Night had befallen the city, and there wasn't a soul out on the streets this Tuesday night. No everyone seemed to be inside sheltering themselves from the unknown dangers on the street. Although there was one individual who was traversing the streets late at night by himself. This jaguar was walking quickly and sporadically, ducking in and out of alleyways like a mad man until he went into an alleyway and disappeared. A black Cadillac parked across the street had been watching him. Someone inside the car spoke " Hmm... interesting, I think the boss will want to hear this, we've seen enough call in the R Squad, our work here is done ", and with that the car pulled off into the night and left, leaving a sense of dread in the air. The Jaguar walked deep into the alleyway until he was sure no one had seen him, and then he turned left into another set of dark alleyways skillfully maneuvering until he came to a metal door. He raised his hand to knock against it, but then hesitated, and instead let out a melodic whistle. Suddenly a gruff voice could be heard on the other side saying " Ay who goes there, this is private property." The jaguar cleared his throat and said: " Charles let me in". "Oh, you want me to open the door eh? then identify yourself" the other voice said. " Charles it's me, Clyde, come on I think they saw me, " Clyde said while banging on the door. The door slowly creaked open to reveal a panther with an eye patch, holding a crowbar. " Clyde you slippery croak, I can't believe you got away too, " Charles said while swinging the door open wider. " I almost wouldn't have if. . . " the jaguar hesitated. " If what laddie, come on tell uncle Charles, " Charles said while ushering him inside and closing the door. " If it wasn't for . . . the R Squad " Clyde said while taking a seat.
Charles began to scratch his beard and pace around the small hideout, silently cursing himself for the events that had transpired earlier. " Well least the others are safe, eh mate? " Charles said while pulling up a seat and plopping in it. " What others? " Clyde said while looking down. " What? " was all Charles managed to say before feeling sick. " I told you everyone died Big G, Little Tony, Mike the Fighter, EVERYONE wiped out, I managed to slip by in the slaughter, they didn't stand a chance. Charles didn't say anything, what had started out as a small-time robbery had turned into an all out massacre, and he felt responsible. " Clyde listens to me, you need to get somewhere safe, somewhere FAR away from here, " Charles said while standing up. " What leave you? Uncle Charlie, you've lost it if you think I'll leave you for something as stupid as this, we"re family and family sticks together " Clyde said while outstretching his hand. The panther looked at it then grabbed the hand, but only to put something in it.
" Listen very closely Clyde my boy, I've done some things that I'm not very proud of, and now it's all coming back for me, I refuse to entangle you into this, " Charles said while walking to the other side of the room and grabbing a suitcase. " Look, Clyde, this city is about to fall into the hands of some really evil people, and I couldn't live with myself if you died at the hands of all this, " Charles said while throwing some items in the suitcase. " Look, uncle Charlie, whatever is going on WE can do this together, I already lost my family once I won't lose you too, " Clyde said while standing toe to toe with the panther. The old Panther looked at the boy and stifled a small smile and said " Clyde my boy, I promise we'll meet again, just you wait til all this is over, and we'll go back to the old estate and spend the rest of our lives palling around like old drinking buddies, how does that sound? " Charles said while putting his arm on Clyde's shoulder. Clyde looked off to the side and looked back at his uncle "that sounds great." Suddenly there was a loud bang at the door, and a voice said: "Charles B. Wellington, come out with your paws where we can see them." Clyde looked at his uncle nervously and asked: " Charles is that the police?" "No, it's the R squad, look take this suitcase and run, run as far as you can get away from here. Don't stop until you reach this address " Charles said while pushing him to the secret exit door. " CHARLES WE KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE OPEN UP NOW!" the demanding voice said while attempting to break the door down. Clyde was out the door ready to run when his uncle handed him a blank piece of paper and said " The flame will tell " and before Clyde could even ask him to repeat himself, the secret door slammed shut. Clyde knelt by the door listening to the conversation on the other side when he heard " So the old man still won't talk? We have. . . our methods " the mysterious voice said. " Well try all you want I ain't talking junior," Charles said with a huff. " hmm we figured you would not speak, so we'll just have to speak with your young one now won't we?" The mysterious voice taunted.
