Nightfall

by TK Lawyer

  Words tumbled out of her mouth in no particular order. “Are you some kind of alien? Please tell me, because I’ve heard stories about UFO’s and I’ve always wondered if they were real. I mean, what am I supposed to do with you? Why are you here? Are you on some sort of mission on this planet, and why did you choose me? Nothing ever happens to me, and I like it that way.” She pointed to herself. “Why did you have to pick me? I like my quiet life.”

  Tamara, please stop. I want to answer your questions. I’m sorry I revealed this to you in such a bad way. It’s my fault, I should’ve waited for a better opportunity to explain myself. I’m not an alien, you can be sure of that. I am what you see, nothing less. The only difference is we have a bond. I’ve never had this bond with anyone else, but somehow you can hear me, and that is the only difference. I’m not here to harm you in any way; believe me, I’d harm myself first. I know this is hard to understand, and it’s a lot to take in right now, but please believe what I say is the truth.

  He lowered his head.

  You have nothing to fear from me, I promise you. Open the crate, and I’ll show you the truth. You are safe with me. You will always be safe with me—I guarantee it.

  Tamara looked at Nightfall, doubtful, and unsure if she agreed with him. She tilted her head to the side and placed her hands on her knees. “What if you’re tricking me? What if you’re lying—I won’t know it. I’ll be dead.”

  His response was a sudden, forceful retort. I promise you I won’t harm you. If you feel safer, get a knife from the kitchen drawer and strike me if I attack you, but only if. With a knife in your hand, I’m placing my trust in you as you are trying to trust me… Please, Tamara.

  He groaned.

  Please do something, for me, first. Cover yourself before you let me out of the crate. I can’t take it anymore.

  “What? Why? What if I don’t?”

  Nightfall wasn’t looking at her as; instead, he lowered his head to the floor and seemed to be avoiding eye contact. How strange. It wasn’t like Nightfall. He never avoided her.

  The dog barked out his response.

  Then I won’t be responsible for my actions. Cover yourself now. Please.

  She jerked forward and ran straight into the bedroom, hesitant to explore his threat any further. Tamara returned to find him looking at the floor of his crate again.

  “It’s okay. You can look at me now. I’m fully clothed.”

  He raised his head and sighed.

  She watched him with curiosity before she approached his crate. “How do I talk to you the way you talk to me?” She knelt in front of the metal bars that separated them.

  It’s called telepathy. It’s merely thoughts you project to me. You concentrate on me and send your thoughts to me. Try it.

  Tamara closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on Nightfall. Telepathy was harder than it seemed. She tried again, blinking her eyes in between her failed attempts, then sighed heavily in frustration.

  Don’t give up. Try again, Sweetheart.

  His words encouraged her to continue. Wait, did he just call her sweetheart?...

  Choosing to ignore the term of endearment, for now, she closed her eyes and tried one last time. She creased the corners of her closed eyes, forced herself to picture her beloved, now telepathic dog, and sent her words directly to him. She opened her eyes, hoping she passed the test and asked, “Did it work?”

  I’m sorry if I’m scaring you.

  She exclaimed with delight, clapping her hands over her mouth with glee. “You heard me?”

  I’m glad you’re happy, Tamara. I’m not. I don’t want you to be scared of me.

  He didn’t want her scared, but having an abnormal dog was kind of frightening. Should she trust him? Nightfall said he wouldn’t harm her. Although she didn’t think she needed it, she grabbed a knife from the kitchen because what if her instincts were wrong? He suggested the knife for protection to help her feel safe. Still, why would he suggest a weapon if he intended to harm her? It didn’t make sense. She stared at the gleaming steel edge, opened the kitchen drawer, and put the knife away.

  What are you doing? You need to protect yourself.

  “I’m going to get the dog mace instead.”

  I’m a large animal. Mace might not work.

  “Well then, we’ll have to see what happens, won’t we?”

  She adjusted the nozzle of the mace and prepared it for use. Returning to Nightfall’s cage, she steadied a hand to open the door while she held the mace in the other hand. She tried her best to juggle the task, being careful not to end up spraying herself in the process.

