Little Miss Hellhound (nanowrimo2022)

Chapter 2

These streets bring a whole new perspective walking them like this. When i take steps, i feel the ground twice as much (as dumb as it sounds). The hard cement beneath my feet feels like it bends under me. Paws are softer than I thought. Every pebble and dropped piece of trash, I feel. The breeze blows apart my very short fur. I'd hang my mouth open to keep myself cool, but I'm better than that. The breeze should be enough. I don't hear any of the other dogs. I hear distant barking, each perking up my ears whether I want to or not. Not sure I can tell how close or far they are from just those barks, but I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually. The looks I get from others, I see them differently. Everyone is looking down on me. I was the biggest dog in that shelter, but even children look down on me. I'm sure I get less stares than when I was pretty, but I can deal with it. With what I've just done, it's best no one recognizes or approaches. I look mean and tough. I am. I've never looked mean and tough unless I'm drunk. It's an ugly look. But one sense stands out more than everything else. Not tasting the salty, dirty air. Or hearing every screeching brake pad in the distance. No. It's the smell of this filthy, piss-coated, smog-filled city. Every square inch of it reeks! How, and I really do mean it, how do dogs survive with a nose like this? If I had those muscles, I'd cover it away for good. I wish I had a mask to at least hide it a bit. That's what I did when I was in the city. Say what you will about San Francisco, but it isn't a clean city. To me, neither is this place. I really, really hate this.

I went as far as I could on my own. I really have no idea where I'm going. Forget finding a group of people to do good with. I don't even know my way out of here. It's a damn city. There is no just walking out of here. Seriously, there has to be an easier way to do this. How am I just supposed to find someone and help them? I'm a dog. If I was a person, I'd just go home, take out my checkbook, and donate to a local charity. But no. I can rest my head on laps and go for walks. What good is that supposed to do? Further down the street, further away from anything to do. I really wish I didn't accidentally tear apart my water bowl. Damn, I could use a drink. Both kinds. It's been, what, an hour? I know how important hydration is to the skin. I always had a bottle of water with me. But where can I get more? Or some direction. An idea or something.

I heard a loud bus coming down the street. A charter bus with large words that gave me that idea: Amtrak. Of course! I can use the trains to get out of here. I can find people to help there, maybe. They won't kick me off as long as I find someone to shadow. Much easier as a dog than a person. I just need to find a way on one of those buses. It drove off as I approached it. No one got on but several people got off. Those buses are supposed to wait, so that must not be the place for people to get off. Normally, the buses take people into the city or drop them off near the station. Damn. That would've been the perfect chance to get on. Maybe if I follow it? As it drove past me, I ran after it. Some kid looking at the back of the bus was staring at me. Maybe I can shadow her? The bus waited at a red light to go right. I looked down the street: cops. They seemed to be looking for someone instead of just parked. I don't know who. It couldn't be me, right? Emeryville's finest have better things to do than look for an escaped dog. Unless the shelter worker knew I broke the others out. Did one of them tell the cops to keep an eye out? I don't know and I can't risk it. If I'm taken back to a shelter, they might put me in one I can't get out of as easily. Then it's all over. I need to find a way to that station without getting caught. The bus turned left and out of my sight down the narrower street. There weren't enough cars on it to hide behind them, but I wasn't willing to risk it. If those cops are looking for me it won't be easy to keep hidden. I certainly wouldn't be allowed to board a train. I need to get there without getting caught. I turned and walked down the opposite street. Just eager to find some water at this point. The street had several coffee shops and restaurants. Some of the customers and workers looked at me as I strode by. I gave them some looks back, trying to be as cute as possible. Those workers gave me weird looks, like I was some kind of escaped attack dog or something. The customers would feed me, but standing outside waiting for one will only draw more attention. And going inside will get me shooed out. The left side of the street had a parking garage. At least it'd be cool enough in there to think. I walked across the street, deserted of cars, and up the garage. The first few floors were filled, barely anyone getting in or out of cars. Good. I walked up to the top floor, knowing there'd be less there. It was completely deserted, except for the scents of several other dogs. I curled my nose. They stank of sewage. And part of their fur smelled like metal... no, blood. That's not a good sign.