Doctor Barnowl

“Sit over there. he’ll see you soon” said the guard as he thrust her through the door. R began walking through the velvet red hallway, guards in black suits, faces covered by white masks lined on either side, looming over her. She wasn't afraid of them, she saw them as mere pawns. The hall seemed to gradually narrow as she approached the waiting room. Dishevelled raven hair covering most of her face, a gleam of aqua blue eyes, and crooked smirk in vision. She sat across from a disgruntled old man and a young innocent looking boy.

“So, whatcha do?” questioned the boy.

Her eyes darted towards him. She looked him up and down as if he were a bug to be squashed.

“Why do you wanna know?” she murmured, cracking her knuckles.

“Well, you must have really fucked up...” he said quietly with a fretted look upon his face.

“Dr. Barnowl doesn’t take kindly to fucks up.” chimed in the disgruntled man.

“I see...” said R in an uninterested tone. “Well in that case what did you pair do?” She clasped her hands on her lap and leaned in front of them.

“Nothing, we’re here to apply for a job, it's just the way that guard threw you in. It kinda seemed like you were pretty much a goner” rambled the boy, now very intimidated by her.

“I probably am,” said R with her crooked grin expanding.

“You know you outta wipe that smile off your face girl. Dr. Barnowl is a man to be feared” the disgruntled man exclaimed with exasperation.

“Whatever old man, just out of curiosity... Why is he called *Doctor* Barnowl?” R asked.

The disgruntled man frowned, crossing his arms in resentment.

“You don’t know? His most prized possession his barn owl. Goes everywhere with her on his shoulder you see. She is beautiful, well trained, and no one knows why he loves her so much. He doesn’t have much compassion for anything, apart from... well, her.” The boy blabbed without an inch of hesitation.

“Shhh boy, If he hears you talking about him, he won’t take kindly to us” whispered the disgruntled old man, placing his hand on the boy’s shoulder with force.

“Thank you, your information has been most valuable" giggled R.

Suddenly a door swung open with a malevolent gust of air flowing into the waiting room.

“Dr. Barnowl will see you now.” said a guard.

“Well boys, I must be off. I have an appointment with the doctor” she said jumping to her feet in a chipper motion.

She stepped inside, the door closing behind her. The room had a long glass table with a chair at either side and one lit lantern in the centre, emerald green wallpaper smothered in gold plated flower patterns, one small window letting in a strip of moonlight, a fireplace topped with a silver encrusted decanter, and of course a looming guard at the door.

**CLICK**

The door locked. In the left corner of the room, there was a silhouette of an inhumanly tall man.

“Hello R,” said the man, his voice unfeeling.

“Doctor Barnowl I presume? said R, nonchalantly.

He slithered out from the corner and into the dimly lit dining room. Just as the boy and the disgruntled man had said the barn owl clutched his shoulder with her talons. His fingernails sharpened grotesquely like butcher knives to match his teeth, he had long platinum blond hair, his greasy skin was as pale as a glass of milk, his eyes bloodshot. The barn owl was magnificent; the white of her feathers the luminescent and the yellow of her eyes so vibrant R felt as though they could pierce right through her.

“She is beautiful, isn’t she?” asked Dr. Barnowl whilst he admired the bird.

“Quite” replied R.

“Sit,” he said motioning towards the dining table.

R sluggishly walked towards the seat, never letting her glare stray from the owl.

“Drinks?” he said as he snapped his fingers. Almost instantaneously two men appeared delicately placing a crystal glass of scotch in front of R. With trepidation in her veins, she picked up the glass.

“What’s wrong R, not like the scotch?”

She sniffed the contents of her glass. “It’s fine” she grunted.

“Very well.” He reached into his pocket retrieving a cigarette, as he held it in between his dagger-like fingers the owl reached into the other pocket, snapping a lighter into her beak and placing it in his left hand. “Thanks, girl” He lit the cigarette. As the smoke cascaded like water from his nose, he clenched his fists and hit his hand against the glass.

“I don’t tolerate failure!” His scream penetrated her ears and shook her whole body to its core.

She gulped and gritted her teeth.

“You aren’t my boss!” She did not hide her contempt.

“No, I am everyone’s boss in this town! And you are a disappointment. You failed, therefore you must be taken care of.” He began to unwind his fingers one by one until his hand was held out. The guard at the door gave a nod of acknowledgment, dropped to his knees, and presented a pistol to his master.

“How very Shakespearean,” said R before knocking back her whole glass of scotch.

“Mock all you like dear, it’s your funeral. Don’t look at me with such anger, child. I’m not a monster, I would never let you die without a final wish...” bellowed the doctor.

She lowered her head to hide her smile and entrapped her laughter with her hand over her mouth.

“The window” she pointed at it. “Open it”.

“Open the window? That’s your dying wish?” The Dr’s eyebrows narrowed.

“I just…want some fresh air, can’t someone get air before she goes to her death?!” howled R with her whole chest.

The Doctor arose from his seat and walked towards the window.” Such insolence” he grumbled as he left it ajar.

"Last words?” he reached out his arm pointing the pistol at her head.

“Hera” She hissed.

Swiftly flew in a raven the size of a small dog swooping down towards Dr. Barnowl, her claws pointed towards his eye sockets. He dropped to the floor, his palms covering his face as his old body trembled in agony. He let out a sound as cacophonous as a siren.

R ran to the pistol. Her raven began to impale the guard's faces penetrating their masks. She stood over Dr. Barnowl, and with ecstasy overcoming her she let out her wicked laughter.

“Aww, don’t worry! I’m not a monster, I won’t shoot you… after all, you’ll just come back.” She aimed the pistol at his shoulder and pulled the trigger.

As the bullet hit the owl, the doctor’s skin began to bubble like oil over fire.

“You were too obvious; I knew what you were this whole time” she said as he growled in pain his skin becoming a puddle beneath her feet. “You’re just like me Dr. I was never afraid of you.” A red ribbon-like illusion appeared connecting the carcase of the owl with the liquifying doctor. R’s teeth sharpened, her crooked smile stretching from one ear to the other. She sank them into the ribbon; breaking their bond.

“There is a new boss in town. Her name is Dr. Raven” she whispered in his ear, the raven landing by her side before he let out his last breath.