Dinosaur World 5

by Logan Jacobs

  “Okay.” Kat nodded as she tucked her curls behind her ears. “That’s fucking creepy, but it’s a good point. We get up the far side of the hill as quickly as possible, and then we fire off a grenade down onto the fields.”

  “That’s it,” I agreed. “I reckon that will give us the best chance of luring them away. Becka, can you get your grenade launcher ready? You’re gonna be our grenade girl and shoot while Kat drives.”

  “But… I wanted to blow something up,” Hae-won said and sent me puppy dog eyes.

  “I know you did,” I replied. “But you’re on a motorcycle, and this is just the most logical--”

  “Sorry, Hae-won,” Becka snickered. “You can have your turn to blow something to smithereens next time.”

  The raven-haired beauty smirked and rolled her eyes, but then she took a deep breath and got super serious.

  “Come on, then,” the Korean hissed. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  The Korean didn’t say another word before she bolted back to her motorbike, and her long black hair whipped behind her while not a single twig cracked under her boots. She kept her rifle clutched steadily in one hand while the other one pumped beside her, and the Glock on her hip shimmied with every step.

  It was so hot when Hae-won was in full combat mode, and I was suddenly motivated by the thought of pulling her close in a castle hotel room.

  I raced after my Korean lover and jumped back onto my bike, and Kat opened her storage box to help Becka get the grenade launcher loaded up. I could hear Hae-won join them and ask for a grenade of her own, and Kat chuckled but didn’t deny her.

  “Just in case!” the Korean insisted.

  As the girls got their weapons ready, I kept my eyes scanning the top of the hill.

  The dull thud of footsteps had almost become background noise over the last few minutes. The steps were so slow and steady that it didn’t sound like any normal herd, but of course, it wasn’t a normal herd.

  If different dinosaur species had started to join forces in the hunt for human flesh, then this added a new terrifying challenge into the mix. There had been more and more proof that they only cared about hunting people, and the bizarre display of peace between the dinos just confirmed that.

  “Okay,” Becka whispered as she climbed into the Jeep with Kat. “Let’s go save my mum.”

  “Stay close to the tree line,” I instructed. “The road goes straight up the middle of the hill, but we’re not following it that far. We’ll go off road around the base of the hill to the other side. That’ll give us about ten acres of distance between us and them for most of the way. With all their roaring, they shouldn’t notice the sound of our engines.”

  “Don’t jinx it,” Kat added.

  “Once we’re on the other side of the hill, we start the climb,” I continued. “About three quarters of the way up is when you’ll let off the grenade, Becka. Unless any of them look like they might spot us. Then just go for it.”

  “I can’t believe we’re driving into the huge crew of dinosaurs,” Kat muttered. “Becka, you better be ready to fire that thing in the blink of an eye because there isn’t anywhere to hide if that lot sees us.”

  “Okay, guys,” I said. “Keep your voices low and your vehicles fast, let’s go.”

  We drove forward through the woodland for a ways, and then we turned off the road that led up to the Raven Hall entrance. Instead, we kept driving along the bottom of the hillside and into the emerald green grounds. We didn’t slow down until we were directly below the other side of the castle, and we only stopped long enough to survey the area.

  The flying dino swooped lazily around its group on the opposite edge of the hill, and there were a few bushy trees on the hilltop that shielded us slightly from its line of sight.

  I signaled for the girls to start driving up the hill, and my palms were sweaty as I gripped the handles of my bike.

  As we got further up the slope, the sun started to creep out from behind the clouds and shone on the dull scales of the dinos in the distance. I could see a couple huge tails swinging, and the ridged back of the massive spinosaurus swayed with every step it took.

  I kept expecting one of the dinos to glance over and meet my gaze. If that happened, we would have to take our chances driving straight back into the woods, or even onto the beach.

  We crept further up the green lawn, and still, none of the scaly beasts looked down. Their heavy footfalls and frequent roars were so loud that our engine noises were covered, and every time one of the creatures roared, the vibrations shook lightly through my bike’s frame.

