Reservoir Part 3
Jess kicked furiously in the water. She used her arms to move faster with each stroke. The ridge was only meters way. Her heart was beating furiously in her chest. She could hear the Mosasaurs movements in the water, coming up behind her. Jess forced herself to swim faster. The ridge was right in front of her.
Jess grabbed onto the walkway of the ridge and heaved herself out of the water. She gasped deeply, pulling her feet up. Jess rose to her feet, leaning against the south wall. Her heart was still beating frantically in her chest. Her hands trembled against the wall. She’d made it. She’d made it to the ridge before the Mosasaur could reach her. Looking up from the water, Jess could see Matt and the little boy in the boat.
“Jess stay where you are!” Matt ordered. He gestured back the driver. The boat started heading toward her.
“Jess!”
Jess’ head snapped up. Abby, Connor, and Becker were leaning over the reservoir edge. Connor and Becker held their EMD’s ready, watching the water. Abby held her hand down for Jess. Jess turned and reached up. She was at least a meter from Abby’s hand. She rose onto her tiptoes for Abby’s hand, but her height wasn’t enough to reach Abby.
“Come on Jess, you can do it.” Abby urged.
Jess lowered herself and shook her head. “I can’t reach.”
“Watched out!” Connor yelled.
Jess turned around quickly. She gasped in horror as the Mosasaur burst from the water right in front of her. Jess slammed her back against the wall as she felt both air and water splash over her. She could feel the Mosasaur’s teeth cutting through the air, centimeters from her body. But the Mosasaur missed Jess and slipped back beneath the water’s surface. Jess exhaled deeply.
“Jess!”
Jess looked up. Becker was leaning above her, reaching down. “Give me your hand.”
Jess turned around and reached up. But as before, she was short, only this time it was a few centimeters. Jess bit her lip and rose to her tiptoes again. Her fingers grazed Becker’s as she reached. But still she couldn’t reach. “I can’t reach.”
“Yes you can, Jess. Just reach.” Becker urged.
“It’s coming back!” Abby warned.
Jess turned quickly. The water along the edge of the walk way rippled, just as before. Jess quickly moved along the ridge. The water exploded against as the Mosasaur burst form the water. However, this time it used the walkway to slide toward Jess. Jess screamed and threw herself into the spillway entrance. She collided with the floor as the Mosasaur brushed over her. Pain erupted in her leg as she heard the water slosh around her.
Jess looked up from the ground to find that the Mosasaur had slipped back into the water. She winced painfully and looked at her leg. The material on her right leg was shredded and gaping open. Blood seeped from a large cut on her leg, soaking into her shorts. The cut was jagged, from the teeth of the Mosasaur. Jess placed her hand over her bleeding leg and forced herself to her feet. She groaned as she applied weight to her injured leg.
“Jess!” she heard Becker call.
“I’m in here!” she replied.
Suddenly the Mosasaur burst from the water, sliding into the spillway entrance. Jess screamed and threw herself out of its way. She slid down the spillway on the hater than continued to flow out. She could hear the Mosasaurs roar behind her.
In the dark tunnel, Jess saw a bright light. She looked ahead. Not five meters from her hovered the anomaly. Jess gasped in aw, but quickly pushed it aside when she heard the Mosasaur coming up behind her. Jess moved closer to the anomaly. She had a decision to make, face the Mosasaur, or face whatever was through the anomaly. Either choice could result in her death. However, the anomaly postponed her death, even if it was only for a moment. Take a deep breath, Jess threw herself into the anomaly as the Mosasaur reached her.
---------------------------------------
Becker felt the heart in his chest beat against his ribs as he watched the Mosasaur slide across the walkway toward Jess. He fired quickly, knocking the Mosasaur off its target and back into the water. He stared at the entrance, but there was no sign of Jess. His heart quickened. Had it taken her? Had he fired too late?
“Jess?” Becker called. He listened for a reply. Seconds ticked by, feeling like an eternity.
“I’m in here!” came her reply.
Becker felt his heart ease. Jess was alive. She was alive. But his relief was short lived when the Mosasaur burst from the reservoir. Its massive body slid from the water and through the entrance of the spillway. Becker fired again, but the creature kept moving deeper into the spillway.
Becker slung the strap of his EMD around his shoulder and grabbed the edge of the wall. He swung his legs over the edge and dropped onto the walkway below the wall. Matt came up alongside the entrance in the boat. He jumped off and raced into the spillway in front of Becker. Becker entered closely behind Matt, both following the creature and Jess.
