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Parker was a fool.
Parker was a damn fool .
That’s all Chester could think when Parker gave him the oh-so-wonderful news of their next investigation.
“Really?” Chester yelled, his face contorted in distress, “Another investigation? This is getting out of hand, dude; we can’t keep doing this!”
However, his pleas fell on deaf ears as Parker glared at him.
“We have to,” Parker stated matter-of-factly, as though Chester were the fool, “She needs our help. Her uncle… He watches her sleep, and she thinks he may even be harming her dog.”
“Well, then she should contact the authorities, not us! We are not professionals, Parker!”
“Remember what I said that one time,” Parker snapped, and Chester knew exactly what Parker was going to say. And, of course, Parker said it. He said the damned thing.
“You don’t need a piece of paper to help someone, Chester.”
Chester simply rolled his eyes as he remembered the first time he had said it.
“Whatever, dude.”
Now Chester sat in the car, fiddling with the equipment.
“So basically,” Parker said as he drove, fingers drumming along the steering wheel, “This twenty-year-old girl’s parents went missing about four months back after going hiking, so her uncle came to live with her. Everything was normal until he went into the woods a few weeks ago. He came back and seemed different. She hears her dog screaming every night, too.”
“ I don’t see why she can’t just call the cops, ” Chester grumbled under his breath, in hopes Parker wouldn’t hear. Unfortunately for him, Parker did.
“Chester, it’s like you don’t even care. Don’t you want to help this poor girl? There’s always a chance the cops won’t listen, so it’s our job! She trusts us.”
God, Chester hated the way Parker lectured him as though he were a child. Because he wasn’t a fucking child. He was an adult, just as Parker was.
But by god, if Parker was going to treat him like a child, then Chester would act like one.
Chester let out a humph , crossed his arms, and turned away. He heard Parker let out a grumble of disapproval, but he kept on driving, not uttering a single word. As Chester watched the road, the silence between the two became deafening. The only thing he could hear was the car, their out-of-sync breathing, Parker’s wristwatch, and a fly that had somehow managed to hitch a ride with them.
Tik.
Tok.
Tik.
Tok.
Tik.
Tok.
Tik-
“Sorry,” Chester mumbled, hoping to overpower the sound of the wristwatch. Parker sighed.
“It’s okay,” he said, and when Chester looked over he saw Parker give him a small smile. Now that made him happy. He liked it when Parker smiled. Especially when he smiled at him . It always made him feel so…warm inside.
“We’re here.”
Chester looked up and adjusted his sunglasses. Even through the sunglasses, he saw how horrid the place looked. It looked as though a drill hammer could send it crumbling down like an earthquake. He didn’t dare say anything about it out loud, though. He did not want to be lectured by Parker again.
The two hopped out of the car. Chester let out a yell, his shoes sinking into the muddy, wet grass.
“My socks are wet” he complained as he examined the yard. Just like the house, it was also not taken care of.
“Come on, quit being such a baby,” Parker said, “We have to get inside.”
Chester couldn’t help but feel a pang in his heart when Parker said that.
“I’m not being a baby,” Chester muttered with a huff as he carefully made his way through the mud. Once the two managed to reach the porch, Chester froze.
“Dude…”
Parker turned to him, a slight hint of concern etched on his face.
“What is it?”
“I grabbed everything from the house except for our filming camera.”
Parker’s expression shifted from concern to exasperation, and he brought his hand up and pinched his nose.
“You’re joking,” he said, voice low. Chester looked down, his mouth twitching downward into a frown, and his guilt palpable.
The two stood there on the rickety porch. Parker was grumbling as he tried to think of any solution, while Chester stood there silently, staring downward through his sunglasses.
“We can’t turn around,” Parker sighed in ire, “So we just can’t film this time. Good job, Chester.”
Chester’s head hung low, as though he were a puppy and Parker had just kicked and screamed at him. He listened as the other knocked on the door, twisting one of the small cameras around and around. Footsteps were heard faintly, and Chester could’ve sworn the unstable porch shook a little bit.
The door swung open, and a girl poked her head out. She stared at them with wide eyes, and Parker gave her a smile.
