BiteBound *completed*

Chapter 13

I frantically searched high and low for Happy around the neighborhood, feeling like a complete failure when I couldn't find him. I searched in trash bins, through shadowy alleys and ran several blocks to find that fat orange cat.

By nightfall, I had to call it quits and go to police station to file a report of a break-in. Not to my surprise, they couldn't do anything about it; but they were concerned that they didn't take anything. According to them, that meant that whoever broke in last night wasn't there for valuables, they were there for me.

They highly recommended that I stayed else where until they monitored the area for a while, but I had no where else to go. Going to Camilla's was not an option and I rather die than go back with my Dad.

At the end going down the short list of possible safe houses, there was no safe space for me. So, they escorted me back home with no resolution or fat angry cat.

I could only hope Happy would come back on his own, that and wish hope he was still alive.

My grumpy fat cat... please be alive.

***

As my days continued on, I didn't give up in searching for Happy.

I looked through every shelter in the county and left missing signs at every single animal hospital I could find online.

... Scratch that.

By every I meant, not Arthur's animal hospital. To face Dahila— no. To even consider being in Arthur's space... I was already an emotional mess. I would be lying if I said I didn't want to see him, but I don't need him thinking how irresponsible I am for losing a cat so soon after adopting him.

I'm on my own with this. I can't cry on his shoulder no matter how much I want to... but by fuck did I want to.

I tried to work when the sun was up, but my body couldn't physically keep up with the giant work load I placed on myself a while back. Even trying push and pick up my digital pen had my hand trembling in its own form of refusal. My body was literally screaming no at me.

So I gave up like a fucking loser.

Sleeping at night was already incredibly difficult from the work, but knowing that the killer could come back to finish me off made it that much worse to want to close my eyes. So I didn't sleep.

I forced myself to drink coffee; watching movies and petal on my Peloton to stay awake. As soon as the sun had cracked through the city skyline, I was finally able to sleep for a few hours before I had to get up and get back to work.

A few days into this new sleep schedule had left me so fucking tired. I thought I could handle the heavy amount of work, but I bit off too much.

The notifications from Arthur never ended from popping onto my screen. Seeing them only made my heart sting.

I felt the panic, is everything alright?

You're scared, what's wrong?

Why are you sad?

You feel weak, please answer me.

I can't... I curled into my seat, burying my face in my arms and knees. I'm just trying to move on Arthur... please just... just leave me be.

It was so hard to cry in the privacy of my own room knowing he could feel it.

I couldn't cry, couldn't relieve my frustrations, it was almost as if I had grounded from feeling freely. All I could do is convince myself that it would pass. That real women don't cry and crying was for the weak.