Chapter 439 Chapter 439 Come on now
As the kitten fixed its beady black eyes on her, she dropped to her knees- stretching out her right hand to the orphaned kitten;
"Come on now. . .it's okay. . ."
It opened its mouth- perhaps ready to purr something like 'who are you?' or 'leave me alone.'
But it didn't get the chance. And neither did Abby. Because suddenly, a broad shadow fell upon two of them. At once, Abby's impulses tingled- blaring out warnings like an alarm system.
The kitten probably also sensed it.
But before any of them could properly react, a looming hand swooped down on the kitten's body- grabbing it like it was made a knitting ball- all with a single breath.
Confusion blazed across Abby's blurry vision- instantly burning up her tears. Then anger came- doubling down to rage. Trembling, she sank her heels into the grass, and sprang upwards- pushing her torso up with her two hands! With fierceness lapping up her eyes, she raised her fists, eager to–
"EASY THERE TIGER!" a familiar voice boomed; "Would you chill? It's me."
Abby's fists unclenched immediately. Through the strands of hair flapping across her face, the tall lean familiar figure came into view.
"Senior Nexus?" she gasped.
"I told you to let go of that senior thing didn't I?"
But Abby's jaw was still drooping. She stammered out a bunch of questions;
"But when did you–? How did–?"
Truly. Nexus seemed like he had appeared from out of nowhere.
He stood there- trim and tall, looming over her like a human tree. The rustling wind forced his long hair apart- sending it fluttering- exposing his serious face and squinted eyes.
The kitten purred slightly in his arms, and that was only when Abby knew he had been stroking it.
"I see you got a little friend here. . ." he buzzed; "You naughty girl, what devilry are you up to?"
...
A couple of moments later, the combined footsteps of the young man and the girl pattered down the tidy path- heading towards Dracula's home. Their feet crunched the lone pebbles in their path- breaking them further into tinier pieces.
Late afternoon had snuck up on them. Around them, the sun soaked landscape glowed loud and bright- reminding them of summer's delight.
Gradually, they began to pull away from the green park- leaving behind the cluster of majestic tall green trees that flanked both sides of the stone paved path. Facing eastwards, Nexus walked on the left side- while Abby took the right.
Hands in his beige colored cotton pants, he watched her closely- through the corner of his eyes.
'. . .if not for that damn cat,' He mused to himself; 'I'm pretty sure she would have pulled some weird prank already. . .'
Abby continued to stroke the kitten- running her slim fingers across the length of its white fur.
"Does your grandfather know you're out?" he ended up asking.
"Hmmm– I guess." she answered- clearly absent-minded.
"You guess?"
"Yup. He's not exactly been in top parenting shape lately."
A flicker of worry nudged the back of his mind.
She was right. Dracula had been a little out of it. He had noticed it. Who else had noticed it?
"Yeah," he nodded; "I sorta picked up on that. What's with the old man though? Is he on some kind of special medication or something? Cos I'd love to get some for myself."
Again, Abby shrugged- holding the kitten across her chest and stroking its clean white fur.
"I don't kno–" she paused, squinting her eyes for a moment, as if thinking about it. After?blinking twice, she finally said;
"–I'm not sure. I was actually hoping you would know. He hasn't said anything to me about it."
Nexus frowned- lowering his head; "How long has–"
"There he is again," she cut him off- nodding ahead with disappointment in her eyes; "He's sleeping as usual, out in the courtyard, dangling on the hammock, when there's plenty of room upstairs!"
Nexus lifted his head and widened his eyes.
True enough, through the open gates of the brilliant white building ahead, the slender form of the old man came into view. He was in his hammock- a half open book on his chest- eyes closed and mouth slightly open. His signature white beard shrouded his jaws and lips completely.
Nexus frowned.
Something was wrong.
And it wasn't just Dracula.
Above, the midday sun was still casting its fiery glare on the white manor- clothing it in a dazzling halo of sparkling white. However, despite all that light and heat, a dangerous chill hung in the air around the fenced property.
Nexus cocked his head- glancing at the the twin flowering trees behind the fence. The leaves were paling- alternating between sickly green and lazy yellow. Every few minutes or so- one would break off and fall- swirling round and round till it dropped in mournful silence.
As they both entered the bronze colored gates- Nexus pressed his lips together.
no sound? that's super weird. . .
He looked up- squinting his eyes- searching for the familiar flapping of feathery wings. But the bland blue skies reflected back in his irises. There was not a single bird in sight!
There was no singing sparrow, no cawing crows, not even the flutter of the occasional gray pigeon! Even the crickets seemed to have taken a break. The air seemed to sit still- not swaying even the leafy trees.
"What are you staring at?" Abby's sharp voice came- arresting his attention; "Why are you actinglike you've never been here before?"
"Well," Nexus began evasively; "It is a nice piece of property you and your grandfather have here. . ."
Abby narrowed her eyes- shooting him a scolding look; "Please don't talk to me like I'm a child."
"But you are a chi–"
She raised her eyebrows- daring him to complete the phrase. Nexus did NOT. Instead, he pivoted by telling her what he was truly thinking;
"I was just wondering though, when did it get so quiet around here? I remember my first time here. Those birds would not shut up at all. Now, it's like they've all been killed."
Nexus shrugged- and continued;
"It as quiet as a graveyard. If I didn't know any better, I'd say somebody died or–"
Suddenly, Dracula's upper body jerked in the hammock- as if reacting to the word 'died.' Nexus and Abby turned just in time to see his slender neck crane forward- and his bearded jaws separate. Eyes tightening, Dracula's throat shot out a deep cough- straining his bearded face.
As the hammock swayed, and as his book fell over, Nexus and Abby rushed to his side- grabbing him by his shoulders;
"Damn it you old geezer," Nexus exclaimed; "You tryina give us a heart attack or something? Abby quick, fetch a glass of water."
Dracula wheezed- reclining back into the hammock; ". . .I'm good. . .I'm good. . .just a little phlegm that's all. . ."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. . ." he answered; "Don't worry about it Mike."
"Mike?" Nexus echoed- widening his eyes.
"Oh," the old man replied lazily- not bothering to open his eyes- not bothering to aplogize either; "Nexus my boy, that's you ain't it?"
"Hello to you too," Nexus replied in amusement.
But Dracula did not answer.
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