Matt and Becker ran through the tunnel. The water splashed against their boots and legs, drenching their clothes. They could hear the Mosasaur in front of them. Their EMD lights flicked on, illuminating the tunnel. They aimed the light just as the Mosasaur vanished into the anomaly.
Becker froze, watching the anomaly. It hung like all the others he’d seen. But in the tunnel, Becker only saw the anomaly. There was no Mosasaur. And what was worse, there was no Jess either. She was gone.
Becker shook his head. “No.”
“Damnit.” Matt snapped. “Abby, Connor, get down her now! We lost Jess in the anomaly. Jess went into the anomaly.”
“We’re on our way.” Abby replied.
Becker turned to Matt. “She should have stayed behind. I told you, she should have stayed behind. You said you’d watch after her, Matt. Jess’ safety was your responsibility!”
“You’re right, she was my responsibility. And if we lose Jess I’ll have to live with that. But I’m going through to do everything I can to make sure we don’t lose her. I don’t care if you go with me or not, Becker, but I’m not going to let procedure rules prevent me from going through there and findin’ Jess.” Matt explained.
Becker froze. The rules said no one goes through an anomaly. “Security rules all trips through an anomaly-”
Matt didn’t give Becker a chance to finished his sentence. “So you’re going to let Jess die?”
Becker said nothing.
“Because if we seal that now, Jess will die.” Matt explained.
Becker shook his head. He hadn’t managed to step through in anomaly in over a year. He couldn’t go back through another anomaly. Not after losing Sarah. He couldn’t bring himself to go anywhere near an anomaly after losing her.
Connor and Abby jogged down the tunnel. “What’s the plan?”
“The three of us are goin’ after Jess.” Matt answered.
Abby looked to Becker. “You’re not going with us?”
Becker shook his head.
“Becker, this is Jess. You can’t just not go in after her. There’s no telling what’s on the other side of that anomaly.” Connor replied.
“Becker’s made his choice. We’ve got two hours to find her before he’ll seal up the anomaly.” Matt explained.
Becker, Abby, and Connor both stared at Matt in shock.
“Let’s go.” Matt ordered. He turned to the anomaly and walked through. Abby and Connor both gave Becker one last glance before running in after Matt.
Becker sighed raggedly. He couldn’t go back through. He couldn’t.
-----------------------------------------
Jess stumbled out of the anomaly. Her right leg gave out, causing her to stumble in the sandy beach. She dragged herself from the anomaly just as the Mosasaur came through behind her. Jess moved quickly out of the Mosasaurus’ reach. It roared, snapping its jaws at her, but she was too far from it. It grunted in defeat and dragged its body toward the water. Jess exhaled deeply. It was then she looked around at her surroundings.
Jess was lying on a vast beach from the Cretaceous period. White sand covered the beach for nearly ten meters where the forest line began. The sky was dotted with large white clouds. Large Pteranodons soared over the ocean, diving for fish off the shoreline.
Jess winced as her leg ached more intensely. She looked down as her leg kept bleeding. Jess pulled off her top and ripped it in half. She tied both halves together and tied it around her leg. Jess clenched her teeth tightly as her leg seared from the tourniquet. The bleeding slowed, but what had already fallen now dotted the beach. Jess swallowed nervously, if there were any predators around, they were easily smell her blood and follow her.
Jess rose to her feet, ignoring the pain in her leg. She needed to get back to the anomaly before it closed, or before something else found her. Jess took another quickly glance around the beach and froze.
Several meters behind the Anomaly was a large carcass of a Mosasaur. The smell made Jess sick to her stomach. Its flesh was rotting, exposed to the air. What concerned her more was not the dead creature itself, but what was devouring the creature. It was large. At least four meters tall and double in length. From the base of its elongated skull to the tip of its tail, ran a ragged sail. Two small arms tore at the carcass of the creature, covered in blood. It reminded Jess of a smaller version of a Spinosaurus. Shreds of the Mosasaur’s flesh hung from between the teeth of the creature. But what concerned Jess more was the fact that the creature was staring directly at her. The creature turned from its carcass and roared viciously.
