A Cat's Tale (The Secret Desires of Hotaru Nyanko)

Thirteen: ドアを開けて (Open Door)

“What do you want?” asked the old man.

“Please, I beg you.” Set us free.

I wondered as my stomach grumbled and my throat dried up, how I had gotten myself into this situation. The hard, chilly floor echoed with a faraway thump that rang in my ear. Someone was approaching.

I recalled slowly the night came. Had I fallen or was I the victim of a blow from him? As I see the figure moving closer to me, my tongue became firmly attached to the roof of my mouth. The streetlight that shined from behind the faceless, bulky man wearing the grey hoodie guaranteed a sense of security. He was now approaching. It was gloomy. How much time had I spent here? I was having trouble determining my surroundings as my head hurt.

 It was agonizing to be tortured. Stab. Smash. Bruise. As our attacker approached, I tried to filter out his terrifying thoughts and come up with a strategy. I looked around the blank space. Every object was tarnished by dust, which merely added to the already excessive clutter in the pitiful filth. There was very poor lighting, and the only source of illumination was the broken window on the opposite side of the room.

My mind soon began to have rushing thoughts. I got ready to flee the scene. There's an open door! I got to my feet and started to rise, but I am still tied to the chair. Ugh. I could leave if I could just get to the door.

Urgh! My foot was in immense pain. It was painful trying to crawl my way to the door, taking the chance while the man guarding us is asleep. I felt cramps going up and down my body as my nerves began to return. I yelled as I looked down at my hands. Blood that had frozen and solidified covered my hands.

I was heard by him. Too late! Why had I screamed in such a dumb way? I had wasted precious time and attracted bad guys to me.

Oh, really? A confident voice said, rambling.

His posture shows strength. His wide shoulders were raised firmly. With his strong legs, he stood stiffly in my face.

Who are you? I spit. Why did you bring us here?

There was no reply.

I was furious and lifted my arms. I'm speaking with you. His shoulder suddenly moved rapidly, like steel, and hit mine. My feet were floating in the air. He grabbed both of my hands and lifted me as panic flared in my eyes.

I don't like those that irritate me so don’t try to annoy me, boy. He threw me to the ground like a bag. My injured knee impacted the concrete floor, and I groaned in anguish as a white light of pain erupted. He took hold of my head and dragged me behind him like a hunter drawing in his hunt. My hair was pulled tightly in his iron grip.

I couldn't focus because of this voice, but it didn't matter. I recalled my reason for being here. The woman and the bald guy were directly in front of me (probably the person slapping me just seconds before).

“Marvelous! You guys are finally awake," exclaimed the woman with joy. "I waited so long to see you. I assume you'll be entertaining guests. Aren’t you excited? She squeaked. I sincerely hope that you won't find it disrespectful of me to ask you to follow me right away. Soon, we'll have plenty of time to say hello to each other.

I watched them as they shimmy their way out.

I obeyed their directions because I was aware of how shady and cunning they were. After doing my part, I now had the task of keeping my strength. I was exhausted, and as a result, I lost some of my sense of wonder at what had happened. I quickly dozed off on the chair.

When I woke up again, I saw the old man lying down next to me, his hands untied. I wished they did not torture him the way they did with me.

The bald guy showed up again.

“Okay, let’s cut the bullshit,” he began.

I need your money, or you will never get out of this place.

Okay, but what did the woman say a while ago… about entertaining guests?

“She’s just saying that to keep you hanging there.”

“…or maybe really make you some sort of slaves,” he said, and the other guys who also got inside chuckled with him.

I waited until the evening came, and then I reached my foot out and extended it to the old man's chest behind me. I nudged him.

Sir, are you awake? I asked under my breath.

Nobody is here now, so might as well take my chance. 

I stepped on his hand so that he wakes up.

"Hmmm," he grumbled.

"Sir, let's escape now," I hissed.

He stood up, staring at me as if he had seen a ghost.

It took a few seconds for him to realize that I was also kidnapped with him.

I let him untie me using his knife thank heavens he always brings it with him.

The open door was now shut closed.

When I tried to open it, it does not need a key!

The old man followed me behind, as we go through a tunnel with huge pipes all over.

"Shush..."

We turned in every left and right corner, and we crossed upon a large storage area but there are no windows open.

We searched every room and finally got to the fire exit, which held a door open with a staircase leading downwards. We silently escaped the warehouse in a few minutes. The problem is the gates and how we could get out.

Soon I remembered the voices I heard as a kid in that black door I went through.

"Here, Shin. Here."

The moment we got to the gates I saw the guards asleep and the other one woke up.