In the early hours of the afternoon, the rain had begun trickling down from the dark clouds above, the winds howling as thunder rumbled deeply in the distance.
He'd been standing at Cherryton High's entrance gate for what felt like an eternity, lightly shivering as the cold winds seeped through his rain jacket. For once, he was glad about his lack of antlers since it allowed him to wear a hood in the drizzling rain. Still, the missing weight of his antlers always felt foreign, and it only reminded him of how he'd failed to protect the one he loved most… Louis banished the thought. He didn't want his head to be clouded with emotions, not now.
He needed to focus on finding Juno's whereabouts, and then he'd plan on from there, but after what Ellen had told him about the island, he wasn't sure what that plan would be. He only prayed that Ellen had been wrong.
Louis sighed through his nose, frowning.
Ellen…
After ending his call with Bill and changing into his rain jacket—which he'd kept stored in the Gardening Shed—Louis noticed that Ellen seemed… conflicted, guilt-ridden. Though, he decided not to say anything about it, since he knew that her talking about her past had probably been hard enough. So, he simply walked Ellen back to her dorm room and thanked her greatly before heading straight to the school's front entrance.
He felt bad leaving Ellen alone with the traumatizing memories of her past, because he knew how it felt… being swallowed up by those thoughts without any way to escape. But he knew he wouldn't have the time to comfort her, assure her. With the situation he was in, every second counted. Its why Louis was impatiently glancing down at his phone, reading over the text Bill had sent him repeatedly.
Bill: Leaving to the front gate now
Louis slipped his phone back into his pocket. "It's already been more than ten minutes, Bill." He grumbled lowly, gazing out to the school courtyard, his fist clenched in frustration. His prosthetic leg was already aching, and the bruises and cuts covering his body only made the pain worse. But If I can last until we reach Legosi's location, then I'll be fine.
"Louis." A voice called out and Louis's ears perked high. He looked to the owner of the voice, breathing out in relief when he saw Bill walking towards him, his hands tucked into the pockets of his green hoodie.
But that relief quickly turned to anger as he looked to the tiger, his expression hardened with disapproval. "You took your time, Bill." He said, lowly.
Bill rubbed at the back of his head nervously, his eyes turned downward. "Sorry." He said, his tone laced with guilt. "I had to give myself a little 'boost'… you know."
Louis's nose twitched and he caught the smell of herbivore blood on his breath. He rolled his eyes. "Where is Legosi?"
Bill's features turned grave at the question, and his eyes met Louis's, his hand dropping to his side. "He's in the shittiest parts of the city around the Black Market."
Louis cursed under his breath. "That's at least two hours by foot." And he didn't want to contact Yuta, not with his missing antlers and the bruises covering his body.
The image of the black wolf strangling Juno suddenly flashed through his mind. Louis blocked it out, that low roaring beginning to sound in his ears.
Bill said, "But if we take the train and cut down, we should get there within an hour or so."
Louis frowned. "I don't have my train pass on me."
"Don't worry." He assured. "The school recently updated some of the benefits club presidents have: I can take at least one guest with me on the train."
Louis looked to him and nodded—a small gesture of gratitude. "You lead the way, Bill."
"Of course," Bill said, and pulled out his phone, shielding it from the sprinkles of rain. He began walking to the front gate, staring down at his phone. "I have Zoozle maps set to take us on the shortest route. We should be able to reach the train in less than twenty minutes."
"Good," Louis said and followed Bill to the front gate, gritting his teeth with every painful step he took forward. I just need to last until we reach Legosi, he thought again, the voice in his mind trembling with the pain.
"Louis!" A familiar, female voice called out from behind him, one he immediately recognized. Louis quickly looked over his shoulder and blinked when he saw Ellen standing only a few yards away from him, panting with her hands on her knees, as if she'd sprinted across the courtyard to meet him.
He swirled around; eyes wide. "Ellen? What…—he looked over the gray hoodie and blue jeans she wore, as well as the small backpack strapped over her shoulders—what are you doing here?" A question he already knew the answer to.
Slowly, Ellen caught her breath, standing up straight as her stone-gray eyes, gleaming with determination, met his hazel. "I'm going with you guys."
"Fuck no." Bill said, sternly—harshly.
Ellen glared daggers at him. "I'm not talking to you, Bill."
"I don't care." Bill snapped, taking a step forward, his muzzle curling. "Do you have any idea where we're going, what we're going to be dealing with? I'm not risking another member of the drama club getting hurt."
