Claws of Rage

Chapter 21 - The Alpha

[Richard stops the car when he and Anais see the big, dark grey building. They quickly get out and search for any possible entrance. Anais pulls a flashlight out of her bag and tries to search in the shadows. She then finds a small lever and pulls it. A very small gate opens up, just big enough for her to fit through.]

Anais: I'll go inside, Dad. Maybe I can find a way to open another entrance.

[Richard nods and Anais makes her way into the building. It's pitch black inside and she turns on her flashlight again. She finds a door and tries to open it, but doesn't manage to, due to it being jammed. She tries calling her father and knocks on the door, but the walls are too thick for her voice to be heard at the other side. Her attention suddenly goes to the animals' calls behind her. She walks through the corridor and shivers a bit out of fright. She sees big felines staring at her from the darkness as she makes her way to the end of the corridor. Richard, who heard some of Anais' knocking on the door, uses his weight to bust it open and makes his way inside.]

Richard: Anais! Where are you?!

Anais: I'm here! At the end of this corridor!

[Richard tries his best to run quickly towards his daughter, who freezes in front of a big cell. Anais notices that her father caught up with her and she walks closer to the cell, until she can touch its bars. Richard wants to say something, but she hushes him. Soft growling and panting can be heard inside, but it's too dark to properly see anything. Anais sniffs her small bunny nose and immediately recognizes her mother's smell. But there's something wrong with it... She also smells blood and fears the worst.]

Anais: D-Dad? I think Mom might have been k-killed?

[Richard gulps and takes Anais' flashlight. He notices the cell's keys when he shines it on the wall next to it. He grabs them and slowly opens the cell door, trying his best not to make a sound. He then enters it while keeping the light as low as possible.]

Anais: [Whispers] Dad! What do you think you're doing?!

[Richard shushes her and continues walking towards the shadow in the corner. The panting gets louder as he comes closer...

Nicole's heartbeat goes crazily fast as her head is more restless than ever. She's curled up in the corner of the cell and pants by the tension in her body. Her muscles still feel like they're burning and she can't think clearly because of her head that aches. She suddenly hears the cell door open up and her pupils constrict as she glares from the shadows. A silhouette with a flashlight comes closer to her and she starts feeling rather unsafe. She suddenly reveals herself from the darkness and snarls while her claws unsheathe again. On all fours, with her head low, she stares at the figure who gasps and takes quicker steps towards her. With every step he takes, she growls louder, until he's close enough for her to see his identity. The pink bunny stares in deep concern at her and she immediately stops growling when she recognizes him.]

Richard: N-Nicole?

[Nicole's eyes widen and she jumps into his arms without thinking twice. She hugs her husband tightly while tears flow down her cheeks. He drops the flashlight and holds her head with one paw while caressing her back with the other. She hugs him even tighter until her claws accidentally stab his skin, but he tries his best to ignore the pain. He has her back. They are together again and he can't be any happier. Nicole looks him in the eye and sobs uncontrollably. She tries to speak, but doesn't manage to do it properly.]

Nicole: [While sobbing and whispering] I... I'm so sorry...

[Richard dries her tears with his paw and hushes her.]

Richard: [Whispers] It's okay, honey. Now, let me get you out of here.

[Richard searches for the right key to unlock the chains and Anais rips the C.U.B.-core from the cell bar where it was attached in the meantime. She pulls a screwdriver out of her bag and opens up the core. She encounters a hair from her mother and pulls it out. The C.U.B-core immediately shuts down and its light stops shining. Anais cuts some wires of the device and makes it unusable. She then drops it and angrily kicks it.]

Anais: That's for all the agony you've brought my mother!

[She then follows Richard's steps inside the cell and sees that he managed to release Nicole from the chains. Anais freezes and cowers a bit from her mother's monstrous appearance. Nicole notices this and crouches to her daughter's level. Anais doesn't dare to look her mother in the eye. The blood on her fur and sharp teeth scare her too much. Nicole lowers her ears and slowly approaches Anais, who hides her face with her long, floppy ears. Nicole doesn't say a word and wraps her arms around the little bunny. Anais moves her ears away and raises her head. Her mother's eyes are still glowing yellow, but they are full of love. She doesn't mean any harm at all and hugs her daughter, who feels a little less scared.]

Anais: [Whispers] Come on, we have to get out of here!

[Nicole and Richard nod and they all run quickly towards the door which Richard burst through earlier. Anais and Richard manage to get outside the building again, but when Nicole wants to walk through the door, she suddenly gets struck by a taser in the back. She is powerful enough not to paralyze by the electricity, but can't take another step. Two of Brandon's gang members have entered the room and run towards them through the corridor. Richard turns around and tells his daughter to get in the car while he runs back. He uses his weight to push the two men aside and Nicole gets freed from the taser. She shakes her fur and sees that they try to attack her husband. She then slams her left paw on the ground, creating a small shockwave which catches the men's attention. She lowers her head and her fiery eyes meet Richard's. She then lets out a vicious roar, which provokes the other big felines in the cages. Loud scratching sounds and other roars can be heard from the sides of the corridor. The felines stare at their blue alpha, who waves her tail aggressively. They all then try to break free and Nicole jumps to the wall behind her, pushing the red button which opens up all the cages. The big felines rush out of their enclosures and attack the two gang members. Nicole and Richard then take their chance to run away to the car, after Nicole glared on more time at the men who are being torn apart by the big cats...]