Six-foot Turkeys⤵
The car slowly pulled to a stop at the end of the dirt pathway. One that had been hidden with large bushes and tree branches, barely seeable to the naked eye. Masrani drive the car around to a circular paddock.
It was separated from the rest of the park. The main road being a few minutes away. Nobody has said anything on the way here, giving silence to the darkening sky above.
''Here we are,'' Masrani spoke. He pulled the car to a stop, aching it across dirt and small pebbles below. The car gave a short squeak with the sudden pause. Masrani leaned back in his seat, previously gripped fingers had fallen from the steering wheel, landing against his lap. ''The Raptor Paddock.''
The three of us got out of the car, slamming the doors afterwards. The Paddock wasn't too big. Easy to maneuver and remember where everything is. A few plants from the inside could be seen from the outside. A few tall trees and their leaves just barely peeking over.
A few other vehicles waited along the side of the Paddock. Most likely belonging to the people who work here. At that, not a lot of people seemed to have taken up a job with the deadly reptiles. Most were cars, the same jeep that we had arrived in. One was odd, though. Lined up with the cars as a motorcycle.
The odd one out was parked at the end. A satisfying green finish, blending well with the atmosphere of the jungle biome. It seemed well-kept, seeing as rust wasn't anywhere in sight and I could see my reflection against the paint from a distance. Impressive.
Coming down from the top of the Paddock, an unrecognizable man had trudged down the stairs. ''Masrani.'' He greeted simply, brows pulling inwards with confusion.
Claire stomped up to the two of us. Her heels dug into the ground, to which she violently pulled them back out again. The white now stained with brown. I smiled down at the sight, a grin pulling at the corners of my mouth. My boots were stained. The same boots I've been wearing since the first park.
Surprised they are in good condition still.
Masrani gave a grin, holding out his hand to the lad. ''Mr. Sembène.'' They shook hands and dropped them again. Masrani turned towards me. ''Miss Stone, this is Barry Sembène, one of our Raptor Trainers at Jurassic World.''
I gave a curt nod, holding out my hand for the dark toned man. ''[Y/n] Stone.'' I shared.
He smiled and pulled away, no need to reciprocate the information. Masrani had handled that previously. Barry placed his hands on his hips, waiting for Masrani to give a reason for being so far from the office. Along with Claire, who seemed completely out of place.
''Miss Stone is here as a newly added asset to the Park.'' Masrani explained thinly. Giving little to no insight on specifics. Barry gave a slow nod, still trying to understand it for himself. Though, most of his attention was pulled to Claire, who swung her hand around at passing bugs. ''Upon her request, we've come to see the Raptors.''
Claire fixed her hair away from her face, dragging a careful finger against her red curls before pushing them back. I fixed the hat on my head to a more comfortable position. It still felt a bit odd... wearing Alan's hat.
Barry was about to speak. His heavy French accent being halted by a newcomer from behind. Dressed correctly for the weather, thankfully. The outfit contained the colors of a medium grey and brown. A leather belt tightened against his waist. He swaggered up to our small group, wiping something off his hands with a rag.
''Hey,'' He greeted towards Barry first with a friendly nod. Barry returned the gesture. Halting his movements with the rag, the former turned towards Masrani. Shocked by his appearance. ''Mister Marani. Surprise surprise.''
Masrani smiled, arms leaving his sides to form a dramatic gesture. ''Owen Grady,'' He spoke the man's name with pride. Like a father showing his son to the world. ''It's good to see you working again.''
Owen — as Masrani previously stated — gave an airy chuckle and looked down at the rag. ''It feels good to be working again.'' He nodded, carefully working the rag between his fingers. Removing whatever gunk and junk had been collected.
From beside me, Claire stiffened. Her shoulders and chin raised higher. Her clipboard remained held at her stomach, hands clutching the bottom of it in a professional way. Her heels kept her a few inches off my height, which I found a little aggravating. Her red curls bobbed with the short movements of her head, which were cutting glances between Masrani and Owen.
The man stopped fidgeting with the rag, dropping his hands at his sides. His thumbs looped around his secure belt, only letting it hang an inch or so from its original position. ''What are you doing here, anyway? Didn't know it was check-in time.''
