A Heart's Secret

After everything, I can’t believe we made it. I wish Lazarus was here with me; he would be so happy to know we found mom's friend. I watch the old woman as she holds the locket in her hands, smiling. “I knew you would find me. I thought your mom and her kid would be here too.” She says smiling. She proceeds to stare at the locket. As she attempts to unlatch the clasp, we hear voices in the near distance. She relatches the locket and places it inside her pocket. “We have to go now Pebbles, hurry!” the old woman shrieks with panic in her voice. We quickly follow aside from the old woman as she hastily leads the way. Rosie and I both continue to look back as we follow. The voices slowly dissipate. “We should be safe here until they leave.” The old woman remarks. It is an abandoned cave; it’s cold and dark but away from whoever was following. Rosie jumps off my back and begins to explore. “Are you sure we can trust her Pebbles?” Rosie asks. I look at Rosie and tilt my head slightly. “Why would you ask that?” Rosie turns to look at me as she continues sniffing around. “I don’t know, just something about her smells off.” I look at the old woman as she sits in silence gazing upon the locket. How would she have known about me if she didn’t know mom and Lazarus? No, I need to stop letting Rosie get into my head, not all humans are bad. The old woman gets up and peers outside the cave. “I think it is safe now. We must hurry as to not get stuck in the dark.” Rosie shrugs and jumps on my back; we follow. Unfamiliar sounds begin to surround us as darkness commences. It seems we didn’t quite make it to where we needed before nightfall. I feel Rosie grab onto my ear tightly. The fear that fills Rosie, fills me as well. But we continue to follow. “Just behind those bushes.” The old woman whispers. I try to look past the bushes but can’t see anything but trees. The old woman stops walking and pulls some bushes apart. There is a pathway just beyond the bushes. She gestures for us to pass. I look up at her then carefully proceed. So many unfamiliar odors with equal unfamiliar sounds. As we continue to walk along the path, movement from all directions, humans, both young and old with bewilderment in their eyes. “I don’t like this,” Rosie whispers in my ear. I assure her it will all be okay but I’m not sure it will be. We finally come to a complete stop. The old woman looks down at us and smiles. She gestures for me to take a seat. “Everyone this is Pebbles, and she has brought us a gift, the key.” The old woman holds up the locket for all to see. Whispers all around begin to get louder. “Silence. Let us all rest and wait for the light to arise and awaken us once again. We shall use the key at first light.” A small girl brings me a blanket and smiles as she places it on the ground next to me. I take one last look around at all the humans and at Rosie, then lie down on the blanket. I finally get to rest easy; hopefully.

