Chapter 1: Despair's Death Road

Daily Life:

There we stood, in the gymnasium. "You must kill someone if you want to leave." The thirteen of us exchanged glances in silence. My mind sharpened itself, my thoughts focusing on my breathing as it did so. The air hung down on me. A pressure on my shoulders with a weight hanging around my neck.

It wasn't like I had never handled a pressure similar to this. I've been in dangerous situations before, but… The glaring weight of distrust. Thirteen potential killers were standing around me.

Wild: "So what are we going to do now? Just glare at each other?"

Wilds words ground the group back in reality. We couldn't stand around pretending this didn't happen. A certain cruelty was glaring back at us. I felt like I had an unfair advantage. It ripped this situation straight from a twisted video game, yet somehow it felt familiar to my talent.

Wild: "As much as I'd like to keep staring. This will not blow over."

Everest: "What are you expecting me to say? 'Let's all skip the fact that we've been told to either live here forever or kill each other'."

Claw: "Let's not forget that Hubcap's UTTERLY IDIOTIC actions almost caused someone to die!"

All eyes pinned back to Hubcap. The majority being confused, one or two sympathetic and the rest with suspicion. Chills ran over my back as the silence cut deeper than any word could.

Al: "Lads. it ain't like Monopaw came with an instruction booklet! Come on now, cut him some slack."

Hubcap stood next to Al. The trucker had one of his paws laid on top of Hubcap's shoulder, giving it a soft rub.

Moby: "..."

I noticed Moby was trembling somewhat. His pupils were small and his thumb was between his teeth. The anxiety from this dog is overflowing every inch of his body. The noise of Al and the others arguing drowning out. My gaze focused on Moby.

Chase: "Moby, are you alright?"

Moby: "... Kill…"

Moby's expression changed. His head bending backwards slowly. Eyes locked on the ceiling above him.

Moby: "Yip yip yip… What a load of bull…"

Chase: "Guess so…"

Moby: "Yeah…"

I guess talking isn't an issue for Moby, as long as he's not looking straight at you. Somehow, it feels kind of sad. I doubt he can help it.

SLAP!

Sweetie: "For the group, my ass!"

Huh?

Rocky: "I quote, 'You think you can just toy with me like that'. I don't see any group sentiment there."

Hubcap: "So what?! Even when I knew Monopaw would go KABOOM, I made sure you were fine! I threw it the right way, didn't I?"

Rocky and Hubcap were arguing again. A red mark was flaring up on Hubcap's left cheek. The exchange of words increasing in hostility with every sentence they threw at one another. Neither of them were listening to the other. They were trying to bring their own justice to light.

Tracker: "G-Guys just stop! This all just happened, but the last t-thing we need right now is to create avoidable tension and distrust!"

Everest: "Tracker is right. To go picking up fights is probably the worst idea possible."

Rex: "Well then, let's spend our energy on something more worthwhile. Looking for an exit, maybe?"

The group fell silent once more. I heard Rocky click his tongue in an obnoxious manner as he turned away from Hubcap.

Skye: "Monopaw said something about e-Tags right? Said that they're everything we need for now."

Claw: "Well? What about it?"

Skye: "Monopaw said we can find the school regulations on our e-Tag. It's probably best to check it out before we do anything else."

Rex: "Well, what about finding an exit? Are we ditching that plan?"

Al: "I don't think we should, ey? But stumblin around here like a bunch of chickenheads knowing none of the rules don't sit right with me."

Hubcap: "Shit…"

Sweetie: "Fine! Let's go back to the dorms and check these goddamn rules already!"

Seen the current circumstances, not a single mouth dared to yelp against it. One by one, the individuals withdrew themselves from the gymnasium.

Chase: "Whew…"

Breathing out a sigh of relief while my eyes watched Skye leave the gymnasium. Worries slid off my shoulders. The tension in my body relieving slightly. With my head held up high, I walk back to my dorm room.

Doors upon doors on both sides. Paw guiding along the structure of the walls. I really don't want to think about it too much. A reality warped far beyond normal. My normal life… had shattered.

Chase: "Huh– Wait… WHAT?!"

My mind went from harboring hundreds of thoughts to only a singular one. The room I woke up in changed. A full-blown metamorphosis! Instead of the bland room with a bed, bolted up windows and a security camera, there was a completely unfamiliar room in front of me. The wallpapers had changed from cheery red to a deep dark blue color. Large bookcases and file cabinets stacked against the wall. A working area with only a single desk lamp. The entire atmosphere of the room became gritty and dark.

Monopaw: "Do ya like it Chase?! I picked it out myself!"

Chase: "WAH!"

Suddenly, Monopaw's cartoony voice rang through the room. My body lunged forward, the fur on my body standing upright. I turned around to face Monopaw in the blink of an eye. Hostility filling air.

Chase: "... It looks like a movie set for sure…"

Monopaw: "Well, it's the ultimate stage for the ultimate Police Officer!"

Chase: "Good to know. So why exactly did you decide to change my room to… This."

Monopaw: "It's been written in the stars, my dear canine friend!"

My expression drooped from worried to frustration. It's abundantly clear this toy doesn't want to give answers.

