The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 70: Primal Instinct

Bob and Alan were sitting around the warmth of the campfire inside the tiny little stone structure. The flames crackled softly, serving as their only source of warmth and light within the night of the ARK. Alan’s eyes looked to the door nervously, which was open to reveal Rex, the Tyrannosaurus sleeping peacefully near the river. As it inhaled and exhaled, it created waves in the river. Alan smiled at the sight.

“So are we going to talk about what happened back there?” Bob finally broke the silence. Alan looked back at Bob and shrugged.

“I already told you, I don’t know. Besides, that was like, a week ago! An incident like that hasn’t happened since. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal anyway,” Alan shot back. He took a bite out of a huge salmon. Bob glanced at Alan’s implant. It was true. It hadn’t been active since that day they tamed the Rex.

“While that may be true it’s still a cause for concern,” Bob responded. He looked down at the ground, regret flooded his eyes, “You shouldn’t be here. Any of you.”

Alan looked at Bob with a bit of confusion.

“You’re saying that as if it’s your fault we’ve all been sent to this prehistoric island! Heh heh,” Alan chuckled nervously. Bob looked away.

“Because it is,” he thought solemnly.

The fire continued to crackle, but it was slowly starting to die out. Alan hugged himself tightly, before leaning against the stone wall and eyeing the ceiling sadly.

“I don’t know why we’ve been sent here,” Alan said, “It’s not fair. I just want to go home already. Get this mess over with. We’ve been hunted by raptors and carnos and whatever you call ‘em for the past three weeks. I’m tired.”

Bob looked down at the floor as the fire finally began to die down.

“Me too, kid.”

The fire was finally put out, shrouding the stone hut in darkness. Bob grumbled to himself and got up from the ground. He grabbed a pike and a crossbow from off the smithy, and then afterwards collected a set of bolas, which he put on his belt. He armored up, and then was out the door for more firewood.

Bob stepped foot on the black sands, feeling his foot sink into the sand, before finally stepping down from the door. He looked up at the night sky, which was filled with stars, even more than back home. He gazed at them for a second, when a sudden scream rang from the redwoods.

Bob’s head turned to the redwoods. There were no creatures in sight, nor humans. Unlike the game, creatures actually went to sleep at this time. At least most of them did. It was a safe time to go search for firewood and other resources, no matter how terrifying it was. It didn’t make sense someone would be so scared out of their mind they’d cry out for help.

“It might be a pack of Allosaurus,” Bob thought, “Or a flock of Argentavis. By the time I get there, it might be too late. Even if I came in time, I don’t think even Rex would be enough to handle it. Those packs can tear anything down, unless they face another pack of stronger creatures. I should just stick to my own lane.”

Bob turned away from the desperate cries for help, and delved into the forest for firewood.

~

“Okay, that should be enough to last the rest of the night,” Bob told himself as he picked up a log from the ground. Bob tossed the log over his shoulder and began to make his way back home when he heard loud footsteps ring throughout the forest.

“Hmm?” Bob thought as he turned back.

There was nothing except the rustling of the tree’s leaves in the soft wind. Bob felt a bead of sweat drip down his forehead.

“Could it be a Tyrannosaurus?” Bob thought, as he felt his heart hammer against his chest, “No. They aren’t active at this time. Troodons? Megalosaurus? No, they’re not that big.”

After staying still for a moment, Bob finally decided that it must have been his imagination. Bob turned around and began to head out of the forest and back to his shelter. A few more minutes of walking and the trees finally ended, and Bob was back at the familiar black sanded river, where the river runs red.

As Bob stepped up to the front door, fast and large footsteps began to ring in the footsteps. Bob’s head jolted to the forest again and he dropped all of the firewood onto the ground.

“Now that’s definitely not my imagination!” Bob screamed as he pulled his crossbow out and nocked an arrow. Rex began to stir in his sleep, until finally his eyes jolted awake. Rex’s eyes widened and it instantly got up onto its feet. Bob looked back at Rex and saw its tense body stature.

