Chapter 41 Dan vs Dog

Bang!

I heard a familiar voice, screamed. "Argh! What the hell was that?" 'It's tiny Isaac's voice!' I thought. I looked down and saw Isaac sitting on the floor. "Isaac! Oh, I'm so glad to see you! Let me help you up." I pulled Isaac up.

Isaac grabbed my hand and stood up. He rubbed his head and sighed. "So, I'm in hell now."

I looked at Isaac, confused. "Hell? What do you mean?"

Isaac looked up and said. "We're dead, and we're in hell. All of us. What a short life we lived." I looked at his pair, but he shook his head.

I crossed my arm. "Why not heaven?" Isaac scoffed. "Heaven? You?" I grabbed Isaac's collar and shook him.

While I was busy shaking Isaac, a hand came out. "My name is Dan, and I'm 15 this year. What about you?"

I released Isaac's collar, and Isaac fell to the ground. I shook Dan's hand. "Llyne, 14. Nice to meet ya, Dan."

Dan brightened up like a sun. I covered my eyes. 'Oui... Somebody sure is happy'.

Isaac stood up and nearly fell down again, but Dan caught him in time. "Thanks, Dan." Isaac straightened up. He looked behind me and said. "Where's your partner? I don't see her."

I turned behind and replied. "Lost. Apparently, she got lost. Worst direction than me, it seems."

Isaac stared at me like he knew I was lying, but he let it go instead. "More than you? Can't imagine. Are you sure you're not the one who ran off without her?"

I glared at Isaac. "Why you little -" I hooked my arms around Isaac's neck and strangled him. Dan just stood there confused.

Isaac screamed. "He-Help me, Dan! Get this lunatic away from me!"

I twitched. "Lunatic?!" I put more strength into strangling Isaac. Dan looked puzzled. He didn't know what to do.

A few minutes later, I released my arm. Isaac dropped to the ground, gasping for air. "How's the neck massage, shorty?" I smirked. Isaac opened his mouth but immediately closed it. I snickered. "Figured."

Dan helped Isaac to get up. "Are you okay, Isaac?"

Isaac glared at him. "What do you think? Why didn't you help me just now?"

Dan stuttered. "I-I-I d-do-".

Isaac shook his head and turned toward me. "You do realize you need your partner or else you'll get punished, right, dumbo?"

I pouted. "I'll just find one."

Isaac shook his head. "You can't find one. You need her."

I yawned. "I'll figure something out."

Isaac squinted his eyes. "Like what, bozo?"

I scratched my head. "Err... Who cares! Rules are meant to be broken!"

Isaac facepalmed himself. "... Why am I no longer surprised?" I laughed.

I tagged along Isaac and Dan in the 3rd Level Maze. "LalaWeeSong!" Dan kept singing some weird song while walking.

I moved closer to Isaac and whispered. "What is he chanting? A curse? To whom?"

Isaac rolled his eyes. "He's humming."

I stared at Isaac and then at Dan. "Humming? Not cursing?"

Whoosh!

Two monsters appeared in front and behind us. One on each side.

"Grrr..."

"Eek! We've been surrounded." Dan quivered in fear. Dan's leg nearly gave out when he saw those huge teeth sticking out of their mouths. He kept holding onto Isaac like a little child who wouldn't leave their mother. I looked at Dan. 'He's bigger than them, yet he's shaking like that?' I took out the needles and was prepared to attack.

"Wolves. Careful, they're fast and nimble." Isaac warned us.

"Like me! I wonder if I can raise one, one day." I giggled.

Isaac sighed. "Be serious here." I nodded.

I patted Dan on his back. "I'll take care of the back. Make sure you protect Isaac, kay?"

