“Please, just give him something,” Moran pleaded.
Gladys eyed the battered Steven through the bars of his cell. “Come here, boy.”
Steven shuffled over, his movements stiff. She poked and prodded his body until he groaned. “No ribs are broken, your lungs are fine. You’ll live.”
“Thanks, I guess,” Steven said.
Gladys raised both hands to his face. “Hold still.”
With a deft movement, she gripped his nose and twisted the broken cartilage into place. The crunch of setting bone was loud, as was Steven’s surprised yelp. “Ow!”
“Don’t be such a baby,” Gladys said, rummaging in her bag. She handed over a cloth, another bottle of mystery fluid, and a small pot of ointment. “Put the ointment on your wounds, and drink that. A few sips every hour. That should do the trick.”
Steven accepted the proffered gifts with tears running down his face. He shuffled back to his corner and took a few swigs from the bottle. “Ugh, this stuff is vile.”
“Maybe, but it works,” Gladys said with an evil chuckle.
As she exited Bruce’s cell, she turned to the guard. “Make sure they all get some water. They’re human beings, after all. Not animals.”
“Grandma, please. They’re prisoners,” the guard protested.
“Don’t talk back to me, boy,” Gladys said with a sharp look.
The guard sighed. “Yes, Grandma.”
“And you’d better show up for dinner tonight. Once a week, from now on. You’ve neglected me long enough,” Gladys admonished.
“Now see what you’ve done,” the guard said, shooting Moran an accusing look.
“Don’t blame her, boy. You’re the one who forgot about your own flesh and blood,” Gladys said, dragging him toward the door.
“Yes, Grandma.”
The door to the cells slammed shut behind them, leaving a wide-eyed Moran behind. She blinked a couple of times before saying, “What the hell was that?”
Steven shook his head. “I don’t know, but this stuff is making me feel pretty awesome.” He waved the bottle Gladys had given him in the air. “Whatever it is, it’s magic, and Gladys is a witch.”
Bear began to laugh. It started out as a chuckle but soon morphed into a full-blown belly laugh. His body shook, and the bars rattled until Moran found herself joining in. She couldn’t help it. It was addictive.
“Did you see his face?” Bear roared, tears running down his cheeks. “Grandma. Hahaha!”
“I know,” Moran said, doubled over.
“I wonder if she spanks him when he’s naughty,” Steven mused, still waving the magic bottle around.
That sent Moran and Bear into fresh paroxysms, both of them clinging to the bars for dear life. As she gasped for breath, Moran mused that it felt good to laugh again. It reminded her of something her father used to say: Even when all is darkest, you can still find a little light.
Chapter 15 - Bones
Bones crouched inside the treeline, his lanky form hidden in shadow. Behind him lay the primordial forest with its myriad of dangers. Above him shone a hunter’s moon, full and fat. Before him lay the Zoo and its occupants, unaware that he was watching. Watching, waiting, and listening.
Even Rogue never suspected he was stalking her. He was there when the Dryptosaurus attacked and again during the stampede. It had taken everything he had not to interfere, not to reveal himself. Luckily, she’d suffered no real harm. But he’d always known she was a fighter. It was one of the things that attracted him to her.
The occasional rustle of leaves let him know he wasn’t alone, but he wasn’t worried. The T-rex piss he’d rubbed on his clothes kept most dinosaurs at bay. Very few creatures wanted to tangle with a T-Rex, a loophole Bones was quick to exploit. It hadn’t been easy to get hold of the stuff, but he was glad he’d thought of it. It was the only way he could spy on Rogue without getting eaten.
By now, he knew the Zoo like the back of his hand. Every day, he studied its layout, its nooks and crannies, its strengths and weaknesses. He listened to the guards’ talk while they were on break, and he knew both their number and rotation. He’d found the places where he could scale the walls, and he’d even been inside the settlement a few times.
He was confident he had enough information to take back to Senator Douglas. Enough to earn him the kind of life he’d always dreamed of. A cushy job with plenty of perks and Rogue at his side. But there lay the hitch. She wasn’t by his side. Not yet. A minor oversight he planned to remedy that night. Even if I have to snatch you from your bed, my love.
With a determined glint in his eyes, Bones headed toward his target: A corner of the Zoo rarely frequented by the guards. Usually, only one man patrolled that stretch, an easy mark.
Bones reached the wall and scaled it with ease. He perched on the edge like a vulture waiting for its prey. When the guard drew level, he dropped down with a silent rush. His knife flashed across his victim’s throat, and the skin split apart like a ripe plum. Blood gushed from the wound and splashed onto the ground, a crimson waterfall.
After cleaning his knife, Bones dragged the body into a hidden corner and continued on his way. He knew exactly where to go and reached Olivia’s home within a couple of minutes. There, he hovered around the edges, just as he’d done many a night before—a silent predator.
He caught a glimpse of Rogue through the kitchen window, and his heart skipped a beat. She was as beautiful as ever. An irresistible siren that sang to his soul and drew him to her until he’d gladly drown in her arms.
Tonight, however, she looked tired. Purple shadows lined her eyes, and her mouth was drawn. When she moved, it was with a pronounced limp. Probably because of her run-in with the Stegoceras.
Bones frowned. These people weren’t looking after her. They didn’t appreciate her like he did, not even her mother. It reinforced his belief that
