The Search for Voyd

Chapter 5

     The two animals just stood there frozen solid as the two eyes were staring directly at them. "I heard everything from you. You seem like someone who could need some help." The voice said. "Well, I'm here now. I'm here for you, kid." "Who are you and what do you want from us?" Avia asked nervously. "You don't need to be afraid." The voice replied. "I know everything you're thinking about and I will help you if you would let me." "Okay, but, what are you supposed to be?" Avia asked. Then the eyes started to come closer. Out of the shadows came black paws. Then the figure appeared. There out of the darkness was an old, but strong and wise black labrador. He was really tall and he had bags under his eyes. Wrinkles were between his eyes and almost on his forehead. "I am a lab with very strong genes. So you say you are an outcast and you want others to show more respect to you? Well then, maybe I can help you, young one." The labrador spoke very soft and wisely. " The name's Donatello and I will help you." "Y...you're a dog?!" Avia asked more nervously. "Um, no offense sir, but dogs chase cats. Are you going to hurt me?" "Relax, kid." Donatello said. "I'm not that type of canine to an innocent feline like you. I'm tame. So don't worry." "What kind of dog are you anyway, if you don't mind me asking?" Avia asked. "I am a black labrador dog." Donatello replied. "For all my life, I have lived in this big, beautiful, and strong cathedral for a long, long time." "Oh, so that's what it's called!" Kathleen said. "I should have known!" "For a long time, I lived in this immortal church my entire life," Donatello told the duo. "I was a lonely dog with no one there to adopt me or be by my side. I was in the pound all alone, waiting to be put down after my owner died from a terrible crime scene. Medical services tried to save him, but it was too late. Nothing succeeded." "You were in the pound?!" Avia asked in horror. "But how did you escape?!" "Well, deep down inside, something was telling me not to give up." Donatello continued. "It was faith. Faith was telling me to keep on trying. And so I did. I got up on my paws and damaged the cage with my strong jaws and teeth. I then barked aggressively at the dog capturers to back off and ran out of the door. Of course, they followed me, but I showed them who was boss by doing some vicious attacks. I then became an independent dog with no human beside me. But since the world was still filled with darkness and evil, that's why I came here. Sure, I felt like an outcast, but if I just had faith in myself, I knew I could conquer everything in my way. The only problem was, I didn't know when to show it since I was so scared of going outside filled with evil again. And since then, I was trapped in here all alone with no one there with me." "Woah," Avia exclaimed. "You were an outcast?! I'm an outcast too because of this scar I have! So, this means we actually have things in common! So, I wonder if this message in this book can help us since it says to shelter the outcasts from evil?" "That does sound like a promising point, kid." Donatello said. "Wait a minute, hold on." Kathleen interrupted. "You said your owner got killed in a crime scene and medical services tried to help him, but failed. But, there are superheroes around the world. Couldn't they have helped your owner?" That's when Donatello started to feel sadness enter his soul. Slowly, it then turned into anger, but it wasn't enough to make it look like Donatello was about to rage. Instead, the dog took a deep breath, let out a huge sigh, and said in a hint of devastation, "You know. I could've asked the same thing if it weren't for the government's decision." "What do you mean?" Avia asked. Donatello closed his eyes. After a few seconds of collecting himself together, he opened his eyes back up again. He then let out a big sigh and said, "It was years ago. Superheroes were in hiding because the law declared them illegal ever since there were damages in certain areas and that a person sued a super just for saving him from taking his own life. So that's why no super came to help me and my owner. They were banned. Once again, medical services came and tried to help, but they were too slow. My friend was already dead. So, what I'm trying to say is that my owner would still be alive if supers weren't forced to hide because of their misunderstanding actions.

