Creatures and Wolves

By Angel Micheals

In a post-apocalyptic world where strange creatures roam killing all
the humans they can, a young girl named Rae tries to survive. After
fleeing an Army base overrun by creatures Rae and a group of
children find themselves taken by a group of men in an isolated
village up high in the mountains. Rae tries to fight for her freedom
and that of the children while the men have other plans for them. It
doesn't take long before Rae finds out that the men aren't what they
seem to be and are hiding an even bigger secret than she could
have guessed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669828778

Book preview

Copyright © 2022 by Angel Micheals.

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. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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: 06/27/2022

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Prologue

Seventeen year old Rae Michaels was once a carefree girl helping her parents help the unfortunate around the world, but as disaster hit the world and humans were nearly wiped out by large alien-like creatures Rae found herself alone and at the mercy to those left in the world. After watching her parents die a horrible death by a group of Bandits and being tortured by those same men, Rae escaped only to then be caught by what was left of the Army and used as a child-soldier in the fight against the creatures. Rae hated fighting everyday and watching those around her die so when the Creatures breached the wall and began to overrun the base she took that opportunity to save all the children that she possibly could, taking a few unconscious adults with her Rae narrowly escaped the Creatures and took her little convoy of children on a journey to find a refuge. Days of traveling without finding anywhere safe Rae was about to give up when a strange broadcast came over the radio, the broadcast mentioned a mountain that had found a way to keep the Creatures at bay and was living independently. Making a quick and rash decision, Rae turned the convoy in the direction of the mountain and hoped that this time they weren’t all used for others benefits.

Chapter 1

Passengers, keep your radios at the ready. Drivers, stay on me and don’t fall back. I said slightly frustrated into the radio as I glanced at the dangerous road we were about to go down, looking briefly into the rear view mirror at the multiple cars behind me, I thought about all of the young lives that could be lost. We had two miles of emptied road before us that had hills on either side leaving the dangerous creatures ample opportunities to take down all of us. It was my main duty as the eldest, at least of those of us who were conscious, to save the younger children and reach the reservation. Gripping the steering wheel tightly I listened as all the cars beeped in to tell that they were ready and I scanned the hills one final time, holding my breath anxiously I hit the gas on the large Military Jeep and sent it barreling down the road. Those in the back seats watched the hills in panic, keeping an eye out for the creatures that hunted us while the passengers gripped the radios ready to announce when they saw something, the drivers main goal was to focus on the road and make sure that the vehicles stayed at a steady speed. Tension was high in the vehicles as everyone worried about being attacked and wondering if the creatures would come singularly or in hordes. My chest was tight from the stress but I focused on the road and kept an eye behind me as well.

We got movement, three o’clock. A shout came through the radio suddenly from what sounded like Michael who rode in the last vehicle, everyone twisted to look for the movement while I kept my eyes straight on the road.

Their on our six. David’s voice yelled, he was in the second to last of the five vehicles.

They’re all over the road. Jenny screamed clearly in panic, she rode in the middle vehicle. I did a quick check in the side mirror and a lump formed in my throat at the sight. Dozens of creatures scattered the road half a mile behind us and they were all heading our way, I swallowed at the lump in my throat and pushed down harder on the gas.

Candy! I shouted to get the attention of the young twelve year old sitting beside me, she jumped at my loud voice and turned from looking behind us to staring wide eyed at me. Tell them to hit the gas and not to look back. While Candy related what I said in a very shaky voice I glanced in the rear view mirror at the other vehicles, more than one had broken the line and was drifting in an attempt to look back at the creatures while driving. At Candy’s words the vehicles jerked back into position and started going faster staying directly on my bumper, pressing the pedal all the way to the floor the engine made a strange choking noise and I swallowed seeing smoke come up from under the hood. The kids in my car began to scream seeing the smoke and fearing that we were about to break down, I released the pedal slightly and tried to control my breathing as best as I could.

Tell the others to go ahead. I said in a strained voice, Candy gasped in horror but as tears fell from her eyes she did as I had said. These might be young kids who drove and controlled the radios but they understood the situation and obeyed commands, as much as I hated having control over their lives during these dangerous times, they hated not having someone to rely on. My heart hammered in my chest as the other vehicles raced around me and I was forced to stay at a slower speed leaving us closer to the creatures. Glancing into the side mirror, I felt tears enter my eyes as I saw just how close the creatures were to us now. Candy screamed suddenly bringing my attention back to the road ahead of us and I cried out when I noticed that there were lines of buses in the road and everyone had hit their brakes, slamming both feet down on the large brake pedal I cried out and tried to keep control of the Jeep as it slid while the tires squealed. It didn’t take long for the Jeep to hit the back of the other Jeep and come to a sudden halt, breathing heavily I stared wide eyed at the buses and felt my throat close up when the tops came open suddenly. A few men covered in army garb with face masks on came out of the top of the bus and stood tall holding large guns, the doors on the side of the buses came open and a few men stepped out covered head to toe as well.