" You better not lay a claw on him or I will personally deal with you myself " Charles said while raising his voice. " that's a laugh, how's a dead man going to kill anyone " and before Charles could react the mysterious figure slashed him with a sword like object, all Clyde heard was his Uncle's cries of pain. Clyde quickly shot up and began to run, he looked at the address and took off even faster he didn't know anyone in central Zootopia, but there was no way he was staying in Tundra Town. Clyde had been sprinting non-stop until he reached a gas station where he decided to hitch a ride in the bed of a truck. As the truck took off, Clyde began to replay the events in his mind the original attack from earlier, then his uncle being killed, and suddenly Clyde began to piece together what was to come, he was next. After about an hour later, the truck pulled into the inner city Zootopia, where Clyde carefully hopped off. Clyde began analyzing his surroundings and realized where he had to go. Clyde quickly darted down the street and rounded the corner only to be greeted by a long stretch of sidewalk. He then proceeded to sprint down the stretch and round another right, into an alleyway. Clyde looked around while scratching his head, and then he proceeded to climb up a fire escape and at the top, he faced a window with a lock on it. Clyde carefully inserted the key and peeked inside whispering " hello is anybody home?" When he didn't get an answer he climbed into the small, dark room and looked for a light switch. When he found one he flicked it, and to his surprise the lights came on. He began to peer around the room, looking at all the previous items, when he realized something, someone had been here . . . recently.
Clyde threw himself on the soft bed and quickly fell asleep dreaming of his uncle's death all through the night. When morning arrived Clyde sprang up, thinking what his next move should be. The thought of going to the police was briefly considered. However, the more he thought of it, the more it didn't sound like a good idea in his mind. He dismissed the idea, and began to prepare for the day, he looked inside his suitcase and to his surprise there was just about everything he'd need to start a new life money, a recent job listing, clothes, and a note? Clyde picked up the note and read it aloud " Dear Clyde, if you're reading this, then that means your uncle Charlie's past sins have caught up with him. You see when I was younger, and more foolish, I made some mistakes. I crossed the wrong people and now they're coming back for me, Clyde, keep that paper safe at all times, don't let it out of your sight for even a measly second. And remember the flame will tell." Clyde would have kept reading, if not for the bottom of the page being torn off. " The flame will tell? What does that mean? " Clyde had so many questions, and so few answers, and his list of questions were only going to get larger, and larger.
Clyde had left the abandoned safe house, and ventured out in search of something to eat, hunger began to cloud his thoughts as he remembered that he hadn't eaten in two days. Clyde walked for about five minuets when he stumbled into a park, and saw a food vendor. His mouth instantly began to water as he approached the stand with a tired voice the jaguar said " what do you have to eat." Now the vendor was a portly rabbit, and with the wave of his hand he said " Buzz of kid, I'm not selling anything you'd be interested in." " Come on man I'm starving, I'd eat anything right now " Clyde said while leaning over the counter. " I said get lost, you're holding up my line." Clyde looked behind him, and not a single person was there, puzzled Clyde said " What's your problem, look I have money " Clyde said while pulling out the fat stack of dollar bills, and slapping it on the table. " The rabbit looked in disbelief and said " boy where did you steal all this money from?" " You prejudice pig, I'm hungry, I JUST WANT TO EAT." Clyde yelled. " Look young man, if you raise your voice at me, I'll have to call the cops " The rabbit said while reaching for his phone. " Call the police see if I care, I haven't broken one law, and you know what I'm not even hungry" Clyde said while throwing the vendor's display of food on the ground. Clyde walked away fuming to himself, while the rabbit called the police.
With Judy and Nick
Judy and Nick were parked across the street, having their lunch break in the squad car. Hey Judds is my mustard in there " Nick asked while searching in his brown paper bag. " No. . . I don't see. . .oh wait here's some. " " Thanks Carrots " Nick said while applying the mustard on his hot dog. The two were eating in silence when the police scanner went off saying, " We have a local disturbance in the Mayor Lionheart memorial park, the perpetrator has been described as a young jaguar with a black skull and bones jacket, heading north towards sector two." Nick and Judy were thinking when suddenly 'Judy said " Sector two, that's us he's heading our way." " Wow that's the first time the crooks starting turning themselves in " Nick said while scratching his chin. " Hey Nick look, I think it's him lets get him" Judy said while starting the car. Nick just nodded as he readied the microphone. Judy slowly drove up to him, making sure her speed matched his walking. " Hey kid, can we ask you some questions " Nick asked. " No thanks, I don't talk to strangers " Clyde replied while keeping his pace. " Ha ha very funny, but we need to ask you what happened to the rabbit vendor " Nick said while motioning for Judy to bring the car around in front of him. " Look, why don't you ask him why he refused to serve me food, or why he thought it was a good idea to harass me." Nick gave the signal, and Judy brought the car in front of him blocking his path. Clyde watched as Judy and Nick stepped out of the car and began walking towards him. " Come on kid we just want to talk " Nick said while taking larger steps. " yea he's right, just come with us, and we'll he you " Judy said. " Yea, help me get shot " Clyde said while turning the other way and continuing his walk.
