EMPTY REALMS

THE YELLOW EARTH APE: CHAPTER FOUR:

B. Church therefore agrees to act as M. Castillo's private tutor until the commencement of P.A.W (Protection Against Wildes). Duties include three sessions per week of field work, assistance in capturing M. Castillo's first predator Wilde and ensuring M. Castillo's abilities are up to Academy standards.

B. Church is permitted one level 1 Fox Wilde for training purposes.

Wages will be paid every fortnight plus costs of accommodation during B. Church's employment to M. Castillo.

Wait, he's going to pay for my accommodation on top of a wage? Isn't that a bit much? Belle rubbed her itchy eyes, the words blurring in her drowsiness.

B. Church must attend all training sessions with M. Castillo personally, regardless of time, date, location or any clashing interests or conflicts, not negotiable.

This is sounding a bit more intense than I originally thought. Belle slumped her head against the desk. She hadn't slept a wink all night. 

Dawn cracked the sky, bleeding red outside her window. She had been reading and re-reading the contract all night, unsure what she wanted to do. She had two options, she could leave the city and return home with her family, the fox will be destroyed and her dreams of becoming an Officer crushed, or she could sign a legal binding contract to a complete stranger, keep her fox, and continue living in the city without her family.

She sighed again. A pen had never felt so heavy in her life. Beside her desk, clumsy movement tipped the small bin over, sprawling out handfuls of ripped up letters meant for the P.A.W board. Belle glanced over and smiled at the fox's butt sticking out of the trash bin, its bushy dark tail wagging in-between its stretched legs as he tried to weasel himself out.

"What are you doing in there little guy?" Belle swivelled around and nudged the fox with her foot. His head popped out with his jaws clenched around her Officer uniform cap. Her eyes softened at the sight of it. She had almost forgotten throwing it in the bin last night. She was so upset when she got home it all felt blurred together like a dream. Part of her was even surprised the rest of her uniform didn't find the trash can either.

The fox thrashed his head from side to side, tearing the hems of her hat. "Hey! Stop!" Belle snatched for it and the fox quickly dodged left. She made a second grab but again the fox was quick, side stepping her easily. He pranced about the room, head high, tail up and poised like a show horse before burrowing under the bed. Belle knelt down onto the floor and looked under. Teasing her, the fox gnawed at the cap inches from her reach, his pink tongue drenching the fabric.

"You cheeky little-"A knock came from behind. The fox promptly vanished, sinking into the shadows in wisps of black smoke, ultimately dropping the cap.

"Belly-bear?" Her mother's voice called from the hallway. "You awake?"

"Oh! Hey, yeah I am." Belle jumped up with the cap and quickly stashed Max's letter under her pillow.

Her mother eased the door back. Her warm, green eyes pinched with a mother's worry. "How are you holding up sweetheart?"

Belle settled on the bed and shrugged.

"I've made some pancakes. You hungry?"

"No thank you."

Her mother stepped around the door and sat down beside her. Black tight curls popped out from her messy bun, framing her face with thick, black twisted vines. "I'm so sorry sweetheart that you have to go through all of this. We may not be able to save this little fox, but your father and I will not rest until you're able to retake the exam."