Part 22 - Breaking The Walls

(Alexei)

Despite Erik’s insistence on heading into the office to chat, he spent the first minute or so inside shuffling anxiously, lost to the world within his own thoughts. The wall of silence built up between them prevented Alexei from finding out what had been troubling his friend and colleague, let alone attempt to help him.

“Come, find your tongue, Erik,” he muttered from his office chair, watching the leopard pace back and forth within the small, cluttered room. “You have a problem, you wished to talk… now it seems you do not.”

“It’s not that easy,” Erik replied, coming to a halt. He peered over at the small window looking out into the compact backyard. “This is... personal.”

“I understand this. I am thinking you would not be this upset, or asking me back here if it were not.” The leopard went quiet, posture slumping with the weight of his apparently numerous thoughts. Alexei stood up from his seat with a muted moan. “If you do not feel comfortable and wish not to speak of it, that is okay. Shall we head back--”

“No!” Erik blurted suddenly, taking a moment to think before adding, “I… do wish to speak. Please, just give me a moment.”

“Okay.” Alexei sat back down, ears perked in anticipation. “When you are ready.”

“It is… family. They are causing problems.”

“What kind of problems?” he responded, nodding understandingly. Again, Erik fell quiet. “Please, I only wish to help. You wished to tell me of your problems in the shop, but now, you hesitate. I understand it is difficult, but you can trust--”

Alexei’s ears flicked to the loud clanging of the bell at the front of the shop, followed not a second after by a heavy slam of the door. “Who is that!?”

“I… don’t know.”

He shot up to his feet and rushed out of the office without a second thought. Hurriedly, Alexei ran straight through the workshop and into the display area. Once there, he found the dim room lying silent, its contents apparently untouched. Above the front door, the bell still swayed gently from the force applied to it only moments ago. A quick once over of the display stock found nothing missing, damaged or tampered with. If not for the noise and the swinging bell, there’d have been little evidence of anyone’s recent presence here. Alexei narrowed his eyes, peering through the front window to the peaceful street outside. “Damned kids.”

He turned on his heels with a grunt, stomping back through the archway and into the workshop again. “Nate, have you seen anyone--” Alexei stopped the moment he glanced over to his bench, instantly noticing the little husky’s absence. “Nate?”

A terrible chill struck him in that instant, his throat tightening and closing up as it became difficult to breathe. He spun around again, dashing out of the shop as fast as his legs could carry him. “Nate!?” His wide eyes scoured the side-street for any trace of Nathan, the steady hum of traffic from the nearby main road the only sign of activity in an otherwise deserted scene.

“Oh, by the stars.” Alexei clamped his paw to his muzzle, whimpering while attempting to control his increasingly erratic breathing. He rushed the short distance to the dusty alleyway beside the shop, entering the narrow concrete strip without hesitation. Once there, Alexei wasted little time in racing between the surrounding rowhouses and backyards, taking care of his steps until he exited out onto the next street over.

Again, the wolf scanned the area, hoping against hope that he’d find his husky loitering or wandering about undercover somewhere nearby. “Nate, where are you?” he whined, almost in tears. The odd car rolled by, while a handful of Alexei’s neighbours casually returned home to begin their weekends. Wherever Nathan had gone and whoever had taken him, it became alarmingly apparent that they’d long since left the area.

“Hey,” Erik muttered quietly, standing against the back wall of the workshop as Alexei stormed back in. The wolf ignored him, snatching up his phone from atop the workbench. “Who are you calling?”

He retrieved Nathan’s number, striking the call button before practically slamming the device to the side of his head. With every long, agonising ring, Alexei’s heart sank further, right up until the husky’s electronic voice cruelly piped up to request he leave a message.

“Come on!” he snarled, taking little time between hanging up to begin dialling another number.

“Alex!?”

He looked up at Erik briefly. “I called Nate… there is no answer. Now, I am phoning the police to report he has been taken.”

“T-Taken?”

“Yes, taken!”

“You’re sure?”

“Do you see him here!?” Alexei growled ominously, shooting the leopard a harsh glare. “Tell me, where could he go from the bench? He is too small to get down alone.” His growl broke into another scared whimper. “I cannot believe this is happening.”

“But… who would have done this?”

Alexei hesitated with his dialling digit, mind clouding over as he mulled that question over. ‘Perhaps grandfather... perhaps he had been so angered by yesterday that he...’ He promptly called a halt to that line of thinking, scoffing at himself inwardly. ‘As angry as he may be… he would never do something so cruel… would he? Besides, if he had? I am thinking he would not be able to leave so quickly.’