Judy ran in front of Clyde while Nick stayed behind him, hoping to box him in. " Look kid we don't want to arrest you, we just want some answers I promise to get you back home before the evening is out out " Nick said calmly. Clyde began to mentally weigh his options, he could run away from them, and return home, it would be easy to get away from the fox, but that rabbit might be a problem. He also considered just playing along, why make an enemy, if you don't have too right? So Clyde with his new decision made said " Alright I'll come." Judy shot Nick a pleasing look as she escorted Clyde to the back of the squad car. Nick however didn't catch this look as he was too transfixed on who this boy was, he just couldn't shake the feeling that he'd seen him somewhere before. Unknown to them a black Cadillac was parked across the street watching the whole scene unfold, a voice on the inside of the car asked " shall I call in the R squad." There was a brief silence, when another voice spoke up and said, " don't bother, I'll handle this myself."
Back at H.Q. the interrogation process was causing Judy much frustration, she hadn't been able to even get this kid's name let alone where he lived, family members, etc. Judy was ready to cuff the kid and send him to the detainment unit, when Nick walked in with a coffee in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. " What'd I'd miss " Nick said while sitting in a chair across from Clyde. " Oh nothing much, except this kid is being a total pain in the butt " Judy said while glaring at Clyde. Clyde made gruff sound before returning to his thoughts. Nick looked at Clyde, then back at Judy then back at Clyde, and then told Judy " get out." The command was so blatant, and without warning Judy didn't know how to react, instead she asked " excuse me?" " Judy get out, that's all I'm going to say, just leave me and the kid " Nick said while focusing his attention on Clyde. On any other day this kind of command would have sparked an all out war, but due to Nick's tone of voice, and the way he was staring at Clyde she decided to leave, and without saying a word she opened the door and left.
Nick and Clyde engaged in a staring contest, trying to see who was sizing up who, Clyde's gaze was fierce, but also full of sorrow, his gaze reminded Nick of when he was younger, and would try to hide his sadness behind a mask of anger. Nick broke eye contact and reached for his belt, and pulled his tranquilizer gun out of it;s holster and placed it onto the table. Clyde looked at Nick in disbelief, surely a cop wasn't surrendering to him, on the streets whenever someone put their weapon on the table, it meant that they weren't there to fight, but to talk. Clyde looked at Nick once more, and with a heavy sigh said " Clyde, my name is Clyde." Nick flashed Clyde a friendly smile and said " Nick, Nick Wilde, and I know who you are." Clyde now confused looked up, wondering how he knew his identity. " You're Charles' boy, yep I remember way back when I was out on the streets Charles would often invite me over to scheme heists, and you would walk into the room, and yell bang bang, It would send me and Charles into a laughing fit every time, say what ever happened to old man Charlie?" The sounds of his uncle's death came flooding into him, and he began to cry, he cried for what seemed like an eternity, until Nick scooted his chair around towards him and placed his arm around him. " Hey Clyde don't cry, just tell me what happened " Nick said while massaging his back. Clyde suddenly stopped crying, and grew cold. A new sensation had overtaken him, and that was the feeling of being watched, though he kept this to himself, and answered Nick's question by saying " They killed him, they hacked him in cold blood, I didn't see it, but I heard the blade slice away at him " Clyde said while wiping a lone tear away. Before Nick could ask a question, Clyde continued by saying " He shoved me out the secret exit into the neighboring alleyway, when he turned to me, and said " the flame will tell, and with that he left to face the demon of his past " Clyde said while leaning back in his chair.
Nick wasted no time in asking questions, he started by asking " Who killed him, do you know?" Clyde thought carefully, then simply replied by saying " The R squad." Nick sat baffled, he knew every gang in Zootopia, but that one threw him through a loop, " R squad " who was that? Nick continued by asking " can you relay the events that led to your uncle's death." Clyde also wasted no time and began by saying " It was that morning we had just knocked off a local bank, and we loaded the money into the van then drove off, I was in the very back, listening to the others talk of a yellow fox, I was confused so I peeked up front and saw him, lying in the road." Clyde said while pausing for breath, " The fox jumped up as soon as he saw us, he began waving at us trying to get us to stop, Mike the fighter also the driver thought it be funny to hit him, but Charles said pull over, so Mike did and the fox came running to our side, pleading to hitch a ride." " We told him we had just robbed a bank, and he said he didn't care if we had just murdered his family, he just wanted to get as far away as possible, so we let him in, and immediately he began thanking us, calling us angels among animals." Nick listened intently to the story grabbing key details as they came along, he was making sure that this story wasn't heading where he thought it was heading. " So we had drove about 50 miles when a black Cadillac drove on the right side of us, at first we didn't think anything of it, but then when it fired on us, we knew who it was."
