The Extinction Series | Book 1 | Primordial Earth

by Higgins, Baileigh

  With a grunt, Rogue collapsed as her last bit of strength gave out. She closed her eyes and allowed her body to relax as her mind shut down. Sleep. Let me sleep. Just…for…a little while.

  Chapter 15

  After the Shift and her terrifying encounter with the herd of Ankylosauruses, Lillian refused to leave the shelter of Mrs. Walton’s desk. She remained huddled beneath it, feeling very sorry for herself. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she mourned the loss of everything and everyone she’d ever known.

  Even worse, she hadn’t had the chance to finish her cookies. Would she ever have cookies again? Or chocolate milk? What about birthday cake?

  These horrid thoughts brought on a fresh bout of tears, and she sobbed into her knotted fists with renewed vigor. That carried on for several minutes until her chin was covered in snot, and her head ached. Not even the sound of human voices roused her from her misery.

  “What are you doing down there, little one? Why are you crying? Are you scared?” a warm, feminine voice asked.

  Lillian sniffed, her bout of crying rudely interrupted. She looked up into the concerned face of a strange woman. “I…I’m hiding.”

  “From what?” the woman asked, her bright blue eyes wrinkled at the corners.

  Lillian frowned. “I don’t know. From the monsters. They look like monsters anyway.”

  “Oh, you mean the dinosaurs,” the woman said. “Don’t worry. They’re gone now. You can come out.”

  “I don’t want to,” Lillian said with a hiccup. “What if they come back? What if there’s more of them?”

  “That’s a good point, little one. You’re smart,” the woman said with a faint smile.

  “Teacher always said I was smart for my age,” Lillian said with a hint of smugness.

  The woman sighed. “I’m guessing you’re teacher is gone?”

  Lillian nodded. “There was this weird shimmery stuff in the air between us. She told me not to touch it.”

  “It’s a good thing you didn’t. Are you all alone? No classmates?” the women asked.

  “No. They were all on Teacher’s side of the room,” Lillian said.

  “What about your parents? Where are they now?” she asked.

  “My dad works at the bank. The big one with the blue signs,” Lillian replied.

  “And your mom?” the woman prodded.

  Lillian scrunched up her nose as she tried to remember. “She went shopping today. I know because she asked if I wanted anything.”

  “Do you know where she went shopping?”

  Lillian shrugged. “I don’t know, but I heard her telling my dad to meet her for a quick lunch.”

  “I see,” the woman said, reaching into her pocket for a tissue. “Now, why don’t you wipe away your tears and get out from under that desk?”

  “But the monsters,” Lillian protested even as she cleaned her face.

  “They’re gone, sweetie, and I’m sure you don’t want to be here when they come back. Besides, I’ll look after you. I promise.”

  “O…okay,” Lillian said, crawling out of her hidey-hole. The thought of the monsters coming back was enough to get her moving. She didn’t think the desk would be much protection against them anyway. She sniffed back the last of her tears before brushing the dust from her clothes and smoothing her hair. It was important to look neat when meeting new people. Or so, her mommy always said.

  “What’s your name?” the woman asked.

  “Lillian. Lillian Reid.”

  “That’s a pretty name. I’m Corinne Marshall, but you can just call me Corinne.”

  Before Lillian could reply, a man walked over. He carried a gun on a sling across his chest. He also had a blood-stained bandage around his upper arm, and his shirt was torn.

  “Did the monsters get you?” she asked.

  The man shot her a grim smile. “They tried, kiddo. They tried.”

  “Are you a soldier?”

  “No, but I used to be a policeman before I retired.”

  Lillian instantly relaxed. She knew she could trust the police. He’d keep her safe. She was sure of it. “I’m Lillian.”

  The ex-policeman smiled. “Nice to meet you, Lillian. Mike Lewis, at your service.”

  At that moment, Corinne stepped up and took him by the arm. “We need to talk.”

  “Alright, but we need to move on. It’s not safe here,” Mike said.

  She led him a few feet away. Even so, Lillian could overhear their whispered conversation. “We’ll have to take her with us, Mike. She’s all alone.”

