‘Run Away from Here?’ York felt a flicker of temptation.
But he didn’t dare.
He’d spent enough time with Catherine to have a pretty good grasp of her personality by now.
Proud to a fault.
Volatile.
Unpredictable.
If he tried to run today, he was certain that the next time Catherine caught him, it wouldn’t be with a gentle hand and a simple stint in this room.
He’d probably end up like Jason.
Just the thought of broken limbs sent a chill crawling down his spine.
He shook his head firmly.
“No.
Forget it.
You go on your own.
I’m staying.” “I didn’t expect you to be this loyal!
I’m so moved!” Jason’s eyes went wide, clearly having cooked up some heroic scenario in that head of his.
‘He’s choosing to stay behind just to buy me time?!..
No way.
If I run, that witch will tear him apart.
I have to get him out too!’ (Jason) When it came to loyalty and doing the right thing, Jason was second to none.
But his brain seemed to be missing a few essential gears.
“What are you even moved about?” York stared at him in bewilderment, unable to follow whatever mental gymnastics Jason was performing.
Of course, if he’d known that Jason had just silently vowed to drag him along to freedom, he would’ve wasted no time banging on the door and shouting at the top of his lungs, selling out Jason’s escape plan to Catherine without a second thought.
Self-preservation came first.
Jason used his remaining intact fingers to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye, then shook his head.
“Nothing, nothing.
Don’t worry, we’ll be safe.” York had no idea what the guy was rambling about, so he just turned away and ignored him.
He was rubbing his growling stomach, wondering when Catherine would finally let him out, when hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the door.
Then came the sound of a key turning in the lock.
York’s eyes lit up.
He assumed Catherine had come to release him, and he looked toward the door with eager anticipation.
Click.
The door swung open, and there stood Anderson.
His voice came out rushed, breathless.
“Let’s go!” York thought he was being addressed.
He started to get up, but before he could speak, Jason answered from behind him.
“Got it.” York paused, realizing the instruction wasn’t for him.
He pointed at himself.
“Me too?” Anderson glanced at Jason, who gave a nod, then turned back to York and nodded as well.
“Yes.” York assumed Catherine had ordered Anderson to bring both him and Jason to her.
It never crossed his mind that this wolf, the same one who trembled and fell to his knees in Catherine’s presence, could be a turncoat.
He followed.
Through the hallway.
Out of the mansion.
Until Anderson pulled the front door shut and turned the lock.
Only then did the realization hit York.
“Wait…
are we…
outside?” He looked around in bewilderment.
The cool morning air hit him and made him shiver.
Anderson remained on the other side of the gate.
Through the iron bars, he clasped Jason’s hands tightly, tears streaming freely down his face.
“All right, young master.
This is all I can do for you.
You have to survive!
Go fight Catherine!” “I will!
I swear it!” Jason’s face was etched with fierce determination.
York: “???” A stampede of alpacas thundered through his mind.
‘Screw this!
I don’t want out!
Damn it, send me back right now!’ ‘You, Anderson, with that honest face and those honest eyes!
I actually trusted you!
And this is what you are?!’ York grabbed the iron gate, words already forming on his lips, but before he could speak, Jason patted him firmly on the shoulder.
“We need to hurry.
If that witch Catherine finds out we’ve escaped, she’ll skin us alive.
Don’t let Anderson’s sacrifice be for nothing!” “Screw that!
This just makes my sacrifice be for nothing!” York’s voice cracked with despair.
“It’s over.
Everything’s over.
Can I still run back to that basement in time?!” “Relax.
Knowing Catherine, she won’t wake up until noon.
We’ve got plenty of time to get away!” Jason had no idea that York was screaming internally.
He gazed at the sunrise burning on the distant horizon, his voice brimming with grand visions of the future.
“I’m going to overthrow Catherine!
I’ll make her pay for everything she’s done!” York gradually calmed down.
He shot Jason a look that said you’ve completely lost your mind, then started walking toward the rising sun.
“Suit yourself.
I’m out.” Sure, he’d said he didn’t want to leave, but now that he was out, only a fool wouldn’t run.
Zootopia was enormous.
There was no way Catherine could find him.
And her focus would be on her brother anyway.
She might just let York slide.
He needed to save up money fast, buy a ticket home, and get the hell out of this madhouse.
Staying in Zootopia any longer, if Catherine caught him again, the consequences wouldn’t stop at being locked in a basement.
For some reason, after just a few days away, he already missed his hometown with a fierce ache.
He missed that peaceful land.
At least back there, people didn’t go around trying to kill each other every five minutes.
Jason didn’t say much.
He just watched York’s retreating figure for a long while before finally heading off in his own direction.
—— Time ticked by.
The sky grew fully bright, and the streets filled with animals going about their morning routines.
York walked for a long time.
Eventually, he found himself back at Weselton’s place.
Weselton was kneeling on the ground, muttering something under his breath.
In front of him stood three smoldering cigarette butts, stuck upright in the dirt like makeshift incense.
Further ahead, a black-and-white photograph leaned against the wall.
York watched Weselton go on muttering without ever noticing him standing right behind him.
Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore.
“Weselton.
What are you doing?” Weselton whipped around at the familiar voice.
The moment he laid eyes on York, his face cycled through a spectacular range of emotions, shock, relief, embarrassment, before he scrambled to his feet and hurried over.
“Oh my God, buddy!
I thought you were dead!
I was setting up a gravestone for you.” York stared at the photo.
It was a neatly folded black-and-white suit.
A vein pulsed at his temple.
“You sure that’s not for your suit?” “W-well, uh…
I didn’t have a photo of you, okay~?” Weselton’s gaze flickered guiltily for a second, but the awkwardness was quickly swallowed by sheer terror.
“You have no idea what I saw this morning when I went to pick you up from Lindville Estate!” “A bunch of wolves were carrying out bodies!…
They were covered in white sheets, and those sheets were soaked through with blood.
My legs turned to jelly on the spot!
I thought you were dead!” ————•★•————★ Author Note: Thanks for reading!
(And a review too.
Thanks 🪻🪻) P@treaon: Blueduck14