  These bastards were huge.

  I scanned the short, stone wall that surrounded Raven Hall, and it looked like the only gap was at the front where the road led into the grounds. We were close to the top of the hill, and I waved a hand to slow down the girls.

  “We have two options,” I hissed as I checked that the trees above still hid us from view. “We can either drive through the front gate when Becka sends off the grenade, or we hide the bikes and Jeep and jump over.”

  The flying dino shrieked, and the girls looked warily over at the front entrance.

  “We don’t even know if all of them will be distracted by the grenade,” Kat whispered. “I don’t think going in the main gate is smart. As much as I don’t want to leave my Jeep here, we have more of a chance if we go on foot around the back.”

  “I agree.” Hae-won nodded. “We can hide the motorbikes and car under those trees near the wall. Besides, Becka said there’s a side entrance, so we hopefully won’t need the main door at all.”

  “We’re going to have to hope there is someone to let us in, too,” I added. “Because like Kat said, there aren’t many hiding spots.”

  “The windows look boarded up,” Hae-won observed. “That means we can’t even break in if nobody answers.”

  “Then let’s hope karma’s good to us today,” I said grimly.

  “I think we should get as close as we can to the trees before we set off the grenade,” Hae-won said. “Their footsteps are loud enough to cover the engines.”

  “But won’t they smell us if we get any closer?” Becka hissed as she clutched her rifle close. “And how am I meant to jump the wall with my gammy leg?”

  “We’re downwind,” Kat pointed out while she held her hand out the window.

  “We’ll help you with the wall,” I added. “Okay, we get right up under those trees and park. Becka, you shoot just before we get there, aim the grenade right over to the other side of the hill. The second they’re distracted, we park and run.”

  It felt wrong to be purposely driving toward a herd of dinos, and with every second, my clammy hands tightened on the bike handles.

  We were almost at the top of the hill, and I nodded at Becka.

  The blonde maneuvered herself so she knelt on her seat and leaned out of the Jeep window. Then she aimed her grenade launcher high into the air, and just as we were about to reach the cover of the tree branches, she pulled the trigger.

  The explosive soared off to the fields on the other side of the road.

  I skidded to a halt next to Hae-won, and Kat hit the brakes.

  There was an earth-shattering uproar from the miss-matched herd, and multiple heavy tails swung into the building as the dinos turned to watch the explosion. The heavy wings of the flying dino immediately soared off to explore, and we heard heavy footsteps pounding away to follow.

  We all cut our engines, and I jumped off my bike and peered around the side of a tree. My girls all clustered behind me while I surveyed the area, and it looked like the closest grounds of Raven Hall were totally clear.

  “Everyone, go,” I hissed. “Now!”

  Hae-won and Kat leapt over the wall in a split second, and I grabbed Becka’s waist to help lift her over. Hae-won reached back to help lower her blonde friend to the ground, and I jumped over onto the gravel to join the girls.

  “That’s the staff door,” Becka hissed, and I grabbed
her hand to help her as we hurried toward a white door with golden detailing.

  I looked over the castle grounds as we ran, and I could see the dinos had made their way halfway down the hill in just a few seconds. Their enormous legs lumbered onward, and their heads cocked as they roared at the smoking hillside.

  When we reached the building, Kat hammered on the white door, and I hoped no dinos were left to hear her. Without our engines running, there was nothing but the distant roars of the dinos on the breeze, and the sudden quiet made my heart hammer anxiously.

  “Help!” Hae-won cried as she banged on the painted wood as well. “Please, we need to get in! We’re here with Becka!”

  “We’re going to get killed if you don’t let us in,” Becka hissed against the door frame.

  Then I froze as the sound of distant footsteps and wings seemed to quiet all at once.

  “Wait here,” I whispered, and I let go of Becka to creep over to the side of the building.

  The girls continued to plead, and I slowly looked around to check the herd was still preoccupied.

  The flying dino was swooping down over the road where we’d driven near the woods, and I wondered if it had caught our scent.

