It was back to the drawing board. The Furs were all so close to escape. The siren in the camp went off. Men, women, and children rushed outside their bunks and workhouses to stand at attention at the front gates. A fox stood tall, his chin high as he watched about a dozen escapees lined up against the wall. The guards were about to make an example of them...yet again. Spike stood in the front row, avoiding eye contact with anyone. As soon as everyone was finished lining up, a single guard stepped forward before the organized crowd. "Today, you will be the witnesses of what happens when you pathetic creatures try to escape. You will remember this moment next time you are thinking of breaking free." Five men with machine guns rushed to his side and turned to face the dozen lined up who were shedding tears, and even spat in his direction. "But this will be no ordinary execution...No. Each escapee will step fourth to choose one of you to die with. If they refuse, two others will be killed." The guard turned to the escapees. "You may choose." Spike swallowed hard. As the fist escapee, a short chubby squirrel, stepped forward to choose, Spike began to shake but held his composure. The chubby one picked a monkey standing beside Spike and as the moment of choosing for every escapee felt like eternity, Spike found still found himself with the crowd. "Fire!" The weapons fired and Spike flinched as he was sprayed with blood.
The guard turned to face the crowd. "Let this be a lesson to all of you...Dismissed."