The Fourth Selection

“What an amazing end to such an energetic life! Thank you for witnessing this with us here in ‘Purgatory’, and as always… we hope you’ll join us for the next session!”
03 sat alone in the main hall. The deer stared up the board through tired eyes as 01’s heart joined the other two displaying ‘0’ BPM.
05 opened the door from ‘Penance’ and cleared her throat, looking around awkwardly. “Hey, Three.”
The deer turned to face her and smiled. “How’s Two feeling?”
The civet entered and padded over to the stag, taking a seat beside him and brushing her hand against his. “No. How are ‘you’ feeling?”
“Like shit.” 03 sighed dejectedly. “I… was really ready to die. I couldn’t take One’s crying. He…” the deer’s voice caught in his throat and he brought a hand up to cover his mouth as he breathed in an unsteady lungful of air. “He was so afraid…”
05 lowered her head. “…Aren’t you? Aren’t we all?”
“Of course I’m afraid… but I’m thirty-six. He was what, early twenties? So full of life… and now he’s-”
“Dead. And tomorrow so will another one of us. It might be the kid, it might be me, it might be you. We don’t know.” 05 faced him, taking his hand fully in hers at that point and revealing the water in her own eyes. “I don’t want to die but there’s nothing we can do.” Laughing, she nosed in the direction of Ankou’s mirror. “Least they aren’t torturing us before we die.”
“Heh. Silver linings.”
“Come on, let’s go inside. You hungry?”
The deer frowned. “I don’t… really want to cook right now.”
“I wasn’t asking that. Come on, I’ll cook. I make a mean boiled hot dog.”
03 laughed at that and struggled to his feet. “All right, let’s go see what the kid is doing.”
05 continued holding 03’s hand as they entered the dormitory.

~

“One time, I had this hyena, real brute, pin me under his foot when we were fighting to unconsciousness.”
“That’d be enough to leave me unconscious,” 03 said, licking his lips before taking a drink of beer.
05 smirked. “Forgot you were a foot guy. Anyway. So, what you men seem to forget is that your most vulnerable spots dangle about between your legs. One, solid punch to his groin and he was feeling ‘my’ foot slamming into his head.”
“Fuck,” 02 said, watching the civet wide-eyed with wonder. “Did he die?”
“Don’t know, for sure. They stopped me after the third stomp. I know he hasn’t fought there since, though.”
“Have you ever killed anyone?” 03 asked, standing and taking his plate to the kitchen. “That you know of?”
05 shifted uncomfortably at that. “Not on purpose,” she said. “My club occasionally fights to ‘flatline’. There’s a big… slot machine looking thing that determines what each match will go to. When that one gets picked, you literally fight until-”
“One of your hearts stop…” 02 mouthed.
“Not entirely unlike this, eh?” 03 observed.
“Well, people rarely die. I’ve flatlined a few times but they’ve always brought me back.” She looked down at her chest nervously before attempting to change the subject. “What do we want to do tonight? I was thinking about getting an early rest.”
“You’ve flatlined before?” 02 asked, scooting closer to the civet and staring at her chest.
“Would you quit?” she said, kicking playfully at the cheetah’s side. “Yeah, I have, all right?”
“What does it feel like?”
05 bit her lip and stroked the exposed fur of her chest. “A lot of the pain was in my head. It… The club brings people back, of course. Some die, but I don’t think any of my opponents have. Most tend to not want to fight again after being beaten that far, though.”
“Oh…” 02 seemed almost disappointed in her answer, sitting back on the couch and digging his fingers over his own oversized heart.
“Five,” 03 called then, holding a hand up while standing near the bathroom, carrying 04’s notebook in his opposite hand. “Find a good movie. I’m going to take a quick shower.”
The civet’s eyes narrowed. “What are you feeling?”
Shrugging, the deer entered the bathroom, calling over his shoulder, “A prison break or fugitive flick.”

