Skye's POV: "What? Maybe it's a trick? A trap to get me to open the door? Remember what Chase warned me about. The rules he told me to follow. Never walk alone, show no weaknesses, and trust carefully."

???: "I know you heard me." His voice was low with a gravel to it, so she knew it belonged to a boy.

Mentally freaked out, the Poodle mix felt a pit in her stomach as she tried to decide what course of action must be done before the individual grows even more impatient.

???: "I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanna talk." He said rather sincere than agressive.

His words made no sense to her. He couldn't possibly be the notorious villan she was expecting, but what if that's precisely the act she's meant to be deceived by. It got her thinking, how can she prove he's the wanted criminal in the first place?

Skye's POV: "Hmm...wanted?"

At that exact moment she realized the answer was right under her nose, literally! In her left paw was the actually description of the bad guy, the sketch drawing.

By talking of course she wouldn't be able to recognize anyone so specific. Not to mention she never heard the crook's voice before so him speaking shouldn't have been an initial indication. Right now, all the female had to do was see who exactly lays behind the closed door.

Taking one glance around the old and empty room she noticed a hole no smaller than a bottle cap appeared next to a piece of unfamilar funiture completely covered in dust. She planned to get over there and peer through it and see that in fact it is or isn't the culprit.

But what Skye hadn't noticed before was the door had no locks, so there was the risk of him barging in at any moment. He's going to stop knocking and calling out to her eventually, however it seems like he doesn't even know about the easy entry, yet.

The female had to move quickly and quietly, if he knew she was planning something he would reach for the door in no time.

???: "Listen, I don't know why you're here, but I'm sure your lost. Nobody comes here."

Then why are you here? She wanted to say, but bit back saying anything to aggravate him. Something else crossed her mind, he was right about not knowing why she was here or anything about her for that matter. In a way she had the upper hand here when it came to information on the other.

Whoever was on the other side of this door didn't even know her own gender. As far as she could tell that door was the only thing separating her and the anonymous hound. There was a window, but it had glass fragments shattered on the floor and the gap were it was broken had sharp chips sticking out. Getting into and out of it now would require a visit to th hospital afterwards. Whoever smash through it initially was dangerous enough.

???: "I can help you."

Ignoring his request, she returned to her scheme. Skye decided to follow through and moved from her current position to a crawl. Silently she soon appoached the key hole, the image of the criminal was now permantely printed in her brain from staring at the miscreant's illustration too much. Someone so terrifying and life threatening is hard to forget.

It'll be like a compare and contrast or a spot the difference, she told herself, with the guy outside and the dangerous outlaw. Hopefully they're complete opposites of each other.

???: "You can at least talk to me." He persisted.

At this the Cockapoo rolled her eyes and continued to exacute her plan. But then, her heart froze and she stopped dead in her tracks. Her worst fear at the moment, the doorknob started moving. Since she was already at the hole by now, she may as well take a glimpse so she did and she couldn't believe her eyes.

Back with Chase

Chase's POV: "Oh no, please no. Did I lose her for good? Where could she possibly be?! I'm not leaving her side again after this."

He's been on the search for Skye non-stop and with every minute gone by his worries worsen. He kept thinking back to the crook on the loose and as the police expert he was he knew to keep him on his radar.

Even if the chances are relatively slim it would be better to be safe than sorry. That's why finding Skye safe and sound was his very top proity, just in case. For the hundredth time he called out her name and for the hundredth time he got nothing in return.

He strained to hear her voice, or her movements, or anything besides the occasionally breeze. Dust and clouded air made his nose an unreliabe source, so that was out of the question.

Chase's POV: "Maybe I'm overthinking this, and I'm probably the only one, but I have a bad feeling about this place."

A smooth wind blew below his feet, it picked up dust molecules along it's way to eventually form this miniature dust cloud. It was like a wipe had just cleared off the unnecessary mess because after the small cloud passed a trail of footsteps was exposed.

Chase's POV: "Could they be Skye's...or someone else's?" He creeped closer to examine percisely. "Their too big to be Skye's..."

Bewilderment was written all over his face as he knew all too well what that meant. Now, he definitely had a reason to be panicky. Chase didn't waste a second of time smelling out the imposter. As soon as he saw the trail of prints leading him in a certain direction he took off with determination in his eyes.

Back with Skye

It's as if she dodged a bullet, almost. The door busted open revealing a entirely different guy, however, this didn't change the fact that the person could still potentially be dangerous. By themselves her legs moved and made their way behind the closest unrecoginizable furniture.

