Animalia by Cristian Johnson (free novels to read txt) 📕

my friend, your dad, and make sure he was safe. I elbowed the leader behind me in his stomach, and yelled for him to make a run for it. He got up as he mowed through the amounts of bandits surprised that we retaliated. The leader had me in a head lock as I tried to find a way out, he was very thin indeed, when I proceeded to punch his sides he let go to give out a wheeze. I got up as the bandits began to find their weapons. Your father at this time is finding a vehicle for us to escape. I escaped from the tent and noticed the vast amounts of gasoline tanks around. I then grabbed an AK-47 and found cover. The bandits began to shoot at me as they advanced. I shoot back, only aiming at their legs and feet. They began to fall, they’re not experienced with combat like me. I saw multiple grenades and tried to put them around the gasoline tanks. That was when I got sneak up as I was groped around the neck with a knife aimed at my chest. The leader was furious and told the others to find your father. Your father started up a jeep they had and saw that I was close to death.” Reginaled looks down with shortness of breath.

“He too was a good soldier, and just how you and Luke treat each other. He thought of me as his older brother, and ran into the gasoline tanks. The explosion blew up the camp and burned down the entire camp. I woke up on a bed, noticing that now I had a stump on my left leg. I was too weak to speak and ask answers to what happened. Couple weeks went by and I asked around the base, but they said I was the only survivor, and tried their hardest to find your father, but his body was never found. I wanted to go to the camp myself but they wouldn’t let me.” Reginald looks away covering his face with his ear, as a tear rolls down his eye .“The general of the base was mad at me, but also felt we did the right thing of taking back the supplies. They sent me home, and I had to tell your mother the bad news. Alas when I got back though you were born. There that's the story. I hope that filled in some gaps of what you wanted Chris.“ Reginald said.

“Yeah it did…” Chirs replied softly. “I’m just glad that he was able to make a sacrifice to save you.”

Reginald grew tired and wanted to rest for a while. He sat down underneath the tall long yellow grass. Luke and Chris also wanted a break but were thirsty for some water than ever. As they sat for a while Chris still was conflicted inside. He blamed himself for scaring Emma away. Although again his other half of his mind told himself that Emma is just going through a rough patch right now and just needed some space with herself.

Movement in the grass alerted Reginald as he shook his head. “Hmm. It seems we have company kiddos.”

The rustles coming from the grass continue to get louder. Luke stamped his feet as he lowered his head. Chris got into a stance and was getting ready to pounce. Reggie though looked calm and shook his head. Suddenly the unknown intruders jumped out of the grass. Three yellow fur balls latched on Reggie and attempted to bring him down.

One of the furballs yells, “WE GOT YOU, WE GOT YOU!!!”

Reginald laughs. “It looks like we are here boys.”

Luke looks up in concern, as the furballs seem to be attacking Reggie. “But...they’re gnawing at you…”

“No worry my boy...these are the children of Isaac, a good friend of mine.” Reggie responded. “Everyone, I want you to meet Eli, Penny and Fred, the most wild lion cubs ever.”

They were wild indeed for right after they stopped gnawing on Reggies they continued on talking and launching themselves on the gang. Penny was climbing Luke’s horns, while Fred went at it again with Reggie gnawing his trunk. Finally with Fred hanging onto Chris’s tail.

A sleek and slender lioness walked out from the tall grass. “Please don’t bother Uncle Reginald.”

“Well hello there madam how are you today? Blair it's been a long time since you've been around these parts.” Reginald says.

“I’m doing quite fine thank you dear...I was just out to search for you. I didn’t receive any word you would take long so I had to take matters into my own hands.” Blair explained “Everything is at utmost control, just one little accident and we took our time.”

Reginald turns his head and remembers Chris and Luke are nearby. “Aha, of course I forgot. Blair I want you to meet my grandson Luke and his friend Chris. They are with me to discuss the matter of what's been happening.”

Blair looks at both of them as she gives a smile and walks towards them. “The young ones seem to enjoy being with you.”

“Yeah I worked with kids a lot” Chris says.

“YEAH!! WOOHOO!! THESE GUYS ROCK!” Luke shouts as the lion cubs continue to play on his antlers.

Blair chuckles for a bit and leads the group back. As they walk by, Chris is amazed by the change of climate and habitation that has transitioned so fast. He can see various shades of yellow grass, and with many shrubs flapping as the wind brushes against them. They see multiple animals around, they seem dangerous but they know Blair and Reginald. Many water buffalo and wildebeest were grazing in a waterhole nearby, with giraffes and other carnivores; all taking a drink in peace.

