After
banging on Maru's front door, I steeled my nerves. I hope this works.
The
Monster stood beside me in front, of the six-story--human-sized--fortress.
Clouds darkened the sky. It would rain soon. Boom! Lighting flashed in the
distance.
I
knocked on the door again. "Maru! I'm here!"
Creak.
The
door swung open, and a cat I didn't recognize stood in the door, gawking at The
Monster. "M ... M ... Maru ... will see you now."
I
pushed past the cat, and The Monster rolled in behind me. We made our way to
the fifth floor. When we moved towards the stairwell to the sixth-floor, a loud
explosion shook the building.
The
Monster grumbled. Vroom!
I
nodded, not exactly sure what it meant. "We need to get to Mom as quickly
as possible!"
Four
cats and two dogs leaped out of nowhere. My back itched while the smell of
burning fish crept into the air. The dogs growled. The enemy cats hissed.
With
my muscles tensed, I prepared for a sudden attack.
Honk!
The Monster gestured towards the stairs before rolling headlong into the group
of guards.
"Thank
you, my new friend." I spun and dashed up the stairs. Please ... let me make it in time.
Huff!
Huff!
Huff!
At
the top of the stairs, I crashed through the door and grabbed the last bouncy
ball toy in my bag.
On
the other side of the room, Maru narrowed his eyes. He was burning. Mom stood
next to him with a desk to her left. Two windows sat on opposite sides of the
room, and there was only one other door--right behind Maru.
My
teeth chattered. I lit the oven in my stomach, trying not to burn until the
last second. "Mom!"
Mom's
eyes bulged.
Maru
held out his paw, and a black claw of energy wrapped around Mom's neck.
"Perrrrrrrrrrrfect. You have finally arrived."
I
hissed. "Maru!"
"Where
is the Ancient Tanuki toy?"
"I
couldn't get it ... ."
"Then
... your mom dies!" Maru flexed.
I
screamed, burning the fish in my stomach. I'm
not going to make it!
Next: Part 31
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