  “Of course. I’m not leaving a little kid to fend for herself,” Mike said. “What about her parents?”

  Corinne shook her head. “It sounds like they were on the other side of the Shift.”

  Lillian frowned as she tried to decipher the meaning of Corinne’s words. Other side? The Shift?

  “That’s too bad, but we’ll look after her for now,” Mike said.

  “Where are we going next?” Corinne asked. “This place is overrun with dinos.”

  “Kat heard something about an emergency center being set up at a hotel. It’s new, in the process of being built, and the police have set up shop there,” Mike said. “I thought we should take a look.”

  “Alright. I’m game,” Corinne said. “Just give me a minute.”

  “Sure, but hurry up. We’re leaving in five minutes,” Mike said before walking away.

  Corinne strode back to Lillian and stuck out her hand. “Are you ready to go, sweetie?”

  “What’s the Shift?” Lillian asked, ignoring the proffered hand.

  “It’s that shimmery thing you saw earlier. The thing that took you away from your class,” Corinne explained.

  “And my parents are on the other side with Teacher and my classmates?” Lillian said.

  Corinne’s eyebrows raised. “You heard that, huh?”

  Lillian nodded. “You were kind of loud.”

  “I’m sorry, but yes. I think your parents got stuck on the other side.”

  “Will I get to see them again?”

  “I don’t know, sweetie. Maybe, if someone can fix this mess,” Corinne said, waving a hand around her head.

  Lillian sniffed, tears burning her eyelids. “I want to go home.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetie. I really am, but you can’t go home now. We need to get somewhere safe.”

  “What if they’re not on the other side? What if my mommy and daddy are here?” Lillian said, refusing to give up hope.

  “Then I promise we’ll find them. We’ll look for them once we’re safe. Deal?” Corinne said.

  “You promise?”

  “Yes, but first, you need to come with us.” Corinne stuck out her hand again, and this time, Lillian took it.

  Chapter 16

  Rogue came to with a start. She lifted her head and sucked in a deep breath. A hacking cough ensued as the last of the river water exited her lungs in a rush. Heaving for oxygen, she struggled to her knees and looked around.

  She was still hidden inside the thick stand of reeds, and the tall plants swayed above her head in the warm breeze. Her body was caked in mud, and her clothes clung to her skin. She felt for the machete at her hip, but the sheath was empty. Memories of her struggles with the Clidastes rushed back, and she sagged to the ground. “I’ve lost everything.”

  Her voice sounded thin and quavery, a note of terror underpinning the words. For the first time, she felt truly alone. Alone and vulnerable. Not even going over the wall had been this scary. At that time, she’d still had hope. Hope and a strong, healthy body. Now, she had neither. If only Moran were here. She’d know what to do.

  A loud snort caused her to jump upright, only to collapse again when pain shot up her left leg. Clenching her teeth to remain silent, she surveyed her surroundings. The source of the noise was revealed when a tall creature rose to its full height. It towered above the reeds, and water dripped from its duckbilled mouth.

  Rogue nearly fainted with relief. It was
a herbivore, and not a threat as long as she stayed away from it. Beyond the Brachylophosaurus, more of its kind lined the river bank. She could count on them to warn her of danger, which enabled her to tend to her injury.

  With trembling fingers, she peeled away the torn fabric of her pants. Bile rushed up her throat at the grizzly sight. The Clidastes’ serrated teeth had torn through her calf muscle, and the flesh gaped open. The blood had clotted in the wound, but a trickle still escaped to mingle with the mud. She needed stitches. Stitches, disinfectant, and bandages. None of which she possessed.

  Despair dragged at her shoulders, and Rogue wondered how long it would take before an infection killed her. It wouldn’t come to that, though. A predator would sniff her out long before that happened.

  Remnants of her dream returned to haunt her. She hated thinking of those early days. They’d been filled with fear and uncertainty, grief and loss. Yet, she’d been dreaming about that time more and more of late. It was as if her subconscious mind insisted on bringing the horrid memories to light. Memories she’d buried long ago, along with her feelings.

