Why should dogs have all the fun?

Summer, 11:09;

Location: D.P. Companion Park, Earth;

“Hmm… according to the map, the park should be here… uh… it looks abandoned…” Victor looked at his phone and then at the dilapidated park in front of him.

“Meow?”

“No idea! The net shows it’s still active… maybe it was shut down recently?” he took Noir from his shoulders and put her on his head.

I saw a few pets in this area, but why does it look abandoned?

“Mew!”

“Hmm... you still want to go? Well, why not if we search for another, then we may not be able to play at all!” Victor shook his head, ignored the iffy feeling, and took a step towards the park.

Victor, along with Noir on his head, entered the park. He immediately noticed overgrown grasses, trees all over, their canopies almost covering the sky. The only open space was a narrow clearing in the center. Overall, this place has a creepy and haunted vibe, and to add some effects to this atmosphere, the wind is blowing at certain intervals, rustling the leaves.

“…”

“It… feels like a different world. Isn’t this supposed to be close to a residential area? Even if it is abandoned, it shouldn’t look this wild.” Victor spoke to Noir as he looked at the park, which practically looked like a jungle at this point.

“Maw ewe... Mew Meow”

“Yeah, you are right, it’s like people are deliberately avoiding this area… I didn’t even see anyone I could ask.”

“Well… whatever, let’s play and get going… uh… so what should we do? Get some toys from the store? Will there even be any?”

Victor muttered to himself as he entered the toy store. The glass door hinges opened with a groan, as if they were decades old.

The hell is this door groaning for? The hinges are made of steel, and they are lubricated, too.

“This place, despite being normal, gives haunted vibes… umm… There are toys!” Victor was a little shocked because he didn’t expect there to be toys.

“Noir, what do you want to play with? I brought some toys for you at home, but you always play games or watch anime.”

Both Noir and Victor are feeling awkward and don’t know what to do, as they have never played. Noir, being a cataku, only watched anime, webcomics, or played games.

They had watched online videos of people playing with their dogs or cats online but never tried themselves, as they considered themselves above those people.

“Mew…”

Noir points toward a Frisbee and rubber balls.

“Pff... that's the dog section... are you a dog?”

“Maw wew ewe mew meow?”

“Uh... you just said, ‘Why must dogs have all the fun?’ …Oh god.” Victor rolled his eyes.

“Maw”

“Where the hell did you learn those?”

She is steadily becoming a cat of culture.

Victor stopped his urge to facepalm as he went to get a frisbee and a rubber ball as per her request.

“Cheh… It’s all covered in dust even after all the wrapping!”

All the toys for renting are covered in dust, and even some toys, especially the ones made with rubber, the balls, have either melted or hardened.

“Huu… these ones will do. The ball is a bit hard, but at least it won’t crumble like the other ones.”

“Which idiot’s idea was it to make the house for toys 70% glass?”

Victor grumbled to himself as he dusted the toys and cleaned them with the sanitizer that he kept with him.

“Alright, let’s play!” he spoke excitedly as he waited for Noir to go towards her position.

“…”

“Uh… climb down, will you? Or are you planning to play fetch from my shoulders, Your Majesty?”

“Mew… Mew!”

Noir, with a lazy expression, leapt gracefully off his shoulder and looked at him with a judgmental stare, grumbling a bit as if to show he was making a fuss, and used her tail to hit his legs to indicate she was ready.

“Hmph, your arrogance doesn't match your size at all!”

Hmm… should I just throw it?

“Now catch…”

Swoosh....

“Ma-?”

Victor launched the frisbee for Noir to catch, but before she could even start running, the frisbee, as if yanked by some force, spun back to him smoothly.

“Uh... maybe the wind…” Victor looked at Noir and muttered quietly.

Victor again threw it, only to return again. So, he tried a few times again for the same results to happen, but this clearly irritated Noir, so she leapt during the fourth try, intercepted it in midair, and tossed it back before Victor could catch it.

Victor was again a little flabbergasted, but he didn’t mind as long as their goal of playing together succeeded.

Like this, the game, which was supposed to be playful throw-and-fetch, became a competitive duel of who could catch more. The whole thing was so natural that if he didn’t have his extreme senses, he might have missed some clues and treated it as a gimmick of the frisbee.

This continued for 30 minutes with Noir being the final winner. The final score settled with 191-109; their match was far from being peaceful, but Noir somehow managed to dominate with overwhelming advantage.

My speed is not less than hers… so why is there such an overwhelming gap?

“Haah... that was fun ...although something feels off... as long as we can have fun, that’s all that matters.” Victor laughed happily as he rubbed Noir to her irritation.

“Now what to do with the ball…”

“... Should I throw it? A frisbee returning is something my heart can accept, but a ball returning is something it might not...”

Victor fell into a dilemma.

“Mew”

Noir, looking at Victor’s dilemma, went in the opposite direction and called him to throw the ball.

“Hmm... throw? Want to play catch-catch this way?”

