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

“You do know you can just leave right? All of you can leave if you really want to and spend more time with him, but I will keep my word and do what i said long ago. I will help others and I will strive my hardest to make sure they get what they deserve, and I will keep that and if anything is in my way I will stop it and I will cut it off from my life. Now are you with me or are you not and will just stay here.” Chuck says to all of them.

“We will stay with you boss...it’s just this is hard for us to really let go. We never had a person that would work with us nor had a person who actually cares for us. Although in the end I do have to agree with Chuck. He has never steered us in the wrong direction despite how many times we had gotten hurt or things have gotten badly for the community.” Sam says in agreement with Chuck.

The gang looks at each other as they look up and look down at Chris and they have decided to leave him. Later that morning everyone had left the grotto leaving no trace any life was around, or the fact anyone had made a home there. Except one being was there and that was Chuck overlooking Chris as he woke up. Chris shakes his head from being in shock to a sad frown. Again his so-called friends have left him once more to be with the others. Chuck stares him down walking out from the shadows and walks towards Chris.

“Hey kiddo…” Chris says in a serious voice. “So you guys left again like you did last time?” Chris sys to Chuck.

“It was a hard choice to do but we felt this was the best way Chris. It’s not because of you, it is mainly on me I don’t know if that makes me a bad leader or not, but I can not cling on to something that is starving the goal I set off for.” Chuck says to Chris.

“Still I just can’t understand why can’t I go and join you guys and then I’ll just be in the background?” Chris says to Chuck.

“It’s just something I have to take care of Chris. I know you are a good boy and a nice kid, but from looking at you I believe I taught you as much I can carry you teach you, I believe many other people have been teaching you since you were a youngling. Which means I have no part in this no more.” Chuck says turning away from Chris.

“What do you mean Chuck...I don’t understand??” Chris says to Chuck as he walks closer to him. “

“You will never understand Chris because you had a father figure in your life...He had fulfilled his duty to you and I am done with my unfaithful life. This is goodbye Chris. I do hope in the end someday our paths will cross, although be it unlikely due to where we are going.” Chuck says to Chris.

“You know I once was a lot like you Chris...a total hotshot in heart yet on the outside I was shy and wanted to help everyone in the world. It took me a while until my own father told me that I could not help everyone. I can only help those who were near me to my own heart. It pains me everytime that he breaks my dreams and all my hopes right then and there. I knew he was a good dad and taught me well but I never did agree with his morals which made me grow more distant overtime when I was a teenager. I soon just stopped talking with the old man when I moved out from my home. Later on I found out that he had cancer and a couple months later he passed away. I didn’t know how to feel about his death knowing the fact I just never understood him for who he was. I was an only child as well so most of his insurance and property was given to me. I decided to sell most of the junk he had. I had no place to do except be stuck in a lump. That's why I joined the military, by then I could probably help others even if it means hurting those who wish harm upon them. I met a nice lady there, and we hit off. Soon she became pregnant and I was going to be a father. My mind was not in the right place from coming back from foreign countries, and the fear that I will have to uphold what my father was..I-...I broke… I left her with her child. I went back to the military as people noticed how my physical state was questionable and asked if my mind was stable enough to continue on this campaign. I told them I was fine and came here for what I did. In the edn I wanted to help others and not think about my father or the responsibilities of being one. Which made me soon regret what happened to me and a close friend.” Chuck says to Chris.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well lets just say that I had an accident one day trying to help a couple of people, and things did not exactly go my way. We got caught, I tried to save him and then everyone was gone from my life right then and there.”

“Wait….thats sounds like the story Reginald told me….” Chris replies back.

Chuck’s eyes widened after hearing this name as he stared eagerly at Chris. “Did you say Reginald...as in Reggie the old veteran?” Chuck asks.

“Yes...yes! That’s him, how do you know him? Are you like friends with him and my dad?” Chris asks Chuck with excitement.

“Yeah you could say that I knew you father, he was a good friend of mine for a while and Reggie too. Say….is Reggie alright? I haven't seen him for a long time.”

