A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing Read online

  Contents

  A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

  DEDICATION

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  What Shall We Do Now?

  Molly The Sheep

  Prologue

  CHAPTER I

  CHAPTER II

  CHAPTER III

  CHAPTER IV

  CHAPTER V

  CHAPTER VI

  CHAPTER VII

  CHAPTER VIII

  CHAPTER IX

  CHAPTER X

  CHAPTER XI

  CHAPTER XII

  CHAPTER XIII

  CHAPTER XIV

  CHAPTER XV

  EPILOGUE

  BONUS CHAPTER

  A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

  by

  s.e. meyer

  copyright 2019

  Copyright © 2019 S. E. Meyer

  All rights reserved.

  ASIN: B07PML6K9W

  Cover art provided by Erica Petit

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  For Kathy,

  My best and only medicine.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I would like to take the time to thank the following individuals, who without their contributions and support, the completion of this book would not have been possible. I would like to thank my illustrator, Erica Pettit for her work on creating such an amazing and striking cover. Thank you to my friends at Amazon Publishing. A special thanks to my English teacher, Gary Cameron, for teaching me to believe in myself and my work. Finally, I would like to thank my best friend in the entire world for over two decades, my wonderful and amazing wife. Thank you for the sacrifices, your understanding, and your endless unwavering support over the years.

  What Shall We Do Now?

  What shall we use to fill the empty spaces

  Where waves of hunger roar?

  Shall we set out across the sea of faces

  In search of more and more applause?

  Shall we buy a new guitar?

  Shall we drive a more powerful car?

  Shall we work straight through the night?

  Shall we get into fights?

  Leave the lights on?

  Drop bombs?

  Do tours of the east?

  Contract disease?

  Bury bones?

  Break up homes?

  Send flowers by phone?

  Take to drink? Go to shrinks?

  Give up meat? Rarely sleep?

  Keep people as pets?

  Train dogs? Race rats?

  Fill the attic with cash?

  Bury treasure?

  Store up leisure?

  But never relax at all,

  With our backs to the wall.

  - Roger Waters

  Molly The Sheep

  I am Molly. I'm a sheep.

  I run, play, dream and sleep.

  I get treatments from the doctor, every week.

  So I can stay healthy and keep my coat sleek.

  But one thing I must never do at all,

  I must never, ever, climb over the wall.

  I eat my meals and help clean up the dishes.

  I mind my parents and do their wishes.

  I go to school and learn things that make sense,

  But I must never, ever, crawl under the fence.

  I stay safe with walls and fences about.

  They keep me in, and the predators out.

  One thing's for sure, I can sleep safe and sound,

  Knowing there is a wall all around.

  - S. E. Meyer

  Prologue

  As she exited through the back door of the recruiting center, Anna Morton viewed her surroundings and allowed the scenery to take over her senses. With the smell of flowers and grass clippings filling her nose, she followed the line of recruits making their way towards the bus waiting for them. The sights and sounds resonating with exuberance, Anna squinted through the brilliant sunshine. A sun brighter than she could remember, a sky more blue than she had ever seen. Even the pair of cardinals singing from the lilacs hugging the walk produced a symphony of notes striking enough to wet her eyes. Tears of joy and celebration, commemorating the page turned to a new chapter in her life. It was a future that shone with the brilliance of the sun; unbridled as the boundless blue backdrop above her head in which it swam. It was a day to remember.

  A new path. A brighter future. Escape the boring day-to-day life and her annoying little sister. She had been looking forward to basic military training for months. The minute she turned sixteen and became an adult she signed the paperwork. It was the most pleasant of memories that turned to an indelible nightmare. A day to remember became a day better described as one which Anna could never forget.

  A tall man with more stripes on his shoulders than Anna could count met the troupe in front of the bus.

  “Form a line,” he said.

  Both the drill sergeant's voice and appearance demanded full attention, from his large-brimmed hat to his G.I. boots, and all the wrinkle free fatigues in between.

  Anna scurried alongside the rest of the recruits, finding herself at one end.

  The sergeant introduced himself while pacing down the line of recruits. “My name is Technical Sergeant Duff.”

  Anna‘s ears rang with the intensity of his voice.

  “You will address me as Technical Sergeant Duff, and only as Technical Sergeant Duff. You will only speak when spoken to. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, Technical Sergeant Duff,” the recruits responded in unison, except for one latent 'yes sir' from the guy standing next to Anna. She recalled his name was Lucas.

  Sergeant Duff jogged to the end of the line and took up a position in front of him, yelling into his face. “What did you say?”

  “Sorry, I mean, yes, Technical Sergeant Duff,” Lucas replied.

  “Louder.”

  “Yes, Technical Sergeant Duff.”

  “I want to feel it!”

  “Yes, sir, Technical Sergeant Duff!”

  “No 'sir', just Technical Sergeant Duff.”

  “Yes, sir, Technical Sergeant Duff!” Lucas repeated.

  Sergeant Duff brought his nose within an inch of Lucas's. “Something wrong with you recruit?”

  “No, sir, Technical Sergeant Duff!”

