The night trembled with the rex’s approach. Trees snapped like twigs as the colossal predator thundered toward the facility, its roar shattering the air. Below, the raptors shrieked, their calls turning frantic at the sound of the larger hunter.On the rooftop, the group huddled near the rusting antenna tower. Daniel’s eyes swept the horizon. “If we can power this transmitter, we can call that supply vessel. Otherwise, we’re stranded.”
Marcus spat over the edge. “Assuming the raptors don’t tear us apart first. Or His Majesty down there.”
The rex burst from the jungle, massive head swinging as it sniffed the air. Its eyes fixed on the compound. With terrifying force, it crashed through the courtyard fence, scattering debris like toys.
The raptors froze. For one heartbeat, predator stared at predator. Then, with a collective hiss, the pack turned on the new arrival.
They leapt, claws raking, jaws snapping. The rex roared, swatting one into the wall with bone-crunching force. Another was crushed underfoot. Yet the rest swarmed, slashing at its flanks, clinging to its hide like furious wasps.
The rooftop shook with every impact. Claire clutched her ruined camera, whispering, “The world will never believe this…”
Daniel shoved Victor toward the console. “Get this transmitter working. Now.”
Victor’s hands flew over the controls. Sparks spat, the ancient circuits groaning. “It needs more power! The generator is offline—someone has to manually engage the backup.”
“I’ll go,” Marcus said, gripping his pipe.
Daniel shook his head. “Too dangerous. I’ll handle it. Keep them alive until I’m back.”
Without waiting, he disappeared down the stairwell.
Below, the battle raged. The rex shook raptors loose, crushing them with every strike, but the pack harried it relentlessly, teeth tearing chunks of flesh. Blood darkened the courtyard, steaming in the night air.
Eliza forced herself to focus. “If Daniel doesn’t make it, none of us do. Victor, can you patch a signal at half power?”
Victor’s lips curled in defiance. “You doubt me? Watch.”
The antenna sparked to life, lights flickering weakly. A signal pulsed into the night sky, reaching desperately for salvation.
The rex bellowed in fury, hurling two raptors into the wall. But the effort slowed it. Another raptor darted in, slashing its eye. The king of dinosaurs roared, thrashing blindly.
Suddenly, gunfire erupted below. Daniel reappeared, smoke curling from his pistol, face streaked with grime. “Backup’s engaged! We’re live!”
On the console, the transmission screen blinked: SIGNAL SENT. VESSEL EN ROUTE.
Relief surged—brief, fragile.
The rex, half-blinded and bleeding, slammed its body against the facility wall. The rooftop shuddered violently. Cracks split the concrete.
“Time to go!” Marcus shouted.
They scrambled down the far ladder, sprinting across the compound toward the beach. Behind them, the facility groaned, buckling under the rex’s fury. Raptors scattered, fleeing the collapsing ruin.
At the shoreline, flares lit the water—searchlights sweeping. A vessel loomed through the mist, engines thundering.
Eliza turned for one last look. The facility crumbled in fire and steel. The rex roared, a final, defiant cry, before vanishing into the collapsing wreckage.
The group stumbled aboard the rescue boat, drenched and shaking. Claire collapsed, clutching her broken camera. Ortega wept silently. Marcus leaned against the railing, staring at the burning island.
Victor stood tall, eyes gleaming despite the ruin. “This is only the first chapter,” he whispered. “The world will know my vision.”
Eliza met his gaze, exhausted and furious. “If the world knows, it will be to stop you.”
The boat pulled away, the island shrinking into smoke and shadow. Behind them, the roars of ancient monsters faded into the night.
And though they escaped with their lives, each knew the world had changed forever—because paradise had teeth, and now those teeth had tasted blood.
Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model
1 comment:
Great story, Wizard!
Post a Comment