Screams echoed around the ballroom as panic had taken over the patrons of the gala. The Rovers struggled to comprehend what had just taken place right before their eyes. The clouds of thick smoke kept their vision blurred from the stage where Hunter and the mayor had been moments ago.
"Rovers! Spread out! Blitz, Shag and Exile, crowd control! Colleen, I want you and Muzzle to search the back area! Hubert, get to the authorities as fast as you can! Go!" Master commanded in his deep bellowing voice.
Without a moment of hesitation, the canines leapt into their given assignments. Worry and fear kept their adrenaline running to calm everything down as quickly as possible so they could figure out what happened to their beloved leader. Exile and Blitz made their way to the doors to force them open so people could begin escaping the smoky room. Shag pilfered through his fur storage until he pulled out a few large fans to begin blowing the thick smoke up and out of the ballroom.
Colleen, however, had only one thing on her mind. She tied her long dress up where she could run and threw her dress heels to the four winds as she and Muzzle raced towards the stage. She wrapped her hand around the leash Muzzle had on so she could keep him close to her in case he caught on to something she couldn't.
"Muzzle, can you see the stage?" Colleen asked the Rottie.
Muzzle woofed and growled a response to the negative until he let out a loud yip of pain.
"Muzz…?" Colleen began to ask until she realized the Muzzle had run into the side of the stage with his nose.
Muzzle grumbled in slight embarrassment; which caused Colleen to let out a soft chuckle. After making sure he was uninjured, the pair felt their way around and found the stairs leading up to the main floor. She rushed to the podium where Hunter was standing and felt her heart stop. An empty syringe lay discarded next to drag marks leading to the back-storage area of the building.
"HI-YA! VERSACE!" Colleen shouted as she kicked the doors in, preparing for a fight.
Every hair on Muzzle's body was raised as he scanned for any sign of trouble, waiting to be given the signal to attack.
Silence.
The feeling of utter stillness surrounded them. Entering the damp musty room, she followed the blurred trail until she came to the back of the warehouse area of the Bradbury. The dust-covered floor showed evidence of a well-organized operation with the lack of scurried footprints or trace evidence.
"They 'ad to 'ave left somethin' be'ind…. No' even pros can clean up perfe'ly…" Colleen thought.
Suddenly, Muzzle's nose kicked into high gear as he began detecting Hunter's scent. He pulled Colleen hard across the room towards the back of the room near a set of double doors that lead outside to the alley where the dumpsters were.
"WHOAH! Easy, Love! Wha' is…?" Colleen exclaimed as she felt a hard jerk on her hand holding the leash.
Muzzle began barking as he snorted and sniffed around a specific area. Colleen let the leash go so Muzzle could work unhindered and so her wrist wouldn't get injured in the process.
Before she could zero in on what Muzzle had caught on to, she felt something soft brush against her foot. Looking down, she noticed it was a jacket that was wrapped tightly around something. As she picked the item up, Muzzle raced up to her and began barking louder than she had ever heard him.
"Easy, Muzzle. It's just a…" Colleen began until she saw a flash of shiny red.
She took a tentative sniff of the garment and felt her heart stop. It was Hunter's tux jacket and vest.
"No…. 'untie… no…" Colleen murmured as she ruffled the suit coat and vest around and found a large, tightly packed Manilla envelope along with Hunter's collar.
With shaking hands, she opened the envelope and saw several folded wads of cash along with a small white notecard. Upon turning the card over, Colleen's eyes shrunk in panic.
Just as promised, Valiant. All the money you ever gave me for my 'services'.
Now me and this mule will disappear from your perfect little life forever.
"Mad Dog"
"No….NO… NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! HUNTER!" Colleen screamed.
Her screams began growing in intensity mimicking the wailing howl of a dying animal. She was too overwrought with her emotions to notice the sound of several pairs of footsteps coming in from behind her.
"Comrade! What is being…? Where is Comrade Hunter" Exile asked looking around.
Mayor Valiant held to the back of the room, knowing exactly the answer to Exile's question.