Masrani bounced off the heels of his feet. ''No, no.'' He denied. ''Our new recruit had asked to come and see the Raptors before being escorted to their living area.''
Owen turned his gaze to me. Smaller than both Masrani and Claire — while she has heels on. His hands hasn't removed themselves from his belt. He only continued to eye me up and down, seemingly nodding at my choice of clothing. It wasn't too extravagant, like Claire of Masrani. And was rather suited for a Dino chase at any given moment.
''New recruit?'' Owen repeated, a grin teasing against his features. Taking a step forward, he outstretched his arm, offering me his hand and his name. ''Owen Grady.'' I had already known, it I appreciated the gesture.
''[Y/n] Stone.'' I replied. Owen stepped back, retracting his hand. A grin begged to make it's way across his face before he turned to Claire. He gave a curt nod.
''Claire.''
She pulled her lips into a thin line, brows quirking up. ''Grady.'' Ouch.
Owen was unfazed by the last name, turning back to Masrani. ''Visiting the Raptors? We're about to close it down for the night.'' He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. One hand on his hip. Barry glanced back, watching as a few men tried handling the gate. ''You see, the Raptors, they really—''
''Mr. Grady,'' Masrani interrupted Owen and his slightly humorous tone. He tilted his head, giving a short smile. One that reminded the lowered class man that Masrani ran the place. ''Just for a few moments. It won't take long, I promise.''
The receiver sighed. Barry walked off, almost angrily to the small group of men by the gate. They looked nervous. Couldn't wonder why.
Dropping his head for a moment, Owen stared down at his shoes.
Claire spoke. ''Unless, of course,'' Everyone looked back up to her. Clipboard held smug in her hands as she specifically set her gaze on Owen. Like she held blackmail against the man. ''You don't know how to take care of them.''
Owen turned stoic towards Claire. In his head, I could see gears turning for smart comebacks. Or rather a way to torture her under the radar. Either seemed eligible. If he was crazy enough, murder was on the list. And the tense air before Claire had spoken had only made it worse.
Claire only continued. ''Maybe you've lost your... 'magic touch'.''
The man contemplated his decisions. On one hand, something would happen. Most likely something bad. On the other hand, another thing would happen. Most likely something utterly terrible. Both seemed like great options, but both came at a terrible price. Anything will with Raptors in the equation.
It only scared me more to know that they have Raptor Trainers. How many do they go through? Hasn't anyone been eaten yet? Dinosaur outbreak? Do I need to bring up John Hammond's magnificent idea?
Then again, Masrani seemed right in the head. Only slightly more than Hammond.
''Fine.'' Owen gave in. ''Not long. They had a strict schedule.''
Masrani nodded, following beside Owen as he led us towards the Raptor Paddock. ''I'm sure they do. And I respect that.''
Owen only hummed in response. Too tired to give a shit.
We had seen Barry again, this time helping another man with something. I couldn't quite get a look at it from the distance we stood at. Connected to the actual holding part of the Paddock was a small caged area, holding four small separate cells. My guess was that they held something in there. Or rather planned to.
Claire started clicking her nails against the board at a musical pace. Slow yet repeating. Owen led us to the caged area just outside the Paddock, getting close to the large metal bars that acted as a barrier between the outside and the inside. Masrani seemed highly impressed. I just couldn't decipher whether it was with his own design or the way the Raptors were being handled.
''Barry,'' Owen called from our side of the barrier. ''They secure?''
''Yeah.'' Barry nodded with a short glance over his shoulder. ''No trouble.''
''Good. They've learned.''
Owen turned to Masrani and spoke a few incoherent words. Business related, of course. Claire stood by, throwing in a few comments here and there. I continued to watch the Raptors. Barry walked back and forth, repeatedly checking whatever secured them in place. Kept them from snapping about.
I slipped through the door into the caged area. Now with four Raptors and Barry, who I trusted enough to be stuck in the room with. Usually I would've walked the opposite way, but Barry seemed to know what he was doing. My fingers left the secure bars of the barrier that kept me from the group I had been with previously.
