With a foot hanging off the bed and dog on his stomach, Rod swung his arms at the other animals resting on or around him. "Come on guys" his head was swimming in grogginess. He started to roll over the edge of the bed, the dogs shifted and some jumped out of the way. Rod knows he isn't suppose to let the pets roam his home or sleep with them. His job was just to sell them at his shop, mainly to tourist at the inn. Rod just can't resist the doggies. He has an area just set aside for kennels but he just couldn't leave them there.

He went to the kitchen as began to set out food for the dogs. He likes cats too but having less of them and with the dogs inside, he usually let them roam in the yard hoping they'll just come back in time for his job. He's gotten in trouble with his suppliers before for losing track of a cat or two, or seven. He's lucky he hasn't lost his job. He shook some food onto a plate on the floor. The dogs came running. There were close to thirteen dogs in the house. Only a few of them weren't house broken. He was in middle of training them. The dogs were licking and biting at the plate. All except one. A rather large black dog in the back. The dog had been shipped to him in his most recent shipment. Apparently the dog couldn't attract any person or family. The poor little guy was lingering in the back against the wall. He didn't really socialize with the other dogs as they played. They wouldn't even go near him. Poor baby, Rod was concerned about him.

"Come on Buddy boy" Rod called. The dog remained still. The other dogs were to preoccupied to notice. They licked and licked though there was nothing left to eat. Rod risked his life and reached down to grab the bowl. One little snapper yipped at him. He's been bitten by that dog before. He gave Henry that dog free of charge to give to Iroha as a gift. According to Henry it bite him after pissing on her floor and ran off. The little guy showed up clawing at Rod's door in the middle of the night. Rod filled the plate again and called the black dog over. The dog looked for a long time before moving to him. Rod smiled, he seemed shy. He shooed the other dogs away, they listened to him to some extent. "Come here, little guy" The dog didn't have an official name. When he was shipped to Rod his name was "Maximus Dogus", despite the street cred that comes with that, Rod thought the dog deserved something with more class like: buddy.

The dog sauntered on over to the plate Rod was holding an inch above the ground. The rest of the dogs moved away from him. Shoulders hitched and tail between the legs, the smallest yipper, and usually the fiercest, backed away. Maximus came forward, his tail halfway trailing the ground. Rod leaned in closer, down to the dog's eye level. "Hey-" The space between the two eroded into vast blackness. Eye to eye- a tremble vibrated through Rod's body. The only light in the dog's eyes were the reflection of the ceiling lights. The space around the dog's head-it's energy- warped time into ripples. It looked deeply into Rod's soul. The chosen time will arrive, human. The plate clattered to the floor.

Rod pulled away without breath and fell back against the sinks. Bits and pieces of dog food now on the hardwood floors. Maximus slowly leaned its head to the side while maintaining strict eye contact. The smaller dogs approached slowly and licked the hardwood around him. The little dogs remained below him, closer to the ground than his shadow. The dog's eyes were as dark wells that don't bare water, dry and empty. Rod wiped at his mouth, his lips suddenly dry.

Grabbing at the sinks behind him, he followed the walls to the door. Once outside, the simmering summer sun against his cold sweats felt worse than any hangover. The store was to open soon and he knew not to linger too long outside. He sighed into a loose chuckle. He just got spooked by a dog. He deals with dogs everyday, whether feeding them, walking them, and eventually selling them. Dogs are ultimately good so why he got a cold shiver from Maximus was beyond him. Probably just too many scary stories.

He readied the cart. Ae he dragged it back towards the front, he kicked the door open. The dogs know the routine. The smallest ones were the quickest out the door, they scampered out and jumped onto the cart. The bigger dogs soon followed. Through the closing crack of the door, Rod could see Maximus. Sitting still, paws neat in front of him. Rod was about to call to him but his throat went dry. He reached in and flicked off the lights. Maximus sat in the darkness, only the filtered light from the windows on the floor, revealed his silhouette. Only the reflection of the sun off the hardwood floor created a light on his eyes.

