This story is a fan fiction of LipstickLuna's awesome "Dog" series. If you havent read it go and do so!
'I'd like this one,' the little boy tells his mum. He points at the cage with the small white Pomeranian in it. The mum looks dubiously at the dog, who is wagging his tail and trying to look appealing. She turns to the kennel worker standing beside them.
'Russell is adorable isn't he,' the kennel worker says. She's a girl of about nineteen. She is well spoken but young sounding. Her dyed blonde hair falls around her shoulders. 'Let's take him out so you can get a good look at him.'
She opens the pen and Russell comes out wagging his tail. 'Oh he is gorgeous isn't he,' says the boy's mum, Suzanne.
'He's a great dog with a lovely temperament,' the kennel worker says. 'We've been trying to rehome him for a year.'
'A year?' Suzanne says. 'But he's so beautiful. Why does nobody want him?'
'There's something you should know about Russell,' the kennel worker says. Her name badge says Lucy.
'Oh? I'm experienced with dogs, I know how to handle them.'
'How do I put this?' Lucy wonders aloud, as Russell wags his tail and looks adorable. 'He ran away from his last home, a woman called Helen. She was a great owner. Nothing wrong with her at all. It's just that...well, death seems to follow him around.'
'Death?' Suzanne is confused. 'What do you mean?'
'Well, when he ran away from his last owner, an entire town of people were found dead. And I'm afraid it's not the first time. If you take him on, you might want to be careful.'
'Oh I'm sure there's nothing to be careful about,' Suzanne says. 'What could possibly go wrong?'
She and the little boy go home with Russell. Russell chases a ball around in the garden with the boy.
'Here's your doggy bed,' Suzanne says. 'Here's your food.' Russell gratefully eats. It is boring but he could adjust to this life. It's better than being in the kennel. Isn't it?
The problem was, the rescue centre was safe.
Safe from Death.
In the rescue centre Russell was never alone. He was surrounded by other dogs, and in a pen with responsible workers where his urges were constrained. So the Reaper never saw a chance to strike.
'Do you want to give Russell a kiss and go to bed?' Suzanne says. The little boy hugs the adorable white Pomeranian. He goes up to his bed and Russell stays in the specially bought dog bed.
He turns around a few times to go to sleep.
But when he wakes up it is in human form. The first time since he arrived, wet and exhausted, at the rescue centre. Being with so many abandoned pooches must have provided some protective power.
A man with a black hood and a huge scythe is standing over him. Russell thinks it's a man anyway. He can't see his face.
'Well hello, Russell,' Death says. 'Nice to see you again.'