  A tear trickled down her cheek, and Rogue dashed it away with the back of her hand. Crying was for babies. Lillian Reid had cried a lot, and it never changed a thing. I’m not her anymore, and I can’t just sit here waiting to die.

  With a grunt, Rogue got back to her feet. Ignoring the pain, she hobbled toward the river’s edge and sat down. She stuck her injured leg into the icy water, hissing as the liquid washed across the gaping wound. The cold numbed the agony, and she tore a strip of cloth from the bottom of her shirt.

  After giving it a thorough rinse, she used the fabric as a make-shift bandage. She looped the broad end across the loose flap of skin and flesh and pulled it tight. A double knot ensured it would stay in place, and she was able to stand upright again.

  After taking a moment to steady herself, she hobbled through the reeds and into the open. A long grassy strip ran downriver, currently occupied by the herd of Brachylophosaurus. One raised its head to look at her, chewing on a mouthful of weeds. Water streamed down its chest, and its crested head gleamed in the sun. After a moment, it dropped its head again, dunking it into the river in search of more food.

  The way downstream was clear, and Rogue decided to take that route instead of striking into the woods. At least she’d be able to spot anything coming at her. Stepping with care, she struck out. The herd of Brachylophosaurus ignored her for the most part. She was no threat to them, after all.

  An hour passed as she walked. The hot sun quickly dried her mud-covered clothes until she crackled with every step. The breeze warmed her skin until sweat broke out on her forehead. With every sense on high alert, she kept moving—one step after the other.

  Exhaustion soon set in, and Rogue struggled to stay upright. Her wounded leg throbbed with every beat of her heart, and her empty stomach wouldn’t stop cramping. When she spotted an outcropping of rock, she decided it was time to take a break.

  A groan escaped her lips as she sat down on the warm rock. Water swirled around the edge of her seat, and she scooped up handfuls to quench her thirst. Every part of her body ached, and she longed to lean back and close her eyes. It wouldn’t do, however. Not with the menacing forest only a dozen feet away. Its gloomy interior loomed against the blue sky, and she imagined predatory eyes watching her every move.

  With a shiver, Rogue got back to her feet and pressed on. She needed to find a safe place to spend the night. She’d barely walked a mile, however, when her eyes fell upon a strange sight. A creature lay curled up on the river bank. Its smooth skin gleamed pale in the sunlight, almost like the underbelly of a fish. The Clidastes!

  It looked dead, but she watched it for a full minute to make sure. It didn’t move once. Not even a twitch. Finally, she decided it had to be a corpse and approached with cautious steps.

  Up close, the marine lizard was even scarier than before. Its wicked-looking teeth sent a shiver down her spine, and her calf throbbed in response. None of that mattered, though. Not when she spotted the machete sticking out of its jaws.

  With a whoop of joy, Rogue yanked the weapon from the Clidastes’ jaws. Although it wouldn’t help much against big predators, just having the blade made her feel more secure. She rinsed the blood from the metal and tucked it back into its sheath. But it seemed like Lady Luck had one final surprise for her. Not far from the Clidastes’ corpse lay her backpack. It, too, had washed up on the low sandy shore, deposited by the swift current.

  At a lopsided run, she crossed the distance and scooped up the canvas bag. Laughter bubbled from her lips, and she hugged the precious cargo to her chest. At last, things were looking up. For the first time that day, she had hope. Real hope. Now, all she had to do was find a place to hide.

  Chapter 17

  With the heavy backpack slung over her shoulders, Rogue’s pace slowed to a snail’s crawl. She couldn’t go any faster, no matter how hard she tried. Her muscles ached with every step, and the breath rasped in and out of her lungs. Her injured limb grew worse with every mile. The torn flesh burned like fire, and stabbing pains shot through the affected area. Still, she kept moving, determined to find a place to sleep before nightfall.

  She stuck close to the river’s edge, avoiding the forest with its murky depths and unknown dangers. From time to time, something would flit through the branches, and she’d freeze in her tracks trying to figure out what it was. Weird calls and twitters emitted from within the gloomy interior, each sending a shiver down her spine.