“You must be Nevaeh,” Parker said, and Chester could tell that he thought she was cute, and by all means, she was. She had long dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. Then Chester furrowed his brows. She kind of looked like him but a girl. Was that why he felt nothing when he looked at her? Because she looked like she could be his sister?
“Come on,” Parker said to Chester, snapping him out of thought. Chester hesitated at first, but he took a step and started following the two inside. The pungent stench of mold and mildew filled his nostrils, which made him suppress a gag. Parker seemed unbothered, though, seemingly too focused on Naveah.
“Bro,” Chester whispered to Parker, “It stinks in here.”
Parker shot Chester a scolding glare.
“Chester,” he whispered back sternly, “Be nice.”
Chester huffed and felt a sense of anger wash over him. Parker never listened to Chester, no matter how right or wrong he was.
Naveah led them to a table. The table had stains all over, which made Chester very hesitant to sit down. Some of the stains looked wet, after all. But when he didn’t sit down, Parker sent him a look. Chester sighed and slowly sat down. The chair creaked and shifted under him, threatening to break.
Parker and Naveah spoke to each other, but Chester didn’t pay attention to them. He was too focused on not breaking the chair and his own inner thoughts.
Why did Parker never listen to him? They were supposed to be best friends. Weren’t they supposed to listen to each other? To be there for each other? To understand each other?
These investigations always made Chester question their friendship. He really did like Parker. He was a nice friend outside of investigations. He made Chester feel safe and warm and just happy. Even during the stupid investigations, he felt a little safer by Parker’s side.
But during them, Parker treated him like a fool for not wanting to be there. And Chester didn’t like that. Because he wasn’t a fool. He was just scared.
Scared for good reasons, too. Reasons Parker couldn’t seem to see. God, if Chester had a dollar for every time he wanted to just throw the equipment down, say “I’m done,” and leave, well, he’d be beyond rich. He’d come close quite a few times. But, deep down, he knew. He knew he could never walk out on Parker. He knew he could never knowingly leave him in danger all alone. At least Parker didn’t lead Chester into danger knowingly. Parker would never endanger him on purpose. Ever. And Chester knew that.
But if he would just listen to Chester, they’d be a lot safer.
But it would take a miracle to get him to listen, Chester guessed.
“Chester?”
He looked up and blinked.
“Oh, uh, yeah?”
Parker looked rather displeased with him zoning out. He then turned back to Naveah and gave her a smile. A very warm smile. Chester sucked his teeth, his hands balling into fists in his lap.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be safe with us; we promise,” Parker said and then turned to face Chester with a stern look, “Right, Chester?”
He looked at Parker before turning to Naveah with a slight glare.
“Right.”
Naveah opened her mouth to say something before freezing, her eyes widening. All that escaped her mouth was a quiet and shaky, “He’s here.”
Chester and Parker turned their heads to where she was staring. Chester’s blood ran cold. Whatever it was, it was not human. It looked more like something trying to wear a human suit. It was unnaturally tall with random strands of black hair hanging from its head. Its fingers were long and sharp and such guttural noises fell from its mouth, sending chills down Chester’s spine.
“Hello, Uncle Bob,” Naveah stammered quietly, her hands quivering as she clasped them, “This is Parker and Chester; they’re just some friends.”
Uncle Bob proceeded to let out a wail of disapproval, swinging his arms around. Naveah started to stand from the table, breaths becoming labored. Chester also started to rise, ready to flee to a different room.
“Uncle Bob, please-!”
With a monstrous screech, Uncle Bob grabbed a vase and sent it flying toward Naveah. She screamed and scrambled under the table. Before Chester could even properly stand to run, Parker started to lunge at the ‘man.’ Chester’s blood ran cold, and he lunged across the table, grabbing Parker’s arm.
“Parker, stop!” Chester yelled as he desperately dragged him away. Naveah sobbed and yelled at them to leave repeatedly, but Parker continued to fight against Chester.
“Let me go, Chester!”