  With shaky fingers, she swung the latch back, opened the door, and retreated several steps. Nightfall stepped out of the crate and planted himself in front of her. His gaze swept up to her face. They watched each other for a long while, and a heavy silence ensued. He wouldn’t hurt her. She knew it. She trusted him. She placed the mace down on the table next to him.

  Are you sure you want to do that?

  “I’m certain. I don’t think you’ll harm me. If you wanted to, I think you would’ve already. I’m sure you’ve had several opportunities where you could have.”

  You’re right.

  “So, what are you?” Tamara asked aloud, uncertain if she wanted to hear the answer.

  I know you have many questions. Let’s leave it at I can speak with you and you can speak to me. I don’t want to scare you anymore. I just want to reassure you that you’re safe with me.

  Wait a minute. He didn’t want to answer her questions? But she had many. She’d rather be scared than in the dark with empty promises and little sense of comfort.

  “When can you? I don’t think I’ll be comfortable with you until I have answers.”

  Soon. Just know the main difference between other animals and me, including your former beagle, is we can speak to each other. That’s it. Oh, and the fact I don’t like dog food.

  She burst out laughing. He tilted his head in a manner that amused her.

  And one more thing, please know that I love you, Tamara. Always know that.

  She turned away, shyly. “Thank you.”

  Unfortunately, she couldn’t return the sentiment. She didn’t know who he was anymore, and now they shared telepathy? This fact changed everything. Nightfall was no longer just a dog to her. She pondered what to say instead and expressed the only sentiment she could. “I care about you, greatly.”

  Care. He groaned. Thank you, Tamara.

  He turned away and slumped onto the floor in a darkened corner of the house. Tamara watched him and frowned.

  ***

  Two days later, Tamara sat on the floor with the grooming brush in her hand. She called out to Nightfall who stood by the French doors. He scampered to her side.

  He tilted his head and gazed at her. You called me?

  She raised the brush in the air, asking, “Do you want to be groomed?”

  He looked at her and then at the object in her hand. Sniffing at the bristles, Nightfall sat back down and waited.

  “I take that as a yes.”

  His tongue slipped out the confines of his mouth, and he panted. I haven’t been brushed before, but I’m up for new experiences. Any new ones, especially with you.

  Tamara eyed him but smiled. Placing the brush atop his forehead, she started with long, smooth strokes down his furry back.

  His tongue retreated. Nightfall’s jaw slackened, and he sighed. Ahhh! That feels so good. Yesss.

  She asked him to stand up and he obliged, though he took a while, relishing in the pleasant tingles her strokes left behind. Tamara swept the brush over his back and down to his bottom. He jolted. His eyes opened wide, and he snapped back to face her. Tamara threw her hands up into the air with the sudden force of his reaction. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

  Yes. You just alarmed me.

  She brought the brush gently back down onto his rear and stroked through his bushy tail, marveling aloud at the amount of fur
on his body. Even more so, the enormous amount of fur lodged between the bristles of the brush.

  She pulled large clumps from the hairbrush and threw them into the garbage pail beside her. “Your undercoat is so thick and heavy,” Tamara told him. “My goodness, Nightfall.”

  Returning the brush to his coat, she watched as fluffy, swirly patches of grey and white floated off him and onto the floor like tumbleweeds.

  “You’re one hairy beast, but you’re so beautiful.”

  He licked her chin, and she giggled. Then he licked her chin again.

  “Nightfall, stop it. Now lie down so I can get your belly.”

  Sure.

  He lifted a paw up into the air. She hummed a tune, brushed his chest, and moved down toward his belly when she suddenly stopped. She glanced over at Nightfall, frowned, and turned away. Could he hear her? If he could read her thoughts, could he read all of them? She found his eyelids closed, and his mouth relaxed.

  Hmmm… What was she supposed to do with a dog who telepathically spoke to her?

  She glanced back toward his belly, determined to finish the job. Carefully, she groomed around him. Couldn’t she find a regular dog? Zoe never had such issues.