" Our car pulled to the side of the road, and we got out guns in one paw, and our resolve in the other. The other vehicle only had two guys in it, and we had eight, so we figured we were going to wipe the floor with these punks, but we soon found out, that we were sorely out matched." " I had a gun, and was firing away, trying to hit that pesky lynx, when the yellow fox asked if there was a gun he could shoot, I handed him a small pistol and he went to work, aiming only for the gas tank." " We soon caught on, and begun doing the same, but we were too slow because they shot ours out first, I remember a flash of bright light, and me not being able to move, the fox was right next to me when the two guys came and picked him up. " " He started to kick, scream, and shout talking about how they couldn't make him go back, and how he wasn't going to be their test subject anymore " Clyde said while scratching his head. " I'm still confused by it, but he did say, that he wouldn't go back to A.C.I -C.B 1." " Honestly I couldn't say what that meant " Clyde said while letting in a huge breath, and exhaling it. Nick was beginning to piece together what was happening, he then asked " Please tell me, what was his name? Did he say? " Clyde thought for a moment then said " I think it was seven, no Teven, nah it was. . . Steven."
Nick practically fell back from the news, he knew exactly what was going on, and he promised himself that this time he was going to go through it this time. Clyde spoke up and said " I never did find out what my uncle meant about the flame will tell, he could be very cryptic at times " Clyde said while rocking in his chair. " Clyde, you've done a great service, can I offer you something? Maybe something to eat or drink " Nick asked while getting up from his chair. " A water would be fine, I just need to refresh my throat after all that story telling " Clyde said while smiling. " You got it buddy " Nick said while stepping to the side to reveal a mysterious lynx with a large sword in his hand, standing ominously in the dimly lit hallway. Clyde froze at the sight, and immediately yelled. " HEY WHAT WAS THAT! " " NICK GET HIM. " Nick looked behind him, and saw no one, Nick confused asked " Hey Clyde, are you okay you look like you saw a ghost " Nick said while opening the door, " DON'T LEAVE NICK, DON'T LEAVE ME HERE " Clyde screamed. " HE'S HERE, HE FOLLOWED ME, NICK I'M NOT SAFE, please. . .don't leave " Clyde cried while whispering the last part. Nick looked at the terrified teen and said " Clyde I'm just going to the break room to get you a glass of water, you're scaring me look no one is out there, you've had a long day, and your mind is playing tricks on you just please try to relax. " Clyde pondered on what Nick had said and replied with an okay, but not an okay of he agreed, he said okay to what he knew was coming next.
Nick was filling up the cup in the break room when Judy walked in, " So what was that all about " She asked while pouring some coffee into her cup. " You intimidated him, there was no way I could have gotten him to open up the way he did, if you were there " Nick replied. Judy thought about this then shrugged moving on to her next question " So after hearing his story, I think were not just dealing with an ordinary gang, no I think there's much more than that " Judy said while walking back towards the interrogation room. Nick nodded in agreement as they neared the room, Judy continued on her point saying " I mean can't you see the hand writing on the wall, it's so obvious that there is a greater evil out there just waiting to catch the city off guard." Nick was silent at first then said " I can see the handwriting on the wall alright, but I don't like the color it was written in " Nick said while stepping closer to the interrogation room window. Judy confused looked through the window to see Clyde slumped over the table, with a large machete protruding through his back. But what was the most disturbing part was the message written in Clyde's blood saying " Hand over the document, or more shall suffer his fate."
Quite some time had passed since Clyde's murder, and Judy and Nick still couldn't wrap their heads around how he was killed, how someone got inside, or what the message meant, It was close to 9:30 and neither wanted to go home, just the though of walking the streets late at night by their selves was just too nerve-racking, that they decided to stay at Nick's apartment since it was closer to the police station, and he had a surveillance system monitoring the premises. Nick and Judy began their walk home, looking for any black Cadillacs.
HUGE thanks to my beta reader Vicky 5091, she was a great help, and I truly can't thank her enough
