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bluepenguinstories · 1 year ago

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Hypothetical Anxious Mouse

Deep within the wood stood the rusted remains of a once thriving public park. Rusted monkey bars, a partially collapsed play structure, and a swing set that creaked, and one of the seats were missing. There was a committee made up of the commune who resided within the former park who stated that they would get to work on repairing the monuments and making it a place where people of all ages could play once more. However, months after such a declaration was made, there has been no progress with regards to their mission. How could there be when survival always took precedent?

At the center of this former forest resided a wide building coated with peach colored paint, and had boarded up windows. It was once known as a recreational center and the open room in the middle of the building was home to a basketball court and sometimes the elderly would get together and play shuffle board, or there would be chess tournaments hosted there. Now, it was a place where crowds of people slept, and various blankets and sleeping bags filled the floor. One corner of the room had a pile of blankets and a sleeping bag stuffed with pillows.

Minerva Pond, or as she preferred, Minnow, was exhausted after walking through the woods and not seeing a hint of human life all day, aside from her constant companion. Her feet ached and her back kept giving her the feeling of pins and needles. When she found this community, it was like finding an oasis in the desert, and a smile widened, and she licked her lips. But rather than food or water on her mind, rest was what she yearned for.

“What’s in that sleeping bag?” She asked Chorizo, a helpful guide who had introduced her and her companion to the community when the two arrived. Minnow always felt a sour taste on her tongue when she spoke with others, and quietly cursed her feeble and soft voice which betrayed her every word. Chorizo, a man with chubby cheeks and a few tufts of hair above his head, who wore a sleeveless jacket made of blue duct tape and gray, baggy sweatpants didn’t mind nor comment on Minnow’s voice and instead answered her question.

“Oh, there’s just some extra pillows in there. You can help yourself to the pillows or blankets,” he smiled and gestured.

“May I sit on the pile?” She was less sleepy and more just needed a short reprieve.

“Sure. I don’t see why not.”

What a relief it was to hear such a thing.

Her smile widened only for it to fade upon wondering where her companion had gone.

Once I’ve taken a few minutes to sit, I’ll go look for Null, she resolved.

She sat down on the pile of blankets, some in tatters with holes in them, some striped pattern and stitched together. Others, thick, and fleece. All the same, they made for a nice cushion underneath her and she leaned forward, had her elbow on her knee, her head rested on her palm, and smiled.

“Mmf! Mmf!” Came muffled cries from somewhere nearby, breaking the contentment that made up Minnow’s face, and in its place was a small, open mouth as she looked around for what could have made that sound. It sounded like someone had a sock in their mouth, or was trying to scream, but someone else had held their mouth shut. It was pained, yet hidden away, and no one in the crowded room seemed to take notice or mind save for her.

The lights above, yellow and dizzying, only made matters worse. Whoever or whatever could have made those cries, those strained yells, wasn’t being acknowledged, and a nauseous feeling filled the air around her. Like all the oxygen was being sucked out of her and given to someone else, someone foreign.

Movement in the sleeping bag caught the corner of her eye, as two stiff, long shapes bobbed up and down.

What? Snakes? She wondered, and broke out into a cold sweat. That sweat was soon twisted into a hot jolt of liquid as her seat shook beneath her and she fell forward, her hands pressed against the cold and cracked tile floor. Above, the lights continued to be dizzying, but be it her tiredness or the dying of the bulb, it kept blinking out into seconds of darkness.

“Aargh! I thought I was going to die!” Yelled a hoarse, serene voice behind her. Arms shot up, palms spread, and all Minnow needed to do was identify the deep scar on her palm and those short, uneven nails, to tell who those arms belonged to.

“Null!” Joy, and a touch of worry, filled Minnow as the name escaped her lips.

Null’s arms bent and grabbed onto the pile of blankets, tossing them aside in the process.

When Null sat up, her face was red – almost as much as her sun-dried tomato colored hair, which happened to be even more of a mess than usual.

“If you’re going to sit on my face, could you at least wait until I’m awake?” Null rubbed her forehead with the bottom of her palm and gritted her teeth as she croaked out her complaint.

