Work Text:
The rain poured down, its tapping echoing in the silent car as it crawled down the track back to the visitor center. Marley sat in the backseat gazing out at the wet greenery as it passed. Lex and Tim squabble about something across the car. It had been a lackluster tour until Doctor Grant interrupted it by jumping out of the car behind them.
Now that was unexpected, though getting to see a triceratops up close was worth leaving the air-conditioned vehicle. Even if it was cut short by the buzzkill lawyer as it started raining. Herding chickens would’ve been easier than trying to get the kids back to the car. As amusing as it was to watch Tim attempt to talk Grant's ear off about his books, the rain was picking up and Marley wanted to avoid sitting in soaked clothes on the ride back. So slinging Tim over a shoulder and a wave to the scientists, they climbed back into the jeep. Tim pouted about his interrupted talk for about ten seconds before beginning to root around in the front seat.
All Marley wanted was to get back and get away from the forced company. Not that they were horrible. Ellie Sattler had explained multiple paleobotany facts as she had examined the sick dinosaur. Marley had been entirely captivated by her level of knowledge and hung on every word until the call came to head back. If Dr Sattler hadn’t stayed back there was a high chance Marley would’ve been in the second car listening to her evaluation and theories.
The other two were more of a mystery. Alan Grant wasn’t as expressive as Sattler but Marley could see by his reaction that seeing the triceratops had lit a new fire in him. The way he smiled and draped himself over the rough skin like a little kid solidified the level of love he had for these creatures in Marley’s mind. The wild card of the group was Ian Malcolm. He didn’t seem as enthralled as the others at the fact that there was a living breathing fossil in front of them. He talked a lot that was for sure but he tended to lean into numbers and statistics rather than paleontology like the others. Charismatic sure but his ego was smothering. Marley hadn’t figured out why he was here specifically but was relieved to know the feeling of distrust was shared between them. Trying to play god was a dangerous game. It was one of the many reasons it had taken enormous amounts of pleading from the kids and their mother to get Marley on this island. A billionaire with a god complex was a dangerous thing.
Go spend the weekend with the kids at Hammond's secret island, she said. It’ll be a fun bonding moment, she said. They haven’t spent time with you in so long. Which honestly was true but it didn’t help the unease that was growing as the trip went on.
‘Well Caroline, I hope you're happy because as soon as I get back you owe me a drink.’ Marley thought bitterly as they approached the tunnel just passed the Tyrannosaurus paddock. The rain made it hard to see out the windows. The blurred trees tossing wildly in the wind cast flickering shadows across the cars as bolts of lightning shot across the sky. Everything was fine. Then the lights flickered and the power died as the car slowed to a halt. The silence hung heavy in the car as no one knew what to do in this type of situation.
Marley turned to look at the second car to ensure that it wasn’t only theirs that had stopped. As fate would have it, it wasn’t just theirs as the second car was also stopped nearly 50 ft behind them. The rain made it impossible to see Malcolm or Grant from this distance but the driver's side door opened and Grant exited. He jogged over to their car and Marley propped open the door to greet him.
The rain dripped off his hat as he leaned against the car. As expected they were also out of power. He’d asked if they’d heard anything from Hammond or had any way to contact him to which they responded with a disappointed no. Marley had to wonder why the cars didn’t have two-way radios to the control room for emergencies. Spared no expense, yeah right.
Between the three adults, it was decided that staying put would be the best thing to do. Even though Marley was sure they could reach the visitor center on foot. However, the thought of walking through a path of dinosaurs was enough to agree to stay put. As much as the idea was tempting, it was unknown if it was just the car system that was down.
Alan left back to the second car soon after. The new basic plan had eased the tension in the air and Lex and Tim had calmed down enough to go back to talking and trying to find something to fill the time. Lex roped Marley into a game of 20 questions which continued for a few rounds until their hearts lept to their throats when Tim jumped up in a pair of gaudy night vision goggles.
