Argus and I step back as Lin-Orion advances.

Cries and chaos break loose within the treehouse. The wind blows out Miro's wails. Shattered items clatter against the wood, followed by Xin-Yo's squeaks. The barrier shudders at the head-butting canines.

Why am I not there when they need me the most?

"Run." Argus turns his head as he steps in front of me. Silver handles glint from his belt: guns, blades, knives, even the bluish tip of the taser rod. The Ninja Grenade is in his left hand, while his right draws the sheathed taser rod. "Do as I say"—he lowers his voice—"and try to find out about Mr. Orion's other mission."

"But what about you?" I sneak a glance at Roy's father. His hands are void of weapons, yet his unwavering gaze alone is enough to intimidate. A suspiciously empty holster dangles on his waist.

"Leaving me to deal with this should be how you thank me."

"But my friends are in that treehouse—"

"The barrier will handle them. If it isn't enough, I'll step in. Those dogs are just as insane as OCZ's animals..."

Without further explanations, he aims the taser rod at Roy's father. As the blue beam shoots out, I scramble through the trees, rebuilding my shaky dam of tears.

In the end, why does everyone still sacrifice something for me?

The leaves rustle under my trampling. It's as if the twisted branches are reaching for my face. I duck clumsily, almost tripping on a mossy log. The rumbling storm shakes the trees, irritating the leaves with furious winds. With shambling legs, I advance through the gaps.

Distract some of the dogs from the treehouse—also Roy's lab. Find out about Lin-Orion's hidden agenda. Asking for help from Roy and the Lowlifes...

Thirteen years ago, I sought for help.

I briefly close my eyes, trying to push the recollection away.

Someone came to save me from the tiger. That someone died... his friends are still in prison today.

It's like the trees are alive; are they trying to make me pay for a life and the freedom of several others?

A snapped twig knocks my senses back.

Trampled debris and bustling foliage follow close behind, joined by spirited growls.

I won't have someone sacrifice themselves for me again. I'll save myself this time. The beasts must not get to me or anyone else.

My spirit lifts as my feet find an ascending slope. I climb up on all fours since my strength ebbs away, washed by the rain. My nails are yet to cling to the moist soil when fangs snare around my ankle, sipping blood out of my skin. Their famished howls from below overthrow the rain's heavy splatters.

More teeth spike around my ankle. Like a panicked beast, I quickly lift my other leg to avoid the same fate. Maybe I should try kicking them. It'll stop me from yelping and drawing attention. At least there's only the salty rain to trigger my wounds later on.

Once I plant my nails on the higher ground, I kick my assaulters with vigor. I need to get them off before they can rip a chunk of my trousers—or worse, ankle.

I kick one's jaw, sending it rolling on the ground. A pair of clawed paws embrace my ankle before I load another kick.

But before it can feast on my flesh, something zings past my ears, landing on my recent attacker. A pool of darkness, smelling like iron, spreads across its fur. But a trickle of gray substance is mixed with it too—there must be some Chiroquin in their blood. They are, like Argus said, as infected as OCZ's animals were.

Several more bullets fly past my head. There are feisty howls before they also thud against the ground.

"Allice, are you okay?" I'm yet to wallow in grief when I look up at Mr. Jules. A shotgun is slung across his shoulder.

Behind him, Mr. Julian scrambles down, his hair flat like a pancake. He's equipped with the same weapon. "Is he okay?"

"Just scratches." I gingerly hoist myself to the top of the slope. "Where's Roy? Does he know what's going on?"

"The boy is meeting his father. He sent us to look for you." Mr. Jules puts my arm around his shoulder, hinting at his twin to take the other. "Sandra called him."

"After what happened, you're lucky to be alive," Mr. Julian grumbles as the cave rises in sight. The heavy rain casts a thin fog all over the place, enough to blur our footsteps, but apparently not enough to suffocate a lantern light at the distance—far behind Roy's cave. "You'll have a good rest tonight. Roy has the situation under control."

I worm out of the twins' grip. "Argus asked me to find out about what Lin-Orion wanted to do before he and his dogs found the treehouse. We... no, I should do it."

"You're in no condition!" Mr. Jules tightens his clutch. "You can barely walk."

Mr. Julian tags along, "How could you know he's not tricking you? Argus Skyzer is The Office's senior security guard, taken from Dogson Police Department itself. He's been working with Highlifes like Jorge all his life."

I open my mouth to spit out a reason, but anything that tries to come out is too lame... until there are subtle pantings from the nearby bushes. It weaves in a random pattern—sometimes close, and oftentimes far.

It must be hunting for something.

"Do you hear it? It sounds like a dog—"

Mr. Julian scowls, twitching his burly mustache. "Come, Allice, it's getting too cold for me—"

Ducking to avoid their hands, I scurry to the row of bushes on the right side. The twins utter curses that are louder than the pattering rain, yet even those aren't enough to drown the curious pants.

It takes several minutes to reach another deserted area, like the one surrounding Roy's cave. I look around; true enough, this is still close to it. I disguise myself behind a lone, leafless tree, as a silhouette crawls out of the bushes. Its movements are as slick as a snake. Beckoning the huffing twins to join me, I whisper, "It must be one of Lin-Orion's dogs. It's looking for something."

