Last Stop

"I made the poison doughnuts," Mr. Wolf says. "But it wasn't for Precious..."

That wasn't the answer I expected. I would never have thought Mr. Wolf would do such a thing.

"It was intended for Ms. Doe," he says calmly. "But somehow, Ms. Doe got hold of the batch."

"Why would you try to poison Ms. Doe?" Mr. Badger asks the same question I had in mind.

"You may not be aware, but she secretly struck a dealing with Mr. Raven, just before we got on the train."

"Mr. Raven?" Everyone was confused.

"Yep, Mr. Fox's very own messenger."

"I think this was something that was supposed to be discussed earlier," Mr. Badger notes.

"I'm sure no one would've believed me. I needed proof."

"What is your proof exactly?" Ms. Doe crosses her arms.

"It's simple, strangle marks. When I found Precious unconscience in the bathroom, she had strangle marks, the only person who matches it is Ms. Doe. To add on to that, I found a ring imprint. Only you wear a ring on your index finger. And I haven't brought out the batch of doughnuts, you must've stole it from the kitchen. You must've found out about my plan."

"So you're saying I was ordered to kill Precious by Mr. Fox?"

"I overheard. Poisoning her would've been the only way to slow her down from finishing the order and recieving her next instructions at the next stop. Then Mr. Raven will be caught red-handed."

"Where is Mr. Raven, then? Shouldn't he have been at that last stop?" 

"You tell me."

"Hmmph! Since you already know too much, yes, it was me."

"But, Ms. Doe, you're among our ranks, why would you turn against us?" Mr. Badger asks.

"I've been in this organization for too long, I don't feel as if our efforts are worth it. It seems we are working under a ghost, and because of that, I'm starting to not see Dr. Rabbit's vision anymore. All pets just contradict all dog values, that's something I agree with."

"And this is the reason I don't trust the Victoria Express," someone says, followed by footsteps coming near.

"Kayate-" I'm interrupted by him pulling me by my arm onto my feet with one swift effort.

Everyone else is rather shocked to see him, more surprised than I am.

"We're leaving," he ignores them.

"Mr. Coyote, we all thought you were dead..." Mr. Wolf says.

Mr. Coyote? He's a part of this too?

"Oh, that reminds me, Mr. Raven will deal with your traitor, wouldn't you?" Kayate says and ahead comes a raven. 

I can't tell if he's a dog, for he looked very much like a bird.

"Eh~? Oh, heh, of course I will..."

Kayate continues to hold my arm as we walk to our destination.

I try to loosen my arm, but he just holds on tighter.

"Kayate, you're hurting me..." I should admire this attribute of his, but gosh, he's so protective.

"I'm sorry, my dear, I failed you. I promised your parents I wouldn't let anyone hurt you."

"You know my parents?"

"I shouldn't have left you on that train alone. I don't know why Nigel would trust them so much."

He avoided my question... was he really that worried?

"Kayate..." I stop, causing him to stop as well.

He turns to me and I immediately hug him, "I'm ok, now." I let him go after some realizing. "Wait, am I ok? I've just been poisoned..."

"That depends on the poison Mr. Wolf used. Since you're still alive and you don't have any sick symptoms, the poison wasn't vital. But one can't be too certain, do you remember being poisoned?" He continues walking ahead.

"It's weird, one time I was in the ocean, and another, I was in a dark closet being chased by a monster..."

"So you did have a bit of consciousness to your surroundings. Just subliminally."

"So I was actually in the ocean?"

"Something like that..."

He stops, standing by a sign labeled 'Sunnyville'.

"You know the rest of the way?"

"I do... if they still live there..." I take the lead, slowly traversing the town.

It's not like how I remember. Somehow, I pictured a lively, colorful town, that bustled with people doing their business and morning errands. But it's the total opposite. A dark town, with no people about except for the occassional sitting at their porch as if nothing better to do with the rest of their life. Roadside stores were either closed and low maintenaced or had a sleeping, or mysterious vendor selling something not quite specified in front.

Have I really been here? I know I've always heard my royal family of Boutielette talk about this place being my hometown. Maybe after hearing about this for so long, I've pictured an image of it, imagining myself in it. Maybe I've reimagined my own parents by looking at their picture. I'm starting to believe I don't actually remember my time in Sunnyville. 

Have I really met my royal family when I was very young?

"403 East Baker Rd, Sunnyville Town." The address I know and remember may be the only connection to the past I have.

"You okay by yourself for a while, Precious?"

Now he's ready to leave me alone. When I feel most unconfident.

"I promise, I'll be keeping an eye on you. Will be there when you make it to the house."

"Ok." What's something for him to do right now in a place like this?

I watch him leave into the shadows of the town before continuing up the street.

Walking by myself makes this town way more eerie, I try to quicken my pace, when I hear voice from behind. I stop, turning to see a man, an Irish Setter to be exact. He wears a long, black coat over a black shirt and jeans. He's basically dressed for the shadows. But I can't help but notice his shiny, silver badge.

"Good evening, lady," he keeps his distance. But even from this far, I can still see his toothy grin.

"What do you want?"

"You're not from here, that should be enough to convince myself the reason you're out past curfew. Else, I would've suspected you of crime."

"You're a cop?"

"Well... I just keep this town in order and because of me, this place is brighter than it once was."

"But, this place still looks dark."

"And it may, but Sunnyville was way darker."

I was so caught up in the state of the town, I didn't realize how close he was until he pins me, back against the wall, resting his arm above me.

"So, you're a pet?" He examines my collar. "Precious of Boutielette. I've heard of your little tragedy, the fire... I was interested... for a while... if I remember correctly, it involved a bunch of zoo animals being animalistic. To calm down the tension, shots had to be fired. As for the residents, no one knows if they got out alive, others think the princess made it out..."

"It was very... bad. You were there?"

"Unfortunately, yes, I was there with my owners, the police force."

"You were a pet too?"

"Keyword: 'were,' my deductive mind gave me a place, but having bull terriers as brothers to constantly bully you doesn't cut. Besides humans treat dogs horribly. Not sure if royalty treatment is different... so I left, hoping I could help other pets, because even away from human control, there are other forces that like to prey on pet vulnerability. Organizations that are... secret and need to be taken out to assure peace to all animals."

What does he mean by that?

"But, I'm sure if you know about these organizations, you would report it. Speaking of which, where'd your friend run off to?" He takes my hand.

"I don't know, he didn't tell me."

"I see... though, I should let you go on your way, I just can't do that. You could be part of a crime; can't trust anyone you see here. And for all I know, you could be a decoy."

"Then why don't you just leave?"

"Because it's working?" He brings my hand to his lips. After a light kiss, his tongue tickles my hand.

"I'm not here for anything sinister, promise! I'm only here to go back to my parents place."

"That must mean you're already a victim, because who would settle down for a family here? I've scouted this place for years and I'm convinced that there's no such thing as a 'family' in Sunnyville." He plants a kiss on my cheek.

"Please, just let me go..." What exactly do you do in a situation like this?

"I just need you to answer my question." He turns my head to face him, sliding his thumb over my lips.