Chapter 36: Death Waits For No Mammal
Judy woke in a daze, her vision blurred and her head hurt severely. She tried to make out her surroundings. She could hear voices but couldn't make out what they were saying. She wanted to hold the side of her head that was wincing in pain but was unable to. She tried to move her paws but couldn't, feeling the strain coming from her wrists. Slowly her vision began to return and she could see the thick rope binding her wrists around arms of a chair. She pulled trying to free herself, but couldn't. She lifted her head and could make out the image of Nick hanging from the ceiling from thick rope by his wrists, still unconscious.
"Nick… Nick can you hear me?" Judy said, sounding weak.
"Not likely." A deep voice came from Judy's left in a dark corner in the room.
Judy turned to look in the direction of the voice. "Who's there?" She called out.
Kane lit his cigar and stepped in front of Judy. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hopps, or do you prefer Mrs. Wilde?" He asked blowing smoke before returning the cigar to his mouth.
"Kane, I assume," Judy said, struggling to speak feeling weak.
"Beautiful and smart, I see what the fox sees in you." Kane walked up to Nick looking at the motionless fox.
"You stay away from him or I'll-" Judy said before she was cut off.
"Or what?!" Kane snapped at her causing her to jump. "Listen and listen good bunny, I'm in charge here not you!"
Judy looked at Kane, the feeling of vulnerability washing over her.
Kane took a deep calming breath. "Sorry for that outburst, you have to understand I've spent a small fortune for this night to happen and I need it to be perfect." Kane grabbed a chair and pulled it up sitting in front of Judy. "While we wait for the old tod over there to wake up, let's have a talk."
"About what, how crazy you are?" Judy said, her strength starting to return.
"If that's how you want your last civil conversation to go, fine." Kane said blowing smoke in Judy's face.
"This is anything but civil, you jackass."
"Such a potty mouth, I thought a small town girl would have better manners."
Judy just glared at the older ram.
"Have you ever heard the tale of life and death, Miss Hopps?" Kane said, examining his cigar.
"Enlighten me." Judy said, as sarcastic as she could.
Kane smiled and put the cigar to his lips and blew smoke before speaking. "Life and Death were watching the world one day. As they gazed upon it they saw a group of birds gathered around another bird who was dying. As they watched the birds Life said, 'Death, why does the world love me but hate you?' Death looked at his friend Life and told her, 'Because you a beautiful lie, and I'm the painful truth.' Kinda an interesting concept, don't you think?" Kane asked.
"Fascinating." Judy said, as sarcastic as she had the first time. Kane simply carried on speaking
"I never gave much thought to that story before Dawn died. Then I realized how true it really was, the story as well as death."
"You know I wasn't the one who killed her, Kane." Judy said.
"You might as well have, you put her there. She gave you chance, a opportunity to put prey where we belong, on top. But you, you and that stupid fox, had to go and put her in that hell hole."
"What she was doing was wrong and you know It."
"Was it? Think about, we out numbered predators a long time ago. That's why they did it you know."
"Did what?" Judy asked.
"Made peace, it wasn't because they wanted to or make the world a better place. It was about survival, they did it to survive. The predators knew we outnumbered them and that we would only multiply further. On top of that, prey had started to fight back with spears and other tools. Predators knew their days were numbered, they knew they had to find a solution. So they offered this perverted thing called peace, and we bought it. Prey bought the whole damn lie. To this day predators out number us in politics. We switched one form being under their control for another. She wanted to free us of that control, yet you were to blind to see it. Even when she laid it all out for you, you still chose to betray your own kind."
"I chose to do the right thing." Judy said.
"Ha… I guess the right thing is a matter of perspective, isn't it?"
"Unless you look at it through the eyes of the law." Said Judy.
It was then the sounds of Nick beginning to stir filled the room.
"I better get the others, it's time bunny." Kane said, getting off his chair and leaving the room, Judy glaring at him the whole way out.
"J-Judy? Where are you?!" Nick called out.
"I'm here, Nick." Judy said, looking at Nick.
"What happened? Where are we?" Nick said obviously in deep pain.