???: "Who are you?" He started approaching with big strides, then he stopped. "Show yourself."

Panic mode was set to high. In close quarters like this there wasn't much room to run off in the other's direction so that wasn't a possibility anymore. To escape she would have to run toward the guy she wants to get away from.

???: "I'm tired of waiting."

The wood creeked under his weight as it matched along with Skye's heartbeats. She shut her eyes closed as if the evil coming would disappear with the darkness, back where it came from.

It never did, something better was retrieved though, a light. It shines so much brighter in the darkest times. Her eyes were open as soon as it showed up. As soon as he arrived. Busting through an entrance like sunlight passing the clear glass of a window at sunrise.

Chase: "Skye! I'm so glad your okay."

Nothing in this world would make her more happy than running into his reassuring, warm, and protecting arms. And she would have, if Chase hadn't have spotted the other male dog.

Chase: "Get away from her." He growled, changing his voice to match his sober expression.

???: "Whoa, I-I didn't even...first off I had no idea she was even a girl!"

Chase: "You think I believe that?" He began to step closer.

???: "Y-You should, it's true dude. I would never hurt a girl! I was uh just getting closer to her. But not like that!" He shrieked.

At this point the nameless guy was stumbling over not only his words but his movements too. He started walking backwards slowly, but kept bumping into random placed objects or stepping oddly causing him to become unbalanced.

Skye could tell he must have been really intimidated by Chase so it was safe to say Chase wouldn't be in a fair fight again. Not that she wanted him to be in one anyways.

Other than Chase himself, Skye was the only one in the room who knew Chase wouldn't want to scuffle unless he felt inclined to. Because she knew this, Skye made her way over to him and let out a sigh of relief. Then she proceeded to lean on his shoulder for extra comfort. Whispering a thank you as she did.

???: "If I knew this was your mate I wouldn't have scared her as much as I did."

Skye's cheeks were more red than Chase's, she immediately pulled away and mumbled an apology. But before she could correct the guy...

Chase: "Leave her out of this."

He got the message loud and clear. With his ears curled downwards and his body language stiff with fear.

???: "I-I don't want any problems. I just wanted to help her get out of this place. You both seem lost."

Chase: "We're fine. I've...been here before." He lied.

???: "Well then why would you return? If you survived the attacks then you should know personally about how dangerous it is here."

His nervousness was changed to confusion in mere seconds. He wasn't the only one baffled, Chase had questions of his own.

Chase: "What attacks?"

???: "How long ago were you here exactly?" He said not as frightened as he was in the beginning.

Chase: "Does that matter?"

???: "Can you answer my question?"

Chase: "Can you answer mine first?"

Skye: "Guys! We're getting nowhere." She turned to the unknown male. "Hi, yes we're lost so can you tell us how to get out of here so we can go our separate ways."

Chase: "Can you excuse us for a second."

With that said he ushered Skye to a private talk session several more feet away from the unacquainted guy.

Chase: "What are you doing?"

Skye: "Uh, asking for directions."

Chase: "Yes I know that, but it's not safe to trust everyone you meet. I already told you this. The three rules we agreed with."

Skye: "I know them. But my gut is telling me something different. He doesn't look like the type to do something like that. Listen, I have the rules in mind okay?"

Chase: "Your gut? Bu-."

She gave him a confident smile and brushed passed him to get more intel of their escape route out of here.

Chase's POV: "Why can't I just tell her I care about her? Then she'll know why I'm worried about her all the time. Maybe it was a mistake coming here."

A constant tug of war was occuring in his brain and he wished so bad that the evenly matched game would stop. But it wouldn't and it would continue if he didn't pick a side soon.

Skye: "Let's start over. My name is Skye. Who are you?"

???: "Why am I being interrogated? I'm not the one trespassing."

Chase: "Hey, she asked you a question." He said lining up next to Skye. "I don't trust him."

???: "You remind me so much of someone."

Chase: "Well I'm pretty sure I never met you at all."

Skye: "Chase be nice."

???: "Wait. What did you say?"

His expression drastically changed just then. It looked like he was shot and just realized, his voice was as urgent as if it did.

???: "Y-You said...his name?"

Chase: "Yeah? I'm Chase, Wh-."

In a blink of an eye the German Shepherd was pounced on.

???: "No way! It's really you! After years and years! It's actually you! I've missed you so much! I can't believe it." He spoke with cries and tears welled up in his eyes. He had cracks in his voice and was completely left in shocked.

Chase: "Can you get off me? I said I don't know you."

