Authors: Gary F. Vanucci
Cage The Dead (18 page)
When she finished, it struck her that they could no longer stay here. They had to leave the zoo. It was no longer safe. More zombies would be coming.
“Let’s go,” she said. “You too, Maye. We are leaving.”
They made their way back to the house, gathered essentials and placed them in bags, then brought them outside.
“I need to set the animals free,” Gaia said. “You stay here and wait for me.” Justin nodded ever so slightly.
Gaia went around and opened the otter and hippo pens. She then ran back to the meat freezers, grabbed as much food as she could gather into two buckets, and ran back to the wolf and hyena dens. She tossed the food over, knowing it would draw them to it.
As they ate, she went around the backsides, and opened the groundside exits, leaving the doors open for them to leave of their own volition.
She raced back to the house, gathered the boy and the capuchin, placing Maye on her shoulder, and the three of them ran toward the exit.
As they made it to the parking lot, Gaia paused and regarded the busses. She held up her phone and waved as she headed away, blowing a kiss toward the center one.
“Love you, Adam,” she whispered as she continued on. “I always will.”
Moments later, they crossed the street to the other lot. She methodically went about searching through the cars that remained. She eventually found one in good shape, a Jeep Wrangler with the keys under the visor and a full tank of gas, and tossed in their gear.
“This one,” she said to Justin, who seemed distracted by something in the distance across the street.
Gaia moved away from the jeep and took a closer look, following Justin as he crossed the street and stared at something in the thickets. Maye chattered excitedly on her shoulder and patted her head a few times, which Gaia ignored, transfixed by what she saw.
There was a young gorilla in the tree line.
Justin was bent to one knee, calling it to it. Gaia turned and ran back to the jeep, shuffled through her bags and removed two bananas. She placed Maye down inside the jeep, handed her a banana and closed the door.
“Stay put,” she ordered Maye, and then she ran back to Justin, holding the other banana.
“Hey, try this,” she called softly, tossing him the banana. He peeled the skin back as he continued to call the young gorilla to him. Amazingly, the young primate responded to his calls and crossed the vacant street, knuckle-walking toward him.
How the hell did this guy survive?
Gaia wondered.
This gorilla had been alone for at least a few weeks
, she figured. As it got close to Justin and Gaia, it leaped into Justin’s outstretched arms and hugged him, taking the banana. Gaia was overwhelmed by emotion at seeing this and knew that this was the missing gorilla of the three from Solomon and Molly’s enclosure. It
had
to be, she believed.
“Can we bring him with us?!” Justin asked excitedly, looking to Gaia who nodded.
“Of
course
we can! Now let’s get out of here,” she said, seeing movement in the distance up the steps leading to the zoo’s entrance. She started to bring the binoculars up to her eyes and decided against it.
Instead, she got into the jeep, buckled in and pulled out of the lot.
“Where we goin’. Gaia?” asked Justin, the young gorilla sitting on his lap, still eating the banana.
“Not sure, hon. Away from here is all I know for now. By the way, I think that is Solomon’s son,” Gaia said, trying to keep things upbeat and not wanting to dwell on the negative.
“Does he have a name?” Justin asked, looking expectantly toward her.
“Nope,” she said evenly, holding his gaze as she rounded the corner. She navigated through a few wrecks on the road but after one or two of those, she saw nothing but open road ahead.
“Well, I’m gonna call him Solomon,” Justin said, turning a wide smile on Gaia, as Maye clapped her hands in the back of the jeep.
“That is a
great
name, hon. A
great
name!” she repeated with a smile. In that moment, Gaia was overwhelmed with an unmistakable feeling of hope.
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Gary F. Vanucci
Gary Vanucci was born in Pennsylvania in 1968. He enjoys writing, reading, music, art, anything at all that promotes creativity and activities that push the mind beyond conventional thinking. He has spent time as an amateur singer/songwriter and has spent multiple decades creating role-playing scenarios and playing games amongst various genres. Years of reading graphic novels, comic books, fantasy/science fiction novels and the like has led him to discover his true passion—writing!
His education includes a Bachelor’s of Science in the field of Information Technology and an Associates of Arts in the field of Graphic Design.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." ~Aristotle.
Bibliography
Beginnings Series
Book 1
Wothlondia Rising: The Anthology
gives the reader an intimate perspective into the world and characters which frequent the pages of my novels in the Realm of Ashenclaw series. The significant events that take place in 'Wothlondia Rising' set these unique and exciting individuals on paths that alter their lives forever! If you enjoy tales that involve, romance, mystery, zombies, demons, the paranormal, and plain old action-packed good vs. evil fantasy, then you will absolutely enjoy this collection of stories, including...
A Rose in Bloom
recounts the thrilling events of a young Rose Thorne, not yet a woman, who is trying to find her way in the city of Oakhaven. Orphaned and discarded, she finds refuge in a kind madam at a local brothel and eventually meets a man who is more than she bargains for….