“What? Rex is…”

“SCARED?!”

With a deafening roar, a giant beast emerged from the forest and roared out into the river. Its roar was followed by silence. Bob’s eyes widened as he saw it. It was blood red in color and white speckles running around its body. It looked like the sunset mixed in with the night skies. It had rigid sharp spines running down its back and a slender yet compact jaw. Its teeth were serrated, and its eyes filled with bloodlust.

Most importantly, it had something in its mouth. Reins. The reins led to a saddle, and sitting atop the saddle was a shirtless man with dead hair and a crazed grin.

“What is that thing?” Bob asked himself, breathing steadily and aiming the crossbow at the unknown creature, “I’ve never seen it before in the game. Is this the President’s creation? It has to be. It looks just as big as a Giganotosaurus. It has serrated teeth and its jaw shape…”

“Carcharodontosaurus.”

“Well well well!” the rider yelled out. He grinned to reveal a golden tooth that was dim under the moonlight. He had a golden cross necklace that swayed back and forth as the Carcharodontosaurus breathed. The man got up from his saddle and jumped down onto the black sands.

BOOM.

Sand flew everywhere, and the man let out a soft chuckle as he began to walk up to Bob.

“It seems like I’ve finally found what I’m looking for. A tamed Rex, a stone hut, and a guy who seems to know what he’s doing with all that fancy equipment. Now tell me, what’s your name?” the man demanded to know. He pointed a finger at Bob. Bob aimed the crossbow at his face.

“Why the hell do you need to know that?”

“Eh, good question! I don’t have a reason. I just want to know the name of the person I will soon kill. Hopefully if you’re strong enough I’ll actually have fun. Now I’ll start. I’m Jerry. Jerry Jenkins. And I’ve been tasked to kill you and your friend. So make this entertaining for me and tell me your name. And your attribute.”

Bob growled and pulled the trigger.

SWISH!

The arrow flew at Jerry fast, but with amazing speed, Jerry grabbed the arrow shaft as it was about to pierce his nose and he tossed it into the air. Blood suddenly flew out of the river and onto the arrow. Bob gasped, and he quickly looked at the river to see dozens of schools of fish dying left and right, blood flying out of their bodies and onto the arrow. Bob felt the wind around him, and then something pierced his shoulder. Bob let out a cry of pain and looked down to see the blood doused arrow embedded into his right shoulder. Bob took the arrow shaft and snapped it in half, tossing it to the sand. Jerry had a smug look on his face and put his arms out wide into the air. A wave of blood was rising from the water and was surrounding him, slowly revolving around and around.

“Isn’t it beautiful? Isn’t it beautiful how strong humans can become? Just look at me! I can control the blood of others! Finally the strong will rule as they always have and they will show the weak what’s up! We will show them that the strong must rule, and that the weak deserve to DIE,” Jerry shouted into the air. His Carcharodontosaurus agreed by nodding his head.

“You’re a crazy weirdo,” Bob criticized him, “I’m warning you. I’ve fought countless others before, none have ever defeated me. So go away now or else I’m going to have to kill you.”

Jerry chuckled, and raised his hand into a choking position, as if he were trying to use the Force on Bob. As Bob felt the blood trickle from his shoulder, nothing seemed to change. Jerry looked surprised, and he raised his eyebrow.

“Interesting. I can’t manipulate your blood. You must be strong,” Jerry noted, “It makes sense. Your physical body, well, that obviously show’s you’re strong. But what about your attribute? What’s your attribute?”

“I’M NOT TELLING YOU!” Bob shouted back, “That’s some loser stuff that only happens in movies or stories!”

Bob grimaced as he looked down at his empty wrist. Hopefully Jerry would fall for the bluff. Jerry seemed to catch onto Bob’s thoughts, because Jerry looked at where Bob’s left wrist was and noticed his missing implant.