"But what can it search in such a weather? There's nothing but a river around here." Mr. Jules peeks through the splitting branches, his breathing heavier than mine; this kind of physical activity must not suit him. "So do you think Lin-Orion brought dogs to... search something?"

"But what can it search in such a weather?" Mr. Julian repeats gruffly. He coughs violently, as if drinking too much of the salty rain. "We should shoot it before it finds something."

The feral dog crouches near the river, sniffing the ground for a while, before lifting its snout to the air. It's bigger and bulkier than its teammates that craved my ankle, yet more composed.

I look back at the suspicious lantern from afar. Is it merely coincidence that it appears right on this chaotic night?

I'm still deep in a muse when a splash explodes from the river, followed by shrill whimpers. The dog's paws push forward as its head continue to dive and resurface—again, showing how it's searching something. The poor dog wails in distress as a few minutes result in nothing. It slips away from our vision, later returning to the shore empty-mouthed. The slender dog whisks its wet fur, shivering as it roams back to the bushes.

"Should I shoot it?" Mr. Julian hoists his shotgun. "One less beast to worry about."

I brush the shotgun's barrel and push it down firmly. "All we need to know is the object it's searching. We don't need it to die. Come"—I retort their pursed lips with my own—"we'll look for it later. Now time to help Roy and the others—"

Before I can get a head-start, Mr. Jules grabs my wounded elbow, to which I hiss at. Mr. Julian completes the cuff as they shove me to the cave, ignoring the pleas I let loose.

"Aren't you going to help them?" I try to wriggle free, wincing at how the pain chomps my strength away. "There are only a few of them, while Lin-Orion has a dogs army... I promise this is my last request for—"

A sharp pain lances through my wounds from The Office, knocking out my breath. It's as if there are blades slicing all over them—as if the rain isn't of water, but of daggers. The twin men drag me to Roy's cave, all while my strength betrays my will.

With me coughing and spluttering, they bring me under the cave's white lights, barking orders to the other inhabitants. A flurry of brown hair zooms over me, while two blondes stay a bit farther, and a white one inching closer.

"Take care of him." Mr. Julian places me on a soft mattress. I flutter my eyes shut at its comfort—again, betraying my will. I try to lift myself up, but a pair of soft hands tuck me back, as if offering me a chance to sleep.

"And how about you two?" someone croaks in a hurry—it must be Grand-Mad. "There's a storm outside. You'll be facing Dogson's Chief of Police—"

It's like someone turns off the volume as sleep cradles me like its child.

🐾

High-pitched voices rouse me awake stronger than both Mom and Auntie Morgan's cries if combined.

A hot and wet napkin is on my forehead. I'm still being embraced by a winter breeze, though I'm already wearing someone's oversized checkered pajamas. After a few hasty blinks, I look at the cave's entrance, where a crowd pours in with voices that rival each other's.

Two dominant voices, to be correct: Roy and Sandra's.

"It wasn't time to be heroic, Sandra. Save your stunt for another time. You could've listened to me or Argus, but you didn't." Peeling his pouch of weapons off his belt and throws it to the floor, Roy grabs a clean t-shirt from his desk and changes before I complete a blink.

What's going on between the two?

"I was only trying to help." As the cave's entrance closes and a strong rain scent invades the area, Sandra bustles into the brighter zone. Scars and leaves leave trails on her exposed skin. Her eyes shed tears as she continues, "You have an unfinished business with your father, and Argus was busy helping you and Ax—"

"Doesn't mean you have to do it all alone," Roy snaps. There's barely warmth in his eyes. "You abandoned our plan and acted on your own. You could've got killed. You didn't coordinate with the twins. You endangered those in the treehouse—"

"In the end, we're all okay. Isn't that the most important thing?" Her voice shifts lower as her eyes briefly meet mine. I muster an understanding look, yet she already looks away, approaching Roy's desk.

Miro collapses next to my mattress, all soggy and sweaty. In his grasp is my backpack, and with a shaky motion, he hands it over to me. "I brought you this. I put the shrimps' safe into it too." It's as if his the rain fills his throat that all his words become gurgles. Or is it my ears acting up?

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you." I breathe out as I reach for his shoulder, about to offer him some consoling pats. Yet, I can barely lift my arm. The stinging fever brings it back down in seconds. The longer I open my eyes, the more painful they become. "I'm too weak..."

Before I can shift to a more comfortable position, a warm palm rests on my soaked brown tuft, lulling me back to sleep. "You've done more than supposed, Allice. Nothing tonight is your fault."

A/N: I know I should've posted on August 18th, but college came in the way and seemed to possess me all day XD I also didn't have enough time to reread this before posting since all I managed were short breaks. Sorry for the inconvenience.

I'd like to thank you for reading this far. If there's anything you'd like me to know, do drop your suggestions in the comments. I appreciate all of you, either silent readers or not. Especially those that have been supporting me since this book's very beginning (you know who you are XD).

I haven't been confident enough in writing stories out of contests. It's my first attempt in writing a fully original idea, so I've been pretty anxious all along, but your support keeps me going. I can't thank you all enough :')