Will’s consciousness slowly started to return. He could feel the movements of the car, the bumps. He heard at least two animals conversing.
“You want to stop for food?” one guy asked.
“Are you serious? I don’t want to eat their shit!” the other replied.
The first guy laughed, “I’m just joking. We’re already behind schedule anyway. We can’t afford to make a stop, even for a bathroom break.”
Will opened his eye a crack, mind a little muddled. He saw two hooded animals in the front seat. Will tried to sluggishly reach for his gun, but couldn’t find much strength. He tried again and realized that his hands were tied behind his back. One of the animals must have heard him and looked back.
“Hey, the lamb is waking up.”
“Just put him back under, we got a long way to go.”
The guy who wasn’t driving, put some liquid on a cloth and reached over. Will could tell the guy had muscle under his coat. He placed the cloth at Will’s nose as he was trying to move his head away, but there wasn’t much he could do. He fell asleep quickly. Will woke and was put under two more times before they reached their destination.
The third time he woke, Will groggily came to the realization that he was no longer in the car. He felt hard metal under him and everything was still. No bumps. All he heard was the small sound of muffled crying. Will’s head was spinning as he opened his eyes. The first things he noticed were the steel bars right in front of him. He looked around himself and realized quite quickly that he was in a small cage. The bottom was a thick slab of steel and the sides and top had bars. There was a door with a padlock on the side. The cage was too small to lay flat, and too short to stand in. He could sit cross-legged and lay tucked, but that was all. If he sat in the middle, Will could touch every wall of the cage.
The ram tried looking beyond the cage, he noticed he was in a dimly lit room with a few other cages in it, all but one other was empty. He looked at the other end of the room where he saw a woman in a cage crying into her sleeve, knees tucked up. Will guessed she was in her late twenties and…a zebra. He wondered if this was the same zeba that had been kidnapped a few days ago. Will didn’t want to assume, but it was pretty damn obvious at this point. The ram vaguely realized that he too had been kidnapped. Shit, what would Crawford think?
Will felt for his gun, his hands now free, and noticed it had been taken. So had his badge, phone, and glasses. Fuck!
Will looked over at the crying zebra, “Um, Miss?”
She looked back but didn’t say anything.
“You wouldn’t happen to be Catherine Martin by any chance would you?” Will asked.
“Yeah, that’s me,” she said stifling sobs.
Will couldn’t really think of anything more to say, he settled on, “Your mother, the senator…she’s worried about you.”
“No fucking shit!” she said not too kindly.
“Well, I’m with the Prey FBI and I’m going to do my best to get you out of this.”
She looked at him, blank-faced and incredulous. “You? They sent you?” She started crying again, but they were angry tears. “But you got caught too! Please tell me this is part of your fucking plan, oh fucking please!”
“It’s a setback.”
“Yeah, no shit Sherlock!”
Will took a deep breath. “How long have I been out?”
“They put you in that cage before I was fed. Last night? This morning? Who the fuck knows. There isn’t exactly a clock in here, is there? Felt like hours ago, but like I said, who the fuck knows, bitch?”
“Okay, I’m going to need you to take the antagonism down a notch. I’m trying to save you remember?”
“Yeah I know. You, a- a fucking little lamb, a peace-loving piece of shit is my only hope. Sorry, you’re not going to find your Mary here. She was already sold off.”
Will’s jaw dropped. He knew the sheep stereotypes: kind, weak, timid people with a penchant for altruism. Then there were the sexual stereotypes. Apparently all female sheep were great fucks because they were too timid to complain if they didn’t like something and that led to them doing practically anything in the bedroom. And apparently all rams were effeminate and liked other rams if you know what I mean.
A ram, which is what Will actually was, is a male sheep. Ewe is actually the term for a female sheep. Lambs are young sheep. A young ram is called a ram lamb while a young ewe is called an ewe lamb. This is apparently not common knowledge to anyone besides sheep. Most of the time ewes are just referred to as sheep. This means most people think the term sheep is actually female when it isn’t. The term lamb is usually used to refer to any young looking sheep. Most people think the term lamb is a more female word, but still use it to refer to males. This means society is basically saying that all sheep, whether they are male of female are effeminate.