“Oooh, now isn’t that interesting. Someone with no implant! But how boring. I guess I was wrong about you. You’re pretty damn weak.”

Jerry pointed his finger at the Tyrannosaurus.

“Romeo, get the Rex. I’ll handle the humans.”

Romeo nodded in affirmation and rushed toward Rex. Rex let out an ear-deafening roar, and their skulls clashed. They began to head-butt, and as the two beasts collided it was clear that Romeo was going to overpower Rex pretty soon. Romeo was twice as large as him, and twice his weight it seemed too. But Rex was holding on. Bob would have to be quick or Rex would be killed and so would he. Bob turned around and noticed Jerry running at Bob full speed with his fists covered in blood. Jerry let out a roar and swung his left fist at Bob’s cheek. Bob quickly weaved to the side and took out his bola. He swung the bola around in the air, and then afterwards swung it at Jerry’s face. Jerry couldn’t dodge the attack in time. It hit him square in the jaw, and Jerry let out a cry of pain as he stumbled to the side. Bob raised his boot and kicked at Jerry, but Jerry suddenly deflected with a kick of his own.

BAM!

Jerry’s gray sweatpants didn’t shiver one bit when colliding with Bob’s, and Bob let out a confused gasp.

“He’s strong even physically! Even though I'm struggling a little bit.”

Jerry let out a laugh.

“Not bad! But now…”

Jerry retracted his leg, and Bob didn’t expect this coming. Bob tripped forward, and Jerry ran forward and kneed him in the stomach. Bob let out a gasp of pain as he quickly stumbled backwards. He reached for his pike and got it out, quickly jabbing at Jerry. Jerry danced and weaved back and forth, until finally a stream of blood came out of nowhere and smashed into Bob so hard he went flying into the house. Bob knocked his head on the wall, and he was out cold on the black sand. Jerry walked up to Bob and kicked him in the head.

“That wasn’t so bad I’ll give it to you. Maybe if you had an implant you’d stand a chance, sucker. I’ll kill you last since you gave me a bit of a workout. Now, there was a second one. He must be in the house.”

Jerry let blood collect onto his fist, and with one punch he smashed the wall apart. Stones tumbled all over the ground, and a shrill scream echoed from inside. Jerry kicked at the wall again, and now the roof was tumbling.

SMASH!

The ceiling collapsed inside, and there was a THUD on the sand near the door. Jerry turned to see a tall seven foot man trembling on the sand with fear in his eyes. Jerry snorted at the sight.

“You’re the second one?! How lame. Say… You’re Alan right? You’re the loser who didn’t want to join the football team because he was too ‘scared’.”

“P-please don’t hurt me! I’m beggin’ ya!” Alan cried out. He shielded his face.

“Answer my question bigback! Are you the kid that was supposed to join the football team, but then declined the offer because you didn’t wanna do it?” Jerry yelled again.

“Y-yeah! Yeah I didn’t join! But so what? It was only because of that scary team captain. I didn’t wanna be with him! He tried to sock me, man!”

Jerry stepped forward and Alan let out another shriek.

“I don’t think you realize, but that ‘team captain’ you’re talking about is right in front of you! Look at you! You’re so pathetic that you can’t even put your good genetics to use. Now get up and fight me or I’m gonna split your skull open.”

“NO!”

Jerry began to walk up to Alan, and he quickly rose up from the ground. Alan readied his fists, and Jerry did the same. Jerry gave a maniacal grin, and he let his implant fade. The blood surrounding his fists fell onto the black sand.

“I’ll play nice. No implant attribute for me, but you can still use yours.”

Jerry rushed forward in an instant and slammed his fist into Alan’s face. Alan let out a cry of pain as he was sent flying backwards. He tripped and stumbled on the sand and fell on his face. As Alan slowly raised his head from the sand, Jerry was already rushing at him and he was preparing to kick his face like a football.