???: "Oh you know me. You just forgot apparently."

Getting up from the floor Chase stared back at the unfamiliar canine for a full minute.

???: "Chase it's me...Clyde."

His whole body was paralyzed. His eyes grew as his pupils shrank. Nothing felt real anymore, his mind, his heart, his soul felt stunned. The sensation of being stuck inside a dream written all over his body.

Well if this was all a dream he was going to make the best out of it. He lunged into his long lost friend's arms, he never thought he would have the chance to do that again. After separating a few moments they couldn't stop smiling with tears filled with joy.

Chase: "I never forgot about you Clyde. I just couldn't believe it's actually you."

Clyde: "I can't believe it's you! Me and the group...we thought you were dead."

Chase: "Now that's a bit harsh."

Clyde: "What were we suppose to think?! You've been gone since forever!"

Chase: "It's only been five years."

Clyde: "Wow, only? I lost track after at about four hundred days." His voice slipped revealing his hurt.

Chase: "I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry okay."

Clyde: "Oh yeah that totally makes up for all the time you took."

There was an ache in his throat and every word was as painful to listen to.

Chase: "Clyde I-."

Clyde: "Why did you leave? And why are you back?"

Chase: "Look, I don't want to argue."

Clyde: "Then you better answer those questions."

A glare stared back at Chase and when he didn't say a thing Clyde reiterated his point.

Clyde: "You had five years to think about the answers."

Something about that statement triggered a spark of anger in the brown eyed canine.

Chase: "I left for a number of reasons okay! The main one was because I was trying to run from my problems, from the mess I made! You or anyone else couldn't have helped! I didn't know how to fix it so I tried to ignore it. But my mistake were always there in Trustem. So yeah I left...then after a couple of years I realized. My problems followed me. Because the problem IS me. And I can't run from myself. So it doesn't matter if I leave or return. Happy?"

Clyde: "You have no idea how much pain and sadness you brought when you left."

Chase: "So you hate me now?"

Clyde: "Best friends don't hate each other, at least not for long." He took a long breath and proceeded. "You know, I always knew you would come back some day."

Chase: "Even when everyone thought I was dead?"

Clyde: "You left your belongings not your dead body. Of course I would believe you were alive!"

They shared a laugh and it seemed like a good enough time to intervene.

Skye: "Aw this reunion is so sweet and everything but what's going on?"

Chase: "Oh! Right. Skye this is Clyde."

Clyde: "Hello, again. Wow so much for first introductions. Let's start over like you said." He smiled whole heartedly.

Skye: "That would be for the best. Your not a killer so I mean there's no reason not to be your friend."

The male let out a genuine chuckle.

Clyde: "I'll take that as a compliment. She'll get along just fine with the pack Chase."

Skye: "What pack?"

Chase: "No, that's not happen Clyde."

Clyde: "Come on! You got to see them especially!"

Chase: "Yeah well, seeing them isn't exactly in my schedule."

Clyde: "Well then reschedule. Plus there's no way you going out there now."

Chase: "And why not?"

Clyde: "It's getting dark. You guys should rest for the night."

He placed a paw on Chase's shoulder as a friendly gesture of concern. Before saying he was fine the light coated furred female beside him got his attention. She didn't have to say anything. He knew they both needed a place to stay at. It was more than enough to convince him a break would be best for the both of them.

Thinking to himself, he felt a tidal wave of guilt, how did he realize their condition just now?! Did it even occur to him that they could've died of starvation or dehydration or exhaustion?

If you don't survive the journey and the destination isn't worth dying for then don't travel in the first place.

Chase: "Your right." He reluctantly said.

The very instance Skye heard that she smiled and was over joyed at the thought of calling it a day. In her mind she also was looking forward to meeting more of Chase's old friends, she just hoped everything would go well.

Clyde: "So? What are we waiting for? Let's go!" He said putting one arm around Chase moving him to the direction of the exit.

Chase: "Okay, okay I'm going!" He laughed. "Hey Skye are you coming or what?"

Skye: "Uh yeah. Of course I just...need a second."

Before joining them she searched the floor for a certain flyer. Her gut insisted on it, she had no clue why but maybe it would come in handy later. Her gut was right about Clyde so, it wouldn't hurt to trust it again.

She got the paper from behind the flipped over arm chair where she hid previously, then headed out the door where her travel buddies were waiting.

While leading the way to wherever their head quarters was, Skye could see why the two were such good friends. Clyde's enthusiasm as he reminisced the good times with Chase had such a warm aura feeling to it. They shared laughs and the conversations they carried always put a smile on one of their faces.

