FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

My throat was already hoarse, and I didn't even know when my tears had dried up. All I could manage was a pathetic sobbing sound as I weakly lay against the blood-stained metal table.

“It should be enough. I didn't expect the little fox to endure until all ten of his nails were pulled out." Someone grabbed my ear and dragged me up. A white Labrador brought his snout close to my face for inspection. “It makes me want to cut off one of his ears, or maybe..." His expression was one of intoxication. I felt the sharp sting of a blade against my cheek and the sound of fur being cut. But just breathing took all the strength I had left, so I couldn't muster much of a reaction. “Look at those emerald eyes..."

“Enough. I told you going overboard would backfire. I've tried extracting from a deranged mind before, and it was a terrible experience." A golden retriever walked over, pushing the white Labrador aside, though he kept hold of my ear to prevent me from collapsing. “Once I get what I want, you can play with him all you like." With three fingers, the golden retriever pressed against my temple. His silver eyes turned a pure crimson.

I felt as if my brain was being directly compressed. A very specific question began spinning madly in my mind.

Countless images flashed by, completely beyond my control, as if my memories were being forcibly torn from me.

At last, the rapid, blurry images stopped, settling on a scene of 74258 at my workstation terminal, browsing through our plans.

“Unexpected," the golden retriever said, pulling me back to reality. He wiped his fingers with a handkerchief, the crimson in his eyes gradually fading back to silver. “But that'll do."

My brain hadn't fully recovered, but the relentless spinning left me feeling incredibly weak and horribly nauseous. Then, I vomited all over the golden retriever's expensive suit. Before I even realized what I had done, the strange smell of strawberries was the only thing I could detect.

The golden retriever's face was one of utter shock, as if he couldn't believe what had just happened. Even the white Labrador next to me had gone stiff with shock, a reaction I could sense all too clearly.

If I weren't on the verge of passing out, I would've laughed out loud.

“You!" The golden retriever moved quickly; all I saw was a blur. “This!" He grabbed a serrated knife that the white Labrador had left on the table. “Bastard!" A flash of silver, and he stabbed the knife into my right arm with such force that the blade pierced through the chair's armrest beneath it.

I screamed again, but a bizarre sense of victory welled up inside me.

I must be going mad, right?

“You'll regret this…" the golden retriever growled, but suddenly stopped, turning his head sharply.

A thunderous explosion shook the room, followed by a shockwave that sent me crashing into the wall. The chair shattered beneath me, and I thought I heard the sound of my bones breaking. Limp and motionless, I lay there like a broken rag doll, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Amid shouts and continuous blasts of gunpowder, debris rained down on me like a torrential storm.

When the chaos finally quieted and the smoke began to clear, I forced myself to lift my head and take in the room, which now looked like a battlefield.

Countless holes of varying sizes had torn the walls to pieces. The black and white Labradors were now mostly unrecognizable, their remains scattered in pools of their own blood. Finally, somewhat disappointingly, the golden retriever stood tall, unharmed, raising a clenched fist in front of his face.

He unclenched his fist, and with a loud clang, two twisted hunks of metal fell to the floor outside the room. Judging by the slightly recognizable parts, those had once been sentry robots.

I wanted to slip away amid the chaos, but my body was too weak to obey my commands.

Damn it, move!

“We're not finished yet," the golden retriever said, his voice cold as he turned toward me. He waved his hand, and I was thrown against the wall, pinned tightly with my feet off the ground.

The pain in my already battered body became unbearable, and I let out a muffled cry.

“Let him go!" To my complete surprise, 74258 stepped out of the smoke. He pointed the gun at the golden retriever, his olive eyes filled with determination.

“You've come to me yourself, it seems," the golden retriever glanced back coldly, snorting. “I'll deal with you later."

“I said, let him go!" 74258 shouted, shaking the gun for emphasis.

“Isn't that Hunter's gun?" The golden retriever rolled his eyes, clearly disdainful. “You know, firing a gun is more than just pulling the trigger. It takes guts." He glanced sideways at 74258 again. “And I seriously doubt you have them."