~

“I need to take a piss,” 05 said, tossing her soda can to the floor, the three having given up trying to keep the dormitory clean. She looked at 03 and nodded, rising to her feet and skipping off to the bathroom.
“Three?” 02 asked when the door closed.
“Yeah, kid?”
“Does Five seem… different to you?”
03 smiled. “How so?”
The cheetah shrugged. “I’m not sure. She just feels… different.”
“I think we’re all a little on edge,” 03 offered, pausing the film. “How about you? Are you doing all right?”
“Yeah, I suppose. I can’t stop thinking about them though… when I close my eyes…” The cheetah shook his head as if to rid himself of the images. “I keep seeing Four being shot… Six’s… head… coming off… Fucking One’s heart being lifted up. That could have been me! I… My heart…”
“I know, Two.”
“I don’t want to die. I… want to win this and go home. But… I know if I say that I look like the bad guy because I’m essentially saying I want you and Five to die. But… Fuck…”
The deer stood up from his sofa and moved to the cheetah’s. He sat alongside the boy and wrapped an arm over his shoulders. “I don’t think that makes you a bad guy. Nobody wants to die.”
“…I wish I was brave like you. You tried to sacrifice yourself for One.”
“Me? Brave?” The deer laughed at that. “Weren’t you looking at my EKG? I was just talking about that with Five. I was scared as hell.”
“But, you did it.”
“Yeah… I did. That doesn’t make me brave, though.”
02 was quiet for a long moment before curling up and resting his head on 03’s leg. He closed his eyes as the deer began stroking the fur of his bare back and asked, “The last two methods… will they hurt?”
The stag’s ears flicked and he remained quiet.
“Three?”
“Gallows and the Gas Chamber. Classic execution methods. It… depends on how it’s done. If they put the wrong amount of slack in the rope for… performance reasons… it could take several minutes to die. If you hold your breath in the chamber and refuse to breathe it in… I heard it’s almost like drowning.”
The cheetah’s fur bristled beneath the deer’s hand and he let out a shaky breath.
“They might rig the gallows to break your neck, though. That’ll render you unconscious right at the fall. And if… if you get chosen and it’s the gas chamber… take deep breaths.”
“Won’t…” The cheetah had begun crying at that point. “Won’t that kill me faster?”
“I suppose it depends on what you’d rather have. A quick death or a longer more painful end. It’s up to you.”
“I just wish the police would storm this place…”
“Me too, kid. Me too.”

