The Ballad of Love: Chapter Three: The Courtship
Here is chapter three.
Chapter Three:
The Courtship
Petro felt warm and comfortable. A light shines brightly on his face, and he hears low music playing in the background. It's something older but still relevant. Next, he smells bacon, eggs, and the marvelous scent of coffee. Slowly, he opens his eyes, taking in the ceiling with the ordinary light fixture in the center.
Petro tried to remember his dream but could not recall it. He sat up and looked around the spacious bedroom, recollecting his thoughts as his memory returned to him. It was a week since his discharge from the hospital with a clean bill of health. The hospital staff seemed to act like his sudden and miraculous healing was quite normal. It's probably a side effect of that…well…power. He looked at his paws, flexing them and gauging their dexterity.
“Wake up, sleepy head. I have breakfast ready,” said Arlie from the other room. Petro rolled out of bed; his strength returned a hundredfold. He felt great as if he could do anything.
Petro walked out into the spacious living room and looked towards the kitchen. He saw Arlie on the bar's other side, dishing eggs and bacon onto their plates. He walked towards the kitchen and wrapped his massive arms around Arlie, cuddling him and drawing comfort.
“Morning,” Petro said as Arlie leaned back.
“Morning to you, too,” Arlie said, kissing the bear. “Have a shift in an hour. But after, we can cuddle and talk about you.”
“Okay,” Petro said as he sat down at the small kitchen table.
They ate in silence for a while. The music on the radio broke as the host rolled out their normal routine. “…And now, on to the news. Today, the Ukrainians celebrated a major victory against Russia today and took back the annexed cities stolen the previous year…” Petro looked up from his plate at the radio. A sense of shame and profound sadness crept into his mind.
“What is it, honey?” the flamingo said as Petro looked back at him.
“I…I should have been there to help them. I promised them I would never abandon them. It’s been a week since my healing and discharge from the hospital. I should go help them,” Petro said as Arlie looked anxious.
“Petro, I barely found you. I don’t want to lose you,” Arlie said as his phone beeped. He looks at it and gets up. “I must go to work. We will talk about this when I get home.”
Arlie rushes out of the room, leaving Petro alone with his thoughts. Why did it seem like everyone was keeping him away from this war? First, his father. Now, Arlie. They don’t understand, none of them.
Petro dumped the plates and washed the breakfast dishes. After that, he leaned against the counter, sipping his coffee. He loved Arlie, but this war was above everything else. How could he sit idly by and not contribute?
Suddenly, a knock came from the door. He opened it to see a person dressed in black. Before Petro could react, the man struck him in the neck with a syringe. He roared out in pain, knocking the man back into the opposite wall before feeling the effects of the drug. His vision blurred as the world began to spin. Suddenly, everything went dark.
Arlie dressed a wound on a patient when his phone beeps. He finishes the bandage quickly before leaving the room and returning to the nurse's station. Sitting down at his desk, Arlie pulls out his phone to see a security notification. He taps the icon, and the screen pulls up a surveillance camera. He installed those two months ago after someone tried to break in.
Arlie watched the video and froze with fear. He saw Petro answer the door, and someone dressed in black stuck something in his neck. After that, several people came into the apartment and carried Petro out. “Oh, MY GOD!”
“What?!” The nurse beside her asked.
“Someone broke into my apartment and kidnapped my boyfriend! I’ve got to go!” Arlie said as he dialed 911.
“911! What is your emergency?” The voice was crisp, light, and professional.
“Please, help! Someone broke into my apartment and kidnapped my boyfriend. I’m head…” Arlie was cut off as he ducked a fist that hit the wall behind him.
“Sir? Sir? Are you there?” The phone dropped to the floor and was stepped on by a massive rhino, crushing it instantly.
Arlie ducked multiple swings from the rhino but resisted using magic in front of others. He dodged another swing and ran by the rhino through the door. Arlie was now in an alleyway, looking around for his best escape route. He ran down the narrow path, turning a corner, and found himself at a dead end. “Shit!”
“Oi, you led us on a chase. I hate cardio!” Said a voice behind Arlie, who turned to see the rhino standing there.
The rhino muscles bulged inside his black clothes as he drew out a longsword. Arlie backed away until he touched the wall behind him.
“It’s not my fault you are out of breath. You chose to chase me,” Arlie said as he readied himself. It seemed like he had no choice but to fight.
“Oh, no. It is your fault for making a stupid wish and risking everything within the universe for a simple life.” The rhino said as Arlie laughed.
“As if that energy belongs to you. As a keeper, it is my right to use that energy as I see fit. The Knights of Light oversee the guarding of Heaven’s Gate. Run back to your master,” Arlie said as his hands lit up with a pink aura.
“We’ve been instructed to capture you, dead or alive,” Rhino said as he readied himself.
Arlie swirled with pink energy and said, “You have no idea who you are fucking with."