Kumait

Chapter 5

I opened my eyes, confused. The last thing I remembered I was trying to take off my collar. I must have because when I checked I had a new one. When I tried to get up I fell back down, groaning. What had I done to get so bruised?

I jumped when the door opened, one of the scary people coming into the room, "a woman hit you with her car, it seems you weren't wearing your collar and you blended in with the pavement, especially at night." So I had taken off my collar, but I still didn't remember anything. I froze, did the pack get caught? I didn't have time to think about it, the scary person was dragging me out of the room by my leash.

As I followed, I made a decision. I unclipped the leash, dropped it, and bolted. The scientist had to walk a little longer before realizing anything was wrong. But I knew when he did because there was a loud, freaked out announcement over the intercom, "A KUMAIT IS LOOSE! I REPEAT! A KUMAIT IS LOOSE!"

I ran around, looking for the feral kumaits while avoiding the security that was chasing me. "MARCUS!" I called, "BRANDON!" I slid to a stop in front of a door. It was faint through the thick metal doors, but I thought it sounded like many voices in pain. I pushed the door open and immediately regretted it.

There were two long rows of humans strapped to beds, all of them in pain or unconscious. In fact, one was screaming at the other end of the hall, where I could see a woman giving them an injection. The more I looked around, the more I wished I hadn't, the humans were often missing fingers and toes, some had fur but most didn't, and one even seemed to be missing his nose and mouth. I threw up, knowing I would never sleep the same after this sight. I forced myself to move out of the way and hide beneath one of the human's beds.

"..R- Reyna," a raspy voice struggled to speak from on top of the bed. I didn't move, hoping that they would stop. "Darkstar." That caught my attention, so I slid out from underneath, to find Cathy's dad. I pinned my ears anxiously as I put my front paws on his bed.

He smiled when he saw me, then he went serious again, "Darkstar, take-," he coughed violently, "take off your collar." When I hesitated he seemed to stare at me even more intensely, "take off y- your collar....now." I did as I was told and undid my collar. I fell to the floor as memories rushed into my head yet again. As I was gasping, my dad spoke again, "save Cath-" he coughed heavily again.

I quickly looked him up and down to see how far they had gotten, but all I saw was a little scab in the crook of his arm, just the first injection. I looked around, all the beds were full, so Cathy had to be in one of the waiting cells along the walls. I snuck over to look through them but quickly hid when I heard the lady walking back. Upon closer inspection it turned out that that lady was my mom. She walked down the walkway, then paused with an annoyed growl when she saw the puke.

My blood ran cold as I waited for her to shout for me to come out. "New hires are always so squeamish!" She spat before walking past it, "they need to clean up their own messes." I was stunned. Did new hires really throw up that often? When I was strapped to one of those beds, I was always too busy being in pain to tell.

I shook my head before hurrying back to the glass. I looked from room to room through the thick glass wall until I found the face I was looking for, "CATHY!" Her head shot to the glass wall, then probably said my name, but I couldn't hear it through the glass. I went for the door and clawed at the glass next to it, but it wasn't doing any good. I frantically looked everywhere but couldn't find anything.

I turned back to the mutilated people to look for something I could use, and indeed a glint caught my eye. I ran over and picked up the scissors, rushing back to Cathy. I stabbed at the spot I was clawing at before over and over until the glass finally shattered. I fell to my knees, panting, aching, and exhausted as Cathy ran over and hugged me. I got up and hurried to my dad's side, slicing his bonds.