Chase: "I'm not even going to question how you did it."

Monopaw: "Aw shucks… I even prepared a speech! Why must you hurt me with your knife of truth, Chase?! You cut me! You cut me deep!"

And with that, Monopaw pretended to cry. Running away while his obnoxious noises echoed through the hallways. My eyes glanced back at the room. Another chill shot through my body. There was no way any of us could change a room like that. I could only accept reality as laid out in front of my eyes.

Chase: "Right… the e-Tag…"

I picked up the collar and clicked it around my neck. It looked like a normal tag, but I knew it was anything but normal. As my neck was getting used to the feeling, a sharp pain hit me. Drops of blood running down the side of my throat. A holographic image appeared in front of me, showing my name and my talent: "Chase - Ultimate Police Officer".

Chase: "Huh but then– How do I navigate this damn thing?"

I stepped towards the screen, which floated backwards in return. I acknowledged my failure with a groan.

Chase: "Damn thing how do I– Move! Next! Do something damnit!"

Skye: "Pinpoint your eyes on what you want to do."

My body lunged backwards, almost stumbling onto the ground. In a desperate effort, I stretch out my arms to regain balance. A rather stupid pose resulted.

Skye: "You left your door open. For a police officer that's not very responsible is it?"

Chase: "I'd rather… Not think about that."

Skye walked over towards me without warning, taking a seat on my bed. A slight wash of frustration lunged over my body.

Chase: "What are you doing here?"

Skye: "I just came to check on you. You seemed a little off in the gymnasium."

Chase: "I'm fine. Just trying to figure out how to use this stupid e-Tag."

With Skye's guidance, I got the basic controls to work. My eyes were swiftly guiding me through the holographic menus of the system. There was a section on the rules, a map of the first floor, a small list of information about my classmates and a vocal notepad.

Skye: "See? You got the hang of it. It takes some time getting used to. But once you do, it'll become second nature."

Chase: "I hope so. Otherwise, I'll be a pretty useless police officer."

Skye: "You won't be useless. You're an ultimate remember? You were chosen for a reason."

Chase: "Yeah… Yeah I guess you're right Skye."

Skye: "Of course I am! Now, come on. The kitchen is stacked with food. You look like you could use a break!"

My face went slightly red because of Skye's last remark. I felt like garbage, I most likely looked like garbage, however, it still embarrassed me it was this obvious. I felt myself sinking in a sea of thoughts. The sound around me drowning out as the words in my head sang.

"Chances are, there's somebody here who's seriously considering all this."

"We're only people after all."

Wild's ominous statement haunted my mind, as a police officer it raised all kinds of red flags. As much as I wanted it to be a lie… It was the truth. There were no guarantees set in stone but… For as long as I didn't wake up psychic, there was no way to know.

Chase: "Can we stop by the infirmary? I want to see how Zuma is doing."

Skye turned herself around, her eyes conveying a gentle expression. Her soft smile enhancing the slight pink hue on her cheeks.

Skye: "Sure, let's go check on him. I'm sure he'd be happy to see you."

Chase: "How would you be so sure about that?"

Skye: "It's just like Marshall said, I might be the ultimate psychic."

We made our way to the infirmary, navigating the halls that grew ever more familiar with every corner we turned. The two of us arrived at a set of gentle-red doors with a large pink heart on the center of each door. It had a cartoonish feel to it. Not quite fitting in with the white walls shaded in a crimson red light.

But we barely had time to take in the sight as the doors flung open.

Hubcap: "HUWAH!"

One door flung to its side violently, missing Skye's face with mere inches to spare. An expression of shock painted her face.

Hubcap: "The hell are you two doing here?!"

Chase: "What do you think?"

Hubcap: "Eh… I don't like thinking about things that much… Mmm… AH! GOTCHA! You wanna be my minions!"

Either this dog was the ultimate actor in secret or he got dropped as a pup. There is no way someone can be this naturally stupid.

Chase: "Sorry to disappoint you, Hubcap, but we're not in the market for a new master."

Hubcap: "New master? BAHAHA!"

Hubcap steadied his paws on the ground, looking at us with an expression filled with glee. Shoving his face closer to ours.

Hubcap: "Then stick with your master! You'll be flocking towards me the moment I surpass gods themselves!"

Skye: "I highly doubt it…The great Hubcap can't even catch his own tail."

Hubcaps eyes widened in surprise, and he looked back at his own tail as if it was the first time he had noticed it.

Hubcap: "Oh, yeah… well… That's because it's too fast for me for NOW! But I'll get it one day!"

With that Hubcap dashed off at full speed. Leaving the two of us confused in front of an open infirmary.

Following a moment of silence Skye and I exchanged glances. The two of us having little to no time adjusting to the situation. Stepping through the doors we see Zuma sitting up on the infirmary bed.

Zuma: "Yo!"

Skye: "Yo?"

The infirmary was an average school infirmary. White walls with a monochrome checkered floor. A set of beds propped up in the back-left corner. A small divider set up between the set of beds. The back wall had a varied amount of cabinets propped up, holding different types medicine. There was a small desk in the far right corner of the infirmary. That's where I saw two more dogs.