Get in, quick! One of the men yelled loudly and began motioning towards the opened doors, the other men motioned towards the other buses and I didn’t hesitate to trust them. I knew it was risky to go with men that weren’t showing their faces but with the creatures closing in on us I didn’t see any other way to save the kids, tossing my buckle off I jumped from the Jeep and went to the back door. Pulling it open I motioned all of the kids inside to get out and reached behind them for the bags, as everyone ran towards the buses I tossed the bags over my shoulders and pulled out a gun. Being from a family full of hunters I knew the basics when it came to firing a gun and swallowed roughly, seeing the kids struggling to get those unconscious out of their vehicles I took a deep breath. Holding the gun up I stepped away from the vehicles and stood in the center of the road looking at all of the creatures, lifting the gun quickly I looked down the scope and hoped most of the kids made it. I opened fire hearing those on the top of the buses join in and forced the fear down as I stared at the creatures. Behind me the kids and men struggled with the unconscious adults that had run this group before getting injured.

Rae! Candy screamed my name in a frightened tone, I gasped loudly when I saw a creature dive out from behind a nearby tree aiming towards my head. In quick motion I lowered my gun down towards the ground and bent forwards, the air swooshed over my back as the creature missed me and sailed behind me. Whimpering in fear I stood back up and quickly turned to the creature behind me and lifted my gun, shooting it point blank in the head, I chose to take that as a sign that I needed to run. Glancing over my shoulder as I jumped over the dead creature’s body I saw the other creatures getting closer, the men on top of the buses had stopped shooting to reload allowing the creatures to gain more ground. I cried out whenever another creature dove at me as I looked back again when I was halfway to the bus, falling to the ground in a roll I shouted out when the creature sailed over me but another one landed next to me. Lifting my gun I screamed in terror and quickly squeezed the trigger, the creature jerked violently as the bullets entered into it and then fell to the ground. Before I could exhale in relief the creature that had sailed over me was suddenly on top of me, holding my gun outwards with both hands, I shouted out as it tried to get to me and struggled to keep it’s sharp teeth at bay.

The gunfire started up once again and I cried out when the creature on top of me jerked sideways, breathing violently I stared up at the clear space above me and swallowed harshly when it was quickly filled with an arm. Following the arm up to one of the men from the bus I quickly accepted his help and grabbed his hand, shooting off the ground we both hurried to the bus as the men on top of the bus kept the creatures off of us. Entering the bus in a single leap I slammed into the opposite side and lifted my gun aiming outside, the man shouted up towards the front to go and the buses jerked forwards suddenly. I heard the men on top of the buses still shooting and dropping the bags off my back I went forwards to the opened doorway as the man left it to head up front, planting my foot on the railing and my back on the doorway to keep from falling I aimed out at the creatures. Taking a deep steadying breath I released my bullets in controlled bursts like those that were unconscious had tried to teach us, the buses gained speed leaving the creatures behind while the men on top and I picked off the ones that had managed to get a hold of the bus.

Clear! A man shouted as a trap door on top of the bus opened, I heard multiple men drop into the bus and after a quick glance I looked back outside the bus keeping my hold on the gun.

It’s clear, Miss. A smooth voice said lightly, I took a deep breath and relaxed slightly seeing that the road behind us was clear for now. Letting my gun fall slightly I eyed the road around us scanning behind each tree for movement, not seeing any creatures I reached outside the bus and pulled the door closed so nothing could get inside. Turning towards the center of the bus I halted and swallowed roughly when I found three men eyeing me in different parts of the bus, turning my head I found half of the children huddled around one of the unconscious adults and was glad to see they didn’t look harmed.

We appreciate the help. I said lightly. They came out of nowhere.

What are a bunch of children doing traveling in armed vehicles? The man before me, dark haired and blue eyes, asked frowning heavily.

We were hold up at Fort Collins, Sir. I said lightly keeping my grip on the gun at my side in case they tried something. When it was overrun with those things, we grabbed what gear we could and took off.

What happened to him? The man, dark haired green eyed, said pointing to the unconscious man on the ground.

During the evacuation, most of the adults were killed trying to get us kids out. Candy said sadly, I took a deep breath and kept my tone neutral.

