The turning of the key woke me up. I was not sure if it was the neighbor Molly. So, I stayed on the couch for a moment longer. It wasn't Alex. I waited. Then the hinges of the door woke me again. This time it was Alex. I put my front paws on the ground and stretched, back paws still on the couch. I could smell him already. Though I smelt a heavy layer of a smell he gets whenever he comes home first.

I walked to him slowly, my body still taught from sleeping. I haven't seen him in a while. So, I had to inspect him closely. He is mine and mine alone and no minx or incubus will ever have him. Greeting him with my wet nose, I circle him while taste testing. He's fine. Nothing unusual. Just tired. I returned to the couch to get back to sleep.

*GURRR*

I woke up to the feeling of hunger. It was weird too. I ate dinner last night when that strange metallic machine dispensed food yet again. So why am I hungry now? I lifted my head. *Sniff Sniff* I could hardly smell anything under the heavy smell of new wood, but there was a peculiar smell coming from the dusty room. It smelled... like green? Maybe blue? I got up off the couch front paws first while stretching as far as I could. Then my hind legs slowly moved off the couch and I ventured into the dusty room. As I got closer the weirdly alluring smell made me go faster and faster until I was in full sprint. I ran so fast and far I didn't even realize until the last moment I was about to hit a table leg.

*BAM*

Owww. That hurt.

*Smack!*

Owww. That hurt too.

The strange rectangular box Alex brings home usually fell on my head after I hit the table leg.*Sniff Sniff* That was where the smell was coming from too! I focused on the box and noticed it was slowly opening and a light was shining through the seam.

My senses were blinded. First, the turquoise light erupted out, blinding me.

Then, the smell overwhelmed me.

I could not smell or see anything.

I fumbled around, hitting my head and stubbing my toes, until finally, I could see again!

Though, I still could not smell anything other than turquoise. Even after all this, my sight locked onto the seven glass vials leaking the glowing liquid. So attracted, I only barely notice the gibberish humans use written on the inside of the box.

'WARNING: Accidental ingestion of INT-97, especially in small animals, can lead to death."

My tongue rolled out of my mouth, more saliva dripping than when Alex gave me barbeque leftovers.

I ignored the broken glass and continued to drink it with glazed over eyes until I could no longer smell or taste anything left and I could only see two vials remaining.

I stared at them until my stomach overcame my mind and I CHOMPED on it, completely shattering the vial while eating both the glass and liquid. My tongue bled and it HURT. But, the taste trumped and through sheer will and dripping blood I moved to consume the last vial.

*CHOMP!*

The sound of breaking glass just barely got through to me as the pain in my mouth doubled and I finished the remaining visible liquid.

Then in strange lucidity, I became aware of destroying Alex's stuff, so I quickly pushed the box under the buffet and licked up my blood. I returned to the couch and fell asleep.

*GURRR*

I woke up again. Not unusual for me. I am a light sleeper. But my hunger was not the problem this time. I needed to go to the bathroom. My stomach was churning and I was about to let loose. I could not go to the bathroom in the house. Alex would be mad at me. So, I waited. I am used to it.

"Bark. Bark. Bark. BarrAA. Aaaawwww. Wow. HmmmAA." I fell to the floor in pain!

This time it was different! My whole body ached. My mouth and stomached itched. My head felt a balloon expanding in a bottle. My bones were creaking and cracking. My teeth got sharper and longer. My nails grew to a fine point. I could smell better; that pug's fat ass in the other building was the first to enter my nose. I could hear better; him twitching in his sleep was noisy from here. I could taste more; even what I had for dinner 3 years ago (admittedly, the same thing as last night). My thoughts were exploding inside my mind. Things I never thought about. Things no dog would think about. I didn't feel like myself. I felt like a monster.

What are humans?

What are dogs?

What am I?

Why do I exist?

Why do dogs exist?

Why are poodles just so damn sexy?!

Just what is wrong with those arrogant bastard squirrels?!

My mind was going so fast that soon everything slowed down. I could hear Alex say my name, but it took minutes.

I looked around and saw birds, stopped in motion outside the window. Their brown underbelly with an orange streak in the middle and sky blue feathers on top. I could see their eyelids close and open.

And then... it stopped. Everything. My mind returned to normal. My stomach stopped hurting and itching. The pain in my mouth from the previous cuts disappeared. Like everything was some big elaborate illusion. Not the hunger. Not the turquoise vials. Not the bleeding. Not even the speed was left.

The only negative thing remaining was the urge to go to the bathroom.

Though everything seemed to have come to an end, I felt sharper, mentally that is. My claws were as dull as they always were.

Then I noticed Alex was looking at me strangely. He had a weird glint in his eyes.

He turned away and pulled up his front leg. It always amazed me how they can stand so long on only two legs. The amazement stopped there though. He used his front leg to look at one of his strange devices and then he spoke some questioning and grateful gibberish to me and ran off. Pulling myself out of my thoughts, my stomach demanded to be released, so I stared at Alex with a, ' If you don't let me out soon, I will stain this floor red and brown," look.

While doing some odd pose, he suddenly turned towards me with an understanding look and spoke more gibberish of acknowledgment.

Ahhh! Such relief! Time to stall for more time outside.

This grass looks interesting. Oh? This clump of dirt is different. I bet Charlie was the one responsible. He is pretty sexy so I'll let it go. Now this clump is truly interesting. It has 6 more leaves of grass than the others.

*Sniff?* Huh? That is one handsome man! Where is he? *Sniff Sniff* That direction! Ugh! Why does Alex have to delay me from my date with destiny? Huh? It's loose? He's setting me free to pursue my dream!

Oh, look. At. Him. That fur. Ooh, la la. So sleek and proud. His ears are standing up too! Those eyes, there so brown! *Sniff sniff*

"Ooh, he has that fancy food too," I think while using my nose in close proximity to his butt.

I'm almost done inspecting him when the ground starts to shake and I look up to be blinded by two bright lights.

Since this other dog is in front of me, I take advantage of the situation.

I violently shove him towards the lights!

*BAM* *Squish*

In that millisecond I'm already leaping to the other side of the road.

OWWW! Both my hind legs were hit and I landed inside a thick bush.

The pain is killing me!

I can barely hold on to my consciousness, let alone howl in pain hoping for help.

The last things I hear are the sad howls of Alex.

"ARTEMIS!"

"ARTEMIS! It's going to be fine. You're going to be fine baby. Everything's going to be just fine. JOSH GODDAMIT! CALL AN AMBULANCE! MY DOG WAS JUST RUN OVER!"