Rod found himself wringing his hands on duty. He was able to sell one of his pooches to a tourist living in the inn. He wishes he could sell Maximus but that dog has already had a rocky history. The suppliers claimed it was because he was an old dog who didn't know many tricks. The fact that Maximus Dogus was still in his home gave him shivers. As the sun clawed across the wide expanse, it grew dark. Neil had already begun wrapping up. His jacket looked purple in the cool dusk. Neil usually doesn't talk to him and tends to mind his own business. Rod tries to give people the benefit of the doubt but Neil was a hard case. Sometimes he chills at Neil's house. Neil just goes on doing whatever he's gonna do and completely ignores Rod's existence. Neil loves animals so they can sometimes bond over that.

"Hey Neil, do you wanna watch a movie later or-"

"Rod, I'm kinda busy and shouldn't you be wrapping things up?" Neil interjected. Jerk. Rod forced a laugh. "Yeah, I guess you're right" He scratched at the back of his head. Neil rolled his eyes. Inside the pen, the animals were yawning and lying on their stomachs. "Ok, come on guys!" Rod shook the pen with a smile. "Come on get up" The little yapper rolled off his back. A chill rolled down his spin as cold as ice cream in winter at the thought of going home to Maximus Dogus. He packed them up and rolled his cart home. He swallowed hard as he held the knob to his old cottage. A thick heartbeat banging in his chest as he clicked the lock open. What would be on the other side? Maximus Dogus? Sitting in the same spot he left him? Rod gritted his teeth. Would he be angry? Rod pushed the door open. In the inky blackness, nothing could be seen besides the square of moonlight bent through the window. Nothing was revealed under it. Rod stepped in. The dogs were in the cart behind him howling. "Hello…?" He called. He flicked on the lights. Nothing. Nothing was there, not even Maximus. Rod did a double and triple check over his shoulders, his eyes ping ponged from the door to the windows and back to the door as he entered the center of the single room cottage. The electric lights artificiality was more evident compared to the darkness outside. He whistled. The dogs came scampering in around him like a flood split on a rock.

The started jumping in place and running. Some ran bound for the bed, under the covers they hid. Rod wrung his hands while glanced around the room to all the low and high places. Maximus couldn't have gotten out of his own volition. Or could he? One of the dogs- the little yipper- chewed at the end of his capris. "Okay, okay. Let me get you guys some food" His lips expanded into a wide smile. He went to the stovetops, he kept the dog food underneath in the cabinet. "Okay, guys don't be impatient" he rose to the sinks. In a brief second seeing the cold reflection of Dogus' dark eyes in the metal sink. Soon. He gasped and sent the bag flying, breaking open against the wall and scattering across the room. He spun around. The smaller dogs yipped at him. One of the bigger white dogs hopped off the bed. Rod sighed. Maximus wasn't there. He turned back to the sink and tried to calm his shaking nerves. Come on, get it together! He shook his head. Soon? What's soon? His death? His breath hitched as he bore down at the silver sink. That's what this is… a warning. That dog is the plague. Darkness probably follows wherever it goes and he brought it into his house! No, no calm down. It's just a dog. Rod sighed. In the corner of his eye, Rod could see the black phone in the corner. He turned away but felt the inanimate object's presence inching along his conscious. After a few minutes of contemplation, he went to it. He held the phone receiver in his hand for a few moments, rolling it in his sweaty palm. He took a long breath to even out his littlest was scratching at his ankles. He dialed the number to his suppliers. He usually uses the number to call for new shipments of treats and pets. A static moan screeched at the other end. Rod drummed his fingers on the counter. A click came at the other end. "Petastic Pets and Horses here to serve all your furry animal needs" Rod had called this number many times before. This was a special number just for the chains that used their supplies. He followed the automatic voice until he was speaking with a person on the other end. Usually the order can be made electronically through the phone but for special orders he'd follow for a supplier. "Hello, how can I help you?" A voice responded. It sounded like a man.

"Uh… Hello, I'm the seller in Echo Valley and uh…." Rod paused trying to figure out what to say. He should've written it down on a notecard. "Recently I ordered a new shipment of dogs" The man didn't respond but Rod could hear noise in the background like static or something. Rod waited. His statement should be enough. "...was it a good shipment?" The man asked through the static. The little dog was tugging at his capris. Rod shook his leg and dropped his gaze to the dog who was giving him the stink eye. "Excuse me sir, are you still there?"

