(The Cells)
The cells in the dog pound were quiet now. Rose opened her eyes but didn't stand up. She was waiting for that human to return with their food so she could make her move.
"Sister?" Kaiden said. Rose's mismatched ears perked forward when she heard her brother's voice. "Yeah?" she asked, raising her head off of the floor.
"You miss him?" Kaiden asked. "Miss who?" she replied, "You mean Dodger?" "Is that his name?" Kaiden asked. "Yeah. That's his name. The fact I can't see him worries me. They better not have done anything with him," she said.
The day passes without any incidents, leaving Rose miserable. It dragged on for what seemed like forever. By the time the next morning came, the door finally opened. Rose got herself ready.
She saw the man walk in with what appears to be their breakfast. This was her opportunity to get out while she still could.
However, Rose noticed that this human was different from the last one that took Nero away. He looked tired, dead on his feet. This gave her a great advantage.
She noticed that this man wasn't really paying attention to what he was doing. He approached Rose's cell and she made her move.
She bolted passed the man and made a beeline for the door, which was still open. The entire room's silence was broken by the other inmates, supporting the houdini that managed to get out, even Kaiden.
All Rose could do was run; That's all she was focused on. She couldn't go back for Dodger or Kaiden right now.
She followed her nose as she galloped through the dog pound, hoping to get a whiff of fresh air. When she got back to the gang, she would get them to help her not only rescue Dodger and Kaiden, but also free as many dogs as they could.
The guards in this place were chasing after her, making her realize that she needed to get out quickly. Eventually, Rose had found an opened window that was in the first office, providing her with a way out.
She jumped up and grabbed the windowsill with her front paws, using her back paws to help her crawl out. She leaped out of the window and found a hole in the fence.
She squeezed herself under the hole and kept running. For the first time in three days, Rose was happy to feel the sun on her back, breathing in the fresh air.
Her desire to get home kept her going. She even did some car-surfing to help her get to the barge faster. It was a necessary technique if one was in a hurry.
She had to focus on getting Dodger and Kaiden back. She couldn't just turn her back on them.
After a while, Rose caught the scent of the salt water below her, giving her a warm, relaxing feeling. It gave her a sense of familiarity.
Her heart was beating fast at the thought of seeing her friends again. With them by her side, she would have everything she needed for this arduous rescue mission. She wouldn't be able to do this on her own.
She makes it to the barge and goes down the old steps. It wasn't surprising that the barge was empty when she made it down there.
She had no choice but to wait for them. As she waited, she couldn't help but feel guilty for leaving Dodger and Kaiden behind while she fled. It just didn't feel right to her to just do that.
But, she was too exhausted to think about that right now. She promised to go back for them when the whole gang got back.
The shepherd mix laid down on her mess of blankets and tried to rest her eyes, but being restless was making it difficult. She was getting impatient and knew she couldn't do anything until the whole gang came back.
All of this frustration was driving the young she-dog insane. She would scratch the floor, kicking dust up in anger. She began to put a plan together while she waited.
Einstein was the biggest dog in their gang so he could break through the doors. Tito was small but fearless- Even small enough to work with the electricity in the building. Rita was cunning, fast, and tough. Francis could use his charm to distract the guards. It was all in her paws, making her feel calm.
Being in this barge, it made her feel different. This was her home; She belonged there. Even though her and Kaiden's mother was a real piece of work, Rose had a new clarity. This was her family, her gang; She and Dodger were the true leaders.
Rose went upstairs and stepped outside. She thought she was alone, until she heard Tito's voice. Rose's ears perked forward and she saw the small dog running fast towards her.
"Tito! It's so good to see you, little man," she said happily, wagging her tail as she gave the chihuahua a friendly nuzzle. "Where's Dodger? Wasn't he with ya?" the tiny dog yipped.
"That's what I need to talk to you guys about. He's in trouble. And he isn't the only one that is in trouble," Rose said just as the others arrived, making her heart skip a beat.
"Rose!" Rita exclaimed, running over to her best friend. She then noticed that Dodger wasn't with her. "Where's Dodger?" she asked worriedly.
"Here's the thing. Those dogs that have gone missing off of the street. They're being picked up by the dog catcher. They're keeping them in there and they take them to another room… killing them," Rose explained.
"Kill them!?" Tito exclaimed, "What're we waiting for!? Let's go get him! Anyone gets in the way, I will pummel them!"
"Save your energy, tough guy. You're gonna need it. I'll explain it on the way there. The two of us got caught together. I couldn't get him and… another someone out on my own," Rose said, calming them down enough to lead them into action.
Rita felt her blood run cold when Rose said that. Why would the humans keep dogs, barely taking care of who was in there, and they kill them for no reason?
"What do we do, Rose?" Rita wondered, relying on her best friend to take the lead. "The place Dodger and I were is across Manhattan, so it'd be a good idea to not just rush in there. I figured out a plan. If we play our cards right, this should work," Rose said, ready to bust Dodger, her brother, and those other dogs out of that hellhole.