The Extinction Series | Book 3 | Primordial Earth 3

by Higgins, Baileigh

  A hand pump upriver from the toilet provided water to the basin and bathtub. It passed through a rough filtration system, which rendered it semi-clean. Though not drinkable, it was okay for washing. Thanks to that simple but ingenious system, she’d been able to take a proper bath the night before.

  Now, she brushed her teeth, washed up, and combed her hair. After smoothing the wayward strands into a ponytail, she felt ready to face the day. A cup of coffee and some food, and I’m good.

  The living room was a mess. Moran and the boys’ stuff littered the floor along with crumpled blankets and pillows. Bear lounged on the sofa while Bruce leaned against the wall. He looked tired, and she asked, “How are you feeling, champ?”

  Bruce shrugged. “Well enough. Considering.”

  “Well, just take it easy, okay?” she said.

  “I’ll try,” Bruce replied with a lop-sided grin.

  Moran bustled around the kitchen on the far end of the room, washing dishes and wiping counters. She spotted Rogue and said, “Come and get your food. You must be hungry.”

  “I’m starving,” Rogue admitted.

  She picked her way through the minefield slash living room, almost tripping over Bear’s hammer. Twice, she stubbed her toes, thankful she wore boots. Squeezing between two chairs, she reached the kitchen, at last.

  Eager for caffeine, she grabbed her cup and took a big gulp. The potent brew hit her nervous system with the force of a lightning bolt, and she grinned. “That’s better.”

  Moran ignored her and surveyed the messy room with a frown. “Hey, you two. Get off your lazy asses and clean up the place. We’re guests, not barbarians.” Under her sharp gaze, Bruce and Bear jumped to obey.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Bear said. He picked up the sofa like it was a toy car and moved it back to its original position.

  “Anything for you, my love,” Bruce said, picking up discarded clothes, shoes, and water bottles.

  Rogue grinned at the sight, but she quickly sobered when Moran shot her a look.

  “Eat, Rogue. Your food’s getting cold,” Moran said.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Rogue said.

  She scooped up the plate and took a bite. It was delicious—a mixture of canned beans fried with dehydrated tomatoes, onions, and chilies. There were slivers of dried meat in there too, probably dino. Her stomach growled with hunger, and she gulped it down at the speed of light.

  “Slow down. You’ll choke at that rate,” Moran warned with a shake of her head. “One would swear I didn’t teach you any manners.”

  Rogue blushed. “Sorry.”

  After finishing her meal, she washed and dried her plate and cup. “Thanks for the meal. It was great.”

  “Don’t thank me. Seth made it,” Moran replied.

  “He’s a keeper, isn’t he?” Rogue said, watching her adopted mother with a sidelong gaze.

  Moran sniffed. “That remains to be seen.”

  Rogue sighed. Moran’s attitude didn’t come as a surprise. She’d always been like that. Possessive and overprotective. No boy or man had ever been good enough for her little girl. And nobody ever would be. “Where is Seth, by the way?”

  “He’s outside with Steven,” Moran said.

  Rogue sucked in a sharp breath. “Outside?”

  “They’re checking on the raptors,” Moran said.

  “That can’t be safe,” Rogue cried.

  “They’re grown men. They can take care of themselves.”

  “That we can,” Steven announced. He entered the room, a film of sweat on his brow. He wiped it away with one hand. “Woo, it’s hot outside. Today’s gonna be a scorcher.”

  “Where’s Seth?” Rogue asked for the second time.

  “On the roof,” Steven said.

  “The roof?” Rogue said. “How’s that possible? Does a boat even have a roof?”

  “I’ll show you,” he said.

  “Hurry up,” Moran said. “We need to leave soon, or we won’t make it to the Zoo before nightfall.”

  “You can relax,” Steven said. “We’re not going anywhere. Not today, at any rate.”

  “What? Why?” Moran asked, her dismay evident.

  “The raptors are still here. They show no signs of leaving.”

