Our Finest Hour
Chapter 7: Nightmares
Mary closed the door behind herself as she left. Settling down into a more comfortable position, I was content to while away the day recuperating. Dropping my empty bottle to the floor, I heard it clunk around a bit before coming to a rest. My phone buzzed next to me on the couch. I gave it a quick check. Unknown number. Must be Talon.
Going for a supply run. Have fun with the hole in your leg.
Definitely Talon, and about time, too. Being cut off from the outside world, Happytown had to be self-sufficient. Realistically, there was no way we could make everything we'd ever need. What aid the relief societies sent our way was a godsend, but it was never enough. Things like medicine, spare parts and weapons always went too quick. So, utilizing the labyrinthine sewers of the city, Talon would stage raids and collect what we needed. I turned my nose up at stealing these things, but it wasn't like we could just go out and buy them. Food and clothes weren't cheap. Besides, even try and cross through the Zootopian checkpoint and you'd be lucky enough just to get let through with your rescue inhaler. Prey guards lined the perimeter of the Bellwether wall; trying to climb the thing was out of the question. Only way in or out were through the sewers.
Yawning, I let my head rest down on the cushion of my couch. Looking up at the ceiling, I wasn't surprised that the room was slightly spinning from how much I'd drank. At least the pain was ebbing. Watching dust motes dance in the light from my window, I felt my eyelids slowly closing shut and I drifted off to sleep.
Rain fell on the city in the dark. Walking through the alley, I dragged my paw across the wet wall. My breath came in a cloud; it was cold. A vague sense of anxiety hovered in the tense air. Something bad was about to happen, I knew it. Shivers ran up my spine, fluffing out my tail in fear. I sniffed the air in a display of primal instinct, picking up the scent of rot and decay.
Entering a courtyard where the alley let out, I stiffened as a silhouette appeared. It was so dark, I was having trouble making out the figure, even with my foxy night-vision.
"You left them." The figure spoke in Nick's voice. He stepped forward, becoming visible all at once. I sucked in a breath at his visage. He was gaunt. Patches of fur were falling out from his face. He wore a dark jacket with the hood pulled up over his ears. Only our breaths and the sound of falling rain filled mine. The evergreen light on his collar haunted me, like the eye of an insidious beast lurking in the night.
Nick picked something from out of his bulging pocket. When he brought it out, I nearly fainted. It was a can of beer. He let it drop to the floor in disgust.
"Was this more important than your family?" Nick shook his head. "You should go to them. There isn't much time left." I nodded, bolting back into the hole I'd come from. It felt as if the darkness had become solid, as I ran slow and laboriously. All the while, for each meter I covered, the alley stretched another two. Panicked, I pumped my arms and legs even harder, wheezing from the exertion. I pumped and pumped and pumped, but this time the streetlight at the end of the alley refused to budge. I ran, but the alley extended on into infinity. Disoriented, I tripped and fell on my face. Rain pounded my back. Dirty water filled my mouth. I winced at the acrid taste.
Pushing myself off the ground, I yelped when a hoof stepped on my back, forcing me down. Down I went, through the water until I was completely submerged. Bubbles of air billowed out my mouth and nostrils as I struggled against the hoof. My lungs ached for oxygen as dots appeared over my vision. The hoof relented as my mind was beginning to go black. I surfaced with a great gasp, finding myself standing slumped against a deep basin; my paws cruelly chained to a dirty concrete wall. The scent of blood hung on the air thickly.
Rounds of shivering shook my emaciated frame. Cold water soaked my naked body. A hand gripped the fur on the back of my head and lifted it up towards the ceiling.
"Tell us what we want to know." I coughed weakly, exhaustion making my body feel like it was made of lead. The ram interrogating me gazed into my bloodshot eyes. His odd pupils were full of cold malice. I spit into his face and smiled.
"For the liberation of the oppressed." I recited like we'd been taught.
