A Hint of Lies

Part 8

I sit on the floor, my back against the wall across from Owen who sat on the bench. I glance over to my right when I hear grunting and growling. I see in the cage across from us two triceratopses. A mother and a baby. The baby pushes against the bars trying to break out. 

"Do you remember the first time you saw a dinosaur?" I ask softly. I glance at Owen who watches me closely before I look back over at the dinosaurs. "First time you see them, it's like a miracle. You read about them in books, you see the bones in museums, but you don't really believe it. They're like myths. And then you see that first one alive." I trail off as I watch the baby triceratops lay down next to its mother. 

"This is not your fault." Owen says. 

"But it is." I insist. 

"No. This one's on me. I showed them the way." Owen says. 

I shake my head. "We showed them together, Owen." 

Owen smiles softly before pushing himself to his feet and walking toward the cage door. "Listen. You and I are gonna have plenty of time to talk about this later." He says. 

"If there is a later." I mutter. 

"Yes, there is." Owen turns and smirks at me, "We got a cabin to finish." I smile softly at his response and shake my head fondly. 

We're interrupted by a thud against the wall. I jump to my feet and back away from the wall. We hear a groan from the other side. "What the hell was that?" I question. 

Owen jumps up to the barred window and pulls himself up to see. "Well, look who just woke up." He says, I can hear the smirk in his voice. Owen whistles to the dinosaur. Another thud is heard against the wall. I can assume that the dinosaur headbutted the wall again. 

Owen looks over at the locked door before jumping down and turning to me. "We're getting out of here." 

I give Owen a questioning look. He just smirks and grabs my hand, stepping us back away from the wall. He whistles and the dinosaur butts the wall. I notice some of the bricks move just slightly. "What are you doing?" I question. 

"Escaping." Owen responds.

"Are you sure about this?" I ask. 

"Nope." Owen says and whistles again. The dinosaur head butts the wall and more bricks move. This goes on for a few moments. Owen whistles and the dinosaur responds by head butting the wall. Each time the wall appears weaker and weaker. 

On the final whistle, the Stygimoloch breaks down the wall and looks between us. I gasp as it turns toward me. Owen moves around the other side towards the door. I back up into a corner. "Okay." I say, "What now?" 

"Hey! Hey, you. Look at me! Look at me!" Owen shouts and claps his hands. "Hey!" The Stygimoloch turns toward him. "Come with me. Come with me!" Owen backs toward the door, the dinosaur following. "Okay, there you go." I watch as Owen stands in front of the dinosaur like a bullfighter. He whistles and just as the Stygimoloch charges he jumps up grabbing a hold of a bar to lift himself out of the way. 

The dinosaur runs full force into the door causing it to swing wide open. She keeps running through it and hits a large metal pole. The dinosaur shakes her head and groans before walking off. 

Owen jumps down and exits the cage. "Your welcome." He calls out to the Stygimoloch. 

I laugh as I exit next to him. "You are one stupid bastard, Grady." I say with a smile. 

"Yeah but you love me." he replies with a smirk. 

I smile and shake my head, "Maybe." My smile falls when I hear whimpering. I turn around to see a young girl in a red sweatshirt turn and sprint down a hall. "Hey, wait!" I shout and begin chasing the girl. "Please, please wait." I say as we round the corner. I see her climb into a small hole in the wall.