I was awoken by a sudden onrush of pain across my body as I was thrown from the bed and an extreme pressure settling on my chest. My eyes shot open and I saw James standing over me with one of his paws resting on me heavily. He smiled at seeing my pained reaction as I struggled to breathe under the heavy weight.

“Good morning human, it's a new day and I will not have anyone oversleeping when there is so much work to be done" He said with amusement.

I could finally breathe again after the weight of his foot left my chest. My relief was quickly ended as a clawed hand grabbed my neck and brought me up to my feet. The shackles I came here in were reattached and I was forcefully pushed through the open door. 2 more guards were waiting in the hall with M-16 rifles pointing right at me.

“Get moving prisoner" one said through his helmet and poking me in the back with the weapons barrel after I turned to walk away in the direction they were facing.

I could feel the hatred they had for me. A muffled growl emitted from a guard as we passed cages upon cages of slaves. The sorrow I felt from the captives almost overpowered me as a tear tried to escape my emerald green eyes.

'Show no pain…have no fear…I will not let them break my spirit.' I wiped away the moisture from my eye and retook my neutral expression.

A door neared and I was soon pushed through to what seemed to be a mine with hundreds of human slaves with pickaxes chipping away at the rocks.

Guards approached me and wordlessly released my chains then shoved a pickaxe into my hands. They dragged me over to an open area and left me with the leg shackles still on. I investigated my new surroundings and was surprised at the level of security.

'Two guards on the catwalks and one guard to every door leading in and out which equals only six guards to keep hundreds of prisoners in check…their either shorthanded or overconfident.' I thought as I swung my pickaxe into the stones before me.

'Alright Cole think there has got to be a way to escape.' I took a closer look at the guards and noticed that they were not armed to suppress a mass riot of prisoners armed with pickaxes and a store of dynamite within arm's reach.

'My only option I have is to release everyone and use the chaos to cover my escape.' I didn't really this idea because it will put hundreds of human lives at risk but there is no other option. If I sneak out, they hunt me down. The guards hate us to much for me to bribe them.

'If I want to pull this off then I'm gonna need some help mayb-' I was pulled from my thoughts as another prisoner, a burly and intimidating man, was thrown through a door before being dragged across the dirt and shackled up next to me.

I could feel the anger and disgust he directed at the bear before taking his pickaxe and working alongside me. I saw the bruises lining his dark chocolate skin and instantly knew that he was the perfect candidate.

“They're all just furry little assholes." I said as I struck the rock with the pick.

“Your right about that." He replied with a slight West African accent.

“I got a question for ya friend…how badly do you want to get out of here?" His pickaxe rested where it hit and he looked at me with his hazel irises.

“You got a plan?" He asked me.

“Something like that."

“…What do you need me to do?"

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

It's been 6 months since me and Araali agreed to work together and today was the day that would decide if all our planning was worth it.

“Cole, where are you?" Araali's voice asked through a walkie-talkie that I stole from the guards shack 3 months ago.

“Vent right above the control center."

“How long until you hit the release switch and complete the first phase of the plan?"

“I would have hit it already if this guard wasn't here…screw it I'm taking him out." I was tired of waiting so I carefully and quietly lifted the grate and set it on the other side of the opening.

“Good luck my friend"

I landed silently on the floor and snuck up behind the tiger watching the security camera monitors before grabbing his head and twisted until I heard his neck snap. The lifeless body fell to the floor and I took his place in front of the central computer. I started typing in commands to the facilities electrical systems and accessed the prison controls.

“Araali, I'm releasing the locks now, get ready" I said as I input the guards release codes.

“Roger that." Was his reply before I hit the enter key.

“…Good luck pal" I muttered as the alarms sounded and the cell doors swung open. The holding rooms burst with activity as thousands of prisoners erupted from their cages and flooded towards the exits. Guards rushed down the halls to intercept the crowds.

“Avoid hallways four through seven the guards set up blockades."

“Copy that"

I spun to see a guard burst through the door and rush towards me. I ducked under his swing and grabbed the pistol from his side holster, before he dropped dead with a bullet in his skull.

'Guess it's time for me to get out of here'. I poked my head through the doorway and moved down the hall when I saw no guards.

“Araali what's your status?"

“We have taken control of the armory and the men are ready to fight."

“Perfect, meet me in the processing room."

It wasn't long before I heard gunfire and explosions echo through the empty halls. The bulk of the guards must have taken positions near the processing center.

'Don't you dare die on me Araali.' I thought as I continued my sprint to our rondevu point.

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

The halls were almost deserted, except for a few guards that I dispatched without much trouble, so it was pretty easy to find the main fighting grounds. I could tell Araali and the others were amazing fighters when I saw dead guards littering the ground and only 5 left standing.

I aimed the M9 and shot the rest of the guards that stood in our way of freedom. One by one they dropped and our victory was sealed as the last one fell and the human fighters proceeded forward. I noticed Araali leading the group armed with AK-47s and M-16s.

“You showed up just in time my friend." He laughed out as he approached.

“My plan, might as well be here to see it through…come on, were almost there." I ushered everyone towards the exit and the fresh scent of pine greeted us as I watched run towards the woods and to their well deserved freedom.

“Cole I must thank you for helping me escape, your plan was brilliant."

“I couldn't have done it without you pal…Araali?"

“Yes."

“I have nothing to go home to and my fury still burns brightly…I'm not done fighting for our freedom, the power of the human race has yet to be recognized."

“What are you trying to say?"

“It's time for change Araali…our species has lived in chains for too long but no more. We need to fight for our liberation. I plan on amassing a force greater than the beast kin can even fathom. This army will need leaders, men who are not afraid to charge into battle and lay down their lives for liberty." I placed my hands on his shoulders.

“Araali…will you help me fight for freedom against the beast kin?" He copied my action and gave me a determined smile.

“Cole…it would be an honor to fight alongside you…we shall free our brethren together and usher in a new age…where our species will taste freedom, and fear of enslavement will never again loom over our heads."

“Glad to hear it friend…let's get out of here, reinforcements will arrive soon." I said as me and Araali headed towards the woods, and away from the hellhole we lived in for the past 6 months.