fanfiction Ultimus Chapter Thirteen: Hide, Flight, or Fight

[OverRannus]

Andrew and Reuben quickly hunkered down behind a couple of crates. Andrew peered around from the crates and saw four raptors exiting the shadows of the hall. They looked around and called to each other, their calls much more distorted than their normal counterparts.

‘Damn it, could this get any worse!!’ Andrew yelled in his thoughts.

Andrew looked at Reuben, he seemed frightened. Andrew looked over in one of the corners where there was one of Andrew’s contingency plans that were set up for such a situation. Several empty crates, one being tipped to the side and lid off of it. He looked back at Reuben and quickly gave a command.

“Reuben, army crawl to block.” Andrew said quietly, which didn’t bother Reuben as he did a dog’s army crawl to the crate and lay inside. Andrew sighed, now all he had to do was get there safely, close Reuben’s box and get in his without catching the attention of the raptors. Andrew army crawled slowly to the boxes checking his surroundings frequently. He got to Reuben’s box and peered inside Reuben turned his head and looked at him.

“See you on the other side of this buddy!” Andrew said quietly as he grabbed the lid of the crate and gently and quietly set it over the hole, pressing against it to make sure it was sealed enough for the lid not to fall off yet loose enough for Reuben to still be able to breathe. Andrew let go of the lid, and it stayed in place. Andrew crawled over to his crate next, a crate as big as Andrew standing. It was standing straight up, which turned out inconvenient in times of emergencies. Andrew looked around for a moment, he couldn’t see the raptors. He heard chattering of them communicating as they began to search but no sight of them yet.

Andrew slowly and quietly stood up next to the crate. He looked around and still didn’t see any of the raptors from this angle. Andrew quickly grabbed the top of the crate and quietly as possible set it down on its side next to Reuben’s. Andrew quietly walked around it to the top and took off the lid. He quickly realized that he still had guns on his back and took them off and putting individually in. He gently set the shotgun inside, but as he was about to put his rifle in, something happened.

The earth began to shake and a thunderous sound blasted through the air with an unearthly pulsing hum coming along with it. This was the first time Andrew or Reuben had ever experienced something like this. Out of the hundreds of expeditions to this place. This was the first time. It terrified Andrew and horrified Reuben.

As this was occurring, Reuben began barking and yipping loudly and the crate he was in began shaking as he panicked inside. Andrew tried to shush him up, but it was a waste of time and energy. Two heads popped up from behind crates and looked over in Andrew’s direction, almost immediately spotting him crouched by the crate.

Andrew quickly thought for a moment and ran with his rifle away around the edge of the crates. Trying his best to get their attention and leave Reuben safe.

This plan worked as calls for the hunt rang through that facility and the sound of fast pace movement of claws. However, it didn’t work as he planned as a raptor almost immediately blocked his way through. Andrew stopped and aimed his rifle. The creature began running towards him and Andrew started firing. Andrew fired six rounds into its chest and the creature dropped five feet away from him. Andrew looked down at the creature, gaping its last breath before exhaling and its eyes widened. The room and the outside world become immediately silent. The strange noise was over and nothing was louder than a mouse.

Andrew knew he didn’t have the element of surprise anymore and probably had no chance of making it out. Andrew quickly turned and ran back to the crate and grabbed the shotgun. Killing them was the only way out for him and Reuben. He slung the shotgun over his left shoulder pushed the rifle to his right shoulder and began to search for these monsters.