𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟲: 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵

-PROOFREAD-

Consciousness slowly crept back into the group, their senses returning one by one. Darius, his voice laced with concern, was the first to speak up. "Is everyone okay?"

Yasmina, her frustration palpable, echoed sarcastically, "Is everyone okay? Is everyone...?" She bolted from the van, her footsteps crunching on the debris-strewn ground.

"Yaz, wait!" Sammy called out desperately, scrambling after her friend.

Ben, in his haste to exit, tripped over Bumpy as the small dinosaur darted in front of him. Vera extended a hand, helping him up. "You alright, Ben?" she inquired softly as he dusted himself off.

"As alright as I can be on a dinosaur-filled island," Ben replied wryly. Their attention was quickly drawn to the escalating argument within the group.

Brooklynn's accusation cut through the air like a knife. "Destroyed our only way to get help and lied about it!" she shouted, her face flushed with anger. "I told you guys!"

Darius, his brow furrowed in confusion, turned to Sammy. "So, you did take Brooklynn's phone?" he asked, his voice a mix of disappointment and curiosity. "Why? What were you doing?"

Brooklynn, her eyes narrowing, interjected vehemently, "Probably trying to erase my video of her taking those samples from the Sinoceratops." She gasped as realization dawned. "And you knew about the Indominus rex, because you were snooping around Dr. Wu's office when I ran into you. I knew it!"

Sammy, her voice trembling, attempted to explain. "I didn't mean to destroy the phone. I fell on it when the zipline came down and—"

"But you did steal it?" Ben interrupted, his tone confirming rather than questioning.

Vera, looking up from the small dinosaur, chimed in, "Sammy, you had it that whole time and you didn't tell us?"

"Hold up," Darius interjected, his voice cutting through the chaos. "What were you doing in Dr. Wu's lab, Brooklynn?"

Brooklynn bristled at the question. "I... It doesn't matter!" she protested vehemently. "I didn't break our only way to call for help then lie about it! This is not my fault! This is her fault!"

"I'm here to spy!" Sammy's confession exploded from her lips, silencing the group. "For a company called Mantah Corp."

Darius, his eyes widening in recognition, explained, "Mantah Corp? They're a bioengineering company, big rivals with Masrani. They tried to make dinosaurs too, but Wu beat them to it."

Ben, his voice rising with indignation, shouted, "You doomed us all for some lousy company?"

Sammy, her shoulders slumping, began her explanation. "Our ranch was in trouble, so my folks had to borrow a lot of money from some shady people. We didn't know they were fronting for Mantah Corp. They said we'd lose everything unless I spied for them." Her gaze shifted to Yasmina, earning a stern glare. "Use the behind-the-scenes access I'd get at camp to gather info from Wu's lab, and DNA from dinos, and whatever else they needed. But then Brooklynn caught on, and I got scared, and then everything went wrong." She rushed over to the athlete, her voice pleading. "This is the last thing I wanted to happen."

Yasmina's sarcasm dripped from every word. "Oh. To be next to a broken van on Killer Dinosaur Island? Hey, me, too! What are the odds?"

"Yaz, I—" Sammy tried to explain, but Yasmina cut her off sharply.

"Was it all a lie, wanting to be friends?" Yasmina demanded, her voice cracking with emotion. "Pretending you cared about... You just needed someone to hide what you were doing. Tell me I'm wrong." Sammy's silence was deafening as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I'm such an idiot," Yasmina scoffed, turning away.

"You are wrong!" Sammy cried out, chasing after her. "I just didn't know how to say it, how to explain to you. Just because I spied doesn't change who I am." She reached out, placing a hand on Yasmina's shoulder, only to have it violently shoved off.

"Don't touch me!" Yasmina snapped. "Go away, Sammy." Sammy gasped, her heart visibly breaking as she ran off. Vera stood torn, conflicted about whether to follow or stay with the group. Reluctantly, she remained with the others.

The small dinosaurs circled the dejected Yasmina, their playful chirps a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere. "Not now, Bumpy," Yasmina muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ben, attempting to lighten the mood, began hesitantly, "Look, I know the situation we're in is suboptimal—"

"It's trash. Just say it's trash, Ben," Brooklynn interjected bluntly.