It was hard to resist the urge to scoff when the lawyer piped up that the goggles were probably expensive and to put them back. Their grandfather owned the park, a potential pair of broken goggles was nothing. The irritation was short-lived as Tim’s attention was drawn to the enclosure. Specifically to the pad where the goat was sitting.
Except… the goat was gone.
“Where’s the goat?”
A thud sounded from above them as blood splattered from where the leg of the goat landed on the glass viewing window. Marley's gasp was cut off as a large dark head poked through the trees. Teeth glistened with red as it swallowed down the rest of the poor goat. Drops of rain cast a blurred image through the glass that only intensified the chilling fear that swept through the car.
The realization that they were only separated from this giant beast by the glass and the electric fence set in quickly. Marley’s eyes widened in horror as the sound of the door opening echoed through the car. The spineless lawyer had run whimpering for the bathrooms, leaving the door open.
“That coward.” Marley hissed before carefully climbing into the front seat. Pulling the door closed as quietly and quickly as possible, careful not to make too much noise. Which proved useless as the T-Rex broke through the wired fence dashing all hope that the power was still on. The loud roar it released was enough to shake the car and make their ears hurt. It was huge and free from its cage. This was a problem.
Luck seemed to be on their side though as Marley let out a breath of relief when the dinosaur seemed to care less about the two cars after a sniff or two. It was short-lived as a bright light illuminated the inside of the jeep. In the effort to shut the door Marley hadn’t noticed that Lex had found a flashlight from somewhere in the car. In her panic, she’d turned it on which had caught the T-Rex’s attention. Tim cried for her to turn it off but in her haste she couldn’t find the button again.
In an act of pure desperation, Marley grabbed the light and flipped it upside down, pressing the lense into the seat to try to hide the shine from the bulb. The Rex had stopped just a few feet away from the car. They weren’t completely screwed yet.
“Lex,” Marley whispered crouching over the flashlight still pressed into the seat, “Slowly hand me my jacket.”
“Are you crazy?” Her panicked whisper came from the backseat. Yes, it was insane to move but the seat couldn't hide all the light and it was their best shot.
“Alexis! There is a giant dinosaur outside this vehicle and shielding this flashlight is our best chance to live. Now hand me the jacket!” Marley hissed almost hysterically, silently begging her to follow the instructions. Luckily she seemed to understand the urgency of the situation as she slid the denim jacket over the seat. Marley thanked whatever god was listening and wrapped the fabric around the base of the flashlight, finally concealing the shining ring of light. Just in time as the Rex leaned down next to the car. Curious about the possible prey inside.
“Don’t. Move. Tim, Lex, it can’t see you if you don’t move.” Marley instructed in quiet breaths as the eye of the dinosaur appeared in the window. Thank god Marley had paid some attention to the museum tours during primary school. There were a few scared whines from the two kids but otherwise, they seemed to follow the instructions which Marley was so proud of them for.
A sniff and a low rumble vibrated the car as the Rex searched. Marley's eyes followed it as it raised its head to the glass top. Sniffing at the goat leg that still rested there from earlier. Its teeth flashed through the window as it picked up the leg, the pressure cracking the glass along the edge.
Relief flooded through Marley as the predator stood fully, tossing back the treat. Something out of view caught its attention and it let out an ear-splitting roar before its footsteps charged farther away from the car. There was a crash of something before a blood-curdling scream was heard before it was cut off with a sickening crunch. Marley wasn’t certain but could guess that the lawyer wasn’t coming back after that.
(Not that they could see it but just before Alan lit the first flare, Gennaro had thought the silence meant that the Rex had left and he’d exited the bathrooms slowly just before the Rex had stood up. A scream ripped from his throat before he could stop it and he ran back to the bathroom. The door stuck for a moment giving the Rex time to see him before he pried it open and slammed the door. The dinosaur charged and knocked down the structure revealing the shaking form of the lawyer inside. After a second bigger treat, the giant creature wandered off into the forest.)