~

“Okay, Two. I have to ask. Do I have something on my face?” The civet folded her arms and cocked her head to the side inquisitively. “You’ve been staring at me throughout most of the movie.”
The cheetah’s eyes were wide and he glanced down at his hands before chancing a look back at 05, quickly turning away as she smirked.
“I can see the blushing in your ears, kid. What’s on your mind?” She lifted her top until the underside of her breasts were showing. “Do you want to see my tits or something?”
“No! I… well…”
“…Do you?” 05’s expression turned to one of shock and she barely withheld a laugh. “Who am I to deny someone who might be dead in a few hours’ final wish?” Sitting forward she tore the top off and threw it at the cheetah, leaning back in the sofa and turning her attention back to the screen.
02’s inner ears practically glowed red as he threw her top off of him and leaned forward in the chair, eyes darting back and forth between her bared chest and the film.
She grinned and watched him moving awkwardly in her peripherals. “It’s just my chest, kid. I’ve seen yours plenty of times.”
“Well, yeah, but… you’re a chick.”
“So? They’re small.” The civet looked down at her chest, tapping a claw against the visible heartbeat beneath her left breast. “I bet the cameras are loving this right now.”
“…I think you look great…”
“Are you okay?” 05 turned her attention fully to the cheetah, her smile turning to one of awkwardness at the cheetah’s length straining inside of his uniform’s bottom. “I can put it back on if it helps.”
“I’m sorry!” 02 shouted.
“Hey, shh. Don’t wake Three up.” 05 rose and went to the cheetah’s side, collapsing on the sofa beside him and placing a hand on his thigh. “I don’t mind. Look all you want if it does it for you.” She pointed at the ceiling cameras with her middle finger. “That goes for you fucks as well.”
The cheetah’s eyes flicked to her chest again as she began massaging his leg, his breaths coming out in short, quick bursts. “I… I’m sorry.”
“Would you quit saying that?” She reached over and gripped the boy’s shaft through the latex shorts, keeping her eyes on the film. “See? I’m not sorry I did that. You stop saying sorry for looking at my chest. Damn.”
02 arched his back and growled, thrusting into the civet’s hand before falling back to the leather cushions.
“Fuck, you’re excitable,” 05 teased, giving his member a squeeze before returning her hand to his inner thigh.
“Shut up… Look… I’ve never…” The cheetah moved aside and brought a hand to his mouth, biting hard on a finger. “I’ve never… done this stuff, okay?”
05 drew her hand back and turned, resting her chin in her palm. “What? Really? How old are you, again?”
“Eighteen!”
“…And you’re telling me that a cheetah like you, on the soccer team, with a body like that, never had a girl going through high school?”
“No! I’ve never… I mean, I’ve kissed before.”
“Wow.” The civet grinned, brushing the tops of her toes over his leg as she stared. “You really are just starting life.”
“Don’t… remind me.” 02 turned the movie volume up three clicks. “…Or the audience. I don’t want someone getting turned on by the fact that I’m a virgin or something.”
“Well… I mean, you don’t have to be.” 05’s ears flicked nervously at that and she cleared her throat.
“I’ve kind of already said it,” the cheetah spat.
“Yeah. And your cock is hard. And I have a pussy.”
“Can you not joke about this? Please?” 02 stood and made to leave but 05 grabbed his tail and yanked him back down. “I shouldn’t even be thinking about sex when…”
“I’m not kidding.”
“You want me to fuck you? Right here on the sofa? In front of… who knows how many people? Likely with them listening to our hearts beating while we do it?”
“Why not? It’ll put on a good show. I know my heart pounds when-”
“I’m not interested in putting on a show for them!” The cheetah was near to growling despite the hardness standing out between his legs against the uniform shorts. “Besides, didn’t you literally say you didn’t star in porn?”
“I don’t.” 05 took 02’s hand in hers and smiled, holding her ears back slightly. “It isn’t really porn if I’m doing it with a friend, right? It isn’t like… you’re pretending to be the pizza boy and fucking me over the kitchen counter.”
02 laughed at that and shook his head. “I… don’t know. I just… I wouldn’t even know the first thing.”
“Sure you do,” 05 said, pressing a finger pad to his tip. “You’re already there.”
02 shuddered, closing his eyes as she crawled over the sofa, brushing her muzzle against his while she leaned in and nipped at his ear. “Let me lead,” she whispered before guiding him to his back and helping lower his pants.
The cheetah’s heart slammed against his chest as she kissed down his neck. Pausing over the large heart, she pressed her lips to his pec before sliding down his body, stopping at the hem of his top and helping 02 lift it free of his chest.
She sat back, kicking her own uniform’s pants off and resumed her work, tongue exploring the defined muscles of 02’s abdomen before coming to his shaft. She planted a kiss on the head, licking her lips at the pre that leaked from the tip. Growling playfully, she brushed her cheek over his flaring barbs before continuing her muzzle’s journey down his legs.
02 helped the civet, lifting his leg up as she kissed down his calf, cupping the boy’s heel in her hand and kissing over his foot, nosing and licking around his claws. The cheetah reached down between his legs and gripped his member, the civet looking over his toes and shaking her head.
“No, no, boy. That’s my job.” She kissed the cheetah’s sole pad before gently laying the leg down and returning her muzzle to his shaft. Taking it in her mouth, she wrapped her tongue around the head and stared up over his panting chest.
“W… what do… What do I do?” 02 panted, resting a hand on his chest, twisting at one of his own nipples.
05 sat up, licking her lips. “I said,” she shot, reaching out and twisting the cheetah’s other nipple, “let me lead! Just… enjoy, all right?” She tugged the boy’s lean body down and positioned herself on top, resting her hands on his chest.
02’s eyes were wild as she lowered her sex down onto his throbbing length. His back arched, pushing deep inside of her as instinct and need began to seize control.
“Easy…” she whispered, massaging at 02’s chest muscles and rocking her hips up an inch before sliding back down. “Try and follow my rhythm.”
Their eyes met one another’s, unblinking. 02’s heart raced just as fast as 05’s, both vividly on display for the cameras as he began thrusting, his body finding the pace, driven by desire.
“H… how long does… How long am I supposed to-”
“Shh, boy. Don’t think of it like that…” 05’s breaths came out in shallow waves as she rode the cheetah. She leaned in, pressing her lips to his in a kiss before throwing her head back and exhaling shakily.
02’s toe claws dug into the leather of the sofa, their sharp ends tearing the cushions as his thrusting became more urgent.
05 returned her eyes to his, feeling him shake, the throbbing inside of her signaling how close the cheetah was getting. “Just let it happen,” she said, leaning back and rubbing her own hands down her chest.
02’s mouth hung open and he let out one long breath as he came, his back arching as he filled the civet with his seed. When he was finished, he fell back, panting and staring up at 05 with a look of utter shock.
The civet’s body bucked in response to the male’s pleasure, 05 having to bite her lip to keep from moaning too loudly. Her heart was racing. When she opened her eyes she grabbed 02’s hand and brought it over her breast, pressing the boy’s hand in and feeling her heartbeat through his wrist.
“Did I…?” 02 mouthed, voice cracking, his chest heaving.
“You…” 05 panted, resting her hands on 02’s chest and flicking her head to the side, bangs having fallen in her eyes. “You did fine, Two. That… that was fun.”
02 smiled, ears folded back bashfully as he stared up the civet, a look of contentedness on his face. “Thank you…”
05 laughed. “Anytime.”

