Willing Captive
#23 of The Zoo
Author's Note: WOW! It has been way to long, hasn't it. Well I hope the wait was worth it (and that you missed me but I digress). Here it is! The last installment of the Zoo. (For now.) I hope it proves to be an entertaining read for all of you! If it is, Favorite, Rate, Comment, and give me a shout. Oh and don't miss the little End note at the bottom. Lots of love, people. Lot's of love!- AK
Dulion sat motionless with the loaded gun in his hand. Avery was on his knees in front of him. From being terrified of what Avery would do to him, Dulion was now afraid of what he would do to Avery. He felt his grip tighten around the gun. It would be so simple; one little pull of the trigger and it would be all done. Dulion looked into at the smiling face of Avery Johnson. That's when it hit him.
"You're still trying to make me into a monster." Dulion said with realization. "That's why you want me to kill you."
Dulion placed the gun on the table in front of him.
"Not happening. I'd rather see you rot in jail."
"Believe me, Mr. Dulion," Avery said surprisingly calm, "so would I. I would love if this ended with me just going to jail. But it's not going to. Let's talk serious for once, okay?"
Dulion didn't say anything and allowed Avery to continue.
"Have you ever stopped to wonder how someone in my position and with my...shall we say...unique tendencies was able to do everything I did? I mean, I took leadership of one of the biggest groups for lycanthropes in the area, I convinced everyone that humans were evil, I...well you know what else I've done."
Dulion shivered. He'd rather not think about all of that.
"Well," Avery continued, "let me be frank. I couldn't do it alone. Hell, I didn't even WANT to do any of it. Please, believe me. But I found today, that I was being used."
"Wait a second." Dulion said as he shifted to the front of his seat. "You're telling me someone told you to do everything you've done...and you actually listened."
"I...I had no choice. You see he told me that I would be sent back to...to the Hellhole he rescued me from. I didn't want to hurt anyone. He...he told me I had to. I had to show how awful that place was. And like a fool, I believed him. I understand that I need to be punished for what I have done. I deserve it. But he told me that if I were arrested and told the police the truth, they would put me back into that dungeon."
Dulion searched his mind for a moment. What the Hell could Avery possibly be talking about?
"You don't me St. Raphael's do you?" Dulion asked.
"DON'T SAY THAT NAME!" Avery screamed with more force in his voice than Dulion had ever heard.
Avery trembled for a moment before finally nodding.
"Anyway," he said, "I can't go back there. The only other option would be to...die. And quite frankly, I deserve to die, but I don't have the courage to do it myself. And the state won't kill me, they'll just put me in a cell for the rest of my life, and I don't want that either. So I figured I would give the honor of killing me to the one man I believe deserves it more than anyone else. Just...do it quickly."
Avery picked up the gun and handed it to Dulion. He then closed his eyes and waited for Dulion to pull the trigger. Dulion closed his eyes and searched for some possible way out of this. He wasn't about to shoot Avery, but he didn't want to think about what Avery might to if he was refused death. Dulion cleared his mind...and then it hit him. It was so obvious, how could he have forgotten?
"You know, Avery" he said calmly, "St. Raphael's was closed down recently."
Avery opened his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" He asked
"It got closed for what they did to Lycanthropes. There was a big lawsuit. I think you were even entitled to money. How did you not know about this?"
Avery looked confused for a moment. Then, before Dulion's eyes, Avery's expression changed to one of rage. He took several deep breaths and screamed in anger.
"THAT BASTARD!" He yelled. "HE LIED TO ME, THAT SON OF A...I'LL KILL HIM. HE DID THIS TO ME!!"
"Avery," Dulion said, trying to remain collected, "you can't kill him. But you can tell the truth. You might go to a hospital, but it will be a real one. To make sure you get better. And whoever told you to do all of this will pay."
Avery's rage subsided a bit. He took a deep breath and nodded.
"Yes." He said mostly to himself. "I'll make him rot like I did."
Avery began pacing back and forth. He kept muttering to himself how he would have revenge. He started talking to himself as though Dulion wasn't even in the room.