  “But what about the Zoo?” Moran said, falling into the nearest chair. “General Sikes won’t waste any time before he attacks. We need to warn the Exiles.”

  “I know, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” Steven said. “Not unless you want to face those monsters head-on.”

  Moran shuddered. “No, thanks.”

  “I didn’t think so,” Steven said, waving at Rogue. “Come. I’ll take you to Seth.”

  She followed him to the front of the boat. They navigated a thin corridor before going up a ladder. There, a steel hatch announced the wheelhouse. Once inside, Rogue paused to look around. She’d never been inside the control room of a boat before.

  The place was in ruins. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust, and the windows were so grimy it blocked all view of the outside world. They were covered in a thick layer of steel mesh, in any case—another of Seth’s security precautions.

  With a hesitant hand, Rogue touched the wheel before walking past the rest of the furnishings. The monitors were blank, devoid of the artificial life that once animated them, and the leather seats were encrusted with mold.

  All in all, the room was damp and depressing, but it still held a certain fascination for her. It came from a time far in the future but also lost in her past—a time when technology ruled instead of Mother Nature.

  “Where to now?” she asked once she’d seen her fill.

  Steven pointed to a ladder bolted to the wall. It led upward to what she assumed was the roof of the wheelhouse. Seth had cut a hole in the metal and fashioned a crude hatch with a handle and a lock.

  “Up there,” Steven said, pointing to the ladder. “Seth’s waiting for you.”

  “Outside?” Despite her best efforts, Rogue’s voice shook. She didn’t relish the thought of being outside. Especially with a pack of vicious Utahraptors in the area. “Is it safe?”

  “Safe enough,” Steven said with a shrug. “You can see them coming, at least.”

  “Whoop de doo,” Rogue grumbled as she gripped the rungs of the ladder. “What about you, Steven? Coming up?”

  “I’ve had enough for one day, thanks.”

  “Fine,” Rogue said, forcing herself to climb to the top. With one hand, she banged on the hatch. “I’m coming out, Seth!”

  “Oh, and just so you know, I think your boyfriend is crazy,” Steven called over his shoulder as he walked away.

  Rogue glared at his retreating back, but as she lifted the hatch open, she wondered if he was right. Because this is probably the craziest thing I’ve ever done.

  Chapter 4

  Rogue lifted the hatch and paused with her eyes hovering above the rim. The bright sunlight blinded her, and she blinked several times to clear her vision. A shadow fell across her face, and she jerked backward with a start. “Seth?”

  “It’s me,” Seth replied with a low chuckle.

  “You scared me!” she cried but shut her mouth when he pressed a finger to his lips.

  “Shh. Best to keep quiet, my love. You don’t want to alert the raptors. Trust me,” he said, holding the hatch open with one hand. With the other, he helped her onto the roof before closing the hatch again. He shut it with a soft click and turned to her. “Welcome to my theater.”

  Rogue stood upright, her eyes wide. Seth had enclosed the area around the hatch with a wooden screen. It formed a rough square that reached to chest height. This offered one an unobstructed view while a canvas roof overhead provided shelter from the sun.

  The structure was flimsy, meant for camouflage rather than protection. In the event of an attack, the best recourse would be to duck back through the hatch.

  “Why do you call it your theater?” Rogue asked.

  “Come look,” Seth replied, b
eckoning to her.

  She joined him and looked outward, sucking in a surprised breath. They were on the topmost part of the boat and had a panoramic view of the river and its banks. To the left flowed the Willamette river, deep and strong. To the right stretched an open, grassy field. The same field they’d crossed in such a panic the day before.

  It ran along the river as far the eye could see, sloping down to the water in a gentle incline. It afforded the numerous herds of dinosaurs a comfortable place to drink, and she immediately spotted a herd of Parasaurolophus.

  In the distance loomed the forest, infringing on the open land like a crouching beast. Its interior remained a mystery, filled with all kinds of life, both gentle and brutal. Rogue shivered as she gazed at the thick stand of trees with its carpet of moss and dead leaves. Soon, they’d have to brave its murky depths once more—depths filled with sharp claws and even sharper teeth.