Uncle Bob continued to screech, ready to throw more things at them. Parker’s arm slipped from Chester’s grasp, and he grabbed a lamp. With all his might, Parker hurled it toward Uncle Bob with a scream. Uncle Bob started to turn the other way, still screeching. Parker almost grabbed a flowerpot to throw before Chester, in a panic, threw him to the ground with strength he didn’t even know he possessed. Chester was the only one standing, keeping a foot on Parker so he couldn’t go after the damned uncle. He shook slightly as he watched the running monster. Uncle Bob finally rounded a corner, and he listened as the thing ran through the house. Eventually, the footsteps faded, leaving a pissed-off Parker, a sobbing Naveah, and a shocked Chester. He carefully lifted his foot from Parker, who carefully used the table to stand.
“Why didn’t you let me at him?” Parker snapped at Chester, making him flinch. Chester then took in a shaky breath.
“Did you not see…? That thing is a monster!”
“Yeah, and I was going to put him in his place,” Parker exclaimed
Chester slapped his forehead and yelled, “No an actual monster; Parker we need to go!”
Parker was about to yell something else but froze as Naveah started to sob louder. He whipped around and knelt by the table. Chester watched as he scooted underneath it and put a hand on her back.
“It’s okay, I’ll put some cameras around the house, and I’ll fix this. I promise,” he said with a certain gentleness to it. A certain gentleness that made Chester bite his tongue. And then he thought about what Parker said even more, and he felt his stomach churn.
Parker said he’d put the cameras up.
That he’d fix it.
That he promised.
Chester stared at Parker as he comforted Naveah, which made Parker send him a glare sharp as a knife. Chester’s eyes were filled with hurt, but Parker didn’t see that. The sunglasses covered the hurt. Maybe Parker would be nicer if Chester took them off. Maybe he’d comfort him, his best friend, rather than the girl they had just met. Maybe…
His hand twitched, and he thought about removing his sunglasses. Letting Parker see how much his words, his actions, and his choices affected Chester.
But he didn’t.
He’d deal with the hurt, because, in Chester’s eyes, Parker would never understand. So what was the point? Parker was a fool.
A damn fool .
But if Parker was a fool, then what was Chester?
Chester was the one staying by Parker’s side, so was he also a fool?
He could stop being a fool.
He could stop betting on Parker.
He could leave.
But he also couldn’t, because he cared about Parker.
Maybe they were both fools.
After all, only fools bet on losing dogs.
After a few minutes, Parker helped Naveah stand and wrapped an arm around her. Chester stood there, shuffling his feet and trying to not stare at them. He watched the two walk away. He hated this. He just wanted Parker to realize the danger, pack up, and leave. He hated to admit it but, deep down, he wanted to leave Naveah in the rickety house. He knew that was wrong, though.
He heard lonesome footsteps echo through the house and froze up. Was that thing coming back? Was it going to attack him?
He felt himself start to panic.
‘No, no, no, no, no,’ was all that ran through his head, repeating like a broken record.
‘No, no, no, no, no…’
“Chester?”
His head snapped up at the familiar voice, disoriented. Parker stood there. He looked concerned, which somehow made Chester feel better. It was always nice to have a reminder that Parker did care about him.
“Yeah, just zoned out,” he stammered, “Sorry.”
Parker chuckled, which sent a wave of warmth through Chester.
“I already put the cameras everywhere,” Parker explained, “Only one left to put up is our room’s.”
When he said the last part, he gestured to the floor. Chester glanced down and saw the small camera he had held earlier lying there. A reminder of the chaos from earlier.
“Alright,” Chester said as he grabbed it, “Let’s go to bed then.”
They headed to a small spare bedroom. Chester smiled a little, the past events slipping his mind. Parker seemed to not be upset with each other anymore, and that was enough for him.
When they reached the bedroom, though, he frowned.
Two separate beds.
Two tiny separate beds.
“Nice,” Parker said, hurrying over to the left one. Chester eyed him as he shuffled over to the one on the right after planting the small camera. He knew what he had to do. He’d done it before.
He lifted the covers, careful to stand where Parker wouldn’t be able to see the sheets.
“What the fuck,” Chester fake gagged.
“What is it?” Parker asked, his voice filled with worry.
Bingo.
“It’s covered in something,” Chester lied, feigning disgust, “It looks like piss and shit!”
“Oh god,” Parker said, “Let me see.”
The words “fuck” and “shit” were the only ones that ran through Chester’s mind as he heard Parker start to walk over. He quickly threw the covers down onto the bed.
