The Second Selection

“All of us here in ‘Purgatory’ thank you for watching and hope to see you for the next execution!”
“She’s gone,” 03 said, rubbing 02’s shoulders, staring at the massive television in disbelief.
“And there goes the first lock…” 05 noted, leaning against the kitchen counter.
“This… this is actually happening, isn’t it?” 06 asked, sinking into the sofa, staring down at the circular cutout over his heart. He jerked forward and frantically ripped the top off. Throwing it aside, the fox began hyperventilating and looking from face to face.
01 padded across the hardwood floor and sat beside the fox, offering a hand. “It’s really happening, yes… I…” the wolf’s eyes watered and he swallowed heavily. When the fox didn’t respond, he took the vulpine’s hand in his and pulled him close.
The deer walked over to where 04 had sat before the selection. Holding his hand to his face, he reached out and brushed his fingers over her notebook. For the first time since the show began, his eyes began to water, the cameras catching each tear as they streamed down his face.
“Is this what you want?” 05 shouted, staring up at the domes. “You want us cradling one another and crying? Well, fuck you!”
“Be quiet…” 02 said, slumping against the wall and rubbing his hands together. “You’re just making…” his voice caught in his throat and he buried his face in his palms.
“Fuck them. I’m not scared of this. They’re cowards. All of them!” She brought her hands down to the hem of her top and in one, fluid motion, ripped it off. Standing bare chested in the room she flipped off the cameras and threw the latex top to the floor. “And fuck your ‘uniform’.” Rolling her eyes, she retreated to the bunkroom.
“Five,” the deer called, voice cracking. “Five!”
“I don’t want to die here,” 06 said, resting his head against the wolf’s chest. “I’d only just gotten away from my parents,” he laughed and shook his head, large ears lying flat against his skull, “or at least I’d thought…”
The wolf adjusted his position and sighed, stroking his hand down the grey’s back. “I don’t know what to say…”
06 shifted and smiled. “You don’t have to say anything. Your… heartbeat sounds nice.”
01’s ears showed the first signs of red. “Well, that’s good. I hope the viewers like listening to it too.”
“What the hell are you even doing?” 02 asked, rising to his feet and snarling at the two canids. “Didn’t you listen to me earlier? Didn’t you see the screen? We’re going to die!”
“Everyone handles fear differently, kid,” 03 said from the bar. He worked the cap off a whiskey bottle and filled five shot glasses. “Come over here, guys. Let’s drink to Four.”
01 nodded and nudged 06 up. “She died well,” the wolf agreed, taking 06’s hand in his and leading the fox to the bar.
“Kid?” 03 asked.
The cheetah folded his arms and turned away. “I’m… I’m not old enough to drink.”
“Neither am I,” the fox offered, “but apparently I’m old enough to be killed. Fuck it.”
The cheetah sighed and padded slowly over to the bar, head hung.
03 passed the shot glasses out and raised the fifth overhead. “May the first go to Four.” With that, he splashed the liquor out over the glossy bar top and slammed the glass upside down. “And the rest to us.”
The four clinked the glasses together and brought them to their lips in unison.
“Motherfucker!”
“Five?” 01 asked, looking at 06 with concern, exhaling and flinching from the strong drink.
The deer sat his glass down and bolted to the bunkroom, pausing at the door.
Within, the civet had lifted each bed up and was in the process of flipping through the covers. “Where the hell is it?” She turned her gaze to the large wardrobe and threw the doors open. In a haze of rage, she ripped the uniforms off their hangers and began kicking at the back of the wardrobe, her foot leaving great cracks in the wood.
“What’s wrong?” 03 asked, keeping his distance.
“Our clothes.”
“What about them?”
“They’re gone!”
The deer straightened and entered the bunkroom. Looking around the mess, he cautiously picked up one of the uniforms fitted with his number.
“You see? They’re not in here.”
“W… what does that mean?” 02 asked, staring at the civet as she kicked the wardrobe, splinters bursting out from one side as the door came off.
“It means,” 01 said, placing his hand on the cheetah’s back, “there was someone in here.”
“What?” 06’s breath grew shaky as he looked behind them. “How? We were just in the other room. We’d have seen them!”
