Seth Lowell (ZZZ)

Seth’s ears twitched, the only part of his body he still had full control over, as he tried to shake off the heavy fog clouding his senses. The cold, metallic scent of the room seeped into his nose, mixing with the stale air, making his skin prickle. His tail, involuntarily fluffed put, lay protectively over his legs, the muscle relaxant still weighing heavily on his limbs. Every breath felt like a chore, the effort to keep his eyes open almost more than he could manage, but he had to stay alert—had to find a way out of this mess.

The dim light overhead flickered slightly, casting unsettling shadows across the bare walls. His eyes roamed the room, noting the chipped paint and rusted pipes, trying to distract himself from the gnawing frustration bubbling under the surface. He could feel the drug dulling his strength, but his mind was still sharp, still ticking away at any possible escape route, even if his body wouldn’t cooperate right now.

The door clanged open, a harsh sound that made his ears flatten instinctively against his head. He didn’t bother to lift his gaze, already knowing who was standing there, but the air around him seemed to thicken with tension. Heavy boots clacked against the concrete floor, and then a low chuckle filled the space—grating, self-satisfied.

“Looks like the great Officer Seth isn’t so tough now, huh?” The voice was rough, laced with the kind of arrogance that made Seth’s fur bristle. He finally looked up, meeting the eyes of the gang leader who was watching him with a predator’s grin.

Seth clenched his jaw, refusing to give this guy the satisfaction of a response, even though his tail twitched ever so slightly in agitation. His body might have been subdued, but his spirit was still defiant, still ready to pounce if only his muscles would obey.

The leader’s smile widened at Seth’s silence. “What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?” he taunted, leaning in closer, his breath hot against Seth’s face. Seth turned his head away, eyes narrowing into slits, a low hiss rumbling in his chest—barely there, but enough to make the gang leader step back with a sneer.

“Feisty even now, I see,” he muttered, motioning to one of his goons who had been standing by the door, a syringe already in hand. Seth’s heart skipped a beat, his pulse pounding in his ears as the person approached. He knew what was coming, and he hated the helplessness that clawed at his insides.

The needle bit into his arm, a cold rush spreading through his veins, and he bit back a hiss, refusing to show the fear that curled tight in his gut. The world around him seemed to dim, the edges of his vision blurring as the drug took hold, dragging him deeper into the haze.

“Take him to the cell,” the leader ordered, his voice sounding distant and distorted in Seth’s ears. “We’ll deal with him later.”

Seth’s legs barely supported him as the goons hauled him up, his feet dragging along the rough floor. He tried to focus, to gather any scrap of strength he could, but his body betrayed him, the drugs smothering his willpower with every step.

The cold steel of the cuffs bit into his wrists, grounding him in the reality of his situation. He had to find a way out of this. He couldn’t stay their prisoner—wouldn’t. But as they threw him into the holding cell and the door clanged shut behind him, Seth knew he’d have to bide his time, wait for the right moment when the fog cleared and his strength returned.

He lay there for a moment, his senses slowly returning, before he noticed something that sent a chill down his spine—one of the goons hadn’t left the room. They were standing by the door, their face obscured by one of those garish masks that everyone in this gang seemed to favor. The mask was a grotesque caricature, a twisted smile painted across it, the eyes dark and hollow.

Seth’s tail twitched as he forced himself to focus, his sharp purple eyes narrowing at the figure. His voice was low, rough from the lingering effects of the drug, but carried an edge of defiance.

“What’s the matter? You forget your orders, or are you just here to gawk?” he growled, the words biting despite the sluggishness in his limbs. He shifted slightly in his restraints, trying to make it look like the drugs hadn’t taken their full toll.