The last thing Cassie will ever see is the monkey coming straight at her, teeth bared and claws ready to kill. She tries to duck, but the monkey slams against her, its claws immediately sinking into her skull as it wraps its arms around her head. Willie is standing closest to Cassie and tries to help. He sees his opportunity and in one fluid motion, he grabs the monkey by its tail.
To Willie’s horror, he tears the tail right off the monkey, and it neither stops nor screams out in pain. It is focused on Cassie, and nothing is going to alter its twisted plan. Willie just stands there, a bloody tail in his hands. Blood shoots out of the stump and covers his grandson, Kevin. Willie grabs the boy and pushes him back into the group.
Cassie’s screams are muffled and the monkey’s body covers her entire face. When it realizes its tail is gone, it looks over at the rest of us, as if to acknowledge its mutilation, but also to show us that it doesn’t care. Then as it returns its attention to Cassie, opens its jaws and clamps down on her nose. For a split second, Cassie thrashes. Then, in one horrible tearing motion, the monkey bites through bone and cartilage and tears her nose off her face.
Blood shoots from the gaping hole on Cassie’s face. She screams as the monkey goes in again, this time tearing chunks of flesh off her cheeks. In less than two bites, you can see into her bloody mouth. Cassie’s screams are muffled by the blood flowing down her throat.
After it is done working on her cheeks, the crazed monkey starts on her eyes. It pulls one of its claws out of her skull just long enough to push it deep into her right eye. Cassie stops screaming. She is past the point of pain. Her body immediately goes into shock as the monkey’s finger digs deeper into her brain. It finally pulls its finger out with her eyeball in its hand.
“Give me your knife!” Julie yells at me.
I hand her the sheathed knife and see her throw it to someone. I can see Willie catch the knife and remove it from its leather sheath. Willie moves closer to Cassie and the monkey. Without hesitating, Willie plunges the knife into the monkey as it is pushing its bloodied finger into Cassie’s left eye socket. He twists the knife and tries to fling the monkey off Cassie. By any other standards, that money should have been dead. Willie thrusts the knife in a second time, this time going straight through the monkey’s rib cage and into its heart. It just turns and looks at us as it chews on a piece of Cassie’s cheek.
Willie looks over, horrified, like he has no idea what to do next. Then he grabs the monkey with both hands and pulls it off Cassie. Its claws, still deep inside Cassie, drag across her bloodied head. Willie shudders as its claws scrape across the bones in her face and skull.
“Over here!” I scream. Willie sees his opportunity and quickly throws the monkey over to where we were standing. It hits the ground hard. I don’t wait to see if it is going to get back up. Julie and I both look at each other and, in a flash, begin stomping on the monkey. We hear its ribs snap like dried twigs. My foot connects with the monkey’s head. I don’t think twice and press down with all my strength. The monkey lets out a small whine as my foot caves in its skull. It twitches a few times and then lays there motionless.
The goat is on us next with bared teeth and hunger in its eyes. Willie throws the knife back and, luckily, Julie is there to catch it. She hands it to me and I quickly take it out of the sheath. I run to where Willie is and see that Kyle is huddled down, trying to protect his son. The goat goes in to attack Kyle, but right when it is about to sink its teeth into him, it stops. I can vaguely see it sniff Kyle and, at the last moment, decide not to bite him.
What the fuck
? As quickly as it’s decided not attack, it turns and sinks its teeth onto Willie’s hand.
Willie howls in pain as the goat takes off four of his fingers. I see the goat chewing on Willie’s digits and take my chance. I lunge, aiming for the goat’s ribcage, but it turns and instead I sink the knife right through its forehead. Luckily for me, I had picked up some speed behind my assault, and my momentum helps push the blade through its skull. The goat goes wide-eyed as the blade sink into its brain. The goat slumps, dead, before hitting the ground.
Everyone turns in what feels like slow motion. We are all expecting to see the bear charging after us, but, in fact, there is no bear in sight. I haven’t realized I’ve been holding my breath, and slowly exhale in relief. I run back to where Fi and Julie are and pick Fi.