  I couldn’t see the land dinosaurs from here, since they were blocked by the wall and hillside, but the lack of roars concerned me.

  “Please,” Becka pleaded, and she hammered on the door again.

  “Becka, keep it dow--” I started to hiss, but it was too late.

  The flying dino sharply turned its head up to Raven Hall, and it shrieked before it started to soar straight at us.

  “Go!” I yelled as I turned and raced back to the girls. “We need to run, now!”

  “Where?” Kat gasped.

  “Fucking anywhere but here,” I growled. “That winged guy is--”

  At that moment, the white door swung open, and I didn’t even look to see who had opened it. I just shoved my three girls through the entrance like a damn bulldozer, and I jumped in behind them.

  Right as I slammed the door shut, I heard the whoosh of huge wings soar past outside, and the flying dino cried out with a rattling scream. I could hear its massive beak snapping together, and the sound sent a shiver down my spine.

  “Too close,” I gasped, and I gave an apologetic look to the girls who were clambering up from the floor. “Sorry, guys. I know that wasn’t exactly chivalrous, but it was either get shoved or get eaten.”

  “Don’t worry,” Kat said as she dusted herself down and helped Becka up. “I don’t break easily.”

  “I know you don’t,” I snickered.

  “Hi,” Hae-won said in a small voice, and I suddenly remembered someone opened the door for us.

  I spun around to see a wide-eyed, middle-aged man in a crisp white shirt and black pants. He was a good-looking guy, and he had neatly gelled, dark hair with a clean-shaven face.

  “Um… hello,” the man replied, and his eyes darted between me and the three girls. “What’s all this, then? Look like you’ve all been through the wringer.”

  “It’s a long story,” I sighed as I heard the flying dino scream again.

  Then I looked around the room and realized we were in some kind of large pantry. There were silver food carts piled high with expensive-looking tableware, and large freezers lined the walls. The ceiling was high, and the floor was a dark hardwood, and the area smelled sickly-sweet as if we were in a bakery.

  “Should we barricade the door?” Kat asked as she eyed the freezers. “That thing could easily headbutt its way in here if it wanted to.”

  “Could it?” the man asked. “Oh. Well, perhaps, we should.”

  The man’s lack of reasoning concerned me quite a lot, but he was quick to hurry over and unplug a freezer. Kat and I headed over to help him shove it toward the white door, and without any wheels underneath it, the work was back breaking.

  This meant it’d be a bitch to break through, though, so I didn’t mind the labor.

  “Is my mum here?” Becka asked nervously.

  “Who is your mother?” the man grunted.

  “Debbie.” Becka’s voice broke over the word. “We came all the way from Cambridge, please tell me she’s here.”

  “Good grief,” the man scoffed, and his eyes widened. “You’re Rebecca? Thank god for that.”

  We all stared at the man, but he turned and raced out of the pantry without another word. His footsteps echoed down the corridor as he ran off, and I raised an eyebrow.

  “What’s he doing?” Hae-won asked.

  “He knew my name,” Becka whispered. “She must be here. Or maybe she was here? Oh, my god, what if we’re too late?”

  “Hey,” I said gently and stroked her arm. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m sure--”

  “Becka?”

  Our heads all snapped around to see a blonde, middle-aged woman standing in the doorway.

  She was as beautiful as her daughter, but with more laugh lines on her face, and she wore a bold red lipstick and had her golden hair pinned up in a messy bun. Her attire was bizarre, though. The beautiful woman wore a tight blue dress with combat boots, and a diamond-studded belt full of kitchen knives hitched around her waist. Golden hoop earrings dangled above her noticeably wide shoulders, and her nails were painted bright red to match her lips.

  I would have known who she was even if she hadn’t spoken, and I almost fell to my knees with the wave of relief and excitement that washed over me.

  “Mum,” Becka whispered, and then the blonde ran into her mother’s arms and started to sob.

  Both women clutched each other like their lives depended on it, and Becka howled as the older woman rocked them back and forth.

  Hae-won had her hands over her mouth, and Kat grinned as they watched.