  Not far from the boat, she spied the carcasses of two Utahraptors. They’d been torn to pieces by their own kind, and not much remained of their flesh. Small scavengers flitted among the bones, gnawing on the tough hides and picking at the remaining morsels of meat.

  It was both beautiful and dreadful, a dramatic vista of a primordial time filled with primordial creatures—a period when the earth was young and the world savage.

  “Here, try this,” Seth said, handing her a pair of binoculars.

  She was unfamiliar with the tool, and he had to show her how to use it. Once she got the hang of it, however, a whole new world opened up to her—one without limitations and borders.

  Through the telescopic lenses, she got a closer view of the herd of Parasaurolophus. Young and old, they lined the riverbank to quench their thirst. Sentries stood guard on the fringes, watching for predators while the very young remained in the center of the group.

  Rogue watched with fascination as the giant herbivores, easily weighing three tons each, dipped into the water. Their strangely shaped heads featured a curved crest and a wide mouth, almost like a duck’s. After a few moments, she noted a deep sound emanating from some of the adults. “What’s that noise?”

  “It’s their way of communicating,” Seth answered. “As far as I can tell, they make that sound with those crested horns. It’s like a tube.”

  “Oh, wow,” Rogue replied. “Seeing them in real life is so much better than reading about them in books.”

  “I know. I love coming up here,” Seth replied in a soft voice. “It’s like a movie. Every day, there’s something different to see.”

  “I can see why you love it so much here. It’s very peaceful,” Rogue replied, panning the binoculars across the horizon.

  There was almost too much to take in: The herd of Parasaurolophus going about their daily routine. The deep green of the trees in the forest, their branches draped with moss and vines. The blue sky that stretched into infinity, carrying the weight of the golden sun. The iron-grey river that cut through the land like a snake.

  Even as she watched, more herds of herbivores emerged from the trees, ready for their early morning drink. Alamosaurus with their long necks, Ankylosaurus with their knobbed tails and armored backs, Lambeosaurus and Triceratops, all drawn to the life-giving water of the Willamette.

  After a while, Rogue turned her attention back to the raptors. She scanned the two carcasses, one killed by Bear’s hammer and the other by a bolt from Steven’s crossbow. Small creatures fought for the pitiful remains, playing tug-of-war with bits of sinew. Some had feathers and beaks, the forerunners to modern-day birds. Others looked like overgrown lizards with sharp claws and whiplike tails. She could not see the Utahraptors, however. “Seth, where are they? The raptors?”

  “Over there,” he said, pointing to a knot of trees not far from the boat.

  She stared at the spot, but it took ages before she spotted them. Their dappled brown hides and feathers provided perfect camouflage among the shade and trees. Once she knew where they were, though, her blood ran cold.

  They stood clustered together, their heads turned in the direction of the boat. Now and then, they’d move. One would snap at the other, and a brief tussle for dominance would break out. But for the most part, their attention remained focussed on their prey, their human prey.

  “Why aren’t they leaving?” Rogue asked.

  “I don’t know,” Seth said, an undercurrent of worry in his tone. “Their behavior is…unusual.”

  A deep chill ran through Rogue’s body, and suddenly, the day took on a darker tone. Gone was the magic of before, replaced by a sense of foreboding. Once more, she felt exposed and vulnerable, an easy target. They know we’re here. “Are you sure they can’t get into the boat?”

  “I’ve made it as secure as possible,” Seth replied, “but…”

  The rest of the sentence hung unsaid in the air, and Rogue handed back the binoculars. Her skin crawled at the thought of being hunted by those monstrous things again—vicious predators with no concept of mercy. “We should go in. I don’t want to be out here any longer. It’s too dangerous.”

  “I agree. We need to work out a strategy,” Seth said.

  “A strategy?” Rogue asked as she lifted up the hatch.

  “Yes, we need to be ready for the next attack.”

  “Are you sure they’ll attack again? That they won’t decide to leave?” Rogue said. “You said they were super territorial.”

