Heartless

Three

"OW! OW! OW!! I can't believe he just bit me!!!" I say when I get into my house. "Why did he do that?? I was trying to help him!" This was the first time I got mad at the dog. I go into the bathroom, clean my cut, and put a bandage on it.

I go into the living room and sit in my grandpa's lazy boy that he doesn't let anyone else sit in. I grab my from my pocket and dial 9-1-1.

"9-1-1 what's your emergency?" A kind lady asks on the other line.

"Well, I'm not in danger someone else is, my neighbor keeps hitting and abusing his dog. It's got scars and scratches everywhere! I've seen him hurt his dog. I've tried to stop him before but he wouldn't! I'm his next-door neighbor so when you come to knock on my door and I'll take you over."

"What's your address and your name hun?" She asked me, "I will send people to go check it out."

I told her my address and my name, she asked if I needed any more help, I answered with no, I hung up.

A few minutes later someone pulled up in my driveway, I looked out the giant window we have in the living room that takes up a whole wall. It was grandpa's truck. They were back from church. I watched them get out of the truck and walk to the front door.

"What are you doing in my chair!?" My said behind me, I just giggled and angled my neck up and met his eyes, "I hope you didn't eat in that!"

"I didn't!" I said, I got out of his chair and walked to the kitchen where grandma set some groceries on the island. "Anything for me?"

She looked at me and said "No." With a blank face, "You shouldn't expect that every time I come home with groceries that I have something for you!" Before I could say anything she said, "Wait I actually do have something for you!" She reached into a bag and pulled out pads and tampons. "Here."

I rolled my eyes as I took them and walked down the hall to the bathroom. "Why are the cops in Josh's driveway?" My grandma said. "Adaline? Come here."

I went into the kitchen when someone knocks on the door. "I'll get it!" I yell.

I open the door and a cop asks "Are you, Adaline?"

"Yes." I can feel my grandma's eyes burning into me.

"Ok, I'm officer James, I would like you to show me your neighbor's house where you believe there's animal abuse." He spoke in a serious tone.

 I looked behind him and there was a handful of cop cars. I looked behind me and my grandma was glaring at me with her arms crossed. A few people to check it out huh?

"Umm sure thing!" I said turning my head to look at him.

I stood on the porch as they knocked on Josh's door, "Put your hands up sir. Put them up and walk outside slowly, we've got you surrounded."

"He's not home."

"How do you know that?"

"Because he leaves every day for work at 11 and comes home at about 6. Plus his car isn't here."

To my surprise, Josh walked out of his house with his hands up. "What the heck is going on here??" Then he locked eyes with me, "You!"

"Why are you here?"

"I got my car taken away by the bank for not being able to pay off my car, and I got fired from my job. Why are you here?" He snarled.

"I called the cops on you!" I said a thick layer of sass in my voice.

"You little-"

"Sir, are you Mr. Bryan?" Said the officer next to me.

"Yes," he said sheepishly.

"Is it true that you are abusing your dog as this girl is telling us?"

He locked eyes with me and said "Yes. But you can't take that dog away from me!"

"Actually, we can!" A woman's voice crept from behind us and spoke up. "Hello sir, I'm Joanne from the animal protection services, we are here with the police to make sure you don't lash out when we come to inspect your home, animal, and ask you a few questions."

"Uhhh"

"Move aside sir." The officer said.

"No," John said blocking the door, "I can't let you" Josh's voice started wobbling. "Please." His voice dropped to a whisper.

The police officer gave him a sharp look.

I looked into John's tear-filled eyes and I actually kinda felt horrible for him. "Wait," I said grabbing the easily 6-foot-tall officer by the sleeve, "I'm sorry I was lying. You have the wrong house, I didn't call 911. I'm sorry for wasting your time, sir."

"But you said.."

"Joanne! You're going to want to see this!" Another woman's voice called from behind Josh's house. I was relieved that the woman distracted the cop from our conversation but when I realized where her voice was coming from my blood froze, Josh's backyard was where Baby was tied up.

Joanne ran off the cramped porch and behind the house, a different officer running close behind her. "No!" Josh and I both yelled at the same time. I hopped over the railing of Josh's porch and ran as fast as I've ever ran in my life, my short legs peddling briskly under my small body. "Don't touch him!" I screamed. I got to the scene in record time and saw Baby surrounded by Animal Control people with contraptions in their hands, trying to shackle him, and -unsuccessfully-  trying to place him in a kennel. He was barking loudly and bearing his teeth. "Don't touch him!" I repeated, making the don't harsh and spacing out my words.

"Fang!" Josh hollered. I looked at him and three cops were chasing him. One with a vicious bloody nose. My eyes flicked back to Baby.

"Baby!" I called.

I heard a groan come from Josh and my eyes drifted down to the ground, I saw him on the ground with two police officers piled on him. The one with a bloody nose was holding a walkie talkie calling for back up. My head snapped toward Baby's direction when I heard Baby yelp. "STOP!" I bellowed I ran up to Joanne, "Make them stop," I pleaded.

"Would you rather take the dog?" she asked.

I hesitated for a moment then nodded my head many times. "Yes please!"

Author's note | Fraz3r

Hey guys, I'm at the dentist waiting for my mom to get done with her root canal. It's super boring but I was able to write this chapter so I guess I did something valuable with my time lol!

Fraz3r