Something New for June

Something New

June, 2016

by Angela White

Marc slipped into the trees at the edge of the road, not far from where his vehicle was waiting. He scanned the area and saw dozens of fire engines crawling with yellow clothed men trying to extinguish the fire, but there were no signs of anyone else. Thick smoke blew over the dusty road and he quickly ran toward the street, drawing surprises from the firefighters.

“Hey man!”

“Where did you come from?”

Marc didn’t stop to answer the busy men. They had worked to do and he needed to get out of here.

Marc jogged down the side of the road, darting around wildlife that was still fleeing ahead of the flames. The three walls of fire had merged now to create one long bank of death that was destroying everything in its path. Marc wasn’t even sure he would be able to use this road to get off the mountain.

His worn-out Jeep came into view, causing Marc to increase speed as relief gave him an extra burst of adrenaline. He slid into the driver’s seat, reaching for the keys that he’d left in the ignition.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Marc froze at the sound of a gun being cocked. He didn’t need to scan the tall, thin figure to know who it was. He had recognized the voice.

“Is the boss’s wife still smiling?” Marc taunted.

The nasty punch took him by surprise, even though he had instigated it. Marc slumped in the seat, dazed from the temple shot. Rough hands pushed him over and slid behind the wheel of his jeep.

Marc struggled to come out of the daze, but another fist slammed into his forehead and everything went dark.

The familiar movement of his jeep in unfamiliar hands brought Marc back to alertness. He’d known someone might be waiting, but he’d been in such a hurry to get out that he’d forgotten to check underneath the vehicle. That was a common place for this type of hunter.

Sucking in a breath against his boiling guts, Marc used his elbow and all of his weight to slam into the driver, neatly shoving the man up and out of the vehicle. Open tops were convenient.

The man hit the ground beside the Jeep and skidded down the incline, screaming as his ankle snapped.

Marc didn’t waste any sympathy. These hunters were as ruthless as they came. Thankfully, they weren’t very smart.

Marc pulled the Jeep onto a wider area of the road, and killed the engine. There were still at least half a dozen men tracking him, and he wasn’t about to lead them back to his hotel room. He would never get to sleep.

Marc exited the vehicle and took up a stationary position in the weeds around the warm jeep. He didn’t think it would be long for someone discovered his new location. He was a prize target in a great place to be taken. No longer protected by his team or society, Marc was just another animal alone in the wilderness. Anything could happen out here. To them. He didn’t plan on mercy. Interrupting his vacation had been a huge mistake. The enemy hadn’t given him time to cool off or relax. They’d come for the civilian. They would get the Marine.

This story will be released on 8/11. Here is a link to the page on my blog where all the store links will be added during release day/week.

Free ebook!
www.amazon.com/Survivors-Book-One-Life-After-ebook/dp/B0049B31FW
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/survivors-book-one-angela-white/1100237361
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-survivors/id430914727?mt=11
https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Survivors.html?id=4OF5OF5Em8EC
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-survivors-12

The Caller -A New, Unpublished Story!

The family of four had been surviving on their own since the War of 2012.

Five years had gone by, the last two without them seeing another person and there were no signs of their old world returning.

The bombs had made most of the land unlivable. The radiation and mutations had spread quickly and this small group was all that remained of normal life for hundreds of miles around their small cabin in. Set in the hills of Kentucky, it was a sturdy, nearly airtight shelter that had saved them the fate of their neighbors.

“What are ww..we hunt…ttiiin, daddy?”

The seven year olds stutter was painful to hear. It made the man’s heart hurt but he smiled at the golden haired child. “Turkey. It’s Christmas.”

That was something new and the boy grew appropriately quiet as they crept closer to the pond’s edge. Their movements were and slow and careful and yet wrong, like something was wrong with their legs. The lack of fresh food was taking its toll.

“Gobble.”

 The noise brought a smile to both their dirty faces and the father silently pulled his sharpened walking stick from the pack on his back.

“Gobble.”

“Sniff. Gobble.”

The sounds weren't right either, even for this post apocalyptic hell but the hunters paid it little mind as they sprang up from behind the decaying water plants.

“Dad!”

Too late,  they saw the wolves and the wild canines lunged toward them, leaving the looted duck nest.

“Get down!”

The father swung his hand, where a flashing blade now began to blaze through the air. On a tightly wound rope, the sound of the Caller echoed for miles.

“Oohhh.!’

It was a howling, high pitched whine with horribly loud tones that made the boy cover his deformed ears.

The wolves reacted with confusion too, whimpering, and the man swung it harder.

“Whoo…”

It went higher and the predators began to back up, snarling their fury. It drove them back with only sound used and the small pack ducked into the underbrush with a last lingering glare.

:oohhh…!”

