Under the Mask

A Talk With Arlene

Side note: imagine all of the animal characters as like anime characters--like still animals but buff and intense and stuff.

Garfield crept along the wall of the dank alleyway. He sniffed the air and caught a whiff of the pink female's sweet scent.
Yes, she was here.
He looked up at the sky as a slight drizzle of rain washed over him, wetting his orange fur. He growled in protest and pulled his hood closer to his head.
The rain was washing her scent away.
"Arlene." he called into the darkness. His voice was low and deep, as it had been since Odie had been absent.
"Why are you here?" Her voice, honeyed, sweet and seductive answered him from somewhere in the gloom. "I thought you didn't want my services anymore, Garfield."
"Its...not about that." he grumbled as he watched her slink out of the shadows. She wore a cherry red dress with matching high heels and lipgloss. Her hands clutched a deep red purse that she kept pressed to her hip.
Arlene fixed him with piercing eyes.
"Then what is it you want?"
"We need to talk," Garfield muttered, casting a glance over his shoulder. "Although I fear it is not safe here. Can I take you out to eat?"
She let out a peel of laughter. "Lasagna, I'm guessing?"
"You know me too well."
"Well," Arlene slunk closer to him. "We have known one another since we were kittens, right?" she sighed. "As long as you pay, I will accompany you."
Garfield led her to a cheap Italian restaurant and got a table for them fast. Seeing his old friend Arlene was refreshing; she was a good person to talk serious with. And besides, what he was planning to talk about was a very sensitive topic.
They sat down and set the menus to the side already knowing what they would order.
Arlene leaned on the table, placing her head in her long, slender fingers.
"So, what is it you wanted to talk about?" she purred.
Garfield shifted nervously in his seat.
"Odie."
The pink feline raised her eyebrows in surprise and gave a few quick glances around the restaurant.
"That's a dangerous name." she murmured. "Why?"
"I've been hearing things." Garfield said, "I tried to ask strays if they had seen him around, but as soon as I said his name they ran off, tail between their legs. I'm worried."
Arlene had seemed taken aback when he said he had talked to strays. That was a risky thing to do; strays were unpredictable, they were canabalistic and usually killed others.
"I don't know, Garfield." she said under her breath. "I've heard some things as well. But I shouldn't tell you. It would only scare you."
"No," Garfield grabbed her hand. "Please. Tell me, Arlene. Its killing me." he swallowed, becoming sweaty. "I can't take it. I have to, I have to know. If what he may have become is my fault, then I should atleast know if its true. Who...what he is."
Arlene stared at the image of his hand grasping hers and looked down.
"Fine, I'll tell you what I've heard." she replied faintly, "But only because its you." she took a deep breath and said, "He's a stray, now. He's the head of a gang that sells drugs on the black market. I've even heard that he kills anyone who opposes him. He's big, Garfield." she looked up at him, fear in her eyes, "Not one to fuck around with. And he's looking for you."
Garfield stared at the wine glass. Shock was the prime emotion he felt, along with guilt. He shouldn't have done what he had done...oh, no. Sweat was beaded on his forehead but he hastily wiped it away.
He swallowed and poured their glasses full of wine for Arlene and himself, saying weakly,
"To friends."