“Well?” Erik pressed, rubbing nervously at the spotted white fur of his arm.

Alexei’s eyes widened, his muzzle twisting with anger as the answer suddenly dawned on him. “That... fucking gang!” Mind clear, albeit still panicked, he swiftly returned to dialing up the authorities. “It is so obvious!”

“But… do you think--”

The wolf hissed, gesturing an angry finger at Erik to silence him in an instant. The leopard slouched back, slinking off to stand beside his workstation while Alexei waited for the call to connect. After what felt like the longest wait of his life, he succeeded in getting through to the police switchboard, A croaky, older sounding male operator greeting him with the standard, “South Kremensk District Police, how can we assist?”

“It is my… friend,” Alexei squealed, noticing his paws beginning to shake. “He has been taken, abducted.”

“Okay, sir.” The throaty voice softened, an almost comforting tone to it. “Please try to remain calm. Firstly, can I take your name.”

“Alexei. Alexei Korolev.”

“Okay, Alexei. Can you be sure your friend has been abducted?”

“I am sure. Please, he could not have left here otherwise.”

“When did this happen--”

“A few minutes ago,” he replied, barely waiting for the operator to finish while doing his best to keep from shouting. “I was in the office, he was in the shop. They have come in. They have taken him. I--”

“Alexei, one moment please. You believe you know who has taken your friend?”

“Yes! It is a gang that has been following us around here. They chased us home only a few days ago. I made a report about it, but a patrol was not sent.”

“Be assured, we can despatch a unit to take a report about this in person.” The wolf flashed a smile for the first time since Nathan’s disappearance, relieved at getting an operator that actually seemed to care, rather than one simply going through the motions like when he’d reported their escape from the gang. “Before this, I will need your address and also a brief description of your friend to pass on to the patrol initially.”

“Sure… he is canine, a husky. White and brown fur, blue eyes, blond fur atop his head.” The rattle of a keyboard started from the other end of the line. “His name is Nathan and he is a Polcian. This is why I am certain he has been taken.”

The plastic chatter stopped abruptly, a short, awkward moment passing before the operator replied, “Thank you... we can send a patrol when one is next available.” The croaky, almost disgruntled tone returned to the voice on the line. “Can I take your address--”

“Wait,” Alexei grumbled, unconsciously beginning to pace around the workshop. “What do you mean you will send someone when they available?”

“All patrols are busy at this time,” the operator answered shortly.

“A moment ago, it sounded as if you would send an officer the instant we finished this call. What has changed?” His voice began to raise along with the increased shaking of his paws. “Did you not hear what I have said? Do you not understand!? My friend has been taken by this gang!”

“Yes, as you have said, your Polcian friend. I have the short report to pass on in front of me.”

The contempt with which the word ‘Polcian’ gruffed through his phone succeeded in setting the already angered wolf off.

“Yes, he is Polcian! This matters why!?” he roared, firmly squeezing the paw holding his phone. “It is funny that you have become busy only after finding this out.”

“As I have informed you, a patrol unit will be despatched to you once available--”

“And when is this? After those who have taken him have had their way with him? I am thinking you would not care if this were to happen.” Alexei caught a glimpse of Erik from the corner of his eye, standing at his bench with muzzle dipped and ears flat against his skull. “Forget it! I wish to speak with another operator!”

“None are free--”

“I do not believe you!”

“Do not shout, sir. I am obliged to end this call if--”

“I am not shouting, tell me when--” The line clicked and went dead, stopping the irate wolf in his tracks. “I do not fucking believe this!” With a dreadful growl, Alexei wound his arm back and launched his phone across the workshop. It sailed through the air, slamming into the pile of uncut timber piled beneath the rear window with a loud, plastic crack.

Tension filled the room, Erik shifting uncomfortably on his feet while Alexei padded over to retrieve his phone. The wolf instantly regretted his actions, bending down to gather up the device’s casing and its battery that had become separated. Other than a large dent from its corner and some other minor cosmetic scratches and chips, the phone appeared to have survived the impact.

“What... did they say?” Erik asked cautiously, taking a few seconds to break the silence.

“They are not coming,” Alexei grunted, struggling to keep from turning his rage upon his friend.

“You are sure it is them, the gang? Perhaps someone else walked in--”

“Who else would fucking do it!?” The feeble dam he’d constructed to keep his emotions in check shattered explosively. He stormed towards Erik, causing the leopard to cower away from his bench. “For what reason would anyone else do this to him? Tell me this!”