The golden retriever turned back to me and took a couple of steps closer. At that moment, 74258 pulled the trigger.

“A day full of surprises," the golden retriever muttered, but didn't stop or turn around.

I could see a flattened bullet floating in the air behind the golden retriever. Just like when I spat at him earlier, the bullet had collided with an invisible barrier and was deflected.

The golden retriever's eyes searched the floor before he picked up a piece of steel rod.

“It'll have to do," he shrugged, talking to himself. “Now, where were we, before we were rudely interrupted?"

The golden retriever hefted the steel rod, and I forced myself not to think about what he intended to do with it.

74258 kept pulling the trigger, but the bullets continued to be blocked by the golden retriever's invisible shield. I figured this must be the “defense circle" Bert had mentioned.

“Say 'ah.' I'm sure you can swallow it…" The golden retriever's expression grew distant as his eyes once again turned crimson.

I felt an invisible force pulling at my snout, forcing my jaws apart.

It hurt!

I fought back, and a low whimper escaped my throat. Seeing this, the golden retriever laughed before raising the steel rod and moving to shove it down my throat.

“Well, let's see if you can—" The golden retriever's words were cut off by a gunshot. He fell to the ground, toppling over, the steel rod clattering loudly beside him.

The pressure holding me vanished, and I collapsed into the rubble, kicking up a cloud of dust.

“Abel!" 74258 rushed to my side, checking my injuries. “By the Rationalism, what did they do to you?"

I felt a needle prick my neck, and immediately the overwhelming pain across my body vanished.

“I don't know how long it'll last. It's just an emergency measure," 74258 said, helping me to my feet. “Can you walk on your own?"

“I think so." I wiggled my legs, thankful that most of the injuries were concentrated on my upper body.

With 74258's help, I stepped over the debris, only stumbling slightly on a patch of sticky blood.

“You!" The golden retriever pushed himself up in a half-kneeling position, yelling at us. “This isn't over!"

“He's right," I said, tugging at 74258's sleeve. “We have to kill him."

The golden retriever's expression darkened. He snarled at us, baring his fangs and wrinkling his nose. His hand, previously clutching his abdomen, began digging into his wound.

Yes, for everyone you've hurt. Kill him… kill him… kill…

“No!" 74258 snapped me out of it, grabbing the steel rod I hadn't realized I'd picked up. “Do you even know who he is? If we kill him, it won't matter where we run—we'll be hunted down!"

“I don't care! Someone has to pay!" I gritted my teeth, tasting the blood in my mouth. “For everyone who's died!"

I wanted to break his damn legs, then grind that disgusting golden retriever into a bloody pulp!

How could you… how could you!

Fragments of memories scattered around me like leaves in a whirlwind.

86138 held my head down, forcing me to apologize to the senior engineer. But that night, he gave me a vanilla-flavored ice cream and a bag of fleas, telling me I could use them however I wanted; Adam and I sat beneath the massive oak tree as he hummed the first verse of the railroad tune, the pleasant breeze carrying the fresh scent of soil; a raucous banquet filled with loud laughter and noise kept me awake despite my closed windows. Suddenly, a group of drunken foxes burst into my room, half-forcing me to join their rowdy toasts and off-key singing. Despite myself, I couldn't help but smile.

I… I want to…

A tug pulled me back—it was 74258. I turned to look at him, his olive-colored eyes full of determination.

“We have to keep moving forward." The fox's voice was choked with emotion, but he still managed to give me a sincere smile. “For… all those who are still alive."

In that instant, something inside me shattered. The emotions I thought had long been exhausted somehow found a crack, blurring my vision.

Survive… keep… moving forward…

I stumbled, almost falling, but 74258 held me up.

“We need to go!" he said urgently, glancing down the hallway as the sounds of gunfire drew nearer. I could faintly hear the chaotic noises getting closer. I nodded to the fox, clenched my teeth, and forced myself to take a step.

And so, ignoring the meaningless barking of the golden retriever behind us, we continued on together.