Will has been called a sheep or a lamb his whole life. Within the sheep community just being called a sheep or lamb is really offensive, but there’s not much they can do about it. It’s like if a speck of dust told you it wanted to be called Paul. Nobody cares what sheep want to be called. Some animals do calls rams, rams though. The title usually goes to the rams that have large horns.
With these stereotypes, and a lack of societal empathy regarding sheep, it had been hard for Will to even get into Quantico. His advisers at school had always tried to steer him away from such professions. They told him he would do well as a gardener or a florist.
His teacher in his senior year of high school even asked him if he would be seeing him in the adult pleasure district in the near future and winked at him. He had hated that teacher. The male seal was always making passes at him in the hallways. He even copped a feel of Will’s ass a few times. Will never told anyone. It wasn’t because he was some weak, fragile little lamb, but because he was too embarrassed.
He knew there were some people out there that were speciesist, but her comment went too far. “You know sheep aren’t really like that right? I mean we’re just like everyone else. I’m sure the stuff they say about zebras aren’t true.”
“What, that we’re hotheaded like horses and have a one-track mind? Oh it’s true. How do you think my mom became senator? By being a little pussy like you? I don’t think so.”
Will looked away; deciding his time was better spent memorizing his surroundings and thinking of a plan.
A while later the door swung open and a…some animal walked in holding two trays of…potted plants? He stopped at the zebra’s cage, pulled a gun on her with one hand and opened the door. He put the plant in with her and locked her cage again. Then he walked over to Will.
“Alright lamb-chop, you’re not gonna give me any trouble now, are ya?” he said, pointing the gun at Will. I know, being on the police force you think you’re hot shit, but here,” he motioned around him, “You ain’t nothing but a dish sweetheart.”
The animal opened the cage to put in the plant, but Will lunged at him. He knew the guy wouldn’t shoot. He was merchandise after all. The animal looked surprised, put pried Will off him easily and threw him back in the cage, throwing the plant in and locking the door. Will couldn’t believe how strong the guy had been. It was like the guy was swatting away a stuffed toy or something.
“I told ya, you ain’t nothing here. This gun is just for show, prey can’t do shit against us predators.”
“Predators?” Will was stunned. “You’re a predator?”
“Well, yeah. Everyone here is. You both are in the Land of Predator. Hope you enjoy your stay,” he laughed, walking back out the door.
“Wait, wait!”
The guy stopped, halfway out the door and locked back.
“What kind of animal are you?” Will couldn’t stop his curiosity.
“A brown bear,” he said with a smile, showing his sharp teeth.
“Oh.” The lamb had never heard of such an animal. He watched the bear walk out the door and heard the clicking sound of a lock. He turned to the zebra, still stunned by the bear’s words he said, “He’s a brown bear.”
“Thanks fuck-head.” She said, eyes drooping and staring at the plant.
Will looked at his own. Then he looked back at the woman. “Why do you think they put these plants in with us?”
“To eat,” she said simply, before tearing a piece of crab grass out of her pot and eating it.
Will was revolted. “It’s raw.”
“Yup. They won’t give us anything else.”
Will’s stomach rumbled as he thought about how long it had been since he’d eaten. He had no idea how long he had been in the car. He tore a piece of grass from the dirt in his pot and began to eat. He couldn’t believe he was in Land of Predator. How could this have happened?
A few hours later, a few unknown animals…probably also predators, walked in and walked over to his cage. One of the animals was in a suit. The well-dressed animal began speaking to the other two.
“Where did you find it?” The guy in the suit asked. He was tall and intimidating. He was bald and had small eyes. Will wondered what animal he was.
“Well we spotted him buying food at a gas station and followed him a-ways. We caught him at another station.”
“Did anyone see him go missing?”
“Just some hobo.”
“Yeah,” another guy said, “we found these on him.”
The predator in the suit accepted Will’s personal belongings. The one in the suit inspected the badge.