“Sorry! I didn’t know you were under there!” Minnow’s face was flushed as it was and she could only imagine the agony Null went through with her rude awakening. The tips of her coarse, chestnut hair began to frizz up and nerves in her cheek gave off little popping sparks.

Despite the distraught from her companion, Null remained dissatisfied and scrunched her face while shaking her head.

“I might end up with neck problems,” she groaned.

“No! Please don’t have neck problems!” Minnow choked back a sob.

Commotion was as usual in the large room, with everyone scattered about and talking with whoever would happen to listen. But Null couldn’t hear any of that – and instead, the air was still and silent. Her eyes widened, as she forgotten just how Minnow could be. True, Minnow wasn’t the most sensitive person, but when it came to Null and her wellness, Minnow could leak like a loose faucet.

“Hey, I’m fine, really!” Null backpedaled. She held her palm against her neck and gave a light squeeze. “See? Neck’s fine.”

“Please don’t choke yourself…”

“I’m not, I’m just showing you that my neck’s fine. I’m not mad at you, either.”

“You’re not?”

Null forced a smile.

“Not at all. I was just surprised, is all, and so I reacted the way I did. All I ask is that the next time you sit on my face, you do so when I’m awake, okay?”

“Ri-Right,” Minnow hiccuped. “Next time...I’ll sit on your face when you’re awake,” she smiled and wiped away a tear from her right eye. “Got it.”

“Good. Now,” Null’s forced smile shifted to a more natural, but bestial grin. “Unfortunately, I will have to punish you.”

“You will?”

Null nodded as she leaned forward, palms curled, and tickled the sides of Minnow’s stomach.

“Eep! Cheep!” Minnow let out a squeak and squirmed. “S-Stop!”

Every time Null’s hands brushed against the softness of Minnow’s skin, wherever it may be, she couldn’t help but want to touch more. Of course, she had to heed the words of her mistress.

In one swift motion, she wrapped her hands around Minnow’s waist and held her tight while giving several kisses across Minnow’s cheeks and neck.

“Ahaha! Null! There’s so many people around!” Minnow laughed, and her cheeks turned almost as red as Null’s hair.

“Sorry, I’ll stop.”

“I do like it, really. I just don’t want so many people to watch.”

“Mm. That’s a good point,” Null let go, crossed her arms, and nodded. “I’m already not a fan of crowds to begin with.”

“Mm-hmm,” Minnow knew very well.

“In that case…”

Null curled up and rested her head in Minnow’s lap.

“This is fine, right?” Null looked up and asked. She saw the hunger in Minnow’s eyes, the kind of hunger that said Null could have been Minnow’s next meal. If she were to be devoured by anyone, it would have to be Minnow.

“Yes,” Minnow said in a labored breath, “this is fine.”

Rather than resume a peaceful slumber, Null decided to test the waters. She ran her fingers across the valley that was Minnow’s thigh, starting the top and prancing her fingers in, then outward.

“Careful. You know how easily I get turned on,” Minnow warned.

Null stopped herself. She knew better, but she still had a habit of forgetting such a fact.

“Right. You turn into quite the beast.”

“Stop that. If others hear, they might get the wrong idea.”

“Guess we both need to be careful,” Null chuckled. “Hey, if we’re tired, wanna share the sleeping bag with me? We can rest our heads under the pile of blankets, too.”

“We should probably leave our heads out of the blankets. I don’t want a repeat of what happened to you.”

“Of course not. You’re the only one allowed to sit on my face.”

The two shimmied into the sleeping bag and fell asleep, their foreheads rested against each other. Not a soul woke them from their slumber, even as the communal dinner rolled around and everyone nearby shared bowls of soup.

#null void #minnow pond #ham #I havent written anything in a while due to struggling irl #but wanted to write something short and sweet #and not to mention its tiwa's birthday

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bluepenguinstories · 1 year ago

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(Anxious) Mouse Vertigo 14

Their stares said the same thing: “we were going to leave tomorrow, but it looks like our departure date just moved up.”

There was no need to say any more on the subject. If they wanted, they could gather a few more things and head out the door. Likewise, there was nothing to indicate that they couldn’t leave: never in the rules that Frou-Frou stated was there a mention of being stuck there. So the first words uttered aloud may have come as a surprise.