“There has to be another entrance then, doesn’t there? Fucking idiots.” 05 shouted and fell back, gripping her foot tight as she fell to the bed.
03 laid his uniform out and went to her side.
“Don’t fucking touch me!” the civet hissed, rubbing at her toes and looking away.
“How’d they do it?” 01 asked, staring up at the cameras.
02 pointed to the turret panel. “Maybe there are other things up there. Like, robotic arms and things.” The cheetah stood on the tips of his toes and reached out for the panel, relenting as he came nowhere close.
“It can’t be that,” 05 criticized, knocking the lamp off her end table. “How would one arm be able to collect all our things in such a short amount of time?”
“I don’t know,” 03 answered, picking up a top labeled ‘05’. “But you’d best get dressed before you garner any more votes. Your name was close to Four’s.”
“Fuck that. All of our names were close.” 05 stared at the top for a moment before relenting and yanking it from the deer’s grip. Shrugging the top over her chest, she nosed towards the ceiling and offered, “We don’t even know how people are voting. What did 04 do to deserve dying?”
The contestants remained quiet, none willing to speak. Eventually, the deer sighed and took a seat next to the civet. “I don’t know. But she is dead, and soon, another one of us will join her. We can argue and break things until the next announcement, or…?” He offered a warm smile and wrapped an arm over the fighter’s shoulders. “Or we can try and get through this together, as best we can.”
“I’m with Three,” 01 said, entering the room, 06 following along. Together, the two began picking up the fallen uniforms and righting the toppled bunks.
“I… suppose I can try…” 02 mumbled, picking up a uniform emblazoned with his number and hanging it in the broken wardrobe.
“What do you say?” 03 asked, antlers casting shadows down over the civet’s small form.
05 nodded once before pulling away and helping the others put the room back together.

~

“Are you asleep…?” 06 whispered, sitting on the edge of 01’s bed.
The wolf looked up from his pillow and smiled, stretching a hand out and interlacing his fingers with the fox’s. “Barely… Why aren’t you…?”
06 shrugged and squeezed 01’s hand.
“…Are you afraid…?” 01 asked.
The fox’s tail bristled at the question. “…Terrified.”
01 sat up on an elbow, the sheets falling about his form. “Me too.”
“Do you think I…” The fox’s eyes glowed in the dim light pouring in from the outer room. “…Can I-”
“Are you asking if you can sleep with me?” 01 asked, his voice barely heard over 03’s snoring.
“Well, that’s to the point… but… yes…?”
The wolf’s smile widened and he scooted to the edge of his bunk, giving room for the nude fox to slip in under the covers. He wrapped his arm around the smaller male, hand rubbing through the puff of fur in the center of his chest.
“I bet some fuck is enjoying how fast my heart is beating right now,” 06 said with a nervous laugh, melting against the large chest of the wolf.
01 cupped his hand over the fox’s heart and hummed. “It’s not any faster than mine.”
“Heh… I know. I… can feel it. Against my back.”
01 shifted away. “Sorry.”
“No!” 06 bit his tongue at the volume of his voice before repeating, quieter, “No. I… it feels nice.”
The wolf held his position before kneading the fox’s chest and pressing his own firmly against his back.
“…Are you sure you’re okay with this?” 06 asked, his eyes drifting shut. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable…”
The wolf laughed a little and trailed his fingers down the fox’s abdomen, stopping when he felt something warm touch his wrist. “I was going to ask if you were, but then…” He brought his hand down and gently gripped 06’s length, holding it in his hands, feeling the throbbing quicken at his touch.
06 exhaled sharply, arching his back against 01’s before biting his lip. “I meant more,” he paused, biting harder as the wolf squeezed, “more… with getting close. I mean… Two is right… at least one of us… at least one is going to die… maybe both…”
01 released 06’s shaft momentarily, running the backs of his fingers over his sheath and stroking the fur. “Well,” he whispered, whiskers tickling the inside of the fox’s large ear, “then why not live while we can…?”
The fox had to bite the pillow to keep from yipping as 01’s hand began to work his shaft, the thick pads of his hands slickening with vulpine pre. He slowed as the fox’s knot began to swell, taking care not to squeeze the base.
