Breaking Free

Story by Keenthedragon on SoFurry

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The air was cold, the room smelt of dust and the odors of predators. His head spun, his shoulder ached, and bruises burned all over his body. Where am I? This doesn't smell like home... He thought. As he opened his eyes his throat tightened. Suddenly he could feel ropes pressing against his fur. He realised where he was. He tried to scream, tried to shout, but the muzzle he wore prevented that. He wiggled and growled against his bindings, attempting maybe to loosen them but he stopped as a canine drew close. It was the painted wolf from before, Kaif if he recalled correctly. /He must be guarding me./

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Sorry, this isn't very polished.


"So where you headin', Mr Majd, sir?" The Cabwolf leaned back in his chair, adjusting his paws on the steering wheel and shooting a glance back at the small Fennec fox who sat on the back seat of the taxi, his arm around his briefcase.

"Home." He gave his address and smiled, handing over the required amount of money for his journey.

The wolf took it, smiling. "Thank you. Long day?" He asked, stepping down on a pedal and pulling out of parking and onto the road.

Majd nodded. "Yeah. Had to stay at work for longer than usual. It's hard owning a business y'know?"

The wolf nodded back. "I can only imagine. Would you like the radio playing sir?"

"No thank you." He replied simply, turning to look out the window.

It was quiet tonight, besides the rain lightly tapping the roof of the cab as they drove. Majd let his eyelids fall slightly and yawned, leaning to rest against the door as they drove.

As time passed, he began to notice the buildings gradually decreasing and frowned a little. "Driver. I don't think you're going the right way. You passed my home a block or two ago."

"I'm sorry Mr Majd. But you're not going home tonight. So shut your trap and be quiet!"

"What do you mean by that? Let me out!"

The cab driver didn't respond. "Kaif. Deka to Kaif. I have Mr Majd. Tell your boss. I'm pulling into the meeting place now."

"Thank you for your corporation. Master Sabeh will be pleased. And you will be rewarded." Came a voice from the driver's phone.

"I said let me out!"

"And I said shut your trap!" The Cabwolf snarled, turning off his phone and parking the car, then unbuckling his seatbelt. Deka turned around, pointing a gun to the fox's head.

The fox opened his mouth to argue, and then closed it, his fur standing on end under his shirt.

The two doors on each side of him were ripped open. A painted wolf to his left snatched his briefcase from his grasp and on his right, a Spotted Hyena grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him from the cab then pressed his small body to the side of the car, pinning him there. "Majd Thunder?"

"P-pardon?" He flattened his ears against the sides of his face and pulled down on his shirt's collar with his paws, struggling for breath.

"Are you Majd Thunder! Answer me before I beat your lights out!" The Hyena snarled, moving one paw away and reaching into his pocket, pulling out a large dagger and pressing it against the vital veins of the Fennec's neck.

"Y-yes. I-I am. Please, let me go. I-I'll pay you."

"No. You're family will, if they want you to live." He took a moment to laugh then narrowed his eyes again. "Pass me your cell phone. Now." He opened his paw, the knife between his digits and growled, nodding to the palm of his paw.

Majd swallowed, blinking ahead and looking into the amber eyes of the criminal for but a moment before lowering his head and feeling around in his pockets for his phone. He hesitated and fiddled around his pocket for a few moments more, pulling the cover from his phone and setting it down in The Hyena's paw.

The Hyena took one look at the flip-case and growled, throwing it to the dirt beside him. "You take me for a fool?"

"No! Not at all, sir! I-- Agh!" A surge of pain harried him as The Hyena pushed his dagger into the flesh of his shoulder. Majd cried in agony and winced as The Hyena threw him to the ground, retracting the dagger with a laugh. "Search him, Kaif."

"Yes, Master Sabeh." A painted wolf walked up to him growling and he pinned Majd to the ground; not as hard as Sabeh had, but firm enough to keep him from moving as he searched him. Kaif ripped the jacket and the tie from The Fennec's body, pulled a pen and a small piece of paper from his shirt pocket, a mobile phone from his trousers and a wallet from the last pocket of his pants then passed them to his leader. He returned his paws to The Fox's chest, eyeing the bleeding wound on his shoulder. "That's everything, Master. What do you want me to do with him?"

"Knock him out. We'll deal with him in the morning.

***

Stealing, lying, beating people up? That was wrong. But kidnapping someone? Stabbing people? No. This was a next level wrong. He could never have imagined being one of those creatures. In the paper, as a kid, he'd been horrified, hearing about the evils roaming the streets at night. Now he as one of those evils. He had always stood up for what was right. Littering was wrong, stealing was wrong, lying was wrong, pushing kids over, swearing, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! Oh, how his past self would look down upon him now. All of those years of schooling, had they all been a waste? He still regretted the night he and his friends had gone to that party, he regretted the moment he made his first friend, Sabeh.

He lowered his head, sighing and shooting a glance over at his prisoner. At least he's still asleep, He thought. He turned away and to the spot next to him where his dinner sat. Just the thought of eating made his stomach turn and he quickly threw his head away, back to The Fennec Fox. Oh, why won't this guilt go away...