"It's Kane, he kidnapped us. And…..I don't know if I was hallucinating but I swore I saw Madison." Judy said trying to clear her memory.
"You memory's spot on." Madison said, as she entered the room followed by Josh and Kane.
"You bitch!" Nick said, kicking and struggling with his restraints. It was then the bright flash of electricity erupted from Nick's neck followed by his screams.
"Nick!" Judy screamed terrified.
Ten seconds after it start the shocking stopped, but for Nick it felt like a lifetime.
"You need to stay calm sweetie, there's a collar around that will shock you if I press the button on my control or if you get too aggressive." Madison said, in a calm, almost sweet, voice.
Nick breathed heavy trying calm his heart rate. "W-What the hell is this?"
"This is our new start Nicky." Madison said.
"Don't call me that, and what are you talking about?" Nick said obviously in a great deal of pain.
"Kane has promised us a way out Nicky, I arranged the whole thing. We'll walk out of here paw and paw and fly away to a new town to start our new lives together. All you have to do denounce your love for Judy." Madison said with an excited smile.
Nick stared at Madison for a moment before letting out a small chuckle that erupted into a loud laugh from his throat. This caused a confused look from all the mammals in the room, including Judy.
"You have got to be the stupidest fucking vixen on the planet to think he's just gonna let us walk out of here." Nick said.
"Nick, he's given me his word. Now we can do this the easy way." Madison reached into her pocket and retrieved the remote. "Or the hard way."
Judy's eyes widened realizing what the vixen had in mind. She was going to torture Nick till she got the answer she wanted, or Nick died.
Nick lifted his head to look Madison in the eyes, before spitting in her face. "Hard way, skank."
Madison growled and wiped away the spit. "So be it." She held down the button and the sparks erupted from the collar and a scream burst from Nick's muzzle. Kane stood by watching the whole thing while smoking his cigar, grinning at the sight in front of him. After what felt like forever for Nick, Madison released the button. Blood dripped from Nick's nose as he breathed heavy.
"Nick, for god's sake, just tell her what she wants to hear!" Judy screamed. She didn't want to watch the love of her life tortured.
"I'm sorry Carrots I can't do that because. I, Nicholas Wilde, promise to be brave, loyal, helpful, and trustworthy, and I'm not gonna say what this whore wants me to just cause she's to dumb to see that she's been played." Nick said, glaring at Madison and Kane.
Madison growled and slapped Nick. "I'll show you Nick!" Madison said, lifting her paw to press the button. Sparks flew and Nick screamed again. As Madison watched Nick struggle, Kane turned to Josh, "At this rate she'll kill him before we get to the bunny." Kane said.
"What do you want to do about it?" Josh asked.
Kane thought and then grinned, "Got your knife?"
"Yes sir." Josh said.
Kane's grin widened. "While these two are distracted, I want you to teach our other guest the meaning of, gut torn hare." Kane said putting extra emphasis on the words.
"Are you sure, sir?" Josh asked.
"Yes but don't kill her, yet. But make sure it's as painful as possible."
Josh sighed as he drew his large military Bowie knife. "Yes sir." Josh said, turning to Judy.
Judy watched in terror as the other ram approached her wielding the knife.
"Y-You don't have to do this, please." Judy begged.
"Actually I do, even if I don't want to. If it means anything, I am sorry." Josh said, gripping the knife with one hoof using it cut up Judy's shirt revealing her bra and stomach so he can make the cuts he needed to. Judy's eyes teared up as terror ran through her. As Josh braced himself to make the first cut, Judy played the last card she had left.
"I'm pregnant." It was barely more than a whisper.
Josh froze, the tip of the knife millimeters from Judy's stomach. "What did you just say?" Josh said, praying he misheard her.
"I said I'm pregnant. Please, don't hurt my kits, don't killed my baby's." Judy tears falling off her cheeks.
Josh's hoof shook, he stared at the knife he held. He couldn't believe what he had almost just done. How could he let this get this far, how could he allow this. As the sounds of Nick's screams filled the room Josh looked over his shoulder at Kane who was watching Nick. Josh knew what he would have to do. He pulled the knife back and thrusted it forward, to tip dragging along the arm of the chair cutting the tip on Judy's left wrist. He then turned it and cut the other rope before placing the knife in Judy's lap who looked up at him wide eyed.
