Page 30 of Arseni

“Police, hands up!”

What the fuck?

Turning, I face a uniformed officer with his gun drawn.He doesn’t point it at me, but he holds it ready with both hands.His face, hard with suspicion, relaxes when I seem to register.“Arseni?”

I squint at the man in confusion until I recognize the face beneath a blond beard that looks way too aged for my old friend.

“Hudson?”

His face breaks into a grin, and he chuckles while letting the gun hang at his side.“Holy shit, man.Do you live here?”

I look between him and my front door.He pulls ahead of me, his gun at the ready again as he steps onto the porch.

“You know what, keep quiet if you don’t.Pretend I never saw you.”He pushes the door open with his gun and creeps inside.I follow him.

My first reaction when I make out the destroyed living room is surprise.Quickly, it turns to anger.

“What thefuck?”

Stepping over loose stuffing spilled from the ripped couch, Hudson observes the smashed TV and tipped-over fridge.

He looks back at me.“How many rooms?”

I just blink at him.I have no idea what’s going on, but the idea of me speaking to a police officer feels surreal.

When I don’t answer, Hudson disappears down the hallway, announcing himself before he checks each room.I follow him to my bedroom where he finally puts his gun away.My lungs stop at the sight of Roscoe lying on his side among my wrecked things.

I rush to him and drop to my knees.He whimpers when I rub his head and carefully turn him over.

“Shit… What happened, boy?”I ask, searching him for injury.

“Is he yours?”When I turn, Hudson’s gun is put away, and he’s frowning.

I face Roscoe and pet him gently.His eyes are closed, his tail still.“Who the fuck did this?”I ask under my breath, my eyes wide with shock.I’m not speaking to Hudson, but he answers anyway.

“We got a call about a break in.Your neighbor saw a man in a black mask leaving through the backyard.”

“The kid?”I ask, breathless.

“You think a kid did this?”

“No…” I close my eyes and try to collect myself.“Did a kid call it in?”

“I don’t have a clue, man.I just get told by dispatch where to go… Look, I have a buddy who’s a vet.I’m gonna call him up.”

Hudson leaves the room and returns a minute later, claiming the vet is on his way.Roscoe looks so sick, I’m not sure it’ll make a difference.

“Thanks,” I say, stroking my friend.His belly barely moves as he breathes.

When the vet gets here, I carry Roscoe to the living room where Hudson has cleared a space in the wreckage.The guy’s name is Steve, and after five minutes of checking Roscoe out, he concludes he ate poison.The fact that he’s conscious is a good sign he’ll be okay.

After loading Roscoe into Steve’s car, he speeds away to his clinic.

“Fuck,” Hudson says, sighing as he rubs the back of his neck.“What a reunion, huh?”

I don’t answer.My shoulders squared and jaw clenched, I start toward the neighbor kid.I must look pissed because he jumps up and runs inside, but I have no intention of letting him get away.

“Stop!”Hudson takes my arm and jerks me back.I swing to glare at him.