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27.

Things were not as bad as I feared. Dimitri and I stayed up half the night for his first lesson. He was functionally illiterate I discovered. That was why he'd been able to hide it from everyone. He knew his numbers, and could recognize the forms of the more common words even if he couldn't fake his way to write anything other than his own name. Now it was just a matter of building on the foundation he had.

It was such an odd sensation to be the one leading. Well, sort of leading. I'd ask Dimitri to try something, being as polite as I had ever been, Dimitri would tell me to go fuck myself or raise his hand like he was about to smack me, but invariably he'd go along with my instruction. It was mostly just about correcting how he wrote the letters as I worked on teaching him the alphabet.

I got the wicked thought that I'd love to brag to officer Blake, and tell that asshole all about how Dimitri would listen to me without needing tasers, pepper spray and a small army to back me up. It would almost be worth seeing the look on that wolf's face. But I'd probably only get a few seconds to savor it before Dimitri killed me for not keeping quiet about everything.

I got the feeling Dimitri was a little weirded out by everything too. It was like he went out of his way that morning to remind me of my normal lowly status. I took it all in stride as he made me kiss his feet after I put his shoes on for him, and how he made me crawl on my knees all morning, only allowing me to stand when the cell doors opened for breakfast.

I didn't freak out over it. Dimitri was not a tiger that dealt well with any sort of change, and I was the one bringing him change. It didn't matter if the change was good or bad. He was processing it as best he knew how, and I would just have to endure until he saw it all clearly.

I did everything right when we started breakfast. I kept my ears flat, my eyes down and my mouth shut when I wasn't taking quick bites of scrambled eggs. But sometimes you can do everything possible to stay out of trouble and still the universe will find a way to fuck with you.

Blake and two other guards entered the cafeteria. The way the black wolf made a direct line to our table let me know exactly how screwed I was.

"Regal. You need to come with us," Blake announced.

Dimitri tightened his fists. "What's he done?" he asked.

"Murder, if you're asking about the big picture," Blake said flippantly. "We'll get him back with plenty of time for you to pound his ass, don't worry." The two other guards pulled me to my feet and I looked pleadingly at Dimitri.

"You're a real son of a bitch, Blake. You know that?" Dimitri growled.

The wolf ignored him and I was practically dragged from the cafeteria. In the hall the blaring noise faded and it all seemed too quiet. As I was taken deeper into the sprawling complex my pulse quickened.

"Alright," Blake told the other guards. "I've got it from here."

I found a sudden attachment to the two other guards. An otter and another wolf. I looked at the two of them. "Please, don't leave me alone with him," I begged.

The otter laughed, but the wolf gave Blake a concerned look. "You sure, Blake?"

"Yes," Blake hissed. "The little bitch is just being dramatic. We don't need three furs to escort this fox. It was just a precaution for the extraction. That tiger is freaking nuts."

The otter left. The other wolf didn't.

I mouth "help me," to my new favorite lupine. I hoped my eyes were wide enough to fully convey the fear I was trying to express.

The other wolf looked at me, then back to Blake. "Hey, I can come along anyways. It'll be safer that way."

Blake was losing his patience. "Listen, Chad, we are too understaffed to double up when there's no need. We're also too understaffed for me to suspend your tail for insubordination. Now go over to E-Block and give Tront a hand. He found another shank in there yesterday."

Chad hesitated. It was long enough for me to make a last ditch effort to ensure my survival. "Chad, my name is Elliot Regal. If I die, Blake did it!"

Blake laughed. "Paranoid. It's the drugs. He used to give blowjobs to feed his meth addiction before he turned to murder."

"What?" My voice was higher than I would have liked as I squeaked, but the blatant lie took me by surprise. I started sputtering indignantly.

"Shut it, Regal, or do you need another write up? He's such a troublemaker."

I shut my mouth. If I kept at it, I would just prove that I was a troublemaker. Maybe Chad would believe me if I stopped now. It was beyond a longshot.

Chad certainly looked conflicted. "Alright. I'll radio Tront and tell him I'm on my way." My heart sank in defeat as he turned and started to leave. But then he turned back for just a second. "Be good, Elliot Regal. I better not see your name on the disciplinary list, Elliot Regal. And don't think I won't check on you to make sure you didn't give Blake any problems."

I bit my lip, afraid I'd smile, or scream, or cry, or something. Maybe he was just humoring me, but if there was a God, Blake would be too cautious to kill me today.

I was alone with Blake now. The halls deserted and quiet this far from the inmate wings. I looked at Blake. He stared down the empty corridor, waiting to see if Chad would reappear. Out of nowhere, the black wolf turned on me, slamming me against the brick wall. My head absorbed most of the impact.

