Chapter 13: Heist Gone Wrong

Trevor's POV

Fergus and I faced the corner shop on the opposite side of the road. Tonight was the night we decided that we'd pull off the first food heist I'd be a part of. Fergus straightened his ears before glancing at me.

"Alright kiddo, remember the plan?" He asked me as I nodded. "Aye. Go in the back and shut off the circuit breaker so the alarm won't go off then get in and get as much as we can." Fergus gave a thumbs up to me as I confirmed my task. We faced the shop once more before my fox mentor held out a hand with three fingers outward, putting one back when he started to countdown.

"Three… Two… One… Break!"

And then we both rushed to the shop, Fergus lingering around the front as I made my way to the back through a small alleyway. It was rather dark given that we were pulling the heist off at night during closing hours so it was rather difficult to find the electrical main box. I knocked on the wall with every step until at last, my knuckles felt a cold metal instead of the rough brick texture. I felt around the box for a handle, my hand gripping one seconds later. I tried to turn said handle but it wouldn't budge.

Great, locked. That would've been way too easy. Luckily, Big Fee found an old torch and gave me it. I took the torch out of my pocket and flicked the switch as a light flickered from it. Aiming the torch at the handle, I could see a keyhole on the handle's pivot. I looked around the small alleyway until I spotted an old iron stick on the ground. Picking it up with my free hand, I jammed one end of the stick in the gap and slowly started twisting it to attempt to pry the door open. I had to push hard until I finally heard the sound of a metal snap. The door slowly opened up as I directed the torch inside the open circuit breaker, revealing several switches, all labelled for different parts of the shop. I scanned over the switches until I finally saw one labelled "ALARM" to which I flicked to off before making my way back to the front, until I saw an iron door in the wall, presumably the staff entryway. Seeing as the metal rod I used was intact, I pried the door open, this one taking a lot more effort with it being bigger than the circuit breaker's hatch.

"Fergus, over here!" I called out as the door creaked open to a room a darkness. The fox in question jogged over to me and grinned upon seeing the ajar door. "Haha, nice one, Trev!" He praised me before gesturing me to follow him, heading into a hallway that had two doors, one for storage and one presumably for the shop itself. This door thankfully wasn't locked and we were in the main area, overlooking the many shelves that stored food. I swear, the amount of stuff in here was enough to feed a small family for maybe two months.

Fergus then nudged me gently before pointing at my back as I remembered that I had an old worn backpack on me which I took off and unzipped open as Fergus quickly ran to the nearest food shelf and was already in the process of filling up the backpack. Because of me tampering with the breaker, the alarm didn't go off so we were free to hang around for as long as we wanted. Soon enough, the backpack was full to bursting as I quickly zipped it shut and hoisted it onto my back as we both high tailed out of there, but not before I shut both doors to avoid leaving as much evidence as possible. Fergus and I shared a fist bump and were about to make our way back to the canal when Fergus suddenly froze and his ears folded back.

"Shit! PC Pearl!" He hissed under his breath in slight panic before grabbing my arm and pulling me into a nearby alleyway with him. We both watched anxiously as we soon heard footsteps approaching our location as we hid behind some trash cans. We both peeked from behind to see a female horse in a policewoman's outfit silently scan the area around her, briefly stopping in her tracks as I could see the look in her eyes that translated as "Something doesn't feel right". And then, quick as a whistle, she made off into the direction where we had left the corner shop from. It would only be a matter of time before she'd find out that the place had essentially been robbed earlier than we hoped so we both quickly headed into the alleyway, taking a detour to the canal as we both darted our heads around to keep a look out for that horse.

We eventually made it back to the canal tunnel, though I was more out of breath than Fergus was, though I imagine that was just him trying to be tough as usual. I spluttered before taking the backpack off and slumping onto the ground, my back against the tunnel wall.

"Fuckin' horses." I grumbled tiredly as Fergus chuckled and sat next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Yeah, but look on the bright side, humie! We both made off with a good steal today! Couldn't have done it without ya!" He complimented me whilst sorting out the load in the backpack as my disgruntled look was replaced with a proud smirk. I may have said it before, but I'll say it again: I actually enjoyed spending time with Fergus. He taught me how to survive in the streets and how to be strong for myself. He really was like a father to me.

