Chapter 20

chapter twenty DEATH FOSSIL pterodactyl wings. Non functioning for flight. But look cool. Whip-like bronocice tail. Megalodon and Terrex Jaws. This freakish monstrosity keeps changing shape. It's like the bones are nanobots, shifting the creature from one horrible form to another. Tires squeal on the marble floor as Big Mama roars past a huge hanging model of the solar system. An instant later— SLAM!

The Death Fossil crashes through it, sending planets flying. Earth tumbles past us, then slams into a pillar and shatters. "Nice symbolism," Quint remarks as we whip around a corner. Dirk drives faster—but still, the Death Fossil gains on us. "Jack, we got a wall ahead of us," he says. "Which way am I going?" I don't know. It's like amazing in here. Everything leads back to the start and the start is blocked. You're holding the map upside down "ARGH!" Dirk roars. He whips the wheel. Big Mama nearly flips as Dirk forces the vehicle into a last-second turn down another dark hall.

The unintentional fake-out tricks the Death Fossil and we hear bone skid against marble as it tries to slow down. Glancing back, I see— KA-KRAMM! The monster slams, headlong, into a wall of solid concrete. Bones explode. But we all know that will only slow the beast—not stop it. Big Mama's wheels crash back to the floor, and the screeching tires echo like screams. A long corridor stretches out in front of us. It's as dark as the rest of the museum, but my eyes are adjusting now. "Guys," I whisper. "I think there's something up ahead." "STOP!" Quint cries, suddenly thrusting his arm past me, yanking the emergency brake. We are instantly flung forward—the seat belt against my chest feels like someone is smashing a two-by-four. The foul smell of burnt rubber fills the air as Dirk flips on the high beams. "Oh yay," I grumble as the lights flash across hundreds of skinless faces. "More dead stuff..."

Skeleton soldiers... And there are more nearby. I can't see them, but I hear rattling bones echoing down the halls as soldiers storm into the museum. "Not givin' up yet," Dirk growls. He throws Big Mama into reverse and mashes the pedal. "Seat belts, gang!" June orders. And just in time. The Death Fossil has reassembled, and its tail is smashing into us like a wrecking ball.

Big Mama pinwheels through the air, then crashes, wheels-down, with a horrible KRUNCH. Metal groans as we slide across the floor. Inside Big Mama, it looks like we've gone zero gravity. I can barely tell which side is up. But when I glance out the window, I see it— A set of double doors ahead, with an unilluminated EXIT sign above. My heart speeds up but then quickly deflates.

Because there is zero chance Big Mama will be able to squeeze through them. I catch a glimpse of the Death Fossil in our rearview, lumbering behind us. We seemed destined to fail. The reality begins to set in, when— "EVERYONE DOWN!" Dirk cries. The Death Fossil's massive paw swings out, CRACKING Big Mama, sending us tumbling and then exploding through a huge hanging tarp. An UNDER CONSTRUCTION sign flies up and ricochets off the windshield as we barrel through an archway. Part of the surrounding wall shatters. Stone pounds the ground as we skid across the floor of some new, dark, nearly empty wing of the museum. There is a moment of strange, eerie quiet— everyone is holding their breath. Then, through Big Mama's side mirrors, we watch the cracks in the walls splinter and grow until— SMASH!!!