Locked inside-out: ch.3 Willingly locked out
#3 of Locked inside-out
I took a bit too long a break on this chapter. It got crushed beneath starting college, a nasty computer virus, and the last big pieces of finishing up the renthouse. Sorry to keep you all waiting.
Consecutive rules apply: If you dissagree, please refrain from leaving your anger in a comment. Please don't plagiarize, it hurts knowing that credit was given to somebody else for my work. Otherwise, if you feel something could be improved or have any requests, just feel free to say so.
There it was: The last thing I wanted in this unwanted life of living inside. I felt Jessica's soft hand brush against my neck, followed by a length of thick, black ribbon firmly gripped around her other hand. She looked down at me with a glimpse of helplessness that I reflected, and she pulled tight on my leash. Perhaps she knew that I would resist leaving the house, or maybe she was afraid that I would never return. The leash made a visible resonance as she tugged on it, almost pulling me over had I not stood up to relieve the tension.
There's no way out of this now.
--
I shielded my eyes with my forearm from the evening sun as Jessica opened the front door and stepped through to wait on me. I froze, suspended in place momentarily until I gave up on gaining any courage, practically leaping through the doorway and unwillingly leaving the safe haven that had harbored me from those who wanted me gone.
Surely I had been gone from the outside world long enough to be forgotten by them. Had they not left me in any more critical a condition in the case of the vast amount of blood I lost, they would've been sure I was dead and rotting unaware of the stroke of luck that Jessica had found me in time.
I reached up and nervously itched at the underlying scar at the base of my neck, one of the many poorly healed bites, scratches, scrapes and gashes left from that one-sided struggle I stood no chance of winning.
--
Jessica took the first step, leading me down the front sidewalk and towards the road, the only thing seperating me from what was unknown in the thick forest past it, given an even stranger presence since the setting sun had hidden it's residents.
" See? It's safe out here." Jessica said to me, diverting my attention away from the eerie sensation I couldn't ignore hiding behind the forest's shadow." You just have to get used to being out here again."
We continued past other houses, past other animals waiting patiently in the window sills, as if they too feared and yearned to be outside like I had just obtained. Yet, the anthros living purely on the outside appear solid, almost defensive about where they stood, as most would remain about their territory.
--
After several minutes of walking, my stature; about a head shorter than Jessica's, proved unable to maintain her pace and I tiredly fell to a quadrupedal trot to distribute the fatigue." All this out here is open for you to explore." Jessica spoke out, slowing down to help accommodate my disposition with the long distance.
" More to see than the inside of that house every day." She continued to talk as she guided me across the street to begin our run home, bringing both of us much closer this forest that gave off such a vibe as if it was a true entity.
--
I looked in, gazing at the darkness that held nothing but showed everything as the visions that fear would usually instill. I wasn't afraid, or at least I didn't feel like I should've been. All the ideas of a normal personality had left me when I entered into my new home, leaving only instinct I knew could never be erased.
I should've known what belonged beyond that forest's edge. I acknowledged what normal behavior would predict inside that area of trees and thicket, that encountering another of my being was a scarce chance, but what happened to me wasn't ordinary.
Whatever I was involved in should never have happened, inside that forest nor anywhere else.
--
Running back down the other edge of the road approaching home kept the other anthros on a lesser teritorial guard, distance enough to recieve but a noticable glance and bared teeth prepared for a snarl.
I shouldn't have ignored them, knowing my place should sooner belong out here. There weren't many choices though, rather wait for the inevitable than prepare-
Better any chance to prepare myself for the inevitable by practicing a good defense instead of waiting to be finished off by the first animal I encounter. I might have failed to keep up with a daily exercise, since the house was too small to run through and any other form of workout would give disrupt my mindless animal appearance.
Yet it was apparent that my overall agility had flourished over the time I spent inside. While others have stayed outside in an environment that has always been constantly changing, I lived inside a house that remained practically the same ever since I first arrived, leaving me to freak out over every sight and sound that was out of the ordinary.
Perhaps spending more time out here will help me gain what I lost and keep what I already have.
--
The least to say I was glad to be safely back inside as Jessica unhooked the leash from my collar. My fear seemed subsided after seeing how calm it was where I once belonged. At least mostly calm I considered, mindfully refering to the less than nice anthros we passed outside.
Something was different, not completely though. I secretely inhaled the hint of another scent as I waited patiently behind Jessica for her to finish her work. No, not her. As if I couldn't already tell she was ready by the slight change in her behavior every so often. This smell was more familiar, as if I've known it forever and it just took a different one for me to notice.
"No, I'm not taking your collar off, Alex. It's supposed to stay on." Jessica finally told me after growing tired of me following her silently. I knew why she wanted me to keep my collar on, as much as it bothered me, and finally decided to crash on the couch." You'll get used to it hopefully." She replied as I left the kitchen.
The tv was on and Amy was already sitting down, lazily eyeing it's display of two doctors, telling by the scrubs they were wearing. I kept from bothering her and layed down over the other two thirds of the couch, resting my head on the armrest.
--
Jessica arrived a few minutes later, forcing me to sit up and scoot to the center of the couch as she sat on the outside. I rather would've taken my normal place on the floor at their feet but Jessica patted her leg signaling me that she wanted me to lay back down. I lazily layed my head in her lap, letting her pet between my ears as usual.
I was uncomfortable with the events I knew were about to take place. I am so resistant to change that it seems almost like it's closing in on me. Yet, as unaviodable as it felt, had the effect that it was going to get better, but I knew it would have to get worse first.