~

The three were awoken by the sound of a door slamming open. 05 was the first to rise from her bunk, a frightened 02 staring up at her from the sheets. She looked over at 03 and exited the bunkroom.
“Where is it?” Ankou demanded, pointing a small handgun at both of the contestants while his Pale Horses ripped the dormitory apart, one tossing sofa cushions aside, the other trashing the bathroom.
“Where is what?” 05 asked, yawning and leaning against the doorframe.
Ankou fired a shot dangerously close to the civet’s head.
“Fuck!” 03 shouted, falling to one knee and dragging 05 down with him.
“Don’t play with me! Where is Four’s journal?”
“Sir,” the Pale Horse in the bathroom said, exiting carrying the notebook.
Ankou ripped the book from his bodyguard’s hands and flipped through the pages quickly. His ears were back as he read the pages. Chewing on his pistol’s slide, he tossed the journal to the coffee table and laughed.
“Are you finally losing it, Ankou?” 05 asked.
“Five!” 03 warned, backing into the bunkroom and keeping himself between the coyote and a frightened 02.
“While I enjoy Four’s writings… and I am glad she was able to continue them for her brief time with us here in ‘Purgatory’… you know damn well that’s not what I’m looking for!” Ankou raised his pistol to the air and shot twice into the ceiling.
The panel hiding the turret opened then, the large caliber rifle extending down on its mounting.
“Sir!”
“Really, bitch?” Ankou folded his arms as the turret came to life. “Override code three two zero five alpha nine.” The turret’s laser aimed at the coyote’s heart, humming as the barrel warmed up. He stared at the turret with annoyance as the laser flicked off and it began to rise back into the ceiling.
“What are you looking for?” 03 asked cautiously, holding a hand out towards Ankou as if it would shield himself from a bullet.
“Why did you take the notebook into the bathroom?”
“I just wanted to read in peace before I took a shower. I’m a fan of her works.”
Ankou laughed again, padding around the room and pointing at random things with his gun. “Okay, you were a fan. What was her name?”
03 watched him through lidded eyes before answering. “I’m not going to throw my life away. Rule number two was not to give out our names.”
Ankou half-whimpered, half-chuckled, tapping the barrel of his pistol against one of the Pale Horse’s chests. “I knew we should have added cameras to the fucking bathroom after last time.”
“What happened last time?” 05 asked, licking her lips and looking over at 03 with a coy smile.
“Contestants thought they’d be clever and not show themselves to the cameras. So, we locked the bathroom. Thank you for not being so petty.” Ankou shoved a Pale Horse out of the way and made for the exit. “Oh, and Five? Two? Thank you for your performance last night, we had quite a viewership for so late an hour.” With that, he was gone, his built bodyguards following suit.
“What the fuck was that about?” 02 asked, peering over 03’s shoulder at 05.
“Don’t worry about it, kid. Ankou is just paranoid.”

