Uncaged
#10 of The Zoo
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just in time for the Holidays, another installment of the Zoo! I hope this one is really extra good. Not only because it's near Christmas, but because this one is a biggie (in size and in weight I hope). As always, please comment, rate, fave, and enjoy. My dear readers you are the best. I hope Santa brings you whatever it is you want on the 25th and that you all have lots of eggnog and get to kiss some cutie under the mistletoe. I guess Nat King Cole put it best: "Although it's been said, many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you!"
Jayson and the Doctor began to move fast, knocking on every door they could and screaming to make sure everyone was out of the apartments on the third floor. Jayson moved like a man possessed to each door, as fluidly as an otter through water. As he began to knock on another door he couldn't help but smile at Matthew comforting a small boy whose tears matted his auburn fur.
"Everything will be alright." Matthew whispered. "Just follow your parents down to the basement. Quickly now."
The boy did as he was told. After reassuring himself that no one was in this apartment, Jayson walked over to his long-time lover.
"We just need to take care of the western hall and we'll be all done here." Matthew asked. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine as long as you're here." Jayson said.
Matthew smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"C'mon, we need to hurry."
The two men raced towards the western hall. Once there they repeated the same procedure, even though Jayson was reasonably sure everyone was accounted for. Jayson turned around to face Matthew. Matthew smiled for a moment before his gaze was replaced with dread. Instinctively, Jayson dropped down onto his stomach. As he did, he heard the needle speed past him. From the ground, he saw Matthew also dodge the Wolfsbane needle. With a quick swipe of his tail, Jayson tripped his would be attacker. With a groan, the man hit the floor. Jayson stood up and kicked the Wolfsbane gun away from the human's reach. With a swift punch in the face, the threat was neutralized.
"Are you okay?" Jayson asked.
"Fine, missed me completely." Matthew said. "I didn't know you could do that."
Jayson smiled and flexed his bicep.
"Save the showing off for later tonight." Matthew said. "We need to keep moving."
***
SMASH
Josef hoped that the vase that just knocked over wasn't particularly valuable. Even if it was, given the circumstances, he didn't think Dr. Tennant would mind. He took a second to look at the man he just threw into the small end table where the vase sat. Either he didn't know his own strength, or this human had...what was the phrase...a paper jaw?
Right now whatever it was didn't matter. Josef quickly made his way to the last room he needed to evacuate; his own. He quickly pulled out his keys from his pocket and unlocked the door quietly. He didn't want to alert any other CATTL member who might be lurking about. Once the door was open, he ran as fast as he could into his daughter's room.
Stephanie was sound asleep. She looked so peaceful and so calm that Josef hated to disturb her. He gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead which was just enough to rouse her awake.
"What's going on?" Stephanie said weak with drowsiness.
"We need to go to the basement, my love. Something bad has happened."
"Where's Mommy?"
"She is already there waiting for us. Come, I will carry you so you can sleep."
Josef grabbed his daughter in his arms, just like the day he first brought her home, and ran out the door of his apartment. Stephanie buried her head in his chest and fell quickly back to sleep.
As he headed towards the stairs, he noticed another CATTL member sweeping the floor. In his hand, he brandished a Wolfsbane Gun. Josef cursed in his mind and looked down at his baby girl. With a nod of quiet determination, Josef ran towards the stairs. As he did, he heard the sounds of the gun firing twice. The first shot went wide. Josef felt the needle brush straight past the fur on his head and stuck into the wall. He breathed a sigh of relief as he turned the corner and headed down the stairs.
***
Dulion stood by the door of the basement, nervously waiting for the others. He clutched his cane as he tried to allay his own fears. Danielle was hanging on his left arm, holding him tightly. Her eyes were stained red from tears she had tried to deny. Dulion opened his mouth, hoping to say something to at least try and comfort her, but the words wouldn't come. He simply held her closer. The sound of running footsteps caused both of them alarm. Dulion stepped slightly in front of Danielle. To Dulion's relief, Dr. Tennant came running into view followed closely by Jayson.
"All clear?" Dulion asked.
Jayson nodded.
"Yeah, has Josef come back yet?"
"No. Go downstairs, we'll wait for him."
"Are you..." Dr. Tennant began to say.
"Yes, now go."
Dr. Tennant patted Dulion on the shoulder. He also placed a hand on Danielle's shoulder. She recoiled slightly from the touch.
"I am so sorry." The Doctor said.
"It's ok." Danielle said. "It's not your fault."
With a sigh Dr. Tennant followed Jayson down the stairs into the shelter. Footsteps followed quickly behind them as Josef came into view. In his hands he carried Stephanie. Danielle gasped as he approached.
"It's ok." Josef said, out of breath. "She's just asleep. No harm."
"Thank God." Dulion said. "Are you the last?"
"From my floor, yes. Matthew and Jayson...?"
"Are downstairs. C'mon let's go."
Dulion and Danielle followed Josef down into the shelter. It was surprisingly large and was able to fit everyone in the apartment even if it was slightly cramped. There were only two rooms. One was a large common room stocked with several shelves of emergency supplies. The other was a small medical room where anyone who was hurt could get fixed up. It wasn't hospital quality in the slightest, but at the very least it could be the difference between life and death. Quietly, Dulion thanked Zachary Mona for being so paranoid about the Soviets.
"Everyone please, remain calm." Dr. Tennant shouted. "We are all safe until the police come. If there is anyone who needs some medical attention please let me know at once."
No one moved to the Doctor, causing him a small sigh of relief. Dulion looked around the room. Most people seemed slightly shaken, but otherwise ok. He saw Josef and Cameron both sitting on the floor, holding Stephanie close to them. He could see Cameron had tears in her eyes. The sight of a mother so happy to see her daughter was alright almost made Dulion tear up himself.
Dulion felt a slight tap on the back of his shoulder. He turned around quickly to see Jess standing before him. A terrified look was on her face.
"It's alright." Dulion said, "We're all safe."
"No we're not." Jess said. "Ibuki's not here."
"What!?" Dulion said, causing Danielle to turn towards him and Jess.
"She's not down here. She went upstairs to sleep; she's under the weather and..."
"But how?" Danielle asked.
"She probably didn't hear the knocking. She likes to fall asleep listening to music."
"Ok." Dulion said. "I'll go get her. I'm sure the Doc has a master key or something I can use to open the door."
"I'm coming with you." Danielle said.
"It might be dangerous and..."
"No, you don't understand. This is my father leading them. I...I have to help stop this. It's insanity. Regardless of what he thinks about Lycanthropes, this is just wrong. Besides, I'm human too, Dulion. The guns won't hurt me, and I doubt my dad would attack me anyway."
"Since I know it's pointless to argue, go get the key from the Doctor. He probably has it on him. Try not to cause any alarm. We don't anyone to panic."
Danielle nodded and went to get the key from Dr. Tennant. Dulion could see the horrified and guilty expression come to his face. He quickly gave up the key to Danielle. Before she could return with the key, Jayson grabbed Danielle in a hug. When he released her, Danielle returned and handed the key to Dulion.
"Ok, let's go." Dulion said.
"But Dulion, your leg..." Jess said.
"I'm handicapped, not crippled!" Dulion said with a slight degree of frustration. "Besides, I'm not going to let someone who could die get hit by one of those things."
Jess gave Dulion a hug.
"Please be careful. Both of you."
Dulion nodded. He and Danielle quietly made their way to the door, carefully opened it to make sure no one unwelcomed was around, and headed towards the stairs. Dulion could hear the sound of breaking glass and shattered furniture all around. Having found no lycanthropes to destroy, the savages took to destroying everything else in the common room.
Dulion and Danielle hurried upstairs. Dulion noticed that every door on the third floor had been kicked in. Someone either was or had been up here. As they made it to Ibuki's apartment, they found her door had suffered a similar fate.
"Could she have gotten out?" Danielle whispered.
"No. No, we would have heard or seen her. She's still inside and someone is in there with her."
Quickly and quietly, Dulion and Danielle went into the apartment. As they stepped in, Dulion motioned for Danielle not to move.
"Do you hear that?" He whispered. "Footsteps."
He put his finger to his lips and quietly made his way to where the sounds were coming from with Danielle following behind him. The sounds led them to a small hallway. The door at the end was ajar and a soft glow came from the room. Dulion wasted no time heading to the door. He signaled Danielle to wait, and he stuck in his head. Ibuki was still in her bed with a pair of expensive looking noise canceling headphones over her foxlike ears. She was still asleep and luckily, no one was in the room with her. Dulion motioned for Danielle to come into the room with him.
"Nice headphones." Danielle said.
"Yeah, unless you need to be woken up quickly, then not so good."
"So how are we...?"
"Like this."
Dulion gently shook Ibuki. The kitsune tossed a little before opening her eyes.
"Dulion?" she said groggily and with a voice that sounded like she had a cold. "What's going...?"
"No time to explain." Dulion said as he took her headphones off. The building is under attack from CATTL, everyone else is down the shelter."
Ibuki's eyes opened wide as she immediately sprang out of bed.
"Sorry for the state of dress." Ibuki said, pointing to her black tank top and short, comfy looking shorts she was sleeping in. "Maybe I should grab a robe?"
"No time." Danielle said. "We need to go now."
The three of them walked out of Ibuki's bedroom door and down the hall. Dulion and Ibuki were slightly ahead of Danielle. As they walked into the main room of Ibuki's apartment, they were greeted by the barrel of a Wolfsbane gun held by Danielle's father.
"Don't move." He said. "You all know what this is. Custom gun, shoots needles with the Wolfsbane compound, really sucks to get hit by no matter what species you are."
"Dad enough!" Danielle said coming out from behind them. "Look at what you're doing."
"Dani? What did they do to you?"
He turned angrily to Ibuki.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY DAUGHTER?!"
"No one did anything to me!" Danielle said. "This has to stop. Look at yourself! You're ready to kill someone. This...this isn't you."
"Someone has to teach these mutts! This is our world; a human's world. Look around you Dani. If they had their way, it would be us behind bars in a zoo."
"ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO YOURSELF?! What harm has anyone in this building done?"
"They exist! But this one," he said pointing the gun at Ibuki, "she won't much longer."
"You don't want to do that." Dulion said taking a deep breath.
He would have to move very quickly. And not just because of the gun.
"What's a cripple going to do to stop me?"
Dulion smiled and shook his head.
Then, in an instant, he threw away his cane and charged Danielle's father. Dulion collided into him before he could get a shot off. The gun fell out of his hand and both men fell to the floor. The two men wrestled on the ground. Danielle's father broke away for a moment and got the Wolfsbane gun. From his knees, he tried to shoot at Ibuki. Dulion tackled him back to the ground. The sound of the Wolfsbane gun echoed throughout the room. Dulion yelped in pain. The needle had hit him in his bad leg. It was just a graze, but it still drew blood.
Danielle's father tried to get back to his feet. In a final attempt to stop him, Dulion used his good leg to trip him. Danielle's father fell backwards. The back of his head hit one of the sides of a coffee table which sat in the room. He stopped moving. It was over.
"Handicapped," Dulion said weakly, "not crippled."
Ibuki rushed to Dulion and wrapped him in her arms.
"You saved me." She said, breathlessly. "I know your girlfriend is going to be pissed, but..."
She gave Dulion a quick, but strong kiss.
"You deserved that." She said.
"Thanks." Dulion said, still in pain. "Danielle is your dad...?"
"He's knocked out." Danielle said. "He'll probably have a concussion, but I don't think anything more."
"I'm sorry...I had..."
"I know; don't worry about it. C'mon, we need to get you to Dr. Tennant. He'll probably have something for your leg down in the shelter."
"Do you need help up?" Ibuki asked.
Dulion shook his head.
"I just need my cane."
Danielle nodded and handed Dulion the cane. He used to help himself stand up. But as quickly as he was on his feet, he was down on one knee again. He cursed under his breath. He knew it was starting. Danielle and Ibuki rushed to help him back up again. With difficulty, he was able to stand and hobble slightly.
"Let's move." Dulion said. "Quickly."