“A special agent,” then he turned to Will, “well, you found us.” All the predators laughed. The sheep blushed. “Alright,” he said to his henchmen, “I want a thorough check done. Make sure everything is in order, and then give me a report. Oh and Roger, don’t take liberties on this one. They’ve been wanting a lamb for a while, don’t fuck this up.”
When the guy in the suit was gone The two looked at him. Will couldn’t stop himself, “What animal is he? What animal are you?”
The two just blinked. “Yeah he’s a weird one. He asked my species a few hours ago too,” then he turned to Will. “That guy runs this place. He’s a vulture. And Roger here is a dog, a doberman. And you, you need to come with us to get your tests.”
“What tests?”
“You’ll see,” the brown bear said as he opened the cage and pulled Will out. He held the lamb in a tight grip and carried him into another room. The doberman trailed behind. They quickly took off his clothes as Will struggled. Then strapped him, face down, to a medical table. One of them pulled out a syringe and drew blood. The other spread his cheeks and checked his hole.
“Have you ever mated?” the Doberman asked.
Will blushed and refused to answer such a personal question.
“Okay lamb-“
“My name’s Will…and I’m not a lamb.”
The bear looked at him. “Not anymore. You’re just lamb now fella. Anyway, you can either be a good boy and answer our questions without much trouble, or we’ll force you to answer. I don’t think you’ll like our persuasion tactics very much. Not so much flowers and chocolate, you know what I mean?”
Will still refused. The doberman got out a long instrument and touched it to Will’s thigh for the briefest of seconds. Will felt an electric current and tried to move away.
“That,” the bear said, “is a cattle prod. You like it?”
Will had never herd or such an instrument.
“Have you mated?” the doberman asked again.
“No, jeez.” The ram admitted. “I haven’t had sex, you happy?”
“Very,” the doberman smiled. “Ever experimented with your bum?”
“God no, I’m straight.”
The dog laughed, “Alright, what about oral? Ever suck?”
“I told you I’m straight!”
“I didn’t say suck cock, faggot. You can suck clit too, you know.” The predators both chuckled.
“No I haven’t.”
“Alright Roger, go ahead a check his hole some more.”
The Doberman spread his cheeks again and inspected his ass. He placed his fingertip at the pucker and pressed, not putting his finger in, but testing the pressure. “Yup this one’s a virgin. Tightest hole I’ve ever seen.”
“Not tighter than that doe I bet.”
“What!?” Will was disgusted, “she was just a fucking kid! Don’t tell me you did this shit to her too.”
“We do these inspections to every prey animal we get. Standard procedure. We got to tell the clients the quality of the merchandise, don’t we?”
“You fuckers!”
“Now, now,” said the Doberman, “I do sometimes test the materials a bit too much, but I would never ruin a product,” he laughed.
“What do you mean you never ruin a product? You popped that zebra’s cherry, didn’t you? The boss was pissed.”
“What? She’s hot. A little chubby, but hey it’s not my fault. I was only trying to check to see if she even had a hymen. I guess my finger was a bit too rough. Don’t worry I won’t put my finger inside this time. The boss was pretty clear on that.”
Will almost threw up. The predators checked his body some more, having him lay on his back, straps in place, and felt his nipples and penis. They pulled his foreskin back and seemed to like what they saw overall. Then they waxed him. All of him. The only hair they left was on his head and eyebrows, his ears, and tail.
“You know lamb, that wax we used is permanent,” the bear smiled, “most customers like their meat hairless. Just makes everything easier.”
“What is this place? What’s going to happen to me?”
Well in a few days we’re having another auction. You and the zebra will be sold to the highest bidder,” the bear said.
“Then what?”
The dog laughed while the bear answered. “The guy who buys you can do whatever he wants. He might fuck you before he eats you. That’s why we have to keep you virginal.”
“Wait, what? I’m being sold to be eaten?” Will was in shock. He felt as though he’d entered another world entirely. A world where he was food.
“Maybe. Maybe a porn company will buy you. We don’t fucking know. You’ll be eaten eventually regardless. You are a lamb after all.”
They took him back to his cage, locked it, and left him alone with the speciesist zebra again. Will didn’t know when it was night. The bright lights were never turned off. Will did eventually fall asleep.
Finnian Siog 