Page 2 of Knot My Secret

Still, there’s no answer, so I peek through the window. The curtains are drawn, so I can’t see anything. I knock one more time, and still there is no answer. I look around the area, but don’t see him outside working or any trace that he was. He doesn’t usually take a trip to the river on this day, so I’m not sure where he could be. There are times he’s gone to the city, but he always tells me. I don’t think much of it, though, because there have been times he’s out and about and not here to accept his delivery. So I try the knob and find it unlocked. Tiger has told me that if he’s not here, I can leave his basket in his kitchen so the animals don’t get to it. He trusts me to be in his home because we’re close.

When the door opens, a strange scent fills my nose, but I can’t quite figure out what it is. It smells almost like iron. Perhaps he was doing some work in here.

“Tiger?” I call out again. There’s no response. “I’m just going to leave your basket in the kitchen.”

I walk through the small living area and toward the kitchen that’s at the back of the house. The scent grows stronger, dulling out his beta scent, and I wrinkle my nose as I glance around.

“Ti—” The basket slips from my fingers, the contents spilling all over the floor, the moment I step into the kitchen. My hands fly to my mouth and I gasp I start to choke and step back. Everything in my body tells me to run, but my feet are suddenly stuck to the ground like they’ve been nailed to the floor.

Blood.

There’s so much blood.

Everywhere.

It’s… everywhere.

There’s so much…

I… didn’t think a human body had that much blood.

Tiger is lying on the kitchen floor, a pool of thick red blood surrounding him.

Vomit crawls up my throat, and I turn to throw up all over the floor, but nothing comes up. I haven’t had breakfast yet, and I don’t know if that’s better or worse. I heave again, my stomach tensing to the point of pain.

Run! I tell myself, but I don’t move.

My heart pounds harder, and my breath comes in sharp pants. The smell is so strong now I can taste it. It’s everywhere…

There’s a gargled sound, and whip my head toward Tiger’s body.

He’s alive.

His eyes slowly open, his fingers twitching by his side.

I run to him, slipping on the blood coating the floor and fall to my knees. It sticks to my skin like honey.

“Tiger, what happened?” I say.

My hands shake, trying to figure out where to put them to help him—to stop the bleeding. There’s so much; how is he still alive?

His lips move and sounds come out, but they aren’t words. Nothing I can make out.

“I-I don’t understand.” I’m sobbing and my throat is raw. “What happened? Who did this? How can I help you?”

His chest and stomach are covered in so much blood that it looks black. I couldn’t begin to figure out where he is bleeding from.

“Tiger,” I cry. “Please—”

His fingers twitch again, and that’s when I see it. Something small and silver.

Another sound leaves him.

“What are you trying to tell me?” I beg. “Say it again. P-please.”

I lean closer, turning my head so my ear is near his mouth.

His hand fully turns over, fully showing me the item in his hand. I don’t know what it is, but I take it, and look him in the eye. He gives the slightest nod, mostly with his eyes, but I understand that he wants me to have this. Whatever it is.