Macavity. Smack. Crack. Darkness.

"Bomba! Oh- I'm so glad you're okay!" Jenny rushed towards me with her arms open, and I flinched away from her. She looked kind of hurt, and put her arms down. I hadn't done it on purpose, just a reflex. When had that happened?

She was my first visitor today. For the whole first week Tugger wouldn't let anyone in to see me, said I needed to get over the shock. I didn't know he was protective like that. Or maybe I did, and didn't notice till just now.

"Oh you poor dear you look awful!" she exclaimed, a hand over her heart.

"Thanks for the compliment, Jenny." I said, laughing lightly.

"I'm sorry! That's not what I meant! You always look lovely! Isn't that right, Tugger?" She said, looking behind me. I jumped slightly as I turned around. When had he come in the room? I must be more out of it than I thought.

He scratched the back of his head. "Yeah- uh sure." He looked away. He seemed uncomfortable, and I could tell he was trying not to look at me by the way his back was stiff. I wondered why.

"How are yuu M'dear?" came a strong voice behind Jenny.

"Oh, Skimble, hunny, how was the Northern Hemisphere?" purred Jenny, nuzzling her husband, and rubbing cheeks.

"Good. More importantly, how are you?" He looked at me expectantly, but I was too busy staring at a stain on his vest. It was a kind of reddish brown, and it looked kind of smeared. It looked like strawberry jam. Or maybe candle wax. No- it wasn't waxy. Blood?

"M'dear?" Skimble said, touching my shoulder, making me jump again. I sighed. How had I gotten so skittish? "I asked how you were."

"Oh-I'm sorry. I'm a little out of it, you know. I'm doing okay, I guess. A little shaken up." I smiled weakly.

"Don't worry, that's only natural." Jenny reassured. She looked out of the den anxiously, and fidgeted with her tail. Like she was nervous for a test. Or a shot. "Skimble, dear, I think I left a mousecake in the oven. We should probably go home, before our den burns to the ground." She looked at me, and gave me a hesitant hug. "If you ever need anything, come to my den and let me know, okay? The door is always open."

I nodded and then they were gone. Tugger closed the flap over the door behind them and looked at me curiously. His eyes were so brown. They looked worried.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." He said. But that concerned look in his eyes didn't go away. I didn't ask again.

"Do you want to do something today, Bombs?" Tugger asked me. We were sitting in the living area of his den, as per usual. I never really got to do much more than that most days. It was usually because I was too exhausted from not sleeping the night before (the nightmares were only getting worse) or because Tugger thought I needed rest. Or both. So naturally when he asked me if I wanted to do something, I was caught off guard.

"Like what?" I asked, curious.

"I don't know. I just think we should get out of the den. Some fresh air might do you good, don't you think?"

I broke into a smile. "That sounds great! I'm not sure I can last much longer in smelly haze of your den."

"Hey! It's not that bad. Well not anymore. I've been trying to keep it cleaner for you." He said defensively.

He really had been trying. I noticed every once in a while when he thought I was asleep he would go around the den and pick some of the more gross artifacts of his lifestyle and dispose of them. I appreciated the effort. I doubted he did any sort of upkeep on it before I came.

"So where exactly are we going to go for this glorious fresh air, hmm?"

"How about a walk? Away from prying eyes, in the forest. It's beautiful this time of year."

Who could have guessed the Rum Tum Tugger would find any sort of nature beautiful. "That sounds nice, though we'll have to walk slowly. My ankle still hurts from when I tripped over that box in your room."

Tugger's face instantly crumpled with concern. "Really? Are you alright? Maybe we shouldn't go on this walk. I mean if it'll hurt your ankle- I don't want you do do anything to-"

"Tugger! It'll be fine, I promise." I laughed, placing a gentle paw on his arm. He looked down at my paw and something flickered in his eyes for a second before he masked the emotion and looked back up at me.

"Well, if you're sure, then alright. Are you all set to go?"

"I'm pretty sure a walk in the forest doesn't really require a whole lot of heavy packing."

"Okay, okay, smart mouth. Let's go." He put his hand out for me and hoisted me up off the ground, then looped his arm under mine for support. "On to adventure!" He proclaimed waving his paw around, then we made our way out the back door to his den, into the junkyard. It was nearly dusk, and the sky was beginning to turn vibrant colors as the sun set.

I lifted my face to the sky and sighed contentedly as the warm summer breeze ruffled my fur and warmed my bones. It was so nice to be out of that stuffy den. Not that she didn't appreciate Tugger's hospitality, of course. It was just nice to get outside and explore a bit.

"Enjoying yourself?" Tugger teased, raising an eyebrow at me and smiling.

"Mhmm." I said, closing my eyes and leaning against him more.

"Just wait 'til we get out of this stinky old Junkyard."

"I can't wait." I said, peeking up at him.

"Wanna take a shortcut?"

I nodded. "Sure."

Tugger steered us left, out of the main clearing and into the winding paths between the junk piles. We ended up in some of the back alleys of the Junkyard, surrounded by towering piles of Junk on our way towards the exit. The sun was just about totally set by this time. Somehow, the surroundings seemed to be growing almost... malicious. I bit my lip, and I could feel my heart beat picking up. I didn't like being away like this... alone. Yes, I was with Tugger, and probably couldn't be safer, but this was too familiar.

I tried to ignore it and make light conversation.

"So, uh, what are you planning we do when we get to forest?" I tried, my voice shaking a little.

"I don't know. We could look at the stars, talk about our feelings, maybe make out a little,"

I gave a short bark of laughter and pinched in the the side, making him yelp before bursting into laughter. Good. This is good. Just keep laughing, and you'll be fine. I thought to myself. But I couldn't fight the queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

We turned another left, and my fur started to stand on end. This looked very familiar now.

This was the place I broke up with Macavity.

Macavity...

The name was like a soft whisper on the wind, calling out to me as we got farther and farther from the clearing. It left a sour taste in my mouth, metallic like blood.

Smack!

He had hit me so hard, it felt like my brain was rattling in my skull.

Crack.

Bone poking through bloody skin as I looked down at the arm that was bent the wrong way.

Darkness.

Memories came flooding back to me and I was shaking now, my whole body wracked with fear. I was paralyzed. Tugger noticed something was wrong and touched my face.

"Bomba are you oka-"

I smacked his hand from my face and shrunk back away from him. "Don't touch me!" I screeched, feeling warm tears starting to make salty trails down my fur. Tugger just stared at me, distressed and not knowing what to do.

Just get me out. I pleaded in my mind. Get me out. Please!

I could smell Macavity's dank breath now, rotten and full of sweet lies. It penetrated every fiber of my being, absorbing me in an inescapable cloud of fear. I could see dots dancing before my eyes and I knew if I didn't get out soon I would faint. I wanted to tell him to get me out of this terrible place full of memories, but my mouth refused to work, and my throat was closed up with my effort to chock back tears.

Finally, he he scooped me into his strong arms, holding me protectively against his chest, and walked as quickly as he could back to the clearing. All I could do was lock my arms around his neck and hold on for dear life, and fight the darkness surrounding me.