Escape the Greene - Sequel to Beyond the Greene

By Givon Wayne

This sequel to the book "Beyond The Green" picks up 20 years into the future. Travel along with Dave and Abby as they encounter dangerous creatures and controlling governments. The future of the human race is at stake as refugees seek safety under a frozen bio-dome.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312010758

Book preview

Escape the Greene - Sequel to Beyond the Greene

Escape the Greene

Sequel to Beyond the Greene

Givon Wayne

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my pastor, my editor, my creative friends, and my family without whose help this book would never have been completed.

Special thanks go out to my friend Shelby Smith. He is an extremely talented writer that I am thankful to call my friend.  Shelby encouraged me to continue writing, in spite of difficult circumstances.

This book is a work of fiction. If you find yourself believing something in this book might be real, I suggest you do some serious research and stop eating so many spicy foods before bedtime.

I acknowledge Almighty God as my Creator and the Giver of all good things.  I trust that He is directing my path. My hope and prayer for you, is that you will find this book entertaining and your spiritual curiosity will be stirred.

Chapter 1

Twenty years have gone by since the tragic incident involving the professor and his students on the failed environmental anthropology expedition. Dave and Abby were completely destroyed, having to endure the ridicule and doubt dished out every time they tried to explain what happened on that fateful trip.

At first, Dave was desperate to explain in great detail exactly what happened to their lost friends and warn every one of the coming disaster that would soon befall the world. But when people started calling him emotionally disturbed and even blaming him for what happened, Dave began to slide into a dark depression, pulling away from everything and everyone. He dropped out of his senior year of college and forfeited any chance he had of becoming a professional baseball player. The only person that he could actually communicate with was Abby. In fact, they were inseparable after the final trip back to the university.

Abby was also ostracized from her environmental circles due to her radical new theories that included strange creatures and the paranormal. She also dropped out of school and decided to marry Dave. Soon after, they packed their belongings and moved far away in order to start a new life. They loaded up what few belongings they had and headed toward Arkansas.

Abby’s great Uncle Cecil, on her dad’s, side owns a large lumber mill in Dumas, Arkansas, and at the time was kind enough to offer Dave a job there as a machine operator. It was not much but was enough for them to carve out a humble existence in a small town. Uncle Cecil also owns and manages a mobile home trailer park, and he let the newlyweds live in a decent double wide to help them get on their feet.

It was not long before the young couple had a new addition to the family. They named their new little bundle of joy, Cayley. Abby finally had something she could be passionate about again. As a stay at home mom, she spent most of her time caring for her family and over the years, she became president of the PTA and even head cheerleader mom.

Time helped bring healing to their minds. The haunting memories of the past slowly faded away just like the color on the outside awning hanging off of that old double-wide. The routine activities of a simplistic and mundane lifestyle became boring and even normal. Any dreams of changing the world for the better or of playing professional baseball were long gone.

From the outside looking in, the small community accepted them as one of their own. With all the years of girl scouts, soccer practice, cheerleading, church choir and every other activity that keeps a small town alive, no one would ever guess what kind of horrors Dave and Abby actually lived through on that deadly fall expedition. Their daughter Cayley is soon to be enrolled as a freshman at a junior college in Pine Bluff. The school is close enough to for her to come home on the weekends to do laundry, which seems to help ease the pain of the empty nest syndrome of her doting parents.

It is a Saturday afternoon and Abby and Cayley are in her room packing up some things for her to take to the college dorm. Cayley steps into her closet to get one more pair of shoes to add to the 57 boxes that she has already taken down from the top shelf. As she stands on a small wooden hope chest in the closet, she is forced to get up on her tip toes and reach as far as she can over an old bowling ball in its leather bag and past various clear plastic containers. Unable to see exactly what she is grabbing, she tugs on what she thinks is a pair of polka-dot rubber boots. As she struggles and pulls, the inevitable happens. She loses her balance and begins to stumble backwards. Of course, her mother is right there behind her as gravity works its magic. Abby catches Cayley in her arms as they both fall to the floor. Everything in the top of the closet falls on top of them, spilling the contents all over the floor. The last thing to fall is the bowling ball. It lands with a thud beside the laughing mother and daughter.

One of the boxes that falls from the shelf contains some old photos of Dave and Abby in their heyday at Berkley. In one photo, Dave is wearing his Berkley Bears letter jacket and shaking the hand of a professional baseball scout just after a big game.