“I need to get some fresh air,” Null announced.

“Be careful. Let’s meet back up here, okay?” Minnow said in turn.

“Of course. I’m not going to leave without you.”

Hearing those words put a smile on Minnow’s face. Despite how volatile the situation was just a few minutes ago, she had no reason to believe Null was in danger. With how scared and timid Null was, if not clumsy as well, she was unlikely to do anything reckless. At the first sign of danger, Null would run away.

Of that, Minnow was sure.

So long as she doesn’t run into that Frou-Frou guy again. He’s bad news.

Her wound still throbbed. She placed her palm on it and felt the sting. She hadn’t bled out, but the sensation might have suggested otherwise. The tears that were already on her face were mere residual. In the depths of her heart, she had nothing but resentment for the one who had punched her. Who dared to threaten Null. Most of all, for herself, for not heeding Null’s warnings.

I just wanted a safe place for us. How could I have been so wrong? She wondered.

There would be no time left to wonder: a series of knocks tapped upon the door. Low in tone, but not heavy. Then, without further warning, the handle turned and the door opened to reveal the looming figure of Frou-Frou in the doorway.

So soon? She scowled at the man who advanced toward her.

Yes, it was true that her eyes burned, but so too did her rage.

“What? Did you feel I got off too easy?” She scoffed.

He shook his head, with the trademark frown on his face.

“You and I have something to discuss. I just saw that friend of yours walk out the door. Now is the perfect time,” he said, his tone flat, but low, and barely masking his anger.

“Is that so?” She repeated the favorite phrase of his. Or one of the phrases he seemed to like best. Frou-Frou was known to have many favorites.

“First off, allow me to issue an apology: I let my temper show.”

“Is that all you have to say? Do you have regrets over hitting me? Don’t. You were still going to hit Null. You shouldn’t have hit either of us. If that’s your idea of an apology, you can shove it.”

He snickered.

“You can be as rude as you want to me right now. I don’t care. No, she deserved such a punishment, and you taking the fall for her doesn’t change that. That’s not what I wish to discuss.”

“Then what?”

He glanced down, noticed the backpack with the supplies poking out.

“Are you planning on leaving?” He asked.

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“No. On the contrary. Leave. But don’t take that friend of yours with you.”

The stinging sensation which was once isolated to her face spread to the lower parts of her body as well.

“What makes you think I would do that?” The very thought was worse than any punch he could have thrown her way.

“You know, when you first entered, I was trying to place why I thought you were familiar,” he smiled. “It’s just now that I recall the rumors I heard from past residents. How there was a small woman who would travel with others and lead them to their deaths. Their description of that woman matched yours.”

It was then that the fire inside her was dampened with an icy chill and she couldn’t decide whether or not to turn red or turn pale.

“I never saw any survivors! How could that be?”

“Ha. So you admit it. You think there wouldn’t ever be a witness. That word wouldn’t travel of ‘people to watch out for’, or ‘people to stay away from.’ I don’t know what you told that friend of yours, but you’re nothing but trouble. She would be better off without you.”

“And what? She would be better with you? Someone to throw to your dogs upon any minor perceived slight? I won’t accept that.”

“You have my word that if you leave, I won’t kill her. I think I can set her on the right path. Teach her to be respectful. Lead a better life. Could you promise the same thing?”

“I don’t need to promise anything like that,” she stood up, her scowl deep-set. “I don’t want to know what your definition of ‘set her on the right path’ is. Furthermore, I never ‘led people to their deaths.’ Those people you’re referring to all saw me as weak. They all stood in front of me and were taken by the beasts, all to protect me. I never asked for their protection. I never wanted it. I never wanted a single one of those people to die, not a single one.”

“You know why those people thought of you as weak?”

“Because I’m small. My soft voice betrays me. They all think of me as some kind, weak little thing, and never bothered to ask what I was capable of, only assuring me that I’m someone in need of protection.”

“You admit it yourself: you are capable. It’s your will that is weak. You say you never wanted a single one of them to die, yet did you ever do anything to try to save them?”

“Don’t you think I would have if I could?”

