beloved of grace

Chapter 8 - Remembrance of Beloveds

Under the watch of celestial bodies, you strolled around the place, very much on guard and vigilant as always, at least until your phone buzzed in your pocket. Taking your phone out and spotting notifications for a bunch of messages from Daniel, you unlocked it and scanned over his texts, dashing away not a second later.

"Daniel." You hurried over to the boy who was by walking to another house, sprinting over to him despite your erratic heartbeat, "Have you found Enu?"

"Uhm. . . No, I'm still asking around. I'm sorry, you asked Daniel and I to watch her but. . . Enu got taken when she was with me. . ." He apologized, casting his gaze away. You shook your head, "Don't blame yourself for another's actions. Let's keep looki—"

"I have a lead!" A familiar brunet came running over, dining a black hoodie with a logo that looked like it was created by a child, "Johan?"

"[Name]?" At once, you connected the dots, "Then Eden. . . Nevermind, what's your lead?"

Johan gaped for a moment before he nodded, regaining his composure and focusing on the urgent matter, "There are a lot of cat mom's near the park. They could've seen the thief."

Without wasting any time, you headed to the park next to Johan, Daniel's inquisitive gaze following you, "Johan, what happened on your side?"

"Eden and Enu got into a fight with each other, we met each other and left the dogs to race. They were gone when we returned. How do you two know each other?"

"We're friends and classmates." You turned to Daniel, the park coming in view, "Johan's someone I picked up on the street."

"I'm not a dog." Johan scowled though it held no heat. You hummed, scanning the area and spotting a trio of adults, one blonde woman, a man and a woman with dark hair, "I jest. Let's ask them if they know anything."

Before long they were made aware of the situation, as the stray cats ate their food peacefully, "Someone took your dogs?"

"Yes, someone took of their leashes. You haven't seen them?" Daniel asked them. The man responded, "No, I haven't seen big dogs like that."

"Couldn't it be that man?" The blonde asked to the other two adults, "The bag general?"

"The bag general?!"

"Yes, there's some strange person. He's an old marine." The man explained. The blonde nodded, "I've seen him, an old man carrying around a bag. I saw him when I was throwing my trash out. He had a bag and was snooping around. That bag was definitely moving."

"Do you know where he lives?" You asked, ignoring your shocked companions. The woman with dark hair and an apron finally spoke up, ". . . I'll take you. I think I know that place. But I'm not going in though."

"Alright, let's get moving." You nodded, and like so the lady brought you over to a red-orange building, pointing to the top floor, with a nod and a mumble of thanks, you stepped into the building, Johan and Daniel following along. The first sensation, aside your vision, that you felt was the intense, horrid smell, the second was the darkness amidst the halls as you climbed up the stairs. And the third, was the faint thumping of lurking footsteps. Daniel clamped hand over his nose, unable to bear with the scent of rotting animals, and before long, you were met with a steel door, at the end of the staircase.

Johan looked at you and you gave him a nod, thusly, even as Daniel whispered for Johan to check for a bell, the crew head ripped the steel door open, successfully bursting it's lock and gaining access to the adobe. Daniel gaped, you pulled him in, "If-if we just go in. . ."

Johan ventured in and Daniel followed him, following the muffled sounds of scratches and groans that led him to a wooden door. Wordlessly, he swung the wooden open and there were three pets: a black cat with a stubby tail, a grey dog, and a white dog with pink ears.