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Animal Rights
Part One
By Razor7826 (Copyright 2008)
"Why do you hate animals?"
"I love animals, Bill, which is why I've slaved away tirelessly for their freedom," responded Eliza Dogood. She stared directly into the camera with the same manufactured smile that she used in every public appearance. It had worked wonders in her campaign, and she had little doubt it would continue to service her in the future.
"I hope you realize that you're the most hated woman in America right now."
"Someday people will realize that letting our pets go free is the only ethical choice."
"Well, thank you for being on our show today. Next up..." The red light on the camera dimmed, signaling the end of the tele-interview.
Eliza stood from her stool and stretched. She reached down, picked up the thin gold-rimmed glasses that hung from the collar of white blouse and put them on. The studio around her came back into focus. The cameraman and producer that had managed the national interview had wandered out of sight.
She sighed and smiled in satisfaction, the rush of accomplishing her life goal still fresh in her mind. Through tireless legislation across many states, she achieved the impossible, a federal ban on pets; now, hundreds of millions of enslaved animals across the United States would be set free, and Eliza Dogood proudly took responsibility for her actions.
It had been a busy week. Since the Monday deadline for compliance with the Federal Animal Freedom Act, Eliza had given sixteen interviews: eight with TV shows, five with major magazines, and the rest with newspapers. One more interview and her week of fame would fade into the sunset like that of women’s suffragists and civil rights activists. Or, so she thought.
After a few moments of looking around the studio, she found the producer. He thanked her for coming in and sent her on the way, with a goodie bag filled with studio propaganda and a check for her appearance. She took the elevator down to the parking garage, got in her car, and left the station.
Her final interview was scheduled with a small animal-rights newsletter that Eliza had never heard of, "The Los Evas Animal Salvation House". She followed the directions downloaded online and headed for the coffee shop at which the interview was to take place. However, the destination was not what she had imagined it to be.
The pristine little coffee shop that existed only in photographs took a distinctly different facade first-hand. The vibrant colors that Eliza had imagined from the black and white photograph were replaced with peeling paint and boarded windows. Either the photo was of a long-past era, or an outright fabrication.
She looked back down at her directions and the email that had invited her to the interview. As far as she could tell, the addresses were the same.
"Damnit, what a stupid prank," she muttered in frustration. However, she was getting used to it. The months since the act was passed into law were filled with hate mail, crank calls, and, on more than one occasion, death threats.
She turned around to get back in her car, but a woman slightly older than herself stood in the way.
"Miss Dogood?" the woman asked.
Eliza twitched in shock and nodded in confirmation.
"I'm Gwyn, the local reporter that asked you for the interview. Sorry this place was closed. It has been a long time since the last time I visited this place. Kind of sucks that it’s gone, but anyway, thank you for coming. Do you mind if we go somewhere else for the interview?" The woman had short golden curls of hair and light skin.
Eliza had learned to be suspicious during her months in the limelight. This woman's story was not making any sense. "I'm sorry, we really should reschedule for another time." She moved to circumvent the blond, but the woman countered her move and readjusted herself to once again block Eliza’s path.
"Excuse me, miss, but I have other appointments that require my attention."
Eliza ducked to the side, but Gwyn stuck out her arm to block the activist’s path.
"No, we are going to have a little talk, whether you want to or not," threatened Gwyn. She pushed back against Eliza and pulled a gun from her coat. "Come with silently if you want to live."
Eliza glanced down at the gun. She began to sweat. Nothing had prepared for this. "Fine. We can talk."
"Good. Turn around and walk. Take a left into the alley."
Eliza complied, walking slowly with her arms at her sides. She turned into the alley. There was a parked white van.
Gwyn continued, "Good. Now, open the back door."
Eliza followed the orders.
“Thank you, Miss Dogood.”
Eliza felt a pinch on her neck, and the world around her faded to black.
----
Eliza Dogood awoke on her back, her muscles aching from whatever the crazed woman had done to her.
