It was a glorious Autumn day, and all throughout it Pip could not help but slack in his duties as a waiter whenever he could to simply look out at the trees across the street and their already changing leaves. It was his favorite season, who could blame him? Luckily for him, his employer was understanding, and only had to quip at him a
couple of times. Despite his longings to go out and breathe the air, Peregrin knew his duties, and he was working hard to save up enough money for college, plus he loved this job and all the people that came with it.
As per usual, he worked from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm, his day filled with pleasant chatter and plenty of smiles and laughs. The sun was just beginning to droop in the sky, and Pip put up his notepad and pencil as well as the little pouch where he carried straws and such in the back of the kitchen, soon picking up his drawstring backpack and ducking into the restroom to change into his normal clothes. He emerged minutes later, stretching a bit until he heard a satisfying pop from his back, a content little smile playing on his lips. He walked out, waving goodbye to Shay the cook who usually stayed longer to clean up after everyone had gone. Usually he would help her, but this evening was different, he just couldnāt wait to get out into the air. He was just fortunate that people found the notion cute and let his new schedule slide. It was always different during the fall, he just had to make those little changes in his time to make room for being outdoors.
The little bell chimed as the door opened and closed, and the fresh evening air hit his nostrils. He inhaled deeply, a very happy look to his face as he let his eyes close for a few moments to enjoy it. The only thing that hindered the scent was the smells coming from the diner, as well as the small box of pepperoni and sausage pizza he carried home for his older sister. With a small sigh he resigned himself to the long walk home, his eyes drifting this way and that across the sky and treetops. This was why he loved walking to and from work, it allowed him to enjoy nature. But during the winter and snow, it was
not that fun.
However, as Peregrin walked, he couldnāt shake the feeling of someone watching him. He turned around once or twice to scan the area, but to his dismay he could not find anyone suspicious around him. There was only one or two other passersby, and they went on their merry way quite quickly. Like he had the first time, he shrugged it off and continued walking, but the feeling did not sway. It was getting so annoying that he devised a small little plan. Acting as normal and casual as he could, he slowed down a bit before suddenly swerving around and exclaiming,
āAha!ā He was surprised by what he found sitting on the sidewalk not even a foot away. His exclamation dropped off slowly as he peered down at the small little thing that had seemed to be stalking him. It was a small puppy, some sort of mix between a Saint Bernard and something else he figured. He let out a little laugh of relief, suddenly crouching down and extending the palm of his hand for the little creature to sniff. It obliged almost immediately, and licked at his fingertips, whining softly.
It seemed to have a collar on, and Pip looked at the little medallion strapped to the front. So he was lost. Unfortunately, he couldnāt read what it said in the dim light. The puppy once more whined and scrabbled at his hands, his snout straining to reach the pizza box. Pip smacked his forehead and laughed lightly- the pup had been following him for the meat on the pizza! He settled in his crouched position a bit, having to fend off the little dog quite a few times to get it to behave and sit still so he could procure the small pizza. He had only picked off a couple of the pieces of meat and offered them to the dog. A stupid smile filled his face as he watched the little rascal devour the pieces greedily.
Well, I donāt see his owner anywhere, and it would be a shame to just abandon the poor guy. Iām sure Sis wonāt mind too much for just harboring the little thing for a night. I can look for his owner tomorrow morning before work. He thought to himself lightly, soon getting up and turning in order to open his pack and put the box in it so it wouldnāt get in the way when Pip carried the dog home.
However, when he turned, the little dog was nowhere to be seen. He blinked a few times, suddenly looking around for it, slowly at first but then a bit more frantically.
āPup?ā He tried calling for it a couple of times, but still to no avail. The crickets that had begun to chirp had also silenced themselvesā¦ and it was suddenly eerily quiet. He looked over his shoulder as he rose to his feet. If the bugs were quiet, then someone else was nearby. He caught a small flicker of a large silhouette a few yards off. And it looked familiarā¦ had that guy been following him before?
The poor boy shuddered, suddenly turning on his heel and quickening his pace. But he could hear the heavy footfalls behind him as well. Peregrin broke into a run, his stranger in close pursuit for a couple more yards, when he rounded a corner and smacked face first into a sturdy chest. He looked up at the man, his features hard to discern in the evening light. Sure, there was a streetlight a few feet away, but the light cast a shadow over his face, and the man wore a hat regardless. He let out a sigh of relief, his breathing quick-paced.
