The Truth about Griffin

Chapter 5

    

For the second time in my life I witnessed Griffin become completely speechless. Both of them stood frozen as the silence stretched on.

"Fine."

Sharifa jumped, and my ears perked in surprise. "Really?"

"Sure." Griffin handed Sharifa an empty beaker. "What do you know about chemistry?"

Sharifa sounded disappointed. "Not that much." Then she added more enthusiastically. "I've been told I'm a quick study though."

"Good."

I couldn't recall a time that Jack had ever been this cooperative with, well, anyone. He seemed almost... could I say it... excited? Was it possible he had missed human interaction? I snuck closer. Had he been separated from people to long? Sharifa just seemed to be more and more of a blessing.

I was sure I could almost hear him smiling. "We'll start with something easy." He gently grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to his burner. He took the beaker from her hands and poured in the mixture he had been working on earlier. "This needs to be watched carefully, some of these chemicals are rather volatile. You can handle that."

Silence. "Oh, I guess you can see me nod anymore." She actually laughed. "Sure, I can handle watching one measly, old beaker."

"Good, because I've got to grab some chemicals from my storage. If the liquid turns dark red before I get back, make sure to take it off. " The robe that Griffin typically wore began to glide away as he left. Then he turned back to us. "C-A-T you make sure nothing happens."

I meowed in acknowledgment. Sharifa let out a huff of indignation, but I could tell she was amused. The liquid, which had started out as a sickly green, began to turn a dark purple. Sharifa leaned on the countertop and rested her chin in her hand. My tail swished impatiently. I never liked waiting, so I soon wandered off to find a nice mouse that would entertain me instead. There was a fine fat one next to the door. Of course, before I even had a chance to lunge at it, Sharifa called for me.

"C-A-T!" I rushed back over, and rubbed against her arm so shed know I was there. "Is this the right red?"

Of course, I had no idea, so I said so. "Merow."

Apparently, Sharifa thought that I said yes because she took it off and carefully placed it on a holder. "I thought Jack said he'd be back by now."

"Merow." Another thing that I hadn't a clue about.

"Maybe we should go check on him." I wasn't sure if she was asking me or talking to herself, but she didn't wait for my answer either way.

She stood up and made her way towards where Griffin had gone earlier. I followed at her heels. Before we even made it, the door slammed open. Nothing was there, but I could smell Griffin. He smelled scared, his breathing was ragged, and he was carrying a bag of provisions.

"We've got trouble."