***

Kaif puffed out this chest and threw his shoulders back as he walked into his leader's study room.

The Hyena sat behind his desk, ballpoint in paw, marking locations and scribbling down notes on small pieces of paper.

Maybe I shouldn't bother him. He thought but spoke anyway. "Master, may I have a word?"

Sabeh's ear twitched towards him, but he nodded, setting his pen down neatly and beckoning him closer with a motion of his paw.

The Painted Wolf strode forward and gently set his paws down on the table. How do I say this...?

"What is it, Kaif? Do you have a report on the prisoner? Have we received a call as of yet? Or haven't you called them?"'

"About that. You see... when we first started our, well, gang. All we did was a bit of shoplifting and a bit of lying. But now... well..."

"Spit it out! I'm planning my next heist!" Sabeh snapped his jaw, letting out a low-pitched growl as he looked at his friend.

"I think we should let Majd go... what we did was wrong."

"Are you questioning my decisions? My leadership?" The Hyena stood up, snarling, making his way around the desk and standing in front of him, muzzles only a paws-length away from each other.

Kaif's fur raised under his shirt but he held his stance, looking at his leader but unable to meet his eyes. He felt his heart pounding in his chest and his muscles tensing. "Sir. Stealings one thing, lying is another." He swallowed and stood his ground, trying to look as strong as he could.

"You've been my friend for many years now. Don't you trust me? Does our friendship mean nothing to you? Kaif, you're like a brother to me. This breaks my heart. Whose side are you on? You're either with me or against me."

"Please. You know where I stand. With you, as I always will." He tried to quell his fear, but as Sabeh stepped closer, he flinched back, eyes widening.

The Hyena thrust his paw forward, fastening it around the canine's throat and giving it a tight squeeze. "If you weren't like a brother to me I would kill you right now. Here is your last, and only chance. Don't question me. Follow me blindly, even if you do end up dead. Serve me." He snarled, then repeated; "You're either with me or against me." Without another word he threw his body to the ground and stormed away, leaving the wolf to consider his options.

But Kaif already knew exactly where he stood. And one thing for sure, it wasn't with his brother. Not anymore.

***

The air was cold, the room smelt of dust and the odors of predators. His head spun, his shoulder ached, and bruises burned all over his body.Where am I? This doesn't smell like home... He thought. As he opened his eyes his throat tightened. Suddenly he could feel ropes pressing against his fur. He realised where he was. He tried to scream, tried to shout, but the muzzle he wore prevented that. He wiggled and growled against his bindings, attempting maybe to loosen them but he stopped as a canine drew close. It was the painted wolf from before, Kaif if he recalled correctly. He must be guarding me.

Majd eyes widened as a paw reached towards him but by the thug's expression, he could tell he meant no harm. What's he up to?

"I mean no harm..." Kaif whispered, fiddling with the straps at the back of the fox's head. "I've come to free you."

The tightness from around his muzzle fell away and the fox opened his muzzle then closed it, watching as Kaif began to work on the ropes that bound him to the chair.

Why are you doing this? Majd wanted to ask, but he said nothing.

"We must stay quiet. The others are sleeping. Now is your only chance to escape. You must follow every instruction, every order I give you. You must understand every flick of the tail a throw at you, for this will not be an easy task. There is one exit to this building; the front door. Three guards stand nightshift in this building. One guard stands in the weapons room, one floor up from here. Another marches around on the ground floor. For a chance of escape, we must quietly take out each guard and steal the keys from their pockets. With the keys in paw we can exit the building without further trouble, understand?"

"What about the last guard. You mentioned three of them."

"Ah. Don't worry. That's me."

Majd nodded slowly. "Okay. Lead on then. Just... be careful..."

He nodded back, walking towards the door.

Free of the ropes, Majd followed the Painted Canine, leaving the gloomy room with a small smile as he passed into the next.

***

"Light pawsteps," Kaif whispered. "We are almost at the weapons room. Find a place to hide, okay? I'll deal with the guard."

Majd shuffled nervously in his spot, swallowing once and looking around. "I'll be well hidden."

The Painted Wolf nodded his trust, reaching out to grasp the handle to of the door and twisting it open, walking inside.

"Kaif? Why are you here?" One Lion growled, stepping towards him. "Shouldn't you be guarding the prisoner?"

"Alex has it under control. I switched positions with him." He said firmly. "I need some chloroform. Sabeh's orders."

"Why do you need that?"

"As I said. Sabeh's orders. It's for a heist. You should not question your leader's brother."

The lion nodded, turning around to unlock the vault. "Fair enough. I thought we were robbing the bank tomorrow night." He said, walking into the vault. Kaif didn't reply

Maybe this would be easier than he thought. All he would have to do is knock the guards out with the chloroform and boom! They'd be free!

It didn't take long for him to find the chemical. He handed him a small bottle of it to Kaif and smiled, then passing him rags. "Thank you."

He nodded. "Be careful."

"No. You be careful. You left the vault unlocked."

