Chapter 2: The Arrest
Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps approached the arctic fox as she slowly put down both of her weapons. They were surprised on how compliant the suspect was.
"You have the right to remain silent," Judy said, as she started to read off the rights.
Nick got out the handcuffs and went right up to the arctic fox. However, as he was handcuffing her, he noticed a look in her face. He recognized this, as it was the same look he had as a child when he was muzzled, or anytime he saw muzzles. It was the same look he had when Manchas went savage, and when he nearly died. Now he knew why this particular suspect was so compliant. She was completely terrified of this arrest, and was trying her best to avoid harm. She remained silent this whole time, and an even closer examination revealed her to be trembling. As they walked her back into the car, Nick knew that he was going to talk with this suspect. He knew how she felt, just a kid in this serious predicament.
"Suspect apprehended," Hopps said into the intercom as they started the car. Right after she said that, she began thinking about the arctic fox as well. The look on the fox's face was the same look she had as a child, being beaten up by Gideon Grey, her childhood bully, and when Bellwether had revealed herself to be behind the Night Howlers. This was not the look of a fierce criminal, but the look of a terrified newcomer. She knew how the suspect felt as well, as she herself had come to the city hopeful, just to see her dreams crumble in front of her.
As they drove back to the police station, Hopps and Wilde looked at each other in silence. The radio was kept off, and no one made any sound.
Clawhauser was the first to see the suspect as Judy and Nick walked her back into the station. "Hey there!" he shouted happily, "another one caught. Plus, one I haven't met before," he then pulled out his phone, "Oh yeah, by the way, ya know the singer Gazelle, greatest singer of our lifetime, the Angel With Horns ya know. Well, watch this!" He played the dancing with Gazelle app.
Suddenly, the suspect spoke.
"Oh please," she said, as she removed Clawhauser's phone, "fucking shit music. I prefer real stuff like MAYHEM!" She shouted in a thick Norwegian accent, "jævla helvete."
Hopps, Wilde, and Clawhauser all looked at the suspect in surprise. They did not expect her to speak this suddenly, or this loud. They knew to say something in the interrogation room.
"Okay then," Clawhauser said nervously, "I guess this will have to come later."
"Hopps, Wilde," Chief Bogo then said, "I see this must be the suspect. Indeed, an arctic fox with corpse paint, spikes, a flamethrower and even a Viking axe. Never seen one quite like this before. impressive indeed."
The suspect looked very nervously at Chief Bogo, afraid as to what would happen next. All she knew she might be put in prison for life. She would get a rusty cell with zero space, be beaten up by the larger animals, and may even die. Maybe it would be another animal who killed her, the prison guards, or herself. This was what she had heard about the Zootopian prisons. All her life. She had been warned about going to Zootopia and leaving her home, especially at her age. She continued to remain silent.
"I know the feeling," Bogo said, "must be a first timer. They always look like this. By the way I gotta go now," he walked back to his office.
Judy and Nick looked at the suspect, and then at each other. None of them had spoken since the arrest. Suddenly, Nick said the first word.
"This one," Nick said, "just look at her. Silent, trembling, completely terrified. It's like I see her face and I see myself. She's trying to hide herself in the face of a higher power. She doesn't want anyone to see that they get to her. I mean, no one just concedes this easily, unless they are terrified of the charges they will face."
"Oh yes," Judy then replied, "It's like I see myself too. A newcomer from another place coming into a city that she's never been. Must have been hopeful to arrive, just to see her dreams crushed. I see myself in her as well. All she probably wants is to have a good life. To get where they wanted to go."
"Must want to get somewhere," Nick said, "I mean, she must be a musician of some time. Or someone who wants to be a musician, or someone who also just loves their music. She just looks like she is one. I mean, look at her face. Her clothes."
"Just like me," Judy said, "I mean, not the musician part, but the whole moving to the city, thinking you can be anything, and trying to live your dream, at a young age. I mean, I'm just so scared for her."
"Me too," Nick said.
Upon hearing this, the suspect's fear of what was going to happen diminished. She never thought these two to be so nice, yet feel for her as well. She began to feel a little bit of hope.