“…I’m sorry. I’ve been…”
“Shh,” 01 chided, releasing 06’s shaft just long enough to readjust himself. Sliding his hand up the fox’s chest, he tugged playfully on one of his nipple rings. “I’ve always loved these,” he said, circling the sensitive flesh with a claw.
“…Do… Do you want… in me…?” the fox asked, pressing his rear against the hard length between 01’s thighs.
01 chuckled. “…That’s not really my thing. I’m happy to just help…”
“Are you sure…? I… What can I do…?”
The wolf blinked slowly before capturing 06’s knot between two fingers and pressing gently. “Enjoy yourself.”
The fox turned around, exhaling sharply, and buried his muzzle in the wolf’s neck as the stroking grew faster. “I…”
“…Go ahead…”
06 yipped and stifled a laugh as he nuzzled into 01’s chest. Several more pumps and he released, covering both his and 01’s abdomen with his seed. He breathed heavily, relaxing in the wolf’s arms.
“Are you crying…?” 01 asked, lying flat on his back and pulling the fox on top of him.
“No…! Shush!” The fox wiped his eyes before nestling in and sighing, eyes heavy with exhaustion. “…Thank you.”
The wolf squeezed 06 tight and kissed the side of his muzzle. “You’re welcome.”

~

“Did you fall asleep out here?” 05 asked 02 as she exited the bunkroom.
The cheetah looked over the pillow, stretching and yawning widely. The sofa was covered in chip crumbs and a movie with two ninjas fighting one another played quietly on the television.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” 05 smirked and went to the boy’s side. Plucking a chip from his lap, she sat on the sofa and popped it in her mouth. “You’re just like my brother, always passing out in front of the TV. What are you watching?”
The cheetah sat up and pulled his legs aside, giving the civet more space. “I don’t know, it was a fantasy movie with knights when I fell asleep… What time is it?”
05 shrugged. “Does anyone know the time? I wake up early though, so I’d wager it being five or six, provided we are on our regular biological clocks.”
“Can I ask you something?” 02 asked, dusting himself off and muting the film.
The civet watched him through lidded eyes but nodded.
“What did you do before… this?”
She laughed. “That’s all? I thought you were going to ask me to show you my tits or something.”
“Well, we all already seen them.”
05 playfully punched his arm and crossed her legs. “I was a fighter. Never really did much else. Good pay.”
“…Ah.”
“Does it matter…?”
The cheetah slumped back down into the leather and curled up against his pillow. “I’ve just been thinking about… why us? I mean… Four was a writer, we know Three is a chef-”
“Six sells himself on camera and, after last night, I wouldn’t be surprised if One did something similar.”
“Huh?”
“Oh,” the civet looked away, “nothing. What about you?”
“That’s the thing… I haven’t done ‘anything’ yet. I was just about to start college… I play soccer. I had a full ride and now… I’m going to die!”
05 reached over and punched 02’s arm again. “Hey, now. Don’t go crying on me. I don’t do well with tears. Besides, you don’t know, you might live.”
The cheetah shook his head and buried his face against the pillow. “…That would mean all of you guys have to die.”
05 put her feet up on the coffee table and pointed at the domes with her toes. “Don’t worry so much about that. You’re cute, your case is tragic. You have a decent chance.”
“Don’t say that!” 02 snapped, chest rising and falling rapidly. “What if… what if someone else thinks that and votes for me because they ‘want’ to see me… die…? I had votes just like you guys did…”
The civet’s tail lashed and she looked down at her hands. “Just… try not to think about it. If it happens, it happens. We’re all going to die someday, right?”
“I guess…”
“What are you two up to?” 03 asked as he entered the living room, stretching his arms high overhead.
“Just watching ninja flicks,” 05 answered, pointing to the television. “Care to join us?”
The deer waved his hand. “I thought I’d make us some breakfast again. I was thinking of trying to make hash browns. Are you two good with that?”
“I’m fine with whatever,” 05 answered.
“That sounds great,” 02 agreed. “Is there milk in there?”