Then I hear a panicked voice: “Where the hell is Kevin?” Kyle shouts. “Kevin!” he yells, calling out to his son.
“Oh my God!” another voice yells out. “Amber is gone too.”
Now I know why we didn’t have to fight off the bear. The monkey and goat attacked the adults while the bear swooped in and took the kids.
7
We all sit around, stunned by what has just happened. The animals, it seems, are attacking for a specific purpose. They’re killing the adults and taking the children. For what? Why would they have been taking away the kids?
Fi, Julie, and I huddle, together creating a tight circle. It keeps Fi feeling safe, but deep down, I know when those animals target Fi that she’s as good as taken. I’m not going to sit around and wait for that to happen.
Right after the attack, I was able to get everyone to move out of that location and onto more open ground. We are no longer bottlenecked in, but the animals now have more options for attacking. We are in the semi-dense part of the woods. There were enough trees and bushes and dried twigs on the ground that we should be able to hear if any of the animals approach. I focus on the word
should
.
I look around at everyone. Susan laid about fifteen feet away with a t-shirt wrapped around her flayed arm. She is in shock, more from losing her son than her wounds. Close to her, Willie is doubled over, holding his hand. He removed his jacket and wrapped it around the stubs where his fingers used to be. He’s managed to stop most of the heavy blood flow, but my guess is that his hand is still slowly bleeding into his shirt. After we all realized the bear had taken Amber and Kevin, Jessica had discovered that Cassie’s body was gone. I couldn’t help but feel that was a mixed blessing. Her face and head had looked as if it were tossed into a meat grinder. There would’ve been nothing left to identify her as a female, let alone as “Cassie.” It would’ve been worse if we had to keep her body around us. She would have been a constant reminder of the fate awaiting us all.
What is truly terrifying is that, with Cassie and Amber gone, there is nothing left to show they were even here. This weird, empty feeling sits in the bottom of my stomach. I’m not sure if Cassie was married, divorced, or widowed, but if she was a widower, then there is nothing left in the world to prove she and her little girl had ever existed. A slow, cold chill runs up my spine.
It is time for action. There are only three kids left in the group. Chances are, Fi will be gone after the next attack.
Over my dead body
, I think. Bad choice of words.
“Listen up everyone,” I say, trying to sound in control. “I don’t know what the hell’s happening any more than you do, but I can
see
what’s happening. These goddamn animals are taking our children and killing the adults.” I pause to let that sink in. Everyone knows it, but I am the first to verbalize our situation.
“How is this possible?” Kyle asks in a broken voice. “How the hell can these animals be organized to the point where they have a plan? Just saying it out loud… it sounds fucking ridiculous.”
Julie cuts in before I can respond. “I don’t know how this is happening,” she offers, “but it
is
happening. These animals are more aggressive, intelligent, and organized than is naturally possible.” Kyle starts to say something, but Julie won’t let him get a word out. “But we all have to agree that whether it’s possible or not, it’s happening.” Kyle exhales and drops his head so his chin rests against his chest. He is beaten down and obviously defeated. I can’t blame him. Those animals took his son and are doing God knows what to him. I’d be devastated if I was Kyle, but right now, I need to get everyone motivated to action. I need to get everyone fired up and ready to fight back, and by doing so, protect my little girl.
“Maybe… maybe they aren’t dead,” a shaky voice suggests. We all look over and see Susan sitting up with a glimmer of hope in her eye. I know her fragile mind depends on this absurd sliver of hope.
Kyle is about to say something, but I can’t take the chance that he’ll crush her with the reality of the situation. Cutting him off, I say, “Susan.” I hesitate, trying to pick my words carefully. “I don’t know what those animals could possibly want with our kids,” I can feel Julie shoot Kyle an icy stare, “but … but.” My mind abandons my train of thought.
“What he’s trying to say is that, most likely, our kids are dead,” Willie takes over, trying to talk through the pain and clenched teeth. “But,” he continues before I can jump back in, “I think we’d all agree that since we don’t know for sure, we need to assume they’re still alive.” He winces. “That was my grandson those fucking animals took, and I’m not running away or dying until I see a body and know for sure he is gone.”
