Chapter 1: Capture

It had been a night like any other; he'd worked the late shift and was half asleep as he started home, walking the quiet streets toward the bus stop. He'd done it thousands of times and everything was the same as any other morning; the sky was slowly growing lighter, darkness fading toward grey. The first birds were starting to call, their piping song hauntingly out of place here in this concrete jungle. Graafen pulled his coat tighter over his shoulders and ducked his head down and picked up his pace, it was cold; the bitter end of winter still lingered in the early days of spring. Which is why he was able to be taken by surprise when he was jumped, two figures had his arms pulled up behind his back before he could react and the third dragged a shapeless black bag over his head and pulled the drawstring tight. Struggling and trying to shout for help Graafen found himself choking as the bag cut into his throat.

"Hold him," someone growled in a rough voice as Graafen lashed out with his feet connecting with someone's shins. For a moment the draw-string digging into his throat slacked and he took a deep breath, one of his assailants cursing loudly as they backed off for a moment. Struggling harder Graafen tried to pull his arms free, he could feel the grip of one of his attackers slipping then they let go. Bringing his left arm around Graafen tried to grab the bag but a set of heavy claws gripped him by the back of the head and rammed him head first into a wall!

Dazed by the sudden impact Graafen tried to carry on fighting but he was too woozy to put up a proper fight. The unseen figure that'd kept hold of his right arm suddenly snagged his left and slapped metal cuffs around his wrists. His growl and attempt to jump backwards turned into a whine as hands pulled the draw-string of the bag tight and started to choke him. At the same time someone kicked him in the back of the knees, driving him to the floor and the hand holding his hair slammed his head into the ground a couple of times

"Got him," a sibilant voice hissed as several hands grabbed his shoulders and legs and swung him off the floor. He was swung once, twice then they let go. He sailed through the air for a moment then crashed down onto something hard and metallic. Trying to breathe through the pressure against his throat Graafen barely managed to get into a sitting position before the sound of doors slamming shut made him jump. He'd been thrown inside some sort of vehicle and seconds later he felt everything vibrate as they began to move. With his arms bound he couldn't reach up to loosen the sac around his head, the draw-strings were pressing against his throat making each breath a struggle and there was no way he could muster enough air to shout for help. Wheezing and groaning the large wolf tried to sit up but the movement of the vehicle tossed him around leaving him unable to support himself.

In the end Graafen just lay in place, growling softly with every bump and jostle caused by the vehicle. Occasionally he twisted his arms in a futile attempt to get free of the metal cuffs digging into his wrists. He lost track of how long he lay there in the back of the van or truck, half an hour or more before the shuddering stopped and he wriggled away from the doors as well as he could as with a heavy clunk they opened. He tried to snarl but it came out more like a whimper thanks to his constricted breathing though he still had the strength to kick out with his booted feet as someone clambered into the van. He felt a moment of satisfaction as he connected with something and made someone yelp.

"Someone has spunk," a rough voice said, "You need to be more careful Mick, the guys we are picking up aren't softies." two prongs of metal suddenly shoved into his side and Graafen snarled as best he could and tried to lash out at whoever was holding it. This guy had the sense to not stand where his feet could get him however and he also had some sort of taser. A jolt of electricity from the stick jabbed into his side made Graafen's muscles spasm. "Just what the boss asked for, tough and doesn't give up easily. Haul him out and toss him down."

Strong hands grabbed his ankles and shoulders and dragged him out of the van. The wolf was satisfied by the way they were struggling with the task of moving his heavy body but it ended with a pained grunt as they dropped him.

"Fucker is heavy boss," the sibilant voice whined, "Why do we always have to get well built guys? Someone smaller would be easier to handle."

"Shut it Mick," the rough voice growled, "Sandson, get the hood off and get the wolf ready to go. We only need two more after him and we get paid."

Nimble fingers loosened the hood from around Graafen's head and pulled it free. Bright light from over-head strips blinded the grey wolf for a moment and he snarled and tried to bite the hand pulling the mask off but his captor pulled back easily. It didn't help the bright lights were making his head hurt even worse from the pounding and tasering he'd taken. He couldn't even manage a snarl as the blurry figure spoke, "He's a feisty one boss, that taser is wearing off."

