Dog Fight

Danger

In the dark warehouse, the doors are opened and a swarm of police enter.

They begin to swarm the building, searching in room up and down, finding more and more victims like Stephen who were just mindlessly walking around, unsure what to do without their master's commanding them.

They help them, take them into custody and continue searching.

They then come to the pile of bloody men in the master's lounge, a gift left from Stephen.

An officer gags, seeing all the blood.

"I-is there anyone alive in here?!"he asks.

Then, from the pile, a bloody, shaking hand raises itself.

Instantly the officer radios in a medic.

....

Jane washes the blood from Stephen's face as he winces.

"Sorry."She says.

"It's okay."Stephen says.

"You know, they found all the missing persons reports for those boys in the warehouse."Jane says.

"That's good."Stephen says.

Jane runs the washcloth over his now short hair and sighs.

"What made you come back to me?"Jane asks softly.

He sits quietly for a bit and then looks down into the murky bath water at his reflection.

"You didn't treat me like a dog. Like a cash pig. You treated me like Stephen. I like being treated like Stephen."he says softly.

Jane smiles softly.

"I'm glad you finally acknowledge that you're Stephen. Maybe we can get in touch with your mother again."Jane says.

"My..mother?"Stephen says.

"Yes. Don't you remember the woman at the station?"Jane asks, ringing the washcloth over his head.

Stephen stays quiet for a bit.

"The man I hurt. Was he my dad?"Stephen asks.

It makes Jane huff.

"Yes, Stephen. But it's alright. Your mother isn't mad at you."she says.

Stephen huffs again as he looks down at his reflection.

"Master used to say that animals like me could never not be animals."He says softly.

"Do you believe that?"Jane asks.

"...I did."he responds.

Jane smiles.

....

Jane

I hiss as I slowly lay down in my bed, my hand coming to the bandage that covered the stitches on my lower stomach.

I huff quietly as I lay back, smiling. I know Stephen was far from leaving his fighting life behind, but I was happy that he was here, safe.

I hear a soft knock on my door and I sit up a bit. The door opens, and I see Stephen's head poking in.

"Is everything alright?"I ask.

"Yes."he says quietly.

I chuckle as I sit up.

"Do you need anything?"I ask.

"No."he says.

I smile again.

"Would you like to sleep in here tonight?"I ask.

He doesn't respond, but his body language says yes.

I grunt as I get up, walking slowly to the other side of my bed and pulling the covers down.

"Come on then."I say, walking back over to my side.

He closes the door and walks over to my bed.

I grunt, my hands coming to my bandage again and I lay back, tucking my feet under the blanket.

Stephen hesitantly puts his hand on my bed, but doesn't enter it.

"What's the matter?"I ask.

He flushes red and looks down.

"M-master would hurt the women that slept in his bed.."he says softly.

My eyes soften with worry and I begin to think of some of the horrors he might have seen.

"You're not like Jord, are you?"I ask.

He shakes his head no.

"Then come on. In you get."

He climbs into bed and his hands shake as he lays back.

"Relax. You're okay. You're not going to hurt me Stephen."I chuckle.

He lets out a labored breath and then I see him lose stiffness in his shoulders.

I smile as I reach over and turn off my lamp.

....

The next part will be taking place 5 months after this scene <3