Chapter 9

The identity thief slowly opened the door, glad there wasn't a security system. He could hear snoring coming from the couch. He walked over to see Jake curled up in a blanket.

I'll deal with you later, he thought. My business is with the fox.

He walked around the house, opening all the doors, until he eventually found the place Nick was sleeping in. He took out his knife and crept toward the bed, not making a sound. He gazed down at the fox, who was blissfully unaware that another animal besides Jake was in his home. The bad Jake held the knife over Nick's chest, ready to strike.

Goodbye.

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" I shouted, as I burst into the room and tackled the wolf to the ground.

"Get the fuck of of me!" he yelled. Nick woke up.

"What's go-OH SHIT!" He sprang out of bed.

I struggled with the attacker, and he eventually pinned me down, punching me in the face. Pain spread across it as his fist connected with my jaw. Nick pushed him off of me and jumped on him, fighting to keep him down.

"Quick! Get my nightstick from the closet!" He shouted. I got up from the ground and rushed to the closet, but the killer was behind me. Nick grabbed him, but the wolf escaped his grasp and elbowed him in the face. His nose and mouth started bleeding, and red rain hit the floor as the bad Jake threw him against the wall twice. After the second time, Nick fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Nick!" I howled. I grabbed the evil wolf, pushing against him as I struggled to get him to the floor. He knew what he was doing, and kneed me in the stomach, once, twice, three times. I held it as he threw me on the ground, but I quickly got up, feeling sick. I swung my fist and hit him in the arm. He screamed in pain as blood soaked through his clothes. I figured I had opened a wound.

Nick stood up, awake again. I yelled as I struggled with the murderer.

"RUN!"

Nick ignored me as he kicked the wolf on the back. The thief growled and pulled out a knife, his arm still dripping blood. He swung at him and thankfully, Nick dodged. I rushed to grab him from behind, so Nick could take a few swings.

"Oh no you don't!" the wolf shouted mockingly, as he turned around and stabbed me in the right side. He left the knife there as I fell to the ground. When he finally tore the knife from my flesh, I howled with pain, tears rolling down my cheeks. It hurt so bad. The evil Jake started kicking me in the stomach, and blood sprayed from my wound each time he did. My vision went blurry and I looked at Nick.

"N-Nick...P-p-please...G-get out of h-here..."

I barely saw him flee when I felt in an immense pain in my head, and I closed my eyes. The last thing I heard was the front door slamming.

xxxxx

Nick ran down the street, feeling a wave of panic. Red drops were creating a trail of blood behind him, and he looked back.

What have I done? I left Jake all alone! That wolf is going to kill him!

He turned around and started running back to the house. All he could taste was the saltiness of his own blood, and he swallowed it as he ran.

Oh god, oh god, he thought. Please let him be alive.

His thought process stopped when he tripped and fell, tumbling on the sidewalk.

"FUCK!" He yelled. How could no one hear him? Was he dreaming? He shook his head and tried to get up, finding that he couldn't. He screamed in pain, his head aching. He was feeling dizzy, and he lay down, breathing heavily.

Please let him be alive! He thought again.

With all his might he got up, and rushed to the house. He threw open the door. It hit the wall behind it with a loud boom. He bolted to his room, and found no sign of Jake, or the kidnapper. He searched the house, only to find they were already gone.

He was too late.

He curled up on the floor and let the tears flow, half from pain, half from terror that his friend had been killed.

I can't believe it. I've lost my partner, and now, I've lost my best friend.

When the waterworks had dried out, he still lay on the floor, shivering. The front door was wide open, and a cool breeze was moving throughout the living room. It seemed to be aiming at Nick, telling him all hope was lost, but he didn't believe that.

No. He knew that, somewhere out there, both of his friends were alive. They were probably in pain and scared to death, but they were alive. He grabbed the corner of the couch as he stood up, leaning on it for support. He spotted a dent in his wall where the door had struck, and his eyes moved towards the opening. He gazed into the black of night, picturing Judy or Jake walking through the door.

He imagined them smiling, and no cuts or bruises could be seen on them. They would walk in and tell him that everything was okay. He wanted to hug them both so badly. He wanted to see them again. To feel their presence. To hear them laugh. To play around with them like they used to. To be together. He felt tears falling down his cheeks again, and he returned his gaze to the opening.

Judy and Jake were out there, and he was going to stop at nothing to find them.