"Yes, but despite the obvious trashitude...we... we need to—" Ben's words were cut short as Bumpy leapt up, bellowing urgently. "Bumpy, what are you..." His question died on his lips as thunderous footsteps approached, heralding the arrival of the Indominus rex. "This is trash! This is trash!" he screamed as the group dove behind the car. Surprisingly, the dinosaur thundered past without stopping.

"What the heck?" Darius exclaimed, his voice a mixture of confusion and relief.

A deafening whirr filled the air as a helicopter swooped low, hot on the Indominus's tail. The staccato sound of gunfire erupted from the aircraft, bullets peppering the ground around the fleeing dinosaur.

"Masrani's helicopter!" Kenji shouted, his eyes locked on the tail of the aircraft. "That's his call sign on the tail!"

"They're shooting at the Indominus!" Darius yelled over the din.

The group emerged from their hiding spot, sprinting after the helicopter. They watched in awe as it soared over the massive dome of the aviary.

"What is that?" Vera inquired, her voice barely audible over the commotion.

Kenji's excitement was palpable as he cheered, "Yeah! Kick its butt, Masrani! Whoohoo! We're saved! Yeah, baby!" His jubilation was short-lived as he noticed the concerned looks on his companions' faces. "Ah! I told you, they've got it totally under—"

His words trailed off as they all watched in horror as a swarm of pteranodons descended upon the helicopter. The sleek aircraft, once a symbol of their potential rescue, now became a fireball in the sky. The impact with the aviary was catastrophic - metal screeched against metal, glass shattered, and flames erupted in a brilliant, terrifying display. The explosion sent shockwaves through the air, the heat reaching even their distant vantage point. As the flaming wreckage plummeted to the ground, it left a gaping hole in the aviary's dome, through which a flood of pteranodons poured out into the open sky.

"With those pteranodons loose, we're sitting ducks!" Darius announced, his voice urgent. "We gotta take cover!"

Kenji snatched the tablet from Brooklynn's grasp. "The Kayak River!" he exclaimed, studying the screen intently. "The entrance is near here. It goes underground, beneath the ridge. If we follow it, it'll take us right to the main park."

"Then that's where we need to be. Come on!" Darius insisted, already moving.

Bumpy and Rocky began to roar, their stubby legs planted firmly in protest. Ben and Vera rushed to the dinosaurs, attempting to push them forward.

"Come on, Rocky! Let's go!" Vera urged, her voice strained with effort. Ben and Darius hoisted Bumpy while Vera struggled with Rocky. They plunged through the thick brush, branches whipping at their faces as they ran.

"There it is!" Brooklynn's shout of relief pierced the air as the entrance came into view. They rushed inside, their footsteps echoing in the enclosed space.

Vera's voice, tinged with worry, cut through the panting breaths. "Where's Ben and Darius?"

As if in answer to her question, the two boys rounded the corner, Bumpy in tow and a screeching pteranodon in hot pursuit. The group's hands shot out, grabbing the boys and yanking them to safety. With a resounding clang, they slammed the metal door shut, the pteranodon's angry shrieks fading as they caught their breath in the relative safety of the building.

A robotic voice crackled over the intercom, its cheerful tone at odds with the group's dire situation. "Jurassic World River Adventures."

"What?" Ben mumbled, his confusion evident in his furrowed brow.

The disembodied voice continued, unaware of their predicament. "Prepare yourselves for the wonder of the underground river. Two adventurers per kayak. Life vests must be worn at all times. Adults, please fasten your own life vests before helping little adventurers. Remain seated at all times. Your journey begins now."

Kenji, ever the self-proclaimed leader, announced with a smirk, "Brooklynn and I call the CKK."

Brooklynn's eyebrows knitted together as she fastened her life vest. "CKK?"

"Cool Kid's kayak," Kenji replied, dramatically pulling out a pair of shades and sliding them on.

Darius began to suggest, "Ben and Bumpy can go in this one with V—" but Yasmina cut him off abruptly.

"I'll go with them," she declared, brushing past Vera with a cold shoulder. Vera and Ben exchanged shocked glances, the latter offering only a helpless shrug before being unceremoniously shoved along by Yasmina.

"Me and Rocky will ride solo," Vera announced, scooping up the small dinosaur and gently placing her into the kayak.