Hey Mom, is that Dad?

Reaching for the faded photo and with an intent look, Abby replies proudly. He was so handsome wasn't he? You should have seen him play. He was incredible. You know he could throw a 93 mph fastball.

What happened? I mean why didn't he go on to the pros?

Trying to hide her emotions, Honey, you know why we moved here.

I know what you have told me. You guys wanted to move here to help Uncle Cecil with the lumber mill but that really does not make since. I mean, Dad could have been something great.

Your dad is something great; he is the father to the most wonderful and beautiful girl in the world who is about to go off to college.

Oh, Mom, you know what I am saying. And what about you? She holds up a photo of Abby with a bull horn in front of a large crowd on the steps of her alma mater. Just look at you. You could have run for president of the United States. Why did you give up on all of your dreams and move to this Podunk County?

Having heard a big thump when the bowling ball hit the floor, Dave comes running from across the house. He bursts through the threshold of the door, out of breath and catching himself with the door frame. Is everything okay in here?

We’re fine. Cayley just took a little tumble, Abby explains.

Hey Dad, what is the real reason that you gave up on your baseball career?

Cayley, we have talked about this so many times. Why can’t you just see that family is more important than any sport or activity?

Dave reaches down to help the girls back to their feet, and they have a brief family moment in a group hug. The moment is interrupted with the unexpected ring of the doorbell.

Who could that be? asks Abby.

I can't imagine, replies Dave as he turns to go and answer the door.

As he walks down the long hallway of the double wide trailer, it is almost as if time slows down. From the corners of his eyes he can see the wood paneled walls covered with pictures of his precious girl growing up over the years. It is like his life since the Omah is flashing before his eyes. He has a sense of pride and fulfillment knowing that he has done his best to raise a God fearing young lady. Nearing the end of the hall, he turns to go across the room. As he does, he stumbles a bit when making the transition from the hardwood floor of the hallway to the rug in the living room.

Through the small window in the top part of the door Dave can see three men. They are all wearing military caps and dark sunglasses. Immediately, his stomach sinks and the nausea becomes overwhelming. There is only one reason that they could be dropping by, and it is not to congratulate Cayley on her acceptance to Pine Bluff Junior College.

While life has not changed much in the isolated community of Dumas, Arkansas, the rest of the world is experiencing unparalleled turmoil. Dumas is one of the last locations in the U.S.A. that still uses pay by the minute dial-up in order to access the Internet. There is no cable company, and the only free TV station any one can pick up on rabbit ears is so filled with static that it is hardly worth the effort. Subsequently, the news is very slow in getting to Dumas, and the people are so used to being involved in other activities that it is hardly even missed.

Nonetheless, the world has changed drastically over the past twenty years. The forests of the world have continued to grow and expand at unprecedented rates. People have begun disappearing so quickly that the world economies have crashed, and martial law has had to be enforced in all major cities. The U.S. government has struggled to come up with various explanations that will satisfy the ever fearful citizens. No one has been able to capture an Omah - dead or alive - even though great rewards have been offered. And now they are standing at Dave’s door, hoping to get some insight as to how best to fight against the Omah's plan to take over the world.

As Dave approaches the door, one of the men on the other side starts banging with his fist and shouting, Mr. Parker, we know that you are in there. We need a moment of your time. It is a matter of national security.

Reaching for the chain lock, Dave hesitates, takes a deep breath and says to himself, I knew it couldn't last forever. He unlocks the dead bolt and finally the turn button lock on the knob.

Opening the door, Dave asks, What took you so long?

Yes, Mr. Parker, We need for you to come with us.

Is this about what happened in Northern California twenty years ago?

We can't discuss the details at this time, but your government needs you, and this is not an option.

How long will this take?

Abby and Cayley approach from behind as Cayley asks, Daddy, what is going on? Are you in trouble?

No, everything is fine honey; they just need me to answer a few questions.

Questions about what? asks Cayley.

Dave turns to Abby and says, The laundry is in the hamper. It was a secret code for the expected circumstances. Dave and Abby knew this day would come, and they are well prepared. Dave hugs his family, says goodbye, and goes with the military personnel across the lawn to a black suburban with dark tinted windows.

Dave turns and shouts back across the yard, I will call you as soon as I can.

Abby and Cayley watch from the porch as the vehicle drives away. Cayley is very upset and berates her mom with unending questions. Abby remains calm and finally convinces her daughter that everything is fine and