At last they had arrived at their destination with a sign in front of it that read “Smoky Den”. When Luke and Chris saw the building it was more of a very large hut than a constructed structure. For starters the roof was ripped off and only the foundation and most of the ground floor was in it. A lot of grass was poking off from the ground trying to find its place in the area. Chris walks inside making his way to what used to be the cafeteria. Right in the middle are four large wooden pedestals. One has a lion, the next one a grizzly bear, the third one a Husky dog and finally the 4th is empty.

The lion jumped off the pedestal, his mane was glorious as it was very large indeed. He walked up to Reginald, and looked him in the eye. Reginald looks down and stares him down as well.

“Well if it isn’t my best friend Isaac!” Regianld said in excitement.

“HAHA, my friend you have returned” Isaac shouts.

Reginald raises his trunk as Isaac raises his right paw and bumps them together. “You are quite late to the party, old chap. You missed most of the council we had, we thought you died.” Isaac says.

“Well, I’m not broken down just had a couple of bumps on the road that stopped my path. You know my grandson yes?.. His name is Luke and Chris here with him are here to know why things have been going on so negatively.” Reginald says.

“Yes of course, although are you sure we can trust them?.” Isaac says.

“What are you blind? One is of my flesh and blood and the other is a caring determined young man, and you don’t think they deserve to hear this valuable information they have been seeking?” Reginlad spoke with his voice a bit loud.

“Look, Reggie I know how much they are to you but, If they know what's going on they might cause a problem later on.” Isaac said seriously.

“It will be my responsibility then if things go wrong Isaac.” Reginald says.

“Alright then.” Isaac replies back.

“Blair dear, will you tell the other elders that the council is to start soon.” Isaac said softly.

Blair looked up at the vast amounts of animals and the whispers of animals and let out a roar. “ Isaac proclaims that the council is now in session. Now everyone should be quiet and wait for the elders.”

Luke and Chris looked up as multiple animals walked and stopped as they reached what it seems to be a cafeteria. The elders got up from the pedestals as they walked up towards a podium and stood there looking out to the horizon of many animals.

Isaac came out from the elders and spoke to them. “Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am sure you are aware of strange things that have been happening around the city. We have been plagued recently by something abnormal. Whether it be a bomb or mass hysteria of a drug, or this is an image of the afterlife.. We do not know. All we know is everyone in here, and most likely around the entire globe has fallen to this plague and became animals like us. That is not what is wrong also in this world, there is yet a danger that can harm us and the community. That's why us elders have reported sightings of strange looking creatures. They are not animals, or even men. They do not live, yet they are not dead. Some look pale, others look like they are dripping out blood constantly.” Isaac said.

The elders shared stories of these encounters and sights of the mutants they saw. One said they saw a shark yet, it was able to make the mud and earth its home. Another stated a porcupine the same size as a tiger that contained venomous quills.

The wolf elder steps up and decides to tell his encounter with one of these mutants. “So i was there walking through the woods going to the lake. I saw a monster. It was very long indeed. I can not fully describe what it looked like, but let's just say that its skin was ripped from the shoulder and pelvic region, making it crawl on the ground with its entrails and organs trailing behind it. The mutant looked as if its legs had no use for it and could not get up. It could only crawl with its arms and continuously drag its belly on the ground. At random intervals it would peer its head up to the sky and lick the air, as if like a snake. Then the horrendous thing happened. A fawn was nearby getting a drink of water. The mutant was staring at the fawn as its tongue flared up faster. I yelled at the fawn to move but my words were mere short slower than the mutant's strike. The mutant lunged just how a snake would with a spring like stab. Not being a living thing, the mutant detached from its body releasing the last of its organs as its spine ripped off and only part of its arms and shoulders were left of the mutant. The rest of its body layed there. The mutant was able to grab the deer on the neck killing it yet the mutant fell to its fate as well as the blood loss made it go limp….”

Numerous murmurs are coming from the crowd as they are shocked by what they hear about the mutant.

“I too have a story to share about…” says the polar bear elder. “Alrighty you scallywags the one I saw was not scarier than the ones you have heard before or heard rumors about. .The one I saw and I can say for myself I was able to kill but not without losing ME EYE!!!” He then stops and shows his face to the crowd, pointing at his eye.

More murmurs are heard around.

“Alrighty stop feasting ye eyes on me now….Now where I was I. ahh yes...I was minding my own business and I saw that damned creature it was white, grotesque and tubby looking. Blood has covered its belly with its legs being distorted, possibly crushed by the weight of its mass. Its head was looking down constantly with