“Oh yeah he has been retired from service for a while due to his leg being removed. He was bound to a wheel chair although now he is just a hairy mammoth.”

“Well...I guess this is goodbye for now...Chris I know it has been a short chat but it is time that me and the rest of the other prehistoric creatures get going to our new home so we can go help the rest of them alright..It has been a pleasure doing some pleasurable business with you.” Chuck says and walks off.

Chris looks on to Chuck as he leaves from the grotto. He can only stare and just exit off from the grotto and return home. Walking along the forest talking to himself of what has been happening. He was confused and sad that he can not convince Chuck to join with them and it makes him think about the possibility if he will ever actually see them once more or the fact he just walked out on someone who could know his father's whereabouts. Through the forest he found an unusual site to his eyes was a small lion pack. A male, a lioness and a couple of cubs near her. Chris sniffs them as he recognizes this smell. It is the smell of Isaac’s wife and his cubs. Yet there is a different male lion.

“Who’s this...some person trying to get with a widow? Maybe they do not mean anything serious, plus I could probably ask them some questions that could help me.” Chris says to himself. Chris walks up to the lions as the male lion takes a defensive position and yells out to the others to run away. He looks at him with a questionable yet friendly look. The lion does not take this smile lightly as he still thinks Chris as a threat and growls at him.

The lion says, “Who are you?! Why did you sneak up on us?! You should leave before you get yourself in big trouble kid..”

“Hey...hey...it's ok, I just want to know who you are since you have a familiar smell of someone I know.” Chris says to the lion.

“That’s why I am concerned right now….You smell like my dad...and he's dead…” the lion said to Chris.

“Your dad did not happen to be Isaac right?” Chris replies.

“Yes...I was in the city coming back from another village and saw that he met a terrible demise from something, and I do not seem to trust you just because mutants have very unusual behaviors and look very vomit inducing indeed.” the lion says to Chris.

“Oh...you don’t know?” Chris says to the lion.

“What you mean stranger…”the lion says walking closer to him extending his claws out.

“Your old man was a pretty good leader and he taught me a lot of things, he also fought a lot of mutants to save me and my friends.” Chris back to the lion. The lion looks down to the ground as a small tear forms then looks back at Chris.

“So...it really was not you who ended his life. Just some random mutants feasting on his flesh?” the lion replies back.

“Exactly as like that, however it is not the mutants you have to blame for his death. A horrible creature named Roberts. He is a large ape-like creature that stands like a human. A hairy and strong creature as well...He is although a very mysterious mammal that disappears like a ghost. Isaac and my friend Reginald were trying to track him down but somehow for a very large animal he can cover his tracks with ease.” Chris says to the lion.

“Hmm...I guess you prove your point about it. My name is Jacob, and if you met my dad it looks like you know my siblings and my mother. I never met you haven’t I. Were you gone from the Smoky den for a while, since I took a small visit hoping to see how my pops was watching over the place for me.” Jacob says to Chris.

“Wait?! Was he not the leader of the entire council.?” Chris asks, looking shocked.

“Well he had his friend group of old people but actually I got the Smoky Den from him since he was retired and he became more second in command. He likes being in charge so I wouldn't blame him however he is still an old man at heart and not always a fearless leader. I liked him for that, since he always deserved to have a good break from bossing people around, but it seems his dignity and his carelessness for others. Which most likely that’s how he rounded up a small militia and then had his life taken away ....” Jacob looks down to the floor again. “I swear though...if I ever find that wretched Roberts again I’ll make sure he will feel the roar of my father and me. For no one messes with my family and gets away with it….” Jacob says with a mighty growl.

“Hey you know you can join us at the Smoky Den, Reginald might need some help running the place however. He is like your pops with the only difference being the fact he is just a large hairy creature that looks like an elephant and has a large stump on his leg. So you wanna help me or not." Chris replies back to Jacob.

"You know I really wish I can help you with things but I can not really afford my time to assist your friends grandfather or such. I have many brothers and sisters with a depressed mother and you expect me to leave them all behind so we join your little parade at my father's home so they can get even more sad that their father died. Dead because you could have stopped it and he would be still living in the flesh