Willie sure knows how to get to the point. We all look at each other. “If we’re going to look for our kids,” I say, “then we’re going to need everyone, injured or not.” It is my intention to lead everyone out of these goddamn woods, even if I have to dangle the hope of finding their missing kids. I’m not trying to run away; I’m trying to save my daughter. If I have to, I will endanger the lives of every last person here to ensure her safety. Including mine. I know how cold and calculating it sounds, even in my own head, but it is the truth.
Everyone stands and tries to prepare themselves for what is about to happen. I can see it in their faces; they all know that, by looking for the kids, we may never get out of the Hill Country foot hills alive.
I let Julie lead the way and follow her. For the time being, I can still see the vague outlines of shapes, but pretty soon the cloudiness will completely overtake my eye and render it useless. Well, more useless. We gather together, forming a tight outer ring made of the adults in case they try to attack again
We move in the last direction we saw the attacking animals run. I know we are going to find some bodies, one way or another.
Chapter Seven
1
10 miles outside Fort Hood
Wilder’s head is still swimming from what Butsko was implying. ‘
Was’ dead? How is that possible? This isn’t science fiction. A dead body is a dead body. Right
? There’s always been a rumor in the pipeline about scientists experimenting on how to reanimate dead tissue in order to create a platoon of super soldiers who don’t require much sleep or food, and who can’t be killed by conventional weapons, but those are just stories. Right? He’s read books about how the Nazis dabbled in the occult in an attempt to gain some kind of upper hand against the Allies, but this is America.
We don’t do that, right
?
But reanimating the dead
? Wilder shakes his head and thinks,
Bullshit. Butsko is a genius at psychological manipulation. He knows I was freaked out by that guy in the van, so he planted some bullshit sci-fi story in my head to let my imagination run wild
. He laughed.
I haven’t survived this long by giving in to superstition
.
He goes to look for Butsko. He has some explaining to do.
2
The woods around the Austin Zoo
Jason limps through the dense woods. He has no idea where he is. The last thing he remembers is the train picking up speed and heading for that sharp curve. He jumped long before anyone else did. He assumed everyone else jumped as well. Who the fuck would be dumb enough to stay on a runaway train headed for a hairpin turn?
As he jumped, he remembers seeing the girl from the animal shelter also getting ready to do the same. He didn’t think she remembered him. They’d met only briefly that one time when he and Sean had dropped off the ‘liberated’ animals. He remembered those beautiful eyes though. As soon as he’d seen her standing in line to board the train, he knew he’d made the right decision to visit to the zoo.
He hadn’t followed her. Hell, he’d thought he’d never see her again. He’d come to the zoo looking for Sean. He’d been worried about him. After they’d rounded up as many of the animals they could that night, they’d grabbed a couple hours of sleep and then drove to the animal shelter. Sean hadn’t looked too good. He’d been slightly pale and sweating. At the time, Jason had chalked it up to nerves as a result of the situation.
Then he’d started thinking about the animals from the lab they’d broken into.
For fuck’s sake
, Jason had thought.
We saw a monkey take a flamethrower blast in the chest and just sit there
. What if they’d been trying to develop some kind of cure for rabies and those animals were infected in order to test it? Fuck. That meant Sean was walking around carrying the rabies virus.
Jason was pissed at himself for not thinking about that at the time, but so much had happened that his mind had been reeling. Vicktor had been shot in the head point blank by some crazy Rambo fucker and Sean was bitten. The animals they’d been trying to liberate had attacked them, and now they are on the run.
I did
not
think this one through
, Jason had thought. So he’d decided to go to the zoo and see how Sean was and try to convince him to go the hospital. Then he’d seen the girl again. That very same girl to whom they’d ‘donated’ the liberated animals. That was more than a coincidence. She was there for a reason, and he’d bet dollars to donuts that her being at the zoo was connected to those fucking animals.
He’d followed her to the train and had been planning on questioning her, but then the conductor had lost her head and everything had gone to shit. Now he is out in the woods with what felt like a broken ankle, trying to find either the train station or the others from the train.
