“Stay back!” I screamed in my head but dare not say aloud, not wanting to startle it. A muscular black tongue licked the top of my hand, leaving a layer of sticky slime on my skin. My heart thrummed like the beating wings of a humming bird. A pair of green eyes stared back at me. Its long, menacing claws slowly passed by my face. I gasped. I was the star of my very own horror movie, and I only hoped it wasn’t a slasher flick.
“Keep still,” whispered Mike, even though I was already acting like a statue. “Don’t spook it.”
The beast pulled down a branch heavily laden with fruit. My mind raced. It didn’t seem the least bit interested in me, only the blueberries. I considered that a stroke of luck and hoped I could sneak away. I moved very, very slowly, trying to get away before it changed its mind and found out I did taste better than the berries.
I backed off as the monstrous beast opened its mouth, revealing pointed teeth that needed a good scrub or two. As it let out a loud bellow, a horrible stench filled the air, like that of rotten meat, fish, and eggs all combined together.
As I scrambled to the next branch, I slipped and almost toppled forward. I held on tightly, draping my leg around the branch to steady myself. While the creature didn’t seem interested in devouring me in the tree, I was sure it would attack if I fell on top of it, if only to defend itself.
Suddenly, the creature yelped and retreated a few feet back, its head disappearing into the leaves.
Jack thrust out his hand. “Casey!”
I took hold of it and pulled myself up, fighting to catch my breath as I peered down through the branches, wondering if the animal was gone.
“Are you okay?” asked Mike, eyes wide, mouth gaping.
I let out a murmured “Yes” and then met his gaze. “What is this place?”
His eyes lit up, curiosity brewing. “Isn’t that the million-dollar question?”
I pushed my way up to the next branch before I dared another look down. The animal was still there, sweeping its head toward another bunch of ripe berries. It plucked them with its wide lips, stripping the tree with rake-like teeth. Without the stench invading my nose, it looked kinda cute—all fluffy and chubby, eating like some overgrown giraffe. How could something so adorable be dangerous? And it didn’t seem to care much about its surroundings either.
“It’s a…” I heard Jack mumble something to himself, stopping in mid-sentence, as though trying to make sense of his own thoughts.
“Wh—” I opened my mouth to ask, but Mike cut me off.
“You recognize this big eating machine?”
“Yeah. I don’t believe I’m going to say this, but I can’t deny what’s right in front of my eyes.” Jack took a deep breath for effect. He sure liked to keep his audience on the edge of their seats. Eventually he continued, “It’s an animal called megatherium.”
A light bulb flickered to life. I remembered studying the prehistoric animal in school when I did a class project on the Ice Age. These things weighed close to ten tons; they were huge.
Mike shot him a questioning look. “So are we prime rib or what?”
“Nah. It only chows down on petals, leaves, and berries,” I said before Jack could let out another remark. “It’s really a gigantic ground sloth.”
“One of the largest mammals to ever live,” added Jack.
“Incredible. I’ve always wanted to have an exotic pet like that.” Mike scooted closer and reached out his hand. “Maybe we could pet it.”
Jack laughed. “Don’t be an idiot.”
Mike cocked his head and seemed to be studying the creature. “I know this giant fur ball’s supposed to be extinct.”
“Yeah, like one and a half million years ago.” Jack’s gaze lowered toward the animal. “It must be standing on its hind legs to reach up here.”
First a pterosaur, and now a giant prehistoric sloth? How is this even possible? My mind reeled as I tried to make sense of it. Dinosaurs were wiped off the Earth by a giant meteorite…weren’t they? A shudder ran down my spine as the same irritating thought slammed through my head. If we’re even on Earth… I could picture Mike asking how much more proof I needed. There had to be an explanation for the weird glass city and all the other wild stuff. What if the impact from the giant meteorite explosion that happened sixty-five million years ago somehow created a parallel universe that sucked us in through the whirlpool? I shook my head and let out a sigh. Gosh, could I sound any more ludicrous? I felt just as crazy as the science fiction and fantasy I loved to read.
Short bleating cow-like sounds snapped me out of my thoughts.
