-...-
-Max-
"There once lived a happy little pup. The pup lived in a wonderful house with a loving, caring family..."
The scene shifted to a forest, there was a gorgeous wooden house in a large clearing with a dirt road leading into the unknown. Night time had come upon the house. The sound of crickets echoed throughout the dark forest.
"You thought you were safe, you thought your little room was a safe haven, somewhere you could go when all things in life seemed to take a turn for the worst."
The inside of the house was well furnished, although the lights were off; it would've given anyone the feeling of comfort, and the warm feeling of being home sweet home. Just down a long dark hallway revealed a partially opened white wooden door, with a tiny bit of moonlight escaping through the cracks of it.
"All this happiness taunted me; it mocked me, I needed to escape it; it needed to be destroy..."
Suddenly a large dark tinted, black truck came driving down the dirt path, parking just in front of the sleeping house, with someone exiting from the drivers side.
"Oh how so long I waited for this day to come, the day I knew I would change my place in this world of yours."
"Tili tili bom"
"Close your eyes now"
The shadow of a figure slid across the walls of the house, as it began to sing a Russian lullaby.
"Someone's walking outside the house"
"There was no hiding this time, even crying couldn't save you from my destiny."
"And knocks on the door"
The front door to the house was suddenly unlocked, followed by someone quietly entering. The unknown figure was wearing what appeared to be a black BDU uniform, with heavy black boots to complement it.
"Tili tili bom"
"The nightbirds are chirping"
Max was seen quickly opening his eyes, when he heard heavy footsteps echo down the hallway leading into his room.
"Remember those stories your mom told you just before bed? About those monsters that would snatch up children who couldn't sleep?"
"He is inside the house"
"To visit those who can't sleep"
Max began to shake in fear, as the footsteps echoed into his room. He quickly covered himself up to his neck, and closed his eyes, so he could go back to sleep. He thought if he fell back to sleep the "monster" would go away.
"Oh how could I forget, you don't even remember the bitch."
"He walks"
"He is coming …
… Closer"
"There was no use in hiding, or pretending... He had has his sights set on you."
There was a shadow of what appeared to be a wolf walking down the side of hallway, in sync with the echo of the heavy footsteps.
"Tili tili bom"
"Can you hear him closing in?"
"Lurking around the corner"
"You remembered what your dad would say to you, about facing your fears head on, you thought about jumping up from your bed and charging the monster... But you couldn't bring your pathetic self to do it."
"Staring right at you."
Max opened his eyes, and started at his door with wide eyes, as his heart raced at unimaginable speeds.
"Tili tili bom"
"The silent night hides everything"
Max saw as a shadow emerged from underneath his door, shortly followed by a gloved hand grabbing the side of his door. Out of fear, he threw his sheets over his head, and held his breath, thinking the monster wouldn't hear him.
"He sneaks up behind you
And he is going to get you"
The door creaked open, and a slight chuckle could be heard coming from the monster, as it's footsteps approached the side of his bed.
"The day had finally come! The day where all your happiness would finally die!"
"He walks
He is coming …
… Closer"
Suddenly everything went silent, the monster had stop singing, and the footsteps were no more. Max waited a few more seconds just to be certain the monster was gone, before he gasped for air.
Without any warning, Max's sheets were yanked off, causing him to scream out in surprise. Max looked up, to his surprise what he saw wasn't a monster, but a golden eyed white male wolf with a eyepatch over his right eye, staring down at him with the biggest grin he's ever see, and just behind him stood Max's sadistic twin with a grin that could compare to the wolf's.
"The day where you became the true monster." Max's twin laughed manically, before the wolf reached down and grabbed him, which mysteriously caused Max to blackout.
...
Max gasped, as his eyes shot open, he moved his eyes around surveying his surroundings. He sighed when he realized it was only a nightmare, although he grew concerned on how real his dreams were becoming. He had grown increasingly wary about this hidden personality that has manifested itself to him, and all it wants is his body to help wreck more havoc to this not so innocent world; it had also mentioned something about Max's mom, and dad, which only added to his curiosity. Max had desperately wanted to remember his past, he had so many questions, but he didn't have the memories to answer them, but this 'twin' was somehow resurfacing events that he couldn't, for the life of him, remember. He could only assume his twin was slowly degrading his mind, and soul. He yawned, and rubbed his eyes in exhaustion. All this thinking had him barely notice the sensation of something, or someone hugging onto him. He looked down, and saw an orange limb connecting to a very familiar fox, he had grown so quickly to love, and possibly call a... Father. Although, they've barely ever interacted something about Nick felt familiar to him. He hugged Nick's arm, and scooted closer to Nick's body, he smiled once he found a comfortable position, and felt totally safe from any sort of danger that could be lurking at night. He slowly closed his eyes until he was once again drifted into a deep slumber.