Jess turned quickly from the anomaly and burst running across the beach. She leg screamed in agony, but she kept running. She could hear and feel the thundering footsteps of the chasing creature. Jess ran as fast as her legs could let her toward the forest. She could feel blood running down her leg from her aggravated laceration, causing further pain to surge through her leg. She broke through the forest line and kept running. Her leg gave out seconds later, causing Jess to stumble into the ground. She heard the creature continue in front of her, but it quickly realized she was no longer running.
Jess pushed herself upright on the ground. She looked up as the creature turned around, searching for her. It turned around, easily finding Jess on the ground. Jess struggled on the ground, trying to crawl from the creature. It opened its bloody jaws, ready to attack her.
Suddenly another creature appeared. It burst through the forest and slammed its massive body into the first creature. Jess recognized the second creature. It stood at least a meter taller than the first, but its stubby arms and massive skull was enough for her to recognize a juvenile Tyrannosaurus Rex. The first creature turned to the Rex and roared viciously. The Rex roared in return, snapping its massive jaws at the creature.
The Spinosaurus slammed its body into the Rex, pushing it back into the forest. The Ex slammed its foot onto the ground and planted itself firmly against the Spinosaurus’ strength. It ducked low, causing the Spinosaurus to tumble over the Rex. The Spinosaurus collapsed to the ground beside the Rex. The Rex stomped its foot on the Spinosaurus’ thigh, pinning it to the ground. It opened its mouth wide and bit down on its neck. The Spinosaurus roared in agony and tried to pry the Rex’s jaws from its neck. It its attempts went in vain. In one swift motion, the Rex ripped out the throat of the Spinosaurus, ending its agonizing roar.
Jess shook on the ground. In all her time at the ADD, all the things she’d seen while on the job, Jess had never seen anything so terrifying. Her eyes dropped to the ground. The blood from the Spinosaurus carcass was making its way toward her. Jess pulled her legs from the upcoming river of blood. She looked up at the Rex, which had already started feasting on the carcass.
Jess rose slowly from the ground. She kept her eyes on the Rex as she moved. She took small steps from the Rex and the carcass, watching her steps so not to attract the Rex’s attention. Jess limped from the feasting Rex, moving slowly back toward the beach. Her foot snapped a twig, causing a loud crunching noise. The Rex looked up from its carcass. Jess closed her eyes, waiting for the Rex to find her.
Suddenly something grabbed her from behind and pulled her behind a nearby tree. A strong hand covered her mouth for a moment, keeping her from screaming. Jess turned her head slightly. Matt was behind her. His finger pressed against his lips, silently telling her to be silent. Jess nodded. It was silent for a moment, but it was short lived as the Rex continued feasting on the carcass. Jess exhaled slowly. She felt Matt relax behind her. His hand dropped from her mouth.
“This way.” Matt whispered. He led Jess from the feasting Rex, toward the beach.
They walked back to the edge of the forest and found Connor and Abby waiting for them behind a fallen tree. Matt frowned and crouched beside them. Abby was leaning against the tree, occasionally glancing over it. Jess eased herself onto the ground, wincing as the movement aggravated her leg further. She noticed Becker wasn’t among them.
“What happened on the beach?” Matt asked.
“A Deinonychus scouted the beach and found the Mosasaur carcass. Called part of the pack and started eating.” Connor explained.
“They’re blocking our path right to the anomaly.” Abby finished, glancing from the beach.
“You guys came through the anomaly to get me?” Jess asked. She placed her hand over her leg, which had started bleeding again.
“Of course we did.” Matt said. He looked at Jess, eyeing her leg. “Connor, give me your belt.”
Connor raised his brow but looked at Jess. He spotted her leg and quickly removed his belt and passed it to Matt. Matt took the belt and wrapped it around Jess’ thigh. He secured it tightly around Jess’s leg, causing her to seethe in pain.
“We’ll have to move fast. If anything else smells the blood, we’ll have a big problem.” Matt said.
A deep growled echoed from behind them. Everyone froze in fear. Jess looked up slowly. Crouched behind the fallen tree was another creature. It was tall, two meter high. Its curved jaw was opened slightly, exposing the bloody teeth within its jaw. Over its red eyes were ridges that ran down half of its snout. Along the back of head and its upper neck stood thin barb like feathers. Two muscular arms clawed at the tree, ripping the bark from it.