The sloth nudged Mike’s knee with its snout. “Still hungry?” asked Mike. He ripped a branch off and held it out. “Hey, big guy, I hope you don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
If Mike was scared, he sure didn’t show it with his huge smile and relaxed posture, like he was feeding some harmless goat at a petting farm.
The sloth didn’t seem to be spitting fire or trying to bite Mike’s head off, so I began to think that maybe it was friendly. I picked blueberries and held out my cupped hands, smiling as I watched the creature’s black tongue sweep out and gulp down the fruit before its head vanished under the thick leaves again. “Eww! I’ve just been slimed…again. Still, this is absolutely amazing.” I wiped my hands off on clusters of leaves and finally on my shorts.
Loud, thudding footsteps echoed as the humongous sloth lumbered away. As fascinating as the sloth was, we had to keep moving and make our way back to the ground. I turned to face my friends. “Time to get to that city, guys.”
Jack sighed, but he followed without any more drama.
At the bottom, I scanned the jungle in every direction. There were no weird extinct or overgrown animals anywhere in sight.
“Coast is clear.” I clutched a hand over my heart. “I can’t believe this place.”
“Makes you wonder what else is out there,” said Mike.
My stomach clenched at his words. “Yeah, but let’s not go there right now.”
Jack leaned against the tree and blew out a breath.
I could see he was going to need a minute to regain his composure, and so was I. Also, I thought it would be a good idea to rest with him for a quick minute too.
Looking up at Mike I said, “My ankles hurt, and I’ve got a cramp. I’m not used to climbing like that.” I sat down on a moss-covered log. My entire body seemed to be on fire.
Mike cupped my calf muscles and rubbed his thumbs downward in a circular motion. “Where’s the cramp?”
“Left ankle.” I held back a moan as his strong fingers massaged the pain away, gliding over my skin like he’d done it a million times before. “Thanks.” I caught his gaze and smiled. “That feels wonderful. You’re hired.”
He winked. “I give killer back rubs too.”
I stood, my lips parting in a smile. “I’ll have to take you up on the offer some other time, Romeo. Right now we need to save our butts first.” Large extinct creatures roamed the jungle, and a back rub was the last thing I wanted—even if it was from the hottest guy on the planet. We needed to get moving and be on guard, but Mike never seemed to take anything too seriously.
I walked over to Jack and offered my hand; he clasped it tightly. I wasn’t sure what terrified Jack more—heights or the existence of a giant lizard bird and Mr. Fluffy on steroids. “C’mon, we have to get outta here,” I said.
* * *
I took the lead through the dense foliage, following the meandering river at a distance. The tree canopy rose high and thick, and the ferns grew sparse, giving the jungle the impression of a great green cathedral. Birds chirped overhead while insects hummed in the thickets and grass. I could smell the cleanness of the air; there was no pollution, no cars, no smog—just pure oxygen. My breathing came labored but steady as we moved farther, twigs scratching at my bare arms as I pushed through the thick undergrowth. I only realized the sound of birds had stopped when thunder cracked in the distance. I froze mid-stride and lift
ed my hand, motioning the others to stop. “Hear that?”
“Yeah.” Jack glanced around the towering trees.
I peered ahead, a chill running down my spine. High-pitched squeals carried through the eerie silence. I could have sworn a herd of wild horses was stampeding in our direction, but I knew horses didn’t make that sort of cry. It was more like the trumpeting of elephants.
I stood on my toes, trying to see as far as the bushes would allow me. The noise seemed to come from all directions. Crap! We’ll be trampled to death if we don’t find a safe place.
“Take cover!” Jack shouted.
I hid behind a thick tree trunk and peeked through the ferns. “I don’t see anything…yet!” I shouted so the others would hear me against the rising volume of pounding, thundering feet. I tried to still my heavy breathing, but my pulse wouldn’t stop racing. “Something’s coming! We’re safe on this side of the river, though, right?”
Jack drew his breath sharply and then said, “Not a gamble I’m willing to take. We’ve got to get to that city…fast!”
“Look!” Mike’s eyes widened as he pointed a finger. “Is that what I think it is?”