“Let me see… uh…” 03 threw the door to the fridge open and held up two bottles. “Whole milk and chocolate.”
“Whole, please.”
“You got it!”
“Are the two lovebirds still asleep?” 05 asked, unmuting the movie.
“Out like rocks.”
02 sat on his knees and stared at 03 while he washed his hands. “Hey, Three?”
“Yes?”
“How does your top work with the whole-” 02 pointed at his head and held his fingers up like antlers.
03 laughed and turned, pointing to a spot below his neck. “It zips up. Seems they thought of everything. Even the cutout,” he drew a finger around the edge of the circle, “I’d wager is close to the size of our hearts.”
“Ankou would know…” the cheetah mumbled, sinking in the chair and staring down at his own, impressively sized outline.
“You said you met him as your cardiologist?” 05 asked. “Are you…?”
“I’m fine,” 02 answered quickly. “I just turned up a false flag when screening for the soccer team. I guess that’s how Ankou found me. He… well he put my heart through every test he could.” Holding his hand over the muscle, 02 took a deep breath.
“Well,” 03 added, flipping the hash browns in the pan, “he said their audience has an obsession with hearts.”
“Doesn’t surprise me.” 05 tapped her fingers over her own. “It’s kind of hard to kill us without focusing a little on our hearts. It’s kind of what signifies us being alive, eh?”
01 and 06 exited then, the wolf sniffing at the air, nude alongside the fox. “What smells good?” 01 asked.
“Breakfast,” the deer answered without looking. “But, before you boys eat, why don’t you go to the shower and clean… all that off?”
06 hugged 01 from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder and grinning deviously. “Join me?”
02 blinked. “Did you two-”
Before 02 could finish his sentence, a folded eared 01 dragged 06 into the bathroom.
05 turned the television up and rolled her eyes. “Fucking men.”

~

“How’re you holding up?”
05 jumped. “Fuck, Three. How do you move so quietly with hooves?”
The deer simply chuckled and came to stand beside the civet. Both of them stared up at the panel alongside Ankou’s mirror. Each of the EKG lines bounded steadily, speeds varying – all but one. 04’s monitor held just a green line, the heart rate reading ‘0’.
“Four others are going to do that, aren’t they?” 05 asked.
“Yeah.”
The civet shook her head and padded over to the black coach. “What do you make of this?”
The deer quirked an eyebrow and went to her side. The coach’s wheels weren’t spinning but the lights beneath it continued to illuminate the macabre vehicle. “What do you mean?”
“I was thinking… The Pale Horses. They came through here, right?”
The deer reached a hand out to the doorknob on the side of the coach and shook.
“I already tried it. Locked. I couldn’t damage it at all, either.”
“You tried?” 03 asked, surprise apparent in your voice. “What about the turret?”
“Ankou, the fuck, promised we’d live if we followed two rules. He even suggested I could break things if I wanted to so… I just wanted to see if I could break in. I thought maybe there was some riddle that if we could figure it out… Fuck. I don’t know.”
“Ah.”
The civet rubbed her thumbs over her temples. “I hate this. Not knowing. If they’re going to kill me, then kill me and get it over with, you know?”
“Do you want to die?” 03 asked.
“Fuck no!” The civet snorted and looked over to the ‘Hell’ door. “I just… hate this.”
The deer frowned. “I understand. I wish I knew… anything about this whole operation. How many people are listening to our hearts right now? How many people are watching us and voting on each of us to die? It’s…”
“Fucked up.”
“Yeah. Fucked up,” 03 echoed. “The boys are playing some dance rhythm game, want to join?”
05 smirked. “So, that explains the increasing heart rates.” She looked at the board. “I’m sure someone is loving One right now.”
“189? Wow.”
“Damn, wonder what that squiggle means.” 05 pointed up at 06’s monitor. Though the fox’s heart was doing only about 130, the EKG line bounced and stuttered at random intervals.
“As far as I’m concerned?” 03 asked. “It means they – we – are alive.”
“Good enough for me,” 05 agreed.

~

“One?” 02 asked, helping the wolf with the dishes of their pasta lunch.
“Yes?”
“…How long has it been?”