Strength of Faith
is a tale that places a young acolyte of The Shimmering One, Garius Forge, on a path that tests his spirituality and also places him face to face with a demonic presence that has the power to alter the face of Wothlondia forever! Will his reverence and devotion to his deity be enough to overcome this horrible demon?
Tears of Blood
is the amazing recount of the attacks on the region of Stonehill by the ancient and malevolent undead that are known as Blood Rot Zombies! Saeunn and the barbarians of both Chansuk and Greymoors must find a way to stop the undead infestation before they spread their miasma all across the face of Wothlondia! It is a tale that will forever change the young barbarian woman in more ways than one…
Maturation Process
is the telling tale of the high elf, Elec Stormwhisper, who lives in the overbearing shadow of his father, Keryth. Treated as an outcast and feeling alienated from his own people, he exiles himself for a decade, finding a friend in a strange place and begins to accept his own unique destiny. Will this young and inexperienced elf ever find his true calling?
Reflections
is an exploration into the true classifications of self-image. This short and sweet tale tells of the half-ogre barbarian, Orngoth, who begins to realize the true picture of what he is and where he comes from. During a raid with his ogre barbarian kin—the Ironskulls—Orngoth has an impromptu meeting that could forever change his own destiny. Will he see his true self in time or will he continue down the path of reckless endangerment?
Distant Familiarity
is the tale of three legendary figures in the history of Wothlondia, who are attempting to recover an ancient evil that was stolen away from them. Tiyarnon the High Priest, Rolin Hardbeard and Nimaira Silvershade set out to recover the artifact that has forever altered their former companion Sadreth, twisting him into something altogether evil. Can these ancient heroes find and recover the item before it is reunited with its former host?
Covenant of the Faceless Knights
Beginnings Series
Book 2
When a dangerous artifact is discovered missing from the Temple of The Shimmering One, it’s high priest regretfully understands that he cannot recover it himself. Calling upon a former apprentice, now an Inquisitor among the Order of the Faceless Knights, Tiyarnon enlists the aid of Garius Forge, who assembles an eclectic group of allies to help in recovering the lost relic. Aided by the mischievous Rose, a rogue among rogues, the stoic and bloodthirsty Saeunn, and a promising but naïve elf named Elec, Garius hopes that his training and leadership skills will not only keep his associates in check, but will also allow them to survive the challenging trials to come. Garius must lead his band into unknown regions to recover the artifact before it falls into the hands of the evil being that once held it or it may very well spell doom for the rebuilt civilizations of Wothlondia.
Beginnings Series
Book 3
After Garius and company fail to recover the item they so desperately sought, a chance encounter here and a revelation there leave clues as to its whereabouts once more. Garius Forge the Inquisitor of the Faceless Knights, Rose Thorne, the sassy rogue, Elec Stormwhisper, an elf with a newfound thirst for the martial arts, Saeunn, the stoic barbarian and Orngoth, the half-ogre brute set out to once more try to uncover the whereabouts of the tainted artifact. Their quest leads them to a dark village named Hollow Hill, left vacant since the Reign of Ashenclaw. It is a place rumored to be haunted and they soon find that it is more than meets the eye. The group soon uncovers a clandestine group of highwaymen with knowledge of the artifact and much more as they attempt to uncover the many secrets hidden deep within the ebonite mines!
Novella
Realm of Ashenclaw
Ever wonder how the realm got its namesake? This tome details the compelling accounts of the heroes who encountered a dragon five times the size of any other, given the name: ASHENCLAW. Join Azbiel, Figit, Twarda, Jon Veinslay and Triniach along with the countless others as they attempt to rid Wothlondia of the Queen of the Scorching Drakes and her dragon invasion! Will they succeed? Turn the pages of The Legend of Ashenclaw and find out!
Embers of War Saga
Book 1
As Garius and company are charged with securing the return of Princess Amara to her home town of Norgeld, Rose remains behind to focus on her suspected betrayal at the hands of her former lover, Ganthorpe, the Master of Thieves. In Norgeld, the scene is dreary, the ancient Citadel Pridemoon is cast in gloom, and whispers of bizarre figures in the castle windows are mounting. As the mystery within this veritable Tower of Torment begins to unravel, relationships are changed, deceit is laid bare, and tragedy strikes in ways that will forever change Wothlondia’s heroes!
Zombie Apocalypse Novel
Graphic Content–Mature Readers Only!
When Alex's life becomes hell on earth in the face of a zombie apocalypse, his survival instincts and jack-of-all-skills keep him one step ahead of danger. With the companionship of a lone wolf, Alex begins to accept this cruel existence, struggling at times to keep a moral compass, and setting out on a new quest of hope where he not only wants to survive, but also seeks to thrive in a world besieged by the living dead.
