Rose - A Poppy Playtime Story

Chapter 45 - Stalker

(Not me laughing at 4:00 AM as I write this 😂)

Catnap wandered through the halls, checking each shadow for movement. So far, there was nothing. Not even the occasional mini that would run by.

They know what happened, they knew you failed. The annoying anxiety in his head mocked. At that moment he wanted to cover his ears and fall to the ground, but that won't save anyone.

Suddenly, squeaks echoed through the corridors. Making Catnap turn around in confusion.

The little mini Dogday that had been with the little Catnap was waddling over to him, squeaking non-stop.

Catnap stared at her for a moment, processing her words.

Where is she? I wanted to tell her something? Moon, where is my love?

Catnap froze, 'my love'. Catnap felt the air in his lungs start to not be enough, almost suffocating him.

He watched as she came to his feet, his irises small and subtly shaking. He swallowed, feeling even more helpless at her next words.

Is she okay?

Catnap knelt down, getting on his knees and pulling the mini into a hug. Tears threatening to fall and soak his fur.

The mini froze, her brain putting the pieces together, or at least making a theory. A dreadful theory.

"I'm so sorry. She-" Catnap sobbed. Gripping onto the mini tighter as she nuzzled her little head into the cat's neck.

The minis were unable to cry, but the small dog's body made sudden movements, imitating the motions the cat's body made as tears raced down his face.

"I'm so sorry..." Catnap whispered, not knowing if he was talking to himself or the mini at this point.

The minis squeaked, slightly shaking her head on the cat's shoulder as she tried to not pass out from the sinking feeling engulfing her body.

—————(Some time later...)————

Catnap sat against the wall, the mini cradled in his arms like a baby. The two had sat there for a while, the cat telling the mini children's tales to distract her.

It wasn't really working.

The tears had gone, but the emptiness still remained. Not to mention, the blinding pain in Catnap's shoulder that he still chose to ignore.

"Are you okay?" Catnap asked, his voice barely above a whisper. The mini shook her head, and cuddled further into the cat's fur.

The cat had things to do, people to find. Yet, he was still there. Looking down at the mini in his arms.

"This isn't fair!" The child's voice interrupted the silence. Catnap curled up more into himself, his back pressing uncomfortably against the wall.

"Dogday!"

"Ew, I hate sports..."

"Sarah, I'm not being funny!"

"I mean, he's like an angel!"

The voices continued, relentless on their quest of making the cat even more stressed out than he already was.

While most weren't bad and didn't spark any horrific memories still stuck in his brain, it didn't help the suffocating feeling that he wished would just leave him alone already.

"I'm sorry, but I need to go." Catnap said, standing up with the small dog still in his arms.

She looked up at him, and rested her head against his chest one more time before the cat set her down on the ground.