Chapter 119: Screams

Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Screams

Daniel looked at the fat man, his eyes fixed on his trembling form.

The fat man was still trembling, his body shaking with fear. His face was pale, the color drained from his cheeks. His eyes were wide, the pupils dilated with terror. His body was shaking, the tremors running through his limbs.

Daniel smiled, a cold, dangerous smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Follow me," he said, his voice flat and emotionless.

He turned and walked toward a door, his footsteps steady and deliberate. It was a small door, the wood worn and weathered. It led to a small room, the space cramped and confined. It was dark, the interior shrouded in shadow. It was empty, the space devoid of any furnishings or decorations.

The fat man hesitated, his body frozen in place. He looked at the door, his eyes fixed on the entrance. At the darkness, the shadows deep and threatening. At Daniel, his form standing in the doorway.

Then he looked at Fluffy, his gaze shifting to her form. At Mittens, her small body trembling. At the fallen guards, their bodies broken and still.

He swallowed hard, his throat working. He followed, his steps reluctant and slow.

Daniel opened the door, his hand on the handle. He gestured inside, his hand sweeping in a wide arc.

"After you," he said, his voice calm and measured.

The fat man stepped inside, his legs shaking with every step. His legs were shaking, the muscles weak and unsteady. His breath was shallow, the air coming in short gasps.

Daniel followed, his steps steady. He closed the door behind him, the wood creaking as it shut.

---

Fluffy stood outside, her form still and tense.

She was holding her daggers, the blades gleaming in the dim light. Her ears were perked, the tips standing at attention. Her tail was still, the fur unmoving.

Mittens was beside her, her small form pressed close. She was trembling, her body shaking. She was crying, her tears streaming. She was scared, her fear palpable.

"What’s happening?" Mittens whispered, her voice barely audible.

Fluffy didn’t answer, her silence speaking. She was listening, her ears straining to catch every sound.

Then she heard it.

A scream, the sound piercing through the silence.

It was loud, the volume high and sharp. It was piercing, the sound cutting through the air. It was full of pain, the agony evident in every note.

It was the fat man, his voice recognizable.

Fluffy flinched, her body reacting. Her ears flattened, the tips pressing against her skull. Her tail tucked, the fur pressing against her legs.

The scream continued, the sound unceasing. It grew louder, the volume rising. It grew more desperate, the tone frantic. It grew more agonized, the pain deepening.

Then there was silence, the quiet sudden.

Then another scream, the sound returning. Louder than before, the volume higher. More desperate, the tone more frantic. More agonized, the pain deeper.

Fluffy’s body was trembling, the shakes running through her form. She had never heard anything like this, the sound unfamiliar. She had never heard someone scream like this, the agony so raw.

Mittens was crying, her tears flowing. She was covering her ears, her hands pressing. She was shaking, her body trembling.

"What is he doing to him?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Fluffy didn’t answer, her silence speaking. She didn’t know, her mind unable to process.

The screams continued, the sound relentless.

They went on for minutes, the time passing slowly. Minutes that felt like hours, the duration stretching. Minutes that felt like days, the time endless.

Then they stopped, the silence returning.

Silence, the quiet heavy and oppressive.

Fluffy waited, her body tense. She held her breath, her lungs burning. She waited, her ears straining.

The door opened, the hinges creaking.

Daniel stepped out, his form emerging from the darkness.

He was smiling, a warm, satisfied smile that softened the hard lines of his face. His hands were clean, the skin unmarked. His clothes were clean, the fabric spotless. His dagger was clean, the blade wiped.

He looked at Fluffy, his eyes meeting hers. At her scared face, the fear evident. At her trembling body, the shakes visible.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice calm and gentle.

Fluffy nodded slowly, her head bobbing. "Fluffy is alright."

She looked at the door, her eyes fixed on the entrance. At the dark room, the interior hidden. At the silence, the quiet heavy.

"What about the man?" she asked, her voice small.

Daniel shrugged, his shoulders rising and falling. "Don’t worry. He won’t be causing any trouble anytime soon."

Fluffy nodded again, her head bobbing. She didn’t ask more questions, her curiosity suppressed. She didn’t want to know, her mind unwilling.

Daniel looked at Mittens, his eyes moving to her form. At her cat ears, the tips pointed. At her cat tail, the fur soft. At her scared face, the fear evident.