I turned and followed his gaze. I found my voice, but what came out of my mouth was barely more than a whisper. “Oh my gosh. Are those…dinosaurs?” I was sure they couldn’t be. Yet, I couldn’t deny the proof staring me right in the face. They were a large herd of hairless, brown-and-white-striped giants heading toward the river, some of them as big as a San Francisco trolley. I clapped a hand over my mouth, blinking hard.
“Look at them!” yelled Mike. “This is crazy! I swear we went through time. I don’t know how, but somehow we did.”
“It’s…it’s—” I stared at the heavy bodies with their strong limbs and muscles visible beneath a thick skin, contracting as they moved. Black, sailboat-shaped crests shot back from their heads. Some walked on four legs, and others ran on two, honking like commuters in rush-hour traffic. Where did they come from? What are they doing in a civilized world? Didn’t dinosaurs die off a long time ago? I shook my head slightly and then looked some more. The beasts stretched up and down the river like a long line of buffalo I’d once seen in Wyoming.
I had no idea what they were, but I knew they had been extinct for ages—just like gigantic sloths and pterosaurs. Wiping sweat off my brows, I peeled my gaze from the dinosaurs. My thoughts returned to Mike’s argument, sending shudders through me. If we are in some other dimension, will the people in the glass city be…human?
From the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of movement. Jack had sprinted 100 feet to the water’s edge. I wanted to scream for him, but my voice just wouldn’t obey. I was sure Jack was too freaked out to think clearly. There was no other explanation as to why he wasn’t trying to hide. I was sure if one of the animals noticed him, they’d come across the river, and on those giant legs, it wouldn’t take them long. They’d take Jack out with one bite before he even realized what was happening.
I mustered my strength and crept up to the muddy bank. I placed a shaking hand on his shoulder and squeezed hard to get his attention, my voice wavering as I whispered, “I think Mike is rubbing off on you.”
“What?”
“You bolted over here like a lunatic. They’ll see us…and then we’ll be prey. You know—lunch. I hope that’s not what you want, ’cause I sure don’t.” My voice came coarse as tears welled up in my eyes, but it wasn’t fear that made me feel that way. If something happened to Jack, I’d… I couldn’t even bear to complete the thought.
Jack met my gaze. “They only chomp on —”
“Don’t even tell me!” I said, holding up a hand. “Wait. I gotta know. Lay it on me. What do they chomp on?”
A smile played across Jack’s lips. “Plants.”
“Plants? That’s it?”
“Yep,” he said.
Relief flooded through me as I stared at the giant herd. “You know what? Now that I think about it, I’ve seen these dinos in the movies and stuff.”
“Yeah, they’re duckbilled dinosaurs. Pretty cool, huh?” Jack hugged me, as if relieved they weren’t T-rexes, and then rubbed the knots in my shoulders until I could feel my racing heart slow down a bit. A wave of relief swept over me. Not being on the bottom of the food chain was definitely a plus. Jack wasn’t freaked out; as long as he remained calm, I could, too, because from all the people in my life, I trusted Jack’s judgment the most.
I blew out a long breath. “I really wonder where the heck we are.”
“I’m guessing around 10,000 BC.”
“You might be right,” I said.
“I’m kidding.” Jack grinned, but I didn’t fail to notice his expression clouding. He couldn’t explain what we were seeing, and what Jack couldn’t explain, he didn’t like. In his perfect world, there was a reason for everything.
I gently pushed his hair out of his face as I placed a peck on his heated cheek. “You’ll get the answers you want soon. I don’t doubt that for a minute.” I forced my mouth into a cheery smile. But what if there are no answers or we don’t like the ones we find?
Nodding slowly, Jack peeled his eyes off the large herd and glanced at me. “I hope you’re right.” His blue gaze lingered on me as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. When he smiled, his white teeth gleamed.
I smiled back. “So, they’re like a herd of Jurassic cattle? Kind of like…the cows of the dinosaur world?”
“Yeah, they’re…” Jack stopped in mid-sentence. “Wow! They’re just…amazing.”
I heard Mike’s footsteps behind me and jumped back, startled, suddenly feeling guilty for standing so close to Jack. There was nothing to feel guilty about, but I couldn’t help but peek at him to take in his expression.