Skye didn't feel left out though, it wasn't really in her at the moment to talk. In addition the Poodle mix barely understood what they were talking about half the time.

Both of the boys were in their own world together they haven't noticed Skye's deep gazes at them. She looked between the two seeing some similarities most of which was in their actions.

Appearance wise, Clyde was definitely a German Shepherd mix, unlike Chase who wasn't a mix but a purebred. He had other key features too like his amber eyes, floopy ears that pointed slightly downward, and his fur. A light brown and gold that differentiate the two apart. Only the tips of his ears, tail, and snout were the darkest shades of color on his body.

The trio eventually got to their desired location. It was good timing too, due to the fact the moon was beginning to peek from behind the clouds.

After seeing nothing but plain terrain and old aged ruins the place they stopped at a runned down, horizontal built structure with bits of red paint scraped off. It blended in well with the rest of the town since it too appeared abandoned.

Clyde: "We're here!" He exclaimed with his tail wagging madly.

Chase: "So this is where all you guys live now?"

Clyde: "We didn't have much of a choice. But hey, it's home now."

For a split second Skye took a glimpse and noticed his tail moving slower than before. She snapped out of it when she sensed Chase's eyes on her.

Chase: "Before you go in there I want you to know, I didn't think any of this would happen."

The plain wooden door opened to reveal four different canines all at once with mixed reactions from each individually.

The one at the door showed barely any emotion, another was ready for a brawl, the other looked around beyond cofused as if perhaps this wasn't reality, and the last one curled up in a ball while hiding behind that puzzled companion.

??? #1: "Clyde, what did I say about bringing strangers HERE." She spoke with gritted teeth.

Clyde: "You never said anything to me about it."

??? #1: "That's because I thought you were smart enough to know, NOT TO BRING STRANGERS HERE!"

Clyde: "Well one of them isn't even a stranger!"

Chase: "Wow, you haven't changed at all Bubblegum."

Bubblegum: "How di-."

She stopped mid sentence and glared intently at the unexpected visitors. Most, if not all, the suspicion was on Chase. Not only did he know her nickname, but the more she observed him she couldn't shake the feeling she knew him from somewhere or rather from some time ago.

It all too quickly occurred to her that she has meet this "stranger" before. At once the back of her paw collided with the left side of Chase's face.

Clyde: "Whoa calm down! It's Chase! He's Chase!"

Bubblegum: "I know! That's what he gets for ditching us!"

Chase: "You have every right to be mad at me, I deserved that. I'm alright Clyde."

Bubblegum: "And who is she?"

Every head turned to look at Skye, who was just overwhelmed at the moment with all that just happened.

Clyde: "She's Chase's girlfriend."

Now all the attention was back on Chase as his face began to glow a bright red, and it wasn't from where he got smacked.

Chase: "N-No...she's not." He said shifting uncomfortably.

Skye: "My name is Skye." There was silence. "Nice to meet all of you too." She scastically said shyly.

??? #2: "Are you sure she isn't?"

Clyde: "Guys where are your manners? Let them in."

The female blocking them from getting inside moved after a huff and an eye roll. When Chase and Skye walked in the one floored house they were surrounded by the remaining unknown three.

??? #3: "Chase is that really y-you?"

??? #2: "Your not dead?"

Chase: "Yea-."

All at once the three of them suddenly tackled the use to be police pup. Skye cracked a smile watching such a odd, but loving group hug take place.

??? #4: "You got a lot of explaining to do." She stated as a matter of factly.

Chase: "I know I do. But we'll talk about that later. Now can all of you let me go?"

??? #2: "That depends. Will you run away again?"

Chase: "I don't think I'll be able to."

??? #4: "Good answer."

Releasing him from the hug, they proceeded to bombard him with mountains of questions until he advised them all that he wasn't the only new comer there.

Chase: "As you guys already know, this is Skye. She's a really good friend of mine."

Skye: "Hello." She said smiling arkwardly again.

??? #2: "Sup, the name's Whitepaws. What kind of German Shepherd are you?"

Skye: "Uh, I'm not any...?"

??? #4: "Don't mind him, he's all brawns no brains."

Whitepaws: "Hey! What does brawns mean?"

??? #4: "Anyways, greetings, I go by the name Frozen." She said examining Skye by walking in a circle around her.

Bubblegum: "Frozen cut that out."

Chase: "And you already know who Bubblegum is."

Whitepaws: "She can act like such a female dog sometimes, if you know what I mean." He joked.