The wolf’s expression darkened momentarily before returning to his usual awkward smile. “I’m not sure. I’ve been trying to focus on other things.”
“Like?” 06 asked, swooping into the kitchen and plucking a carrot from the fridge.
“What do you think, fox boy?” the wolf teased.
At that moment the siren that played before the last selection went off. 02 dropped the fork he was washing into the sink and fell back, 01 catching him before he fell.
“Oh, fuck,” 05 spat, looking up from the game of cards she and 03 were playing.
06 licked his lips and glared at the ceiling, eyes wide with anger.
“I’m glad you asked, Two.” Ankou’s voice boomed through the speakers. “Look at you all! All dressed up and ready to present yourselves. It makes my heart proud.”
“Let us listen to yours then,” 01 shot, helping the cheetah to a stool.
“I wouldn’t wear this if you didn’t steal our clothes. How’d you manage that, by the way?” 05 asked.
“That would be telling! But, never you mind that, Five. You look fantastic. It really accents your figure and that beautiful heart of yours.”
“Fuck you.”
Ankou simply laughed. “You guys have an hour. Clean up, pray, get frisky… eh One and Six…? Whatever. Then step back into the main hall to await the selection!”
“Bastard,” 05 said as the speakers went off.
“Come on guys,” 03 offered, rising and throwing his cards on the table. “Let’s get ready.”

~

They all stood in the hall, 01 and 06 holding hands, 03 holding 02 against his chest for support, and 05 standing by herself, staring unblinking at the one-way mirror. None of the contestant’s heart rates fell below 110 – 01 and 02’s breaking 150. None spoke, even when the speakers began to buzz and Ankou’s rolling hum came through.
“Welcome, welcome, welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the second selection! As always, we here at ‘Purgatory’ hope you’ve been enjoying our contestants’ time. For one person, however, that time is up.” Ankou flicked a switch on the monitor and the six methods of execution lit up alongside his mirror. “As with last time, the light will spin down the list, choosing the method of tonight’s death. Before we begin, are there any words our contestant’s would like to share?”
05 wasted no time. “Fuck you. How’s that?”
Ankou burst into laughter before clapping his hands. “I knew she was going to say that! You’ve got to love our resident hothead, eh? Well, without any further wait, let’s roll the bones!”
“Breathe,” 03 whispered, cupping his hands over 02’s heart, hiding its visible beating from sight.
The light began to spin. Like last time, it flew quickly at first and, after several rotations, began to slow. One by one, the light passed over each method – skipping over ‘Crossbow’ – before coming to a stop.
Six.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Ankou whistled. “We have ‘Contestant’s Choice’. Now this is a ‘real’ treat!”
“Care to explain?” 03 asked.
“Absolutely!” Ankou cleared his throat. “With ‘Contestant’s Choice’, the method of execution is completely up to the chosen. That’s right! When we have a selection, they’ll choose for themselves which method they’d prefer!”
“That’s fucked.”
“You expect us to choose how we die?” 06 asked in disbelief.
“Indeed! It’s the only time one of you will be lucky enough to have any say in their end.” Ankou called back up the voting screen and began inputting his password. “Well, if there’s no further questions, what do you say we find out who will be leaving us this evening?”
All of the contestants went rigid and silent as the votes began to compile themselves on screen, each number collecting their fair share. Unlike the first night, however, the voting was noticeably more skewed. One number, however, rose high above the others.
“Six!”
Everyone whipped their heads to stare at the fox. 06 stepped back, 01 following him and holding his hand tightly.
“I’m sorry,” 01 said, eyes filling with tears. “Fuck, Six, I’m so sorry!”
“I’m going to die…?”
“You are indeed! What method would you prefer?” Ankou noticed on a side camera the clear visibility of 06’s heart beating. Muting his mic, he looked over his shoulder to one of the camera operators and snapped his fingers. Relaxing back in his chair, Ankou watched as the camera focused in on the grey fur, licking his lips at the sight of 06’s heart beating in two separate locations of his chest.
03 crossed the room quickly, gripping the fox’s shoulder firmly. “It’s going to be okay. Look at me.”
“No, it isn’t! I’m going to die!”
“Three!” the civet yelled.