Mike didn’t seem to notice my blazing cheeks as he scanned the river, flattening a giant fern with his foot and then grinding it under his sole. “This would make a great Facebooker!” That was his nickname for any fantastic picture he deemed “worthy” to share with the world.
I laughed. “Yeah, post this pic along with ‘Hanging out with dinosaurs on some weird island with two suns’ and see if your friends list isn’t dramatically cut in half by morning.”
Mike leaned in, his arms drawing me closer. “Just look at them! This is, like, way beyond awesome.”
He wasn’t kidding, because being here with him was definitely that. I slipped my hand into his. He grinned and tightened his grip. There I was, shipwrecked in God-knows-where, in a world teeming with dinosaurs. I should have been scared to death and totally freaked out, but instead I couldn’t stop smiling. Mike wasn’t holding my hand in a playful way: He locked his fingers with mine, his thumb brushing over my skin, sending shivers down my spine. It was real. I looked up at him when some of the creatures let out eerie bellows that changed in pitch. He grinned. It was absolutely amazing to be surrounded by the wild calls of real, living dinosaurs.
It sounded like a thousand foghorns or wind instruments being blown, like some sort of mystical orchestra. I held back a giggle. It almost sounded like our school band. And boy, did they have some pretty bad trombone players. In spite of that, the performance in front of us was incredible to witness. Holding Mike’s hand just made it all the better because I happened to experience it with him. That moment would be etched in my mind forever.
“I bet some vocal warm-ups would help these guys big time,” I said with a chuckle.
Jack laughed, and a gleam lit his eyes. I always loved how he laughed at my jokes, no matter how lame they were.
“Man, I wish I had a camera.” Mike raised his hands to peek through and made a clicking sound.
“Who needs a camera when we have Casey?” Jack couldn’t hide the proud smile on his face. “She can paint all of this when we get back.”
I beamed at him and gave his arm an affectionate squeeze. Jack always said the nicest things, and not in Mike’s cheesy way. “You get me.”
He returned the smile and rolled his eyes pla
yfully. He did know all about how much I loved to paint, especially nature scenes…and I was pretty darn good at it too. My painting Angel Wings in the Meadow even received a gold medal in the National Scholastic Art Awards competition.
If Mike could only be half as gallant as Jack…but he wasn’t. And he doesn’t have to be, I reminded myself. Mike has his own attraction thing working for him.
Mike wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me away as he pointed back to the herd. I let myself fall against him and silenced the thoughts in my head, letting go for a moment.
“Come here, boy!” Mike called out to one, before he whistled with both hands.
I lightly smacked his arm. “It’s not a fluffy dog that’ll come when you call it.”
“Just kidding. Hey, check it out. They’re going in for a dip!”
Water splashed as the herd waded and jumped into the river. “Since when do dinosaurs swim?” I spun to face Jack. “Are you sure they only eat plants?” After having been on the menu more than once that day as fish bait and spider food, I had no intention of repeating my experience. One time was one time too many.
Jack nodded. “Well, uh, according to textbooks, yes.”
His wishy-washy response was not reassuring enough. This place was not textbook, and the people who wrote those textbooks that Jack always had his nose in had never seen a dinosaur in person. I wasn’t quite willing to put their theory to the test.
The herd paddled their webbed feet like geese. One turned and swished its tail back and forth like a giant oar.
“Sweet!” shouted Mike, punching the air with his fist. “One’s coming over.”
“Maybe the dino’s a huge MTV fan, and it’s coming over for your autograph,” said Jack.
Mike let out a low laugh. “Ha ha.” He fixed his eyes on the river, always eager to meet a fan.
I couldn’t believe it, and I glared at him with my mouth agape. I wondered if he really was looking forward to a personal meeting, just to get the adrenaline pumping, when he really didn’t know much about the creatures at all. With clammy hands, I reached for a nearby branch and lifted it. Even though the creature didn’t seem very threatening, holding on to the branch made me feel as though I wasn’t quite so helpless. Beads of sweat rolled down my back as the creature swam in our direction. “That thing’s getting closer. Time to go.”
Trapped in the Hollow Earth Novelette Series Omnibus Edition (Books 1 - 4) Page 13
