PA 3.5: End of a Tail

Chapter XI Part V

Dell grimaced but didn't turn around and instead began to redial Cujo's number, but was interrupted by Patches grabbing her dialling arm and spinning her around.

"What do you think you're doing?!" he hissed.

"I'm allowed to talk with a friend, Patches!"

"You still don't get it, do you? Everyone in the whole town knows that a rat terrier is the alibi of a 'rampaging murderer'. The dog you just spoke to - no matter who they are - knows what you did."

Dell growled. "Nobody knows my name except for him and you. He told me they didn't announce my presence at the school gathering today."

"And you believe him?"

Dell furrowed her brow. "Cujo wouldn't lie to me."

Patches let go of her hoodie and took a step away.

"Dell, how long until he arrives?"

"A few minutes. If you're worried he's going to find you, you can just hide in my room until he leaves." She crossed her arms.

"No, Dell, you don't get it. They're not coming for me, they're coming for you."

Dell frowned intensely. "I told you, I can trust him! He's a really, really good friend."

"We don't have time for this. Tell me where the wand is," Patches demanded, grunting lightly as his rib suddenly started up with aching pain.

Dellanor almost laughed at the demand. "... I'm not stupid. I know what you'll do the moment you get your paws on it."

Patches lunged forward with a paw, trying to grasp Dellanor's shoulder to emphasize how serious the situation was but was battered away easily by her arm.

"Don't touch me! Just get back in your room and w-wait this out, he's just coming over to give me my assignments."

"Don't you talk back to me like that! I might die, but I'm not going to die like this." He groaned as his body coiled up like a spring.

"I trust him a hell of a lot more than I trust you! Just get back in my room and stop f-f-" Suddenly, Dell felt the inevitable beginnings of another asthma attack coming and reached for her inhaler like it was in a holster, only for Patches' paw to grab hers and wrench it painfully, causing her to drop the medication onto the tiled floor. She couldn't even summon up anger, the pain was making her incoherent.

Within a moment, Dell was pressed up against the counter, her arms craning around and being forcefully held by Patches behind her back.

Patches stared at her, an inch away from her face, grim determination in his eyes. "Tell me where it is. I'm not asking again!"

Dell began to gasp as the sensation of breathlessness took her over. Despite her position, she kept him away as best as she could, using her feet to plant herself on the ground firmly and her free arm to pry Patches off of her.

"Dell, if I can't persuade you that your friend is going to hurt us, then you're leaving me no choice; tell me where the wand is and I'll teleport us both out of here."

Dell wheezed as her lungs became slower and slower at drawing in air. She tried to bend over and pick up the inhaler, only to be stopped again by the dog. The pain was immense, and she nearly doubled over as the motion compressed her chest. As her breathing became incredibly difficult, Dell made a snap decision and threw her paw across the counter, grabbing a knife out of its block and-

Patches suddenly let go of Dell's paw, and in one smooth motion, he quickly jabbed at her, hitting the poor dog's throat and causing her to choke on what little air she still had in her. The knife bounced off the counter and skid along the floor, landing underneath the nearby table.