  “That’s just it, they are territorial, and they’re not leaving. Which means…”

  “There will be another attack,” Rogue finished for him.

  “Exactly.”

  Chapter 5 - Kat

  The Crimson Door was precisely as she remembered it. A mixture of dark wooden furniture, fragrant smoke, heady perfumes, plush silk cushions, and velvet hangings. Priceless works of art hung on the walls next to lamps that cast golden pools of light. A thick carpet muffled their footsteps, and the windows were covered with heavy drapes that blocked out the sun. She’d always hated that fact. It triggered her fear of confined spaces, and her throat constricted as she looked around.

  At this time of the day, the business was closed. A deep hush prevailed, broken only by the distant clatter of dishes and silverware from the kitchens. Even now, the cooks were preparing for dinner, an affair rich enough to delight even the fussiest of eaters.

  The girls were, no doubt, fast asleep. They’d need their rest for what lay ahead, a long night spent pleasing the customers. Nothing was off-limits in this establishment. The clients were wealthy, and they got whatever their twisted hearts desired. It was the kind of place that overwhelmed the senses—the kind of place where you lost your soul.

  With a shudder, Kat averted her eyes from her surroundings. She didn’t want to remember, didn’t want to be there, in fact. But she was desperate for help. Help that only the man in front of her could give. The price would be steep, though, and she wondered how far she was willing to go to gain her freedom.

  Freedom.

  The word conjured heady images of a future without bondage. Without the shackles that bound her to the cruel whims of another. A life where every decision she made was her own and nothing had to be approved by another first. I can dress however I want, eat what I want, sleep when I want, dance in the rain, walk barefoot on the grass, and howl at the moon if I want. I can be free, at last.

  A single tear burned her eyelid, and she dashed it away before it could be seen. In this place, tears acted like chum to the sharks circling around. It brought nothing but pain and misery in a world where strength was respected and weakness preyed upon.

  The figure from her past remained silent as he led the way toward his study, a room she was intimately familiar with. It was also the one place she’d hoped never to see again. When they reached the threshold, she stopped, unable to step inside. Flashes from her past kept her frozen in place.

  “What’s wrong, kitten?” the figure asked. “Are you scared?”

  His voice acted like a whiplash, breaking the bonds of fea
r that held her in place. Anger stirred in her breast. She was no one’s pet to be toyed with, and he no longer had her fate in the palm of his hand.

  “No, Dorian. I am not afraid,” Kat replied, stepping into his office.

  “My, my. The kitten has grown a set of claws,” Dorian replied, a half-smile playing on his lips. He pulled out a chair. “Do sit down, my dear.”

  “Thank you,” Kat said, stepping forward.

  As she sat down, she gazed straight into a mirror. In the reflected image, their eyes met, hers and Dorian’s. He stood behind her, dressed in a dove-grey suit made from the finest material. His eyes were of the same piercing hue set beneath long dark lashes that made women rave with jealousy. His tousled hair brushed his shoulders, accentuating his aquiline features.

  When it came to sheer looks, Dorian Beck was a god among men, and few were able to resist his charms. A master of seduction, he rested both hands on her shoulders. One thumb idly massaged the spot beneath her ear while his gaze never left hers. “You are as beautiful as ever, kitten. The years haven’t aged you one whit.”

  Kat sat immobile for several seconds before mentally shaking herself free from his spell. She had to keep her wits about her, or he’d have her right where he wanted in no time at all. “That’s a kind thing to say, but won’t you sit down, Dorian? Standing around like that must be tiring.”

  “Not at all,” he replied, but his hands left her shoulders with abrupt suddenness. He strode to a small table and picked up a crystal decanter filled with amber liquid. “Can I offer you a drink?”

  “Yes, please,” Kat replied, watching as he poured the liquid into two glasses.

  Dorian handed her one before sitting down behind his desk. Leaning back in his chair, he studied her with intense scrutiny. “Why did you come here, Kat?”

  Kat opened her mouth to reply, but he interrupted her.