Side Dish: A Series of Short Stories

Keep Me Alive

"Clifford, they found us." Emily says as she shuts them from the outside world. "You're too big to hide now."

He whines as she opens the barn doors once more, exposing the darkness to the coalescing clouds outside. Emily takes a last look at the brewing storm before she closes the doors again to settle with her dog. His fur felt soothing as she cuddled against it, reminding her of the times when Clifford used to be the once nuzzling up against her own side. With the tables turned and the two on the run, not even her college homework could scare her more than losing someone that she treasured for most her life.

"Why can't they see that you're a good dog? Why won't they give you a chance?"

He only rests his head on his paws and stares at her. The tongue comes rolling out, licking the scar on his paw that had finally healed. Soft sobbing comes from his side.

"Mom and dad are gone, we're being chased after, and this screwed up, smelly storage shack is all we can hide in! I'm terrified, Cliff. I don't want to go on like this."

Illusions of light and shadow seep through the slits in the roof, catching Emily's attention. She walks toward the barn door and watches as a wave of government officials scour the land they ran across. Orders and barks echo across the field. Not letting the sounds escape, the dog's ears perk up, listening to every closing reverberation of man and his kind. Emily shivers and closes the door. She silently trod toward Clifford, but he knew what was coming before Emily told him.

"Woah, woah, Clifford, calm down. " she cooed, raising her hands.

He paws at empty air, as if to knock something floating there. Sitting on his haunches, alert and upright, he lets out a soft yap. The straw bedding rustles as the great retriever shifts from side to side, eyeing the doors that Emily stood by. Pulling her jacket a little tighter, she walks toward Clifford, trying to get him to relax.

Even with constant soothing, Emily can't stop Clifford from abruptly getting up and pacing around the confined space. Constant short pants permeate the silent room, and the rumbling outside terrifies Emily. Huddled in her own fear, she crouches by the entrance, out of Clifford's way. He stares, he paces. He stares, he paces.

"Clifford?" A step shortens the distance between owner and dog. "Clifford, stop. Stop growling, you need to calm-" She stumbles and falls backwards, looking up at his crouched figure.

Deep rumbles vibrate the air, an unnatural sound emanating from his throat. Emily's shallow breathing only spurs his unrest, sparking his desire to protect her. She scrambles up onto her feet but continues to soothe him. The wind grows stronger, louder. Clamoring pierces through the wall and echoes throughout the fields, yet nothing could stop them from protecting each other from fear and pain.

"You're scaring me." Her voice quivers as she whispers the words. "Baby, you need to stop pacing and lie down, okay?" He stops and listens to the wailing wind. Taking the opportunity, Emily tentatively approaches her dog.

"Clifford-" A hand clamps over her mouth, and she's dragged out of the shed. Clifford barks immediately, a sound that makes the entire shelter shudder as his partner is stolen from view. The doors burst open when he lunges for his beloved, revealing the big red canine to the multitudes of officials outside.

"No!" She screams. She falls. "Run! Go!" A hand shuts her up once more, but Clifford begins to leap away from her.

Hopeless, she goes limp, falling into the officer's hands.

He catches her. "We'll get you somewhere safe. You're going to be okay." The uniformed man props her onto her feet and begins to walk away.

"You can't do this, sir! He's my Clifford and you can't do this to him! You can't do this to me!" She grabs the man's arm. "Please, please! Don't hurt him. Please don't hurt him."