Replenishment: How Deep Does It Go

By Donell Jackson

“Replenishment is definitely an eye-opener.”

Mind-blowing is what defines Replenishment. Creatures from another planet come to earth every twenty-five years to steal human souls so that their species can live on. The only thing standing between them and their mission is a hurt military soldier removed from fighting in a war that caused him to have a head injury, coming home only to end up right back in the middle of another war. The only difference now is he wasn’t trained for what he was about to face. Jimmy Howell was raised not to give up no matter how impossible obstacles may seem. But is he going to be able to stop these creatures from using planet earth as their farming grounds, or will they continue harvesting human souls?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796022285

Book preview

Replenishment

How Deep Does It Go

40775.png

Donell Jackson

Copyright © 2019 by Donell Jackson.

ISBN:                Softcover                978-1-7960-2229-2

                          eBook                      978-1-7960-2228-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 03/18/2019

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

794011

Contents

Chapter 1     In Deep

Chapter 2     The hunt begins

Chapter 3     Investigation

Chapter 4     The unexpected

Chapter 5     Black sphere

Chapter 6     On the run

Chapter 7     Frazzled

Chapter 8     In the dark

Chapter 9     Taken

Chapter 10   The send-off

Chapter 11   Awaken

Chapter 12   The Hunt

Chapter 13   Infected

Chapter 14   Proliferation Begins

Chapter 15   Interrogation

Chapter 16   Underway

Chapter 17   Doctor’s visit

Chapter 18   The Return

CHAPTER 1

In Deep

S hots were screaming through the air like bullets from a hound dog. The team was holding the line while the Arabian army was bringing in the tanks. Planes were hazing the ground with shots. Dust was getting flipped up everywhere as missiles dropped from above like falling stars. Jimmy was radioing in for support.

I need air support now!!

An Arabian plane was coming back around to spray again and one of the soldiers noticed the bullets as they dove down, creating a line of dust like Disney’s way of doing a water show and it was headed straight for his commanding officer; he screamed Jimmy! as he rushed over and pushed Jimmy out of the way. A second plane came in, following up and shot a missile right in the direction that Jimmy was pushed. Jimmy looked up and saw the missile coming in; he tried to jump out the way. It hit a couple of yards away and the force of impact pushed him so hard that his body flew uncontrollably right toward a demolished motorcycle. Before he knew it, his head smashed against its engine and he blacked out.

Three months later, Jimmy was tossing and turning in his sleep as the nurse and his wife watched. His wife got up and grabbed his hand. He jumped because he could see the missile coming right for him. When he came to his eyes were hazy, he was unable to recognize where he was and then he noticed wires running everywhere. The streets of Iraq had shrunk down into the walls of his hospital room. His wife was overly excited that he had awakened.

Honey … Honey, Jessica said.

Jimmy looked at her and smiled, but he was in so much pain that he frowned a couple of seconds after.

Are you ok honey? Jessica asked, looking back at the nurse.

My head hurts, Jimmy replied in a crackling voice, he didn’t use his voice in 3 months.

OK honey, the nurse will get you some pain medicine, Jessica said.

My head is killing me.

I know, honey. You shattered your skull while you were in the war. You had to get a metal plate put in your head because you had a severe brain injury.

What!!!

Honey, calm down; it was put in to prevent any further brain damage.

Where is everyone else?

The war is still going on. After your injury, you had to get shipped back immediately. You were in critical condition. The doctor said once you woke up, it was a good chance that you could fully recover.

What do you mean ‘woke up’? How long have I been asleep? Jimmy asked, looking at his wife and the nurse simultaneously.

Honey it’s been 3 months.

Are you serious? I’ve been in a coma for 3 months? Jimmy replied as a tear swirled down his cheek. Wow.

Honey it’s ok, I’ve been here every day. I couldn’t stand you being in here like this, Jessica said, grabbing his hand.

Jimmy’s voice was ruff as he tried to hold a conversation.

What about your job? Jimmy asked in a mumbling high-pitched squeal.

Honey it’s ok, my job has been working with me through it all. What I need you to do is rest and when your voice is working better, we can talk about everything. I’m just so happy to have you back, Jessica said, trying to hold in her tears as she kissed him on the forehead.

