>>Saving Skyla: Chapter Four<<

by Marie Lynn in the little place that exists over the rainbow

~Milo~
Milo awoke on on his informal pile of cushions that had been placed most inconveniently next to Skyla's wicker basket.
He was shivering slightly. Lately Milo had been having the msot disturbing dreams about Skyla and himself, nightmares. The latest one had been with Skyla trapped in a cagein a white room with nothing but a large red square painted on the wall.
"Milo..." she whimpered. "Help..."
Milo could not help the beagle, for he didn't have the key to the cage.
"I can't," he said helplessly.
"Please, please," she cried. "It hurts...Milo...help me..."
And Milo did not understand, because cages were not supposed to hurt, just to hold objects or animals inside.
Feeling thoroughly puzzled and disturbed, he had jerked awake.
He peered over Skyla's basket, expecting to see her curled up inside, her slow, even breathing lifting her little chest up and down rhythmically.
But she was not there.
"Skyla?"
Maybe she's gone on a walk around the house or something, thought Milo, lifting himself off of his cushions. Colleena was still in bed, her hair spread out about the pillow.
Milo decided to poke around the house. he didn't want the little brat jumping out at him to scare him.
Milo cantered about the house, checking in the bathrooms, guest room, a small whitewashed room that was soon to the Dog Room, the basement, the loft, the kitchen, and the living room.
"Skyla..."
He flapped out the dog floor to the backyard, put his front paws on the black fence, and yelled out to the city spread out below, "SKYLLLLAAAA!"
There was no reply except for the ghostly wails of passing cars and his own mournful echo.
Colleena burst out the back door, making him jump out of his skin.
"Milo," she said, "Have you seen Skyla? I can't find her anywhere...I'm going on a walk through the town, STAY PUT. If I find Skyla I'll bring her back here."
Milo heard only human jibberish but he knew she was going to go out; she had her jacket on.
"Okay, you go look in the town!" said Milo. "Good idea! I'll just stay here and worry myself sick."
Colleena hurried out the front door and disappeared around the corner, calling Skyla's name. Milo himself laid down on the carpet floor. He faced the unbelievable truth, there was no sense in denying it now that she was undoubtedly missing. He liked Skyla. He liked her neverending chatter and her tornado tail. He liked her enthusiasm and playful personality. He liked the way she flew into the kitchen and gobbled up her food.
Milo felt himself getting worked up. There was nothing about Skyla that was unlikeable. Nothing. Why had he been such a jerk before?
Colleena walked in, her face tracked with glittering tears, her eyes puffy and miserable.
"Oh-oh-oh-oh," she gasped, and began to sob. "I have to s-show you s-something M-Milo. Come along."
She hooked his collar to the leash and practically dragged him outside. For five minutes they walked in silence down the busy city streets, and stopped. "Look, Milo," said Colleena sadly.
There lying in the street was a beagle. It was dead.