Chapter Seven: Let It Begin



The darkness was thick and silent, as only slight breaths could be heard around the room. Brian was still awake, his eyes searched around the room as he lay still on the double bed. Faith was fast asleep beside him, her arm draped over his chest, her nose nuzzling into his arm. There was something not right, something felt wrong, but he couldn’t place what. He’d been around people for a long time, and he always had this sense about them, he could pick out the ones that were lying to his face, and there was something about Chelsea he didn’t like, and he didn’t trust. He didn’t know what, and he didn’t know why, all he knew is that thought was plaguing his mind, and voiding him of any sleep. He didn’t trust her, and he didn’t like that feeling.

~ THE NEXT MORNING ~

Faith yawned quietly as she stretched out across the bed, her half closed eyes searched the other side of the bed, but it was empty. She yawned for a second time as she slipped out of the bed. She slipped on an old pair of cut offs and a blue tank top. Lightly brushing her hair back she guided her long hair into a ponytail, she didn’t really care to do much else, Brian had seen her each morning, they had no secrets between them, including how the other one can look in the morning, for that reason faith only ever wore makeup if she was going somewhere, she was blest not to really need it that much. She yawned again as her bare feet slid across the carpet as she walked out of the room.

It was a luxurious morning, the sun was high in the sky shining radiantly on the earth below it. Faith wandered down the stairs, she smiled to herself as she could hear Brian singing carelessly away to himself.

She tiptoed to the doorway of the dining and listened for a moment. He was singing along to the radio, she recognized the song pretty much immediately, and couldn’t help but laugh to herself – he was singing along with age-old Spice Girls song, “Wannabe”. She tried to hold in the hysterical laughter begging to break free, but she wasn’t doing a very good job at it.

“Bravo” she giggled clapping her hands as she wandered into the dining room
Brian smiled sheepishly at her, as he stood hovered over the fry pan. Faith strolled up behind him, placing her elbows on his shoulders, and briefly kissing his neck.
“Beautiful morning don’t you think?” she smiled as Brian flipped over the egg he was cooking
“Sleep well?” Brian inquired as Faith walked over to the breakfast bar, and sat up on one of the stools
“Very well” she smiled sweetly

“Have you seen Marty?” faith question looking over to his bowl in the corner of the dining room. The dinner she’d left for him last night was only half eaten and she was nowhere in sight.
“Ah, I saw him outside a little while ago, over by the trees” Brian replied pointing out the window to the line of trees about 30 meters from the side of the house, a line that marked the side boundary of the house. Behind the trees sat a high metal gate, for obvious reasons.

Faith stood from her chair and walked over to the patio French doors. She starred out to the boundary line, but couldn’t see Marty. Something told her to worry, he always ate his dinner, it wasn’t like him to leave it half eaten all night.

She opened the doors and stepped out onto the porch. She whistled clearly, as she did most times. He would usually come running, but this time she heard a troublesome silence. She stepped off the patio and onto the perfectly manicured lawn.
“Marty, here boy” she called, patting her legs softly “Marty”
Still nothing, no barking, no sounds nothing. She then saw movement over by the big oak tree that sat majestically untouched in the backyard. As she ran closer, the shape became more familiar.
“Hey Marty, where have you been” she smiled walking up to him
She got little response as the dog wavered around on all fours.
“Marty?” Faith said softly as she leant down to look at him.

His breathing seemed restrictive, his mouth open, as though gasping for air. His eyes were lying back in his head, as he panted loudly.

“Come on boy, you look like you’ve exhausted yourself” Faith smiled as she patted his cowering back
She turned around, as he began to follow her, within a matter of about a meter, he stopped and fell onto his side, yelping painfully.
“Marty?” Faith called as she knelt down beside him.
His eyes were closed, his whole body limp.

“Brian?” Faith screamed running back towards the house.
Brian met her on the patio looking at her in question.
“It’s Marty, something’s wrong with him” she cried as she pointed over to where she’d left him

~ 15 MINUTES LATER ~

Brian paced around the waiting room of the vet clinic, as Faith sat silently.
“Uh, Mr. Littrell?” a tall stock man, in a polished white coat questioned looking down at a clipboard he held tightly
“Yeah, that’s me” Brian responded as he and Faith walked over to him
“If you could follow me” he said grimly turning and heading down a polished corridor.

They followed him into a room off to the left, he closed the door behind them and gestured for them to sit down on the plush chairs situated in front of the polished wood desk.

“Unfortunately Marty had several severe cardiac arrests, that his heart simple couldn’t recover from, we tried several times to resuscitate him, I'm so sorry” he said sadly as he sat down on the leather chair behind the desk.
“I don’t understand, he was fine last night” Brian murmured
“As of yet we cant actually determine what happened to your dog. He seems in peek physical health, yet his heart essentially collapsed on him. This is extremely rare in all instances”
“Do you know what happened?” Faith whispered, trying to somehow come to terms with what he’d told them
“Unfortunately we cant tell as of yet”
“A dog just doesn’t die like that” Brian announced coupling Faith’s hands into his own
“That why we would like to do an autopsy, to find out exactly what caused this”
Brian looked across at Faith, who shook her head slowly. It didn’t seem right, if he was going to be dead, then at least have him kept in one piece.

“Could we have a minute?” Brian question
The doctor smiled as he got up and left the room.
“Faith we have to find out what happened” Brian urged
“I know that Brian, but it just doesn’t feel right” Faith sniffed tears welling up in her eyes
“Baby, he was your dog, and this is your decision, but we cant just let him die and not find out what or even who did this” Brian whispered as he hugged her softly
“There’s no other way?” Faith cried, wiping away the tears from her cheeks
“I don’t think so” Brian responded softly
“Okay” she said quietly, as she nodded her head in reassurance

~ AT THE SAME TIME ~

Catherine smile to herself as she tromped down the busy Orlando street. She glanced down at her watch, surely it had hit him now.

Stupid dog she grinned to herself as she patted the contents of her bag. It truly amazed her what kind of things you could buy over the counter, if you knew how to use it.

She trumped up the internal stairs of the rackety apartment building. Taking out a small silver key she stopped in front of the dirty wooden door, with the plain number ‘17’ on it. She unlocked the door and stepped in. Closing the door behind her she looked around the run down apartment. It smelt like a mix of dirt and blood. The carpet was a thick black color with holes and tears all over the place. The city streets were busy below, cars hooting, trucks driving past. It was a filthy mess, and it would be juts perfect.

She wouldn’t be there for long, she had less than 2 weeks to go. Simple enough, she had a plan up her sleeve that was destined to work. Jason had dumbly accepted that she needed to fly to California to see a sick friend. She wouldn’t have to worry about him from now on.

She wandered into the small cramped bedroom with a simple bed base and a thin mattress in it. She placed the black brief case she was carrying onto the bed. She placed the pin number into the security lock and opened it slowly. She smiled as she starred down at everything she needed, laid out neatly in they’re cozy black foam.



Chapter 8
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