The sound of quiet giggles and the warmth of the sun hitting my face awaken me. I open my eyes to tiny humans bending over smiling. Rosie wakes up when she feels the movement of my body. She rubs her tiny eyes as she stretches her arms and legs and lets out a big yawn. “Good morning Rosie. Did you sleep well?” I ask as I begin to stretch. Rosie looks around at all the kids smiling down at us. She looks a bit frightened. “I slept ok considering we are here with all these weird humans.” She says in a grumpy voice. As the morning continues, I begin to see the bigger humans arising as well. Still no sign of the old woman. Rosie and I get busy exploring as we wait for the old woman. Everyone is gathering and sitting in a circle as they pass around food. My stomach begins to rumble as soon as I see the food. Rosie starts to giggle excitedly as the food gets closer to us. Finally, something to eat. As everyone begins to eat, the old woman comes up from behind. “Good morning everyone. Did all sleep well?” she asks holding out both arms. “Very good; I see you have all welcomed our guest heroes with opened arms.” She smiles and sits next to me then pets my head. “I hope you were well fed little one, for today is a big day. The locket shall be opened and unlock all that is right.” I remain uncertain as to how a locket is a key to anything, but she seems so sure. I suppose I will soon see for myself. The old woman stands with the help of two of her humans as soon as she is done eating. The motion for all to follow as they walk toward a very large rock. The two men help the old woman stand on the top. Once again, she is smiling at the locket in her hands. As she looks down at all standing, she begins to speak, “in just a moment all will be saved. Are all prepared?” she questions. They begin grabbing hold of each other’s hands and gaze upon the locket the old woman dangles overhead. Rosie and I look at each other in confusion. If this heart is a key, then where is the door it unlocks? The humans are so focused on the locket they don’t notice the rustling in the trees. As the old woman starts to unlatch the locket. The loud voice of an angry man is heard by all. “Stop you crazy bitch! Why are you doing this?” he fearfully asks. The old woman looks down and smiles, “why am I doing this? I am doing this because it is the right thing to do. All you selfish ignorant fools think you know what’s best for this world, but you have no clue!” Rosie jumps on my back, “what’s going on, Pebbles?” I am as lost as Rosie, the humans that once chased us are all here. Along with the girl that killed Lazarus. As the angry man continues to try to convince the old woman to give him the locket, his people begin to close in all around. Everyone is now focused on the ones that surround them. The old woman begins to laugh loudly. I turn and look at her very perplexed. I then notice Zoey, the little girl that killed Lazarus, bends down next to me. I step back and immediately start to growl as Rosie shrieks at her. “It’s ok girl, I’m not going to hurt you. I’m sorry I did what I did, but I had to. Please believe me.” Tears roll down the little girl's cheeks as she tells me why she killed my boy. Shock fills my entire body. Is Zoey telling me the truth? I look at Rosie who is no longer shrieking but staring right back at me. “This can’t be true. Right?” Rosie sadly asks me. As I look back at the old woman still laughing hysterically; I begin to believe what I was told. But how? My mom and boy were so good to me. They treated me like family. Were they just using me in case they couldn’t do what they wanted to do? I stood there watching and begin to whimper as sadness fills my heart. Looking into the eyes of the old woman and her people; I see something different than Zoey’s eyes. Their eyes seem empty, dark, and cold. Zoey stands as she continues to cry and watches as the angry man who isn’t angry any longer pleads with the old woman. “Go Pebbles we have to stop her!” Rosie shouts into my ear. I let out one loud bark in agreement and charge as fast as I can toward the giant rock the old woman stands on. “Now Rosie, now!” I bark. Rosie quickly jumps off my back and climbs up the rock faster than I’ve seen her move. I run around the rock trying to find a way up. “It’s all over. You’re too late.” The old woman shouts to the angry man. She looks at the locket as she attempts to open it. Rosie climbs up her legs and down her arm. The old woman screams as blood drips from her hand. Rosie bit her hand which made her drop the locket. Once on the rock, I sprint over and pick up the locket. “Bring it to me girl.” The old woman says as she lies on the rock bleeding. I growl at her as I hold the locket in my mouth. Rosie jumps back onto my back. “Did you see that? Did you?” she asks me with such excitement in her voice. I acknowledge her act of bravery and continue to growl ever so fierce at the old woman. “You have to give it to me Pebbles. You don’t understand. Please.” She begs. “Give it to me now!” her begging quickly disappeared and was replaced with pure anger. “Run Pebbles! Run” Zoey shouts from across the way. I back up from the old woman then turn and jump off the rock. I feel my front paw give out on me as I land. A loud screech pours out of me, and I drop the locket. One of the bad humans tries to pick it up, but I manage to bite him as Rosie jumps down and grabs it. I don’t know where she is going but Rosie immediately runs into the trees with the locket. I struggle and attempt to get up, but the pain was too much. I fall back down and close my eyes. I then feel small hands wrap around me and lift me up. It was Zoey. “We have to find the rat.” She tells me sounding so scared. All around the humans are fighting. Sounds of pain and the smell of pennies filled the air. Zoey struggles as she tries to run with me in her arms. She approaches the angry man. “Dad she’s hurt.” The angry man rubs my ear. “Good girl. You did a good job. But we need to find your friend.” He instructs me to stay with Zoey and search for Rosie. “I got this, I’ll protect her and find Rosie.” I bark. Still, in the arms of Zoey, we go into the trees. I rest my head on her shoulder and think of my mom and Lazarus, a tear falls from my eye. I still don’t understand. They seemed so nice, so kind, so full of love for me and each other. Zoey kisses my head and holds me tightly as if she felt my pain. I sigh and close my eyes; thankful it is all finally over.

Just as I am feeling a bit of comfort, I hear a sound in the distance. I open my eyes and growl as I quickly look around. “What is it, girl?” Zoey asks. I try to jump out of her arms but instantly remember my pain. The sound of crunching leaves close by. I let out my most ferocious bark yet. Then I see her, it’s Rosie. I was immediately filled with happiness. “Pebbles, Pebbles, I thought I’d never see you again!” Rosie squeaks as she approaches. “We have been looking for you.” Zoey gently places me on the ground and Rosie runs up on me. Pain hits hard as Rosie accidentally steps on my broken leg. “Oh no, what happened to your leg?” Rosie asked with much concern. “It’s ok, I hurt it when we jumped off the big rock. Where’s the locket?” I ask. She licks my paw and hugs my leg, “I buried it.” She says proudly. “No one will be able to find it without me.” Zoey sits down next to us. She looks so tired and scared. Why didn’t I see this before? I was too focused on doing the right thing, I hadn’t realized I was doing so wrong. I place my head on Zoey’s lap. She reaches out to Rosie with one finger and waits for her to touch it. Rosie looks at me then slowly grabs Zoey’s finger. Zoey smiles, “we need to find that locket. Dad wants me to find it.” Zoey realizes the rat doesn’t have it. “Where is the locket tiny one?” she asks Rosie. If only humans could understand us the way we understand them. Rosie looks at me and we both know it is safer if we never show anyone.

Thinking back to that day, I realize that even if humans love and care for you; doesn’t mean they are good. I do miss my boy at times, and wonder if he knew what the locket was. But in some ways, I am glad it all happened the way it did. If not, I would have never met my best friend Rosie, and my new humans, Zoey, and dad. We all hope that the locket will never be found. Because no one is prepared for a chemical apocalypse that little heart can create.