The Fox, Red

024 - From The Desk Of Madam Odette III

I wake up to someone banging on my door with a heavy fist. I roll over to look at my bedside clock. It's 10:27 at night. I just got to sleep about half an hour ago. I roll over onto my back arms out just trying to get my eyes to work when the banging turns into hammering. This time I'm scared awake. The door opens with Doris, my overnight assistant and John, my bedroom door attendant . Doris has a phone clutched to her while John must have knocked, "What is it?" Doris answered, "Phone for you Madam Odette. It's urgent." It can't be that urgent but I take the phone, "Hello, Lady Odette speaking."

"This is Nurse Harwood from the hospital."

"I'm not supposed to pick Red up till tomorrow morning."

"That's the thing. Red is gone."

I stop to collect myself before doing something rash, "What do you mean by gone?"

"One of our nurses went to give him a bath. He scared the nurse and escaped out of the window in his room."

Again, I have to stop myself, "...what...?"

"We've already called the police and they are looking for him. We request that you come down and talk to them so they may have better luck finding him."

"Yea, it'll be a couple hours."

John ended up driving me to the hospital. Between trying to figure out why Red ran and falling asleep it was a short ride for me. The German Shepherd officer greeted me at the door, "Lady Odette?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Follow me please."

He leads me to the third floor to Red's room. Inside there is a robin sitting on the bed with another nurse like her sitting beside her. The officer explains, "She's the nurse who was with him when he ran."

"How deep are you into this?"

"No worries, I know he's a magic user."

"Good, then know this. He's not 100% in control of his abilities so he's not a threat. He can barely do anything yet." I turn to the nurse on the bed, "Honey, can you tell me what happened?"

She doesn't seem to shaken up, "I came in to help him clean himself up and when he stood up I said, 'Oh! I've never seen anyone with two tails' and he paused for a bit then just seemed to lose it."

"Two tails?"

"Yea, he has two tails. I don't know how he lived his whole life without knowing. But he grabbed his clothes and jumped out the window."

The split was... permanent?

Looking in the corner I see that his bloody shirt is still in the bag. "He needs help and a shirt. I think I may know where he's going." The officer caught my words, "Do you want us to meet him there?"

"No, I'll make a call and I'll see if I can't get him. He's not dangerous, he's obviously fine if he's moving. I'll sign his release and find him."

Another half hour later and I am back in the car finally. I grab my phone skimming through my contacts finding the person I need. I get impatient while the phone rings, "C'mon, c'mon, pick up. Pick up!" I'm trying to make sure that I'm a head of the curve but it went to voice message. I call again this time he answers, "It's rather late to be calling Lady Odette."

"Armani, has Red come by?"

"He was here but he seemed to be in a hurry."

"What happened while he was there?"

"He bought a plain shirt, said he needed it because his old one was ruined and then asked about places that would have old books on myths, legends, and magic theory."