Maxd 04 - The Dog Game 1.avi -

Thomas presses .

A buzzer. Harsh. The lights dim. The Golden Retriever yelps — a horrible, human-like cry. It collapses. Its legs twitch.

The dog is still breathing. But its eyes are wet. It looks directly into the camera.

He gestures to four large, colorful buttons on the desk: RED, BLUE, GREEN, YELLOW. MAXD 04 - The Dog Game 1.avi

The dog's mouth does not move when Mr. Barkley speaks. It's just a foam rubber head. But the eyeholes are very, very dark.

The screen glitches hard now — static, then a frame of a different room. A basement. Rows of dog crates. Inside each crate: a child in a dog mask, curled up, sleeping.

"What's your name, sport?"

"What does the good boy do, Thomas?"

Thomas stands up. He walks past the desk. He reaches toward Mr. Barkley's dog head.

"Come on, Thomas. Don't you want your puppy? Push another button. Be a good boy. " Thomas presses

The Golden Retriever stops panting. It tilts its head. Whines once, low.

The boy whispers: "Thomas."

"Hello, boys and girls! Welcome back to The Dog Game !" The lights dim