Step-by-step (Book 1. Of The Fumes Series)

~prolauge~

⚠️please read⚠️: THIS STORY WILL CONTAIN ABUSE, SEXUAL CONTENT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DRINKING, SELF HARM, AND MORE!!!

---------------------------------------------------------

Early in the morning he heard his parents fighting. Waking up he walked to the edge of his door and silently stepped down the large staircase. Nearly 5 yrs old, the stairs were big for him. He went down to look through the railings. When he got to where he could see he began to crouch. 

"You never do what you're told! Why don't you just listen!"

"Smokey I am my own perso-"

A loud slap followed… toxics ears whent back ducking his head. Smokey had slapped nala… toxic raised his head to see nala holding her face in pain. Smokey grabbed her and shoved her to the sink. The dishes were piled up and grease covered them. Nalas brown hair fell on her face and smokey stood by her. 

"Smokey… you don't own m-"

Before she could get her words out Smokey had clutched her neck his muzzle to hers. He held her for a while. Once toxic realized she wasn't breathing he rushed down the tall stairs and to the kitchen….

"Dad, let go of her!"

Smokeys ears perked. He snarled, turning his head at his son running to help his mother. He kicked toxic back, keeping a strong hold on nala. But…he wasn't aware of just how tight his grip was. She became limp… when smokey had felt the weight he dropped her. Toxic a few feet away on the floor recovering from the kick. Smokey looked down at her, bending down he felt for a pulse ... .but nothing but warmth of her fur could  be felt. Smokeys red eyes widened and his ears back. Cursing under his breath he yelled.

"Toxic go to your room now!."

"...mom…what's wrong with mom!"

He turned viciously at his son and snarled

"Toxic room now!!!"

His eyes welled with tears as he ran to his room. Getting to his room he crawled under his bed like the pup he was. His fur was  black with brown accents, under his tail, in the ears and the hair upon his head. His eyes red like his father's but welting up and leaking the tears he was fighting back. He wouldn't let these emotions get to him and give his father a reason for adding to the chaos. The door shut, down the stairs and the house was quiet. Toxic swallows the ball of feelings and gets out from under his bed. He got on top of his bed looking out the window next to him that overlooked the driveway. Smokey was carrying nala to his truck. Placing her in the back seat and closing the door. Getting in the front seat and driving away after closing his door. Toxic knew he was up I no good.. but yet what could he do… he was a pup who was left alone in an empty house… he got back from the window and sat on his bed. He wanted nothing more but to cry but he wouldn't let himself…

        …….

It was 6 yrs later and toxic had woken up to no one but his dad. Drunkenly passed out in the recliner at the bottom of the stairs. A bottle of liquor by his hand that was draped over it limply. Toxic walked past him and he walked to school. The school wasn't too far from his house. When arriving he walked through and headed straight for the doors that opened in the main lobby through this hallway. Getting shoved he turns around and is greated by a timber wolf just about his height which is 5'6. 

"Watch where you're going, mutt" 

He scowles as the wolf

"Take that back."

"Hell no, why would I take something back If it's true. Obviously your mom wasn't a purebred."

It wasn't their business if she was or wasn't. But what hurt him the most was the foul words mixed with the thought of his mother. The constant reminder of the father who didn't deserve the title 'dad'. The pent up anger built up inside him. He turned his ears back and looked at the kid.

"What you gonna do tough guy."

Egging him on toxic growls and went after the other k9. After a nasty 5-10 minutes the teachers finally got toxic off the kid and threw him in the principal's office. Toxic sat in the chair in front of the desk with his head low. He wasn't proud of this… and he knew there was going to be hell to pay after his father found out. He sat there as the principal walked in. A zebra, by the name of Emily Martin. But Mrs Martin was what everyone called her. She sat at the desk in front of toxic and crossed her legs and arms.

"Mr fumes, are you aware of the damage you have done?"

"Mrs. It wasn't my fault. He egged me o-"

She spoke louder to gain control over toxic.

"Mr fumes, what you had done was completely out of line. We had no choice but to call your father and have you expelled."

She had the right to expel him. His hands covered in a thin sheet of blood that wasn't his own… he knew what he had done. What he was most afraid of was his father. He sat there patiently as time went by.. minute after minute…the door had opened to a panther with broad shoulders and his father beside him. Toxic didn't dare to look in the direction of his father; all he wanted was to get out of that place and away from him.

"Mr fumes, thanks for joining us. I apologize for any inconveniences. But I need you to be aware that we can not have a threat at this school, we are choosing to expel toxic as a solution to this occurrence. As you are aware this isn't the first fight your son has had."

Smokey nodded and looked at toxic. This wasn't the first time something like this has happened… but it had to stop. Smokey griped toxics shoulder so tightly it made him shiver in fear. Toxic stood up. His dad was tall, nearly 6'6. Sooner than later they were walking to smokeys vehicle which was a ram pick up truck, square body. After smokey had gotten in toxic did. 

"Father it was an acci-"

"Shut it kid!" 

he said, turning to toxic.

"You're starting to sound like your mother! Everything is an accident to you. Once in your life do something not so idiotic and mean it mutt." 

Smokey began to drive after a while, give or take 15-20 minutes until they arrived at an old factory. Toxic confused as smokey parked and russleed in a bag between them. Toxic looked out the window scoping the area. Smokey pulled out a muzzle and quickly forced it down over his son's head. Placing a padlock on the back locking it in place. Toxic began to panic.

"Father-"

Smokey got out of the truck and walked into the building as men came out. Opening toxics door and quickly injecting him with a tranquilizer used for horses or wild animals. It took effect immediately. 

Waking up he could feel his arms chained above his head and his legs chained apart. He looked at his chest and found it itchy and wet. When panic started to set in, he pulled on the chains. Then men came in and put him though torture no one should go through. Toxic fought… but with no luck he found himself in pain after many hits with objects. And injections through his back… the needles still stuck within him. And the itch got worse. It burned and burned… through his body, face, wrists, legs. Everywhere…. His face got hot and it seared. It burned with intensity. After a while with the pain continuing he found himself feeling nothing… it didn't hurt but little did he know this was going to change him forever…