The Lion turned around and snorted. "No, I didn't"

While his back was turned, Kaif raised his fists and thrust his paw forward, hitting him in the back of the head.

The Lion fell to the ground with a thud and Kaif held his breath. Hell! That could have woken everyone up!

The Painted Wolf snatched the keys from the lion and ran out of the room. "Majd. Mr Majd. Where are you?"

The little fox stumbled from his hiding place and walked over to him. "What was that thud?" Kaif cursed. "Never mind that. We need to be a little faster. That thud could have woken someone up."

Majd nodded.

Together the two raced up the stairs, trying to keep their paw-steps quiet. But as their fear of being spotted increased they couldn't help but rush.

"Next guard is just around the corner," Kaif whispered. "It will only take a moment to knock him out if we work together. I need you to knock some things over. The guard will come racing towards you to investigate. I'll come in from behind, leap on his back and shove a rag filled with chloroform into his muzzle. This'll knock him out."

"Why not just punch him in the back of the head like the other guy? I Assume that's what you did?"

He nodded. "Yes. But that would make noise."

"So would the guy falling after he passes out." He reminded.

"I have an idea..."

***

Majd stood at the end of the hall, a chloroform filled rag in his paws. His heart was beating fast in his chest, sweat dripped down his forehead and he felt ill. How did he convince me to do this... Any moment now Kaif would give him the signal. Then it would be all up to him. This was his only chance for freedom.

There it was! The signal, the word that would shape either is death, or his freedom; Prisoner.

Swallowing his fear he threw himself around the corner. Ahead Kaif and a Panther stood, talking.

He saw kaif wink in he drew in a deep breath, clenching his fist around the chemical-filled rag and he raced towards him.

Slowly then Panther went to turn around but Kaif stopped him.

Majd leapt up onto the Panthers back, gripping his arms around his neck and shoving the rag forward, holding it against the Panthers mouth and nose.

The Big Cat tried to call for help, he tried to hold his breath. But it was already too late.

Kaif caught the Panthers body as he passed out and gently laid him across the ground before snatching the keys from the Cats body.

"Got them."

The two ran towards the doors and Kaif shoved the keys into the first lock and unlocked it smiling. He reached for the second-- then stopped as he heard familiar paw steps behind him. "Majd. Take the keys. Unlock my car and drive off. Now"

Before Majd could reply two sets of keys were pushed into his paws and Kaif turned around and walked away.

In front of him, the all-too-familiar face of a Hyena stood, holding out a gun and facing it at his ex-friends chest. "I called you brother!" He snarled.

Kaif raised his head to meet Sabeh's eyes. "Don't you dare shoot."

"Why shouldn't I?"

"A coward would shoot. A real man would fight."

Majd unlocked the door and pushed it open. Just as he was exiting he stopped, looking back at the two.

I can't go, He realised. He stepped back, letting the door close and he turned to observe the fight.

"Fine. But when shall the fight end?"

"When the other cannot continue." Kaif narrowed his eyes, letting his muzzle part to show his teeth. "No weapons. Just what mother nature gave ya"

Sabeh nodded, walking forwards, snarling. "You're on."

Kaif thrust himself forward, sinking his claws into the flesh of The Hyena's shoulders and pushing him back.

Sabeh snarled, grabbing The wolf by the shoulds and tearing him off, throwing him towards the wall and while the other creature was stunned he kicked his side and threw himself down onto him, wrapping his paws around his neck and pushing his thumb into his throat.

Fear struck Kaif. He couldn't breathe. He pushed against the other male, clawing at his chest and belting his stomach with his legs until he finally managed to pull him off.

Sucking in a breath he launched himself at him again.

Claws raked the side of Sabeh's face and he snarled against the pain, pushing himself forward and snapping his muzzle against Kaif's neck.

He jerked back, pushing his face away with his own paw and pushing his claw-tips into The Hyena's flesh once again. The wolf opened his muzzle and bit into Sabeh's shoulder. His eyes widened slightly at the taste of blood and he bit harder.

Sabeh's body thrashed underneath him, trying to throw his attacker away but he came to no avail.

Blood drooled from Kaif's lips as he pulled away and he spat out the red liquid and growled, pushing off him and standing up. "Surender. Don't make me kill you."

"You wouldn't kill me. You couldn't."

Kaif stepped over his body and leaned over picking up Sabeh's gun and pointing it at The Hyena's head. "I will do it, I'll kill you."

"Do it."

Kaif pulled the trigger.

Sabeh's body laid limp against the ground, blood oozing from his forehead and sliding down the side of his face. Kaif found himself staring at him but after a few moments, he managed to pull his gaze away.

He hopped in the car with Majd and sighed, laying down on the back seat and closing his eyes. He closed his eyes as Majd headed for the hospital and winced against the pain that burned from the fight with Sabeh. But he couldn't help but think; with his life of crime over now... what was he to do? What was his purpose? Then a little voice inside his head spoke; Protect the weak, mend the broken, stand up for what's right even though others may see it as wrong. Stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. If only he'd killed Sabeh years ago.