Chapter Seven

4:00 PM
79°

"Fetch!" Emma yells as she threw a tennis ball across her yard and into the neighbor's yard.

"Oops" Emma looked on as I barked happily and chased it, my pup stumbling behind me. Meanwhile, I jumped on the picnic table and launched myself over the fence.

I could hear Emma laughing as I went over the fence again and ran back to her. It was fun doing these things without my preconstruction program, it was exhilarating.

I dropped the ball next to her as my pup caught up to me, he was still too young to catch up but could walk without wobbling too much.

The pup let out a bark in frustration as he finally caught up to me. Emma just giggled and lead us inside for some lemonade she made. I couldn't drink any of it since I didn't have any way to but it was a nice gesture to pour me a cup.

We followed her inside as she poured herself a cup, it was a warm today meaning she'll need to keep hydrated. I'll remind her to drink water every now and then if we continue to be outside longer.

The sound of the door unlocking caught all our attention. Emma's parents weren't usually here until 9:30 PM. I grabbed my pup from his scruff and ran upstairs to her bedroom.

I hid under her bed with my pup, deciding it was time for a nap. He's been playing all day and needed the rest anyway.

I curled around him and he snuggled next to me. It's been two weeks since I've become my own person or rather dog and I have settled nicely with Emma.

It was great not being forced to follow a code or worry about a quota. No more killing or following orders, all that mattered was me and my pup.

"What do you mean we are moving!" Emma yelled as she ran upstairs, her angry footsteps vibrated and jolted the pup awake from his drowsy state.

"I thought you would be happy!" Emma's mom chased after her but ended up with a door slammed into her face. Emma locked her door and jumped into her bed.

"It's not fair!" Emma cried and I got out from under the bed and helped my pup onto it.

Message::
What happened?

I whined and licked her tears from her cheek. She wiped her tears and sat back up.

"I'm moving to the city," Emma told me and it felt as if my world broke apart.

Message::
What!? Why?!

"That's where they work, that's why they always go early and come late. We are moving into an apartment in the big city. A building with a hundred floors and no backyard!" Emma's face turned red as emotion overtook her body. All she ever wanted was to love and care for a dog which is no longer a possibility when they move into the apartment.

"It's not fair! Just when I get a dog and am happy it's all taken away from me!" Emma talked silently but I could tell she wanted to yell out her frustration.

Message::
I know how you feel, I felt like belonged here, I was barely grasping what it meant to be alive.

"I'm sorry Dabria," Emma apologized and my pup jumped up at her, trying to make her happy.

Message::
Can you keep him at least? Maybe they'll let you have one dog?

"No, I can't. I wish I could be I can't. Especially a Saint Bernard, he'll grow up to be big, my parents wouldn't let me. Not where we are going." Emma hugged the pup as he tried to lick her salty tears.

"Emma! Please open the door, we have to talk," Emma's dad knocked on the door.

"I'm sorry, but you got to go, we are moving tomorrow," Emma told me and I could tell this was our last interaction.

I curled around her as she petted me one last time. She gave my pup a kiss on his tiny black nose and one last scratch behind both our ears.

Message::
Thank you for everything

Emma nodded and opened the window for me. I grabbed my pup from his scruff and jumped out the window, I then proceeded to jump down to the ground.

~~~

5:37 PM
76°

I had nowhere to go and no one to go to for help. I was completely on my own with this pup by my side. If I don't find shelter tonight I might run into Cerberus or Lucy, an encounter could be fatal.

No one will want to adopt us both and I can't exactly tell people my story to let me in. What can I do?

The sky was gray and there was a crisp coldness in the air. It was going to be freezing today, he needs shelter and fast.

As we walked through the neighborhood a police car came into view. I grabbed my pup and ran into a bush that was in someone's front yard.

The police car drove up to the driveway and I wondered if they saw us. However, by the way, the man stumbled out of the car and up to the door told me he lived here.

The police officer was so close I could smell him, tequila, beer, and sweat.

"Damn keys," the officer threw the keys to his front yard and sat down on his steps. His hair was overgrown and gray with age, he seemed sad.

Scanning::
LT. Anderson, Hank
Born: 09/06/1985
//Police Lieutenant

To my surprise, the pup ran out of the bush all by himself and grabbed the keys. The urge to run after him was strong but the officer still had a gun on him.

"What the" Hank mumbled as the pup left the keys by his feet, catching his attention.

"Get out of here!" Hank yelled and I almost jumped out but I kept my cool.

There was a crack in his voice and I noticed he was now sobbing. How come? Why was this man so distressed?

My pup whimpered as the man continued to cry out. When it didn't catch his attention he jumped on his lap and pawed his chest. The pup continued to whimper even louder.

"STOP! Stop crying," Hank yelled but he seemed to be talking to himself more than my pup. He rubbed his own tears away and breathed deeply.

Hank grabbed the pup from his scruff and looked him in the eyes. The pup barked and licked Hank's face, making the man smile.

"Fine." Hank sighed and grabbed the keys unlocking the door and carrying my pup with him.

~~~~