  “Drop the sir. No, sir,” Sergeant Duff yelled.

  “No, sir!” Lucas echoed.

  “Do you have a problem following directions recruit?”

  “No, sir!”

  “I said you will address me as Technical Sergeant Duff and only as Technical Sergeant Duff,” the sergeant hollered, spit flying onto Lucas's cheek.

  The sergeant turned his head, inspecting the line with his dark eyes. “Technical Sergeant Duff.” he repeated. “I have always been Technical Sergeant Duff. My momma named me Technical Sergeant Duff.” The sergeant turned his gaze back to Lucas. “The name on my birth certificate is what, recruit?”

  “Technical Sergeant Duff?”

  The sergeant nodded. “You might get it yet recruit. Do you understand now?”

  “Yes, sir!” Lucas yelled, then covered his mouth with his hand. “Oh, shit.”

  “You need a lesson in following directions, recruit!” The brim of the instructor's hat wobbled with every word as he continued. “The only words that will ever come out of your mouth will be 'yes, Technical Sergeant Duff', now drop your pack.”

  Lucas dropped his bag on the ground. “Yes, Technical Sergeant Duff.”

  “Now pi
ck it up!”

  “Yes, Technical Sergeant Duff,” Lucas replied, picking the bag up off the ground.

  “Drop it!”

  Lucas dropped the bag back to the ground. “Yes, Technical Sergeant Duff.”

  “Pick it up!”

  Lucas picked up the bag. “Yes, Technical Sergeant Duff.”

  “Drop it!”

  Lucas dropped the bag. “Yes, Technical Sergeant Duff.”

  Anna watched the pickup game for several minutes out of the corner of her eye. She found out later that's what the Military Training Instructors, or MTI’s, called it. They used it often to torment the recruits. It wasn't just for the MTI's enjoyment though; they used it to teach recruits to follow directions without hesitating, or asking questions. It was one of the most important lessons in basic military training.

  After thirty rounds of the pickup game Technical Sergeant Duff paced back down the line. “I will be your drill coach, your instructor, and your worst nightmare. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Technical Sergeant Duff!” the group called out.

  While staring straight ahead Anna examined the bus, wondering what life would be like for the next eight weeks.

  It will be okay. I‘m a smart girl. I only have to keep my head down, not say anything, and do what I'm told.

  Anna smiled.

  This will be fun.

  “What are you smiling about recruit?” Technical Sergeant Duff asked. “Is something funny?”

  Anna straightened her spine. “No, Technical Sergeant Duff.”

  Anna looked passed the sergeant's frame, continuing to stare at the bus ahead of her.

  Something‘s wrong with the tire, she thought, wrinkling her brow.

  “You look confused. Are you confused, recruit?”

  “No, Technical Sergeant Duff.”

  “Constipated?”

  “No, Technical Sergeant Duff,” Anna repeated.

  “Then what is that look on your face, recruit?”

  “I think the tire is flat.”

  Technical Sergeant Duff stared into her face. Anna watched the sweat drip down his chocolate skin along her peripheral as the man yelled into her cheek. “Think? You don't get to think. You gave up your right to think when you swore in and walked through those doors behind you!”

  “Maybe not flat, but seems deflated,” Anna added.

  Shut up Anna, you're making this worse.

  “I see, we have a mouthy one here.” Technical Sergeant Duff smiled. “Take everyone's bags and load them into the back of the bus, recruit!”

  “Yes, Technical Sergeant Duff!”

  “Let's go recruit, double time.”

  Anna jogged to the back of the bus, dropping her pack before returning to the line. Technical Sergeant Duff walked back down the row of sweaty teenagers as Anna took Lucas's bag and returned to the bus. “Once I am done with you, the only things deflated around here will be your ego's and your waistlines!”

  Anna returned to retrieve another bag, pausing for a moment to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

  “Oh, are you getting hot, recruit?” Technical Sergeant Duff yelled. “Are you uncomfortable?”

  “No, Technical Sergeant Duff.” Anna replied.

  “Good, two bags at a time then. Let's go, hustle, recruit. You don't want to be the one putting us behind schedule.”

  Anna grabbed the next two bags, struggling to keep them from dragging on the ground as she jogged back to the bus. Another half dozen trips left Anna a hot, sweaty mess. Finished with her task she stepped into line, catching her breath while sweat ran down her back and into the crack of her ass.

  The sergeant swelled his chest. “All right, recruits. Load up!”

  Everyone found a seat, and the bus jerked forward, beginning its tour through the city towards the main gates. They told Anna they would spend the next eight weeks at an outpost in one of the farming districts. For Anna, traveling to the other side of the wall was both terrifying and exhilarating.

  The bus made it to the Easton river and turned onto River road. It was a winding lane that followed the river for a half mile before ending at the main gate.

  The scent of burning rubber filled the air around Anna’s seat. She turned to her seat-mate, a female recruit from Anna's side of the city, and wrinkled her nose. “Do you smell that?”

  The girl nodded.

  “We should say something.”

  The girl shook her head. “I'm not saying anything.”