  But as scary as it was, the world outside the walls of Prime City was beautiful too. The rich green of the trees was accentuated by colorful blooms and creepers. Moss grew on the trunks, and vines trailed from the branches to the carpeted forest floor. Grassy banks loped down to the river’s edge with stands of reeds waving like flags in the wind. Dragonflies as big as her hand hovered above the blue-grey water while giant fish flashed silver in the sun.

  A flock of flyers swept overhead with honking cries, and once, she spotted a herd of long necks on the other side of the river. Their heads dipped in and out of the water with ponderous grace, and two juveniles gamboled in a stretch of shallow water.

  Throughout the long afternoon, Rogue kept moving. Overhead, the sky grew dark and thick banks of clouds rolled in from the horizon. The breeze picked up until it whipped around her form and whistled through the trees. The temperature dropped, and the heat of the day evaporated until she longed for a jacket. A storm was coming, and she despaired of ever finding shelter.

  When the sun began to drop, she knew her time was up. Terror coursed through her veins, urging her across a pebble-strewn beach. The river churned past on the left, while a rocky cliff loomed on the right. The forest receded until it was just her, the water, rocks, and sand.

  Then her eyes fell upon a dark hole underneath an overhang. A shelf of rock stuck out, creating a small cave. A tree grew on the edge above, and its knotted roots half-covered the opening. The ground sloped down ten feet to the water’s edge, and debris from previous floods littered the ground. The bleached limbs of trees and clumps of dried weeds provided the means to make a fire, and she knew she’d found her home for the night.

  With a grunt, Rogue dropped her backpack and pulled out her machete. She hobbled toward the small cave and called out a tentative, “Hello.”

  When nothing stirred, she brushed aside the tree roots with her left hand. Light flooded the interior, revealing a hollowed-out opening in the rock. It was bigger than she’d expected, dry and sheltered with a floor covered in soft sand. It’s perfect.

  Rogue dragged her backpack closer and began her preparations for the long night. She needed food, water, and medical attention. Most of all, she needed protection. The kind only a fire could give her.

  After gathering armfuls of dried wood, moss, and weeds, she stacked it inside the cave opening. Then, she checked the contents of the bag. The waterproof material had stood up well. Aside from the side po
cket with the faulty zipper, the interior was dry.

  She removed the matches and started a small fire inside the cave. The canvas sheet and bedroll went against the far wall along with the ratty blanket. At least, I’ll sleep warm tonight.

  With her bed sorted out, Rogue focused on supper: Apples and bottled water. She stacked them to the side along with the cutlery set and first aid kit. Once the fire was banked, she braved the elements to gather more branches. These she tied together with the leftover cord, weaving thinner sticks and twigs into the gaps until it formed a sturdy barrier. While it wouldn’t protect her against predators, it would keep the heat inside and the rain out.

  The light was fading fast, and she needed to hurry. With haste, Rogue stripped off her clothes and washed them in the river. She dunked herself as well, and though cold, it felt good to be clean once more. Even her hair got a thorough rinsing. After filling the canteen with water, she rushed back to the cave and pulled on a clean shirt. The thick material felt warm next to her skin, and she draped her wet clothes across a flat rock next to the fire.

  Rogue dragged the crude wooden door she’d created into place, leaving only a small opening for the smoke to escape. It shut out the gathering storm and gave her a sense of security. Nonetheless, she kept the fire stoked and the machete close at hand. It wouldn’t do to let her guard down. Anything could happen.

  Shivering, she settled down on her bed and tucked the blanket around her legs. It didn’t take long for the small space to warm up, and the numbness receded from her limbs. She poured water from the canteen into the tinpot and set it by the fire to boil. The three bottles of water she had left were reserved for an emergency.

  While she waited, Rogue wolfed down three apples in quick succession. The sweet flesh tasted better than anything she’d ever eaten, and her stomach ceased complaining. She followed it up with a cup of hot water from the pot, sipping the warm liquid. Afterward, she rubbed her full stomach with a satisfied grin. “Oh, that feels so good.”