"He told me that I should look into WILD. He gave me the idea to take over...and when I did...he...he said I had to...show how bad the hellhole was. I needed to hurt people. It was his idea...his not mine. I didn't want to hurt the little girl...I didn't even like it. Those horrid men all encouraging me...made me sick. Then...I had to get Dulion's attention. Shoot his girlfriend, why did I have to do that? Go to that awful place...follow her...BANG...I...I cried. I thought I killed her. And then he tells me I have to die...or I go back...but he lied...lied to me...bomb...bomb was his idea, not mine. Cause all kinds of havoc but I...I didn't do it. No...smoke bomb....no one hurt. He'll pay he'll pay!"
"Yes, he will." Avery said. "But you need to tell me who did this. Who made you do all of those things?"
Avery looked at Dulion like a child would look at a teacher who scolded him. Then he smiled and laughed.
"Who? Who else?" Avery said. "The only person I thought cared about me...Kay."
"Kay...you mean your brother?"
Avery nodded.
"I begged him to come and get me I told him what they would do to me. Mom and Dad, well they thought I deserved whatever I got. But Kay kept telling me it would be okay. Big brother would help me. And then did this to me....heh...some brother."
Dulion took a deep breath and put the gun back on the table. He stood up and walked to Avery.
"Come on," he said. "We'll go to the police now and tell them the truth. Kay will be arrested by the end of the day."
Avery held up his hand and took another deep breath. His breathing had been short and raspy.
"We...we can go to what's his name...DeCosta?"
"Yeah sure. We can..."
There was a loud pounding on the door.
"Dulion!" yelled out Agent Maxwell's voice. "Are you in there? Are you alright?"
Dulion watched as the color drained from Avery's face.
"Relax." Dulion said. "It's okay. Just remember, stay calm."
Dulion walked to the door.
"Maxwell, it's okay." Dulion said. "I'm fine. Avery's gonna surrender. Don't shoot when we..."
It was only at the edge of his vision that Dulion saw it. Avery had a sick, sinister grin on his face and he had the gun pointed at Dulion. Dulion turned around and looked in horror at the crazed psychopath as Avery started to laugh.
"Destiny." Avery whispered.
"Avery." Dulion said as calmly as he could. "Put the gun down."
Still smiling, Avery shook his head.
"It's all over!" Avery screamed at Dulion. "You die now!"
Everything happened in an instant. Avery took a step towards Dulion as the door flew open. Agent Maxwell had his gun drawn, pointed at Avery. Avery tried to point the gun towards Agent Maxwell, but he was not fast enough. Before he could even lift his arm, Maxwell fired two shots. Each one hit its mark and Avery crumpled to the ground. Dulion instinctively ran to try and stop the bleeding. Avery pulled Dulion's tie.
"Make sure...he...pays..." Avery choked out.
Immediately after that Avery coughed up some blood then lay motionless on the floor. His eyes stared into the distance. Dulion stared at the prone body for a moment before a tap on the shoulder brought him back to his senses.
"Are you okay?" Agent Maxwell asked him.
Dulion nodded.
"He said...he said his brother was behind everything." Dulion said. "This isn't over yet."
Agent Maxwell chuckled.
"It's over." He responded.
"But...he said..."
"And you believed him? You said it yourself, he's a psychopath. He's trying to get to you Dulion."
Dulion wanted to respond, but just nodded his head. Agent Maxwell was right. He had almost been taken in by Avery. He had been so hard to read.
"Anyone besides me." Dulion said.
Agent Maxwell sighed.
"None from the bomb; turns out it was just a dud. But DeCosta..."
"What happened to him?"
"Dead. Shot once. Probably with that gun on the floor."
"Avery?"
"Only option."
Dulion hung his head. Agent Maxwell put an arm around his shoulder.
"Least it's all done." Dulion said.
***
The funeral had been crowded with officers and other members of the community. Outside the clouds overhead foretold rain. Ibuki grabbed Dulion's hand as they stood in the cemetery and watched DeCosta's coffin be lowered into the dirt. Oddly enough, Ibuki felt a strange feeling of calm. She glanced over to Dulion. There was a dismal expression on his face. It seemed like it hadn't left since that awful day. Now, weeks later, she had hoped this would finally bring some closure. The priest said a final blessing and everyone went on their separate ways. Ibuki and Dulion walked hand in hand. Dr. Tennant and Jayson walked beside them.
"He was a good man." Dr. Tennant said. "Shame it ended that way."
The four walked a little further towards the car.
"Are you okay?" Ibuki whispered in Dulion's ear.
"I don't know what I am." He answered. "So many questions. So much doesn't make sense."
