Those Final Days (part 1)

As the world abandons me, I stalk my way around the city. Bright lights blind me and cars fill the streets. A woman in an olive coloured suit picks me up with gloved hands. I bark in retort, but she doesn't deter. I try another way to make her drop me. My teeth are sharp. As they sink into her arm, a guilty pleasure spreads through me. It feels like a heaven. I do it again, on her other arm. She drops me now. With a harsh snarl I go for her ankles. Her scream of pain is a treat for me. A gulp of icy water in a hot desert. The blood in my mouth sends a chill down my spine. A good chill. Insanity brims my senses. I almost lose it when a man comes and whacks me in the head with a baton.

"What happened to you?" someone says. I know it's not directed to me as soon as I look up. The woman is standing next a familiar man. My owner! I jump up and yelp and slobber. He glares at me. It feels like a slap to the face. His eyes turn back to the woman. Her uniform is stained with blood. I feel a yearning in my stomach. She tasted so good. "I'm afraid he will have to be put down," she says. My owner's expression changes. Sadness? I don't know. "That's okay. He deserves this," he replies. I look at him. The uniformed woman's word hang in my ears. He will have to be put down, what does that even mean? I stare into the woman's eyes. She glances in my direction. My owner looks at her injuries. "Kelly, when will this happen?" he asks.

"Three days."

The other dogs in this place seem to all want to play with me at the same time. I shoot them all a warning bark, meaning, stay away from me or I will bite the shit out of you. They all stop and walk away. One stays. She looks sad. Her eyes are glittery and wet. I pad my way to her. I go round and sniff her. She smells familiar. I walk to her front. She is the same breed as me. I look at her eyes again. Its my sister! I jump on her and start licking. She returns the gesture. Her eyes say, "I can't believe you are here!"

I reply "Me neither! Can I ask a question?"

"Sure,"

"What does put down mean?" Her head drops. It's amazing how much we can communicate using our eyes. She just walks back to the corner. I follow. She looks at me with distinct fear. I cock my head to the side. She just looks down and closes her eyes. I lay beside her and we stay there for just long enough to fall asleep. I don't want to bite her like I wanted to do to that lady.