Master leaned down to comfort Colleen enough where she could speak. Muzzle nuzzled her arm letting her know he was there for her. Shag reached into his fur and pulled out a box of tissues so she could dry her eyes.
"This is being strange for Comrade to being this upsetski…" Exile pondered.
The Collie's usual no-nonsense strong attitude was completely gone. It was like someone had a flipped a switch in her brain. Blitz entered in behind Exile with the mayor right behind him, although reluctant.
"Miss Coll…" Mayor Valiant began.
With a strangled gasp upon laying her now flaming red eyes on the mayor, Colleen exclaimed, "YOU! YOU DID THIS! WHERE IS MY 'UNTIE?! WHA' DID 'E DO TO YOU? YOU BLOODY…!"
"Stay, Colleen! Calm down! What are you talking about?" Master asked as he held her collar to keep her still.
As she seethed, she furiously pointed to the manila envelope that was on the crate beside Blitz. She held Hunter's collar to her face as her tears began again. Exile pulled her into a bear hug to keep her calm as she dried her eyes on the tissues. It was so out of character for her that he only could hold her back to keep her from harming herself or anyone else at this point.
After catching sight of what Colleen was pointing at, Blitz picked up the notecard that was on top of the envelope of cash. He let out a sinister growl upon reading the message on it. Before allowing his canine instincts to attack, he handed the envelope and note to Master.
Master examined the evidence in his hands. His face fought to keep the scorn and disdain he felt off, but was slowly losing the battle. He looked at the man, who had his back pressed against the wall then over to Blitz.
"Blitz, detain the mayor till police arrive…" Master began.
Blitz nodded in obedience to his master's order as Shag handed him a pair of zip ties. As Jonathan struggled, Blitz fought the urge to throw him into the floor.
"P-Professor, I-I can…" Jonathan stammered as Blitz tightened the makeshift cuffs around his wrists.
"ENOUGH!" Master said in his bellowing voice.
The mayor winced as the sound waves rang in his head.
"Vhat. Have. You. Done?" Blitz hissed.
The rest of the Rovers looked at the sniveling man writhing at their feet in fury. Not only did it seem like the man who apparently had the best interests for shelters animals nationwide betray one of if not the best special forces team in the world… now the very heart and soul of their team was gone without a trace.
Exile felt Colleen shift forcefully in his grasp. He held tight to prevent her from going out of control, even though no one would blame her under the circumstances.
"Exile…" Colleen said in an unfamiliar tone to the Husky's ears, causing his guard to drop.
Before he could regain control, Colleen flew at the mayor, lifting him by the collar off the ground and growling like an enraged animal.
"YOU… YOU BETTAH BLOODY HOPE MY HUSBAND IS NOT 'URT WHEN HE'S FOUND…. Or So Help Me…. You will regre' wha'evah deal you made…" Colleen warned until her voice was only a whisper.
Jonathan shivered in fear as he felt her grip loosen and he was met with the stone-cold floor of the storage room against his face.
Without a word, Colleen stormed out of the room, tears of worry and anger flowing down her face. The others looked on in understanding, but concern at her sudden strange behavior. After all, who could blame her?
Blitz and Exile picked the mayor up off the floor and escorted outside as they heard police sirens approaching. They only allowed themselves threatening growls to be made towards the object of their hate, even though it literally felt like they were being torn in half from the pressure to attack.
"Hunter… ve vill find you…no mattah vhat it takes…" Blitz vowed silently.
Meanwhile:
Pain… that's all Hunter could register as consciousness began flowing back into his mind. His body felt tight as his muscles ached.
It was dark. Wisps of moonlight filtered into his vision as his eyes began focusing back on reality. His vision was hazy as triple projections of his surroundings made his dizzy.
Minute by minute the projections began merging back together. The silhouette of a human figure began emerging from the foggy horizon of his field of sight.
Suddenly, a hauntingly deep laugh began to fill the air. Hunter felt his blood run cold as his muscles tensed. Something felt eerily familiar about that sound…
"L-look, Boss…. H-He's waking u-up…" a shakier voice stammered.