-That Following Morning-
Nick yawned, as sunlight seeped into the apartment, penetrating his eyelids. "Morning Judy." Nick said, scratching his head, as he sat up on the bed.
No response.
"Judy?" Nick called out... after no response, he looked to his left, only finding the still sleeping pup. He sighed, and looked over to a digital night clock on the nightstand next to the bed, which read "9:23 A.M." He sat up from his position when he was unable to spot his long eared companion. He trudged all over the apartment looking for her, only to find her sleeping in her workstation, with her laptop still open. He leaned on the back of Judy's rolling chair, and attempted to wake the sleeping bunny. "Judy..." Nick shook Judy's shoulder. "Judy!" Nick shook her harder.
Judy groaned, and brushed Nick's paw off her shoulder. "Leave me alone..." Judy managed to slur out.
Nick chuckled. "What time did you fall asleep?" He asked.
"None of your business." Judy replied, adjusting her head.
Nick smirked, and shook his head, before proceeding to playfully dig a claw into her neck, getting a slight giggle from Judy, before she burst into a full on laughter.
"Nick STOP!" Judy laughed, as Nick took advantage of her so called "mortal weakness."
Nick's claw retreated, as he brought it up to the top of his muzzle and blew on it like he had just shot a gun. "Are all you bunnies this ticklish?" Nick asked, as he nuzzled the top of Judy's head.
"I hope not." Judy chuckled.
"So what were you doing?" Nick asked, looking up at the blank screen on Judy's laptop.
Judy sighed, and turned the chair around to face Nick. "I got an Email from Agent Sparks." She said, getting a shrug from Nick.
"So what?" He replied.
"So what?" Judy scoffed, before checking behind Nick to see if Max wasn't awake. "I know who did this to him." She said.
Nick chuckled. "I told you that business card you tried to throw away would come in handy."
Judy shook her head, and turned to reface her laptop. "Looks at this." Judy said, as she powered on her laptop.
"I spent countless hours doing research on a corporation called 'Biotech'." She said, as the screen lit up revealing the website she had been exploring last night. "They are mass producers of pharmaceutical goods, many that we see today in local pharmacies, and are apparently responsible for the Night Howler cure."
"Judy, I'm having trouble figuring how a corporation that possibility saved the lives of millions is responsible for Max's 'condition'." Nick said.
"Oh, that's not all." Judy said turning around to face Nick. "There are a couple of conspiracies that have been plaguing the corporation." Judy said, getting Nick's full attention.
"Go on." Nick said, as Judy began explaining.
"Well, the biggest conspiracy was that THEY were the original creators of the Night Howler serum, and they were planning on exporting it around the world to terrorist organizations, countries, and even to your local assistant mayor, but before they could do that, they needed to conduct tests first..." As Judy was explaining, she was interrupted by Nick.
"Look Carrots, we all know it was Bellwether who created the serum, heck, we even watched her associates make it with our own eyes. Nick said, crossing his arms.
"But she didn't create it, she was told HOW to create it." Judy countered.
"So you mean to tell me that Bellwether was given the recipe?" Nick replied.
"Yes, but when her attempts failed, they developed the cure to hopefully hide their involvement, and gain some sort of profit in end." Judy explained.
"How do you know all of this?" Nick asked.
"There's a video of an interview with an ex-employee posted on the internet." Judy answered.
"Well, if the FBI wanted to shut down this corporation why didn't they use the employee as evidence?" Nick said.
Judy made an uneasy expression, before she replied. "The next day after the interview, they found him in his house with his head partially removed from his body."
"Oh..." Nick said, as his ears lowered themselves behind his head.
"Yeah, and in the end, there wasn't enough evidence to prove Biotech responsible for assassination, and for developing the Night Howler serum." Judy said, which prompted a deep sigh from Nick.
"Do you know what this means Judy?" Nick said.
Judy didn't respond, but instead lowered her head, and lowered her tall ears.
"We're putting our lives in danger Judy, we are not only harboring evidence from the FBI, but we're harboring a piece of hardware that belongs to corporation that'll kill to get what they want." Nick said, as he grasped onto Judy's shoulders.