...I wonder if he feels the same way about me.

"Hey, Fergus…?" I spoke out a little nervously as the fox held up a finger. "Hang tight, Trev, I'm still sorting out your share of the stuff!" He said whilst still rummaging through the backpack. "N-No, that's not what I was going to ask you about. Remember when I tried to talk with you before you ran off to find that Hansel person?" I recalled as his ears pricked up and he glanced back at me with a nervous grin. "Oh yeah, eheh… Sorry about that, whatever I do with Hansel is usually a priority. What was it you wanted to tell me?" Fergus stopped what he was doing and turned to face me as I now had his full attention.

"Well…" I scratched the back of my head, not wanting to repeat what I had told Fergus before as I mentally swallowed my anxiety and finally came out with it.

"Fergus… Can I call you 'dad'?"

Fergus blinked for a moment before his eyes widened. He was clearly taken aback at what I had just asked as he looked at me silently with that surprised look on his face. It wasn't until a few seconds later, that he opened his mouth, about to say his answer.

WHACK!

"F-FERGUS?!" I immediately exclaimed now in full-blown panic as the fox's answer was cut off by a crowbar, striking his head, making him fall to the ground as he clutched his head and whined in pained. I quickly looked up to see a tall unkempt looking man, holding the very weapon he had used on Fergus. My fear however was replaced with anger as I quickly got on my feet and stood in between the man and the downed fox.

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM, YOU BASTARD!" I growled as the man just scoffed whilst leering down at me. "Why? Two legger or not, he's vermin. Vermin only care about their own safety so why would he care about you?" What I had just heard come from his mouth only pissed me off even more. No one talks about Fergus like that. NO ONE. With all the strength I could muster I balled up a fist and punched the man directly into the stomach, but he only let out a very small grunt without even taking a step back. It's like it barely even hurt him! "Please. He always spouts how he's tough and all that bullshit, and yet one blow from this thing was enough to keep him down." He mocked, holding up the crowbar before looking down at Fergus.

"This kid believed your lies and look where it got him. Stealing other people's property. But you're not the only one who's guilty of lying, fox." The man said before pulling out a rolled up piece of paper, unfurling it and showing it to Fergus. "You recognise this face and the first name?" He asked as I looked at the poster and my body tensed up with terror on what it was.

It was a missing poster with a photo of my own face and my full name in plain view for Fergus to see.

MISSING: TREVOR WALSH

AGE: 13

IF FOUND, PLEASE REPORT TO ALICIA MILLY VOLENT OF THE INNOCENT YOUTH ORPHANAGE, DUNGENESS.

"He never told you he ran away from an orphanage, did he, fox?" The man grinned down at Fergus who slowly looked up at me, bewildered and shocked. If I had told him that I had come from an orphanage, he could've very well had someone take me back there where I would suffer Miss Volent's wrath. I trembled as I tried to stammer out to him.

"F-Fergus… It's not what it looks like… Miss Volent, she's horrible… She's the reason why I-"

"Shut your god damn mouth. It's too late to explain yourself, Trevor. Fergus trusted you and it got a crowbar to your head." My words fell silent as the man cut me off before he continued.

"Meanwhile, I should be thanking you, Trevor. If it weren't for you coming here, I'd have much less gathered info on you and Fergus' other human friend." He pulled out his phone and showed me the picture those three Dalmatian ladies had taken with me, my eyes widening even more in terror as I realised who he was talking about.

"That's right. After seeing this photo, I knew there and then how I'd be able to get Cody and his mutt family after they ruined my life eleven years ago. And the best part?" He said, going silent briefly to build suspense before leering down at me with a grin.

"It's all. Your. Fault."

I finally felt tears start to roll down my cheeks. Despite what Fergus had told me, I couldn't stay tough any longer for this. Because he was right. I was the one who chose to join Fergus and met his friend, Cody and three of his siblings. And now, Fergus was hurt and this man was probably going to do the same to Cody and his family.

...All because of me.

"Now get moving. I'll make sure my friends keep you company." He demanded as I wiped my face.