Those adults that made it out became unconscious as soon as they passed the gates, Sir. I said trying to keep the fear out of my voice. They haven’t woken up in a week, but we have been forcing liquids down them as much as we can.

An awful lot of responsibility for kids. The man who had saved me, Red haired and odd colored eyes, said coming into the back again.

We’re used to it, Sir. I said lightly standing as tall as I could, the men eyed me oddly before their eyes went to the gun I still held at my side.

It’s safe here, Miss. The blue eyed man said lightly. "No need for you to keep such a tight grip on that gun.

Forgive my rudeness, Sir. I said as lightly as I could, forcing the fear and unease to stay down. But in the short two weeks alone, we have learned better than to trust outsiders. The men looked at each other and I chanced a glance to the back, Candy was holding our Sarge’s head on her lap with her hands tucked under him and I knew she held a pistol.

We just saved you. The green eyed men said frowning slightly. That should prove that you can trust us.

As I said earlier, Sir. I said with a slight tremor of fear in my voice.

We appreciate your help.

But were you not in our way, we would have made it. Candy said slightly rough, I swallowed when the men frowned heavily over at her and stepped back slightly to keep room between us. Before the men could respond the bus suddenly jerked to the side causing me to fly backwards into the door, I gasped out loudly at the pain and tried to push away but before I could the door creaked loudly and gave way. My hands shot away from the gun that was gladly strapped around my shoulder and I caught the door frame screaming in horror, hanging outside the bus I tightened my grip on the frame and heard an awful screech.

Hostile! The driver shouted back in horror, cursing came from the men inside the bus that struggled off the ground as the bus swerved again. I screamed as my feet slipped from the bus and the only thing holding me in place were my hands on either side of the door, Candy screamed in horror seeing me hanging from the bus as the men ran for their weapons. I glanced out behind the bus at all of the creatures that followed us and wondered how they had kept up with the fast moving bus, pulling myself into the bus enough to plant my feet, I swallowed harshly and knew we were in for another fight.

Candy! I called out pushing my back against one side of the frame as I did earlier and planting a foot on the opposite rail to keep me in place. Explosives.

You have bombs!? The blue eyed man called over the screeching tires and creatures, I caught the bag Candy tossed and slung it over my shoulder.

Can we keep this fucking thing straight!? I called out to the driver as I pushed back the fear and got back into fight mode, the men eyed me oddly but I ignored them and did as I was taught back at the Fort. Candy carefully made her way to me when she saw me struggling to grab the explosives out and took the bag, I pressed hard on the railing as the bus continued to swerve and felt eyes on me as the men just stood there watching in shock that children were fighting.

I need a sniper up top. I said taking the bundle from Candy and looking at the men, they frowned heavily at me. Someone needs to shoot this when it falls in the middle of them.

Right. The green eyed man said opening the hatch on top again and climbing carefully up, I looked out at the creatures and took a deep breath.

Children should not be fighting. The man with the oddly colored eyes said making his way beside me, I watched as he took the bag from Candy and inhaled deeply.

I totally agree. I said holding the bundle outside and swinging it slightly. But that’s the world now, Sir.

Travis, get ready! The blue eyed man called seeing me about to throw the bomb, I took a deep breath and grabbed the edge of the door frame hanging out as far as I could go. My body stiffened when I felt hands on my hips and I looked back to find the man with the odd eyes holding me firmly in place, swallowing down the feelings that rose within me I glanced out at all of the creatures and pulled my hand back.

Out! I shouted as I swung the bomb as far as I could into the large number of creatures, quickly pulling myself back into the bus I placed my hands over my ears and waited. A single shot went off followed by the loudest explosion I had ever heard before, all of the children screamed and huddled further against the ground while the men jumped. Breathing heavily as my ears stopped ringing I slowly lowered my hands and took a peak outside, the road behind us was torn to pieces with a hole in the center and multiple parts laying in a bloody mess all around it. I thought the large explosion would have handled most of the creatures but there was still over half left, cursing lowly I lifted my rifle and looked down the scope.

We have a barrier a mile out that they can’t pass. The odd eyed man said lightly. We should be okay until then. I took a deep breath wanting to believe him but having a bad feeling in my gut, against my intuition I slowly lowered the gun and looked over at the man with a slight frown.

What kind of barrier? I asked lightly, the man opened his mouth to explain but I didn’t hear anything as a weight suddenly hit my side and something dug deep inside. I cried out in pain but that quickly switch to a gasp as I found myself lifted from the bus and tossed to the fast moving ground below,