  “Fine,” Anna growled, standing up. She swayed along between the seats as the bus followed the bending road. “Technical Sergeant Duff?” she asked, arriving at the front of the bus.

  “What part of speak only if spoken to do you not understand, recruit?”

  “I smell burning rubber,” Anna said.

  “The only thing burning around here is my ass, recruit. And you seem to be the one holding the flame. When we get to base, you will unload the bags, three at a time. Is that clear, recruit?”

  “Yes, Technical Sergeant Duff.”

  “Good, now go sit down.”

  “It's just that-”

  A deafening explosion cut Anna off as the tandem rear driver's side tires blew out. The bus lurched sideways, skidding towards the riverbank.

  Anna fell to the floor from the jolt.

  “What the hell was that?” she said, scrambling to stand up.

  Ears ringing, Anna righted herself and looked out the window to see the river's bank straight ahead. With her heart hammering at her chest she watched the river race towards them. “Oh my God,” she whispered.

  Anna clutched the pole behind the driver in a death grip, the sounds of gasps and profanity echoing down the sheet metal. The bus tore into the bank's soil with bare rims, spinning to one side as she hung on with white knuckles.

  Anna's eyes widened.

  The river came into full view out the windows as the bus rolled onto its side.

  “Jesus Christ, we're going in!” Anna said, hugging the pole and dangling sideways.

  The bus splashed down, tossing its occupants to one side and slamming the driver's forehead into the steering wheel. The sound of shattering glass and screaming recruits filled Anna's ears as water rushed in through the broken windows, wrapping around her ankles.

  Anna sucked in a breath.

  The emergency exit.

  She scanned the back of the bus as the cold water raced towards her knees.

  Luggage blocked the rear exit.

  Shit. Shit. Damn it.

  Glancing down the side of the bus, Anna found the emergency window exit.

  It's our only chance.

  As she stepped along the corner of the bus's ceiling to avoid the broken windows at her feet, Anna waded through the sea of panic-filled recruits towards the bus's middle.

  Water rushed to her waist as air hissed through the window seals above her head. Anna reached up between two recruits scratching at the window's glass. She flipped the emergency latch pulling the window free, increasing the pace of the rising water.

  “Come on, I'll help you up,” Anna coaxed the shell-shocked recruit next to her.

  She climbed onto the seat at her waist and helped lift the recruit up through the open window. The recruits clamored for the exit in a mob of flailing arms and legs, hopeful they would be next to escape the thirty foot iron casket dragging them to a watery grave. Anna helped a male recruit through the exit. He wiggled out onto the side of the bus, kicking and screaming, but not before landing a blow to Anna's face.

  “Ow! One at a time. Don't panic.”

  Anna touched her swelling lip, glancing toward the front of the bus. She noticed the driver, strapped in his seat-belt with a gash across his forehead and water up to his neck.

  Her throat tightened.

  Technical Sergeant Duff floated towards her, semi-conscious with blood flowing from above his right ear.

  Anna shook her head.

  Damn it! I can't do this alone.

  She stared into
the wide eyes of the screaming girl next to her. “You're taller than me. Help me get everyone out. I have to check on the driver and Duff.”

  The girl stared into the space behind Anna's head. “We're running out of time!” Anna yelled, shaking the girl by the collar and pulling her from her trance.

  Anna dropped from the bus seat. Water flowed between her breasts, lapping her pounding chest as she helped the girl lift three more recruits to safety. “Got it? Hurry. Get them out, we have no time.” Anna said, turning towards Sergeant Duff.

  With water swirling around her neck, Anna pulled the sergeant towards the exit, the smell of algae and her own sweat-soaked hair stinging her nose.

  “Help me get him out,” Anna said to the tall girl still helping the last of the recruits up through the window. Anna slapped Duff's cheek. “Sir. Sergeant Duff,” she called. Sergeant Duff opened his eyes, groggy from his head wound. ”We have to get you out the window. You need to help,” Anna urged. Together they struggled to hoist sergeant Duff through the exit and out onto the side of the sinking bus. Anna slipped back into the water through the emergency exit. “Now help me get the driver,” Anna said.

  The girl looked at the water level around Anna before shaking her head. “There's not enough time,” she replied.

  “Help me,” Anna sputtered through the water around her lips.

  The girl offered a trembling hand down through the opening. “Give me your hand”

  Anna coughed. “No, I have to get the driver. Help me.”

  The girl stared, wide eyed while shaking her head. “I can't.”

  Anna tipped her head back, lifting her chin out of the water. “Help Duff get to shore. I'll get the driver,” she replied before water bubbled up over her head.

  The bus tipped, nose diving for the river bed and slipped beneath the surface.

  I won’t make it.

  Anna swam for the back of the bus, hoping to find air. She surfaced, sucking oxygen from the tiny remaining cache, lips brushing the bus's sheet metal.

  Anna dove and tried the latch of the rear door, but the pressure difference made it impossible to open. Resurfacing, she filled her lungs a final time before diving to the front of the bus. She felt her way to the driver, fumbling with his seat belt in the growing darkness as the bus neared the river's bottom.