"Oh, right, you two get the cover," rough voice shoved the prongs into Graafen's side and unloaded another shock that left him whining and after the initial spasm unable to move. Slowly the wolf found his vision clearing though the throbbing pain hardly lessened. He could see his captor and the short baton style taser he was holding, "Be better for you if you just lie there wolfie, this'll be over soon." the husky's rough voice was a good match for his shaggy brown and grey fur. His clothes were rough as well, grubby green overalls and heavy knee high boots. He grinned maliciously at the wolf then walked over to supervise his companions as they busied themselves with using a large chain to hoist a heavy metal cover into the air.

Graafen guessed Sandson was the sand coloured simian dressed in ripped jeans and a baggy t-shirt, his scuffed sneakers grinding on the concrete floor as he heaved on the chain. He was well built, short with the sort of wiry muscle you expected from a monkey though the guy hauling on the chain next to him couldn't have been more different. Working next to the short monkey was a lizard who really stood out, with small bronze scales and a very long, heavy tail. He was also built like a brick; muscles bulged along his bare back causing the scales to ripple under the strip lights of the warehouse and his ragged track-suit bottoms strained against his thighs as his clawed feet raked over the concrete alongside monkey-boys sneakers. They were a rough crew, the sort Graafen would expect to find hanging around the seedier bars or gyms down by the river. The sort who'd do anything if the money was right and it meant a scrap of some kind, though that taser packed a whollop and wasn't part of the usual gear these types carried. They tended to rely on their brawn alone which mean Graafen was in real trouble. Trying to talk was too much effort, screaming was out too and from the dilapidated state of the warehouse he had a feeling no one would hear him anyway. All he could do was lie on the ground and watch as the pair of toughs raised the large iron cover, the chains clanking as the monkey and lizard strained and pulled, lifting it higher.

"This is hard boss, lend us a hand," Sandson grumbled as he heaved on the chain, sweat was starting to stain the back of his T-shirt, sticking it to his furry form so Graafen could see his muscles at work. Mick meanwhile didn't seem to be sweating, his bronze scales glistened in the light but he just gripped the chains and heaved on them, shooting Sandy a contemptuous glance and a sullen one at the husky. The boss waved his taser prod at the monkey threateningly and the simian sighed and carried on heaving at the chain until the cover was six feet up. It wasn't very wide from what Graafen could see but the thing had to be at least a foot thick, it was more of a metal plug then a drain cover.

"OK that'll do, Mick go check the pit is empty, Sandson drag the wolf over," the husky gave orders and they obeyed, this dog was no push over. As soon as the pair had the chains secure to a hook on the floor they hurried to carry out their tasks. Graafen bared his fangs at the monkey, wrinkling his nose at the stench of sweaty simian as he was grabbed by the ankles and pulled over towards the pit.

"Its empty boss, just that weird black floor as usual," Mick was saying, "Though how do ya suppose they get the guys out of here?"

"I dunno Mick, they probably come in here in the morning or something," the husky's voice changed mid-sentence, growling with menace as he moved closer to Mick. "Why don't you find out for me?" Graafen had a good view of the husky suddenly kicking the lizard in the stomach, sending him toppling backwards into the pit. There was a muffled thud followed by cursing but Graafen wasn't listening. He was busy wincing in pain; Sandson had just dropped him and run over to stare into the pit before turning on the husky.

"What the fuck Karl, get him out of there you fucker, what's your fucking game," he shook a fist at the husky then squeaked as Karl pointed his taser baton at his chest.

"It's simple monkey brain, we only need three more guys, but I had an idea, you 'n Mick fit the bill so why share the loot." He grinned as Sandson started to shout something and just shoved the taser into the guy's chest, the monkey squeaked and stiffened like a board before he slumped to his knees. Then limp as a noodle he tumbled backwards into the pit after a gentle shove from Karl.

"Bye monkey butt," Karl called after him cheerfully, "I'd say it was fun working with you, but you stink worse than lizard boy." He turned away to look at Graafen and walked over to the stunned wolf, "Now then, one more and I'm done." He laughed when the wolf snarled at him and undid the canine's cuffs and pitched him over the edge after the other two. He was still as limp as a baby so he couldn't even try and brace himself as he fell, landing with a hard thump upon the rubbery floor of the pit a good seven feet down. Graafen had just enough time to make out that the hole though deep was only and five foot across. He also saw the lizard crouch down next to the stunned monkey and start to shake him before the crash of the iron cover falling back into place plunged the pit into darkness.