Fantasy

My words were a statement, and Janet nodded firmly at them. I spilled my coffee beans all over the table.

To this day, I still couldn't believe that the young man who'd followed me with breakfast would be an immoral, inhumane piece of trash. How could he be?

Janet held my hand worriedly. "What are you going to do, Savannah?"

I looked at her dazedly and shook my head. "I don't know."

I didn't know what to do. What could I do? Run? I had friends and my career here. Where could I go? I thought about the young man who'd claimed he would love me with all his heart. Would he do anything to me?

Five-O seemed to sense my preoccupation when I got home. He stuffed his furry head into my palm. 

I smiled and petted him. "I'm glad you're here, Five-O."

That night, I dreamed of Mr. Freckles again. In my dream, my limbs were bound. I couldn't move.

I heard the sounds of a fight nearby—I heard the clanging of weapons. I didn't know why, but I instinctively felt like someone was there to save me.

Soon, the door before me was pushed open, and a young man hurried in. The sword he held was still dripping blood.

This time, I got a clear glimpse of his face. He had no freckles or boils. All he had was a red mark beneath his beautiful eyes. His lips parted and closed as he spoke. I tried to hear what he was saying, but something kept tugging on my soul. Even until the dream ended, I didn't manage to hear anything he said.

I jolted awake to find that it was pouring outside. I walked to the window, where the raindrops pattered. The sound made my head throb.

Five-O had approached me without me realizing it. He was big now—I couldn't hold him i

I slowly got used to living with Five-O's occasional words. Aside from being able to understand him, he was the same as all other dogs, so it no longer bothered me.

Perhaps I'd awakened a special ability—that was what I told myself to feel better. It was a dream for many people to want to be able to understand their dogs, right?

I said, "I'm going to work, Five-O. Be good at home, alright?"

He was already the size of a regular Golden Retriever and reached my knees when he sat. I rubbed his head.

He said, "Great. I have to open that cabinet today."

I faltered. "I'll kill you if you dare sneak any treats."

His ears drooped. 

Meanwhile, I went to work in a good mood. When I got to my office, I saw Janet standing outside and peeking inside. "Why are you standing there instead of working?"

She turned to me with a frown. Then, she grabbed my hand a little anxiously and leaned close to me. She said in a low voice, "Maisie Granger is dead."

Maisie was Cameron's true love.

For some reason, I was reminded of what Cameron had said before he'd left the other day—he would make me get back together with him.

I pulled Janet into my office. "When did it happen, and how? How'd you find out?"

I opened a bag of coffee beans with familiarity, but my hands wouldn't stop trembling.

Janet sat across from me, her expression grim. "It happened three days ago. I've been paying attention to Cameron since he came to you. I had someone contact his high school classmate some time ago, and we exchanged numbers. Yesterday, he told me Maisie died after she wasn't given timely treatment for a food allergy."

"A food allergy?" I exclaimed.

She nodded. "She was severely injured after the accident, and Cameron was by her side while she was being treated abroad. It's only recently that she showed improvement. She trusted him with all her heart and left many of her matters in his care. That's why I suspect—"

"That Cameron killed her." I finished her sentence.

Chapter 7