It was spinning nearly out of control now and the man forced his fingers to let go. The object was not totally inanimate and the sound lingered for a moment even after it slid into the grass. It made an awful moan as it ended, leaving an amazed silence.

“It worked!"

The child’s speech was clear as a bell and the father watched him run gracefully to the Caller. His eyes widened. The ears were normal!

The child flashed him a grin, an intelligent grin and the father struggled to breathe. What magic was this?

“The book was right, daddy!”

Not a trace of slur. The man took the object carefully, stunned. Now he knew what the inscription meant. “Your heart’s wish if it is pure.” He’d just been thinking how much he loved his son despite the deformities and flaws. And his wish had been granted! The boy was healed!

Later that evening, the man sat by the fire with a tattered notebook in his hand, listening to his wife and children talk as they prepared a holiday feast with almost no food. He thumbed through the brittle pages absently. Had it’s author survived?

Angela’s Journal.

The man rubbed his sore wrist thoughtfully. So many of the things in it were true! What if the people were also? A refuge for survivors.

“No turkey?”

“No, honey.” The nine year old girl nodded resignedly, thin shoulders drooping.

“Oh. Okay.”

The man’s gust twisted with the need to do something. A refugee camp would have food and vitamins and water. He ran a calloused thumb over the journal’s weather beaten cover. The directions said always southeast. Surely a group that big wouldn’t be hard to find?

“I’m thankful anyway, momma. Cause Alex got fixed. Now, he can run!"

“We all are darling. We all are.”

The wolves had trapped them, starved them. His wrist ached deeper. Had. Now, there might be a way out and some magic to ease the trip.

“Love you, momma.”

“Love you too, sissy.”

“What about me?”

The three of them hugged, exchanging their emotions and the man could take no more. He stood up, ragged journal clenched tightly in his grip.

 “Pack it up, woman. “ The hope in his voice shocked them all.

“We leave for Safe Haven at first light.”

Check out the book this is based on.

"This is Safe Haven Refugee Camp. Can anyone hear me?

Hello? Is anyone out there?"

The Survivors

*Free on all retailers

Author’s Website    Diesel   iTunes   Kindle   Kobo   Nook   Smashwords   Sony

 

New, unpublished Short Story- The Meeting

"Tomorrow is Halloween." 

The Sergeant's grave words instantly brought quiet to the meeting under the Big Rock. They had come together for the Plan, dozens of species which couldn't stand even the sight of each other, here to work together on a common goal.

"Some of us will not return from this mission. Those not back come sunset tomorrow will be honored for their noble sacrifice."

 The huge Troll looked around the den, his flickering yellow eyes sweeping the gathered warriors. "They say we do not exist. We will show them otherwise. We will stop them from destroying our very lives!"

There were rumbles of agreement from the small herd of Cyclopses, all that remained in the entire world now, but the Unicorns voiced a unanimous feeling.

"They don't know that that every time they tell a child we don't exist, it wound us, slowly kills us. They are ignorant."

The boulder above trembled with the raised voices, most against the horned horses and the Troll slammed his club against the earth, making it shudder. The dirt screamed in protest and silence fell.

"It doesn't matter. They are evil. Nature's soul has been ripped out and used for their comforts! They have earned this for hurting the Mother!"

The thunderous agreement came from even the pale symbols of purity behind her and the Unicorn bowed her head in acceptance.

"Come dawn, we will be by your side." The Troll's voice was almost kind in response but there was steel in the words. "We do not do this lightly. We have let them almost wipe us from existence before joining Nature's army." 

The lean Cyclops stamped his paw in agreement. "Surely this will make them understand." 

The Troll shrugged, not meeting his fellow mythical creature's eyes. "And maybe a halloween miracle will save us all. Until then, I fight!"

The Big Rock shook again with angry voices and the birds in the nearby roots clucked in satisfaction. Nature would be happy with how the recruiting was going this time. 

Humans had finally done enough damage that even the most peaceful of life forms were adding their strength to the fight. With the Unicorns now on board, more of the most elusive creatures would too. Like the Dragons. 

Small battles were already taking place across the planet, sharks a common soldier, but for the most part, humans still had no idea that war had been declared by The Mother. They simply refused to accept the environment as a living, thinking being and that was their mistake. It would also be their ultimate downfall, as Nature had no mercy left to give. 

Her first blows, Katrina and the Indian Ocean Tsunami, were felt worldwide but the worst was yet to come. Mother Nature had reached her limit and humans had to go. Or she would.

Dedicated to all the 'life forms' man has hurt, killed, destroyed completely, changed irrevocably. I hope someday we'll actually deserve to share this planet with you.

Would you like to check out some more of my stories?

"This is Safe Haven Refugee Camp. Can anyone hear me?

Hello? Is anyone out there?"

The Survivors

*Free on all retailers

Author’s Website    Diesel   iTunes   Kindle   Kobo   Nook   Smashwords   Sony