Illusion ➵ Zach Mitchell

24 ➵ solution

It reared its ugly head, revealing sharp teeth as it broke through the water. The intensity caused a whirlpool to form, sucking up anything, water and more, into its mouth. I wanted to run, to get to higher ground, but my efforts were halted by the HosCorp soldier holding me.

I turned on Wu. "What did you do?" I spit through gritted teeth.

He didn't spare me a second glance, his face in awe like Dr. Frankenstein looking at his creation. But this time he didn't create inspiring life, he created a monster destined to destroy everything in its path, literally.

"Do you like it? It's by far my most endearing creation. Glorious."

"Glorious is a word use to describe the Lord, no that devil," I growled. He was crazy, delusional. He took the Mad out of both Mad Scientist and Mad hatter. He couldn't be 'all there.' Surely, he didn't think that what he created was plausible, relational, logical?

He waved his hand, dismissing me. "Please, do try and keep your mythology to yourself."

I struggled in the soldier's hands, trying to tug away from him. "As soon as I get my hands on you...."

That's when he finally gave me the time of day. His dark eyes narrowed, and his lips forming a firm line. "You'll do what? You're nothing compared to me. Just an immature hacker, and you can't even do that right." I didn't say anything. His voice caught me off guard. He didn't hiss or spit the words at me, no, his voice lacked any and all venom. His voice was calm and measured. He knew he didn't have to manipulate me into thinking the worst in myself, because I already thought that. I He knew I wasn't as self-assured as I made myself out to be.

I glared, looking out to the monster. The waves hitting the dock are getting stronger. With each blast, I hear a crack of the splitting wood. This deck is going to give way.

"Sir?" A man holding a tablet asks, walking up to Dr. Wu. His glasses rest at the edge of his nose and buy the passives of his posture, I can tell he isn't a soldier. He must be another bioengineer. "The Mosadomsauria is threatening to destroy southern park of the island. The rock is eroding drastically."

"The Mosadomsauria doesn't have the power for that," Wu insists. He snatches the tablet out of the man's hands, analyzing whatever the screen is showing.

"With a bite force of 30,000 pounds, I have no doubts that it is fully cable of just that. We must get off the island or at least to the northern part of the park," the man pleads. Wu says nothing, contemplating. They can't go any deeper into the island, too many unknown dangers there. Dr. Wu said it himself. He doesn't even know what his own experiments can do.

"That thing out there is gonna kill us, Wu!" Owen grunted. "We have to move now."

Wu flared his nostrils. "I decide what happens and when, Mr. Grady. Don't forget who has you ties up!"

"That's the problem with all you scientist. You think you can have authority over everything and anything! It's not gonna happen! Admit it, just like the Indominus, that monster out there is out of your control."

I had my back turned away from the water when I saw the look on Gray's face. He was staring up at something. My body froze. I wanted to turn around, but my fear locked my legs in place. The skies darkened as the sun's rays became blocked by something. It cast a large shadow on Wu's face as she stared up at it too. I took a breath and turned.

I came face to face with a huge title wave. It crashed down directly on us, hitting us hard, engulfing us in water. The force of the splash was so great it knocked me down, my knees banging on the hard wood. I placed my hands out in front of me, coughing and choking on sea water. I scrabbled to my feet, slipping, trying to create distance between me and the HosCorp soldiers.