Accident Prone - Becoming Human

Bitten

Responding to an emergency call from a deviant in distress had interfered with their afternoon routine of filing reports and handling paperwork. Hank and Connor were the first to arrive at the scene of the address reported and found themselves outside of a decrepit, neglected house in one of the most rundown and dangerous neighborhoods in the entire city. A rusty chainlink fence lined with crudely wrapped barbed wire over the top surrounded the crumbling house's property and barred anyone from setting foot on the unruly grass without entering through the locked front gate. It was a truly foreboding presence that effectively kept any curious onlookers away.

The house itself was a single story building with a crumbling roof, boarded up windows over the broken glass and numerous heavy locks on the front door. There was no porch to speak of, only warped wooden steps leading to the door that was far from inviting. The lawn was as neglected as the house; unmowed, densely overgrown, full of weeds, dead grass and barren dirt patches all around the property.

In the backyard a single massive yet emaciated dog, a mix between a pitbull and a Rottweiler, barked and snarled from its chain as it anxiously pulled on the full length of the metal cable keeping it restrained to the single tree in the rear of the property. There were massive scars along the dog's sides and over its muzzle indicating years of abuse and illegal underground fighting. The dog itself was fearless as it viciously snarled at the unwelcome detectives encroaching on the property.

"This place is atrocious." Connor noted as the Oldsmobile pulled up in front of the house. His scanner immediately honed in on the barking dog and he felt his heart skip a beat. "There is even an abused animal on the premises."

The sound of shouting and heavy 'bangs' inside the house indicated the ongoing disturbance that had elicited the original emergency call effectively drawing the detectives' attention from the dog and toward the house.

"Come on." Hank urged as he pushed open his door and drew his gun from the holster on his right hip. "Whoever's in there is still in danger. We'll worry about the dog later."

"I'm right behind you." Connor kept his own gun holstered around his back and beneath his blazer as he ran a scan over the property and approached the locked gate of the fence warily. Following Hank to the fence Connor's keen eyes swept over the property only to immediately fall onto the sturdy padlock wrapped around the chain that kept the single gateway barred shut. "This is the only entrance."

The gate was secured by a thick, rusty chain and a massive padlock that was keeping the chain in place. Noting the weakest link in the chain Connor pulled down as hard as he could against the compromised link until it snapped open finally allowing the deviant to pull the weakened chain away.

"I'll go first." Ever protective Hank volunteered to take the lead as he pushed through the gate and rushed up to the front door over the uneven steps of the warped, rotting porch. Connor joined him and positioned himself beside the door from the opposite side of where Hank was already standing and lowered his gun toward the ground as Hank alerted the occupant of the house to their presence with an authoritative voice. "DETROIT POLICE."

The loud commotion inside the house continued even after Hank announced his presence. Reeling back one leg Hank kicked down the front door just below the locked doorknob then quickly pressed his back up against the exterior side of the house next to the door opposite side of Connor. Hank retreated to his original place just in case someone or something went barreling through the door, and to keep out of sight.

Nothing.

Entering the house with his gun held low, Hank caught the ongoing assault in the act and lifted his gun to aim at the violent man as he issued his next order before it was too late to help the victim. "DROP THE KNIFE."