Catnap ch. 2

"Prisoner C-249, pay attention!" The man's voice sounded like it was being filtered through a dust mask.

Unrepentant, Cedric ducked his head. He twisted at his restraints, to no avail.

"C-249!"

He saw the blow coming and sidestepped. Bringing his bound hands crashing down on the man's neck, he ground his claws into the soft flesh.

One hand went to the shock-chain around his own throat. With the circuit completed, a thousand volts flashed along his arm, through the metal handcuffs, and into the man.

He screamed; the sound echoed around the deserted street.

No, no, Heart, no! Panic rooted Cedric to the spot. Had he killed his escort?

But no, the man was breathing. Cedric's first thought was to leave him there; then, harshly, that he should kill the guard then and there.

His mind rejected the second option; he'd never killed anything.

Some impulse made him bend to touch the guard's silver mask. It felt like quicksilver under his stinging palms; he lifted it away slowly.

The face could have been his own, give or take a year. Brown fur was pulled back by a leather headband; the ears were long and triangular; the eyes were staring, blue rings of accusation.

"Heart of Life." On their own volition, his hands traced a line from his heart to his forehead.

Get out of here. The message seemed to go directly from his brain to his feet; he took to his heels.