Chapter 112: The Escape

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: The Escape

The fat man pointed at Fluffy, his thick finger jabbing through the air like a weapon.

"Tie her up," he said, his voice sharp and commanding. "Quickly. Before she causes trouble."

The thin man nodded, his head bobbing. He pulled out a rope, the coarse fibers rough and thick. He walked toward Fluffy, his steps slow and deliberate. His steps were slow, the pace measured and confident. Deliberate, each step placed with purpose. Confident, his posture radiating arrogance.

Fluffy looked at him, her eyes studying his approach. At his mean face, the features sharp and cruel. At his cruel smile, the expression twisted and predatory. At the rope in his hands, the fibers rough and threatening.

Her ears flattened, the tips pressing against her skull. Her tail tucked, the fur pressing against her legs. Her eyes narrowed, the pupils contracting.

"You lied," she said, her voice cold and hard.

The thin man stopped, his footsteps coming to a halt. He tilted his head, his expression confused. "What?"

"You lied. You said there was meat. But there is no meat."

The thin man laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. "Of course there’s no meat. We lied. That’s what we do."

Fluffy’s eyes narrowed further, the pupils becoming slits. Her hands clenched into fists, the fingers curling tight.

"Fluffy knows," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "Fluffy knows you lied. Fluffy is not stupid."

The thin man laughed again, his expression dismissive. "Sure you’re not. Now hold still."

He reached for her, his hand extending. His hand was inches from her arm, the fingers reaching.

Fluffy punched him.

The punch was fast, the movement a blur. It was strong, the force immense. It was precise, the aim true. It connected with his chest, the impact thunderous. The impact was thunderous, the sound echoing through the room.

The thin man flew backward, his body tumbling through the air. He crashed through the wall, the stone crumbling and shattering. The wall crumbled, the structure collapsing. He disappeared into the rubble, his form vanishing into the debris.

The fat man stared, his mouth open. His eyes were wide, the pupils dilated. His face was pale, the color draining.

"What..." he whispered, his voice barely audible. "What was that?"

Fluffy looked at him, her eyes cold. Her expression was hard, the features set.

"That was Fluffy," she said, her voice flat.

The fat man stumbled back, his feet catching on the debris. His face was pale, the color gone. His hands were shaking, the fingers trembling.

"That man was a former adventurer!" he shouted, his voice high and desperate. "He was C rank! He was strong!"

Fluffy tilted her head, her expression curious. "He was weak."

The fat man stared at her, his eyes moving over her form. At her small form, the size deceptive. At her cold eyes, the expression terrifying. At her clenched fists, the weapons deadly.

Then he turned and ran.

He ran through the door, his steps frantic. He ran down the hallway, his breath ragged. He ran toward the exit, his body desperate. He ran for his life, his mind filled with terror.

Fluffy started to chase him.

She took one step, her foot lifting. Then another, her body moving. Then she stopped, her feet freezing in place.

She heard something.

A whimper, the sound small and quiet. A small, quiet whimper, the noise barely audible.

She turned, her body spinning.

The cat folk was still there, her form unchanged. She was still tied up, her body bound. She was still gagged, her mouth covered. She was still scared, her eyes wide.

Fluffy looked at her, her eyes meeting hers. Then at the door, the exit visible. Then at her again, her gaze returning.

She sighed, a long, resigned sound.

She walked toward the cat folk, her steps slow. She knelt beside her, her knees touching the floor. She pulled out her dagger, the blade glinting. She cut the ropes, the fibers parting.

The cat folk gasped, her breath catching. She pulled the gag from her mouth, her hands trembling. She rubbed her wrists, the skin red. She looked at Fluffy, her eyes wide.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Thank you so much."

Fluffy nodded, her head bobbing. "Fluffy helped."

The cat folk looked at her, her eyes studying her face. Her eyes were wide, the pupils dilated. Curious, the expression questioning. Grateful, the emotion evident.

"You’re a rabbit folk," she said, her voice soft.

"Yes."

"And you’re a slave?"

Fluffy shook her head, her expression firm. "Fluffy is not slave. Fluffy is free."

The cat folk blinked, her expression confused. "Free?"

"Yes. Master freed Fluffy."

"Master?"

Fluffy nodded, her head bobbing. Her tail wagged, the motion quick. Her ears perked up, the tips standing.

"Master is Daniel. Master is kind. Master is good. Master saved Fluffy."

The cat folk looked at her, her expression a mix of confusion and hope and sadness. "I had a master once," she said, her voice quiet. "She was kind. She was good. But she left me. She said she would come back. But she didn’t."

Fluffy tilted her head, her expression curious. "What happened?"

The cat folk looked down, her eyes fixed on the floor. Her ears drooped, the tips lowering. Her tail tucked, the fur pressing against her legs.

"Men came," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "They said they had a better master. A master who wouldn’t beat me for walking too slow. A master who wouldn’t beat me for talking. A master who would be kind."

She paused, her breath catching.

"But they lied. They brought me here. They tied me up. They said they were going to sell me."

Fluffy’s expression darkened, her features hardening. Her eyes narrowed, the pupils contracting.

"They lied to Fluffy too," she said, her voice cold. "They said there was meat."

The cat folk looked at her, her eyes wet with tears. "I’m scared," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don’t want to be sold. I don’t want to be hurt. I just want to be safe."

Fluffy looked at her, her eyes studying her face. At her scared face, the fear evident. At her trembling body, the shakes visible. At her tears, the droplets falling.

She reached out, her hand extending. She patted her head, her touch gentle.

"It’s okay," she said, her voice soft. "Fluffy will help."

The cat folk looked at her, her eyes wide. "You will?"

Fluffy nodded, her head bobbing. "Fluffy will take you to Master. Master will help. Master is kind. Master is good."

The cat folk blinked, her expression hopeful. "Your master?"

"Yes."

"Will he... will he hurt me?"

Fluffy shook her head, her expression firm. "Master does not hurt. Master helps. Master saves."

The cat folk was silent, her expression thoughtful. She was thinking, her mind working. She was hoping, her heart yearning. She was praying, her soul pleading.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I’ll come with you."

Fluffy smiled, a warm, gentle smile. "Good. What is your name?"

The cat folk hesitated, her expression uncertain. "Mittens."

Fluffy tilted her head, her expression curious. "Mittens. Fluffy likes Mittens. It is a good name."

Mittens smiled, a small, fragile smile. "Thank you."

Fluffy stood up, her body rising. She held out her hand, her palm open. Mittens took it, her fingers closing around Fluffy’s. Fluffy pulled her to her feet, her strength surprising.

"Come," Fluffy said, her voice firm. "We go find Master."

They started walking toward the door, their steps quick.

Then a loud voice echoed through the building, the sound bouncing off the walls.

"This is the city guards! You are under arrest for attacking a human!"