FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Welcome back to Life and Death. Your favourite show of peril, brought to you right here on Channel X "Our next contestant, the fourteenth of the night, is one of our younger players." The camera panned to show a teenage raptor in a hoody and baggy jeans walking down to the hot seat in the middle of the stage. Sitting down, nervously shuffling his feet, the raptor looked into the bright lights hiding the crowd. He was already sweating into the hoody provided by the casting crew to help him "look the part" of a sympathetic teen that fell on hard times. He hoped it worked on the live audience who were watching the camera feeds behind one of the two doors in front of him. "Contestant, you know how this works, but for the people watching at home - and in studio - I'll go over it again. You were convicted of robbery and murder. You chose, of your own free will, to try your luck on this show instead of spending life in prison. Answer eight of the following ten questions correctly, and you're free to go. Get more than two wrong, and you'll be facing Final Judgement." A dramatic fanfare played in the studio, as lights flashed over the two ominous doors at the end of a narrow walkway from the hot seat. "As a little more background: you robbed a convenience store, then when police tried to arrest you, you slashed one of the officers with your talon and killed him?" the host read from a card. "...that's true, but - but I didn't mean to. Please, I never meant for nobody to get hurt" the raptor said, lowering his head. He took some deep breaths to calm himself and stay composed. You can do this... even if you never got straight A's, you've seen this show. You got this. He closed his eyes as the image of the office's slit neck flashed into his mind again. Mostly, it was an accident that he landed under the teen's legs after a tackle. He remembered trying to stand, and a strange pressure under his talon. Looking down he was a face filled with shock, and then felt the warm blood spreading under his foot. The host's words and the musical riff broke him out of his flash-back. "Well, I sure hope he was paying attention in class...will he be smart enough to answer eight questions right? Or will his fate be in your hands, audience? Let's find out! You have ten minutes to answer ten questions. As usual, can we have complete quiet in the studio please. Contestant 14, your first question is..."

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"And we're back! Welcome back to Life or Death. We are already on our 14th contestant of the night, and he's used a lot of his time already. With only thirty seconds left, contestant 14, this is your final question. After this question, we will lead you to a door. If you have at least 8 questions right, it will be the door of freedom and you will be free to go. If not, it will be to Final Judgement, and the audience will get to decide your fate. Contestant 14, your final question... What is the square root of 6889? Quick!" "Please! Please, I don't want this. I'll chose prison, please!" the raptor pleaded, hands gripping the strings of his hoody tightly as he curled forward until his chest rested on his knees, unable to sit straight with the fear gripping him. "Only fifteen seconds left, better hurry!" "I - I don't know... 81?"

"81. That completes your ten questions. Time to find out what door you pass through. Once again, complete quite in the studio please."

The central stage began to rotate, until the raptor faced 2 large doors - both identical. "Contestant 14, behind one door is an official pardon and a path to freedom. That door will open if the contestant answered at least 8 questions correctly. The other door leads to Final Judgement, where the audience will ultimately decide whether our contestant lives or dies. Please approach the doors as we find out what's in store for you."

As dramatic music began to play, the contestant managed to stand - arms hugging himself and tail twitching nervously - before walking forward until he was facing the doors. He looked over to the host for some hint of his fate or for mercy. A brief drum roll and fan-fare was all that announced the door to the right of the stage opening. As the host walked up behind him and placed a light hand on his back, he stepped forward until his shoulder was patted. Standing still, the host placed a blind-fold on him and led him through the door into the darkened room beyond

A single spot-light illuminating a low platform where the victim was led. The blindfold was removed, and the remaining lights in the room were turned on.

"With only six correct answers, it's time for your Final Judgement! Please put your hands behind your back as we fire up the engine."

The raptor's eyes flew wide as he looked around, able to see the red lights of multiple cameras staring at him, and noticing the noose connected to a large crane in front of him. The room was stark and empty, just a currently blank screen on the crane and a viewing gallery for the audience. A strong stage-hand quickly bound his wrists behind his back with handcuffs. He knew each angle would be projected onto the audience's viewing screens, allowing them to see the entirity of the room.

The noose quickly descended until it swung in front of the young raptor's face. Before he could protest, his head was forced through and the knot was pulled tight at the base of his skull as the motor roared to life.

"Here are the final details, one more time: This 15-year-old raptor robbed a store, then used his talon claws to kill a police officer when the officer tried to arrest him. If a majority of you vote to let him go, we will release him. If a majority of you vote to execute him, the crane will start lifting him. Remember what he did, and make your choice accordingly." "No, no, no! Please help me! I'm too young to die! I want to go to prison instead!" "Sorry, contestant 14. You chose this as an alternative to life in prison. Let's give him a round of applause for trying at least. See? They like you. Audience... please begin voting."

As the young raptor looked on, tears filling his terrified eyes, the large screen in front of him showed the percentage for "Death" filling slowly. He couldn't tear his eyes away from it, just staring in shock as his life began to flash before his eyes.

"Please...I didn't mean to do it...I'm sorry..." "That's 38% for execution...now 44% versus 10% to spare him. 48%...49%..." "Please... I beg-ack...! GGHK!!" The raptor's words broke off as his feet left the ground, eyes wide in terror and tail and feet thrashing.

"That's 50%, and up he goes! Audience, we hope you enjoy watching his execution; for those of you watching at home, we'll be back with highlights after the break. Don't go anywhere, this is 'Life and Death'!" the host announced, as the camera panned around the kicking form of the raptor as the show's sombre theme music began.

The raptor struggled against the pain flaring under his jaws. His arms and shoulders jerked as hard as they could, trying futilely to break through the sturdy handcuffs and reach his throat to free him. His feet peddled, trying to climb up the air rather than search futilely for purchase. The blood throbbing in his head began to drown out the music, and the occasional applause from an audience member. His eyes tried to focus on his jury and executioners, but his vision quickly began to darken at the edges, reduced to a pin-point that only changed when he spun by a studio light.

From the host's viewpoint, the raptor appeared pretty lively. The baggy jeans were a nice touch, especially when they fell down from his kicking, revealing rather tight-fitting Y-fronts. Luckily the jeans did not obscure the host's view of the kicking bare feet of the raptor. He loved watching the toes of the losers twitch and flex as their bodies began to give up.

The curling tail of the raptor ended up getting tangled in the over-sized jeans, not that he noticed. His head was filled with searing pressure, every thought burned away by the red pain lancing through his skull. His arms began to feel sluggish and thoughts became harder. He could feel his heart thudding in his chest still, struggling to keep him alive as his brain demanded more oxygen. His tongue lolled out, starting to swell as his face darkened. He tried in vain to beg "please..." once more, but was unable to get any air out of his white-hot lungs.

Eventually, the pain began to fade - the pain and weight on his neck giving way to numbness. He no longer noticed the studio lights, no longer kicked or fought. No longer noticed his heart fluttering in an awkward rhythm. No longer thought. No longer lived.

"We'll be right back after these messages folks, so don't go anywhere. After all, this is Life or Death!"