Ellen's features remained unflinching, a wall of iron. "I said I'm going."
Bill's leveled a look at her that would have most herbivores backing away. "You are not going, Ellen."
"Bill," Louis cut in, before the argument could spin out of control. "Go wait by the front gate, I'll meet you there in a minute."
"Louis, having her go is—"
"Bill!" Louis half yelled, but he exhaled, calming the wail of his emotions. "Go wait by the front gate and let me talk with Ellen. I'll meet you there in a minute, alright?"
Bill opened his mouth to speak but closed it, frowning. He sighed through his nose and turned on his heels, walking towards the front gate in nonchalant manner—his hands tucked into his pockets.
Louis watched Bill sauntered away, waiting until the tiger was out of earshot to speak.
Slowly, Louis looked to Ellen and said, plainly, "Ellen, I'm not letting you go with us."
Ellen scowled. "Louis, I—"
"Bill is right. It's too dangerous for you." He stated, matter-of-factly.
"I don't care. You're not stopping me from going—and neither is Bill."
Louis expression remained a mask of stern calm, though a spark of anger ignited within his hazel eyes. "Bill and I aren't leaving until you agree to stay on school grounds." Ellen opened her mouth to speak but Louis, once again, cut her off. "And every second we waste standing here could mean the difference between saving Juno's life or not."
Ellen lowered her head at that, her scowl fading and her ears flattening. She pressed her lips into a thin line, as if she wanted to speak but was stopping herself.
That look, Louis realized, was the same one she had after their conversation at the gardening shed. His features loosening, Louis said, his voice warm and caring, "what you've done is already enough, Ellen. You don't need to put yourself in danger." Her eyes flicked up to meet his, and Louis allowed his emotions to manifest on his expression—just this once. "Everything that's happened… it's all my fault and I need to take responsibility for it. No matter the cost. And Bill, Legosi… I'm only involving them in this because I absolutely have to. But you don't , Ellen… you don't have to be involved in this. Rex knows what could happen while we're there. And I would never forgive myself if you were to get hurt in anyway."
Ellen remained silent and her gaze left his.
Louis frowned, his chest becoming heavy with guilt. A part of himself wanted to let her come with them, because after what she'd told him at the gardening shed—after she'd so willingly recounted her own traumas to help save Juno's life—Ellen deserved to have the choice of being able to go with them or not. He was wrong for making her stay here, but still… the danger him and Bill would be facing… the possibility that something would go wrong… no, it'd be better for her to stay. So, Louis stepped forward and placed a hand on Ellen shoulder, his own eyes never leaving her. "But thank you, Ellen, for being willing to risk your life for her. You're a strong female and a good friend."
Again, silence, her eyes remaining on the ground.
Louis let his hand drop from her shoulder. "I'll make sure to keep in contact with you." Was all he said, before turning around and walking towards the front gate. This is the right choice.
He at least hoped it was.
"Louis." Ellen said, her voice cracking on his name. "I have to do this."
Louis stopped mid step and looked over his shoulder at her.
Ellen took a step forward, and Louis noticed the guilt there, in her gray eyes. "Let me help… let me do something right… I've never been able to do anything right in my life… I've never been able to do anything good. All I do is hurt the people I care for… and I…"
Louis fully turned towards her, his expression one of concern. He began, "Ellen—"
"Please, Louis." She begged, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Please, let me help save Juno, let me do the right thing for once. I'm tired of being a burden to everyone. I'm tired of being weak. Please, Louis."
Louis only stared at her, not knowing what to say. You remind me of myself, back then… when Ibuki died. He thought and felt his eyes burn with tears.
After a long, long moment, Louis finally spoke. "Ellen, do you have your train pass on you?"
Ellen perked up, her watery eyes locking with his. "Yeah, I do."
Louis nodded, his gazing over her with a stern expression. "It's a long way by foot, so we're shortening the trip by taking the train and cutting through the black market." Louis paused for a brief moment and considered his next words carefully. "Were you… have you seen the black market before?"
Ellen wiped away the tears in her eyes. "I have, just once." He would save her—with his heart and soul, he would save her.
"Then you know how dangerous that place is for herbivores—especially for females. If things go south, you could be devoured or sent right back to Carnal Island." Louis leveled a strong, almost harsh look at her. "Do you really know what you're about to walk into, Ellen?"