Gasket: "What's up? Came to check up on the unlucky fellow over here on that bed?"

Marshall: "We've done what we can! I-I'm no doctor but the bandages should prevent an infection."

Zuma: "Ey calm down dudes, I trust ya! It feels great and my head isn't about to pop off my spine so I'll be fine!"

When I inspected Zuma from a distance, I saw the bandages wrapped around his neck. A slight red color having tainted them in the center. I could feel my stomach turning again. Despite encountering blood in my work often. Blood in this environment felt wrong.

Chase: "Does your wound hurt a lot?"

Zuma: "Eh, it hurt more when Marshall used the tweezers to get some of the metal out. Prick stabbed me a dozen!"

Marshall: "I told you I was sorry!"

Marshall's cheeks grew ever so pink as his ears flattened against his skull. Quickly, he averted his gaze to look at the ground while his paws gently brushed over the floor.

Marshall: "I'm just… I'm just no good with sleight-of-hand practices… I did what I could I just–"

Zuma sat up and smiled at Marshall, followed by a chuckle. He seemed to be quite enjoying the situation that unfolded in front of him.

Zuma: "You're great dude, thank you."

Zuma then looked over at Gasket.

Zuma: "Both of you."

Gasket: "Don't sweat it Zumes. I ain't signing for letting that little moron kill someone because of some impulse."

Skye: "Little Moron–"

Chase: "Speaking of the little Moron, what was he doing here? Convincing you all to become his minions?"

Zuma: "Well that little Moron just went in and apologized for what he did. So I'd say he's not all that bad."

Gasket: "You'd imagine it'd be half-assed or something but no. It felt pretty genuine."

My mind tried wrapping around the situation. The thought of someone like Hubcap going out of his way to apologize to Zuma seems far beyond normal. But, I guess I should've expected it. Hubcap is more than just poor and stupid.

I'll apologize to him when I see him.

Chase: "So what are you guys going to do about the situation in the school?"

Gasket: "Why? Are you some kind of police officer?"

…

Gasket: "Right…"

What should've been an awkward silence got broken up by Zuma chuckling into his paw.

Skye: "W-What are you laughing about?"

Zuma: "You got nothing to worry about. Like, yeah we got all these dudes running around and we got these rules but like… It was optional remember?"

Marshall: "A-Are you saying we should just accept it and live in here forever?"

Marshall's expression loaded with worry while Zuma had a carefree smile on his face. Putting his paws behind his head, readjusting himself in the bed.

Zuma: "I'm saying we shouldn't kill anyone dude! We should look for a way out instead!"

Gasket: "What do you think the others are doing right now you numbskull…"

Zuma: "Then it's all handy-dandy ey?"

I couldn't help but stare in amazement at Zuma. It went against nature to think like this. With us being presented a kill-or-be-killed scenario, Zuma sits injured in a bed, his thoughts rambling about cooperation. I can't place my paw on it. Either this labrador has complete faith in others, or, it is one cruel coping mechanism.

Gasket: "... I wouldn't be surprised if you were the first one to die fucknuts!"

Zuma: "I wouldn't be surprised if you were the first one to cry about it!"

Only a simple remark was enough to turn Gaskets face bright red. Her ears focused on Zuma while the fur stood upright on her body. Even her cheeks puffed up slightly

Gasket: "SAY THAT AGAIN AND I'LL COMMIT A MURDER RIGHT HERE! RIGHT NOW!"

Despite the words being hurtful, there was no malicious intent in Gasket's speech. No intention to hurt nor kill. Somehow Zuma had cast a spell over the room. Tension was melting all around us.

Suddenly, the door to the infirmary opened. In the doorway stood Wild with a smile on his face.

Wild: "What a lively bunch of dogs! Even with an injured friend you all keep on yapping as if you'd known each other for years."

Marshall: "Ah! Was it bothering you?"

Wild: "Not at all!"

Wild's expression was gentle. It had an air of perfection around it. A gentle smile, gentle eyes, passive body language, even his claws were fully retracted.

Wild: "But I've been looking for you, Chase! Do you mind if we talk outside for a moment? It won't take long."

Chase: "What about?"

Wild's entire presence felt… Odd. Once the killing game got announced he was the first to accept it as the truth. Yet he remained undoubtedly calm, as if this were a normal academy day and Zuma got injured during training.

Wild: "As the ultimate police officer you'd find it interesting but… I don't think it's good to throw it into the group yet. I need the opinion of someone who I know will stay calm."

I looked over at Skye, who replied with a simple nod.

Skye: "I'll wait here for you."

Chase: "Alright. Thanks Skye."

With that I followed Wild out of the infirmary. My heart thumping in my throat. While most dogs had some predictability about them, Wildcat felt more like Wildcard. His personality seemed to bounce around. It put me on edge.

Chase: "So what did you want to talk to me about Wild?"

Wild took another step forward before turning around. Sitting himself on the ground as he looked at me.

Wild: "Are you scared?"

Chase: "Scared? Because of the potential killing? As a police officer I've seen and acted in plenty of situations where–"

Wild: "Exactly, you're appealing to kill."

…

Huh..?