"It's called grief." Jayson said. "Normal human emotion. If you need someone to talk with..."
"I'll be fine. It's just...It doesn't feel right."
Dulion sighed in frustration.
"Do you think..." he said, looking towards Jayson, "do you think it was possible that Avery was telling the truth? When he had me in the office?"
"Anything's possible." Jayson shrugged. "Though if he was, why would he try to kill you?"
"That's just it. Why didn't he kill me when he had the chance? Why did he plant a fake bomb? Why...I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Dr. Tennant said. "Tell me, James, do you like nature?"
"Huh?"
"I ask because I have a cabin upstate. You can go there for a little bit; chance to get away and clear your head. Take Ibuki and go. Could do wonders."
"Come on, Duley." Ibuki said. "It might be just what you need. Besides you still owe me, remember?"
Dulion smiled for the first time in a long time.
"How could I forget?" he said coyly. "Next weekend then?"
"Perfect."
As Dulion and Dr. Tennant finalized whatever details were needed, Jayson crept next to Ibuki.
"Make sure he's well taken care of." Jayson said slyly.
"Oh don't worry." Ibuki responded. "He'll only have one thing on his mind. After all, he's not the only one that could use some time away."
Jayson glanced over to see that Dulion and the Doctor were still talking.
"Bottom drawer of the big dresser in the bedroom," Jayson whispered, "lots of fun things. Promise to clean them when you are done and you can use what you'd like. I think it's long past time that you show your beau how to have a proper good time."
Ibuki smiled deviously at Jayson's suggestion. Poor Dulion didn't know what he was in for.
***
A small suitcase sat by the door of Dulion's apartment. On the kitchen table, a set of keys sat shimmering as the kitchen light struck them. The light also bounced of Dulion's fur making it look especially white. Tomorrow, Dulion would be on a train away from this place for the first time since he got to the Zoo and how much had changed since then. He got his first girlfriend and broke up with her; found another girlfriend who he still thought was completely out of his league; and he managed to become a well-known figure in the lycanthrope community. Of course, this was only because he had been outed as a lycanthrope. Not to mention being harassed by a crazed terrorist who shot his girlfriend. Oh yes, he was looking forward to getting away.
A knock on the door broke his daydreaming. Dulion got up and went to the door. A young looking man in the dress uniform of a police officer was standing at it.
"James Dulion?" the man asked.
"That's me." Dulion said.
"I'm Damon Blackwood. I'm taking over for Officer DeCosta. I just figured I'd come introduce myself."
"It's a pleasure, sir." Dulion said. "Would you like to come in?"
"Yes if you wouldn't mind."
Dulion showed Blackwood inside his apartment and offered him a seat at the table.
"Can I get you anything? Coffee?" Dulion asked.
"No, no I'm fine thank you. Actually I wanted to talk about the statement you gave to us after Avery Johnson's death. Would you mind looking over it real fast and making sure everything is accurate?"
Dulion nodded. Blackwood reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a folded copy of Dulion's statement. He quickly read it over.
"Yeah, that's what happened. "
"So Avery did say all of those things to you?"
"Yes. He...played me."
"Don't be so sure."
"What are you talking about?"
Blackwood leaned in closer to Dulion.
"What if I told you that we found new evidence? Evidence that might indicate Avery was telling the truth?"
"Are we still speaking in hypotheticals?" Dulion asked.
Blackwood smiled.
"Let's just say that if we wanted to pull this off, we would need some help? Up for the challenge?"
"Count me in."
"Good. You mind making that cup of coffee? This may take a while to explain."
***
Dulion sat at his kitchen table. He sat in his lion form. In front of him was a large manila envelope. Across from him sat Agent Maxwell. Each one held a beer in their hands.
"A toast to DeCosta." Agent Maxwell said.
Dulion and Maxwell clinked the bottles together and drank a toast to their fallen friend.
"You leaving this place?" Agent Maxwell asked. "I noticed the suitcases."
"Yeah, Ibuki and I are going to a cabin in the woods. A chance to get away from it all."
"Now that's an idea. Wish I could go away for a while."
"When are you heading back to DC?" Dulion asked.
"Couple of days." Maxwell said. "Rumor has it that a nice promotion will be waiting for me when I get there."
"A well-deserved one."
"Remember when we met, I told you that we'd be in touch? Well now I can assure that. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have been able to stop Avery."