As they embarked on their journey down the river, an eerie quiet settled over the group, punctuated only by the monotonous drone of the PA system. In the stillness, Vera's mind began to wander, her thoughts drifting like leaves on the underground current.

Home. The word echoed in her mind, a concept that had always been fluid for Vera. Unlike her peers who associated home with a fixed address, Vera's definition was far more intimate and portable. Home, for her, was embodied in a person – her mother.

Vera's mind conjured vivid images: lazy Sunday afternoons curled up on their worn, comfortable couch, the scent of buttered popcorn filling the air as they binge-watched reality TV shows. She could almost taste her mother's cooking, a comforting blend of familiar flavors that spoke of love and care. But more than anything, Vera yearned for her mother's warmth – the feeling of safety and unconditional love that enveloped her whenever they were together.

A wave of gratitude washed over her as she remembered her mother was currently on a business trip in Cairo. The thought of her mom being anywhere near this dinosaur-infested nightmare was too horrifying to contemplate. Yet, this relief was quickly overshadowed by a gnawing fear – would she ever see her mother again? Would she ever feel that warmth, that sense of belonging?

Vera's eyes began to mist over, the reality of their situation weighing heavily on her heart. The gentle lapping of water against the kayak seemed to mock the turmoil in her soul. She blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay, not wanting to alarm her companions with her moment of vulnerability.

Her introspection was abruptly interrupted as she felt her kayak lurch. Kenji's boat had not only bumped into hers but also collided with Ben and Yasmina's.

"Watch it!" Yasmina scolded, her voice sharp with irritation.

Kenji, unfazed, replied smugly, "CKK has right of way. Sorry, I don't make the rules."

"Hey, the cave's getting bigger," Brooklynn observed, her voice tinged with curiosity. "And brighter?"

The cave opened up dramatically, revealing a breathtaking waterfall. The walls sparkled with bioluminescent specks, casting an otherworldly glow over the cavern. The group stared in awe, momentarily forgetting their perilous situation.

Kenji, ever the jokester, remarked, "Even with the glowy stuff, it's really dark in here." Brooklynn playfully snatched his shades, only for him to quickly reclaim them.

Brooklynn's tone turned bitter as she jabbed, "I could've used my phone as a flashlight if Sammy hadn't broken it. Of course, if we had my phone, we wouldn't be here at all."

Vera, now rowing alongside the pair, interjected, her voice calm but firm. "Brooklynn, we get it, but complaining isn't going to change our situation. Let it go. What's done is done."

Brooklynn retorted, her frustration palpable, "You're acting like this doesn't affect you, too. We're here because of her."

Vera's response was measured, trying to diffuse the tension. "Or, you know, maybe something else could've happened and we would still be stuck here. I understand you're mad at her but it still won't do anything. The best we can do is move forward. Besides, don't you think she maybe feels guilty?"

As Brooklynn's expression softened slightly, Sammy's voice cut through the moment. "You guys, should the algae be moving?"

The teens' attention snapped to the water, where two glowing Parasaurolophuses had emerged, their bioluminescent bodies creating an ethereal spectacle.

"Don't panic guys! They're herbivores," Darius assured them, his voice filled with wonder. "Unbelievable. Dr. Wu must have put the bioluminescent gene into the Parasaurolophuses."

The dinosaurs entered the water, swimming up to the boats with curiosity. More emerged, gently nudging the kayaks. Rocky bellowed, hopping around in the canoe as they were corralled. Suddenly, the creatures stopped, their heads turning in unison towards the next opening. Without warning, they began to retreat.

As the group entered the new passage, the bioluminescent glow faded, plunging them back into dim light. Kenji's voice called out, a hint of nervousness betraying his usual bravado, "Uh, cool kids to nerds, where are you?"

"Over here!" Darius shouted, waving his arms. "I think something scared the Parasaurolophuses."

Sammy's voice trembled as she asked, "Darius, if we stopped paddling, why are we still moving forward?"

A fork appeared in the cave, the left side seeming to pull them in with an invisible force.

"Paddle!" Darius shouted urgently. "There's a current pulling us into a different tunnel."

Despite their frantic efforts, the relentless current dragged them into the left passage. Their shouts of horror echoed off the cave walls as they plummeted down a hidden waterfall. Mercifully, the cave opened up into a vast body of water, their kayaks bobbing like corks in the sudden expanse.

