A Passed-Away Pup





8:00 AM

hey





nic





yeah





what up





not much





ive just been thinking about pinto a lot





oh





im sorry





if it makes u feel better she was a good dog





she was





the pictures of her were pretty cute





remember that fuckin photo of you and her sledding





you complained about how she fell into the snow





yeah





it was bad





she smelled like wet dog





and got water all over the floors





didn't you let her sleep in your bed that night





she would’ve borked all night if I didnt





:p





man she was a yappy dog





a *good yappy dog





thanks





i loved her





i wish she was still here





im sorry





dont appologize its not your fault





it was mine





only if i had waited a week she would still be here with me





she would bark and run around





i couldve been able to save up the money to get her that surgery





you did the right thing





you didnt want her to suffer





they couldve removed the cancerous cells





she could still be here





she wouldve suffered





vets said we had a month but i let her die that day





she would still be here she wouldnt have died





Ari





she wouldve died before then a long and really painful death





nic





don’t you remember this





oh





yeah





she died a week before rapture





yeah





everyone else got lucky





i mean





its better than her suffering





right?





Read 8:30



Ari you okay?





9:25 AM





Ari u still there





Yeah, sorry.





I was making food.





whatcha makin





pancakes





sounds good





They really are.





It’s a family recipe.





is it a super secret family recipe





No, Nic you dink.





I can teach you if you wanna know it





sure is there any catch to this





bring coffee?





lol sure





also Ari





Yeah





want me to bring my cat





I like that idea





just promise me that she wont scratch me again





of course Ari





9:49 AM



In front of Nic stood a house, cold and hollow. A layer of dirt and dust blocked the little light within the windows. Debris spread across the porch and the stench of rot rose from the garden.

Nic's hand lifted up the knocker before letting it slam onto the door. Yowls arose from within Nic’s jacket and out climbed the cat onto his shoulders while he let the knocker drop again. A light went off on in one of the lower floors rooms before more began to appear. Footsteps approached the door and a series of clicks played.

Out swung the door and the inside light spread across the porch.

“Nic!” Arms wrapped around Nic and squeezed tightly before a volley of yowls launched out of Tiger.

“Awwww poor Tiger. Has your owner forgotten to pet you?”

“Psh no, he’s just an ass,”

“Aww you poor wittle guy, is your owner a meanie poo who doesn’t give you enough pets?” Inside her arms, Tiger curled up letting out a mighty purr.

“Damn thing doesn't purr for me,”

"Probably cause you call him mean words,"

Ari’s giggles filled the sky before guiding Nic inside. The house reeked of rot and death. Floorboards creaked as they walked along. Books, that at one point sat lined up on the shelf, were now strewn across the room with dog-eared and ripped pages.

At last, they entered the kitchen where pancakes laid on plates already made.

“Couldn't wait for five minutes?” Nic questioned

“You were just a wee bit slow,” she replied. It was only ten minutes… maybe she just needed something to do.

“Oh, well. Guess you'll teach me some other time,”

“As long as your not late.”

10:06 AM

Nic, halfway through his breakfast feast glanced up and saw Ari's glassy eyes and reddish nose.

"Ari?" He said. She looked up and about as if she had been pulled away from space, before giving a weak smile.

"Mm."

"You good?"

"I mean, I'm going." The words were followed by a series of half-hearted chuckles

"Ari, I'm sorry."

"It's okay Nic, there's no reason to apologize"

"I just want you to be okay. I mean look around you Ari. You aren't going, you're breaking down, there are books everywhere, your house is a fucking mess, and your garden looks like a war zone. I know she was important to you, but you can't let her death destroy your life."

Ari stopped and thought before shaking her head and taking a sip of tea.

"I was cleaning up the garden and well, I was unable to finish it yesterday. And the books I was organizing. If it makes you feel better it will be done soon."

"Do you need any help?"

"No, I got it. You have important things to do anyway."

"You sure?"

"Of course, Nic."

Nic shrugged his shoulder, it would take her some time to heal from her dog's death. Later on, in the pancake feast, he excused himself for a bathroom break. He walked down the never-ending hallway when he paused, noticing the small unmistakeable figure that was Tiger. Within its mouth was a strange little thing dangling and dripping off sludge. Walking closer Nic could better see the outlines of the elaborate fur matted up into a ball. Bending his knees, he reached out toward his cat, extending his hand out and making quick clicks with his tongue.

Slowly Tiger approached him, watching Nic with fierce eyes. Nic shot back horrified as to what was dangling within his mouth. Nic backed into the wall, staring towards his cat.

"What the fuck?" The words spilled from his mouth as he noticed a small figure behind his cat, perched, watching him with rotting eyes. Its jaw tumbled from off the top of the bed slamming into the floor with a slop. His feet stumbled back and the stench of rot and death filled his body and mind. It laid watching him with a lifeless socket and a tar-filled pit.

8:33 AM



The door slid open slowly mocking the little strength Ari had left. Hollowness flowed within her body and into the tips of her fingers leaving everything cold. She stumbled forward off of the steps and into the grass. A deep breath in then out as her body jerked toward the shed in a puppet like fashion. The door opened with little resistance and the shovel fell off of its hook with a clank. It settled on her shoulder with almost no weight.

Step by step. She moved out of the shed.

Step by step. She moved across the yard

Step by step. She approached a patch of young grass.

A Pause.

The shovel swang off her shoulder and into the ground, impaling it with a single strike. The dirt flew and onto the flower patch. Soon enough the yard was covered in brown and grey. The shovel fell from her hands and kneeled down before stretching out them and stroking Pinto’s still soft patch of fur. Pinto’s head moved up and her socket met her owner's eye. She wanted to be with Ari… and Ari wished to be with her. Hands reached down and picked Pinto up. Black sludge poured from the grave as Ari brought her close. Snapping and sloshing filled their ears as the body slowly slipped away from the little, fluffy face. The corners of Ari's mouth stretched upright and coos left her lips.

“You’re a good dog. Yes, you are.” Pinto’s head tilted back and diamond-like eyes watched Ari with joy.

Black liquid splattered across the hole and a headless body lay still. Ari watched her dog with pride and joy before taking her inside. There she laid the dog onto her bed; in Pinto’s favorite sleeping spot so she could get some rest after having played outside this entire time.

Ari watched her dog with adoring eyes when her stomach began to growl. Time for breakfast.