  “Well, Nightfall, do you like being brushed?”

  Yesss, I do. Ask me to do anything right now, Tamara, and I’ll do it. Anything. His amber-gold eyes glowed. Anything, Tamara. Just ask me.

  She giggled.

  And if you make that cute sound after asking, I’ll do a whole lot more. I love your girlish giggles.

  Nightfall was a strange dog. Still, she cherished his compliments. She continued brushing him, happy he favored her enough to do anything for her. The fact that he was able to talk to her was extra amazing.

  By the way, I’m very happy with you. Thank you for taking me in.

  She lowered the hairbrush down, briefly, to give him a tight hug and a kiss on his cheek. “Nightfall, you’re such a sweetie.”

  Tamara had just raised the brush to his coat when a loud, shrill alarm rang throughout the house.

  Nightfall jerked forward. He knocked the brush out of her hand and ran straight for the front door, barking the entire way. With his hackles raised, the dog stood by the door, ready for the intruder. Whoever was on the opposite side of the door was in for a big surprise.

  - CHAPTER SEVEN -

  Nightfall growled.

  He shoved his head out between her and the doorjamb to greet the visitor and rumbled long and low as the door flew open. The visitor stared directly at Nightfall and stumbled back.

  Tamara waved her hand in front of the wide-eyed male. “No, it’s okay. It’s okay. Really, it is.” Looking down at her protector, she admonished. “Stop it, Nightfall.”

  “Delivery for you, Ma’am,” the man told her with slight hesitation while eying the dog between words. Nightfall grinned, and the delivery driver’s eyebrows shot up. He shoved a tablet at Tamara. “Please, sign here.”

  “Oh!” she exclaimed flustered at finding the tablet suddenly in her hands. She fumbled for the stylus and scribbled something haphazardly that might or might not have resembled her signature. The deliveryman tore the tablet away and dropped the bouquet straight into her arms.

  She called out after him. “But who’s it from?”

  He responded by squealing his tires and tearing down the road as if her house was on fire.

  “My goodness, how rude.” Tamara kicked the door closed. She hurried toward the kitchen. “I wonder who it’s from.”

  Dropping the arrangement onto the counter, she turned it side to side and marveled at the majestic beauty of the large yellow flowers surrounded by a background of bright green leaves.

  “Sunflowers, my favorite.” Tamara pointed at the extravagant flower arrangement in a heavy, etched, crystal vase. “Look, Nightfall. Aren’t they beautiful?”

  He swished his tail across the carpet with a grin plastered across his mouth.

  “But what are they for? It’s not my birthday, and it’s not a holiday.”

  Her breath caught, and a small joyous sound narrowly escaped her lips. Nightfall watched her while she stood stunned and speechless, mesmerized at the flower arrangement.

  Her hand flew forward. “There’s something in the bouquet.” She pushed at several flowers while her fingers closed in on a small envelope nestled within the greenery. She pulled the card out and read it silently before she chuckled and half-sighed.

  “Josh.” She blurted the name out. “They’re from Josh again. I haven’t seen him in a very long time. Why is he suddenly giving me gifts?”

  He likes you.

  “But he doesn’t know me.”

  Maybe he knows you better than you realize.

  Her lips curved up into a wide smile. “But how did he know these are my favorite flowers?” Her fingers brushed across the flowers once more, lazily fingering individual petals. “I love Sunflowers. It’s such a large bouquet, this must have cost him a fortune,” Tamara mused as she glanced at the card again. “It’s like he’s courting me, but that doesn’t make sense. It’s been over a year. Is he asking me out on a date?”

  She bent down to sniff the sunflowers even though they didn’t have a scent. Her fingers caressed several leaves as she murmured under her breath, regarding their unmatched beauty.

  “They’re lovely. I wish I could thank Josh in person.”

  You already have.

  She glanced over at Nightfall, confused, as he walked away from her, his chest puffed out with pride.

