave a low command, signaling his family to change formation.
Katyusha took the lead with the other two youngsters. Giga Dad and Giga Mom followed closely behind, while Carlo remained at the very back, his massive shadow shielding them from the falling debris...
…
"Quick! Move! Move! Move!"
The desperate shouts of volunteers rang out across the transport ship.
One vessel, sitting dangerously low in the water, pushed out into the ocean, following another ship ahead of it. Volcanic ash dusted the decks, only to be swallowed by the sea.
The southern side of the island, closer to the volcano, didn't have the luxury of time. To avoid being buried under the eruption, the volunteer teams were forced to evacuate early.
The ship settled further, passing its waterline marks, before finally steadying and steaming out to sea.
"Aunnng—"
The trumpeting of a Brachiosaurus echoed from the hold. The people on deck let out a collective sigh of relief, bursting into cheers.
"We made it!"
"Wooohooo!"
In the bridge, the Official from the "Primeval Zone" also relaxed. Watching the receding silhouette of Isla Nublar, they offered a silent prayer for Carlo.
"It's a shame we couldn't find the Giganotosaurus."
"Not entirely."
The "Tiger Lady" seemed to have some lingering regrets about the mission, but the Official was satisfied.
"We saved the dinosaurs he was protecting. In a way, we helped him. And did you forget?"
"What?"
"That Parasaurolophus was rescued. Actually, every Parasaurolophus associated with him, we got them all out."
———————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over here ——— pa-tre-on.c-om/AlexandrusTL [remove the hyphen for normal access]