Kenji let out a panicked gasp, prompting Ben to ask warily, "Why did you gasp? It didn't sound like a good gasp!"

"'Cause I know exactly where we are, guys," Kenji whispered, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "We're in the Jurassic World Lagoon. And so is the Mosasaurus."

Ben, his voice tight with fear, stated, "I assume the Mosasaurus is some kind of fish dinosaur that's gonna try and eat us."

"Bingo," Vera muttered, her eyes scanning the water's surface. They watched in horrified fascination as the Mosasaurus's massive tail broke the surface, betraying its circular path around them.

Brooklynn, her voice steady despite the fear evident in her eyes, explained, "It's circling, testing us. It's acting like a shark. We're intruders in its domain so it's investigating us. Before it gets confident, decides to...to...." Her words were cut off by a thunderous bellow from the creature.

"Okay guys, we should go now!" Vera shouted, her voice cracking with urgency.

Darius pointed towards their potential salvation. "There's a ladder by the spectator stands. Paddle! Go, go, go!"

The teens began paddling furiously, their arms burning with effort as the creature slowly gained on them. Vera reached the area first, scrambling out with Rocky in tow. Seconds later, Brooklynn and Kenji joined her on solid ground.

Vera's heart leapt to her throat as she saw Yasmina climbing out of her boat onto a metal pillar in the middle of the water. With reckless bravery, Yasmina began banging her paddle on the beam, drawing the Mosasaurus's attention away from Darius and Sammy. The massive predator turned, its approach agonizingly slow yet terrifyingly deliberate.

"The meat crane!" Vera shouted, her finger jabbing towards their last hope. Kenji sprang into action, hitting the controls to raise it for Yasmina. She clung to the crane, willing it to move faster as it swung her towards safety. The monster erupted from the water, its jaws clamping down on the cable. With a sickening snap, the cable broke, but not before Yasmina made it onto the platform. She landed hard, a pained cry escaping her lips as her ankle twisted beneath her.

The group rushed to her aid, concern etched on their faces.

"I'm okay," Yasmina insisted through gritted teeth, though her wince betrayed the extent of her pain.

Ben's voice cut through the moment of relief, tinged with a new worry. "Uh, also, where'd everyone go?" The group's eyes darted around the empty stadium, the eerie silence of abandonment settling over them.

Overwhelmed by the day's events, Vera retreated to a bench a short distance from the group. She slumped down, hugging her knees tightly to her chest as if trying to hold herself together. The facade of bravery she had maintained crumbled, and hot tears began to stream down her face.

The harsh reality of their situation crashed over her like a tidal wave. With each passing second, their chances of survival seemed to dwindle. The thought that she might never see her mother again hit her with crushing force. Vivid memories flashed through her mind: the sweet aroma of peanut butter cookies baking in the oven, the sound of laughter as they competed in Just Dance, the comforting ritual of wishing each other goodnight. Each memory was a dagger to her heart, a reminder of what she stood to lose.

As Vera sobbed quietly, Rocky approached, sensing her distress. The baby dinosaur nuzzled her cheek, its touch unexpectedly comforting. Vera looked down at the creature, its presence a strange constant in this chaotic nightmare. Without hesitation, she pulled Rocky into a tight hug, burying her face in the dinosaur's bumpy back. As her tears fell onto Rocky's scales, Vera found an odd solace in this unlikely companion, a small beacon of comfort in their terrifying ordeal.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘳𝘪 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴！
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Decided to post another chapter bc why not. I know this chapter isn't too long but I hope you guys enjoyed! I tried to give Vera a moment to be kinda humane. I did unfortunately commit line thievery (Sorry Kenji) but I needed something for her to say to give it a bit on length and especially because she's been kinda quiet throughout this whole ordeal (Which will play a role in future chapters trust🙏🏾). Also I really like the way the stadium scene with Vera turned out. The kids don't really ever really have moments like that and I wanted to give her one bc I know I'd cry in that situation too. Anyway as always vote, comment and come chat with me on my main and spam chatboards! My spam acc is @-CR3TACEOUS and I will be more active on that chatboard for now on. Thank you guys for the love and support, I love you all and thanks for reading!

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©-CRETACEOUS , 2024