"Good… now leave… I've got some unfinished business to tend to," the deep voice answered.
"W-What about m-my p-payment, Boss?" the shaky voice asked.
The sound of an envelope crumpling in the man's hands and being shoved into the arms of the other was all Hunter could discern due to the darkness.
"Now get lost, Kyle!" the dark voice said as the sound of a door slamming followed.
"What is…going…?" Hunter thought as he became more aware.
Hunter tried to speak, but began feeling a strange tightness in his jaw and throat. His tongue tried to force the intrusion out until he felt a tight band wrapping around the back of his head.
Slight groans escaped his throat as he began to feel the restraints that surrounded his entire body. Whoever had him captive had definitely considered how strong he was. He could only manage to flex his shoulders, but nothing more.
"Great… no hope of breaking this…*sniff* what's that… burning…? Whoa… why is it so cold in here…?" Hunter's mind raced as a cold breeze hit his body, causing him to shiver.
It felt like he had been hit with a bucket of ice water as he felt his entire body shiver from the uncomfortable feeling. It was like…
"Wait… my… shirt… it's…. what does this sick creep want…?" Hunter thought as he realized that he had been stripped of his tux jacket, vest, and shirt.
He looked around a little more and noticed he was in what appeared to be an old store room where a fire had taken place. There were signs of charring up the walls and the smell of old burnt wood and insulation. Strips of wallpaper curled down the walls hinting to the room's former identity. Tufts of carpet could be seen emerging from the charcoal remains of what used to be the original flooring.
"Wallpaper… carpet… this is not a store room… abandoned house maybe…? Wait… what's that…?" Hunter continued to think as the sedative wore off.
He smelled the burnt remains around him, but something else kept coming through. Hints of cigarette ash and alcohol bombarded his mind… it seemed… familiar…
The dark figure had his back to Hunter working with something on the long table in front of the one window letting light into the room. Since he couldn't flex through his restraints much, he tried to feel around the object forcing his mouth open. His tongue felt like it was glued to his bottom teeth as his throat closed around the tube.
"No… it's past my tongue… if I break it… I'll choke on the piece… great…" Hunter thought as a growl echoed out of the tube.
"Don't waste your energy, Mule. You won't need it much longer…" the dark figure said in a mocking tone.
Hunter growled as the smell of something hot filled his nose. Before he had time to register what the figure had in his hand, searing pain pierced through his left pec. Garbled screams were all he could manage as the hot piece of metal was held to his chest.
"Just like old times, HA!" the man's voice bellowed over his cries of pain.
Tears of pain pricked at the edges of Hunter's eyes as he looked down to notice that the man held what looked like a branding iron in his hands. He couldn't see anything else, but it felt like it would burn straight through him before it was jerked away, tearing fur and flesh with it.
Hunter panted in relief and exhaustion from having to stay conscious for such agony. Unfortunately, this evil being would not allow him any respite. Hunter felt his head pulled violently up till he was looking this figure straight into his eyes.
"Remember me, pup? I suppose not. It has been a while. I did have a hell of a time tracking you down…" the dark man sneered as he twirled the iron in his fingers.
Hunter noticed the small symbol at the end of the brand. It was a triangle with a small cross in the middle. A massive headache pressed into his temples. He knew this symbol, but he just couldn't place from where. It was like his mind was keeping the biggest secret from him and he wasn't allowed to know.
"Oh well… it won't matter… all anyone will ever know is Mad Dog is back again…" the man said.
"Mad Dog…? What is he…?" Hunter thought.
*POW*
Hunter couldn't register what happened. He managed to open his eyes enough to see the man's right fist connect with the side of his face. He felt his body smash against the chair he was in as it landed hard on the floor, leaving him on his side.
"I'm gonna enjoy this…" the man said with a devilish grin.
Hunter's eyes widened in fright as the man's fist met with his left eye. Hunter felt it start to swell as he lay tried to get in a position to block the heavy blows.
He was unsuccessful. The man kept coming at him. After several blows, leaving his face bloodied and bruised, his attacker threw Hunter to his back before proceeding to stomp into his stomach.
