The black dog

Chapter 4

* His conversation with the voice that was talking to him was not over yet.

'I don't need to spy on anyone to know anything.' It was pronounced as if a reply was required before the sentence was finished. Souta gave in to this and gave the answer that was expected.

‘What do you mean?’ he asked with still the short whatever he had at the beginning of conversation.

'I mean to say that I am always with you.'

'Then I would have heard you, wouldn't I? I've been hearing you guys ever since I was like seven.'  As soon as Souta finished his sentence, there was laughter.

'What is there to laugh about.'

'You think about everything, but you've never thought about this before?'

'Not really no.' He was growing increasingly impatient for an answer.

'Then you should do that sometime soon.'

'Don't I get an answer then?'

'I thought you liked questions like that?'

'This is something else.' Souta turned his head away, crossing his arms and closed his eyes, with his head up high.

'No, this is the same thing. Thinking first.'

'Unbelievable. Gagged by a soul.' he was very indignant. Nobody knew how to shut his mouth. He always knew how to begin and end discussions. But he didn’t win this one. The soul he was speaking to was right and he had to admit it. Whether he liked it or not. Without hesitation, he said as much out loud.

'Well, you're right, though I hate to admit it. Discussion won.'

'Well, your respect hasn't diminished Souta.'

Souta rolled his eyes and stared at the sheet of paper that had nothing but some scribbling on it. His scribble, which he himself didn’t understand it. The silence was back and Souta sank back into the depression he had before his conversation. Apparently, he liked the distraction after all, because it wasn't long before he began to make contact again.

'But now I still don't know who you are. All I know about you is that you don't have to look at me to know anything about me.' he had to and would get an answer; Souta no longer settled for less. 'Think about it. I've been with you all your life.'

'That's not true, only the moment I started hearing you.'

'No, even before that time.'

'Before that time too?'

'Yes, of course, everyone has that, only you are one of those who can hear it. Although it's exceptional that you can only hear us.'

'Ow, well, sorry about that.' unnoticed, he became very affected by his feelings which made him feel worthless, but he had someone with him who gave him the right slap.

'Souta, wake up! You're not thinking, I want to help you, but you have to allow it.'

'I am allowing it.' he countered full of antagonism.

'No, you don't and stop getting into a discussion. It's not about the discussion, you have to figure out how to get her to you and explain to her what the intention is.'

'But I don't even know that intention myself yet.' Souta had to bite his lip hard to keep from shedding tears. He felt alone and confused, for the first time in his life he was lonely and gave in.

> Her heart was racing. Frozen in fear she stood staring into the darkness. Then she heard the croaking of a frog passing by her. The creature had no idea of the fear she actually had. She was afraid of a frog. Relieved, she took a breath and cautiously continued walking. She thought back to the moment she had been so frozen with fear.

I really need to do something about that, Mizore thought. If she stayed this scared it going to get dangerous for her. She absolutely must not show that she is afraid. The night was long and Mizore was all used up from walking. She had to continue until the sun came up. And finally, after hours of walking and yearning for the sun, the first rays came out. 'Finally, now just find a place to sleep. It's lucky the night wasn't so cold.' she said. In the distance there were some houses coming towards her and if she looked closer, a sign came in sight with the name of the village or town on it. Her luck was about to run out. It was that her feet hurt so much, otherwise she would have run towards it. On top of that, her eyes almost fell shut from fatigue. Just a little longer, just a little longer, just a little longer, she kept repeating in her head with every step she took. Her boots were warm, but not practical for things like running away. As usual, Mizore blamed her mother for everything. Frantically, she continued walking. For as long as it was possible for her, she ignored her feet from which the pain was indescribable. She kept this up until she was in front of the sign. After that, going further was no longer possible. She had to rest; she couldn't take the pain in her feet anymore. She leaned against the sign that marked a boundary between known and unknown. For half an hour or so she stayed against the border. If she had to choose between inhabited and uninhabited, she chose the inhabited world. Not because she knew the place, she had no idea where she was, but it was nicer to be somewhere where people were. Also, her stomach had a strong desire to go into the unknown. Although she had no idea where she would get the money for food and drinks. Not even for a warm bed that her body craved just as much. When she finally stood up, the pain in her feet had not lessened and she was in doubt as to what to look for. Maybe a*****e to buy some food. Or maybe a bench where she could lie down on to go to sleep. She kept strolling around the town a bit. Mizore's feet carried her forward with great difficulty. Until she came to a bench. Her stomach was growling and her mouth was incredibly dry. Still, the bench begged her to lay down on it. She looked at it, walked over to it, then layed down on it and finally fell asleep after a long night.