  ***

  Tamara pushed the noisy cart forward and searched for row number nine. The screeching of the wheels almost drowned out the loud conversation to her immediate right. A disheveled man had stopped a female customer in the middle of the parking lot to ask her a question. Tamara wasn’t about to wait to find out the answer.

  She wove around cars, trying to maneuver her way out of his immediate path, but unfortunately he spotted her. The man waved his arms in the air and shouted in her direction—something about money for a phone call. Not having any spare change, she shook her head and shouted out an apology, but his urgent request continued with a louder, stronger tone of voice.

  Tamara glanced back only to find him steadily approaching her. Her heart lurched. Still, she pushed forward. She held her purse tightly against her body and willed her legs to move faster. “Sorry, I don’t have any cash.”

  Tamara snuck a second glance, hoping the beggar had found someone else to intimidate. Her eyebrows shot up when she found him following her.

  He approached her faster. “Hey, Lady.”

  “Look, I’m sorry. I can’t help you. Please stop following me, or I’ll call the police.”

  She swiveled on her heel and pushed the cart forward once more when she heard something behind her. Did he just curse at her?

  Tamara sped up and continued the never-ending marathon to her car, concerned with the amount of time she’d been away from Nightfall. It was a nice cool day out. Regardless, it could get hot in the car, and she worried Nightfall might be dehydrated, awaiting her return. She decided to turn the air on full blast for him if she ever made it across the endless, expansive desert of a parking lot.

  Suddenly, her ears drummed with aggressive, loud barking. She attempted to deduce its origin, but found only vacant cars and empty spaces with no dog in sight. The barking seemed to increase in strength with every step she took.

  Wait a minute. Was that Nightfall? She checked her car now directly in front of her.

  It was him.

  “Nightfall, shush,” she yelled.

  His body rocked, and his front legs hit the floor with each powerful bark. He stooped down to a crouch and his barking switched to intensified growling in between rolling barks. She stared at him, dumbfounded while a scratching sound started.

  She moved toward him to find him slashing at her windows.

  “Nooo! Nightfall, no! You’re ruining my tint. Bad dog. Stop it. Stop that now!”

 
; “Give me some money, Bitch.”

  Tamara’s back straightened. Her body tensed as she realized the gruff tone of voice came from behind her. She whirled around to find the vagrant a few feet in front of her.

  She screamed aloud and pointed at the beggar. “Get away from me! Stay away, or I’ll call the police.”

  Nightfall thrashed about and violently wriggled, squeezing his face, then paws, and next his body through the narrow opening of the window Tamara left for ventilation. He howled and yelped while he wormed his way through the opening, continuing to shove himself forward.

  Tamara warded off the beggar with only her words and her small hands. She attempted to protect herself behind the questionable barricade of the shopping cart, knowing it wasn’t enough. She’d be in trouble soon if she wasn’t already.

  Nightfall yelped loudly. He thrust the last bit of him forward, shattering glass, and blowing out the window. Closing his eyes and grimacing, he fell forward. An instant cry of pain escaped him as he landed on the unyielding cement. He ran toward the beggar and stood, protectively in front of Tamara, shielding her from the assailant. Tail erect and forepaws extended, Nightfall snarled, barked, and growled while the metal identification tags of his collar rattled in his continuous movement. He bared his teeth and emitted a ferocious, rumbling growl, warning the beggar to stand back. The beggar’s eyes widened, and his hands shot straight up into the air.

  The beggar’s hands shook with terror. “Call off your dog.”

  Tamara glanced down at Nightfall. With saliva dripping from his fangs and his hair standing on end, Nightfall proved menacing.

  She sneered at the beggar. “Get away from me.”

  Customers pointed across the parking lot at the commotion. Tamara swallowed back hard, cold reality. If it wasn’t for Nightfall, who knows what might’ve happened to her.

  Swiftly, Nightfall advanced toward the beggar, continuing to growl and snarl, making his threat widely known. Hands trembling in the air, the beggar took several steps back. A siren blared through the background, and the beggar took off in the opposite direction.

  She pointed in the direction he ran off and yelled, “Get him! He’s running away.”