Shattered

Chapter three

I was forced to ask... for help. Just to unlock the car. And to open the side door. Embarrassing... Could you imagine?

I thanked the man that had happened to walk by, and he didn't seem at all disturbed from the basically dead cat-girl in my arms. Who in their right mind not be? Maybe he just thought it was a stuffed animal. Probably.

But now the only problem left was the fact I couldn't just leave her in the back seat. What if she fell? And let alone the giant crate on the floor of the black station wagon. If she started fading again, I would have no way of knowing. And I wouldn't be able to pull over to help her if I didn't know. It would be a waste of five grand. And a waste of a life that hasn't even begun yet. Groaning, I shook my head, my hair brushing my cheeks as it got into my face. I needed a hair cut... I would have to take out the right seat in the front just to get the crate there. But that would take time, time I wasn't sure she even had. 

She shivered slightly, which made me look down at her, only for her head to nudge under my chin. She snuggled closer into my neck, but at the same time, it felt like she was trying to get away, push on me to put distance, between us. It was a strange feeling for me. I looked back at my car.

I couldn't take out the seat, not without the tools I need to undo all those bolts. And definitely not without looking stupid. And again, I didn't want to waste time, and I needed to get her to my home as soon as I possibly could. It was only a matter of time before she would be trying to die, and giving up completely.

I couldn't ask for some one to take me home, that would be far too embarrassing. But would I rather look stupid or flushed? Save a life, or my pride? "Fuck it all to hell..." I muttered, setting her down on the seat. I went to the back of the station wagon, and opened the trunk and grabbed a box of books I hadn't put in storage yet and brought it up front. I was glad I was able to open the side door up front without putting the cardboard down on the wet-looking cement. 

I set it down onto the floor of the car, sighing in relief when it matched up, perfectly and evenly, with the seat. I went around again and closed the trunk, then looking to the girl that was breathing shallowly in the back seat before grabbing the small mat from inside the crate and a few blankets that I folded right on top of it, went around to the front again and made a small little space for her. I put the mat down over the box and seat, then just threw on the blankets before attempting to rearrange them. A oval, with walls. Close enough.

I looked at the cloudless, greying sky as I closed the back door when I got to it. Then I went to the side, about to get her out when there was a disgusted, deep, grumble behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see the man that sat behind me. He wasn't worthy of a simple once over, so I just turned my attention back to the girl as I slowly pulled her out. She was so small, if I hugged her hard enough, I knew I would snap her in half and break her spine. Would it hurt? Of course it would. Scared to move for a moment, I just looked down, curling her closer to my body. She sniffed a few times before grimacing as she adjusted her head herself, bringing her face (muzzle) to my chest. Her eyes pressed against my shirt, her nose nearing my armpit. Couldn't have been pleasent for her, but she didn't move. She was just too tired right now.

She whined, but didn't make any other noise for now, or a move, as I adjusted her in my arms after that long wait, pulling away from the car and kicking the door closed with a foot. "Why do you bother?" Was the sudden question I was waiting for. Not that particular one, but close enough. I was expecting the stranger... No, I couldn't think about that. I didn't reply, too busy setting the limp furry into the makeshift bed in the front seat, slowly adjusting her as I saw fit. Or at least, trying to make her as comfortable as I possibly could in her condition. I glared, but not directing it at anyone, or anything, on particular. It took me a moment to let out a breath to calm myself.