Memories of the Dark: ''Shop Owner's Secret"

Cedany Shaw,

"I assure you I'm in stable condition, so let me go with you." Lianna stubbornly walked towards the exit gate.

"What can I do if you're like this? Fine, but if you feel tired go to the dormitory immediately, alright?" She nodded.

Lianna seemed much more energetic than earlier. I guess that's a good sign.

-

I looked up at the sign and it was ruined so I couldn't read the words written on it. The place looks shabby, but the old man that Simon and I met, said that this was the cheapest pet shop here in Leva town. I'm sure this is the right place according to the route he gave me. Lianna turned to me with a tense look.

"Let's not judge a book by its cover. Let us go in.'' I said as I went in.

She followed and we were greeted with an awful smell. I was about to gag because of the smell, but I realized that it'll just make things complicated if I did puke.

"What is that awful smell?!'' Lianna asked out loud.

''Shh! What if the owner hears you? That will make them very angry." I told her off.

''The smell is probably coming from the animal's poo. I don't have time to pick em' up since em' too busy cleaning the mud outside.'' Speak of the devil, the owner did hear it.

''I apologize for my friend's awful words.'' I apologized to the musty old man; who is also the owner.

''Hey! It's true though...'' Lianna tried protesting, but I glared at her as the last warning. ''Huhu, you're so mean.'' She looked down at the floor.

I wanted to apologize to her as well since I'm forcing her here. I do know that she's the one who wanted to come with me, but I didn't give her a heads-up that this will be a shabby place. I'm not the one to blame in the first place since I didn't know, it's all that old man's fault. However, I did say the cheapest shop and this is a very cheap place. So I guess I'm at fault? No! At least show me a decent shop! Showing a shabby place to a decent-looking lady? What was he thinking?

''Don't worry about em'. Anyhow! What are you ladies here for? Kittens, I bet?'' The shop owner showed us to the aisle where there were so many kittens and cats.

''Kitties!!!'' Lianna immediately ran towards the kittens and gave them her full attention.

''You love cats dearly, however, I don't plan to give you a cat. It will be very hard to train and the staff will get angry if they see a cat running around the academy.''

''Aww! But look at them, they're so cute, aren't they? Poor kitties... wait... WHAT!? You're giving me a pet as a gift!?'' Lianna had her face all up on mine.

''Yeah... I heard from Simon that mages need a familiar to be able to perform a certain magic. I didn't want anything holding you back, so I decided I should gift you a familiar.'' I explained as Lianna looked touched.

''You're so thoughtful, I can't believe I am blessed by the gods for giving such an angelic friend. HUHUHU!'' Lianna dramatically cried to me.

''Yeah, but I'm sorry we can't get you a cat. Maybe next time?'' Lianna agreed happily. "For now, I'm thinking a parrot? They are intelligent birds and they talk as well, isn't that mesmerizing?'' Just thinking about how fun it is to have a talking bird at the dormitory is enough to make my blood pump.

''You look excited, it's almost like the bird is gonna be yours not mine...'' Lianna smirked at me.

''Ahem, no it's not. It's for you. However, that doesn't mean I can't get to talk to it.'' I looked away from her to hide my embarrassment.

''So a talking bird huh? I'm sorry to say, I ain't got no talking bird! Ya can still look around while I put down the new cages.''

The shop owner looked rather suspicious to me. The awful smell was enough to remind me that something was off about this place. It wasn't just any normal smell of an animal's poo, believe me, I know the smell of an animal's poo. I've had countless animals before when I was at the palace.

''The smell reeks as if someone or something's dead.'' Lianna muttered and it was enough to alarm me.

I looked at her with a serious look and it seems that she immediately understood the situation. I scanned around the place and I saw that there was a back door. I casually went towards it as Lianna followed. I twisted the doorknob and to my surprise, it was unlocked.

''I should go alone. Can you wait here and distract him if he shows up?''

''Don't worry, I got this.'' Lianna smiled and I quickly went inside.

