“Hello?” I call out.
“Shhh!” Someone hisses from somewhere in the stacks.
“Well, that was rude.” I mutter.
I hear a sigh from the same location as before. “We are in a library. Be quiet.”
“Listen, dude, I have no idea where I am. If you help me, I’ll get out of your hair and leave you in peace and quiet.”
“Do your ears not work, Kip? I said, ‘we are in a library’.” The voice replies in exasperation, moving closer.
“Duh, I can fucking see we’re in a library, bro.”I roll my eyes. “I’m just not sure whyI’min a library. OrhowI got here.”
Before I see the guy, I hear the pitter patter of what sounds like four little paws stalking towards me from between the shelves.Accompanying the pitter patter is the jingling of a bell, like on a cat’s collar.
“Nacho! What are you doing here, buddy?” I grin, crouching to the ground to greet my little guy.
Nacho opens his mouth, but instead of a meow he speaks. “The better question is what are you doing here? This is my dream, after all.”
“What the fuckkkk!” I cry out, falling back onto myass. “Okay, so obviously I took some type of substance and I’m tripping right now. Yep. That’s gotta be it.”
Nacho rolls his eyes in reaction. That’s right, my fucking cat just rolled his eyes at me!
“You aren’t high. You’re in my dream, uninvited I might add. And I’m not sure why you’re surprised I can talk. It’s my dream, I can do whatever I want.”
“Dream you is kind of a dick, Nacho.” I grouse.
“Not really, I’m just grumpy that you’ve disturbed my peace.” Nacho shrugs.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to infiltrate your dream, buddy. I didn’t even know I could.” I reply earnestly. “Anyway, this is what you dream about, huh? You’re pretty smart. I always kinda figured that. Sometimes it seems like you’re trying to talk back to me in real life.”
“As you so eloquently put it earlier, ‘duh’.” Nacho replies with amusement. “But yes, it’s hard not being able to speak freely when my mind is yelling at me to tell you something. Take Tyson for example. I always knew he was a twit. Tried to tell you, but obviously you didn’t understand.”
I blow out a puff of air. “Yep. Not sure I would’ve believed you anyway. But from now on I will, seems like you’re a pretty good judge of character.”
“I mean, I did pick you as my owner, after all.” Nacho smirks. “You’re not the brightest, but your kindness makes up for that. I am sorry that you ended up falling from the tree saving me though. I didn’t intend for that to happen.”
I wave him off. “Eh, you know what they say, ‘water under the boat’ or whatever. Me becoming a vamp led me to Charlie, and I don’t regret that.”
“Charlie is a good egg. I like him a lot. Maybe even more than you.”
“Hey!” I scoff. “You really are a dick.”
“I’m kidding…sort of…anyway, this chat has been nice and all but…could you kindly vacate my dream? I’d like to get back to my research.”
“Research? What are you researching?” My curiosity piques.
“Well, originally I was researching how to allow my feline body to talk outside of my dreams. But now, I’m thinking I should look into a way to stop people from intruding on my dreams.”
“Okay, no need to be pushy. I’ll go.” I sigh, pushing up to my feet. “See you in the real world, Nacho.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Epilogue: Charlie
Forever and a Day
Two years later…
