Chapter 111: The Trap

Chapter 111: Chapter 111: The Trap

Two Minutes Earlier

Fluffy waited.

She stood in front of the meat stall, her small form barely reaching the counter. Her eyes were wide, the pupils dilated with excitement. Her tail was wagging, the motion quick and rhythmic. Her ears were perked up, the tips twitching with every sound.

She was waiting for Master.

Master had told her to stay here, his voice firm but gentle. Master had told her he would be right back, his words reassuring. Master had told her not to move, his command clear and unambiguous.

So Fluffy didn’t move.

She just stood there, her feet planted on the cobblestone. Waiting, her patience infinite. Watching the meat, her eyes fixed on the cuts. Smelling the meat, the scent filling her nostrils. Wanting the meat, her hunger a constant companion.

The old man was still packing, his hands moving with maddening slowness. He was slow, his movements deliberate. Very slow, the pace almost glacial. He kept muttering to himself, his voice low and grumbling. Something about prices and profits and customers, his words a constant stream of complaints.

Fluffy didn’t care, her attention elsewhere. She just watched the meat, her eyes fixed on the prize.

Then a woman appeared.

She was middle-aged, her age evident in the lines on her face. Plump, her body round and soft. Friendly-looking, her expression warm and inviting. She wore a simple dress, the fabric plain and worn. And a warm smile, the expression kind and welcoming. She walked toward Fluffy, her steps slow and deliberate.

"Hello, little one," she said, her voice soft and gentle.

Fluffy looked at her, her head tilting. Her expression was curious, her eyes studying the stranger.

"Hello," Fluffy said, her voice high and clear.

"Are you waiting for someone?"

"Yes. Fluffy is waiting for Master."

The woman nodded, her head bobbing. "I see. And your master told you to wait here?"

"Yes. Master said stay here. So Fluffy is staying here."

The woman smiled, a warm, kind smile that seemed genuine. "That’s very good of you. Very obedient."

Fluffy nodded, her expression proud. She was proud, her chest puffing out. She was a good rabbit folk, her loyalty unwavering. She obeyed Master, her devotion absolute.

The woman leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You know," she said, her words soft and conspiratorial, "I have more meat. In the back. Better meat. Fresher meat. Would you like to see?"

Fluffy’s ears perked up, the tips standing at attention. Her tail wagged, the motion quick and excited.

"More meat?"

"Yes. Lots more meat. The best meat in the city."

Fluffy hesitated, her expression uncertain. She looked at the meat stall, her eyes moving over the cuts. Then at the woman, her gaze studying the stranger. Then at the meat stall again, her attention returning to the prize.

"Master said stay here," she said, her voice uncertain.

"I know. But your master would want you to have the best meat, wouldn’t he?"

Fluffy thought about it, her mind working. Master did want her to have meat, his words clear. Master had given her money for meat, the coins in her pouch. Master had told her to get lots of meat, his command explicit.

"The best meat?" Fluffy asked, her voice hopeful.

"The best meat," the woman confirmed, her voice sincere.

Fluffy’s tail wagged faster, the motion almost a blur. She nodded, her head bobbing.

"Okay. Fluffy will come."

The woman smiled, a wide, warm smile. "Good. Follow me."

She turned and walked toward the back of the stall, her steps slow and deliberate. Fluffy followed, her steps quick and eager.

They walked past the stall, the wooden structure fading behind them. Past the vendor, the old man still muttering. Past the crowds, the people moving through the streets.

A man appeared, his form emerging from the shadows. He was tall, his height towering over them. Thin, his body lean and angular. Mean-looking, his features sharp and cruel. He tried to smile, his lips curving upward. It didn’t work, the expression coming out as a grimace.

"This is my assistant," the woman said, her voice smooth. "He’ll take you to the meat."

Fluffy looked at the man, her eyes studying his face. At his mean face, the features harsh. At his forced smile, the expression unnatural.

"Okay," she said, her voice uncertain.

The man nodded, his head bobbing. He turned and started walking, his steps long and quick. Fluffy followed, her steps struggling to keep up.

They walked through the streets, the paths winding and twisting. Past the stalls, the vendors shouting their wares. Past the crowds, the people moving with purpose. Past the buildings, the structures tall and imposing.

They kept walking, their footsteps echoing. Farther and farther, the distance growing. Away from the meat stall, the starting point fading. Away from the main road, the familiar path disappearing. Away from everything, the world shrinking.

Fluffy started to get afraid.

She looked around, her eyes darting. The streets were empty, the paths deserted. The buildings were dark, the structures abandoned. The people were gone, the crowds vanished.

"Where is meat?" she asked, her voice small.

The man didn’t look back, his gaze fixed ahead. "Not far. Just a little more."

Fluffy nodded, her head bobbing. She kept following, her steps hesitant.

They walked for half an hour, the time passing slowly. Maybe more, the minutes dragging. Maybe less, the seconds flying. Fluffy didn’t know, her sense of time distorted. She was scared, her heart pounding. She was confused, her mind struggling. She wanted Master, her soul crying out.

Finally, they stopped.

They were in front of a building, the structure looming before them. It was old, the walls weathered and worn. It was abandoned, the windows broken and dark. It was dark, the interior hidden in shadow.

The man opened the door, the hinges creaking. He gestured inside, his hand sweeping.

"The meat is in here," he said, his voice flat.

Fluffy hesitated, her body frozen. She looked at the building, her eyes studying the structure. At the darkness, the shadows deep and threatening. At the man, his expression unreadable.

"Fluffy doesn’t like this," she said, her voice small.

The man smiled, a mean, cruel smile that sent shivers down her spine. "It’s just meat," he said, his voice smooth. "Don’t you want meat?"

Fluffy did want meat, her hunger a constant presence. She wanted meat very much, her desire strong. But she also wanted Master, her loyalty unwavering. She wanted Master’s head pats, the affection warm. Master’s warm smile, the expression kind. Master’s safe presence, the protection absolute.

But Master wasn’t here.

She was alone.

She nodded slowly, her head bobbing. She stepped inside, her feet crossing the threshold.

The building was dark, the interior shrouded in shadow. It was cold, the air chilly and damp. It was empty, the space devoid of life.

The man led her through a hallway, his steps quick and sure. Past closed doors, the wood rotting. Past broken windows, the glass shattered. Past dust and cobwebs, the debris thick.

They reached a room, the door closed. The man opened it, his hand on the handle. He gestured inside, his hand sweeping.

Fluffy stepped in, her feet crossing the threshold.

The room was small, the space cramped. It was dark, the light dim. It was dirty, the floor covered in grime.

And in the corner, there was a girl.

She was small, her form tiny. She was young, her age difficult to determine. She was a cat folk, her features distinct. She had cat ears, the tips pointed. And a cat tail, the fur soft. She was the same size as Fluffy, her build similar.

She was tied up, her body bound. Her hands were bound, the rope tight. Her feet were bound, the knots secure. Her mouth was gagged, the cloth thick.

She looked at Fluffy, her eyes meeting hers. Her eyes were wide, the pupils dilated. They were scared, the fear evident. They were hopeless, the despair deep.

Fluffy stared at her, her heart stopping. Her chest tightened, the air leaving her lungs.

Then a voice spoke, the sound cutting through the silence.

"Boss! We got another one!"

Fluffy turned, her body spinning.

A man appeared, his form emerging from the shadows. He was fat, his body round and heavy. He was ugly, his features coarse and unpleasant. He was smiling, the expression cruel and predatory.

"Seems like today is our lucky day," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction.