The Experiment of the Forgotten

Chapter Two

Keesha's sleep was long, dark, and dreamless. She had slept, but not the kind that would be categorized as a good sleep. The ground was hard and ice cold, not providing any comfort during the seemingly endless hours of the dark night. As she drifted in and out of sleep during the evening, she could hear the paw steps of dogs pacing around in their small cells. No doubt everyone wanted out of here. Though they were all used to the harsh conditions of the glorified streets, this still was a much worse and sudden change. For Keesha, she couldn't decide if it was because the space was so small, or if it was because she was forced to be in a close range and breathing the same air as the beings she could not stand. It's not like she was known for her friendliness.

Her head was turned towards the back wall, but her large, pointed ears swiveled behind her head. Keesha could hear dogs beginning to stir, and a few let out a few barks from behind the glass, their voices loud but muffled. She hoped they'd be out of here soon, because she really didn't feel like being greeted by the obnoxious barking of random dogs each miserable morning.

Suddenly, the loud clanking of the metallic door interrupted the already noisy barking of the dogs. Keesha felt her fur stand on end as she scrambled to her feet to face the door. Her hackles rose steadily as she stood as far away as possible while she watched.

I just can't get enough of these humans, can I?

She thought to herself bitterly. She saw Faust get to his paws across from her, stretching his long muscular legs and exposing his sharp, white teeth as he gaped his jaws in a yawn. Before she could see what else he was doing, her view was blocked by the white fabric that made up the clothing of the men. She looked up and saw them peering into her kennel with their small eyes and weird fur-less faces, have of them concealed by bright blue masks. Most of their faces were covered, leaving only their cruel eyes exposed. Keesha glared at them and bared her teeth, letting them know she didn't want them to enter. Part of her knew that they weren't going to listen, and she was expecting a confrontation. Why were they bugging her? She assumed they would do this to all the other dogs as well, but it was just plain annoying for them to antagonize her first, and she did not like it whatsoever.

The glass door suddenly slid open, and Keesha let out an audible snarl and tried to back up even more with her ears flat, although she was already as far away as possible. There were three men in total at the entrance of her kennel, and one was creeping closer to her while the others hung back. He held something that looked like a rope in one of his hands exposed from his loose sleeves, while his other hand was at his side. He held the arm with the rope in it ahead of him, and he only got closer. Too close.

Keesha growled once more, but he didn't stop.

These stupid humans have no idea what boundaries are.

She thought to herself angrily before propelling herself forward to lunge at his outstretched hand, mouth open wide and sharp, threatening teeth aimed right at his limb. He yanked his hand back in surprise, but he wasn't fast enough. Keesha's razor edge fangs caught on to the soft skin, and her teeth pierced his flesh and tore through it as he brought it back towards him. The metallic taste of blood burst in her mouth, and some was flung from the collision, staining the crystal-white floors. He let out a sharp yell of pain, and before he clutched his hand with the other Keesha saw the red liquid gathering at the surface.

Then unexpectedly, she felt a sharp, searing pain at the back of her neck at the location of the tightly fastened silver collar. She let out a yelp of surprise and leapt to the side. In the few moments her attention was distracted, one of the men had pushed her to the side and was now pinning her down to the cold white floor. She thrashed angrily and desperately with all of her strength under his grip to no avail as the last one came behind him. He strapped something tightly around her muzzle, forcing her mouth shut. She could no longer open her mouth to bite or snarl, and not even to breathe properly. They let her go and the rope was fastened around her neck, high up and close-fitting. She realized the man who put the rope around her neck was still the same one she had just bitten. Since she had lost the ability to do that now, she could only shoot him a deadly glare and growl in the form of a low rumble in her throat. He stood up and headed out of her cell, tugging on the length of rope to show her to follow him. She resisted the best she could for a few moments before hesitantly going with him after noticing there was no use in fighting it. She followed as far behind him as she could as they walked out, and her dark amber eyes skimmed the other cells as they walked by, finally being able to see the rest of the dogs she was sharing this hellhole with.