"I despised the law ever since then. That's another reason why I'm here. Without supers, the outside world was a dangerous place for me to live in. So that's when I came here. To be protected in this gigantic building filled with structures that would soothe my fears, but still, I was scared to go back outside since it was dangerous and no supers were there to protect us. I began hoping that they would come back again. I waited and waited, but nothing changed. All I could do was live in this cathedral my entire life without being seen from others. And it was all because of that law! Humans are such dramatic creatures! They treat mistakes like it's the end of the world and I don't even understand why! It's like I would accidentally spill a small drop of ketchup on someone's pants and then the next thing I know, they explode right in my face! It's just not right!" "Oh, well, I'm so sorry this happened to you." Avia said. "I didn't think it was fair that supers had to be in hiding due to all of that stuff too. I mean, everyone makes mistakes here and there, so there's no reason to get mad at them. Even if they caused something really major to happen, I'm sure they didn't mean for it to happen. All they were just trying to do was to help and they couldn't help making that stuff not happen. They just had to what was best for people and the world. They all they were was just misunderstood. So I understand that feeling. But, you don't need to be afraid or despise the law anymore. Superheroes are now legal again and it's now okay to go outside into the world again without having to worry about losing your life." "It won't be the same without my owner though," Donatello continued. "He was that leftover puzzle piece in my heart. And it then, now, and forever, hurts since I lost that piece. But even though that I will have to live through that grief for the rest of my years of living, I will continue to live my life in the outside world again despite animal control possibly finding me again. Now, tell me, kid. Why did you come here?" "We were just curious about this place." Avia answered. "It looked pretty new. Before we came here, we were in a library trying to find new superhero books that had a super named Voyd in them, but none of them did and no one even knows who Voyd is. I would ask you if you know about her, but I doubt you would since nobody else does. Only my parents know about her and I think they just made her up just to make me accept my scar I got from a cat fight. So, it's okay if you don't know who I'm talking about." Donatello's eyes suddenly widened in surprise. "Kid, I do know who you are talking about and your parents are right about her existence." He said to Avia. The cat turned around in shock. "Th...they are?!" She asked in exclamation. Kathleen stared in shock as well. "Yep. They were not making her up. I know about this superhero too." Donatello told Avia. "Ever since I was a puppy, I would always see her jump from one portal into another every time our city was in danger. She was indeed a very interesting super. I still remember her today. I can even still hear her voice. So she is real, kid, and I'm being honest." Avia was then speechless. Somebody else actually knew about Voyd other than her parents. So they weren't lying after all. They were telling the truth! Voyd was indeed real! However, Avia was still confused about one thing when she said, "But wait. If you and my parents know about Voyd, then how come the books don't have her in it and nobody knows about her?" "It was probably before she even existed." Donatello answered. "Some people may have been born after the super was popular and legal again. People and animals can't remember everybody in this entire universe." "We looked in every book, even the new ones that came out not too long ago and she's STILL not in them!" Kathleen said. That's when Donatello became suspicious. "Is this true? She's in no book at all? Not even the new ones?" The dog asked. "It's true, unfortunately." Avia said. "We emptied the whole shelf. No image or information about her anywhere. Not a single page." "Mmmm. This is concerning indeed." Donatello said very seriously. "Do you even know what happened to her?" Avia desperately asked the wise lab. Donatello closed his eyes in despair while saying sadly, "To tell you the truth, kid.......no. I actually never knew something like this would ever happen." Avia then dropped her head down in disappointment. She and Kathleen felt like giving up until the labrador continued by saying, "But I do know one animal who might know the cause of this. Like your parents and I, she might know your super too." Avia then turned around immediately. "Really?! Who?!" She asked in high hopes. "Her name is Lucille. She is an intelligent and wise albino deer who knows everything about supers." Donatello told Avia. "She might even know what happened to your super." Avia then felt excitement rising up inside her. "Yeah?! Well, can we go talk to her?!" She asked eagerly. "Sure, kid, if it makes you feel comfortable." "Yes!" Avia bursted out. "It does! It really does! So, where is she? Where can we find her?" "In the deep woods of Municiberg." Donatello explained. "It is located between the north bay and east bay of the area. It's a bit of a travel from here. Are you willing to do this long journey just so you can know what happened to your super?" "If it means searching for Voyd, then yes!" Avia replied. "Oh, what?!" Kathleen complained. "A whole lot of miles just for looking for one super?! I don't think my wings or feet can take that much pressure!" "Kathleen, we have to." Avia said to the blue jay. "It for both me and Voyd. It's especially for me to prove to everyone that she's real and to make others respect me more for my appearance. Just give it a chance, please? I'll even carry you on my back throughout the journey if it makes you feel a little bit better." Kathleen began to think for a few minutes and then spoke up. "Alright. I guess I can give it a try." The bird then said. "Yes!" Avia quietly cheered. "Alright. Now, let's not waste our time by yapping until we are out of breath and get started." Donatello ordered. "Yes, sir!" Avia replied. "Yeah, yeah, yeah...whatever." Kathleen mumbled under her breath in order for Donatello not to hear her rude reply.

The three animals then started their way towards the door. Unfortunately, Avia and Kathleen didn't know how to use a lock. They didn't even have a key to open it with. "We always have this problem." Avia said. "Well, not anymore." Donatello said. That's when he raised his paw and put his claw in the keyhole. He turned it in different directions until there was a click. The dog then put his paw on the knob and opened the door. Avia and Kathleen were shocked by his unique ability. "Woah! How did you do that?!" Kathleen asked in surprise. "I've been trained to open doors as long as I can remember. Dogs are very loyal animals to have in your life, you know. Now, let's go!" Donatello replied as he walked out of the cathedral. Avia and Kathleen then followed him. The three animals took off to where they were heading. This was going to be a very long journey.