Bubblegum: "I heard that!"

Clyde: "Last but not least..."

Both Chase and Clyde nudged the last one forward to speak.

??? #3: "H-Hi, I'm Bear." She spoke almost silently, staring at the floor with her tail tucked between her back legs.

Skye: "Aw, okay so, Bubblegum, Whitepaws, Frozen, Bear, and Clyde. Those are some unique names, I'm sure I won't forget them any time soon."

A yawn slipped out of the Cockapoo. Then a stomach growl.

Skye: "Oh um sorry."

Bear: "It's okay."

Bubblegum: "We should all get ready for bed soon anyways."

Whitepaws; "Do we have to?" He whined.

Frozen: "Yes, she's in charge so she's right. Chase and Skye must be mentally and physically exhausted."

Chase: "I mean, you're not wrong."

Frozen; "Of course I'm not."

Clyde: "You guys came at a perfect time too. All of us were going to eat dinner and since both of you are staying the night it'll be our treat."

Bear: "Y'all should sleep on a full stomach."

Skye: "That's so nice of you. We could eat."

Chase: "Definitely, I'm starving."

While they all made their way to the dining room Skye continued her observations of the place. From the inside it was more vacous and wide than she expected.

Walking in there was two rooms to the left with no doors so she was able to see they were two separate bedrooms. Then if you continue down the entrance hallway and make a right, there was a corridor of boarded up windows. The opposite side from that were two more rooms, one of which was where they entered to eat.

As odd as it sounds everything around them was arranged in a type of organized mess. She stopped looking around when she heard her name mentioned in the conversation.

Whitepaws: "Skye was it? If your not German Shepherd or a German Shepherd mix then what breed are you?"

Bubblegum: "And I thought I was rude." She said while rolling her eyes.

Skye: "Oh it's fine. I don't mind. I'm a Poodle and Cocker Spaniel mix."

Frozen: "That explains it. We don't get much of other types of breeds around the three islands."

Whitepaws: "It makes you stand out from every other female around here."

Skye sat near the canines she knew best, in this case they were Chase and Clyde. It gave her a pretty good ear shot of some other conversations. Not like she was trying to snoop, but curiosity got the best of her.

There was the one Chase was talking to both Frozen and Bubblegum about something, but the another side conversation had her full attention. When she heard what was being talked about. Her.

Clyde: "Why did you need to ask that?" He whispered.

Whitepaws: "I was just curious man."

Clyde: "I hope so. Even you should be able to tell she's with Chase."

Skye's POV: "What is that suppose to mean? Yes, I'm technically "with" Chase, but I'm not with him in a romantic type of way. Or...do they see something I don't?"

Her ears became numb to all the surrounding noise, her cheeks burned red the more she thought about it, and her stomach felt all tingly inside. She looked at Chase wondering if he too overheard what she had, but by the looks of it he didn't.

Moments later she caught herself staring at her closest friend while trying to process her thoughts about the statment. Quickly, she moved her head to see the food she had been served.

This was one interesting way of starting a dinner with friends. Because that's all everyone here was. They were all only Chase's friends, right?

Somewhere else

LC: "So your James huh? A coward, weak, and untrustworthy." He snarled.

James: "H-How did you find m-me? And how did y-you know my name?"

LC: "That should be the least of your worries."

An intense red color switch on in the stranger's eyes like he has seen before. The closer he got to this James fellow the harder it got for James to try and look away or cover his own eyes from the trance he was trapped in. His mind didn't feel like his anymore.

Suddenly, the alert colored orbs abruptly stopped. James fell to his knees and after he leaned too far to his left he tilting over completely. But before LC left the area he picked up a perculier scent from James, a smell he knew wasn't from James or any of the three Concealed islands for that matter.

LC: "He's been around hanging around with..." He intaked a huge amount of air. "...smells like these dogs are new here."

He gazed at the sky turning dark blue. The ultra red in his eyes sparkled when he wondered for a moment. Then, he smirked to himself.

LC: "Well, I should introduce myself."

That was the last thing he said before beginning his hunt.

A/N: So, today which is 4/15/2020 (is currently the date that I'm typing this which will probably change by the time I decide to publish this chapter) has inspired me! This chapter is dedicated to one of my best friends who has just a few hours ago come back to my life after about 5 years! Because of this event which is just perfect timing really, I could express my feelings and emotions from the perspective of my characters that went through the same thing. I just wanted to get that out there. Until next time which I pray isn't too long. Byeeeeeeeee! I hope everyone is doing okay! ❤