The air always smelled the same. Bleach. Sweat. A staleness that clung to the walls and seeped into the very marrow of my bones. I didn't know how long I'd been here, but I knew it had been far too long. Time didn't matter anymore. Days blurred into each other until they were just a mass of aching limbs and empty thoughts. I couldn't remember what it was like to wake up and feel like I wasn't suffocating. All I knew was the cold floor beneath me, the biting chill of metal shackles, and the sound of my own ragged breathing.
I sat motionless, my back pressed to the corner of the room, eyes fixated on the crack in the wall. It was the only thing that seemed to exist outside of this prison, this cage they kept me in. The world beyond it was nothing more than a memory. I had forgotten what the sun felt like, what the wind smelled like, what it felt like to be free. The only time I ever saw the outside world was when they moved me. A brief, fleeting glimpse as I was shoved into a truck, just enough to remind me of what I would never have. My floppy mutt ears twitched whenever I heard even the shuffle of my own tail moving positions. The voices of the others in the neighboring cells were muffled, like distant whispers carried by the wind. Sometimes, I would listen closely, straining to hear a word or two, but the sounds always faded before I could make sense of them. None of them mattered. I was alone. I had always been alone without Jeanne. The lights overhead buzzed incessantly, that never-ending hum that filled the silence. I hated it. But even more, I hated the dark. It was the only thing I could ever rely on. The dark hid me, kept me safe, safe from their eyes, safe from their judgment. It was the only thing I had left, the only thing that made sense anymore. I'd learned to survive in the shadows, to shrink away when the guards came. When they prodded and poked, taking what they wanted, leaving only emptiness behind. I didn't move. Not today. Not any day. I couldn't risk it. But today felt different, or maybe it didn't. Maybe it was just the fact that my body hurt, my legs cramped from hours of stillness. Maybe it was just the same as always. Another day to endure, to survive. That's all I could do. There was a shift in the air. A subtle change, but it was there. The door, which had been shut for hours, days, maybe... Creaked open. I froze, my heart skipping a beat. I didn't know if it was them, or just another shadow passing through. I kept my gaze trained on the wall, willing myself to remain invisible, to remain unnoticed. I could hear them. Heavy boots, the sound of chains dragging across the floor. They were coming closer, their voices too indistinct to make out. The sound of their laughter echoed from somewhere far off, like an unwelcome reminder of the world beyond. A world that didn't belong to me. I kept my eyes fixed ahead, not daring to move, not daring to show any sign of weakness. The door clicked open further, and then there was nothing but silence. I didn't dare turn around. I couldn't. Not if I didn't want to face whatever was coming next. They came often. To check on me. To make sure I was still there. To remind me I was nothing more than a thing. A tool. Nothing more than an object to be used when needed. I could feel their presence in the room now, standing just behind me, but I didn't dare to acknowledge them. I couldn't afford to. I couldn't let them see how much they terrified me. It was too much. Too much to handle. My ears perked up as I heard a familiar buzzing sound, it was a bit startling at first as i had gotten used to the intense quiet besides the constant ringing in my ears. I could her the others sitting up. I followed quickly, my tail slightly wagging for the first time in over 2 years. Although it was quick to stop as the gate to my cage was abruptly opened, my hair was snatched in a fist, and I was pulled out. I could only look around for a few moments before my head was engulfed in a bag. In the few seconds I wasn't covered I saw so many of the others. My heart sank, although I didn't know most of the others, I could definitely see some bodies fall out their cage openings. I bit my lip as the darkness of the bag covering my head along with the pain of my sore body suddenly standing up after being in a confined space for so long made my head throb. I didn't realize it but once the taste of my salty tears entered my mouth i knew I was crying. My body shivered; I had to stop. I couldn't cry now. I knew if they saw me, I would be yelled at. I didn't want that anymore. While I was walking, the first steps hit me hard, my legs