Her eyes still glossy with tears, Ellen glared at him in a way he'd never seen before, as if the words had ignited a roaring fire within her. "I know exactly what I'm walking into, Louis," she said, in a dangerously low tone, the stripes on her face flexing in. She raised her voice "I know that I could be ripped to pieces by some carnivore or captured and sold into sex trafficking again, but I refuse to stand idly by while my friend's life is in danger. I've been through worse, I've seen worse, and I'm not afraid to face the horrors of this fucked up world anymore!"
H-how did I not see you before? It was the first thought that passed through Louis's mind as he gazed into the zebra's stone-gray eyes. He felt as if he were looking at her for the first time—as if she'd removed a mask she had been wearing for a long, long time. And the look in her eyes, he realized… It was the same one he saw whenever he looked at himself in the mirror: an herbivore that'd seen the horrors of carnivore instincts, who'd been at the mercy of their instincts, their fangs, and had only survived because of dumb luck, because fate had been kind enough to spare them… while so many others had died.
"Louis." Ellen said, her tone soft—and laced with concern.
And it was only then that Louis noticed the blurriness of his vision and the tear slipping down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away and turned his back to her. He said, "we've wasted enough time, Ellen. Let's go."
….
He'd been watching their conversation from afar, leaned against the metal post of the front gate, his arms crossed.
He hadn't been able to hear a single word of their conversation, but he had an idea what was happening based on Louis's body language and the tears in Ellen's eyes.
It's why he wasn't surprised when he saw Ellen following Louis to the front gate.
Bill grumbled in annoyance, lightly clenching his jaw. He wanted to storm up to Louis and ask him "what the fuck was he actually doing", but he decided against it, since he knew his words would do little in changing the two herbivores' minds—especially Ellen's. He only hoped that Louis was making the right choice… he wouldn't be able to live with himself if another female of the drama club got hurt—or killed.
Or raped.
He banished the thought, throwing it into the deepest crevices of his mind. He didn't want to think about that, not now. He needed a head clear of emotions. He needed to focus. But the thoughts continued to claw at the walls of his mind, desperate in their attempt to force themselves in. But Bill fought and fought against the wail of those thoughts, but only moments later, his resistance caved in and the thoughts invaded his mind with a merciless charge.
Juno's bloodied muzzle, her tattered dress, and the undiluted terror in her deep, blue eyes, it all swarmed his mind like a plague of locusts, making his chest go hallow with despair as he tried and failed to fight against it, withstand it—
But it all quickly left his mind when he heard his phone alerting him of a call—a MuzzleTime call.
Managing himself, he propped himself off the metal frame of the gate and hurriedly reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone with mildly shaky hands. He held in his breathe when he saw who the caller was.
Juno.
Bill answered the call and covered the camera with his finger. "Who's this." He said with a weak growl.
"It's me, Bill." Legosi said, his dimmed features appearing on the screen. "I need to show you something. It's about Juno."
"What is it?" Louis's voice sounded from behind him, and Bill snapped up, looking towards the red deer. He only watched as the distressed male quickly walked up to him and snatched the phone from his hand. "What is it, Legosi?"
Legosi's eyes glowed with canine excitement at the sight of the red deer. "Louis! I'm glad you're—"
"What do you have to tell me, Legosi?" Louis cut in, an edge to his voice. "Do you know where Juno is?"
Legosi blinked in surprise at the sharpness in Louis's tone, but he said, "no, I'm sorry, Louis, I still don't know where she is. But I was able to find a lead—at least a better one than we had before." There was another loud shuffling sound as Legosi's face vanished from the screen. "I found it when I logged into the black wolf's computer, but… it's not good."
Louis's ears flattened, only slightly. "What do you mean?"
Legosi was silent for a moment. "I found an image of Juno on the black wolf's computer; it was uploaded two hours ago. And as far as I know, it means she's still alive."
"Then, show me the image." Louis demanded; his tone almost harsh.
Legosi pressed his lips into a thin line. "Louis, are you sure? The image is—"
"Show me the image, Legosi."
Legosi gave a tight nod and flipped the camera, pointing it towards the screen of the black wolf's computer.
Bill's eyes widened in absolute horror—
And Ellen clasped her hands over her mouth—
The image showed Juno utterly naked, standing in front of a white measuring board. Her deep, blue eyes were wide with terror and her muzzle was covered in splotches of dried blood. But what really stood out in the image were the multiple, black strands of fur littered through Juno's coat… fur that wasn't her own.
Bill felt a deep, sickening pit form in his stomach, but he glanced down at Louis, who was staring at the image with that same expression of horror.