Victor threw the ball at Noir, to which Noir jumped, twisted in midair, and smacked it back using her tail. Victor’s pupils dilated. It was so unexpected that it caught him off guard, and he stumbled trying to catch it, giving Noir the first point.

You want to do it this way? Bring it on!

With this, what should have been a peaceful catch-and-fetch between a pet and its master again became a fierce competition.

“Hahaha... this was much more fun than I planned... I bet only my pet can do this!”

“Mew...!”

Noir looked quite proud with a tight score of 1:0. There were many moments where Victor almost lost another point, but somehow he managed to keep it. He protested many times that the first point was foul, and he was not prepared, but Noir was not having it.

In this match, neither could quite gain an advantage against the other. Both had similar agility, but Noir's body control was superior. However, Victor had started getting the hang of it during the frisbee match, making this competition come down to skill, but with both being amateurs, the score remained close.

“Okay, let’s get going, or else we are gonna be late, and I have to think of where to keep you too, after all, bags are not allowed in the lab,” Victor spoke as he looked at the watch.

Victor, with Noir on his shoulder, packed things up. He especially ensured that no stray leaves or anything related to the park came with him. He returned the ball, frisbee, and got out of the park without even looking at it all.

That was a neat experience…huh! I at least expected there to be some dramatic horror incidents like writing on the wall or something… not that what happened was something less creepy… but nothing sort of what is shown in movies happened...

Victor, while walking, looked at his wrist watch, thought of something, changed to a lane that would take some more time, and entered a small shop.

“Uncle, one soda please!”

“Which one?”

“Uh… you don’t have that one in a small bottle, so… spride small.”

Scoff…slush...plop…

Victor opened the bottle and took a sip from it. He looked around in a curious way deliberately, and pretending that he didn’t know anything, asked the shopkeeper with curiosity.

“Uncle, what happened to that pet park nearby?”

“Huh? ...Pet Park? Ah... you are talking about that D.P. one, right? We don't know much... It was quite popular a few years ago, but suddenly it was abandoned and bulldozed… so there is nothing left there except a piece of land…” The middle-aged man looked at Victor with a puzzled expression. Then he looked at the cat in his hoodie and nodded as if understanding.

“Huh?... two years? It still shows active in maps!”

“It shows? But there is really nothing there, not even a bench to sit. They might not have updated it. You don't have to believe me; you can check there, it’s not that far from here. You can ask the nearby residents too, but they might not say anything. All of the residents of that area are weird, too.”

Victor internally panicked as he remembered how he went there, sat on the bench, and, according to the uncle, there was no park, no bench, only plain land.

Victor and Noir looked at each other, and didn’t speak for a few seconds and quietly finished the drink, and got ready to leave.

Looking at the man with a cat on his head getting ready to leave, the shopkeeper thought for a few seconds, but eventually reminded them.

“You guys might not believe me… but I would say you guys better stay out of that area… whisper… rumors say it's cursed!”

“AH! Don’t worry, uncle, I am going to college now… hehe.”

Victor gave the shopkeeper a small laugh and quietly left.

***

Spring, 2:45;
Location: Hua Lo Street, Sham Shui, Hong Kong.

The Unification of the world changed many things, government, borders, culture, and so much that could not be imagined a few hundred years ago. But there are still a few things that have remained unchanged or maybe have been kept unchanged.

In this alley drenched in neon lights from the bars, deep in Sham Shui Po, night represents a whole new scene, a new place, a new life.

It has already passed midnight, but music never stopped slipping out of the smoky bars and gambling dens. People are walking nonstop; some are entering, some are leaving. Almost all of them have an intoxicated expression on their face, who knows the reason- is it the Lau Shu Yin? Is it Fei Jau? Or something else… who knows?

The scent of grilled meat, perfume, sweat, and aphrodisiacs clung to the air. Laughter echoed from veiled corners. Android bouncers stood at the gates with inviting gestures to the potential guests.

In this twisted utopia, which is covered in the veil of night, a celebration of indulgence is being held— this is a product of unfiltered humanity that no amount of progress could sterilize; it’s a living monument to freedom, vice, curiosity, and the appetite for thrill.

In the basement of Zui Yue Fang, a famous gambling den and bar, twenty-five men were spread across. Some were sitting on the ground; some were counting the crates… but the common thing is that everyone is drinking and eating.

“Boss~ today’s haul was the best this month!”

“Yeah... it was not the best this month, but these months.”

A man with a buzz cut spoke as he put some betel nut in his mouth and took a sip from his drink.

“Hahaha… then boss, don’t ya’ think we should celebrate with something more premium?”, another man sitting on the crate spoke. He has a bald head and a scar on his forehead. he gave the boss an expression that everyone in the basement understood very well.

“Do ya all think I don’t want to! But no worries! The goods will be traded today only… the delivery boy might come soon, in the meantime, let’s have something premium!” The boss stood up, went to the corner, pushed some tiles, opened a secret compartment, took out one wax-sealed glass bottle, one ceramic bottle, and a box.