"Don't say a word." Josh said, " I'm gonna count to three, then we go. Nod if you understand."
Judy nodded and Josh took a deep breath and started to count. "1……...2……..3." Josh turned on his back hooves to face Kane and lowered his head propelling himself forward at the other ram. Kane heard the loud foot steps and turned his in the direction confused. By the time he realized what was happening it was too late. Josh's horns slammed into Kane's abdomen, causing his revolver to fall from his jacket. Josh could hear the sound of ribs cracking as he and Kane smashed through the wooden door they had came through a few moments earlier. The outburst caught Madison off guard and she dropped the remote, startled, stopping the shocking of Nick. She bent down to grab Kane's gun to help the old ram. But as she grabbed the grip of the pistol she felt the sharp burning pain surging from her back causing her to scream. The screamed caught Nick's attention, despite the pain he was in he lifted his head and saw the source. On Madison's back was Judy holding a large knife with the blade buried into Madison's back, almost to the hilt. Madison swung her body side to side trying to throw the rabbit off her. Madison gripped the large revolver ready to shoot Judy when given the chance. Judy saw the gun and held onto the knife for dear life. Nick saw this as his chance and battled through the pain bending his arms lifting himself up and proceeded to start chewing through the rope that held him. As he did, Madison continued to try and free herself from her attacker. She swung her paw holding the gun trying to hit Judy. Judy could feel her grip slipping from the blood covering the handle and knew it wouldn't be long before lost her hold on it. Madison swung her arm again, as she did Judy reached and grabbed the gun releasing the knife. Judy's body was flung over Madison's shoulder but she didn't release her hold on the gun and both the females were sent onto the floor fighting for the gun. Nick watched on helplessly still trying to free himself. Madison kneeled over Judy fighting for the weapon.
"Let go you, dumb bunny!" Madison thrusted herself forward and bit down on Judy's shoulder digging her fangs into the smaller prey, blood filling the vixen's mouth. This caused a scream from Judy as her whole body tenseed up and a loud explosion rang out through the room. It was then the rope holding Nick finally broke and he fell to the floor now freed. He wasted no time running to Judy and Madison, grabbing Madison to pull her off Judy.
"Get off her you bi-" Nick stopped when he felt Madison's body was limp. He rolled her over and saw a large bullet hole through Madison chest. The gun firmly in Judy's paw, Madison was dead. Judy sat up and Nick hugged her tightly.
"Oh my god, Judy, I was so scared." Nick said. But Judy said nothing, and Nick heard the sound of the gun she held falling to the floor. Nick leaned back to look at her, the look on her face was a mix of dread and terror. Nick tried to think of something to say when another loud explosion rang out from the next room. Nick knew the fight wasn't over and grabbed the revolver and ran to the next room, gun ready. He saw the lifeless body of a ram on the floor. As he approached the body he saw it wasn't Kane. He hadn't caught the ram's name, but he guessed he had been the reason he and Judy were still alive. He saw a empty gun holster on the rams belt. Kane had shot the poor mammal with his own gun. Nick checked for a pulse but saw a bullet wound in the head of the mammal. As he did, he also noticed they seemed to be in a warehouse similar to Vlads. He saw a blood trail leading from the ram's body to a door near by. Nick ran to door and flung it open as the cool night air hit him. He looked up and down the dark streets of Zootopia but saw nobody, the blood trail stopping at the street where Kane a had gotten into a vehicle. There was nothing Judy or Nick could do, Josh was dead, and Kane was gone.
(Hello Everyone! Now I'm sure a good portion of you jumped up and cheered when Madison died. I honestly did not plan on fans hating her so much. But the down side is Kane escaped, another plus though is Judy and Nick are alive, thanks to Josh who sacerficed himself. Next time, Judy and Nick seek medical attention, Mrs. Wilde talks with Judy, and we learn more about Judy's pregnancy. Please share and Review, and I'll see you all next time. Bye Bye!)