~

When the siren went off for the fourth time, each of the contestants were busy relaxing in the hot tub. Though they knew it was only a matter of time before one of them was dead, the anxiousness in the air was somewhat lifted, even with Ankou’s cameras following each of them even more closely than before.
“We have one hour,” 05 said, mocking Ankou’s voice before he came over the speakers. She grunted and stood up from the hot tub, shaking water everywhere before wrapping herself with a towel.
02 was not in as cheerful of a mood, his eyes darting between the deer and civet wildly. “Why are you both… so calm…?”
“What’s the point?” 03 asked, exiting along with 05. “One of us will be dead in a little over an hour right?”
“Well you don’t have to be so-”
“Yes. One of you will be dead soon,” Ankou spat over the microphone. He growled, voice rumbling through the speakers. “And as Five so aptly put it, you have an hour.”
“Come on, kid,” 05 said, offering a hand. “Let’s go put on our best, eh?”
The cheetah took her hand in his, stepping free of the water on shaky knees. He smiled, despite the water forming in the corners of his eyes, and followed the civet to the bunkroom, 03 in tow.

~

“Ladies and gentlemen…” Ankou sighed, sitting slumped in his chair and staring down at the contestants tiredly. “First and foremost I must apologize for the earlier… fiasco. We here in ‘Purgatory’ pride ourselves on bringing you the finest in death entertainment and that was, in a word, unprofessional.”
“That’s one way to put it,” 05 agreed, standing between the boys, resting an elbow on 02’s shoulder as she stared, bored, at the mirror.
“What was that?” 03 asked, grinning slightly. “Master Ankou lost a little of his composure. I’ve never seen that before.”
Ignoring the contestants, Ankou continued, “For those of you who were tuned in at the time of the incident, we would like to offer you a subscription for the next season, free of charge! Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience the event may have caused regarding your viewing pleasure.” Clapping his hands together, he cleared his throat and put on his best host voice. “However, we know why we’re here now and that is to see one of these great contestants face their end and die for your enjoyment!”
The voting board disappeared as Ankou called up the methods, pleased to see that even in their defiance, the contestants couldn’t hide the pounding in their chests, the natural fear of death rooted deep in their psyches.
“All we have left are two methods, one classic, one a little more modern. What will it be? Will we watch one of our three hang? Or will they succumb to the poisons within a sealed chamber? Shall we find out?” He grinned and pressed the button on the console, sending the light racing between the two methods.
The contestants watched, unable to take their eyes from the selector, each of their heart rates in the high 100’s as the light came to a stop.
Five.
“And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen! Gas Chamber!”
05 and 03 looked to one another solemnly, 02 staring at their EKG’s as the lines began to jump madly.
“Now, it’d be boring if we were to do things entirely old fashioned, wouldn’t it?” Ankou asked, “Tied to a chair, stethoscope taped to the chest… no need to do that when we can do this, right?” He tapped the button broadcasting 03’s heart, allowing it to beat for a few seconds before moving on to 05, repeating the count, and finally 02’s.
The cheetah winced and brought his hands up to his ears, trying not to hear his heart rushing blood at such a blistering pace.
Killing the monitors, Ankou reopened his mic. “The question is… whose heart will we hear coming to a fatal stop within the cloud of poison?” He hummed, personally panning the camera over each contestant’s face. “Let’s find out.” Password at the ready, unwilling to waste any time, he hit ‘enter’ as soon as the previous screen appeared and leaned back in his chair as the votes were tallied.
Being so close to the end, Ankou had expected the votes to be a landslide win for someone, what he found was a near equal spread across the three. While their hearts showed the fear this caused, the coyote was just amused. After what seemed like an eternity, the last vote was given, revealing the winning number.
Two.
“We have a selection, ladies and gentlemen! Our boy may have gotten lucky last night, but it appears that luck has run out!”
02 began screaming, clinging as tightly as he could to 05. “No! I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die! Please!”
“Fuck. Fuck! Why?” 05 hugged the boy tight as the Pale Horses stepped free of the black coach. “What the fuck is wrong with you people? Why Two? Why?”
