Alone

Chapter 6 - Terrified for Tess

 Veronica and I slipped through the doggie door. I silently walked through the halls with Veronica behind me. I came to a metal door. It was pretty heavy, probably to keep the animals in the room even if they escape from their cages. I slowly opened the door and gasped. Rows and rows of cages lined up the walls. "How am I going to find Tess?" I wailed. I started walking through the cages. All kind of cats and dogs slept peacefully. "If one noisy dog wakes up, we are dead" said Veronica. I found a hook on a wall with a key attached to it. "I got the key "I whispered. "Good, now let's start opening cages" she whispered back. I passed a big cage, and saw 3 Springer Spaniels. "Tess!" I got excited and tried to grab hold of the lock. There was a cage in front of the dog cage, a cat cage. There was a Tortoise shell female cat sleeping in her own cage. I had to open this cage before I could open Tess's cage. I slowly opened the Tortoiseshell cats cage. The cat suddenly opened her eyes and as quick as a flash, pranced out of the cage. "Good kitty" I breathed. I lifted down the cage and I could finally reach Tess's cage! I quickly unlocked the cage and 3 Springer Spaniels rushed out. I desperately checked each one but they were all males! "No Tess?" I got really frustrated and kicked the empty cage and started looking for Veronica.

*BUZZZZZ* an irritatingly loud alarm sounded through the halls. This was not going well. "Aroooo, woof, woof," the animals went wild hissing, growling and scratching. Veronica looked to me worried. "I'm sorry I was trying to get a dog out of the way to look at this other animal-" she stammered "Veronica let's just get out now" I looked back to see if the cat was still following us. Suddenly through all the noise Sadie heard something much worse. Someone was banging on the door. "They're here" Sadie called over the noise. Veronica nodded and they ran down the halls of animals. I handed a set of keys to Veronica and we started opening the wild dogs and cats out. The officer opened the door to find animals rushing everywhere and he couldn't get past. He pulled out a familiar weapon, pepper spray. I cursed under my breath but relaxed as he dropped it in the swarm of animals. "Look, a window!" yelled Veronica over all the noise. "Quick!" we started to make our way to the window. It was hard with all of the crazy animals running around all over the place. "Hurry!" squealed Veronica. I picked up the cat and sprinted. I quickly twisted the window free, and we were out. I pulled Veronica outside, and we sprinted for her house.

I sat on Veronica's couch sad that I hadn't returned with my dog. Veronica had let my new cat Ming come inside this time. "I'm going to get us some take out food Sadie, want to come?" asked Veronica wearing a white jacket. I shook my head and sighed. "Okay" she nodded and walked out locking the door behind her. I looked around and wiped my eyes. Ming padded around and started scratching on a door. "Ming" I called "don't do that!" She paid no attention and started hissing and meowing. "Quiet!" I hissed and stood up. But curiosity got the better of me and I opened the door. There was a staircase going down and a couple of doors. Ming walked down the steps to the basement. I followed and opened the first door. It was a closet. There was a cupboard, coats and shoes. There was also a couple pairs of white gloves. I opened another door but it was just storage. "Meowwww!" Yelled the cat watching the final door. I opened it and saw a window to another room. I held my breath trying not to scream at what met my eyes. I felt like a girl in a foreign country knowing not where I was or why.

Behind the window was a long line of cages with animals. There was dogs, cats, rats and even a snake. Each was listed with a number, drug and age. In the middle of the room was a white table lined with silver tools and drugs. I opened a grey door and closed it behind me. Click I tried to open the door again. It locked. I heard barking scratching and whining. I realized that it was sound proof. I walked down the hall. I looked back and saw a girl staring back at me. She had dirty brown hair, muddy skin and sad eyes. That girl was me. It was a one way window. One side was a window and another was miror. I walked up to a cage and hoped I was dreaming. I read out loud. "D-6 Age: two years? Drug: " the box was empty but the cage was not.

A cinnamon and white colored dog lay motionless in the cage. "Tess..." My eyes bubbled up with tears as I stared at her. She looked up to me. I opened Tess's cage and cradled her in my arms and stroked her ears. A terrible thought entered my head. Veronica lived here, which means she must have known Tess was here, and was planning on leaving Tess to die here. Just then, a heard a faint *Click* as Veronica entered the room, with a horrified look on her face. "You little-" I started. She interrupted me quickly. "You're confused, my parents test drugs and I guess they found Tess before us! I'm sorry I didn't realize! I promise I didn't know!" I stared at her coldly. "Really?" Veronica busted into tears "You know I wouldn't do that Sadie! You need to believe me! I reluctantly nodded. "I.. I believe you, but can I take Tess now?" She shook her head and my heart dropped cold. "But-" I started "No my parents will freak if they know I found someone down here and didn't stop them. I'll get Tess back I promise, just not right now ok?" I felt as though I was seeing my parents tell me to leave them once again. "I need Tess" She shook her head again. "I'll try to get Tess out but I don't know if my parents will let me." She stared at the ground and spoke sadly.

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-Cinnamon & Nutmeg