Every rose quickly to their feet. Jess leaned on Abby, unable to place all her weight on her injured leg. The Deinonychus leapt over the tree and stalked toward them. Matt and Connor eased their way between the creature and the girls. Another hiss behind them caught their attention. A second Deinonychus stood behind them, cutting off any means of escape. One by one, more Deinonychus joined the two, swarming around them. Six Deinonychus total surrounded them, all hissing, clawing at the air.
Jess swallowed nervously. There was no chance they could survive. There were too many of them. They were too fast for the boys aim. Even if they got a shot, the Deinonychus would surely move before a second shot could be fired. She felt Abby’s arm tightened around her waist. Abby must know they were in trouble, but she was trying to be brave for her.
“What do we do?” Abby asked.
“We keep to the plan. Connor, stay with them.” Matt said.
“Are you mad? Connor asked.
“Just keep moving toward the anomaly.” Matt replied. He slowly aimed his EMD toward one of the Deinonychus.
The Deinonychus in front of Matt crouched low, readying itself to pounce. Matt gripped his EMD tightly, ready to fire. The Deinonychus leapt into the air for Matt. Jess cringed against Abby. The Deinonychus soared through the air for Matt.
Suddenly the Rex ripped the Deinonychus from midair. The Rex crushed the Deinonychus in its jaws. It fell limp within the Rex’s jaws. The pack of Deinonychus burst into a frenzy. They swarmed the Rex with lightning speed. Several leapt into the Rex’s side and started clawing it. Others swarmed around its legs. The Rex dropped the Deinonychus carcass and started on the swarm.
“Come on!” called a familiar voice. Becker stood several meters behind the battling dinosaurs. His EMD rifle was aimed, ready to use.
“Let’s go!” Matt ordered.
They moved fast around the Rex and the Deinonychus. Matt and Connor stayed between the Dinosaur’s and the girls. Jess limped alongside Abby as they moved toward the beach. Abby and Jess moved as fast as they could. Jess’ leg was in agony with every step she took. They past Becker, who was ready to move with them. Matt and Connor were right behind them. The anomaly was ten meters from them.
“Look out!” Becker yelled.
Jess and Abby had seconds to react. They both glanced over their shoulders as a stray Deinonychus crashed into them. Abby and Jess stumbled onto the ground. The force sent Jess rolling in a partial dive roll away from Abby and the others. She felt a heavy weight roll over her, passing her in the sand. She skid to a halt in the sand. Jess could feel she was lying on her back in the sand. She groaned and opened her eyes. Jess pushed herself onto her elbows. The anomaly was only six meters from her. Unfortunately, the Deinonychus lay between her and the anomaly.
The Deinonychus turned, and narrowed its eyes on Jess. It opened its mouth and hissed at her. Jess started dragging herself backwards through the sand, away from the Deinonychus. It crouched low at her, readying itself to pounce. It held its claws in front, ready to tears at her the moment she was within its reach.
Suddenly the Deinonychus was thrown from Jess. It skid in the sand, splashing into the ocean. Jess exhaled deeply. The Deinonychus rose form the water and screeched. The water around exploded as a Mosasaur trapped in within its massive jaws.
“Time to go.” Becker said, appearing at Jess side. He slung his rifle around his shoulder and gather Jess into his arms. Jess tried to hold back her groan as the movement aggravated her leg further. Becker rose to his feet and turned to the others. Matt, Connor, and Abby were several meters from them. “Matt, let’s go!”
“Get Jess through!” Matt ordered.
“Hold on.” Becker said. He turned and started running for the anomaly. Jess wrapped her arms around Becker’s neck and held on. She watched the anomaly grow closer with each step Becker took. She could hear more Deinonychus behind them, but she didn’t dare look back.
Jess closed her eyes as the bright light of the anomaly overpowered her sight. The cretaceous weather was overridden with the musky heat of the present. The small of the sea turned into a more tamed smell. Jess opened her eyes and Becker slid to the ground of the spillway. He slid to the wall of the spillway, facing the anomaly. Seconds later, Abby, Connor, and Matt stumbled through the anomaly.
“Lock it!” Becker ordered.
The soldier standing by the locking device quickly activated it. The oblong shaped anomaly quickly sealed into a solid sphere, contained.
Exhaustion overtook Jess. She exhaled deeply and leaned her head against Becker’s chest. She closed her eyes, breathing heavily. She felt Becker’s arms wrap around her body tightly. He leaned his head down against hers, cradling her in his arms.
----------------------------------------
end of part 3