"All I did was interview a scared little girl."
"No, you also helped us every step of the way. FBI is going to be looking at you for other high pressure situations. I'm talking interviews, hell maybe negotiations. Who knows? Not bad for a law school grad who never passed the bar."
"You know," Dulion said after taking another swig of beer, "you know a lot about me, but I know next to nothing about you."
"I'm not that interesting."
"Oh sure you are. FBI agent, handling a crisis that suddenly develops? I'm sure in about twenty years or so they'll have a movie about you."
Agent Maxwell chuckled.
"Would be fun to see. So why did you ask me over, Dulion?"
Dulion sighed deeply.
"I spoke with Damon Blackwood; he's taking over for DeCosta. And well...there's a problem."
"What's the problem?"
"Avery couldn't have killed DeCosta. The times don't add up."
"What do you mean?"
"Blackwood gave me the details. When DeCosta died, Avery was tormenting me. Meaning..."
"Someone else had to." Maxwell said dejectedly. "Avery did have a lot of followers. Probably one of them."
"Actually, Blackwood thinks Avery might have been the follower."
Dulion got up from the table and took the envelope with him. He turned his back towards Agent Maxwell.
"DeCosta sent me this before he died." Dulion said indicating the envelope. "I just got it. I think he was on to something; and I think he knew he was in trouble. He left us one message before he died. I wanted you to come over so we could open it up and see what it says but..."
Dulion turned around. Agent Maxwell was still sitting. In his hand was a gun pointed straight at Dulion.
"...I think you already know."
"Sorry kid," Agent Maxwell said, "but I'm going to need that."
"It was you all along." Dulion said calmly.
Agent Maxwell smiled.
"I needed to do something big to get noticed." He said. "What better than taking advantage of everyone's paranoia about lycanthropes? But I needed a pawn."
"Avery."
"That night, when he died, he wasn't aiming at you. He was aiming for me. I was so afraid he had told you who I was before he died. I was going to kill you next."
"So why didn't you?"
"Isn't it obvious? An FBI agent who saves someone is a lot better than one who arrived just a little too late. Besides, when you let me talk to you, I knew he didn't tell you who I was."
"You mean he didn't tell me that you were his brother?"
Agent Maxwell clapped his free hand on the table.
"Bravo. You finally figured it out."
"So you were the one who made him do everything?"
"Avery was never the bright one. He was ready to write a congressman or something telling about how awful St. Raphael's was. I just told him it wasn't going to be enough. He had to do something truly awful to show that the asylum produced monsters."
"So there was nothing wrong with him? Before St. Raphael's?"
Agent Maxwell let out a small, cold laugh.
"Only thing that was wrong with him was he was a lycanthrope and he had the nerve to tell our dad." Agent Maxwell said. "He beat Avery something fierce. It was mom's idea to send him to St. Raphael's. They had this 'treatment plan' which was little more than beating the lycanthrope out of you. Everything that was awful was done to him when he was in his lycanthrope for so he would never want to transform. But Avery was an idiot."
"Why should he have to hide who he was?"
"Believe it or not, I agree with you. I'm all for the idea of lycanthropes being accepted and all that jazz. I'm just smart enough to use any situation to my advantage. That's how you make it to the top, kid. And that's all I've ever wanted. Speaking of which, bit of advice for you; Ibuki? She is or was a stripper as you know. They're all about cashing in. Once she realizes you're not about the money and fame that a man in your position usually is, she's gonna dump you."
Dulion opened his mouth to ask why Ibuki being a stripper was the first thing people mentioned, but he decided against it.
"So you were the one responsible for what Avery did to Cassie?" Dulion asked.
"Yeah, that was my idea. I told Avery we needed something big to show he was a monster. He cried like a baby when I told him he had to do it. I recruited the others too. The DYFS agent was easy. He was perv with a hatred for lycanthropes. The Bureau was looking into him. Old man Ibuki on the other hand I found after some digging. It was fun to see just how deep his hatred for lycanthropes went. You know, we even let him call Cassie Ibuki when he was...sorry; too much information."
"And you planned the bombing?"
Agent Maxwell nodded.
"Would have worked too but my idiot brother messed that up."
"So when did you kill DeCosta."
"Right before the explosions went off. He had figured me out. Even guessed at why I did it. But killing him wasn't a real problem. The old man never stood a chance."
"And I'm assuming I'm next."
