The world is no longer like anyone would care to remember it. Dark, desolate, dangerous, the stuff of nightmares.
Genetic engineering had, in the past few years, become a common place force, and force for the most part seen as good. Though many thought of it as a crime against God, most just loved the prospect of the perfect child, or the eradication of genetic disease, or other such nonsense. It was not long after decoding the basic genome of all animals on earth, and finding just how similar all of us are they started hybridization. This was a cruel, intolerable act even to most scientists, who would still use the studies put out on these horrendous experiments. But this in many respects is the way of science.
If only they would have stayed with mixing dogs and cats, or other such things nothing would have gotten out of hand, except maybe a protest or two, but that is easily sustainable. Instead, the academics started wondering what everybody wanted, no well that isn't right, and that was just their excuse. Really they wanted to expand the intelligence of the dog, to make it almost sentient, but still sub-human. So was spawned the Canis Sapien, or Wise Dog. At first it was the crave of the masses, the dogs learned to speak, had conversations with their masters and the entire world was in love.
But slavery was the sentence for these creatures. They had not even asked to be put on this earth, but were created for the purpose of entertaining and revering those who drug them into existence. There started to be signs of rebellion sooner than anyone could have imagined, just a few months had gone by since the first Canis Sapien. But it was pushed out of the minds of most people by the media downplaying the importance of these isolated incidents. This went on for years.
When the war broke no one was ready. The dogs had started breeding with wolves in the wild, creating much more vicious, but still highly intelligent creatures. The Canis, as they call themselves, surprised the world, lashing out from the forests, ripping people to shreds, with no need for weapons.
The news spread quickly, but the Canis were already everywhere. As the news came to humans, there was little or no time to make plans, or even to react before the plague of ambush was there as well. The Canis were held out of military bases, but only by the thick bunker walls, and the lack of opposable digits. However, they did learn to shoot guns, but still the majority of Canis seemed to enjoy the brutal slaughter of humans dealt by their own teeth.
This is how my father died, only fifty feet from where I sit. A Canis came ripping through the yard as my dad ran for the house; the Canis caught him, and the last thing I remember before being in this hole is the blood dripping from the Canis's jowls as he caught my scent. I guess I must have bolted to the old bomb shelter from decades ago, people may have been paranoid about Russia, but this shelter still came in handy.
I don't know much of what has happened to the world since I have been in here, the radio is no longer reliable, newscasters staying on the air as the world ended were replaced by people with throaty voices. The Canis Sapiens were trying to convince the people in hiding that they and the world's governments had made an agreement, but if that is so why are there still screams in the background, why do no humans speak along with the Canis. It is an easy veil to pierce, but the hopes of many drug them from their hiding spots, with the only result being death. I am desperately trying to reach anyone on CB, or radio, or anything at all, wanting safe haven, but it is still nowhere to be found.
I keep hearing noises at the door, but I don't think they can get in. At least I hope.
Oddly enough my only company in this rotted cellar is my cat, who had been hiding in here for days. As I stroke the purring ball of fur, I smile wondering that if the Canis Sapien ever becomes a civilized society, whether or not they will have an AETP, animals for the ethical treatment of people.
The door it can't be moving. I ran over and latched the other two locks, they must have broken the other one it won't be long now.
Now I wish I would have taken the gun my uncle offered me on my 12th birthday, You may need it someday, I had just scoffed at the idea, but now
It's going faster now, I hear metal on metal, and they are going to get through the door
I stand in the doorway, wanting it over fast, expecting to die slowly.
The crack of the last bolt is as loud as a thunder-clap, and the blinding sunlight a delayed bolt of lightning. He's over here! A man! I open my eyes to see a man in military uniform signaling others Get him out of here!
A flash of grey in the corner of my eye, No! is all I can say before the military man disappears.
In the distance I hear rotors beating the air with helicopter blades, shouting that I just can't quite make out, and more gun fire than I thought possible. I see a satisfied grin, surrounded by a dark grey face, bearing down on me. But all I can do is smile Can't we all just get along?