I awoke to the sun in my eyes. I felt around for Fang, forgetting he would no longer be lying by my side. I tried to finish my duties, but my thoughts swirled like buzzards, impossible to focus.

  “Is everything all right, Louis?” My mother asked. “you look ill, son, you should rest longer.”

  “I-I’m fine mother” I stammered, “I’m worried about father - that’s all.”

  “He will be fine, your father has survived far worse.” Her voice wavered a second as she rested her hand on my head. “Speaking of old dogs have you seen Fang?” she said, looking around. My heart fell to my stomach.

  “I haven’t seen him since father left.” I couldn’t meet mother’s eyes as I said this bold lie. That woman could smell deceit if she needed.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “That is odd, he’s usually with you at this hour.” She suspected something but didn’t know how to say it.

  “I was going to go look for him after my duties, he loves the fields maybe he went too far and got lost?” I wanted nothing more than to leave this conversation.

  “Okay son,” she paused “please be safe.” I gave her a hug and went to “look” for Fang.

  I went into the fields and laid down, how was I going to keep this secret? Maybe I should just confess to what I did, letting them punish me however they pleased. The thought shattered. Something was watching me from the trees. I stared into the darkness, searching for movement, but the woods swallowed everything beyond the fields. The anxiety in my chest swelled. The forest felt alive, pressing towards me, pulling me in for my sins. I couldn’t bear it. I fled into the open fields, breath burning in my chest. But no matter how far I ran, the woods lingered at my back. Silent. Accusing.