Dan nodded and stuck to Isaac. I turned to the wolf at the back and smiled. "Will you be my pet?" The wolf growled at me and bore its fangs. I felt dejected. "I guess that's a no." The wolf rushed towards me, and in the blink of an eye, it was right in front of me. The wolf jumped on top of me, and I slammed to the ground. Without wasting a second, it opened its mouth and tried to bite me a few times. I grabbed the needle and shoved it in its mouth. The wolf wailed and shook its head. It jumped off me and retreated a few steps back. I pushed myself back up and got back in position. "Oof. You're really fast and heavy." The wolf struggled to take the needle out of its mouth. I looked at the wolf in pity. "I feel kinda sorry for you. Unfortunately, it's the end for you." I dashed toward the wolf and sliced its neck cleanly. The wolf fell to the ground with blood dripping from its neck. I walked toward the wolf and took the needle out of its mouth. "Sorry, but next time, don't attack someone if you can't guarantee your win... It's not like you can hear me nagging now." I closed the wolf's eyes and walked away.

"Hey, you guys alright?" I placed my arm on Isaac's shoulder. Isaac nodded. "For now."

"Sniff... Sniff..." I scratched my ear. 'Did I hear someone sniffing?' I turned my head and saw Dan sitting on the ground, sobbing like a baby. I looked at Isaac. "What happened to him? Why is he crying on the floor like that? Did you do something to him?"

Isaac shook his head. "I did nothing. After he killed that wolf, he suddenly dropped his sword and sat there and cried. Do you know how confused I was?"

I whispered. "Go comfort him."

Isaac signaled 'No'.

I grumbled and walked up to Dan. I patted Dan's head. "What's wrong, Dan? Did someone bully you? For example, the shorty there." I pointed at Isaac.

Dan looked up and cried. "I hate dogs. Uwahh!!!"

Dan cried so loud, my ear was ringing nonstop. 'Oui... I might go deaf at this rate.' Isaac raised his fist and knocked Dan's head.

Baam!

Dan got smashed to the ground. I yelled at Isaac. "What the devil are you doing? Why did you hit a crying kid for? What are you? A devil in disguise?"

Isaac refuted. "A perfect human being."

I spat. "As if a perfect human being will hit a crying kid. Now, what's your problem?"

Isaac proudly said. "He called a wolf, a dog."

I was baffled. "Because of that, you hit him?"

Isaac nodded confidently. "Oui... No wonder people said they prefer girls. Boys are nothing but trouble. They don't just give you a headache. They age you as well, badly. They are like a video except only the fast-forward function works and only apply to people around them. The rest are non-functional, like their maturity." I patted Dan's head and said. "It's going to be okay. Stop crying, please." I glared and whispered to Isaac. "Apologize to Dan, you dwebble!"

Isaac shook his head. I raised my fist at Isaac. Isaac saw my fist and quickly ran toward Dan. "Sorry, Dan. I didn't mean to hit you. I saw an annoying fly and had an urge to give it a good punch."

I stomped on Isaac's foot. "Ow!" Isaac rubbed his foot. I kicked Isaac away. "It's all over. Look! No dogs anymore, right?"

Dan nodded his head. Dan stood up and smiled. "No dogs."

Isaac whispered to me. "He looks like an idiot."

I elbowed Isaac. "Keep your mouth shut, or I'll make it permanently shut." I raised my needle at Isaac. Isaac quickly backed away.

Dan wiped off his tears and snots. I patted his shoulder. "Feeling all better?" Dan nodded. "So you're afraid of dogs, huh?" I asked.

Dan nodded slightly and said. "Ya. When I was 5, I was attacked by a crazy dog in my neighborhood. It nearly bit my arms off, but luckily, some people saw us and stopped the dog in time. It seems the dog had some problem with the brain, which caused it to run wild. After some surgeries, the dog went back to normal. However, I still couldn't get rid of that fear. So, ever since then, I have been afraid of dogs, especially adult types. Sorry for being a burden, guys."

I sniffed. "Oui... You ain't a burden, Dan. And don't be afraid of dogs, most of them are kind and loyal."

Isaac shook his head. "How many times do I have to tell you? That monster just now was a wolf, not a dog."

I glared at Isaac. "Have some empathy, robot."

Isaac refuted. "Robots have no empathy, you wacko."

I raised my fist. "Learn it or else..." Isaac gulped nervously and nodded. Dan just stared at us and laughed.

"You guys look like a couple." I glared at Dan. "I'll give you a fist if you want."

Isaac added. "I'll give him more than a fist." Dan laughed awkwardly as we walked closer to him.

Dan screamed. "N-Nooo... I'm sorry!!!"