"No… Don't take Fergus. Take only me instead." I pleaded as I walked over to the man. "I'll do anything you want… Just… Don't hurt him." I couldn't even bring myself to look at Fergus, the overgrowing fear of him possibly glaring at me with a look of betrayal was too much.

"Oh, how nice. The lying little Irish is sacrificing himself for the vermin." He swooned falsely before pinning me against the tunnel wall and pulling out a damp rag in his free hand.

"It's too bad things don't work that way this time."

Before I could even protest, he suddenly shoved the rag into my face. An overpowering sweet smell surged into my nostrils as my attempts to struggle free quickly slowed to a halt. I felt every inch of my body start to go limp as I began to succumb to sudden tiredness.

The last thing I saw before I blacked out was Fergus watching me, his face permanently stuck in a look of horror as he slowly reached out a hand to me.

Cody's POV

"One, two, three… and shuffle!" I instructed as Dixie and I slowly stepped side to side in a slow dance just outside my home, our eyes gleaming at each other in deep bliss. Many of my siblings watching us from inside through the windows, all with smiles on their muzzles. "Never knew you were such a good dancer, Cody~" Dixie complimented with a giggle as we continued our own little waltz, holding each other close before finally stopping as we both pressed our noses together, Dixie's feeling a little damp and cold but I didn't mind. It just made me happy to be with her.

"I love you, Dixie." I mumbled with a happy sigh before feeling Dixie's lips press against mine for a few seconds until she finally let go. "I love you, too." She replied blissfully.

Suddenly, our romantic moment was interrupted when we heard the horn of a car nearby. We both looked over to see a white ford fiesta parked on the road a few feet away from us.

"Oh, that's dad's car. Sorry to cut this short, Cody, but I think he wants to take me home now." Dixie apologised as I stroked her cheek. "Don't worry, I still had fun." I reassured her with a smile as she blushed from feeling my hand on her cheek before she waved bye to me before getting into the car and I waved back just as the car speeded past me and vanished into the distance.

"Psst, Cody! ...Is this a bad time?" I blinked before turning to some rubbish bins to find Hunter, not doing a good job at hiding behind them, holding something behind his back. "Hey Hunter. And bad time for what?" Hunter responded by holding out an envelope, his eyes avoiding me as a faint blush was on his face.

"Can… Can you deliver this to Dizzy?" He stammered out apprehensively. I cocked an eyebrow in confusion as I took the envelope.

"Uh… Okay? Any reason why you want me to-"

"N-No special reason, just make sure she gets it! Okaythanksbye!" He immediately blurted out before taking off. I only watched as the long haired guy disappeared into the streets before looking back down at the envelope whilst heading inside the house, the envelope having this written on the front:

For Dizzy's Eyes Only~X

Now this was getting much stranger. But as I looked at how it was written and how Hunter had acted upon asking me to give it to Dizzy, my eyebrows raised as the one possible conclusion came to mind.

...Did Hunter really have a-?

"There's a storm coming..." A voice disrupted my train of thought as I looked into the living room to see Dante staring out the window.

"What?" I asked, walking over to him as he glanced at me with fear in his eyes. "A storm. Brewed by our worst enemies. It's coming. I can feel it." I should've expected it to be Dante having another one of his doomsday-dreading moments, but the words he said made me very curious.

"Dante, what are you talking about?"

"The day of reckoning is returning… We are all doomed to death. Just like we were twelve years ago!" The goth dog trembled with a look of dread as I rolled my eyes and patted his shoulder to ease him.

"Come on, Dante, you're probably just worrying about nothing. The only enemy we have is Cruella and I highly doubt she'd be able to come back for revenge considering how old she must be now." I explained, trying to diffuse Dante's worry with logic as he exhaled and turned to me.

"...Maybe you're right. Sorry, Cody. It's just that dreading the day of darkness to come is what I'm good at, because I know one day it will happen." Dante replied as I nodded in understanding. "Well as long as we're all here, we have each other to look out for and to protect. Just like how you all did for me back then." I gave a little grateful smile to Dante whom returned one of his own before we both shared a small hug before heading upstairs.

"See ya in the morning, Cody." Dante simply said to me, not even a hint of panic in his tone as I nodded to him and slipped the envelope Hunter gave me under Dizzy and Dee Dee's bedroom door before heading to bed myself.