"Yes! I'm here" Rod answered. "I uh, well I got a dog that, well, the suppliers said that he was it was difficult to sell him. I was just wondering why that was" Rod cleared his throat. It felt like cotton balls were stuffed inside. "Are you having difficulty selling him?" The man asked. In reality, Rod has only had the dog for about two weeks. Usually it takes about three to five for a tourist to snatch them up so Rod really couldn't judge. "Yes. Great difficulty"

"Hmm? Ok, tell me the name of the dog" Rod could hear noise on the other side of shuffling of papers. Maybe he was clearing his desk? "Some dogs are old and that's why they might have difficulty selling. I'm getting out the records now. What is his name?" he heard the man let out a lighthearted chuckle.

"Maximus Dogus" Rod answered.

He heard a small gasp on the other side then it went silent. Only static remained. Rod waited for any sound from the man. He felt his heart rate rising in his chest. Slowly the static increased volume until he heard something muffled in under it's weight. A voice? "Hello?" Rod asked quickly. "Maximus Dogus?" The voice repeated. "...yes" Rod confirmed it with a hard gulp. "I just want to know why-"

"Maximus Dogus" The man repeated. Rod blinked. "Uh, yes. What I want to know is why-" "Did you say Maximus Dogus?" The man stuttered. "Yes, yes! Just tell me why-" "DOGUS! DOGUS!" The dog was biting at his ankle. "Damn it stop!" he kicked his foot. The dog backed away. "Oh, I'm so sorry" Rod leaned down to the little guy, who now seemed skittish of his current owner. He could still hear the heightened screaming on the other end. "I pledge my allegiance to thee, DOGUS!" A sudden crack of thunder nearly had Rod jump out of his skin. The room flashed white with pitch black shadows. The phone screeched his a static scream Rod has never heard before. The lights went out. "Shit" Rod whispered. The repetitive drumming of an onset of rain whispered on the roof. Rod's chest felt heavy in his throat as his nerves were on edge. Rod felt around himself for anything to guide his way through the blackness. "Don't worry guys" he voice whispered with a shake. His hands trembled as they groped for something to guide him. The usually chatty dogs were silent amongst all the noise. It was strange.

Rod felt the wall that juts farther out, dividing the single room into two halves: the bedside and the kitchen. "Guys?" He trembled. It usually wasn't this dark in the valley but the windows shone no light, not even moonlight. Another clap of thunder, this time directly above the home. With it, a blinding light. When it swept through room in a sudden burst he screeched at what he saw: all the dogs aligned in a circle, gazing up at the ceiling. "What is it boys?" his knees almost buckled. "What is it? What are you looking at?" he whispered. His voice was dry and raspy. The dogs didn't break their stance. None showed any acknowledgement of his presence. "Tell Me!" He yelled. They were emerged in darkness again. He motioned backwards and tripped on the shallow steps on the divide. Upon hitting the floor, all the fear overrode him and he burst towards the bed screaming in terror. Under the blankets he tugged at the edges and held them tight under his body to make sure nothing could break into the confines of his shield. He laid rocking in bed trembling.

What just happened? He was breathing fast. That dog is...is...is! What? He didn't know. Evil? Demonic? What's going on? Why did the guy on the phone?- He wailed after a dog had rubbed his body along Rod's feet as it jumped into bed. Rod sighed in relief once he assessed the situation. He could hear the light scampering of the dogs moving throughout the room. "G-guys come to bed" he tried to whistle but his voice was too dry.

The dogs soon followed his directions and leaped into the bed or slept beside it. It was a few hours before Rod could fully relax, though he was still alert. The rain and thunder persisted. By the tender age of nineteen, he wasn't all that afraid of thunder, but the dogs were. They would bellow and howl with each clap and shuddered under his bed and feet, except tonight. They were silent. Rod thought maybe this was good emotional development for them and laid on his back in the dark. Only the single flashes of lightening brought the home into visibility, but only for the fragment of a second. He stretched out his feet and rolled his shoulders. Tomorrow was another work day and he needed the rest. Rod could feel the warmth of a dog beside him. It was breathing in low snores. Rod synced his breathes with the dogs until he fell into fuzzy unconsciousness.