Hunter was helpless, but he knew he couldn't give up. He tightened everything he had to brace for whatever this guy would dish out. He had taken his share of beatings before, but never this severe.
When he heard the dark figure panting heavily from the assault, he hoped he would tire soon. Unfortunately, he felt his rushed from the floor back into his former sitting position. He could feel blood pouring down his face as his eyes had to blink furiously to maintain any form of vision.
"Ugh... what…what is this for…? I don't even know… Ow… man this is gonna leave a mark…" Hunter thought as the pain coursed over his body.
As Hunter panted from the pain, he heard a clinking sound of metal against metal, but it was soft. It was similar to the sound his own dog tags made on his collar. He forced his eyes open as much as he could to trace the source of the sound until the evil figure's voice began filling his ears.
"You may have forgotten me, Mule… and what you did… but I know one thing you haven't forgotten…" the man said cryptically as he twirled a small circle around his finger.
The small circle he had was held in front of Hunter's swollen eyes. Confirming his own suspicions, it was a small dog collar, like one made for a puppy. Hunter looked at it as closely as he could. The collar was dingy and dirty. It looked like it used to be a pale blue. However, what caught hunter's attention was the silver charm dangling at the end… a sun with a swirled design in the center of it with a fancy, cursive 'd' engraved into it.
"Remember this…?" The devilish voice said.
Hunter froze…
Fire… the smell of smoke…
Fear… panic
Had to get to someone… a blood-curdling scream for him…
He couldn't make sense of it. Tears of anger and frustration began pouring down his face. What were these memories? Why couldn't he remember?
"Of course you do… I remember how much you cared about her… you sure didn't show it did you…? Letting her die like she did…" the man said as he dangled the collar in front of Hunter's nose
He smelled the horrifying stench of lighter fluid. It made him dizzy and sick as he coughed up blood. The man lit a match and held it to the end of the collar causing it to light up instantly
Hunter watched in horror as the collar burned. He felt guilty for something he couldn't remember and why is this happening?
"I am going to enjoy watching you die this time… shoulda let ya die the last time… but circumstances and all…" the man said as he forced Hunter's head up where the tube was unobstructed
Hunter's eyes closed. He knew this feeling from somewhere…
The panic of being held down…
The sickening feeling of feeling full without food…
The stink of cheap cigarettes and booze…
Suddenly, he felt the vibrations of something being dropped down his throat right into his stomach. The sensation made him want to vomit.
11…
12…
13…
He knew the deposits were nothing good. He looked up and saw the man mocking him by dangling a small baggie that had been tightly bound up.
"DRUGS!" Hunter screamed inside his head.
Then, the evil man pierced the last baggie with a pin and dropped down his throat. He could hear the restrained laughter under the man's breath as he tried to calm his racing heart.
"No… keep calm, Hunter… the faster your heart goes… the faster it'll get to you…" Hunter chanted to himself as his breathing began to slow.
"You think that I'm done with you yet…? HA!" the dark man said with a shout as a sharp clink of glass against metal followed his statement.
"Hmmm…?" Hunter managed to utter around the tube.
He looked up to see the man smiling maniacally as a bottle containing some type of alcohol was forced into the tube as well…
"No… no I can't die… I can't die… not like this… Colleen… please find me!" Hunter thought as his fate came closer.
The man removed the tube from his throat and the muzzle keeping it in place. Before Hunter could make himself vomit, his mouth and throat were closed off. He could still breathe, but he couldn't expel the toxic poison that was now ravaging his system.
He felt his body loosed from his restraints and thrown against the closest wall. He couldn't force his body to respond and get out. He began to feel his body shut down. Blood dripped from his mouth and nose as his body collapsed and convulsed. The man watched in demonic satisfaction.
"Serves ya right… Mule…" the man said as he began laughing.
Before he could enjoy his revenge, the sound of sirens began echoing through the darkened streets outside.
"I knew Valium would spill… time for me to go…" the man said as he disappeared into the shadows of the slums.