Mad Dog

Mad Dog

As Saul prepared to leave for the office, he didn't notice that Zeus was growling with fury and fear at the bowl of water on the kitchen floor.

He sat, expression vacant, spinning the cylinder of the revolver in his hand, loading six little deaths into its chambers.

A mind broken.

Pity removed.

A black-market Python,

ready to bite.

Saul had been ignored for too long. Abused too many times. He wouldn't stand for it any longer.

He took no notice of the flecks of foam spotting Zeus's jaws.

When Zeus began to approach him, with anxious steps and frantic eyes, Saul slapped him away.

It was time to go to work.

Two victims of fate,

bound for destruction.

Saul walked out into the summer heat, closing neither the door nor the yard gate on his way to the car. He drove away without a second glance towards the house.

Zeus wandered outside a few minutes later.

Two angry, confused animals,

unleashed upon the world.

Saul knew his mission was wrong, but he also knew it was right. His mind waged a war with itself as his body drove him closer and closer to the final battleground.

He passed the sign advertising salvation.

A christian man, once,

but not anymore.

Who needs salvation,

when you've become God?

Zeus dragged himself down the sidewalk, foam dripping from his jaws. A low growl formed in his dry throat, directed at anything and everything he saw. He wanted to run from it all. And he wanted to kill it all.

A mind broken.

Love and loyalty removed.

A feral beast,

ready to bite.

"Hot enough for ya'?" Tom said, same old stupid smile on his face, as he joined Saul in the elevator. Saul said nothing. Two floors up, his retribution would begin. And Tom would be first.

A war for the right,

waged and lost.

Five lives would be taken,
because of one bad joke.

Josh didn't have many friends, and had always looked forward to looking after Zeus whenever Mr. Ramsey was away on business. He felt a special connection with that dog. So when he saw Zeus lumbering down the sidewalk towards the bus stop where he stood, Josh didn't hesitate to approach. Zeus raised his head, and Josh froze at the sight.

A brief flash of memory.

An attack stalled.

"Ze...Zeus? Buddy? Are you okay?"

Sharp, angry barks cut through the still morning air. Teeth were bared. Zeus charged.

A diseased rage returned.

Friendships forgotten.

A patrolling officer heard the first shot as he drove past the office building. The second, as he pulled into the parking lot. The third, as he bolted up the stairs, gun in hand. The fourth, as he crashed through the door to the third floor. He immediately saw the source. He yelled at Saul to freeze. Saul did not.

A mind diseased.

Only one cure that it could see.

Saul fired at the officer.

No thoughts of salvation,

When all that's offered is hell.

The fire was returned.

A mad dog, put down.

Josh's father heard the first shout of pain as he walked to the kitchen for his coffee. The second, as he ran to the window to look for the cause. The third, as he grabbed his shotgun from the closet. The fourth, as he barreled across the street towards his son. By the time he arrived, a female passerby was already trying desperately to separate the violent mass of fur and teeth from Josh.

Josh's father screamed at the woman to move. The woman did.

A mind diseased.

Only one cure considered.

Even through the haze of immense pain, Josh believed he saw sadness in Zeus's eyes.

A body in hell,

A mind begging for salvation.

Fire slammed into Zeus's side.

A mad dog, put down.