It must've been a few hours later when Rod's head rose above his beaten pillow. His head was swimming in muffled sleepiness. He was only partially awake when another clap of thunder burst above him. His body snapped awake. A dry flash illuminated the house momentarily. Rod could see the silhouette of the door quaking and rattling on its hinges as it slapped back against the outside. Rod saw this and shuffled upwards until he was sitting up.

The room was re-engulfed in the darkness soonafter. Only a cold blue lining of the frame of the door was seen among the darkness. It was slapping the outside walls and shaking. Rod could hear it creaking. The wind must've blown it open. The dogs didn't seem to notice. He pushed one of the dogs off him to go to the door. Something stopped him in bed. The door's phantom creaking morphed into a frightful laughter. The swinging became more violent, slamming shut then gapping open again just as quickly. Light, possibly from a streetlight, crawled a few inches into the opening of the cottage. Rod gripped the sheets. Unconsciously he bit at his lip. The door slapped again. Come here boy. It cackled. A monstrous sting of crackles broke above him, loud enough to deafen him. Lighting soon followed. The doorway shuddered as the lights lowered to nothing. Darkness. Another blast. Rod wailed when the light illuminated the doorway again. Maximus' darker than black form stood in frightening contrast to the white of the lightning. You do not have enough power to forsake me, dear human. Rod flung the blanket from his half-covered body. The dogs began leaping and howling in the shaking home.

"Aaaaah! Stay awaaaay!" Rod crawled to the wall, still kicking his legs to send him beyond it. "Spare me! Dogus please spare me!" Dogus stared back at him. His eyes cold and unaffected. Dear human. You are weak. The time will come soon. Soon. The day of reckoning. You humans will wear the leashes! Dogus snapped his head to the ceiling in a burst of human-like cackling. The dogs howled to the ceiling. A twisted string of screams and shrieks from Rod echoed in the walls. Flashes and clangs of lightening and thunder filled the home and repeated black and white images throughout the night.

The sun rose as usual on the Echo farm property. Henry lolled his head to the side and swung his feet off the side of the bed. It was a warm morning and the sun filtered in through the open windows. He yawned as he dressed. It was time to water the crops and till the land for more sowing. With the adjusting of his newsboy cap he headed for the door. Upon opening it he was delightful surprised at what sat on his doorstep.

Henry leant down with his hands on his knees. "Oh, heeey. Who's a good boooy?" Henry smiled at the old dog on his step. "What are you doing here?" Henry smiled then he saw a folded paper tucked into the dog's collar. "What's this, big guy?"

To Henry,

Hey pal. I just remembered that your birthday is in a week and I thought I'd celebrate a little early. I just couldn't contain my eagerness. So here, I got you a dog! I recall you were asking for one last week. He's a good boy, one of my favorite dogs. It's a shame to hand him over but here ya go. Don't forget to feed him!

Rod

Weird. Henry's birthday isn't until next month. Whatever, its a free dog. Henry tucked the note into his overalls. "Ok, come on boy" Henry motioned for him to enter. He, himself shuffled for a bowl in the house to pour some water in. He turned over his shoulders with the bowl in his hands. "Come on boy" The dog was lingering in the doorway. The width of his body almost engulfed the entire opening. "Oh, you must be shy- oh, I don't even know your name" Henry tilted his head from side to side as he walked toward the dog.

"Buddy? Rufus? Henry? Yeah that's a good one. Henry Jr or Henriboy?" Henry went to the dog and bent over, grabbing the dog by the collar. Seeing as he wasn't coming, Henry thought he might just bring the dog in. "Yeah, you look like a Henry. Handsome." he laughed. He yanked the collar and it felt resistance like trying to yank a rock. "Hmm. Your heavy boy" He leaned in closer to adjust his grip on the collar while giving the dog a smile. "What's your name bo-"

Maximus Dogus.