“Whoa, boss… You are taking out from your stash!”

“Hehehe… special situations call special things.”

“Holy shit! It’s Glenlivet whisky and a Kweichow Moutai… hehehe boss is t’day generous!”

“BUT—I’m only sharing five of these BHKs… It’s too rare.”

“Tsk… fine-fine, boss, let me fill your glass!”

Laughter filled the air as the scent of tobacco and alcohol began to spread with it, too.

Step…step…step…

“Huh! Sound of steps? ... tsk can’t ever drink a sip properly… oi Wei’er check it.”

“Ugh… ok, boss!”

The one named Wei was a lanky young man, in his 20s or mid-20s. He grumbled for a few seconds, finished his drink in one chug, and went to check who this daring guy was.

This basement is the area of the buzz-cut gang, which is under Black Rose, a prominent big gang in this market. No one can come here without prior notice and permission, but this guy entered without permission.

“Oi… stop where you are, and who are you? You dare come here without permission?”

“Oh~… so permission is needed but I have~ got it earlier…”

A relaxed voice came as a silhouette became visible and was becoming larger; it’s obvious the person didn’t stop walking.

Wei, seeing the person had not stopped, became suspicious and took out his gun, ready to shoot, but when he heard that permission had been taken, he paused.

“Boss! It seems the delivery guy!”

“Huh… there is still 1-2 hours left before the time… oi, pack up and take up the guns and come with me!”

The boss was a little confused, as there was still time left, and these types of deals happen in absolute time.

The boss came to the entrance and saw a figure standing, almost twenty steps away from Wei. He couldn’t see the face as the light was already dim in the basement, and the position the guy was standing; he was blocking the light. But he didn’t mind it and asked calmly.

“The Delivery guy?”

“Hmm…~ yea!”

“What’s with that reaction? ... Hmm, then recite the poem!”

“Is the password even necessary~?”

“Oh… It’s VERY necessary, we need to be sure… lots of scammers these days…”

“Hmm…~password huh… ~ ‘I hear the halting footsteps of a lass. In Negro Harlem, when the night lets fall its veil. I see the shapes of girls who pass. To bend and barter at desire's call.”

“What bullshit is this? Capture this bastard, it’s not the delivery guy!”

The boss realized something was not right and ordered his men to capture him, but before they could do anything, the lights went off.

“Shit! Power cut? What era are we living in?”

“Lei’er, turn on the emergency power supply immediately, and you guys, shoot him, no need to capture!”

“hihi…hehe…hihi…hehe”

A twisted laughter filled the whole basement; it chilled the spines of all the people there. The group fired in the direction of the sound, but as if the sound was coming from everywhere, the intensity of the sound increased as if mocking them.

“Wha…what is this…?”

“Ugh, my hands feel sticky… I cannot seem to properly hold the gun.”

“Ugh, my body feels sticky and weak… boss!”

“My leg… ugh, what is happening!”

“Lei’er, TURN THE LIGHTS ON!”

“Boss, it’s not turning on…”

The boss of the gang begins to feel dizzy; he can’t feel his right hand or left leg at all.

“What is happening… who are you! Why are you doing this!”

The groans filled the air as sounds of bodies hitting the floor echoed along with the never-ending laughter in the dark. The laughter continued to echo as if to mock their futile resistance.

“LEI”

“AHHHH—”

As Lei’s voice echoed, the emergency lights turned on, and the scene that appeared made the boss regret the decision to turn on the lights.

There are corpses everywhere, but none of the bodies are intact… the boss looked at Lei, who switched on the lights. He saw the leg portion of his body collapsed on the floor, and the other half, with the help of the railings, managed to switch on the lights... but he had already died.

Maybe that scream was his last voice, the boss saw as his rib bones, lungs becoming visible as his upper body was slowly transforming into a black goo-like substance.

He turned his head and saw many members with missing limbs, torsos, or heads… As he was looking toward the entrance, he saw the Meng’er who had served him the last glass. No voice was coming out of Meng’s mouth, but he felt he could still hear it, as Meng’s head slowly melted, leaving the skull.

“Boss, help… I don’t want to die…”

The boss, with his eyes turned red, looked at the entrance to see if that person was also there, but what he saw chilled his spine even more.

“AH-AHHHhhhhhh…”

The boss opened his mouth to scream, but it never produced any sound.

He saw a humanoid creature standing there and absorbing all the black goo that was coming towards it by itself. It was such a horrifying sight that he felt dizzy, but he kept looking at that monstrosity as he collapsed.

***

Summer, 1:15;
Location: 0th floor corridor, Allec University;

“Hello, you guys are coming right?”

“Of course, labs shouldn’t be missed! ... wait a little bit more…”

Tut…tut…tut…

Victor nervously walked towards the corridor as he checked his wristwatch.

I have already kept noir in a safe place… Hope she doesn’t get caught…