“That’s just it: you could. And maybe you wouldn’t have succeeded, but you already said you were capable. It’s that you refused to budge that makes you weak. I bet deep down, you enjoyed how they perceived you because it meant that you were never in any real danger. You can deny it all you want, but weak willed people like you love to leech off the strong.”

Minnow paused, gulped, and looked down at the floor. She told herself that she wouldn’t be reduced to tears once again, that it wasn’t worth it.

“Null and I...we’ve been together for a couple months now. In that time, we’ve had several brushes with death. We helped each other survive each time, and she never once looked down on me. Maybe I failed in the past with others, but I refuse to fail with Null.”

“You say that now, but I’m willing to bet that given the right circumstance, you would drop her like a hat. Correct me if I’m wrong.”

“You’re wrong.”

“I’m just calling it like I see it. I’m calling it like I see it.”

He walked away, back out the door.

Minnow was left to stand and stare off in the dining room, stuck in her position to do much else.

Please, she thought, hurry back, Null.

What went on in Null’s mind at the moment was a mystery to herself. Usually, she knew her own thoughts, even if she would have rather pretended otherwise. Now, however…

The air was thick and tense.

She let out a deep breath, a sort of relief. Her heart still raced thinking of just a moment ago. Countless times she had thought, it’s okay if I got hurt, but not Minnow.

“It’s my own fault. I know it,” she looked down and smiled in the middle of the street, full of rubble and broken glass. It took everything she had to hold back any more tears. A few loose ones still fell at the mere thought of what had transpired. “It’s my own fault, so why wasn’t she mad at me as well?”

She wiped away her tears with her sleeve. It had recently been washed, as was her messy, blood orange hair, which ran all over the place, even when she tried to brush it. At best, she could get her hair somewhat straightened out, but several curls would still poke their way out.

At least she could thank her lucky stars she got a decent shower. The first time in over a year. The last time she was likely to partake in one. She ran her fingers through her hair. It turns out, when washed, it was rather silky and the sensation of feeling her way in was an ecstatic, over the rainbow type feeling.

I’d like it if Minnow could run her fingers through my hair as well, Null thought, well aware that it was a silly one. Were Minnow to ask, Null would have probably refused. But she acknowledged the desire was there.

Back before the calamity, before the dissolution of her sole and final friend, Null managed to shower on a somewhat consistent basis. Usually, every other day, and usually at night. There were days she skipped taking one, usually when her mood was particularly low, and she’d sometimes have to be careful with the timing of her showers, lest her parents yell at her for keeping them up with the water running.

Those days, even when she had nothing else going for her, the softness of her hair after a good wash was one source of pride for her. Even if it was an unruly thing that seemed to have a mind of its own, it was hers, and in its own way, it treated her well.

She looked around. What started as wandering aimlessly and hoping to sort out her thoughts turned into quite the tangled mess. Not unlike her hair, even when washed.

Rows of broken down buildings and old alleyways with thick, oil-like substances running through them. A few permeated a foul, vinegar and rotten meat smell, likely the remnants of where dumpsters once lay.

Behind her, where she had walked from, a couple of those beasts patrolled. Slow, but menacing. One paw in front of the other, and when they lifted up said paws, they folded like a curtsy until coming down. Through the hole at the tip of their closed-in petal faces was a hoarse, heavy huffing sound. It conjured up images of the snorting sounds pugs made.

Great. Now I’m comparing them to dogs as well.

Her right arm twitched. Their approach gave Null a sinking feeling in her chest, but as much as she dreaded having to go near such grotesque things, another side of her was excited.

“Go ahead,” Null muttered, glancing down at the sleeve on her right arm. A thick, goopy substance clutched the zipper and unzipped the side of Null’s sleeve. Sprung out from the sleeve emerged a long, curved, dripping blade. It hardened and grew as Null ran forward. Her heart, her mind, her legs, they wall told her to turn back. Hell, were it not for the slime’s needs, she just might have.

The two beasts crouched and readied themselves for an attack. Their petals opened up and emitted a sharp hissing sound as the folds danced about and saliva dripped between the sharp teeth of theirs.

Both leaped forward, aiming for each arm. Null, startled, leaped back and almost fell to the ground, but her right arm took control and slashed forward at one of the beast’s mouths, slicing it in half.

