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The raptor hadn't finished me off. I have my theories why, but I don't want to think about them more than I need to.
I'm laying on the ground, not far from the power generators. I try to ignore the surge of pain I keep getting in my arm and leg as the wind blows by them and their open, gaping wounds. The pain is so bad that I vow that when I get back, I'm going to request working at a petting zoo, or a small mammal veterinarian, or at some aquarium without sharks, because I never want to go through this again.
I ignore the nagging drive to say “if I get back” and instead focus on clawing towards the park headquarters. with only one arm and leg functioning, it's going to take a while. I've made the mistake of not stashing any emergency bandages in my bag, but I'm not sure it matters since the raptor tore through my bag. It was likely hoping that was an extra artery.
I don't want to distract myself, so I focus on her. Why I took this job instead of some gig at a zoo so I could stay in the same country as my girlfriend is beyond me. Was it because of the dinosaurs? ‘Suppose so, but I’m not gonna end up as their dinner while she’s worrying about me, wondering where I am and sitting in our apartment alone when Next Generation comes on the television.
I arrive at the Visitor Center, and try to drag myself up the stairs, but I’m struggling. The doors fly open, and I see Sattler, “Holy– Muldoon!? You made it?” she asks.
The kids follow behind her, but as soon as Grant sees the state I’m in, he shields the boy’s eyes. “Can’t see!” The kid complains.
“I’ll help you down the steps,” Grant responds, still staring at me, and curses under his breath. “We have medical equipment on the helicopter, right?”
‘I hope we do–” I try to say, but I cough so hard on my own blood that I nearly slam my head against the cement step. Grant wraps his arm around me and lifts me up, letting me lean on him.
Hammond arrives with Malcom just in time, and Grant lays me down next to Malcom, who’s still injured from yesterday’s tyrannosaurus attack.
“Uhh, small world, huh?” Malcolm quips, and I don’t answer.
“How are we all gonna fit in, anyways?” Malcolm asks, and…well, he has a good point.
“Ooookay,” Grant mutters. “Tim, sit on my lap, Ellie, try to squeeze in next to Ian and Muldoon, and let Lex sit on your lap. We’re not gonna take too long to get back to the helipad anyways, so it shouldn’t be too difficult…”
Everyone gets into place, though Ellie looks uncomfortable having Lex on her lap. Meanwhile Lex keeps staring at us, eyes wide in horror.
“Hey now, don’t scream again. That’s uh…not gonna be good for us if that happens.” Malcolm says, gesturing to her to calm down.
She covers her mouth, and Hammond begins the jeep.
***
The engine starts, and the helicopter lifts us up and out of the island, leading to a collective sigh of relief.
Grant and Ellie are wrapping me up in bandages, trying their best, and Malcom gives his best effort to not quip about it. Poor Hammond merely stares at the amber on his cane.
When the two of them are done, I’m laying against one of the chairs, trying not to fidget too much. I look out the window, watching the sea pass us by. A few birds fly by, and I’m suddenly made aware of how lucky I am; As a boy, I almost died after a strange bird attack–who knows how or why, even the doctors didn’t care– and here I am, alive and surviving after an encounter with their ancestors.
But more importantly, I am here, and once I’m out of the hospital, I’ll be able to go back home, back to her.
***
A few months later…
“Mr. Muldoon?”
I blink my eyes as I wake, forgetting I’m in the hospital. “Yes?” I say to the nurse.
“It’s a caller for you. Your girlfriend. Are you well enough to speak?”
I smile, “I think I can manage a few minutes.”
He hands me the phone, and I hear her crying on the other side, “Bob! Oh my…Bob…you’re alive…” She sobs in between breaths.
“Did you really think I’d leave you alone?”
“No…I was thinking you’d either die– which I thought was unlikely– or you’d become like the King of the Raptors, like one of those old claymation dinosaur horror movies and I’d have to go after you and end up like one of those damsels.”
I chuckle, “Clever girl…I haven’t heard your wit in so long. I’m not sure how long I can talk, but…tell me everything I’ve missed since I was gone.”
She sniffles, “I can do that.”