03 joined 05, clinging tightly to the cheetah and trying to calm him down as best he could. “Ankou. Please. Rules or no rules, take myself instead. Not the kid!”
Each of their hearts raced but 02’s broke 200. Each breath he inhaled was exhaled in the form of a begging cry. The Pale Horses grabbed 05 and yanked her aside, staring down 03 as the deer pulled the cheetah aside.
“Why the fuck would you vote for Two?” 05 yelled at the ceiling. “He’s only eighteen! I’m thirty-one. I… don’t have a life. Am I not good enough to kill? What the fuck?”
“Please, don’t do this,” 02 sobbed, holding his arms protectively to his chest as a Pale Horse grabbed his shoulder, the other drawing his gun and aiming it at 03’s leg.
“Go ahead and shoot,” 03 said, “I’m not letting go. This is fucked. Take me instead. Not him. Not Two.”
The Pale Horse took a deep breath and sighed, turning away from the deer for just a moment before whipping back around and slamming his fist over one of 03’s kidneys. The deer toppled over, releasing the cheetah and staring up helplessly, managing to just grab ahold of one of the equine’s hooves.
“Three!” 05 shouted, running forward and throwing herself at the first Pale Horse, foot extended in a running kick.
The executioner grunted and swatted the small civet’s leg aside as though she were but a fly. His brother jerked his hoof free and planted it on the center of 05’s chest as 02 was dragged screaming to the ‘Hell’ door.
“Two!” 05 yelled, breaths constricted beneath the heavy male. “Fuck, Two, I’m sorry!”
“Breathe… breathe deeply, kid…” 03 managed, sitting up on an elbow, face contorting with pain.
“Help!” 02 hollered. “Please, don’t let them kill me!”
“Two… Two!” 05 hit the Pale Horse’s leg with all her might, relenting as the cheetah disappeared behind the door, the ‘Hell’ chamber sealing with a loud click.
The Pale Horse looked up at the mirror and cocked his head to the side.
“Your twin can handle the kid, just come back. Well, done,” Ankou praised.
The horse nodded and stepped off of the civet, holstering his gun and returning to the coach, leaving both 05 and 03 alone in the main hall, writhing on the floor and listening to the terrified beats of 02’s heart.
The room was devoid of everything but the gas chamber, having been fitted for the method as though each device was on some sort of roundtable. 02 punched the Pale Horse’s chest, fighting to get his hands on his gun.
“Would you stop?” the horse asked, throwing the cheetah down and turning away, grabbing a gas mask from beside the door.
The cheetah snarled through clenched teeth before charging the horse from behind. As he approached, however, the executioner turned, bent one knee, and drove his hoof into the boy’s sternum.
The kick sent 02 flying back, his heart responding in turn, the beat falling out of rhythm for nearly ten seconds while the Pale Horse removed his hood and quickly replaced it with the full faced gas mask.
“You… you said… you weren’t torturers…” 02 said between heavy breaths, heart having regained its speed.
“And you should behave yourself.”
“I don’t … you’re going to kill me!”
“Yes.” The horse pointed to the chamber at the center of the room. “Now be nice and go stand inside.”
“No.”
“Get in or I will force you in.”
The cheetah stared down at his hands and shook his head, ears as far back against his skull as he could manage.
“For fuck’s sake, have some dignity.” The Pale Horse stomped over to the cheetah and yanked him to his feet by the collar of his uniform, stretching the latex out. “What do you think this act of yours is going to prove? I know you don’t want to die, but you’re going to. Soon.”
“But… I’m alive now…” The boy spat, swatting his hand at the horse’s face.
The executioner looked up at the cameras, cracked his neck, and slammed the cheetah against the chamber, fighting to remove his ruined top. Though 02 put up a valiant fight, the horse won in the end, baring the boy’s chest to the viewers.
02 screamed even louder as he was thrown into the chamber. Scrambling to his feet, he turned just in time to see the door close, the Pale Horse tightening the crank on the other side.
“No!” The cheetah cried, banging on the thick glass. He pressed his shoulder to the metal, pushing with all his might, sweaty pads slipping over the clean metal floor. “Please… no…” He slid down, staring up at the black domes in the chamber, tears streaming down his cheeks. On the floor at the center of the chamber was a small disk resembling a drain, several vents lining the ceiling.
