Page 31 of Matteo

A yelling voice cut through the quiet.

What the fuck is a Big Black? I didn't quite get the chance to decipher what it was because I swiftly moving behind some trees and out of view.

Moments later, I got my answer.

A huge black dog appeared, standing where I'd just been moments before. He had to be the size of a bear cub and he was beginning to growl. The animal's lip had curled back, a snarl starting to form.

I had no idea why but, at the base of my neck, a tingling sensation began to form.

Maybe my body was reacting to potential danger.

"Hey boy, what do you see?" the teenage girl who'd been calling for her pet appeared.

She starred into the darkness beyond the tree line but I was sure she couldn't see me. I was confident because she would have been screaming by now.

"Come on," she whispered. "Nothing is there."

I knew she was trying to convince herself but finally the dog let her drag him away. Sure that they were gone, I eased out of the trees and foliage.

I let out a deep breath, still listening to the sounds of the night. The trickle of water running told me I was near some sort of creek, frogs were croaking. Crickets were chiming in with their wonderful sounds. What would I have told someone if I'd been discovered? If I’d gotten caught out here snooping around in the dark. I had no idea what story I’d have to concoct.

The rest of the way, I used the darkness and blended into the night.

Once I was in the back of Ito's mansion, I scanned for security cameras that might pick up my movements. Gravel crunched lightly under my feet, and when I was satisfied that I wasn't being seen, I found myself going through the back gate.

The pool was on, and it was illuminated. The shadows were my friend and I used them. My ears picked up on chatter the closer I got to the windows.

Cassie and Ito were sitting cozy and calm together. Talking at first and it pissed me off.

You could kill him, a thought whispered to me.

Jealousy tore through my soul. The tingling had started up at the base of my neck again. The voice was getting louder inside of my head, and it had me questioning my sanity.

What the fuck is going on...?

This time the voice did something extremely unusual.

It answered me.

You’re pathetic.

Fear threatened to override the jealousy. Was I having a conversation with myself?

Was I fucking answering myself was an even better question?

Sweat began to slide over my body, a sheen of perspiration broke out along the edges of my temples.

“What is going on?"

The voice sighed.You're also a fucking idiot as well.

My hand went to my throat, it was beginning to feel tight. I tried to stop thinking and pay attention to Rain and Kenji Ito.

Then the strangest thing happened, even stranger then when I’d just answered myself.

Kenji Ito pulled Rain into his lap so fucking fast that I thought I was seeing shit.

What the fuck? Can't be. I thought.

---