(Short intro to an abuser character I created)
Portland, the once modest capital of Maine had grown considerably in the last few decades. Becoming a major port city to support the booming population of New England, the influx of jobs had brought new life to the calm ocean town. It was now a moderate city of nearly 3 million, with neighborhoods tangling out of the main cityscape. And not far beyond that was a seemingly endless wilderness, miles of hills and forests dotted by towns and the occasional small city.
‘Ah finally a night out,’ Roland thought to himself as he stepped outside his home, pulling a cap over his head. Ramping up for the holiday season, work had been busy so they offered him some extra hours at night, and at this point in his life Roland wasn’t turning down more cash. But still he liked keeping a consistent schedule to make sure he had enough time for his nightly activities.
Adjusting his ragged backpack he glances at his watch. 12:45. Perfect, soon there wouldn’t be anyone on the streets excepting the occasional homeless person. He takes out his scarf and makes sure to wrap it tightly around his face, tucking its ends into his gray jacket.
And it was a great October night, if a little brisk. The leaves were mostly off the trees and he loved the smell of them. Walking towards the city’s center, Roland began checking alleyways. He didn’t linger for what he was seeking would stand out well. Going mostly behind restaurants and apartments, places that would surely have food lining their trash. Several minutes later he’d found what he was looking for in the backside of a diner he well liked.
Deep within the alley a small lump of fluff was poking out of a carton filled with newspapers. A crude nest. Flipping his backpack to the front, Roland opens it and slowly approaches the box. Removing some of the newspapers covering it, he finds just what he wants, a solitary purple unicorn-type fluffy, probably male.
There is a slight snuffling as the fluffy awakens. Still sleepy it looks up through its ratty brown mane. Roland’s head darts around, making sure no one is coming by.
“H-Hewwo mistah, why wake fwuf-”
It doesn’t get to finish its question as Roland grabs it by the jaw and shoves a fabric muzzle over its snout, quickly tightening the cord. Eyes wide and unable to cry out it immediately begins thrashing in his grip. One little hoof manages to connect with Roland’s forearm, a pathetic blow that wouldn’t even leave a bruise.
THOK!
Roland brings a gloved fist down on the fluffy’s head, hard enough to stun it. It’s bowels react by promptly ejecting a stream of liquid brown. He flips the fluffy over and produces a short length of cord to hogtie it, it’s stubby limbs don’t resist the cord’s pull. Before it has the chance to recover, the fluffy has a plug shoved in its ass, before being roughly wrapped in a worn towel, and pushed to the bottom of the backpack.
ZZZZIP…
He stands up and puts the backpack on again, pleased at another smooth retrieval.
‘Hmm, yeah… nights like these are good nights’
Striding out of the alley Roland turns back home, eager to learn more about his newest pet. The glow of the streetlights leaves him behind as he cuts through a nearby park. He soaks in the quiet night atmosphere, crunching leaves only disturbed by an occasional rustling deep within his backpack.