throbbed but I had to pull through. This time I was able to clearly hear the men taking me clearly. "This group is quite small compared to the others; most didn't make it through the 9-month confinement. I don't think they would sell as well." One mutters. his voice raspy. "We'll just slap a discount on them, and they might sell just fine, I think." The other one grunts, clearing his throat and coughing so much I was glad I had a bag over my head. I was internally gagging. I may have been trapped in a small space and haven't bathed in about 3 years, but I still had a mind cleaner than these perverts. I could feel a hand gripping on my waist and hips rubbing against mine. Although I knew at least I wouldn't be tormented too much for the sake of keeping my 'innocence' for buyers as they liked us 'fresh' I couldn't help but let out a small whimper as the throbbing of my head and legs was killing me, possibly literally. A grunt escapes as I'm pushed out, the bag gets taken off my head so suddenly the light I see ahead blinds me momentarily. I squint as my legs walk forward; the warmth of the sun made my whole-body shiver. As I take time to look around more thoroughly, I see all the others. I felt completely alone as I walked out, although the warmness throughout my body as the sunlight hit me felt like a dream. My eyes widen as I looked forward, maybe I wasn't completely alone anymore..."Noel!!" A short girl squeals as she ran in my direction. My tail wags in excitement and for a moment the throbbing across my body went away. Jeanne?! After being alone for so long I couldn't hold back the tears, my one and only childhood friend was still alive after everything. I ran forward but my legs wobble underneath me as I almost tumble down, but she catches me just in time. I stuttered as I didn't know what to say or how to put my words together "Y-you but-... when I, how did?! when..." "I... " The tears burned before they even fell. I tried to keep quiet, but the sobs broke free, raw and jagged, tearing from my throat like something that couldn't be contained her brows shot up in surprise, and then her face softened. "Noel?" Her voice wavered just slightly, as if she didn't quite believe it was me. I didn't know how I made it to her. I just knew that when I did, I broke. Tears blurred my vision as I reached out, my fingers brushing her shoulder. "Hah... hnn... Jeanne..." My voice cracked, and a sob tore from my throat, loud and raw. "I... I thought you were gone... I thought—" "Shh," she said, her arms wrapping around me with a firmness that felt like home. "I'm here, idiot. I'm right here." Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, like she was holding back her own emotions."Hnn... ah... hah..." I couldn't stop the gasping sobs that poured out of me, each one louder than the last. My chest ached, my throat burned, but I didn't care. I buried my face in her shoulder, clutching her as though she might disappear if I let go. "Okay, okay, stop crying like a baby," she said, her voice tinged with her usual bite. "You're embarrassing both of us." I let out a shaky laugh between sobs. "S-sorry... I just... I never thought I'd see you again." She sighed, her hand patting my back in a way that was more forceful than soothing, but I knew her well enough to understand. "Yeah, well, I'm not easy to get rid of. You should know that by now." I pulled back slightly to look at her, my face still streaked with tears. She smirked, but her eyes were softer than I'd ever seen them. "You look terrible, by the way," she said, crossing her arms. "Guess I'll have to fix you up again." Her words hit me harder than they should have, not because of what she said, but because I knew what she meant. She was here. She was real. And no matter what happened next, I wasn't alone anymore....30 minutes later. The smell of food drifted through the air—simple, bland, but still better than the scraps we were used to. The others had already started eating, their movements sluggish but determined, like they knew they had to seize this moment while they could. I sat on the edge of the bench, staring at the bowl in front of me. My hands rested in my lap, too heavy to lift, my stomach twisting uncomfortably. The knot in my chest was tighter than ever. Jeanne sat across from me, eating with quick, efficient bites, but I could feel her eyes on me. "You're not eating," she said, her tone sharp. "I'm not hungry," I muttered, barely loud enough for her to hear. Jeanne scoffed, setting her spoon down with a clatter. "Not hungry, huh? You sure about that?" I didn't respond, just kept my gaze fixed on the