Jimmy closed his eyes and tried to get some rest. Jessica looked up and silently thanked God as she sat down in the chair beside the bed, holding Jimmy’s hand, not wanting to let go. She had been through so much during this time. This was one of the hardest things that she had to do. Watching him day in and day out just lying in the hospital bed almost drove her crazy. She hoped he would awake soon, so she could see his beautiful brown eyes again. She was close to running out of vacation time at her job. She had saved it up to take time off when Jimmy was back from the war, so they could spend some time together and catch up for all the time that he was away. Jimmy being in the hospital wasn’t what she had in mind, but it needed to be done—and what a better time than when he needed her the most.

She spent sleepless nights weeping, as the moon illuminated a bright white light that glared through her tears, which never left her alone, not even through the beeping machines that imitated the beats of his heart. The nurse kept a fresh box of tissues beside the bed which had become her knight in shining armor that guarded her against the darkest dragon of them all—a lost husband that wasn’t lost in body, but lost in a dream which seemed like an eternal slumber.

A few years ago Jessica had given up smoking, but dealing with this situation brought her skeletons back out of the closet. Stress took over her mind and suffocated her from the inside out, pulling and pulling at her until she gave in like a virgin on prom night. Everyone has a breaking point and these last 3 months surely didn’t take any prisoners when it came to her situation. She noticed—when things got bad—just how many people seemed to fade out of her life. Those whom she thought were her friends were nowhere to be found after the first month had passed while Jimmy was in a coma, she needed someone to lend her a little money so she could cover some bills. Jimmy had money, but she didn’t have his information and her money wasn’t covering everything that needed to be taken care of.

Through everything, she sorted out how many true friends she had. Jimmy’s parents helped out a lot. She took the money, because she had no one else to turn to, her parents were the last people she wanted to help. Nothing was ever just—because, it was always a loan that had to be paid back, or they would treat her as if she didn’t exist. So for things not to become complicated, she dealt with everything on her own and that’s how she has always been. Thinking about all these things as she looked at Jimmy made them worth it. She leaned over, kissing Jimmy on the forehead as he lay there, she whispered, I love you and I’m so happy you’re back with me. I really missed you.

She was so excited that she just leaned back in the chair and watched Jimmy sleep for hours. She didn’t feel alone anymore, nor did she feel as if she were taking on the world all by herself. She felt as if the world had lifted off her shoulders.

CHAPTER 2

The hunt begins

-Two months later-

A n 85 Ford pickup truck came to a halting stop off too the side of a dirt path close by the hunting grounds in the woods of Colorado. Norman stepped out of the driver side and made a loud ‘plop’ as his boot hit the dirt road, stirring up dust as he planted his foot firmly on the ground. Norman was an older guy who enjoyed the open land and loved the hunt of the game. He had been in the area for a while and he knew just where to find the big bucks. He wore his brown and green camouflage, with his boots. He had finally got out and eased his head back to get a nice gulp of the forest scent.

Now Douglas, there is nothing like being out here in the woods—just us and the buck.

You got that right. I’m going to get a nice buck today. You took home the prize winner last week, but it’s a new day and I’m feeling lucky.

Luck is what you’re going to need because this rifle will bring down the biggest of ’em, Norman replied as he pulled his rifle out of the aluminum box that was on the back of his truck, It’s going to be a mighty fine day.

Douglas reached behind his seat and pulled out his lucky hat.

Yes it is, Norman. Let’s get out of here and find a good spot so we can knock down a buck to take home for supper.

They both gripped their rifles and walked into the woods. A few yards into the woods they stroll. Just up there we will post up there for a while and wait for that big boy to come through here, Norman said, pointing at a tall bushes, Norton had broken a couple of branches so he could climb in nice and snug. While walking over to the bush and Douglas replied, I have a good feeling today.

Douglas pushed the brush to the side so that he could climb in.

This day was a little different than most. The forest was usually more active with birds chirping and rodense running the forest floor. There was usually a gentle breeze, but there wasn’t a leaf or a bush swaying. It was like they were looking at a picture. As gorgeous as the scenery was, the forest just seemed as if it had no life. The forest was so quiet that the only sound they could hear was the clutching of their guns and the short impatient breaths that they were taking. The sun beamed through the cracks in the forest décor, settling on Douglas’s forehead.

Man, isn’t it hot today?

Shhhhh … I think I hear something.

The shadows consumed the left side of his face. His eyes locked in and his ears harvested every sound, as the broken branches crackled, as something crept across them gracefully. A few minutes had gone by, Norman slowly lifted his rifle