I remember that when my family's wolfdog and black cat got into fights and got hurt, they would go outside and eat grass. After eating, they would be full of energy again.
Now, I am like a stray dog, lying in the dog cage and licking my wounds in sadness.
What's ridiculous is that I'm not even as good as a cat or dog.
The vicious guard dog not far away at least has meat and fresh food to eat. But me? I can only curl up here, feeling sorry for myself, chewing on grass.
The naked men and women in the other dog cages watched me for a few minutes before they, too, started pulling up fresh grass around their cages to eat...
The noon sun was like a fireball, so bright I couldn't keep my eyes open. Luckily, Spanner had laid down some grass for me when he left, or else I would've been scalded.
I was so tired and sleepy. I munched on the grass to quench my thirst and gradually fell into a painful, hazy sleep...
"Hey, wake up! It's time to wash you filthy pigs! Hahaha!"
I was woken up by a sharp metallic clanging sound. My swollen eyes opened to see five or six henchmen outside the cage, laughing and assembling water pipes.
"Eat first so you'll have the strength to bathe!" said one of the henchmen, opening the cage and throwing in a bowl of slop and a stinking bun to each person.
When it was my turn, one of the henchmen sneered, "He doesn't need to eat. Let him starve for three days, see if he's still so tough!"
"Fine, starve him for three days, then feed him to the dogs!" Another henchman dumped out my slop and tossed a sausage into the dog's cage next to mine.
"Woof woof woof!" The vicious dog gobbled the sausage, its strength making the cage rattle.
I was secretly thankful I wasn't caged with the dog this time; otherwise, I'd be nothing but bones by now.
"Bang!"
Before I could react, a high-pressure water jet hit me in the face.
"Whoosh!"
The water blasted my face, forcing me to the back of the cage and making my back ache. The water pressure made my face sting, and I couldn't breathe with water filling my mouth and nose.
I gritted my teeth, lifted my swollen arms to protect my head, and shivered in the cage...
The others fared no better. As they were eating, the water jets scattered their bowls, splattering slop everywhere. The water stung their skin, making loud "popping" sounds.
Grass around the cages was uprooted, mud splashing on me, then washed away, only to have more mud splatter again...
This torture continued until I was half-dead. The henchmen laughed and finally stopped.
The naked girls suffered worse. The henchmen grabbed their hands and feet through the cage bars, forcibly spreading their legs and aiming the water jets at their privates.
They were tormented until...
"Ha! We'll come back tonight for another wash."
Exhausted, the henchmen put away the water jets.
"Hey, you better not sleep tonight, or I'll kill you!" A skinny, dark-skinned henchman threatened me through the bars.
I stared at him, speechless, shivering uncontrollably, my teeth chattering.
"I'll kill you for sure!" He spat through the bars and walked away.
I didn't know him, but I could guess he was sent by Lace or one of my enemies.
These henchmen guarded us "pups," giving them plenty of chances to kill me.
The long night stretched ahead. How would I protect myself?
I closed my eyes, feeling a despair I had never known.
"Wooo..." The pitiful sobs from the next cage interrupted my sorrow.
I turned to see her lying on the ground, crying her heart out, blood pooling around her. Her back looked like ribs with the meat removed, her bones visible.
Who knew how many days she'd been starved? In her prime, she endured such inhumane torture. How long could she last?
The other women were in similar states, sobbing uncontrollably, their throats hoarse, blood staining their lower bodies.
Unable to bear looking at them, I turned to the dog gnawing on its bone.
I wanted to chop these beasts into pieces and feed them to the dog!
I couldn't wait for death or wallow in despair. I had to save myself!
Spanner couldn't plead for me or stage a rescue like in martial arts dramas.
So, the only person who could save me and get me out of the dog cage was one.
I kept thinking about how to ask for help, convince that person to help me, and reach an agreement...
After sunset, the place grew cold again.
Maybe it was because of the many deaths, the heavy yin energy, or maybe I was chilled from the two-hour high-pressure wash and caught a cold.
Curled up like a dog, I felt hunger, cold, and unbearable pain.
I touched my cold forehead. Luckily, I wasn't feverish. Despite my injuries, I had no fatal wounds.
As long as I got out of here, I'd recover in half a month.
I pinned all my hopes on that person, praying Spanner would come and find him to save me.
When night fully fell, a beam of cold moonlight illuminated the area, making it even colder and more eerie.
The vicious dog occasionally barked, adding to the night's terror.
After what felt like an eternity of pain, Spanner finally came, carrying a small bag.
"…" Seeing him, I couldn't stop my tears from falling.
Without him, I would've died a hundred times over.
"Don't speak. Drink water, then porridge, and don't choke."
Spanner set the bag down, lifted my head, and placed a straw in my cracked lips.
I cried and drank the water, then sipped the eight-treasure porridge from China...
Replenishing my energy, my stomach felt better, and I wasn't as cold.
Spanner sprayed Yunnan Baiyao on my wounds, then gave me a pill for bruises and an anti-inflammatory.
Seeing Spanner's anxious face, I could only cry, unable to utter a clear word.
"Someone wants to kill you tonight." Spanner whispered after cleaning up the trash.
I nodded with difficulty, giving him a pleading look.
"Don't worry, I'm on duty tonight. I can keep you safe."
Spanner wiped the blood from my face and sighed, "But what about tomorrow night and the night after?"
I frowned, signaling him to come closer. I had something to tell him.
He cautiously looked around, making sure no one was following or spying, then leaned in to listen...