He held his hands over his heart, intent on showing as little as possible to those who were watching – listening – to him die. He curled his legs up to his chest and sobbed, pressing his face against his knees. 02 could faintly hear his heart beating through the speakers outside the chamber but the beats were heavily muffled within the sealed room.
One sound rose above his terrified heartbeat, however. He looked up over his knees, eyes widening as the sound of gas – resembling an air compressor – came from the drain in the floor.
02 took a deep breath and held it, despite 03’s advice. Rising, he ran to the drain and pressed his broad sole pad over it, feeling the gas seeping its way through his toes. He cried, knowing he was unable to stop it, holding his hands to his muzzle and closing his eyes as tightly as he could.
His lungs burned and his heart punched his chest visibly as it burned away his oxygen. 02 doubled over, curling his toes as he fought against the desire to breathe. Eventually, his resolve failed and he inhaled a lungful of the poisonous fumes.
The cheetah’s eyes shot open and he fell back from the vent, exhaling the poison and coughing before breathing in another deep breath, his body desperately fighting for oxygen that wouldn’t come. His mouth hung open in pain as he turned to the window, finding the Pale Horse staring in at him, catching a glimpse of the equine’s red eyes through the glass of his gas mask’s goggles.
02 fell to the floor, hands digging at his chest, massive heart straining to continue on, each beat slower than the last. He scooted away from the door until his back was pressed against the opposite end of the chamber.
After nearly a minute of shallow breathing, his heart stopped, 02 using what remained of his strength to feel over his chest, eyes widening in fear as he realized the beat had fallen away to silence. His jaw went slack, and though he tried to sit up, his arms fell to his sides and his eyes closed, ears twitching as the ventilation system kicked in.
The Pale Horse waited the few seconds required for the gas to dissipate before unsealing the chamber and entering, penlight in hand. He lifted the boy’s head by the hair, thumbing open his eyes and shining the light in them. Cocking his head to the side, he sat the cheetah down and went to his feet.
Following the usual procedures, he lifted the cheetah’s foot by the ankle and dragged the metal rod over his sole pad. He grunted and repeated the check as the cheetah’s toes twitched. Despite the lack of heartbeat, the boy’s brain clung to life.
The horse pressed his fingers to the artery atop 02’s foot, feeling for a pulse. Finding none, he repeated the check. Again, however, the toes flexed.
“You really don’t want to die, do you?” the horse said, staring at the vacant expression on the feline’s face. He continue to wait, massaging the boy’s sole with his gloved hand, breathing slowly through the gas mask’s filter. When he was sure it was long enough, he repeated the check.
The toes remained still, 02’s brain having given up the fight.
Ankou watched, mesmerized by the scene, sitting cross-legged and running his pen back and forth over his own sole pad. He forgot to open his mic until one of his crewmen cleared their throat. Killing the monitor in 02’s chest, he pressed the button activating his microphone and paused, struggling for words.
“That,” he took a drink of his water, muting himself momentarily before continuing, “ladies and gentlemen, was unlike anything we’ve seen here in ‘Purgatory’. We’ve had people fight against our poor, Pale Horses before and we’ve seen people begging for life… But, never have I seen a brain last so long without a heartbeat. I think you’ll all join me in congratulating Two for his heroic attempt at survival!”
The coyote looked down at the two competitors sitting in the main hall, neither having returned to the dormitory to watch 02’s death. They sat, shoulder to shoulder, staring up at the EKG lines, four of the six reading ‘0’.
“You two missed one hell of a show. Your boy lasted… My, I think it might have been a record. Do you think you can outdo him tomorrow?” Ankou tuned into the camera fixed on the ‘Heaven’ door and hovered his finger over the button that would unlock the second to last bolt. “Thank you, from all of us here in ‘Purgatory’ for joining us for this exciting execution! Don’t forget to join us tomorrow, when one of our last competitors will die, securing freedom for the other!” Cutting his microphone off, he pressed his thumb into the release mechanism.
The bolt thudded open, echoing in the main hall. The light faded as power was cut to it, dying just the same as those previous, leaving only one bulb active.