The other beast clamped down on Null’s left arm, the folds of its petaled head enveloping her.

“AAH! FUCK!” She cursed and tried to shake it off but the beast’s teeth refused to let go. In shock, she fell to the ground, pieces of rocks sticking to the fabric of her uniform in the process. At the same time, the needle-like teeth punctured through the fabric of her sleeve and little streams of blood trickled down. She hissed and began to feel dizzy, the movements of her shaking arm slowed.

Out of all the ways to die, she thought while crackling static floated through her mind. Consciousness slowly faded. But, in a last-ditch effort, her right arm swung and sliced the beast in half. Its back end fell to the ground. Her slime, desperate, zeroed in on the food in front of her and pulled Null forward until Null’s right fist found its way inside the beast’s innards. Within, it felt like plunging her hand into a thick bowl of gelatin colliding with little pieces of bone marrow and strange, curvy organs which reminded her of a rubber cushion.

Something sour began to find its way up Null’s throat and her eyes shot open wide.

“Urgh…” She hummed and tried to swallow the acidic substance back down. It burned through her, but she resisted the urge to spill it forth onto the ground.

By now, she was sure her left arm had went numb, as the beast’s head, even if it was lifeless, refused to let go. But her right arm, meanwhile, absorbed all the blood within the beast and the inner walls of the beast closed in until it was deflated. Only the bone marrow and dried up organs remained.

When Null pulled her right arm out, she saw that her fist was covered in the thick, wet, crimson substance she had become all too used to, as was her sleeve. However, when the slime retracted, her fist was void of any blood, and her sleeves, while carrying a slight brown-hued stain, looked dry as well. In a swift swoop, the slime returned to the shelter in her right arm and the sleeve of her uniform closed behind.

Dizzy and still on the ground, she tried making feeble motions with her left arm until the folds of the petals that were the beast’s head slid down and fell to the ground.

She too fell on her back and laid there. Her left arm, feeling hard as stone, strained her to move, but once she had it in front of her, she noticed the red puncture marks around her sleeve. Little bits of fabric torn clean off, and a trickling, wet redness.

“Here I thought something like this would be a cakewalk,” she mumbled, eyes closed. “Ugh. How am I going to explain this to Minnow?”

She remained there for what felt like several moments, however, not even three minutes passed when her rest was interrupted.

“You sure made fine work of my doggies, little lady,” Frou-Frou announced with a low, breathy voice.

She poked her head up, eyes open, and was startled to see the large figure in front of her, arms crossed, and with a disarming smirk.

“Um. I don’t know what you saw, but,” Null pushed herself up and stood with a slouch. “I was just walking. Your beasts attacked me, and, well, um...I guess maybe they sensed you were near and stopped? Yeah.”

“You can’t play dumb with me. Maybe that would work on that lady friend of yours, but me? I saw the whole thing.”

Frou-Frou snickered and that was when Null noticed the two beasts standing beside him.

“Heh. No wonder you two survived for so long. You two protecting each other? What a load of bull. If she hadn’t been traveling with a beast, she would have been long dead by now.”

“What are you talking about?” Null squinted.

“You didn’t know? She’s traveled with others before. Others who she let die to save her own skin. If it weren’t for you being a beast, she would have probably left you to die a long time ago.”

Null gulped as her heart leaped.

“So? I’ve done the same. That’s why I prefer being alone in the first place. Why should I be responsible for others’ lives when I never deserved to live in the first place?” Null’s creased brow was soon turning to a scowl, but she herself couldn’t understand why. “I’ve even told her that I’d gladly die if it meant she lived on, so why should hearing this change my mind about her?”

“You fool. But what else should I expect from a beast? Trying to mimic human behavior to gain sympathy so I’ll drop my guard? That won’t work on me.”

“What?! I’m not a beast! I’m…” Null couldn’t finish the thought.

What am I? She asked herself, but nothing conclusive came to mind.

“LIAR!” Frou-Frou roared. His face turned a fiery red. He snarled and snorted. “I SAW YOU! DON’T LIE TO ME!”

He was loud enough to knock the wind out of her and she took a step back, a cold sweat formed on her face.