  I couldn’t stop smiling, either. We had made it. All of the moments we risked our lives, and came close to defeat, had been worth it. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to laugh or cry from the relief of seeing Becka’s mother alive, but it felt like ten pounds had just been lifted off my shoulders.

  After a few moments, the two women pulled apart and looked at each other as they held hands.

  “Guys,” Becka sniffed. “This is my mum.”

  “Call me Debbie,” the woman said, and she had a much deeper voice than Becka. It was husky in a way that gave me goosebumps, and it matched her bold red lips perfectly. “Now, can someone please tell me what in all holy hell is going on here? How did you find me, my little baby?”

  “It’s all because of them.” Becka smiled as she nodded toward me. “Jason, Hae-won, and Kat. They got me here, Mum.”

  “We wouldn’t have made it without Becka.” I grinned. “Nice to finally meet you, Debbie.”

  “Are you shagging an American?” Debbie asked.

  “You’re damn right, I am,” Becka snorted.

  The two beautiful blondes both snickered together before she came over to me, and I ended up locked in a surprisingly strong hug. Debbie had a thick, flowery perfume on, and she made sure to squeeze my biceps as she stepped back to examine me.

  “Bloody hell, Becka,” Debbie chuckled as she looked over at Hae-won and Kat. “Is there some rule about only hotties surviving the apocalypse?”

  “Please don’t say hotties,” Becka groaned. “I love them, Mum, they mean the world to me. Jason protects us, and we all love him, so it’s not all about looks, alright? He just happens to be the most handsome guy around. It’s a coincidence.”

  Debbie snorted at the statement, but then she grabbed my collar and pulled me down to plant a lipsticked kiss on my cheek.

  My eyebrows shot up as she roughly released my collar, and Becka sighed like such a daughter.

  “You got a magic dick or something?” Debbie boldly inquired.

  “Mum!” Becka scoffed and blushed.

  “I’m not daft, dearie,” the woman chuckled. “These pretty young things all hanging around certainly implies it. And I can smell the sex off all four of you like booze o
n Tony Blair. But I tell you, if I was twenty years younger, I would be trying to take a ride on this handsome yank’s joystick, too, but I’m not as spry as I--”

  “Oh, bloody hell, Mum,” Becka groaned, but she couldn’t stop smiling. “I come all this way, and the first thing you do is perv on my friends.”

  “Anyway, Debbie…” Hae-won casually interrupted. “It’s lovely to be here. Could we have a tour?”

  “Oh, honey,” the woman laughed as she rubbed dirt from Hae-won’s cheek with her thumb. “You will get a tour, a meal, and a nice hot bubble bath. The works, come on, let’s go.”

  Becka grabbed her mum’s hand, and they led us out of the pantry into a large hallway with the same hardwood floor. There was a reception area, a wide staircase lined with red carpet, and tall cream walls that were decorated with oil paintings of landscapes. A room was up ahead, and the sound of murmuring voices drifted through the large hall.

  Debbie led us over to the open room, and she showed us into a huge space that was clearly meant for weddings and other events.

  The dark floorboards were spotless, and there were white chairs piled high in the corner of the room by the long windows. Each window had been boarded up with planks of wood, and red velvet curtains hung beside them. Several round tables were pushed together to make one large dining spot for the group who all turned to look as we came in.

  There looked to be about thirty or so people, mostly adults, but a couple of young kids sat on the floor with toys.

  “Everyone,” Debbie announced to the room. “This is my flawless daughter, Becka, and these pretty friends of hers are Jason, Hae-won, and Kat. They came all the way from Cambridge, and I am dying to hear all about it. So, let’s get ready for a proper lunch.”

  The dark-haired man from earlier hurried into the room with a large pot, and the smell of onions and garlic made my stomach rumble.

  “Gerry,” Debbie said. “Thanks so much for coming to get me, honey, this is Becka.”

  “My name is Gerald,” the man mumbled. “Nice to meet you all.”

  He ushered past and placed the pot on one of the round tables, and a younger man with a lip piercing started to arrange plates and cutlery.