And let’s not forget
, he thinks,
that whatever killed the conductor is still out here as well
.
This has not been a good week.
Sean usually volunteered at the Austin Zoo a few times a week. He would feed the animals, help clean the cages, and do anything else to help out. He loved to be around the animals. Jason had arrived at the zoo just as they were opening. The girl in the gift shop had told him that Sean was working and that she was surprised because he “looked like death.” That hadn’t put Jason’s mind at ease. Not at all. He’d walked around for a good hour looking for Sean, but he’d been nowhere to be found. Around eleven o’clock, he’d figured he’d get on the train because it went right past the tool and supply sheds that you couldn't reach on foot.
That’s when he’d seen her: the girl with the beautiful eyes. But love at first sight had been the furthest thing from his mind. He’d known that he, Sean, and Vicktor had something bad the other night. It was more than just breaking and entering. They’d thought it was a civilian lab doing cosmetic testing, but all the high-tech and hidden security painted a different story.
He passes into a clearing and sees the unmistakable aftermath of the train wreck. There is twisted metal, broken wood and shattered fiberglass everywhere. As he looks around, he smiles. His suspicions were right that no one stayed on the train. Everyone jumped before it derailed. He is sure there were some broken bones and cuts and a concussion or two, but at least they are all alive.
If people didn’t jump off the train
, he reasons,
there’d be dead bodies left behind
.
No dead bodies pepper the wreckage.
He looks down by the base of a tree and sees the floppy hat the girl was wearing. He tries to determine which direction they went. He sees a lot of footprints in the dirt about ten feet away, and figures they are heading to the tracks that lead back to the station. “Not a bad plan,” he says out loud. He moves some branches out of his way and heads in the direction of the tracks.
3
10 miles outside Fort Hood
Wilder finds Butsko walking down a sterile hallway. Butsko doesn’t hear Wilder come up behind him.
“We need to talk,” Wilder says as he puts his hand on Butsko’s shoulder. Butsko twists around in a flash and has Wilder pinned against the wall with his arm locked behind his back. One small twist and Butsko could break Wilder’s wrist. “I see you haven’t lost your reflexes, Sir,” Wilder hisses through his teeth.
“Sorry, Dan,” Butsko apologizes, releasing his arm. “You need to be high-strung and on constant alert around here. Trust me,” he says, staring into Wilder’s eyes. “It’ll save your life.”
“Against what?
”
Wilder asks, seeing his opportunity. “What’s going on in here that could kill us?”
Butsko stands about a foot away from Wilder and eyes him up. “I’ve already put in the request to give you complete security access. It’ll probably still take a few hours to get.” He motions for Wilder to follow him through the door that they are next to. Butsko punches in a code and a metal panel slides up, revealing a retinal scan. After looking into the scanner, the thick metal door slides open. It makes no sound other than a ‘whoosh’ as it opens into a darkened room.
The door closes behind them. “You don’t have official clearing yet, but you will.”
“How can you be so sure?” Wilder asks. “My combat record is flawless, but my ‘following orders’ record is spotty at best.”
“Because I get what I want now.” Wilder starts to smile, but sees that Butsko is dead serious.
“What exactly is this facility for, Sir?” he asks. He notices the lights haven’t come on yet.
“Cut the bullshit formalities, Dan. ‘George’ is fine.”
“Lights on. Butsko,” George says loudly in the room. At his command, the room gradually get brightens, allowing their eyes to become accustomed to the light.
Wilder doesn’t know what to expect. He could have sworn from talking to Butsko that the room was empty. There doesn’t seem to be anything in the room to absorb their voices. As he looks around, he realizes he is right.
The room is absolutely empty.
“Sir… uh, George,” Wilder says while looking around. “What the fuck is going on here?” He looks Butsko right in the eyes. “We’ve known each other for a long time. We are both no-nonsense, no-bullshit soldiers. Sure, I’ve had my problems following orders in the past, but whenever I’m out in the field, I’m the best there is, and now,” Wilder says with his arms stretched out, pointing to the empty room, “we’re standing in an obviously top-secret facility that’s not part of a military base but is close by to one. We’re in a very secure room that’s completely empty, and you tell me I am getting a top-level security clearance.” He pauses to see if Butsko has anything to add.