They now argued over something I hadn't had the decency to listen to. Claire and Owen more at it than Masrani. He just seemed to have stepped aside and watch, finding it unnecessary to barge in. Rude, even.
Barry looked over, hands still around one of the Raptors heads. Securing their confines. ''You seen Raptors before?''
I scoffed. ''Of course I have. First hand.'' I recalled back with John Hammond and his Raptor exhibit. Such a small space for a creatures such as these. Large appetites and too smart for their own good. ''Raptors are more of a bad luck charm, if anything.''
His heavy accented laugh waved through the air, reaching my ears. I looked over and smiled for a second before looking back to the Raptors. If I've listened anything from the islands, it's to never have your back to a Raptor.
''Don't worry,'' Barry assured, letting his hands off the Raptor he was occupied with. ''They won't do anything besides snarl. Maybe send you a few intimidating looks. In there, they can't move.''
I cracked another smile, given with an airy chuckle. ''You never know.'' I shrugged. ''Raptors are smart. One day, they'll break out of those bonds you have them in. One day, they'll go after everyone here.''
He looked to me as if I was crazy. Like I'd just been accused as a witch back during the Salem Witch Trials for performing magic on a sheep. Surely he hadn't thought about the Raptors ever escaping. If they did, we'd all be dead.
Barry laughed and patted my shoulder. A comforting pat. Before moving on. He left out the door, making his way down the trail and back to the vehicles. Most likely to head back to where he was staying. It was getting late and I doubt anyone wanted to stay overnight with Raptors.
I looked back to them. Four of them. All staring me down. Like they're learning which ways to rip and tear at my flesh, break my bones and viciously dig their sharp jaws into me for the best parts. The sweet and savory. How to cut me down within' mere seconds.
Maybe that's what they all thought.
''Man, the things you must've seen.'' I flinched at the sudden tone. Owen stood next to me with his arms crossed over his chest. Head turned towards the Raptors. ''Surprised you're even here.''
I shrugged. ''Well...''
''They dragged you here, too?''
I nodded. ''Pretty much. Masrani broke into my home.''
''Well, that's a whole new level. Breaking and entering?''
''Technically, nothing was broken. So it's just entering.''
''Still.''
Beads of sweat started to dissipate from Owen's forehead, giving the impression that he was cooling down from the scorching sun all day. With the falling of the sun, the day grew colder. Giving peace to Owen for a short amount of time before it became freezing.
The Raptors hissed from their cells.
''From what I learned about you, you've seen Raptors up close and personal, haven't you?''
What had he heard about me and how? Did Masrani tell him? Claire? Or did he happen to find out for himself? Surely not everyone knows. I hope not. People will be asking constant questions.
''Yeah, it's not the greatest experience.'' I admitted, wincing when I remembered the chase from the Raptors. On all the islands. It never stopped. ''Dreadful to think I'll be going through that again.''
Owen gave a laugh. ''Not with these Raptors.''
''What makes them any different from the others?''
''They're mine.''
For a second, he sounded like a father. A father watching over his kids with a protective aura. His children are better than the rest because they are his, to him, they are special. To others, they seem the exact same. Apparently I needed to get to his level.
Owen turned back to the Raptors, lifting his index finger and naming off each of the Raptors. One by one. ''Delta. Echo. Charlie, and Blue.''
I nodded. Noble names. Each Raptor has their own unique design of reptilian skin. Whether it was dots, stripes or fades. There were browns, greens and tans. The last one to be called has intrigued me to the most. A Raptor with a stripe down its frame, a blue one. Hence for the name.
It was odd for a dinosaur to have such an odd colored pattern like that. Although, it was rather beautiful. Natural. It differentiated her from the rest of the pack.
''Blue is the Beta.'' Owen continued, bringing his arm back against his chest.
There were only four Raptors. And Blue was the Beta. ''What about the Alpha? Where is he?' I had assumed he had been brought somewhere else, or would've been joining them at a later date.
Owen had turned to me with a toothy grin. Instead of answering, his arms outstretched at his sides. Muscles aching with the tired and lazy movement.
''You're the Alpha?''
''Yes, ma'am.''
I nodded, pulling my lips down slightly. ''I take it your Raptors are well trained, then?''
''You bet your ass.''