My ears rang and the world went out of focus. I had just enough time to shrink into a frightened ball before the pain exploded behind my eyes.

"-think you're pretty smart, don't you, killer?" Blake's voice rolled back in and replaced the ringing.

I shook my head. A bad idea, given the blow it just recived.

"Get up!" he yelled. Grabbing me by the shirt collar, he pulled me down another hall. It looked vaguely familiar, but with everything spinning, it was hard to tell until a door was open and I found myself sprawled out on a scuffed and dirty linoleum floor.

I'd been here before. It was Blake's office. I stayed down. The door slammed shut behind me and Blake stepped on my back as he moved to his desk. I grunted under his weight and made myself a promise that the next fur to stand on any part of me was getting bitten... or I'd tell Dimitri on them. Either way, that particularly annoying indignity had to stop.

"Up," Blake ordered. He moved a stack of papers to make room for himself to sit on the edge of his desk. "On your knees." He fished in his pocket and took out his phone. I watched him thumb the touchscreen, no idea what he was doing. Without warning, he was off his desk, his baton drawn.

Time slowed down. Blake raised the baton high enough to hit the sound dampening ceiling tiles. I threw my hands over my head, falling to a fetal position, waiting for the blows to start. A bright flicker that I first took to be my life flashing before my eyes was accompanied by a click. I peeked through my fingers. The fucker had his phone up, taking my fucking picture!

He sat back on his desk, ignoring me while I cowered. The ding of a text message sounded and he laughed softly. I was so confused.

"What are you doing?" I asked, still lying on the floor.

"Shut the fuck up," he mumbled. He was involved in a text conversation. "Stand up."

My brain screamed no, but my body was taking its orders from the wolf. I stood and so did Blake. He got close to me and I could smell spring scented soap in his fur and coffee on his breath. As stupid as it was, I got nostalgic for my old life instead of focusing on not getting killed. He held up his phone again, snapping more pictures of my terror for posterity.

"W-whatever I did to you, I swear to God I'm sorry," I whimpered.

"What did you do to me?" Blake asked. He was still more focused on his phone than me.

"I have no idea! Please, just leave me alone. You work here, you have to know how bad I have it. Can't you just let me-"

Blake looked up from his phone. "Take your clothes off."

Fuck it. Think less of me as a fur if you want, but I started to cry. Not a lot. But my bravery was outclassed in this kind of situation. I tossed my shirt, dropped my pants and wrapped my bushy tail around me. Blake barely took notice of me while I stood there shivering.

Finally he put the phone down. "Open your mouth." I stifled a sob and did as I was told. My eyes widened as he angled his baton and slid it past my lips. "I know how much cock you've been sucking, so this shouldn't be as painful as I wish it was, but hold still and deep throat this."

Blake grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking me lower so he could watch me as the baton hit the back of my throat and I gagged. My whines became more desperate, more shrill as Blake pushed his club deeper, stretching soft tissue that wasn't meant to stretch like that.

It wasn't like taking Dimitri's cock. Blake didn't pull in and out, letting me steal enough air to keep conscious. He kept ramming his improvised dildo down me at an excruciatingly slow and steady pace. The edges of my world grayed and blurred. I knew I was at my limit.

I tried to let myself fall only to find I was already back on my knees. Blake's hold on my hair was the only thing keeping me up. My gagging and moaning was now a wet gurgling choke. A blackness as dark as his fur started closing in on me.

And just like that, the baton was gone. Air flooded into my burning lungs. My eyes opened and Blake was back on his desk, texting. I must have faded for a moment. I wanted to run. To burst through the door and never stop. I wanted to, but I wouldn't have made it.

Blake snorted at something he read. "Hm," he hummed in mild surprise. Then he shrugged and stood back up. I squeezed my eyes shut and pretended to be unconscious. It didn't work.

Blake kicked me, managing to hit the same damn spot Herb bruised last night.

"Wake up, killer. Beg to give me a blowjob."

I opened my eyes, looking up from shoe level. He had his fucking phone on me again. I knew he was taking a video of this now. I pushed myself up to a sitting position. "No!" I intended to give a small speech about the nature of justice, respect for the dignity of all furries, and give him my amature psychological diagnosis as to the roots of his incessant bullying of me.

I only got out that first word before he kicked me back to reality and I was scrambling to get on my knees. "Please, sir, let me suck your cock!"

The bastard let me beg for a while, his face gave an expression close to disinterest. The phone remained on me the entire time. He glanced at his watch like I was stopping him from being somewhere important. "Ok. Suck me."

No hesitation from me this time. I opened his fly, finding his dick flaccid. I made a show of licking and fondling him like Blake was just another date. Inside I was a raging storm of fear and uncertainty. The wolf seemed about as into it as he would be about waiting for a load of wash to get done. Why the hell was he making me do this!