table. "Noel," she said, her voice firmer now, "you need to eat." "I can't," I whispered, my throat tightening. "It's just... everything's too much right now. I'm fine." "You're not fine," she snapped. "You're a wreck. And if you don't eat, you're going to get weak. Do you think I'm going to sit here and let that happen?" I glanced up at her, startled by the intensity in her voice. Her eyes were blazing, her usual composure giving way to frustration. "Jeanne, I just—""Enough." She grabbed my bowl and scooped up a spoonful of food. "Open your mouth." "Jeanne—""Open. Your. Mouth." She leaned closer, holding the spoon inches from my face. "Don't make me shove it in. "I blinked at her, a mix of shock and embarrassment freezing me in place. "You're not serious." "Try me. "Her expression left no room for argument. Reluctantly, I opened my mouth, and she shoved the spoon in before I could change my mind. The food was bland and lukewarm, but it still felt like a brick in my stomach. "There. Not so hard, is it?" she said, scooping up another bite. I swallowed, grimacing. "I can feed myself." "Could've fooled me," she muttered, holding out another spoonful. "Now shut up and eat. "Despite myself, a small laugh escaped me. Jeanne's attitude, her relentless determination, it was so her. She didn't let me wallow, didn't give me space to sink any deeper into my own misery. She just... did what needed to be done, in her own blunt, bossy way."Fine," I said softly, taking the spoon from her hand. "I'll eat." "Good," she replied, leaning back with a satisfied smirk. "About time you listened to me. "I ate slowly, the food sitting heavy in my stomach but warming me in a way I didn't expect. Jeanne watched me the whole time, her sharp eyes softening slightly when she thought I wasn't looking. "Thanks," I said quietly, not meeting her gaze. "Don't thank me," she replied. "Just don't make me force-feed you again. My arm's tired." Despite everything, the fear, the uncertainty, I smiled. Jeanne might have been brash and bossy, but in her own way, she was reminding me of something I'd forgotten: I wasn't alone anymore. The air shifted again; the brief taste of freedom snatched away as the guards herded us back toward the trucks. I tried not to look at the others, some had resigned expressions, while others still clung to flickers of hope. Jeanne walked beside me, her steps steady and measured, but I could feel her tension. When we reached the new cages, I blinked in surprise. These weren't the rusted, filthy ones I was used to. The metal bars gleamed, and the floors were unnervingly clean. It was strange, almost eerie, how pristine they looked. "Guess they're upgrading," Jeanne muttered, her voice laced with dry sarcasm. I didn't answer, my eyes fixed on the collars waiting for us. Thick bands of metal, sleek and polished, with small blinking lights. My chest tightened. I'd heard about these—collars that could shock us if we tried to stray too far. "Move it!" one of the guards barked, shoving the person in front of us. Jeanne grabbed my arm as we were pushed forward. "Stay close," she whispered. "Don't let them separate us. "We were lucky. Somehow, we ended up in the same group, herded into one of the larger cages. The door clanged shut behind us, and the locks clicked into place. My skin crawled at the sound, but I was too relieved to care. The cage was just big enough to fit the six of us without feeling cramped, but it was still a cage. The collars were fastened around our necks with an almost clinical precision. I flinched at the cold metal pressing against my skin, the weight of it a stark reminder of our situation. Jeanne sat down cross-legged near the corner, gesturing for me to do the same. "Well, this is cozy," she said, her tone dry. "I'd almost call it an upgrade if it weren't for the zappy jewelry." I sank down beside her, my back against the bars. "It's still a cage," I said softly, my fingers brushing the collar. "We're still trapped." "Yeah, but we're alive," she replied, her voice firm. "And as long as we're alive, there's still a chance to get out of this. "I glanced at her, surprised by the conviction in her tone. Jeanne had always been the stronger one, the one who refused to give up no matter how bleak things seemed. I envied that about her. The others in the cage were quiet, their expressions wary. No one spoke, but the tension was palpable. The guards lingered outside, their voices a low murmur as they prepared for the next group. "Hey," Jeanne said, nudging my shoulder. "Don't go spiraling on me again. We're together, okay? That's what matters. "I nodded, swallowing