***
Ibuki and Danielle helped support Dulion as they made their way to the stairs. Dulion was surprisingly easier to handle than Ibuki thought he'd be. At the very least he was trying to walk by himself; though this looked to be difficult for him.
"Duley, are you sure you're alright?" Danielle asked him.
"Never better." He said with a small mocking smile. "Just need some pain medicine...badly."
"Let's keep moving." Ibuki said. "The sooner we get down to the shelter, the better."
Ibuki was concerned. With every step Dulion took, he seemed to grow weaker and weaker. He looked to be in terrible condition as they made it to the ground floor. His skin had grown pale, and was clammy to the touch. There was something very wrong.
"Almost there, Dulion." Ibuki said. "Stay with us alright?"
"Duley," Danielle said, "I love you."
"Love...you...too." He said almost gasping for air.
As they walked to the basement, Dulion's cane slipped from his hands. If not for Ibuki and Danielle supporting his weight, he would have crumpled to the floor.
"Oh my God." Danielle said gravely. "We have to get him to the shelter, now!"
Ibuki nodded. Together with Danielle they moved as fast as they could to the doors of the shelter. Standing outside the doors, constantly looking around was Dr. Tennant. He seemed to be in a cold sweat himself.
"Doc! We need help here!" Ibuki yelled when she saw him.
Dr. Tennant looked over at them. When he saw Dulion's state, he ran to them.
"What happened to him?" he asked.
"I don't know Ibuki said. He's been getting worse ever since we got out of my apartment. He got into a struggle with...a CATTL member and now..."
Dr. Tennant held up his finger and grabbed Dulion's wrist. He was quiet for a few seconds.
"He's in shock." Dr. Tennant said. "I'll take him."
Dr. Tennant, showing his considerable strength picked Dulion up and quickly headed down the stairs of the shelter. Ibuki and Danielle followed him.
"Jayson!" Dr. Tennant yelled out, "I need your help, quickly."
The otter, seeing his partner carrying Dulion's body, immediately ran to the side room.
"You two stay here." Dr. Tennant yelled to Ibuki and Danielle.
"But why!?" Danielle asked.
"Just in case he gets worse."
Dr. Tennant rushed into the room with Dulion and slammed the door shut.
"Now what?" Danielle asked.
"We wait and pray." Ibuki said.
From behind them, the two women felt strong arms grab them in an embrace.
"It will be okay." Josef's thickly accented voice said. "The Doctor will save him.
Ibuki heard Danielle start to cry. She tried her best to keep her own tears in, but eventually, they came out of her too.
***
Dr. Tennant gently put Dulion on the table. He quickly grabbed a small, hand operated oxygen mask and put it over Dulion's head.
"Keep pumping that." He said to Jayson. "We need to get him stable. It shouldn't take too long."
Jayson nodded and kept squeezing the light blue container forcing more air into Dulion's lungs. Dr. Tennant reached into a small freezer and pulled out an ice pack and placed in on Dulion's forehead.
"He's looks like he's in rough shape." Jayson said.
"He is. But nothing we can't handle." Dr. Tennant said. "Just shock, probably thanks to his leg."
Dr. Tennant grabbed his wrist to check for a pulse. As he did, his heart sank.
"What?" Jayson asked.
"His pulse is getting weaker." Dr. Tennant said, rushing for a stethoscope.
"Matt, his leg...there's blood trickling from it." Jayson said.
Dr. Tennant rolled up Dulion's pant leg. When he did, he heard a small metallic clang on the floor. He looked down at the ground and saw it; a small needle, just like the ones the Wolfsbane guns fired. He bent down and picked it up. Sure enough just at the tip, there was blood. Dr. Tennant's mind raced for a second, and then his jaw dropped.
"What? What is it?" Jayson said still pumping.
"I...I don't believe it." Dr. Tennant said. "All this time...he's been in the cage."
"What is going on Matthew!?" Jayson yelled.
Dr. Tennant reached into his pocket and pulled out a small metal case. He opened it to reveal a vial with green liquid in it. He rushed to a drawer and pulled out a disposable syringe. He loaded the green liquid into the syringe. Jayson looked horrified.
"What are you doing!? That's going to do anything."