The deer looked back towards the coach. The doors opened and the twin Pale Horses stepped into the chamber. Unlike with 04, they waited patiently for orders, standing with their hands behind their backs.
“We need an answer, Six!”
“For pity’s sake, have some compassion!” 03 shouted, waving a hand angrily at Ankou’s window. “You can’t just expect him to choose how he wants to die!”
“Yes, actually, I can. Choose.”
“I don’t… I don’t know… Fuck, this isn’t like… picking a new shirt to wear… Fuck, I’m going to die…”
“Do you want my advice?” 03 offered, leaning in and meeting the fox’s eyes with his. 06 nodded. “Pick guillotine. I know, I know,” the deer reached out and brushed a tear away as it dripped down the vulpine’s nose. “It sounds scary but… it’s supposed to be quick.”
06 rubbed at his neck, swallowing heavily before turning to 01. “I don’t know what to do…”
“I… second Three’s opinion.” The wolf wrapped his arms tightly about the fox’s body, holding him against his chest. “It’ll be quick…”
Ankou pouted, annoyed that 01 was blocking his view of the fox’s frightened heart. “What do you say, Six? Want to give head?”
“Would you shut the fuck up?” 03 shot, fury raging in his eyes.
“Oh?” Ankou teased. “It’s strange, Three, seeing you so riled up. You were so submissive pinned beneath my feet.”
The deer scowled but looked away from the mirror, ears folding back with embarrassment.
“Okay.” 06 said it quietly at first, then repeated himself, staring over at the Pale Horses. “Okay. I choose…” He closed his eyes and turned his head, resting his muzzle in 01’s neck fluff and drawing in great breaths of his scent. “Guillotine.”
“I was hoping for that one…” the cheetah mumbled.
“Two!” the deer scolded.
“Excellent choice! You see, ladies and gentlemen? Friendship is a wonderful thing. Now, please follow my Pale Horses to the execution chamber.”
“Fuck.” 06 said as the two equines approached. He clung to 01, nestling his ear over the muscular wolf’s heart even as his own began to beat through the speakers. “Thank you,” he whispered, “for last night.”
“You don’t have to say that. You know you’re welcome. I enjoyed it too.” 01 glared at the horses as they neared, laying his chin atop the grey’s head.
The fox’s heart thundered, racing at 186 beats per minute. His chest rose and fell with panicked breaths as the Pale Horses reached out for him.
Reluctantly, 01 allowed the fox to be pulled away from him. The wolf followed closely as they lead 06 towards the ‘Hell’ door, taking care to keep his distance.
When the door opened, revealing a modern guillotine, classic in all ways but the steel, 06’s heart rate broke 190. He turned to face 01.
The wolf ran forward.
Both Pale Horses shoved 06 down and drew their pistols in unison, aiming the lasers at the heart cutout of 01’s top.
“Wait!” 01 flinched, holding his hands up. “I… just wanted to say goodbye…”
One Pale Horse looked at the other and holstered his firearm. Jerking a finger at the wolf, he stepped back, allowing 01 to approach.
06 threw his arms around 01’s shoulders as they brought their lips together for the first time. The fox laughed as 01 wiped the tears from his eyes.
“Why couldn’t I have met you somewhere else?”
01 whimpered, tears welling up in his own eyes. “Life’s fucked up like that.” He leaned in and kissed the grey one more time before the equine snapped his fingers. “Can I go with him? He shouldn’t have to die alone.”
“He won’t be.” The Pale Horse gestured to himself and his twin before placing a strong hand on 06’s shoulder and guiding him inside.
01 stared, even as the door closed, the fox gone, leaving behind just a scared heartbeat ringing through the speakers.
“One,” the civet said, placing her hand on his lower back. “Come on, let’s… go inside.”
The wolf openly cried but nodded and followed the remaining contestants into ‘Penance’.
The room had changed beyond just the device since 04’s execution. Over the guillotine itself hung large, high definition cameras and a long mirror. At the head of the guillotine stood a tall machine that resembled hospital diagnostic equipment.
“What is that for?” 06 asked, feet feeling weighted as the Pale Horses urged him forward.
