Page 20 of Redemption
And then, I see it.
A drooling, snarling, vicious beast.
It leans back slightly on its heels, and my finger tightens on the trigger...
...only to be knocked away.
The gun fires as I hit the floor beneath Alessandra, the bullet flying into the opposite wall and thankfully not into her when she collided with me. I look over in the direction of the doorway, but the beast is gone, and Alessandra’s still on top of me.
“Why did you—”
She lifts herself to her feet and I move to do the same, but before I can stand and finish the sentence, I’m thrown back onto the floor again, the beast, now, towering over me in her place, looking like it can’t wait to eat me whole. I fight to escape, but I’m stuck, pinned beneath its muscle as its drool drips onto my face.
“Sadie!” Alessandra chirps excitedly.
The beast stills, ears perking up in response. I turn my gaze reluctantly to Alessandra, perplexed at her reaction to me about to be eaten by the foul-mouthed canine.
After a few seconds of pure delight, she looks down at me, finally noticing my predicament and imminent demise before saying, “Oh, yeah, that’s right. Sadie! Down!”
The dog looks to Alessandra, whimpering before licking its chomps and turning back to me on the floor, showing its sharp canines again and inching closer to my face.
“It’s ok. He’s not a douchebag. Just an asshole.Down,girl.”
With a disgruntled chuff, Sadie pulls away but keeps me in her sights as she returns to Alessandra’s side.
“Sadie?” I ask.
“Yes,” she confirms, giving her a scratch behind her ears. “She’s... my dog.”
Remnants of our earlier conversation float around in my mind as I look at the mutt in question, only to receive another growl at my curiosity... and another outburst from its apparentowner.
“Oh. My. Gravy....” Her eyes widen. I can just about see the sparks flying in that beautiful brain of hers. “Sweet mother of marshmallows!” Alessandra looks at Sadie, then at me, and then back at the dog again, her eyes going round like saucers before she points at Sadie, getting her attention. “You can see him too?!”
Sadie sits, tilting her head to the side before trotting over to me and...
Motherfucker...
“Get off! Stop pissing on me! Fucking dog. I didn’t do anything wrong!”
“You sure as fuck did, ya fucking ass-wipe! But that’s not the point right now. She can see you!” She points her accusatory finger at me, shock taking over her entire body.
Finally! “Of course she can see me, Mi Al— Alessandra! I’m fucking real. Like I’ve been trying to tell you!”
“Oh my God.... OH MY GOD!” She claws at her hair as she paces back and forth, her fists opening and closing. I can sense her about to lose her shit from here. “How... Fucking...Howdid he just miraculously survive everything?... No, I know I have no place to talk, but still... Yes, I know. She just—” Suddenly, Alystops pacing and looks down to Sadie, “Good girl! You get all the cookies. And another every time you pee on him!” She pets her, causing the dog’s tongue to loll out with a goofy, vindictive grin directed straight at me.
Returning her own gaze in my direction, Aly continues, “And as for you, you say you know what to do to get them back? Well, let’s go then. If you’re real, why the hell are you sitting around on your ass? Get up and make yourself fucking useful! We’ve got to find the guys!” She claps her hands, waving her arms around like she’s directing traffic. “Let’s go! Move it! Go! Go! Go! Double-time and... stuff. Whatever. ONWARD!!!”
Well, at least she doesn’t think I’m dead anymore.
Progress.
I stand, walking to the front door and exiting the house with her and her mutt on my heels. “Ok. Follow me. I know of a place we can camp out tonight, but, on foot, it’s a few hours aw—” I look to the sky, to the clouds that seem to be getting darker and darker by the second.
Coming to stand beside me, Alessandra sees the same thing I do and reacts just how I feared. Her fists clench at her sides as she turns her gaze upwards, following the clouds as they grow darker and continue far off into the distance. Lightning crashes a few miles away, thunder filling our ears a few seconds after. As the world outside grows more ominous, she slowly eases her way back into the house, step by aggravated step, until both her feet are back inside. Despite the fact that she’s eager and determined to reunite with her group, she knows to stay inside when any form of darkness comes. It’s not the rain she’s afraid of—she always used to love watching thunderstorms with me on our covered porch back in New York and even went as far as dancing in the rain with me a few times—it’s what’s hiding init, making it even more obvious she’s seen some shit this past year.
It breaks my heart to see it. So much so, it takes every ounce of discipline within me to refrain from running over to her and pulling her into my arms to assure her that everything will be ok, that no matter what is out there lurking in the darkness, I’m so much worse, and that she has nothing to worry about with me by her side. My body turns instinctively in her direction, intent on doing just that, but I force myself to remain by the door.
“I really don’t want to, but we should probably stay here until this storm blows over,” she suggests before I do. I nod in response, easily agreeing as I shut the door behind me.