Dr. Tennant held up the needle he had retrieved from Dulion's pant leg to Jayson. Jayson let out a surprised laugh.
"No way! There is absolutely no way in Heaven or in Hell..."
"Oh I agree, but we are on earth, Jayson. Not in Heaven or Hell. "
Dr. Tennant rolled up the sleeve on Dulion's shirt. He carefully aimed the needle before sticking it in Dulion's wrist and pressing down on the plunger. Dulion's eyes opened wide and he gasped for air before he settled down. Dr. Tennant checked his pulse again. He let out a sigh of relief.
"He's ok...or at least he will be soon. I hope you know Jayson, we will need to keep this quiet."
"Matt," Jayson said gravely, it may be a little late for that."
"What are you talking about?"
Dr. Tennant turned around, standing in the doorway were Ibuki and Danielle. One look at the expression on their faces told him that keeping anything quiet was going to be impossible.
***
Dulion opened his eyes groggily. He stared at the ceiling for a second before realizing he wasn't in his apartment. Rather, a quick look around the room told him that he was in Dr. Tennant's apartment. He wanted to turn over to his side, but his every muscle seemed to rebel against him. He satisfied himself with simply pushing himself up a little bit more.
"You're finally awake." He heard Dr. Tennant's voice say. "How do you feel?"
"Like I got hit by a truck." Dulion said. "What happened?"
"Do you not remember?"
"Last thing I remember was walking out of Ibuki's apartment...oh God! Danielle, Ibuki, are they..."
"Relax. Everyone is fine. The only person who got hurt was you."
Dulion let out a sigh of relief.
"I guess that fight took more out of me than I thought, huh?"
"We need to talk about that."
Dr. Tennant walked up to the couch that Dulion was sitting on and sat next to him. He let out a deep breath.
"When you came down from Ibuki's apartment, you looked terrible. I had to rush you to the medical area in the shelter. Jayson noticed blood coming from your leg...if he hadn't, you would've probably died."
"I...I was that bad?"
"I think you know you were. Or at least that it was a possibility. When I looked at your knee to inspect it, a needle dropped out from you. You got hit with a Wolfsbane needle. I used Full Moon and you we're saved. But..."
"...but that means you know what I am." Dulion finished.
Dr. Tennant nodded. Dulion hung his head.
"I was guessing you'd figure it out sooner or later." He said
"Actually, I had no idea you were a lycanthrope" Dr. Tennant answered. "You did a really good job of hiding yourself in the cage."
"That's because I wanted to hide it from everyone; including me. It was just another way that I wasn't normal."
Dr. Tennant thought for a moment.
"You mean your leg?" He asked.
"When I transform, I...I don't need the cane. I can walk and run and be mobile. The first time I realized this, I had to be about sixteen, the first time I realized it, I went to the park and I ran. I ran until I thought my heart was going to burst from my chest. It felt so good to finally be able to do that...until I saw all the faces staring at me. It was then I realized that no matter what I did, I was going to be a freak; either one with a cane or one with fur. There was no way in either skin I could be...normal."
Dr. Tennant put a comforting hand on Dulion's shoulder.
"We've all been there, trust me." He said. "Every person in this building went through exactly the same thing you're going through right now. And believe it or not, we do care about you."
"If you care about me, then you won't tell anyone what I am. Please, I'm begging you. My life would be over. I'd probably lose my job and Danielle would never talk to me again. "
Dr. Tennant grimaced.
"I'm so sorry. I am truly sorry. But...when we injected you with Full Moon...Danielle and Ibuki...well they came into the room and..."
"So they both know?" Dulion said heartbroken.
"I think, by now, everyone here does."
"And...and Danielle...?"
Dulion looked up at Dr. Tennant, hoping for something positive. Instead, the Doctor just shook his head.
"She ran away. I've tried calling her from your phone, but she hasn't answered. James, I am so sorry. I didn't want any of this to happen."
Dulion burst in to tears. He felt Dr. Tennant gently place his arms around his body and pulled him close. Dulion cried on his shoulder for a while. His heart was shattered. Not only was he forced out of the cage, but the one person he had loved the most in the world; even long before they started dating; someone who finally was able to love him in return, was gone.