āOh, thank goodness. Thereās this guy whoās stalking me, heās,ā The man seemed concerned and placed a hand on Pipās shoulder to indicate he was listening carefully to the sparse details the boy was blubbering out.
His pursuer suddenly appeared, walking slowly up to the two of them. Pip pointed the man out, but to his horror, the assailant called out to the stranger holding onto his shoulder.
āWell thank goodness you caught him.ā Peregrin stumbled in the tightening grasp of the other, trying desperately to break away. The one with the hat pushed him a bit so heād go tumbling to the ground, his knees scraping harshly against the pavement and the back of his head banging into it with a loud crack. He then felt the pressure of a boot at the side of his face, but by then he couldnāt discern what they were saying as he was slowly beginning to lose consciousness from the hit. The last thing he heard was a womanās voice, thanking the two men for their help.
Something rang far off, hardly even recognizable to Pipās unconscious brain. But with that ring sent a string of dull aches that pulsated in the back of his head, slowly climbing in intensity until his head was pounding. Then something was tingling somewhere on his body, but he couldnāt tell where it was; heck, he hardly even realized it was
him that was hurting. There seemed to be pressure everywhere as he started regaining his consciousness little by little. It was mostly condensed to his head, but he could feel it along his arms, moving this way and that. And that didnāt make much sense to his quite confused brain.
Despite the harshness he was feeling within his body, it was the light touch at his forehead that finally got his eyes to open. What he saw were large pools of blue and a startled face. He gasped, suddenly shooting backwards, his head banging against the headboard of the bed, which elicited a loud groan of pain. And after that, panic filled his face as he looked around the unfamiliar surroundings. His gaze soon fell on Dove, and his eyes narrowed, his fingers suddenly scrabbling along his arms as he felt stinging there. Unfortunately, he ripped at the freshly placed bandages that the girl had
just placed on his skin, which ripped at his skin and sent more pain shooting through his body. In turn he jumped a bit and let out a squeak of pain, backing up further against the board of the bed in his confusion and fright.
He stared at that woman for what seemed to be the longest time, but in reality was only a couple of moments. Her lips were movingā¦ and blabbering sounds seemed to fall from them, but he couldnāt make them out in his state of mind at first. Then it registered.
āIām so sorry about all of this, Iām really sorry, but you canāt leave.ā The events of earlier that evening came rushing back to him, and another gasp left his lips, a blank look suddenly filling his features where a scared mouse-like look had been previously. The emotionless feature did not last long, as it was suddenly replaced with hurt fury.
āWhat the hell!?ā He practically screamed, kicking at the sheets as he continued to try to get as far away from that lady as he possibly could, even though there was no more room to back up with. His own voice made him wince, and his hands came up swiftly to his head to cradle both sides in attempts to sate the raging headache that plagued him. His knees burned like the dickens, too, and this was
not fun whatsoever. The girl opened her mouth to say something else, but he growled at her with a terrified glare, drowning out the noise but only worsening the hammer-like pounding in his skull.
Why would she do this to him!? He had done nothing wrong, was the universe trying to punish him for being nice to a stray puppy or something? He winced tightly again, his eyes clenching shut as another onslaught of pain coursed through his body. His head bumped lightly against the wood behind him, trying to force the pain on to the other object. He could tell she was trying to come closer and touch him of all things, and his head suddenly shot up and his gaze swiped to the left to the bedside table with a small lamp and a glass of water on it. Immediately the lamp was in his hand, but not for long.
āGet out!!ā He yelled at her, chucking the lamp as hard as he could- which in reality was
not hard at all, what with his sad state- at her form. It pressed harmlessly against her form, soon falling to the floor beneath her chair and shattering loudly. Peregrin buried his head into his hands, a terrible panic welling up inside of him. He started hyperventilating just a bit. He wanted to cry, but he was certainly
not going to let her see that.
āGet outā¦.ā He repeated softer this time in a slight hiccup, biting back a sob as his form trembled on the mattress. Though his tone wasnāt as crazed as it had been, it still held a warning in it.