“Do you want to lay on your chest, or your back?” one of the twins asked as the other began flipping switches on the machine.
“What is that for?” he repeated.
The second Pale Horse raised a strange circlet attached with wires, an adjustment buckle on the back. “This will monitor your brain activity. Since your head will be coming off, there’s no sense in checking for regular reflexes to confirm death but this will allow our viewers to watch the exact moment your brain shuts off.”
The fox’s heart skipped hard and he held his hand over it as if to calm it down. “Oh,” was all he managed.
“Face up or down?” the first horse asked again.
“Four,” the grey fox began, taking a deep breath and walking forward on his own. “Four stood bravely for her death. I… Fuck.” He bucked and drew in a shaky breath, wiping his eyes on the back of his arm. “I can at least try… right? F… Face up.”
“All right. Place your back against this panel.”
06 nodded and stepped up to the device that would claim his life, his sweat slick pads slipping over the metal floor. “Here?” he asked, the cold slab pressing against his back.
“Yes.” The Pale Horse knelt by the fox’s feet first, wrapping a strap around them and tightening him to the panel. He worked up the vulpine’s body, every few inches a new strap being added.
“You’re… You’re not bad looking you know…?” 06 offered, laughing nervously as the horse tightened the strap below his ribs. He tried moving, panic beginning to set in as he found his body locked in tight.
“Thank you,” the Pale Horse answered. Pressing his hoof to a button on the floor and the panel began to fall backwards until the fox was laid out horizontally. A second button caused the table to move forward, stopping only when 06’s head was secured in the lunette.
06’s lips quivered as he stared up at the blade that would end his life. Seeing his reflection in the mirror, his heart broke 200, shaking his body and pounding visibly before the cameras.
The second Pale Horse placed the medical crown on his head and tightened its fittings, taking care to allow enough slack in the wires for the head to fall. At the press of a button, the wavy lines of 06’s brain appeared on screen. He looked to his twin and nodded.
“Ready?” the first Pale Horse asked, resting his hand on the switch controlling the blade.
“No, but then, I don’t really have… a… a choice, do I?”
“No,” the Pale Horse recording his brain’s activity replied, voice carrying with it a slight melodic tone.
The fox closed his eyes, listening to his heart pounding through the room, feeling it punch his ribs, lungs inflating and deflating with his deep breaths. Alive.
06 opened his eyes and stared at the camera before looking at the Pale Horse. Opening his mouth, he stared at the blade and let out a coarse, “All right I… I’m ready.”
The blade fell, separating 06’s head from his body with ease.
06’s head fell down atop a white pillow, blood leaking out and staining the cover red. The fox’s body jerked and fought against the bindings, nerves firing like mad, the heart beating at 211 times per minute, severed carotids pulsing out in quick spurts.
After the cut, the fox’s brain activity skyrocketed and his eyes seemed to move left and right, the camera overhead zooming in to capture every detail of life fading from the fallen head.
After ten seconds, however, the lines on the monitor dimmed out, after thirty, the lines were inactive.
Still, 06’s body fought for life, toes splaying and curling, muscles straining against the straps. After a minute, even his body ran out of energy, his heart going from 180 to 30 in three, skipped beats. The pulsing from his neck slowed to an unsteady drip and his flailing body gave in to the straps’ embrace.
Fifteen seconds later and the heart went still along with 06’s body.
Ankou watched, wide eyed, fingers digging in to his own chest, pressing against his heart. “Wow,” he said after flipping the camera watching the ‘Heaven’ door on and opening his mic. “Ladies and gentlemen… What a show! I think you’ll join me in saying this season has some unexpected individuals! What more can I say? I think Six’s performance speaks for itself. What a valiant effort by his heart!” Ankou swallowed and licked his lips. “Unfortunately, that’s all for now. But we here at ‘Purgatory’ sincerely hope that you enjoyed Six’s end and hope you’ll join us next time!” Closing his mic, Ankou fell back against his chair and stroked his chin fur, watching with wonder as his Pale Horses went about detaching the equipment from 06 like they would unplug a vacuum.
In the main hall, the second lock to the ‘Heaven’ door released, another red light powering down and joining the first.