“Good morning, Eliza. It’s been a long night, hasn’t it?”
Eliza looked around the room, still dazed. The décor was a sterile white with the only exceptions the cold grey of metallic structures littered about. There were shelves, machines, and a locked medicine cabinet against the wall. She tried to speak, but no voice came out.
“You have a lot relearn, Elly. I’ve taken your ability to speak.”
Eliza tried to scream, but only a hollow gasp escaped her throat. A wave of panic overtook her, and she struggled to escape. However, her attempts to push herself up off of the padded bench were in vain as she realized her elbows and knees were hinged such that her legs and arms flexed in on themselves. They were bound into the small and painful position by what seemed to be layers upon layers of medical tape.
Gwyn laughed at her specimen and reach out, placing her hand across Eliza’s bare chest. “You’re probably wondering what I plan on doing to you, don’t you Elly?” She rubbed her open palm against Eliza’s chest vigorously. Eliza felt the warmth generated by the friction.
That isn’t my name, you crazy bitch, she thought to herself. She flexed and strained her muscles, but the bindings stretched only a little—not nearly enough to come loose or afford her basic freedom.
“Before you and your cult got that stupid law passed, I was a veterinarian,” Gwyn said as she motioned with her right arm to the piles of medical equipment. “Not only did they raid my house and take my sweet Nana and Popo,” she paused, “but they took away my license. My love. My livelihood.” She sighed and brought her hands to her face, muffling her speech. “Not like it would do much good, anyways. Not with what you did to the world.” She began to cry long painful sobs into her hands.
I’m glad you’re hurt. You dominated animals for a living and deserve to suffer.
Gwyn took a moment’s rest than looked back at Eliza. She raised her voice, now nearly at the point of yelling. “If you think that it’s cruel to keep animals as pets, would you be willing to do the job for them? I’ve read your books, and you keep on saying, over and over, how pure and innocent animals are and that they deserve better than the blight of mankind. Well, I guess they will get better.” A boisterous laugh erupted from her belly. You’re my pet now, me sweet little Elly.” She bent over Eliza and scratched behind her pet’s ear. “You’re my pet, forever and ever until the day you die.”
Eliza flinched away from the scratch violently, swinging her body to the side, tumbling onto the floor. Unable to brace for the fall, she slammed into the floor with her shoulder. She toppled onto her back and winced in pain before returning to her escape attempt. However, o matter how hard she tried to flip over to all fours, nothing worked.
Gwyn watched with a smile. “Not as agile as a real doggy, are you?” She let loose an uproarious laughter and continued to watch Eliza struggle.
No, no, damnit! I have to get the hell out of here!
She flopped around for several minutes before resting on her back, exhausted, each of her limbs thrust painfully upwards.
Gwyn bent down and rubbed Eliza's belly, still laughing at the futility of Gywn's actions. "Oh, no need to get worked up, little doggy. I'm going to take real good care of you, just you see."
Eliza could do nothing but cede to the whims of her captor, but still she looked up with pure contempt.
Gwyn taped Eliza on the nose. "Let's go. We have to go get you house broken." She stood and headed for the cabinets. She reached in and removed a leash and collar, then returned to Eliza.
"I always told my clients to make sure they obeyed local leash laws." Gwyn encircled the red leather collar around Eliza's Dogood neck and slipped the tail end through the faux-gold buckle, then latched it into place. "There, that’s a nice fit."
No it isn't. Eliza breathed heavily, panicking from the too-close fit of the collar. She had little tolerance for jewelry around her neck, and a tight leather choker was far worse. However, if that was what Gwyn wanted, Eliza would have to comply; there were no other options. Gwyn reached around Eliza and grasped her with surprising strength for a woman her size and proceeded to flip Eliza over, resting her on her knees and elbows.
Eliza would have to play the part of Gwyn's pet if she wanted to survive. She accepted the help of her new owner and took her first feeble step on all fours.
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