This is wrong. I need to get out of here.

She turned and ran deeper into the city.

I’ll try to catch up with Minnow. We’ll run away together. We’ll --

“Dogs! Pin her down!” Frou-Frou commanded.

She stumbled and tripped over upon hearing those words but managed to regain her balance and keep moving. However, the speed of the dogs outran her and soon they leaped behind her and rammed their heads into her back, knocking her down on the ground where her face met the cracked pavement.

They stood over her arms and a couple more of the beasts Frou-Frou called ‘dogs’ ran in from around the corner.

The slime attached to her arm pulled itself out from Null’s sleeve and changed shape to its blade form.

Null gasped. Before, she still had plausible deniability. Not that she considered herself a beast at all, but in Frou-Frou’s eyes.

He drew closer. His footsteps, soft, but palpable, rang in her ears. She tried to shut her eyes tight, but it did nothing to stop those sounds. With the other two beasts next to her, they clamped their jaws down on her fingers.

“AAAAAAA --” Tears filled her eyes and she let out a blistering scream. She wondered if Minnow could hear from that far, but hoped that wouldn’t be the case.

Her slime tried to swing about, but couldn’t so much as get a scratch on the beasts while both of Null’s arms were pinned down. No matter how much Null tried to wriggle and struggle, she was trapped.

Before any relief could be found, he stood before her, boot raised, and dropped it down on her back. She wheezed, barely able to gasp, and it felt like her ribcage might have cracked. The tears flowed harder, as did the snot running down her nose.

“P-Please,” she squeezed the words not, not even sure if those words were intelligible.

Rather than answer her prayer, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a metal collar, then knelt down over her, opening the collar and clamping it around her neck.

“You can let go now,” he commanded his pet beasts. They stepped off, released their grip, and backed away.

Null struggled up, her insides feeling like broken glass, and she tried to swing her right arm forward towards two of the beasts. The second she did so, Frou-Frou reached into his front pocket and pulled out his remote. The dial turned on the shock collar and electric currents spread against her neck. With a blinding bright light, she convulsed, then fell back to the ground.

The shocks dissipated, but some still danced around while her hair stood on end.

Her limbs had gone numb, and in the midst of the shock, her slime had retreated back into her sleeve.

“You’ll make a good dog,” was the last thing Null heard before she blacked out.

Minnow spent the remainder of the day pacing around in the duplex.

She was sure Null said she wouldn’t leave without her, but then, why wasn’t Null back?

There was a box of saltine crackers in one of the cupboards. A blue box, with a picture of the very same crackers. Not one of the crackers pictured looked appealing, and the expiration date on the box was set for a year and a half ago.

Maybe she really did leave without me. Maybe she just told me that to reassure me. To make me feel better. But I get it. Maybe she heard about my prior experiences traveling with others, was disgusted with what she heard, and left the city on her own. Even if it wasn’t that, I know she never wanted to be here in the first place. I kept pressuring her. Making the decision for her. It was wrong. I just wanted us to have a safe haven, even for a little while. I was so tired…

But more than that, this must have been building up for a while. From the beginning, she never wanted to travel with me. I forced that on her. I know I’ve been a burden on her all this time. What have I done to help her feel better? Nothing. If anything, I’ve only constrained her. And for what? To satisfy my own loneliness? Did I ever really care for her or was I just desperate to be around someone who lasted longer than a few days around me?

She ripped open the boxes. She knew all too well what those thoughts were, and if she didn’t start occupying herself, they would only go on longer.

She tore through the plastic and grabbed a handful of crackers.

At first, she shoved a few in her mouth and crunched down while tears jerked out from her and strained her face. They were stale. Tasteless. Exactly the taste she needed.

They taste like nothing.

Wrong.

They taste like indigestion.

Her thoughts were still sour, but at least they were focused on the task at hand.

What turned to plowing down stale, expired crackers soon shifted to slow nibbling as she continued to sob.

“Please, Null...come back!” She cried.

As the sun began to set, she knew that too much time had past. She was still a wreck, yet she maintained some sliver of hope.

Maybe she got lost. Or maybe she’s upstairs.

She already checked upstairs earlier. Besides, if Null had come back, Minnow would have heard the front door open. Right?