Alexei’s torrent of anger soon eased into a weak trickle of sorrow. “What can I do?” he whimpered desperately, stopping midway across the room to slump against his own workstation. He rested his elbows atop the wooden bench, lowering his teary eyes and solemn muzzle into waiting paws.

“I… will close up the shop,” Erik muttered nervously. His light footsteps trailed off quickly towards the front of the store, leaving Alexei to gently sob alone.

For almost half an hour, Alexei lost himself to his tempestuous, emotionally charged mind. His eyes wandered around the workshop throughout, totally at a loss as to what to do next. The police had been no help at all, caught up in their own apparent anti-Polcian agenda. That thought caused him to punch his bench with a vengeful fist. He’d heard people express their sizeist beliefs plenty of times in the past, but never had he witnessed it from a party with as much power and influence as the police force.

Alexei sighed, rubbing the damp fur around his eyes. By this point, it’d become increasingly, worryingly obvious that he’d have to hunt for and rescue Nathan all by himself. ‘But Kremensk is a big city… I do not even know where to begin.’

You cannot just stand here!’ his inner voice snapped. ‘You cannot just wait.’

Alexei pulled himself up from the bench and out of his stupor. He looked over to Erik, still with him in the workshop in an apparent show of support. “I should look around the neighbourhood. Perhaps someone has seen something.” The wolf’s tone was strong, optimistic, even if his words carried more hope than serious expectation.

“I do not think it’s likely,” Erik replied with a sad frown, idly fiddling with some of the tools atop his bench. “I doubt they will have waited around for long.”

“I must do something, Erik! If I do not…” Fear crept into Alexei’s speech, cracking his voice. He’d have to force his final few words out as emotion pierced his chest and drove deep into his heart. “They could hurt him… they could...”

“Don’t think like that, Alex.”

“How can I not? Do you think they would take him to just…” He drifted off, jaw hanging open as an idea rose from his emotion-addled mind. “The gang, they may be at the store! Probably drinking and laughing about stealing the Polcian!”

Alexei pushed himself away from his workbench, poised to charge straight out of the shop and down to the main strip.

“Alex, they would not be waiting around here... If it’s even them who have taken him.”

“Why do you keep saying this? Who else could it be!? Who else would take…” Alexei stopped himself again, another flash of clarity hitting him. “I am thinking the question is not who… but how.” His eyes narrowed. “How would they know to come here and take Nate at this exact moment?”

“I suppose…” Erik gave a visibly large gulp. “I--”

“How would they know to come in when we are in the office?” Alexei’s paws began to tremble all over again, only this time anger, not fear coursed into them. He heaved himself around his bench, gears turning over ever faster in his head. “Perhaps this explains your quiet mood this week? Why you would insist we talk in private, but say nothing.”

“Alex, wait.” Erik backed away from both his station and Alexei. “Listen--”

“Perhaps you wish to protect them… and this is why you insist it is not the gang who has taken Nate!”

“No!” Panic etched itself upon Erik’s face as he retreated through the workshop, trying to keep distance between them. “It’s not what you think.”

“What I think!?” Alexei boomed. “I am thinking you should be talking!”

Erik moved to flee towards the side door opposite but couldn’t react quick enough. The wolf launched himself forwards, grabbing his colleague by his shirt’s collar. They stumbled across the room together, stopping only after they’d thumped solidly against the plasterboard wall between the workshop and display area.

“Alex,” Erik yelped, gasping for air, “please listen--”

Alexei ignored the pleas. He gripped the leopard’s shirt even tighter, violently pinning him against the wall. “How did they know!?” he roared, standing so that their muzzles practically touched.

Erik struggled, cowering away from Alexei’s fierce, snarling maw. He pressed a trembling paw upon the taller wolf’s chest, only to have it viciously batted away. “Alex, you’re hurting me--”

“Tell me!” Alexei pounded his fist to the wall a fraction from his colleague’s head. “Tell me that perhaps you do not like Nate and Polcians as much as you say. Perhaps you are like those who have threatened him. Perhaps this gang are... friends of yours!?”

“No,” Erik yelped, his eyes forced shut. “Yuri isn’t a friend. He’s--”

“But you do know that son of a whore tiger’s name!” Alexei smashed his paw to the wall again, cracking the plaster and silencing the leopard with the exception of another terrified squeak. It took all of his restraint not to take his so-called friend and colleague and do far worse than what he’d inflicted so far. “If he is not your friend, tell me who he is.”

“You don’t understand--”

“I said tell me! By the stars, if you do not…”

Erik whimpered, shivering in the face of the grey wolf’s overwhelming rage. With another hard swallow and a shallow breath, the leopard opened his eyes and finally gave an answer. “...He’s my brother.”