hard. She was right. For now, we were together. That was the only thing keeping me grounded. She leaned closer, lowering her voice so only I could hear. "If anyone tries to pull something stupid and sets these collars off, stick close to me. Got it?" "Got it," I whispered back. Jeanne stretched out her legs, her expression unreadable. "Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens next. But whatever it is, we'll deal with it. Like we always do. "I wanted to believe her. I wanted to hold on to the flicker of hope in her words. But as the guards locked the next group into their cages, I couldn't help but wonder how much longer we could survive this. Hours had passed, but time felt meaningless here. The faint glow of the cage's single bulb barely illuminated the room, leaving shadows to stretch across the floor. Jeanne sat close to me, her presence a thin thread tethering me to some semblance of reality. The sharp clank of the cage door unlocking made my heart lurch. "Noel," one of the guards barked. Jeanne stiffened beside me, her hand gripping my arm tightly. "What's going on?" she demanded, her voice sharp. "Where are you taking him?" "Shut up," the guard snapped, stepping into the cage with a small device in hand. I flinched as he pressed the device against my collar, releasing it with a soft click. The cold metal fell away, the sudden freedom feeling more like a trap than a relief. "Noel," Jeanne whispered, her voice low but urgent. "Don't do anything stupid. Just stay calm, okay?" I nodded; my throat tight. But as the guard grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet, the panic in my chest grew. "Jeanne," I said, looking back at her. "What if-" "You'll be fine," she cut me off, her tone firmer than I expected. Her eyes locked on mine, blazing with determination. "Just keep your head down. You hear me?" I swallowed hard and nodded again. As they dragged me away, I twisted to look over my shoulder one last time. Jeanne's expression was hard, but I could see the worry hidden beneath her scowl. "Don't you dare come back weaker, idiot," she called after me. The door slammed shut behind us, cutting off the sound of her voice. The hallway was dim and silent, the walls lined with peeling paint and rusted pipes. My stomach churned with every step, dread pooling in the pit of my stomach. They led me to a metal door at the end of the corridor. One of the guards knocked twice before it creaked open. Inside, the room was stark and cold, the air heavy with the sharp scent of antiseptic. A man in a dark suit stood in the corner, flipping through a file. His posture was calm, almost casual, but there was something unsettling about him. "This is the one?" he asked without looking up. "Yes, sir," the guard replied. The man turned to face me, his sharp eyes raking over me like I was nothing more than an object to be evaluated. "A male omega," he mused aloud, circling me slowly. "Rare enough. And a mutt at that... Irish Setter, perhaps? Mixed blood always adds a unique touch." My stomach twisted, bile rising in my throat as his words sank in. "I trust he's healthy?" the man asked the guards, his voice cold and detached. "No visible damage?" I couldn't bring myself to move. My mind raced with thoughts of Jeanne. Was she safe? Would they hurt her now that I was gone? "Sir," one of the guards said, hesitating. "He's one of our more... durable specimens. Shall we finalize the transfer?" Before the man could respond, he straightened, his expression hardening. "That won't be necessary." I blinked, confused, as he reached into his jacket and pulled out a badge. "Detective Deric Wolfe," he announced, his voice sharp and commanding. "You're all under arrest." The room erupted into chaos. The guards reached for their weapons, but Deric moved faster, his motions precise and efficient. In moments, one guard was disarmed and cuffed, while the other scrambled for the door. Alarms blared, red lights flooding the room as shouts echoed through the hallway. "Stay down!" Deric barked at me, his voice cutting through the noise. "You'll be safe. Just stay put!" I dropped to the floor, my heart pounding as the chaos unfolded around me. "Jeanne," I whispered, my chest tightening. Was she okay? Did she hear the alarms? Deric glanced at me briefly as he secured the second guard. "If there's someone you care about, we'll get them," he said, his tone surprisingly steady. "Just hold on." His words were a small thread of hope, but I clung to it as the chaos raged on. For the first time, I dared to believe that escape might be possible, not just for me, but for Jeanne too.