Liam dropped from the tree, landing lightly.
Owen was already wiping gasoline off his face, his shirt pulled off and used to scrub his skin clean.
He hurried over.
“Thanks,” Owen said, still catching his breath.
“Don’t mention it.” “I should’ve listened to you earlier,” Owen admitted.
“Not that it would’ve mattered.
Those guys wouldn’t take orders from me anyway.” He looked back at the devastation.
Bodies.
Human and dinosaur alike.
The scene felt apocalyptic.
“I’m Owen,” he said after a moment.
“Not sure how you knew that.” “Liam.
I’ve read some of your work.
Animal behavior, cross-species interaction.” Owen studied him.
“You’re not just some tourist.
The way you moved… that jump, the climb… most trained soldiers couldn’t pull that off.” Liam shrugged slightly.
“I came to see the park.
Same as everyone else.” Owen gave a short, humorless laugh.
“Yeah.
Right.” Before he could say more, his radio crackled.
“Owen, respond.
Owen, come in.” “Owen here.” “This is Claire.
Switch to secure channel.” Owen adjusted the dial quickly, switching frequencies.
“Go ahead.” “Hand the radio to the man with you.” Both of them paused.
Then they looked up.
Cameras.
Watching them.
Liam took the radio.
“Go ahead.” “This is Claire Dearing, operations manager.
I saw what you did back there.
I want to work with you.” “What kind of work?” “My nephews are missing.
They took a gyrosphere into the forest.
We’ve lost contact.” “No.” Silence.
“I can pay you,” she said quickly.
“Whatever you want.” “I don’t need money,” Liam replied evenly.
“But I am heading into the forest.
If I find them, I’ll bring them back.
No promises.” A pause.
Then, quieter— “That’s enough.
Thank you.” “I need two things.” “Name them.” “First.
Weapons.” Claire hesitated for only a fraction of a second.
“What kind?” “Tranquilizer rifle.
As many darts as you can spare.
A standard assault rifle.
Two knives.” He paused.
“And a vehicle.
Something armored.” “I can get you the weapons,” Claire said.
“The vehicle… harder.
Most units have already been deployed with the security teams.” “Fine.
Where do I pick them up?” “Owen knows the armory.
He’ll take you.” Liam handed the radio back.
Owen didn’t argue.
He understood the situation now.
They moved.
Fast.
…
The park had descended into chaos.
Herbivores stampeded across open ground, smashing fences and barriers in blind panic.
Those same impacts shattered containment zones.
Carnivores were getting loose.
Over the radio, voices overlapped.
“Tracking signal shows Indominus moving northeast!” “Security team mobilizing, 300 personnel en route!” “Evacuation underway.
Over a thousand guests still unaccounted for!” “Lock down all zones immediately.
Especially the aviary!” The last warning had barely finished transmitting— When a piercing shriek tore through the sky.
Liam stopped for half a second.
He knew that sound.
And it wasn’t good.
He looked up.
The nightmare was spreading.