My tormentor made a choking sound and let go of my head, letting it fall to the stone basin with a thump. "Fuck you, stupid chomper!" He roared before grabbing my skull and pushing my face deep into the basin. Water filled my mouth as I struggled feebly. His arms were like iron to my weakened body. I couldn't fight him off. Ceasing in my struggles, I held my breath and let the inevitable take me away. I was completely under his mercy. Closing my eyes, I prayed that this time would be my final. Please, death take me…
"Not today, pelt." The ram laughed as he lifted my head from the basin. I breathed deep of the sweet air and retched a lungful of water. Coughing, I laid my head on the basin's edge and whimpered. "I can do this all day." The ram gleefully exclaimed, cracking his knuckles. Suddenly, the door behind us swung open. I sniffed to decipher their scents, but my nose was broken and bloody, useless. "Visiting hours already?" The ram sounded disappointed. Heavy hoofsteps entered the room. "I'll be waiting. Don't forget me now, little fox." He pet my head roughly, tousling his fingers through the fur before taking his leave.
"Hello?" I called, too tired to move my head.
"It's me..." Bogo's gravelly voice clarified. His tone was distraught. "And I'm not alone."
"Big brother?" Came the frightened voice of Nikolai. I immediately stiffened, horror causing my heart to skip a beat. He shouldn't see me like this. None of them should be seeing me broken like this! Tears gathered at the edge of my eyes.
"Don't look at me…" I whined, thrashing my tail.
"Soka?" My mother's heartbroken voice pierced my ears. "My boy, what have they done?" I could feel her soft paws wrapping around my torso in a hug. I could hear her sobs as she broke down against me.
"No mama…" I whimpered pathetically. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!"
"They'll pay in blood for what they've done to my son." My father's voice growled in my ear as a careful paw came to rest on my shoulder.
"Papa…" I whispered, feeling myself slip into unconsciousness. "Mama. Nikolai. I love you. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you died. It's all my fault."
"No it's not." Bogo comforted, placing his hand on my other shoulder. "It's not your fault. You'd be dead too if you were there." His grip tightened reassuringly. "Stay strong. It's all you can do for them."
"Martin!" Mary shouted, shaking my arm. "Martin, wake up!"
"I'm awake!" I yelped, throwing my eyes open. "I'm awake!" I cried, bolting upright on the sofa. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I noticed that they were wet.
"You were crying and whimpering in your sleep." Mary clarified. I looked to her and smiled sheepishly. Her eyes shone with concern. "Is everything alright?" Embarrassment made the skin beneath my dark fur glow red.
"Yeah." I waved her off. "Just a bad dream." Wiping the rest of the tears from my face, I gave Mary a fake smile. "Hehe… all better." Mary put her paw on mine gingerly.
"Do you… want to talk about it?" I shook my head a little too quickly. Sickness brewed in my gut. I made a face. Just then, a nauseating headache split my head in two.
"Ugh." I muttered, gripping my head. "That's what I get for drinking so much." Mary chuckled, slapping my side as she stood up. I heard her saunter over to the kitchen, where she fumbled with something that crinkled.
"Here. I managed to get something for you." Turning my head, I saw her toss two pill bottles in my direction. Catching them just barely, I looked at her. "Antibiotics and prescription pain meds respectively." She explained. I grinned and gave a great sigh of relief.
"Hallelujah."
"Just follow the instructions on the bottle and you'll be fine. Oh." Mary narrowed her eyes at me and gave me a bone chilling stare. "You are under no circumstances to take those with alcohol. Am I understood?" I straightened my back and jumped to attention, giving her a salute.
"Yes ma'am!" Mary laughed, the sound filling me with warmth. A slight heat arose in my cheeks. How had I never noticed how pretty she was? Mary had all the curves in all the right places. And her beautiful speckled fur… NO! I shook my head violently, eliciting a raised eyebrow from the hare in question. Keep it in your pants Martin! She's a guest and Prey for god's sake! You must still be drunk. Yeah… that's it. I'm still drunk. Better keep those pills for later then… I shot Mary an awkward grin. She just rolled her eyes.