The guilt and the self-loathing Louis must've been feeling, gazing down at that horrific image of his lover, unable to do anything to save her, to assure her that everything would be okay... Bill felt his own eyes burn with tears. He wanted to say something—anything—to comfort the red deer but couldn't find the words.
He glanced over at Ellen. But she looked just as speechless as he was.
It was Legosi who spoke first. "Louis, this image proves that Juno's alive. We can still save her." The wolf's voice was gentle and reassuring, because Louis's eyes were starting to brim with tears and his lips were curling into a frown.
Guilt—there was so much guilt in Louis's hazel eyes.
Bill placed a hand on his shoulder.
But Louis remained silent, unresponsive. He closed his eyes and turned his head away from the phone, clenching his jaw as a tear slipped down his cheek.
"Louis." Legosi said again, concerned. He flipped the camera away from the image, his face appearing on the screen. "Louis, can you hear me?"
Again, no response.
"Louis." Bill began, but was cut off when—
Louis slammed the phone against Bill's chest and quickly walked off, a sob breaking from him as he cupped his muzzle in his hand.
"Louis, wait," Ellen called, and moved to follow him. But Bill reached out and grabbed her by the wrist—being careful of his strength. She whirled in his direction; eyes narrowed.
But Bill only looked her in the eyes as he said, "just leave him alone for now." He knew how it felt, that guilt. Had felt it when he'd watched his dad brutally beat and rape his mom, had felt it when Erica… no, he didn't want to think about that, not now.
Ellen sighed and pulled her wrist from his grip, glancing over at Louis with a frown on her lips.
Bill brought his face into view of the camera. "Legosi, you still there?"
"Yeah, I'm here, Bill. Is Louis…" Legosi stopped short, lowering his head. He must've understood what'd happened, what Louis's reaction had been, and was most likely blaming himself for the pain the red deer was feeling.
Ellen came beside Bill and gazed down at the phone screen with that same expression of concern. She looked as if she wanted to say something to assure the wolf, but Legosi continued, "there's still one more thing I wanted to show you, Bill. This image—its linked to a website on the dark web."
"The dark web?" Bill's jaw gaped. "You mean… that black wolf sold Juno into sex slavery?"
Ellen flinched at the words.
"Yeah. And I don't think this is his first time doing this, Bill. There was a light clicking sound as Legosi flipped the camera once more. "And I don't think he's working alone."
"Not working alone?" Ellen questioned.
Whether Legosi was surprised as to why Ellen was there or not, he didn't show it. He only said, "I'll show you," and clicked off the image of Juno. The computer screen went white as it opened a browser and then a loading screen.
Seconds passed and—
The website that appeared on the screen was not what Bill was expecting.
It looked professional, well-organized, as if it were a part of an established company. Multiple categories and links were lined vertically across the screen, but it was the name 'New Continent Schools' that caught Bill's attention.
He squinted and brought his muzzle closer to the screen, examining over the multiple links listed under 'New Continent Schools'. "What the fuck. Those links… those are the names of other schools around the country, including ours. Why would…" He stopped short when the realizations struck him. And as he watched Legosi bring the cursor to a link under the name 'Cherryton Academy', he became fearful for what he was about to see next.
The first image that appeared was of Juno showering inside the school's communal shower, alone.
The next showed Els inside her dorm room, dressed in nothing but her undergarments.
Another showed Ellen sleeping inside her bunk bed, her naked body sprawled over the mattress.
Then, more and more images began to appear, most of them of females and some of them of males. But each one showed the individual by themselves and as either naked or half dressed.
"How did they get those pictures?" Ellen gasped out. There was a slight, fearful tremble in her voice and Bill immediately noticed it. He placed a hand on the small of her back, lightly curling his fingers into the damp fabric of her hoodie—a small comfort. And one that she, based on the small glance she gave him, appreciated.
Legosi answered, "I don't know. But what I figured out from these images is that Juno wasn't the only female from the drama club captured."
"What?" Bill blurted, and he began to feel his heart pound in his chest. He opened his mouth to speak again, but stopped when a memory of Els's warm, beautiful face passed through his mind. It caused fear—pure, unbroken fear—to rip through him and he had to manage himself, calm himself. He didn't want his panic to be the reason why he tore into Ellen's back. Bill clenched his phone in his fingers, the metal groaning in his grip. "Are you sure? Are you sure Juno wasn't the only one, Legosi?"
