Ella opened her front door to her apartment. Work shoes off; house heels on. She hung up her tweed jacket on the ancient coat rack adjacent to the front door. Then she grabbed a crisp white apron from another hook and put it on. She took a crumbled piece of pink paper out of her coat pocket. Glancing at it fueled her with fresh anger. Pacing back and forth, in her tidy living room, she read the notice once more.

She ranted,  "Fired? Me fired? I've never been let go from any job ever!" She read, "Too many absences. Distracted on the job. Gave the patient the wrong medication... unprofessional attitude?"

Ella gritted her teeth as her black heels click-clacked into the kitchen. "How dare they let me go?  I have an impeccable record!" 

She believed her twins backstabbed her and ever since she'd been distracted at work.  Bile rose in her throat. Sweat broke out on her forehead.  She thought, "Perhaps a cup of chamomile tea?"

There's not enough tea in the world Ella.

Instead of filling the kettle she crossed to the windowsill. She inspected the Spider Plant, sticking her long bony finger into the Spider Plant's musky soil. Dry... dying... She picked up the clay pot and violently smashed it onto the shiny-white tiled floor. Dirt and leaves exploded everywhere.

She desperately needed to clean something. 

Ella picked up the pieces of broken pottery and dumped them into the trash can. A place for everything and everything in its place.

As she swept the scattered dirt it shifted away from the bristles. She tried over and over, but each time the broom came close the dirt it scurried away from her.  

The elusive dirt reminded her of playing with magnets when she was a child.  In science class she moved a pile of iron filings around with a magnet. Due to its opposing magnetic fields the iron filings never touched the magnet. At 9 years old it seemed magical. This seemed menacing.

Finally the dirt scattered to the four corners of the kitchen. Ella thought she must be hallucinating as a result of sleep deprivation.

Perhaps it's a side effect from The Wasting vaccine the doctor gave me? Maybe it's from the valium I borrowed?

Whatever the reason she'd never allow a little dirt make a fool of her. When the dirt began to quiver and spread out Ella dropped the broom and thought, "I'm losing my mind."

The dirt formed the words:
ELLA GO TO WOODSBURGH.

—-

Marina, Speed and Lonely huddled together in the cramped basement hallway. 

Lonely complained, "It sure is a tight squeeze!"

Speed was squished between Lonely bear's hindquarters and a damp concrete wall. "Move over man! You're suffocating me!"

Marina interjected, "Gentleman, What did we discuss?"

Lonely and Speed recited, "Leaders never squabble and a squabble never leads."

Marina nodded. "That's right fellas. Either get along or get out."

Lonely and Speed said, "Yes ma'am."

"I already raised one sullen teenager and I'm not in the mood to raise another." She missed Leon more than she'd ever admit. Her heart ached at the thought of him. She prayed for him without stopping.

"Follow me boys," said Marina as she led them into a more spacious area in her lair.

Speed sniffed. Then breathing in deeply the German Shepherd said, "The air is much better in here. How is that possible?"

"Ventilation is one of my specialities, digging tunnels is another. Knocking through concrete walls is why I need you two fellas."

Speed cocked his head. "You lost me ma'am."

Marina picked up the dusty cardboard box filled with Leon's fireworks and a few stowaway spiders. She asked Speed, "Weren't you in the bomb squad?"

Speed explained, "Yeah? I sniffed 'em out but I didn't build them."

Lonely looked into the box and saw firecrackers, sparklers, cherry bombs and shooting candles. He snickered.

Marina scowled at the bear.

Lonely gulped.

Speed interjected, "Even if there was enough gun powder in these old fireworks it'd be way too dangerous. We could end up collapsing what's left of the Wood's Shoppe on top of us."

Lonely had an idea. "You got a sledgehammer, pry bar and a chisel? We could break the concrete wall into small chunks and I can hall it outta here."

Speed was impressed. "Hey Lonely how do you know that stuff?"

Lonely smiled. "Demolition is one of my specialties."

Marina directed Lonely and Speed to the abandoned hardware store down the block. Lonely used his weight and strength to bust the door open. The place had been picked pretty clean but the team managed to find a crowbar, a chisel and a ball-peen hammer.

Speed asked, "Marina, why do you wanna expand your place? Seems big enough already."

Pulling up the hatch she grunted and said. "I'm expecting company—a lot of company."

—-

Grace had been following Bell's scent for quite awhile.  All of the bloated decaying rats were throwing him off her sweet rose water scent. The Brooklyn streets smelled like rotting fish, rotting eggs, old garbage, foul body odor mixed with sweat and strong urine.

Before they had been separated Bell had tied a pink handkerchief around Grace's neck and hugged him. She whispered into his alert ears, "You're mine and I'm yours. I love you. Thank you for taking such good care of me" Then she kissed his cold wet nose.

Grace closed his eyes and prayed for clarity.  All of the foul scents were assaulting his sensitive nose. Then in his mind's eye each scent separated like different pages on a computer screen. One by one he swiped the offensive odors aside and honed in on Bell.

Bell's sweet aroma intensified as ran towards the Pulaski Bridge. Then he spotted Bell.  A giant held her prisoner on his bulky shoulders. Grace's ears perked up, his tail went stiff. His body tensed and the muscles in his neck and back became rigged. He gave a low rumbling growl as he approached the man.

Grace thought about calling Bell's name but remembered she was both blind and deaf. He didn't want her captor accidentally dropping her. Slowly he neared the giant. The black and sable hairs on the back of his neck raised up. He lowered his head and readied himself to pounce.

X noticed the ferocious animal and nervously said, "Nice doggie..."

Grace bared his teeth and locked eyes with the giant.

Bell asked, "X why are we stopping?" What's wrong?" She held her hand in X's face demanding an answer.

X shook as he spelled, "D-O-G.

-End of Chapter 24-

Author's note: I'm finally catching up after my migraine. Is there anything ailing you at the moment? Comment below or DM me and I'll pray for you. 🙏🏼