POW!

“AHHHH!” Alan screamed as he clenched his nose in pain. Blood spurted out from his nostrils and onto the sand. Jerry let out a laugh as he grabbed him by the hair. Alan let out another squeal, and Jerry began to grin.

“Come on boy! Put some more energy into this fight, it’s life or death!”

Jerry flung Alan so hard that he was sent flying toward the other side of the river. Alan’s body slammed into one of the sequoia trees, and he collapsed to the ground. Jerry jumped across the river and landed on the grass with a THUMP! Jerry clenched his fists, and waited for Alan to get up. Alan had tears streaming down his face.

“Awww,” Jerry said, “Is little Alan gonna cry?” Jerry mocked him, rotating his fists near his eyes and pouting. Jerry laughed again, and Alan gritted his teeth.

“I don’t want to fight,” Alan shot back, “All of us should just work together and find our way out of here back home!”

Jerry rolled his eyes and chuckled.

“You’re funny. That’s some lame loser stuff. Weak people don’t deserve to live. They just end up getting everyone hurt. People like YOU don’t deserve your gifts!”

Jerry rushed forward and let out another scream as he hurled his leg at Alan’s face. Alan tanked the shot and spat out blood onto the grass. Finally, Alan hurled a punch of his own at Jerry. He smacked Jerry right in the cheek, and Jerry’s head flew back before he recoiled and slammed his head into Alan’s forehead.

Alan let out a cry of pain and began to wildly swing at Jerry. Jerry simply began to walk backward slowly, until eventually Alan stumbled forward and was met with Jerry’s knee.

POW!

Alan stumbled backwards and began to gasp for breath. His eye was already getting swollen and there was blood everywhere. Jerry eyed Alan’s implant.

“Come on boy. Use your attribute or you’re going to die!”

“I don’t know it, I don’t know it,” Alan mumbled. He stumbled forward, and Jerry sighed.

“You’re so weak and pathetic it’s astonishing.”

Jerry walked forward, pulled his fist back, and then pummeled it right into Alan’s liver. Alan let out a horrible wheeze, and blood spilled from his lips onto Jerry’s body. A sadistic smile grew on his face.

“Did you know that direct shots to the liver hurt because the liver is the biggest organ that has blood circulating through it? When the liver is hit, it shakes, and is then stunned, which causes the user to become disoriented and nauseous. In severe cases, it can even kill someone.”

Jerry reached his fist back and punched him in the liver again. And again, and again, and again. Alan let out a groan and threw up all over the ground. Jerry smiled at the sight.

“Any last words?” Jerry asked softly. Alan was silent for a bit. He groaned again, and his stomach grumbled.

“I’m- I’m-”

Jerry sneered.

“Spit it out already!”

“I’m so hungry…”

Jerry raised his eyebrow.

“What lame last words. Whatever, I’ll just kill you right here and now.”

Alan raised his head, revealing his bloodshot eyes.

“I’m so hungry!”

Jerry was taken aback. He quickly stepped back, his fists clenched and his eyes pinned right on Alan’s implant. It was glowing intensely and seemed to be glowing even more and more brightly. Alan began to stumble forward, his stomach growling so loud it sounded like a T-Rex.

“Hungry, hungry, hungry,” Alan mumbled. Alan was staring at Jerry and he wasn’t even blinking, “Need food.”

Alan rushed at Jerry, and Jerry swung a punch at Alan’s face.

POW!

Alan’s face didn’t even move an inch. Jerry let out a yell of surprise as Alan grabbed Jerry’s arm. His fingers gripped tight on his arm. Jerry tried to pull away, but his grip was so strong that Jerry couldn’t slip out.

In an instant, Alan swung Jerry toward the tree, and his body slammed into the tree so hard it shook. Jerry looked up to see Alan’s fist coming toward his face.

BOOM!

Jerry could feel his vision flicker as the world began to get shakier. He could feel Alan grab onto his arm again, and Jerry looked in horror to see Alan’s tearing away at it bit by bit. Alan’s foot was implanted in Jerry’s stomach so he couldn’t escape. Alan pulled as hard as he could, and Jerry could feel his bone snap and his muscles tear. Jerry let out a howl of pain as he could see his right arm dangle loosely. Jerry slammed his head forward into Alan’s own head, causing him to stumble backward, letting go of Jerry.

“This damn bastard is trying to rip my arm off! I gotta get out of here, now!” Jerry thought in horror. He quickly began to make a run for it, holding his broken arm in his left hand. His feet pounded against the grass, but Alan was just as fast. Alan began to run up to Jerry full speed. Jerry looked back to see Alan’s mouth wide open and drool running down his chin like a hungry zombie eager for brains.

Jerry jumped across the river and landed on the black sand safely. He whistled for Romeo, who was busy fighting Rex. Romeo had Rex’s neck locked in his jaws.

“Romeo, come!”

Romeo quickly ran over to Jerry, but as Jerry hopped up onto Romeo’s saddle, someone snatched onto his foot. Jerry looked down to see the crazed Alan tugging away. Alan pulled Jerry down so hard Jerry’s face ended up in the black sands. Alan slammed his foot into Jerry’s back, and he let out a cry of pain. Alan snatched onto his broken arm and began to pull at it again.

“YOUCH! Let go, you big bastard! You’ve already broken that arm, what are you doing?!” Jerry screamed.

Alan paid no heed to his words. He ripped and tugged so hard that Jerry couldn’t even describe the feeling anymore. He suddenly began to regret listening to Loki’s orders.

With one final pull, it was all over. Literally. Alan ripped Jerry’s arm right off his shoulder, and Jerry let out a howl of pain so loud that perhaps the whole ARK could hear him. Jerry began to gasp rapidly, trying his best not to pass out. Jerry felt Alan’s foot leave his back, and Jerry quickly scrambled up from the sand. Blood poured from the stump where Alan had ripped his right arm off, and Jerry’s implant glowed. The blood stopped pouring out. Jerry ran up to Romeo and jumped onto the saddle. Sweat poured down Jerry’s forehead, and he watched Alan carefully. Alan looked up at Jerry, holding his arm hungrily, he held it up and took a bite out of it. As Alan chewed on the arm and began to feast on it, Jerry turned away, pulled on the reins, and left as fast as he could.

Alan continued to scarf the arm down, blood and muscles trailing down his lips and chin and onto the black sands. As he began to finish the arm up, leaving nothing but bones, his implant began to dim.

Once he was done, the crazed Alan tossed the remains into the river. The bloodshot in his eyes began to fade away, and he looked around, dazed and confused.

“W-what happened?”

Alan felt the blood on his chin, and wiped at it. As he saw the remains of flesh, he began to get queasy. His hands began to tremble, and he let out a shriek of fear.

~

An hour had passed since the fight.

Jerry let out a groan of pain, as he rested his back against a tree and held onto the stump of his right arm. Jerry’s implant continued to glow. Blood poured out, slowly forming an arm.

“That damn Alan… What the hell was that back there? Was that his attribute?” Jerry asked aloud. Romeo looked down at Jerry pitifully. Jerry let out another gasp of pain, gritting his teeth. He grasped at his gold cross necklace tightly.

“Esmeralda,” Jerry whispered, “I found him. He’s still alive somehow on this cursed island.”

Jerry clenched his eyes tight, his breath getting raggedy.

“He’s gonna pay. He’s gonna pay for killing you. Him and his family of illiterate drunk losers. All of them will. I’ll build a world with only the strong. For you. I promise you Alan. You’re not safe until I get my hands wrapped around your heart.”

Jerry let go of the gold cross necklace and clenched his fist.

“I promise.”