It was gone.

  The scent vanished right here.

  Carlo stood beneath the observation log near the feeding station, the exact spot where staff usually fired the signal flares. Because this area was sheltered from the rain, the scent remained thick and pungent.

  Right here... wait?

  Carlo sniffed again. He realized the most concentrated scent was behind the camouflaged service door used by the staff.

  There’s a scent trail on my side of the hidden door too. That means a human definitely opened it... but they didn't come in? They just stood at the threshold and looked? If they wanted to watch us, wouldn't the cameras be easier?

  Carlo couldn't wrap his head around human logic. He looked back at the feeding platform, then toward the dense forest within the enclosure.

  Based on the scent data, this person just pulled the door open, stood there for a moment, and shut it again. But what if... there was more than one?

  Is it possible... someone has already slipped into the paddock?

  Carlo looked up toward the canopy of the towering redwoods, lost in thought. Regardless of the truth, he decided it was best to stay close to Debby and Caroline for now.

  …

  Drs. Grant, Sattler, and Malcolm entered the conference room together. Though called a meeting room, it felt more like an auditorium. The three of them were seated at a central, oval table while a podium stood off to the side.

  "Is this a press conference or a trial?" Ian Malcolm remarked.

  Shortly after they sat down, the lights dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight illuminating the podium. Simon Masrani stepped into the light.

  "Good morning, everyone. It is an honor to have you here. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience yesterday’s storm caused. Without further ado, let’s get straight to the point."

  Simon picked up a remote and pressed a button. A video began to play on the screen behind him.

  [What is a dinosaur to you?]

  The question appeared in bold text, followed by a montage of tourist interviews.

  "A giant creature, I guess..." answered a woman in sunglasses and a sun hat.

  "The former rulers of the Earth!" replied an ordinary-looking young man. Judging by the dinosaur merchandise he was wearing, he was a hardcore fan.

  "They're cool!" a child added innocently.

  Simon paused the video at the right moment.

  "Dinosaurs, creatures that lived 65 million years ago. They are so fascinating, so alien... that even today, we never stop searching for their traces. Yet, even now, children in Jurassic World look at a Stegosaurus with the same nonchalance they would an elephant at a zoo. These prehistoric animals remain a mystery to us."

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  "We are the ones who brought them back to this world. We have a responsibility to give them a place of their own, a place to show their true nature. And I, Simon Masrani, invite you to help achieve this grand vision."

  Simon gestured toward the shadows.

  "Dr. Ellie Sattler, one of the world's preeminent paleobotanists and the manager of the botanical department for this Ecological Zone."

  "Dr. Alan Grant, a paleontologist whose experience in facing live dinosaurs is, I believe, unparalleled in this world."

  Two other spotlights hit them. Having been briefed beforehand, Ellie and Grant didn't look startled. Ellie stood and gave a slight bow; Grant, looking uncomfortable under the glare, stood and gave a stiff wave.

  "Furthermore, we have invited Dr. Ian Malcolm to provide us with his insights. I believe no one can question his intellect."

  The lights didn't find Ian, however, as he had sternly refused to participate in the "theatricality." The presence of these three sparked a wave of hushed whispers among the audience. Their involvement was seen as the ultimate endorsement of the park's safety.

  As the lights moved away, Grant grumbled quietly, "Now I know why he told me I could pick any dig site I wanted."

  Turning back to Simon, he clicked the remote to reveal a long list on the screen.

  "Finally, Dr. Henry Wu has provided us with the 'true' inhabitants for our Primeval Ecological Zone!"

  [Project Primeval: Dinosaur Roster]

  Giganotosaurus Family (Two Adults, One Juvenile)

  Ceratosaurus (2)

  Carnotaurus (2)

  Dilophosaurus (5)

  Brachiosaurus (1 Herd)

  Diplodocus (1 Herd)

  Sinoceratops (1 Herd)

  Triceratops (2 Small Herds)

  Parasaurolophus (3 Herds)

  Stegosaurus (3 Families)

  Ankylosaurus (1 Herd)

  Gallimimus (2 Large Herds)

  Dryosaurus (2 Herds)

  Compsognathus (3 Small Clusters)

  The names appeared with pictures and brief descriptions, though it was mostly for show. The audience members were either experts themselves or executives who didn't need to know the biology; the blurbs were just there for the aesthetic.

  "Is the park running normally?"

  Claire Dearing arrived at the Control Room. With the storm over, the maintenance checks had begun. Even with independent systems and backups, any minor glitch could lead to catastrophe.

  "Uh... the Pachycephalosaurus paddock had a short circuit in the fence, and the Giganotosaurus exhibit cameras went offline for ten minutes. It’s all fixed now. Everything else is green," Lowery reported enthusiastically. He didn't want his boss to know he’d been slacking off all day.

  Claire sighed in relief. With the CEO’s VIP guests on-site, no errors were permissible.

  …

  Midnight, Giganotosaurus Sector 5.

  The surveillance monitors showed a heartwarming image of a family of three sleeping peacefully. Every few seconds, the screen flickered almost imperceptibly.

  "Dammit, do we really need a sample from this dinosaur?" a man whispered into his headset. He was crouched in a tree, clad in a ghillie suit.

  "Shut up and do your job. Get the epidermal sample and let's get home," a male voice responded.

  "Gentlemen, we need to move faster," a woman’s calm voice added. "If the Jurassic World tech team realizes we’ve looped their cameras, we're going to be fugitives."

  "This is insane. Why do they want these two Giganotosaurus specifically?"

  "Their genetics are superior. The boss took an interest."

  The man in the tree kept talking to ease his nerves. He wasn't a professional hunter; his camouflage skills and marksmanship were the results of a crash course a few months prior. He was only here because his family was in debt, and he had to do the dirty work for the creditors.

  Huff…

  He took a deep breath, held it, and aimed his dart rifle at the two adult giants.

  Thwip... thud. Thwip... thud.

  The sound of darts hitting flesh echoed twice.

  "The small one is blocked. I’m going down to sedate him manually."

  "Copy. We have 30 minutes. Collect the samples, then head back to the entrance. I’ll open the gate for you."

  The man in the ghillie suit dropped down and stood beside Caroline. He collected a tissue sample, then moved to Debby to do the same. After retrieving the spent darts, he rounded the two massive bodies, rifle ready to tag the juvenile and take its sample.

  "Their firewall just upgraded! Dammit, I can’t open the staff access! Christine, come with me to the emergency override!"

  The voices in the man's headset made his already pale face turn ghostly.

  "Crap! The little one is gone!"