Sunset shifted to dusk. The light of the living room was on and she walked over to the front window, scanned her eyes around outside.

No sign of life. No howling wind.

Maybe she’s still in the city. Maybe one of his dogs killed her. Maybe HE killed her. If that’s true, maybe her corpse is already in the fire. Maybe I’m too late. But even if that’s the case, I want to see her. And if she left the city, I want to…

She crawled over to the door.

When she awoke, indentations from the fuzzy living room carpet formed on her chin. Around her lips were the crumbs from the crackers she had binged down the night before. She faced the door, but wasn’t even near the stairs.

Exhaustion: she passed out before she could make her first move.

What if I’m too late, just like I’m always too late? She thought, but her expression wasn’t one of despair: simply glum.

Unsure of Null’s possible whereabouts, she pushed herself forward until she stood up. Off-balance, she wobbled. Her head still spun.

It took a moment, but she grabbed the basket which lay in the dining room since the day prior. Still in its same spot: still on the carpeted floor near the table.

Once it was in her clutches, she headed out the door. She couldn’t fathom what lay ahead, but she knew she’d have to face it sooner or later. If she was lucky, she would find Null. But without any indication of her whereabouts, the chances were grim.

She walked straight toward the exit. If she was wrong...no, that wasn’t the time to think about that.

As she drew near, a voice called out to her from behind. A voice she was both eager and dreading to hear:

“Hoho, looks like you decided to take my advice,” gloated Frou-Frou. The gate, again, looking like a shed, was close by, but it would have to wait. She turned, and her draw was just about ready to drop to the ground upon what she saw:

Standing by Frou-Frou’s side, with his large hand upon her shoulder, was Null, with a silver metal collar around her neck. In addition to Null were two of his dogs.

“What is the meaning of this?” Minnow’s heart raced as she asked.

“I saw her yesterday after our chat. I decided she’d make a great pet.”

Null’s head was hung low. She looked dejected. One could say it was a look Minnow was familiar with, but she would have rather that look been in any other context.

“Null. Please. Say something,” Minnow begged, her voice nearly a whimper. Null, however, was silent. She noticed brown marks on one sleeve of her uniform, while the other sleeve had several tiny red dots lined up. The middle of her uniform looked caked in dirt or debris. Her face was scratched up, blackened on her cheeks mixed with little lines of red. Her hands looked like they had turned purple, all scabbed up along the knuckles.

“What did you do to her?!” Minnow demanded.

“Be grateful I didn’t kill her. I saw her trying to approach one of my dogs. She broke the rules enough times as it is. Now, I suggest you leave,” Frou-Frou made little sweeping motions with his hand.

“Is this really what you want, Null? Please, say something!”

Null’s lips quivered, but her mouth didn’t open. Rather, Frou-Frou snapped.

“It doesn’t matter what she wants! Her life belongs to me now!”

Minnow scowled, but knowing how strong Null’s captor was and the resources at his disposal (not to mention the beasts he kept as pets), she knew she stood no chance, so her scowl soon gave way to a pouting expression.

She glanced over to her left. There was a whole row of buildings left unexplored, and surely abandoned. It wouldn’t matter if she was leaving, but…

“Before I go, may I take a walk around the city one last time?”

Frou-Frou raised an eyebrow, but smiled.

“Sure. I doubt you’ll find anything of interest, but go ahead.”

She took a bow before walking around the perimeter of the city. She made sure to stay close to the walls, but her eyes were fixed on the buildings nearby.

A few minutes later, she returned to the back gate where Frou-Frou and his entourage still stood.

“Satisfied?” He asked. His patience was wearing thin, but it didn’t matter. As long as she left, the rest of his day would be a breeze.

“Yes. Thank you,” she bowed once more. Before turning toward the door, she fixed her gaze on Null.

“I-It was a pleasure traveling with you,” she said, her voice shaking and on the verge of tears as she did so, “but it appears it’s time we went our separate ways.”

She forced a smile, then turned toward the door and made her exit, basket in hand.

#(anxious) mouse vertigo #anxious mouse vertigo #amv #null void #minnow pond #writing #stories #action #horror #drama

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