"So," he said, his voice curious. "Who’s your new friend?"

---

A Few Minutes Earlier

Fluffy and Mittens sat in the corner, their forms huddled together.

The screams were coming from the room, the sound muffled but audible. They were loud, the volume high. They were terrible, the agony raw. They were horrifying, the pain deep.

Fluffy was holding her daggers, the blades ready. She was tense, her muscles coiled. She was scared, her heart pounding. But she was also curious, her mind wondering.

She looked at Mittens, her eyes studying her form. At her cat ears, the tips pointed. At her cat tail, the fur soft. At her tear-streaked face, the tears visible.

"Don’t worry master is a good person?" Fluffy said, her voice soft.

Mittens looked at her, her eyes meeting hers. Her eyes were wide, the pupils dilated. Her voice was small, barely above a whisper.

"Um ok," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Fluffy tilted her head, her expression curious. "Mittens don’t seem ok."

Mittens smiled, a small, fragile smile that barely curved her lips.

"Am scared."

Fluffy nodded, her head bobbing. She looked at the door, her eyes fixed on the entrance. At the screams, the sound echoing. At the darkness, the shadows deep.

"Fluffy is scared to," she admitted, her voice small.

Mittens nodded, her head bobbing. "Me too."

They sat in silence for a moment, the quiet heavy. The screams continued, the sound relentless.

Then Fluffy spoke again, her voice soft.

"How did you get here?"

Mittens looked down, her eyes fixed on the floor. Her ears drooped, the tips lowering. Her tail tucked, the fur pressing.

"My master left me," she said, her voice barely audible. "She said she would come back. But she didn’t. Then men came. They said they had a better master. A master who wouldn’t beat me. A master who wouldn’t hurt me."

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 listened, her expression serious. Her ears were perked, the tips standing. Her eyes were fixed, the gaze steady.

"Fluffy is sorry," she said, her voice soft.

Mittens looked at her, her eyes meeting hers. "What?"

"Fluffy is sorry that happened to you."

Mittens blinked, her eyes wet with tears.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Fluffy nodded, her head bobbing. She reached out, her hand extending. She patted Mittens’s head, her touch gentle. Mittens leaned into her touch, her eyes closing. She relaxed, her body softening.

"Fluffy’s master is good," Fluffy said, her voice firm.

Mittens opened her eyes, her gaze questioning. "What?"

"Fluffy’s master is good. Master is kind. Master is good. Master saved Fluffy."

Mittens looked at her, her eyes curious. Hopeful.

"Your master?" she said, her voice uncertain. "Will he... will he hurt me?"

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

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

"Can I meet him?" she asked, her voice small.

Fluffy smiled, a warm, gentle smile that softened her features.

"Yes. Fluffy will introduce you."

Mittens smiled back, a real smile. A hopeful smile that lit up her face.

"Thank you," she said, her voice grateful.

Fluffy nodded, her head bobbing. She patted Mittens’s head again, her touch gentle.

"Fluffy will protect you," she said, her voice firm.

Mittens looked at her, her eyes wide. "You will?"

"Yes. Fluffy will protect you. Fluffy is strong. Fluffy is shadow."

Mittens didn’t understand, her mind unable to process. But she didn’t need to, her comprehension unnecessary. She just needed to feel safe, her heart yearning for security. And for the first time in a long time, she felt safe, her fear easing.

---

The screams stopped, the silence sudden.

Fluffy and Mittens looked at the door, their eyes fixed.

It opened, the hinges creaking.

Daniel stepped out, his form emerging.

He was smiling, a warm, satisfied smile.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice calm.

Fluffy nodded, her head bobbing. "Fluffy is alright."

She looked at the door, her eyes fixed. At the dark room, the interior hidden. At the silence, the quiet heavy.

"What about the man?" she asked, her voice small.

Daniel shrugged, his shoulders rising and falling. "Don’t worry. He won’t be causing any trouble anytime soon."

Fluffy nodded again, her head bobbing. She didn’t ask more questions, her curiosity suppressed.

Daniel looked at Mittens, his eyes moving to her form. At her cat ears, the tips pointed. At her cat tail, the fur soft. At her scared face, the fear evident.

"So," he said, his voice curious. "Who’s your new friend?"