“Don’t forget,” Butsko adds, “the man in the van you transported here.”
“Freedom to speak, Sir?”
“I already told you to forget the formalities.”
“What the fuck is going on? What’s with all the cloak and dagger bullshit? What is this facility, and what’s being done in it?” Wilder can feel his anger rising. He has been a pawn in the past, being sent into dangerous situations with no intel or clear direction. He is starting to feel that way again. “Either tell me what the fuck is going on here, or you can take your top-level security clearance and shove it up your ass.”
Without moving his eyes from Wilder’s, Butsko says, “Open viewing windows. Butsko.
”
With that simple command, twenty-five sliding doors all around the room silently open to reveal viewing panels inlaid in the steel walls.
Wilder remains still and looks around. “You thought this room was empty right?” Butsko asks. Wilder just nods. “Well, if you are going to be a part of this team, you better stop assuming you know what’s going on.” Wilder looks at Butsko again. “You thought,” Butsko continues, “that the guy in the van was dead. You
thought
this room was empty. Forget everything you think you know about science, about death. We live in a different world now than what existed ten years ago, or hell, five years ago.” He pauses for a second to let those words sink in.
Wilder looks around the room, but still can’t see into any of the viewing panels. He looks at Butsko: “‘About death?’ You’re not making any sense, George.”
“The man you brought to this facility was indeed dead.” Wilder stares in disbelief
.
“When we picked him up, he was bitten and was in the first stages of the infection. He was feverish, sweating, and cold to the touch Right before you and your men picked him up, he died. He had no vital signs at all, and then halfway here, he... well, you know what happened.”
Wilder can’t even think of the next question to ask. “What… what bit him?” he finally manages to ask.
“He was bit by an animal,” Butsko says, matter-of-factly.
“What kind of animal?” His mind starts categorizing various animals and whether they were capable of attacking a human being.
“We’re not sure,” Butsko replies. “When we were ready to question the subject, he had already slipped into a coma.”
“What do you mean you’re not sure? What the fuck are you talking about? Are we dealing with some kind of new life form?” Wilder’s head is spinning.
This really is sci-fi,
he thinks.
“No, no,” Butsko says. “It could be any of them,” he says, nodding into the room. “Behind these panes of glass are animals. Infected animals.”
Wilder is still wrapping his mind around this. “What are they infected with?”
“That,” Butsko responds, “is the million dollar question.” They start walking toward one of the viewing panels. “Let’s start from the beginning, Dan.”
“Yeah,” Wilder echoes, his eyes already fixed on the nearest viewing pane. He breaks his stare to look over at Butsko. “The beginning.
”
They walk over and look through the closest viewing window.
4
The woods around the Austin Zoo
We journey deeper into the woods hoping we are on the right trail, but deep down, I think every one of us is secretly hoping we won’t run into the animals. Let’s face it: we are a group of tired, scared, thirsty (and in my case, half-blind) individuals being hunted by creatures that have taken our children for who knew what reason.
Willie decided to take the lead. He hasn’t mentioned anything, but something tells me he has seen combat before. He is walking through the woods and barely making a sound, constantly scanning everywhere, including the trees, looking for danger. Add to that the fact that his grandson, Kevin, was taken, and I for one am glad he is with us. He is walking about fifteen to twenty feet ahead, guiding us along. No matter how good he may be, though, something tells me if one of those animals wants to take him out they, will take him out. Quickly.
I want to take the lead, but my eye has gotten progressively worse. The milky fog is thickening as my body rejects the graft. I can barely make out shapes now. I’m not in a good place. I feel weak and of no help to the group. Worst of all, I feel like I’m letting Fi down. How can I possibly protect her if I can’t see the danger coming? Right before we set off on our search for the bodies, I pulled Julie aside to tell her how bad my eye had gotten. She said nothing, but the way she’d held my hand let me know she would help me protect Fi. That’s all I care about right now.