"He's not a piece of hardware." Judy snapped, as she shoved Nick's paws off of her. "He's an innocent little pup, who's just a little lost that's all."
Nick sighed. "Carrots..."
"Don't 'Carrots' me! I joined the ZPD to protect the citizens of Zootopia, and from what I can tell, Max's safety should be our number one priority." Judy yelled. Nick made a hand motion for Judy to keep her voice down, since Max was still sleeping. "Oh!" Judy blushed, as she held her paws up to her muzzle. "Sorry for the sudden outburst." Judy apologized, as she ran a paw through the top of her head in frustration. "I just want to do what's right, you know?"
Nick smiled, and embraced Judy in a tight hug. "Judy the last place I would want to be is your funeral, or for you to see my funeral."
"Nick..." Judy managed to say, before she was interrupted by Nick.
"I'll do anything to keep you safe, I'll risk my life for yours, I love you Judy, I love you with every inch of my beating heart." Nick said, as he held Judy tighter, which made breathing harder for her.
"N-Nick." Judy wheezed. "It's getting a little hard to b-breath." Judy said, but before Nick could let go, they heard a young voice call out to them.
"Are you guys okay?" The young familiar voice said.
Both Nick and Judy looked to where the voice had called out from, and saw Max standing there rubbing his eyes, as he let out a big yawn.
"Max!" Both Nick and Judy said simultaneously, as Nick let go of Judy.
"I heard yelling, so I came to see if everything was okay." Max said.
"Of course we're okay." Judy said, closing her laptop.
"Why wouldn't we be?" Nick replied afterwards.
"Oh, it's just that I got a little startled." The Max sheepishly admitted.
"Don't worry; it's okay to get a little scared sometimes." Judy said, as she sat up from her chair, and walked over to max, placing a paw on his light gray head. "How about we fill that stomach of yours. What do you say?"
"Yes, please." Max replied.
"Why don't you Nick catch up while I make breakfast; it'll help pass the time." Judy suggested.
Max's expression suddenly lit up with excitement. "Okay!" Max quickly responded, as he ran over to Nick.
Nick shook his head in disapproval. "I'm not very good at bonding." He said, as Max grabbed ahold of his paw.
"Yet you do it all the time with me." Judy smirked, crossing her arms.
"Well that's different." Nick blushed.
"Do you know any fun games?" Max interrupted.
Nick was about to respond when Judy cut in. "He sure does, hes has amassed an impressive collection of board games."
"Cool!" Max yelled, as Nick let out a big sigh. "Can you show me?" Max asked, looking up at Nick.
Nick let out another sigh before replying, "Sure why not."
"I'll go get breakfast started." Judy said, as Nick lead Max to a closet that contained his board game stash. Judy walked towards the kitchen, and opened the fridge once she got there. She grabbed a long ceramic tray that appeared to contain a dozen brown eggs.
Judy placed the ceramic egg tray next to the stove, and proceeded to dig through a cabinet looking for a pan, which she eventually found.
"But I wanna be the car!" Judy heard Max suddenly yell, which caused her to smirk.
Nick had decided to play one of his personal favorites "Monopoly". Judy had played Monopoly with Nick countless times, which she hated because Nick, being the sly fox that he is, would always find ways to make her become bankrupt, or he would just simply secretly cheat.
"Okay fine, I'll be the the hat." Nick replied. He had set up the Monopoly board on the kitchen table, and was currently handing out the fake money. "Do you know how to play the game." Nick asked.
Max made a clueless expression, and replied with a, "Yes?" Which Nick raised an eyebrow to.
"You don't know how to play do you." Nick said, which the Max reacted to sheepishly.
"No." Max said sadly.
"Don't worry, I'll teach ya." Nick smiled.
*KNOCK* *KNOCK*
Everyone inside the apartment perked their ears to the sound of someone knocking at the front door.
"I got it!" Judy yelled from the kitchen. Judy walked towards the front door, and peeked through the eyehole. She suddenly staggered backwards, holding in a gasp, she ran to where Nick, and Max were playing.
"Who is it Ju-" Nick was cut off by Judy quickly answering back.
"It's them! Go hide Max somewhere!" Judy yelled, she would've started to sweat if she hade the pores for it.
"Who's them?" Max asked, as Nick dragged him away.
Judy ran back to the front door, and readied herself, dusting herself off, and straightening her shirt. She unlocked the door and reached for the handle to open it open it.
"Good morning, Officer Hopps..."
*I DONT OWN THE RUSSIAN LULLABY*