It was dark the moment I got inside, I slowly continued to walk until I got to the part of the room where there was a lantern hanging up. Once I successfully got to that part of the room, a gasp left my mouth. I quickly covered my mouth. There was a dead person, he didn't have any arms or legs. It was clear that someone cut his arms and legs since there was still blood coming out from him. His head was still there, I can see the person's face. There were other people locked up in cages and bodies of animals and humans hanging up in the ceiling. I'm so glad that Lianna isn't here, if she were here she'd break down crying. I don't want that. What do I do?

"What are you doing here?'' I flinched and turned to my side.

I thought that it was the shop owner, but it was just a talking bird in a cage.

''Um... why is this dead person—''

''The shop owner, Oudart is the one who killed that person. Oudart likes his meat both men and animals! Sometimes I think I'm next...'' The parrot said as I felt as if it was a real person. It was expressing sadness and fear after all.

"I see, so that's the situation here. What can I do to help?"

I know it was stupid to ask the bird what to do, but I was too scared to come up with a plan to stop this madness.

''Free all the people and animals from here. The key is beside that dead man, Oudart left it there accidentally.'' I'm impressed at how intelligent this parrot is.

How am I gonna let them out without him noticing though? I can't let them out at the front door. Is there any back door? I scan the room but there was nothing. I proceeded to touch the walls and thought of something. The wall was made out of wood, a rather thin wood at that. How was he able to get away with this with such a thin wall though? Don't tell me he has accomplices. This is very dangerous at this point. I can't risk Lianna's safety, it would've been fine if I were the only one involved, but she is also involved. I wish I never let my curiosity get the best of me. Now, I'm in this situation...

Looking at the pleading faces of the people who're looking at me. No, I'm happy to have found them. No one deserves to have such an ugly death. I'm not about to be selfish right now, I can't turn back.

''Alright, first I'm gonna let these people out.''

I took the key from the table where the dead person was laying. I didn't bother looking at the person, since it'll just make me more scared than I already am. I unlocked the padlocks and let the people out. I get them in line as I tell them my plan.

''Listen, people. I want you all to stay quiet and coordinated as possible. I don't want us to get caught by that bastard and whoever his other accomplices are. I need someone to help me create a hole in this wall, the walls are made of thin wood so it'll be an easy task, however, you shall not create any noise.''

The people nodded in agreement as some of them volunteered to create a hole. I let them do their stuff as I let the parrot out of its cage. The parrot flew to my shoulder and I got back to the back door. I opened the door and sighed in relief, the store owner was still nowhere to be seen. Lianna was guarding the place. She smiled as she saw me.

''I have a task for you, Lianna,'' I told her everything as she looked at me with a horrified look. "I want you to let all the animals out of here, you can let them out of the front door. While the animals run away from this place go with them and take this parrot with you. This is my gift.'' I gave her the talking parrot.

''What? Don't tell me you're staying here. I can't possibly leave here knowing that you're still in danger." Lianna was scared and traumatize by this situation.

''I'm sorry, but please just do what I've told you. They won't find it suspicious if the animals got out, there are many cases like that before. I just have to let the people out and I'm done with this place.'' Lianna nodded as she understood.

I got back to the people who got the job half done. I heard the animals running around and making noises, I guess she finally did it. All that was left to do is let these people out. After some time people started gathering around the hole.

''It's finished, let us all get out of here.'' One of the men who was making the hole said.

The others followed him out of the place and I was at the very back of the group. The people were in such a hurry and panic, the shop owner could hear them. Some were getting angry because the others were pushing each other. These people are not going with the plan, they're too occupied with thoughts of going out of this place to even think properly. I'm getting worried for these people, because of their selfishness they're gonna bring other innocent people to get killed.

Ánd soon the fearful thought came true when I heard a shriek. I looked to see that the shop owner and some other men were with him. I was right, he had accomplices. They swung their axe around and continued to kill the people in front of them. The other people ran around the room to look for an exit. I don't have a choice, I need to be selfish right now. I went back to the back door and went for the entrance, someone was about to grab me. However, because I ran so fast out of the place they didn't have time to grab me. The more I ran, the more I felt guilty for leaving the people there.