Page 65 of Chaos & Carnage

I frowned. “I’d better get down to reception.”

And in reception they stood awkwardly. The room was hushed, no one speaking much, covert glances from other clients to the door where the men stood. I recognised the older of the two. Even in the shadows of the pub a few nights ago, I could remember the greying hair and the goatee lightened by the flecks of grey. A black hoodie covered the tattoos that littered his arms, denim jeans clinging to thick legs. He looked bigger now that I could see him properly. Powerful. And I could see why the rest of the patients waiting didn’t know whether to stare at him in awe or hide.

The man beside him was just as tall, but his frame was thinner. And despite his height, he didn’t stand up to his fullest. It was only slight, but he sunk in the middle, shifting every so often from foot to foot, and then, slowly and almost unnoticeably, he brushed a hand over his stomach, then dropped it down to his side. Demon.

“Hi,” my voice squeaked nervously in the space.

“Alice, how are you?” The grey-haired man asked like he wasn’t just meeting me for the second time ever.

“Yeah. I’m good, thanks.” I bumbled over the words.

“This is my brother, Demon. Kinobi’s owner. We thought today was a good day to get her home?”

“Sure. She’ll be pleased to see you.”

The tall thin man attempted a smile, and his lips moved, but his face barely changed shape, like he’d aborted the pleasantry in the middle of the action.

“Come on. Come through.”

I led them through the waiting area, nearly every head turning to watch them. Demon had a limp. Barely noticeable, but every three or four strides, the rhythm would change. Pain. Whatever he had been through, he wasn’t completely healed.

I opened the door to the hospital ward; Kinobi in the largest kennels at the bottom. She lay curled into a ball, just black and tan fur of no discernible shape.

“Hey, baby girl,” Demon purred in a low, steady voice.

Kinobi unfolded slowly, like she was working out why she recognised the voice. And then realisation hit her, and she jumped to her feet, her tail wagging from side to side so violently that I thought she might take off.

“Can I get her out?” The man with the slight limp asked.

“Of course.”

Stepping in front, I freed the locks on the cage, opening the door wide. For a moment the Doberman just stood there, her tail wagging so enthusiastically that I wasn’t sure how she hadn’t hovered out of the kennel by her tail.

“Go on, girl,” I coaxed, tugging a little on her paper collar.

She took the first tentative step, then another and then she leapt forwards, Demon just dropping to his haunches as she became airborne. He landed backwards, emitting that was a mix of a cackle and a howl.

“Ow. Oh. Kinobi,” the man giggled and gasped, the big dog lying on him, wiggling all her forty kilograms of weight on top of him. “Ok. Ok. Down. Ow.” He was still laughing even though I could hear the sharp intakes of air when she stood on him in a spot that clearly hadn’t healed yet.

“Come on, Kinobi. Let Demon get up.” I tugged gently on her collar and the big dog listened, stopping immediately and stepping off him.

“I can’t believe she looks so well,” Demon breathed, exhaling shakily as he tried to hide the pain.

“She’s fared better than you.” The grey-haired Indie patted his shoulder.

“Kinobi has had proper rest.”

I looked at the tall man, trying not to double over in pain. The man who probably should have followed doctor’s orders and stayed in hospital. Men who clearly didn’t like being told what to do.

“Demon’s never been good with authority,” Indie quipped. “Thank you so much for getting Kinobi back on her feet. We should have sent Demon to you instead of the hospital.”

“Told you I didn’t want to go to fucking hospital.” Demon muttered, stroking his hand over the dog’s head. “Come on, girl. Let’s get you home.”

“She’ll still need some medication. And a check-up in a week. If there are any problems, or you are worried about anything, bring her straight back.” I handed a bag full of the dog’s drugs to Demon.

He bent down again, slipped a collar over Kinobi’s head, clipping on the leather lead.

“Thank you,” he said, his dark eyes sincere.