"Don't swallow right away. I want to see my cum in your mouth," he grunted at me as I began feeling him edge.

That was one of the more difficult commands I'd been given in here. His spunk shot to the back of my throat and it was so tempting to just let it slide down, but I guess Blake wanted me to taste him, to add to my humiliation like he did at every opportunity. I pulled away, opening my mouth and tilting my head back.

"Hold on." The camera light on his phone turned on. "Now swallow and say yum."

"Yum."

The light flicked off and Blake shoved his phone back in his pocket. "Alright, asshole," he seemed almost relieved it was over. Nothing about this made sense anymore. "Your lawyer's here. Wipe that cum off your face and get your clothes back on."

***

Seeing my lawyer for myself was when I really believed he was actually there. Blake hadn't bothered with the cuffs this time, he would have just had to take them off, giving Sharpe less time to notice and ask about the new bruises I came in with. The door to the empty conference room shut with Blake's quick exit.

"What the hell, Elliot? Another write up? For fighting, no less," he shook his head. "Are you trying to blow any chance at this appeal working?"

"I'm sorry," I whimpered. Without even thinking I slid out of my chair and crept forward on my knees. The moment my hand touched his leg, Sharpe acted like I stuck him with a hot poker. The mutt jumped back, his chair clattering to the floor.

"Fuck!"

I yelped. It was getting hard to remember that not every fur in a position of authority was here to use me. "Fuck," I mimicked his sentiments. "I wasn't thinking. I just- Please don't tell anyone." I held it together, but only just.

Sharpe didn't call the guards. "It... it's ok. But what the hell have they done to you in here. My God, Elliot. You look like shit."

"Thanks."

"I mean it. You have to tell someone you're getting victimized."

I was so not in the mood for a lecture. I just tried to give my lawyer a blowjob. My problems were now beyond a stern talking to. "Just tell me you have good news."

Sharpe sighed at my question dodge. "I have news. It could be good, but it won't be immediate." He picked his chair back up. "Maybe you'd feel more comfortable if you got back in your chair?"

I was still kneeling, hiding my head in my hands. "I don't know. Seems like I spend most of my days down here."

"Elliot! My sunny disposition can only take this so far. Snap out of it and help me, help you!" If he failed at law, I'm positive his courtroom theatrics would translate well into community theater.

I forced a smile and sat back across the table from my floppy-eared would be savior.

Sharpe was immensely pleased with his motivational speaking. I could see him relishing in the smile I gave him. Finally he pulled out some papers from his briefcase. From the glossy look I worried I was getting another copy of that orientation booklet. I read that damn thing until it started to get me sick.

"Green Horizons!" Sharpe proudly proclaimed like that would have any meaning to me. His eyes rolled but his smile remained plastic perfect. "I talked to my old professor, and said if he was me, he would hold off on filing the appeal just long enough for you to get some credit for making some self improvements."

I put my head back into my hands, wishing it was cave I could hide in. So my appeal wasn't even in motion. I'm gonna fuckin' die in here, I thought with a groan.

"Elliot, it's not as bad as it looks. Although, those write ups are not helping... Green Horizons is a state sponsored program. It runs twelve weeks and it's all about coming to terms with your crime, and having a plan to avoid committing those crimes in the future."

I looked up at him. "Do I really look like a potential serial killer to you?"

Sharpe laughed. "Of course not. But getting the certificate of completion will look awesome when we do the appeal. Plus, there is the possibility, if the other party is willing, to meet the furs whom you've impacted with your crime."

"Wait, what?"

"The program reaches out both ways. Greener horizons for everyone. The victims can get closure, the perpetrator gets a sense of forgiveness. Win-win."

Sharpe carried on about the program he was going to make me enroll in. I was in the past. "She has a daughter."

"Huh?" Sharpe was on some other topic.

"Had a daughter. The wolfess... the one I..." I couldn't say it, but Sharpe was there, he knew this. "She didn't even come for the sentencing."

"The wounds were fresh. She might be willing to work with Green Horizons now. And, not that I want to jinx it, but if we can get her to forgive you-"

"Forgive me?"

"Or, at least give a positive review to the judge. It would look great."

I tuned out most of the rest of Sharpe's oration. My thoughts fixated on the wolfess. In the unlikely event she would meet with me, what could I possibly say to her? I'm sorry I caused your mom to die, please rescue me from my living hell and I promise not to throw any more bombs off of overpasses. Even though it really wasn't a bomb. Now rescue me.

There was no way I could see this going well.

