**********TRIGGER WARNING**********

This story is fiction from the author’s mind, but themes contained within are the kidnapping of an adult woman, animal cruelty (forced dog fighting), and abuse (Physical and verbal). If such themes may be upsetting, please read with caution.

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Roscoe chews on a rubber squeaky ball while Shelby pets him and stares at the door. Roscoe can sense her worries and nuzzles against her knee. Shelby pets him, laying her head on his side. The two prisoners tremble as the door opens to reveal Guy—who looks friendlier with his hands in his pockets.

“Y-yes?” Shelby asks, tightly grasping Roscoe’s collar.

“Look,” Guy says sheepishly. “I’m sorry for this morning. You have nothing to fear.”

“Right,” Shelby says, hiding her disbelief.

“Well, my boss says you can roam around the courtyard and living room, although a zip tie around your hands is a requirement to do so. If you need the restroom, press the large blue button on the wall next to the bookcase. In the meantime, Roscoe needs another checkup.”

Shelby looks at Roscoe and seems unwilling to part with him.

“Don’t worry, my boss made it clear no harm will come to your friend. Now come on, Roscoe.”

Roscoe reluctantly stands up, looks towards Shelby with faint reassurance, then heads out the door. He looks on as Guy zip ties Shelby’s hands together. A low growl nearly escapes his mouth.

Guy puts on Roscoe’s leash and leads him to the other end of the hallway. Shelby quietly follows, but a wall suddenly comes down and blocks her way. Shelby reluctantly walks towards the living room, her body tensing up.

Roscoe enters Big Ken’s office and obediently sits down on the cold marble floor. Big Ken looks down at him and speaks.

“I see my candy likes you very much. Do you like her too?”

Roscoe enthusiastically thumps his tail on the floor, then immediately stops when Guy glares at him. Big Ken continues.

“Well, I must tell you she’s got a severe illness. Looking through her medical records shows that my candy needs a special medicine; otherwise, she’ll be suffering a slow, painful death. This is the medicine.” Big Ken pulls out a small blue oval bottle filled with small blue pills.

“If you really care about my candy,” he continues, “You’ll help us out.” Roscoe sits and stares at the bottle until a high pitch scream from the living room alerts them.