"Yeah… I.. I am." Legosi said, and moved the cursor to the far left of the computer screen, where four links were listed vertically beside the images.
The links were under the names age, gender, species and captured/sold.
It was the name of the last link that had a cold sweat slipping down Bill's back, and it was the that Legosi was slowly moving the cursor towards. He could feel Ellen tensing beneath his hand and he held in his own breath.
Legosi clicked on the link and two images appeared, both outlined in red.
The first one was the same that showed Juno showering.
And the second—
It was Alice, dressing herself in the female locker room, alone.
"N-no." Ellen shook her head, her features filled with horror. "That can't be it… I talked to her last week. Alice was fine. She transferred to another school… she was…" Her knees must've been growing weak, because Bill could feel some of her weight pressing into his hand.
Legosi clicked on the image of Alice, and it expanded, revealing it in fuller detail. And at the bottom left of the image was the title.
Alice, Eighteen Your Old Female Lemur (Status: Sold)
She's gone…
"No." Ellen breathed, the word barely even a sound. A tear slipped down her cheek as she pulled out her phone and walked off, quickly scrolling through it before placing it against ear. She slowly paced back and forwards, her small fist clenched as the phone rang and rang and rang… and then a voicemail.
A sob broke from the zebra as she called again.
Legosi had flipped the camera, his face appearing on the screen once more. Bill looked down at his phone. "Did you really find all that on the black wolf's computer?" A pointless question, and one he already knew the answer to. And still couldn't believe.
He'd thought that the black wolf would be keeping Juno inside some basement, or in a house out in the middle of nowhere. And once they got the information they needed, they would simply go to wherever Juno was being kept and save her. But this… what Legosi had showed them… he didn't know what to think of it.
Legosi said, "I'm still asking myself the same question, too, Bill. I had a feeling saving Juno wouldn't be easy, but—I just didn't expect this."
"Yeah." Was all Bill said.
There was silence, for a moment. The continuous, despairing ringing of Ellen's phone being the only sound heard.
"Bill," Legosi began, and the wind began howling through the air, the trees sighing in its currents. "I don't know who we're dealing with here; I don't know who the black wolf is or whom he's working for, but what I do know is that saving Juno is going to be more dangerous than we thought." He paused for a moment. "That's why I think you, Louis and Ellen should stay behind. I can take care of it myself."
Bill scowled—
"No." Louis snapped, and Bill looked towards him. The deer's cheeks were heavily stained with tears and his eyes were burning with an almost predatory rage. "I'm saving Juno, and I don't care what it takes, how dangerous it becomes. I'm bringing her back, safe—with, or without, help."
In the corner of his eye, Bill saw Legosi pressing his lips into a thin line—the same face he'd made before.
Louis walked up to Bill and looked down at the phone screen, saying, "Legosi, don't do anything until we get there." He then glanced up at Bill, and then Ellen, who stood only a few feet away from them, her phone clenched in her hand and her eyes, glossy with tears, burning with that same rage. "We're leaving. Now." And then he left, walking off the property of the school, a slight limp in his step.
Bill looked to Legosi, who still had an expression of uncertainty. He said, "I'll see you in an hour, Legosi. Stay safe."
"Yeah… you, too Bill."
He ended the call.
Bill looked over to Ellen. Her stone, gray eyes met his as he said, "stay close to me."
She only nodded.
And they left the school.
….
Legosi stared blankly down at the black screen of Juno's phone and sighed. I'm sorry, Louis. He stood up from the black wolf's office chair. But I'm not waiting. I have to do this myself. I don't want anyone else getting hurt, especially you.
He looked towards the black wolf, who lay slumped against the wall, his arms and legs restrained. I'll bring Juno back safe, Louis. I promise.
Suddenly, two pairs of fast, heavy footsteps came racing down the hallway from outside.
Legosi's ears perked high, his fur standing on end as his body became alert.
Then, the front door to the black wolf's apartment swung open and two figures came storming in.
Legosi whirled—
But wasn't fast enough to dodge the claws that slashed down his face.
….
Shattered beyond repair and laying on a stone, bloodied floor, a phone vibrated repeatedly with a call, the contact's name being displayed on the shards of the screen. The contact's name was Ellen.
The phone continues to vibrate but it was drowned out by the clanking of chains and the female screams and cries and sobs that echoed through the small, stone room.
There was a male grunt.
And the female sob—pleaded—once more, her throat strained and dry.
The phone's battery being on one percent, the vibrating stopped and the phone died—as did the female days later.