"Not necessarily. I keep telling you there is always room at the top. You just need to be willing to take it. That whole "free the beast" idea Avery had; who do you think taught him it. I told him exactly what to say to you every step of the way. Wanted to see how long before you cracked. And, to my surprise, you never did. The only thing holding you back is...well, you. So why don't we help each other out here. You keep quiet; I help you get some fame. I rise up the ranks, as do you. We both make a lot of money, and that movie you were talking about, has us both starring. We both win."
Agent Maxwell offered Dulion his hand.
"So what do you say, kid?" He asked. "Partners?"
Dulion smiled at Agent Maxwell as he accepted the handshake. Agent Maxwell placed the gun down on the table.
"I knew you had it in you." Maxwell said. "And between friends, trust me about your girl. Use for what she is and get rid of her. But I think a guy like you already knew that."
"And yet you still doubted me?" Dulion asked. "I figured you were smarter than that. But then again you never questioned why I was in my lycanthrope form."
"So why are you?"
"Better reflexes and reaction time. Which lets me do THIS!"
Dulion used all of his might to pull Agent Maxwell hard into the end of the table. The blow knocked the wind out of the FBI agent. Dulion, much like an actual lion, lunged forward over the able with a roar. He knocked Agent Maxwell to the floor and pinned him down. However, unlike Agent Maxwell, Dulion had no special training. Maxwell easily escaped Dulion by elbowing his jaw, hard. Dulion was now on the floor.
Agent Maxwell stood up and turned to get the gun from the table. Just as he did, Dulion's apartment door burst open. Four police officers, led by Blackwood marched into the room. Blackwood fired a Taser into Agent Maxwell's chest. Agent Maxwell screamed in pain before slumping to the floor. Two of the officers quickly handcuffed him. Blackwood helped Dulion up.
"Did you get everything?" Dulion asked between raspy breaths.
Blackwood took a quick glance at Agent Maxwell to make sure he was no longer a threat before he looked back to Dulion and nodded.
"You did well." Blackwood said.
Dulion took the wire he had been wearing off and gave it back to Blackwood. The Officers led a growling Agent Maxwell out of Dulion's apartment.
"The DA is probably going to call you about testifying." Blackwood said. "Hope you're okay with that."
Dulion nodded.
"Yeah, as long as it's not this weekend."
***
Dulion unpacked his bag. As he did, he got the eerie feeling that Ibuki was...looking for something. On the train trip up to the Cabin, Dulion explained what had happened with Agent Maxwell. It was still shocking, but Dulion wasn't' about to let that ruin a perfectly good relaxing weekend.
"There we go." Dulion said. "All done. I've been looking forward to this."
"So have I." Ibuki said as she closed a drawer she had found.
The look on her face made Dulion a bit concerned
"What did you find?" Dulion asked nervously.
"Nothing to be concerned about." Ibuki said with a coy smile.
Dulion wanted to ask more, but it was probably best not to. He lay down on the bed and stared up at the celling. Ibuki quickly joined his side.
"Admit it." She said. "You did not think your first vacation would be with one of the tenants you were sent to advise now did you?"
"No." Dulion said. "But then again, I didn't suspect I'd be dating one of said tenants. Or that I'd actually learn to like the job; or that I'd end up forced out of the cage; or that I'd end up stopping a terrorist; or..."
"Okay, I get it already, Jesus." Ibuki added with a laugh.
She cuddled up to him.
"Don't leave." She said softly.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Dulion answered.
Dulion couldn't help but remember how eager he was to leave when he first got there. But now, the apartment he was sent to advise was his home. The people there were friends and even more. They stood by him and welcomed him no matter what. Maybe one day he would need to leave, but for now he was a happy and willing captive within the walls of the Zoo.
End Note: First of all THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! You are all amazing for reading my stories and commenting on them. It makes me love doing this even more. I hope the Zoo has lived up to your expectations. I've been working with the idea of a furry transformation story for a long time and I finally got to do it. :D. The Zoo WILL make a return soon with all of your favorites (or least favorites) coming back to play. So let me know in the comments, what you want to see when I do the Zoo Part 2. (Do you want me to explore a character more? Is there something you'd like less or more of? Should I up the maturity rating?) I welcome everything and I may even incorporate it. So thanks again to all of you who read anything of mine. It's an honor. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a murder to plan. (MUHAHAHAHAHA!)