When I stepped inside I was more than relieved. I didn't need more trouble and to make matters worse I still haven't seen Blackjack since he disappeared last week. And that guy, Dickson was his name? No no that's not right. I know the cop called him by his name several times, and I know it started with a D, but I can't remember the rest. Well Bannerman, ah yes much better than Dickson, was the last person I wanted to see.

He was odd. And to be honest I didn't know what to think of him. After all he did save me and the other people from the suspect pins and though he got his ass kicked by that monster he did defend us. But there was something that didn't feel right about him... But I just can't place it. His face was all right. Pretty mischievous but what do you expect? His clothes were fine, but something about him smells... That's it! It was his smell. He smelled like he hasn't taken a decent shower in weeks! And no charm could defeat that horrible stench. I couldn't help but sniff my hoodie wondering if his stink latched onto my clothes and I was relieved to see–er smell that it hadn't.

After apologizing for being late and since most of the workers, even the manager, knew about my canine friend going missing after I came to work the next day crying and mourning over the littlest of things. I even cried over the goddamn lobsters. They knew I would have lost the track of time looking for him.

And I did.

Quickly wanting to busy myself from my thoughts I started preparing the chowder then worked on seasoning the lobster before dumping them in the boiling pot. "May your sacrifice not be in vain you delicious specimens." I mumble hearing the head chef crack up behind me making me smile.

"You really shouldn't talk to the food Pittman."

"But look at them!" He turns around before cracking up laughing as he sees me with wide puppy dog eyes and puckered up lips as I hold a live lobster.

"Can't you see the hope in his eyes? He has so many hopes and dreams! He had a wife and thirty seven children! How are they supposed to live without him!?"

"It's called the mama lobster gets a job Anne."

"But sir! We already killed the wife!" I state dramatically before holding the lobster close to me, petting its side.

"Don't worry you'll be with your wife soon Albert Remerges Jalapeño Gonzalez Delarosa Ramirez III. It'll all be over soon." I whisper softly before looking away as I drop the lobster into the pot.

"You do know they're slowly dying while boiling in that pot right?"

"Can't you let Albert Remero Jalapeno Gonzalez Delarosa Ramirez III dream?"

"I thought it was Remerges not Remero."

"Same difference."

"And you wonder why you are single."

"I do not wonder why I'm single! I am perfectly happy with my life!"

"You need to stop watching the ID channel. Not everyone is a psychopath Anne."

"Gasp! Only a psychopath would say that! Oh how could I have been so blind!?" I hysterically wept while chopping up onions, carrots, potatoes, and a few other vegetables and pour them into a separate pot.

"Oh for a long time now. I was waiting for the right opportunity but now... I'm afraid my plan has been foiled I must now... Kill you!" In the back ground one of the other chefs loudly boomed 'BUM BUM BUM!' causing the whole kitchen to burst out into laughter. After the little scene the kitchen slowly drifted back to normal.

As the day went on one of the other chefs came up to me.

"Have you heard anything about your dog?" My mood instantly dropped.

"No... B-but I'm sure he's out there! I mean he can't just run away. A-and the animal control department isn't really concerned over stray animals right now with all of these co– bio-terrorist attacks."

"That's true... I mean he was a stray before right? Maybe he's just not used to living in a home now. Just give it time I'm sure he'll come back." I give the chef a smile before giving her my thanks and continue to work.

Tonight wasn't my turn to lock up so as soon as my shift ended so I grabbed my hoodie and walked out the door.

"The drugs made her a bio-terrorist!"

And there they were again. Those damn protestors in front of the restaurant protesting against drugs and saying drugs will make you a bio-terrorist. What a load of crap. It always irritated me that people would use conduits for something like this. Drugs don't turn you into a conduit! I mean yes hurry and all about going against drugs but you shouldn't use people for your cause. Especially when it wasn't true. Groaning I quickly trudge past the group and headed towards the apartments. Ever since Blackjack disappeared I strayed away from the alleys. I know I shouldn't worry, but that's who I am. A worrier. So the imagining different possibilities of something bad happening to him in those dark alleys made my blood run cold. Of course it made me also want to go in there and see if he was there, but the possibility of my fears being right kept me from going anywhere near them.

So I stick to the streets, being mindful of where I was going and stayed clear of the people around me.

I glance up the buildings for a moment and look back surprised as I watch a blur of neon pink run up a wall and up a ceiling as another blur of neon went after the first. I watch with wide eyes as they ran across building to building. I couldn't stop myself from staring as others around me began to panic and ran from the running neon lights. Only after the trail of neon faded was I finally able move again.

"Whoa..."