***

Back in the cell with Dimitri, I was standing at attention while he laid on his bunk. He made me recount everything that happened with my lawyer. I tried to read how he was processing it, but he just stared blankly at the underside of the top bunk.

"And then he had me write a thank you letter to his professor, for pulling some strings to get me in the program. I- it'll be on wednesdays. Will you let me go?" Part of me would have been fine if Dimitri said no.

The tiger shrugged. "Yeah. You can go." He sat up and I flinched. But instead of hurting me, Dimitri dug in his pocket, bringing out an orange.

My mouth watered at the sight. Blake made sure I was taken back only after I'd missed the remainder of breakfast.

Dimitri watched me struggle not to ask if I could have it. Then he dropped it, letting it roll towards me. I stayed standing, only my eyes following the succulent citrus.

"Hungry?"

"Yes, sir."

Dimitri enjoyed seeing how much will power I had. "My pet didn't tell me how it was with Blake. Did he hurt you?"

Food first, is what I would have said, if I had an ounce of guts. "He didn't hurt me, he just scared me, sir." I lied, but I didn't want Dimitri to get in trouble for me. At least not over Blake. "He's afraid of you. That's why he wasn't alone to get me." Stroking the tiger's ego couldn't hurt either.

Dimitri smiled at that. "Eat."

I dived for the orange. It was devoured in under a minute. He watched with a certain amusement. My hands and muzzle were sticky with juice. Dimitri let me wash up in the sink, talking to me when my back was turned.

"While you were gone, I got one of Vince's notes."

I froze. Did Hash write to me? "Did you want me to read it?" It was hard not to sound excited.

"Nah. I had Jake read it to me. Before I tossed it, I looked at it. I tried to pick out the letters you taught me. A lot of what he wrote looks nothing like what I learned."

"That's because Vince writes like crap. I can barely read it most of the time. Sir." I looked over at my corner and pointed. Dimitri nodded and I grabbed my Green Horizons brochure. "I got this from my lawyer. Did, did you wanna look at some of the words?"

He patted next to him on the bunk. My tail swished and the humiliating ordeal Blake put me through was push to the back of my mind. I think I was back to being Dimitri's good boy.

***

I stood behind Jake in the lunch line. Dimitri moved through faster than us, so when a gap appeared Jake turned to me.

"I think I have a message for you." His quiet voice was nearly lost in the noise of the cafeteria.

"What do you mean?"

He moved down the line, letting the kitchen workers scoop some rice onto his mystery meat. He held his hand in front of my face. He'd written something across his palm.

# <3's E.R.

"It was written with a different pen, at the bottom of the letter."

I felt my heart skip and my skin flush. Hash's note. And he even wrote it like a text message, probably because I said it was one of the things I missed. Jake had the audacity to roll his eyes at my swooning. Fuck him. I was in love.

A whistle cut through the background din. Dimitri was looking at us impatiently. I guess I'd have to forego the usual argument I'd strike up over portion size and food selection. Next time, I mouthed at a ferret who was doling out tiny squares of brownies.

***

The Yard was as depressing as always. The only ray of sunshine was Hash. I couldn't wait to get close to him. So much to talk about!

I waited for Dimitri and Vince to do their macho criminal business conference. As soon as they finished I made straight for my coyote. Mid-step a huge hand that could only be Dimitri's landed on my shoulder, stopping me.

"I'm taking Regal with me today," he told Vince.

"What? Why? Am I in trouble? What did I do?" I sputtered as the tiger dragged me away from where I wanted to be.

"Relax. You've been a good boy. If anything, I probably was..." He trailed off but I accepted the unspoken apology for his being a douche earlier.

"So, why are you taking me with you today?" And more importantly, why was I not consulted before you fucked up my daily dose of Hash.

He kept his hand on me, just so there were no questions about who I belonged to when got into feline territory. "I felt like killing that panda that knocked you around. You probably know that. I have anger issues."

"Really?" I looked at him, chancing a light smack just to see what kind of mood he was in.

Dimitri laughed. "Fucking smartass. Anyways, I also felt angry at myself." His hand slid lower on my back and we walked in silence for a bit. "I don't like the thought of you getting hurt."

I didn't either. Good to know we were on the same page. "Does that mean I'm coming with you every time we're on the Yard?" Touching motives, but I did not want to lose the little contact that I had with Hash. And that was something I would fight for.

Dimitri shook his head. "No."

"Then wha-"

He pointed at the collection of rusting exercise equipment at the core of the feline territory. "You're teaching me something, I'm going to teach you something. You're too cute to be defenseless in a place like this. You're gonna learn to handle yourself."

My ears flattened involuntarily, but judging by his broad smile, he did not share my concerns about the direction this was heading.

"Ok, pup. Show me how much you can lift."