“No,” he nearly yelled, making Parker freeze. He had to suppress a facepalm. Damnit, now he seemed suspicious. He had to think of something!
“It’s really bad,” he stammered, “You might throw up.”
He turned to face Parker, who stared at him in confusion.
“Alright,” Parker said uncertainly, “Are you gonna sleep on the floor, or…?”
Chester wanted to cry, now. He really didn’t want to be the one to suggest sharing Parker’s bed, because he’d definitely catch on.
“Yeah, okay,” Chester sighed sadly, and he wasn’t acting. He had really hoped Parker would suggest that they share the bed. Chester started to get on the floor without any pillows or blankets, which must’ve been such a sad sight that Parker felt pity.
“Hey,” Parker sighed, scratching the back of his neck, “I’ll take the floor.”
“No, it’s okay,” Chester said as he lay on his back, “You deserve the bed.”
He watched as Parker groaned and pinched his nose, guilt gnawing at him. Finally, Chester took a deep breath.
“We could share the bed,” he said, “So neither of us have to sleep on the floor. That way we’d both be happy.”
Parker grumbled something about the beds being too tiny, but then let out a sigh of exasperation.
“I guess you’re right.”
Chester almost jumped up and scrambled on the bed, but he had to keep calm. He did not want to be suspicious, so he stood slowly. Parker also stood and stared at the bed. It really was tiny and could obviously not hold both of them normally. Chester glanced at Parker, who rubbed his temples. He then started to lie down on the edge. Once he was comfortable, he grumbled and gestured to the tiny spot next to the wall. Chester crawled over him and tried to squeeze into the spot. That almost sent Parker flying to the ground. Chester was about to give up and retreat back to the floor when Parker muttered something. He started to scooch closer to Chester.
“Get up a little,” he said with a glance at Chester. Chester rose, and Parker managed to wiggle his way to the center of the bed, now on his back. He then gestured for Chester to lay back down, so he did. He was practically on top of Parker, but with how they were laying it was still very uncomfortable.
Chester held his breath and cautiously maneuvered one arm to lay across Parker’s chest and the other under his neck. Parker let out a confused and defiant noise, and Chester waited for him to say something. When Parker let out a huff, Chester couldn’t help but smile and nuzzle his face into Parker’s neck. He hesitated before putting a leg over Parker. His chest felt so warm and fuzzy.
Then it intensified.
It intensified due to Parker wrapping an arm around Chester, pulling him closer, and using the other hand to hold Chester’s head. Chester’s heartbeat quickened, but he was too tired to say anything. All he managed out was a hum of contentment. Parker just grumbled.
And as he drifted off to sleep, he could’ve sworn he felt Parker pet his head carefully.
Chester stirred awake, his and Parker’s limbs tangled. He heard something outside the door, and, in a sleepy haze, he carefully removed himself from Parker.
Usually, he’d be a lot more cautious, but he was so tired. He was so tired he really didn’t care.
He twisted the doorknob and swung the door open. His sleepiness was replaced with shock.
In front of him stood Uncle Bob, who had hold of Naveah by the nape of her neck. His hand covered her mouth, but, as he went to grab Chester, she screamed for him to do one thing.
Run.
It was too late, though. Uncle Bob grabbed Chester by the neck and started dragging him. Panic washed over him. This couldn’t be happening; how could he have been so stupid?
Naveah sobbed and Chester screamed as they were both dragged down the hallway, headed toward the basement.
“Parker!” Chester wailed, desperate for his best friend to come and rescue him. He went to yell again, but Uncle Bob tightened his grip around Chester’s neck, strangling him.
They were nearing the basement when Chester started to lose hope. He let out one final distraught cry, causing the monster to choke him again.
‘I’m dead,’ he thought, ‘I’m fucking dead.’
But, as though the stars aligned for Chester right then, Parker came scrambling out of the spare room. His eyes were wide as saucers before he came sprinting toward them.
Uncle Bob let out a monstrous roar and thrashed Naveah and Chester. The monster then sent Naveah flying toward Parker. Chester somehow managed a smile. Parker could save Chester!
But that smile was wiped off his face as he felt himself start to be dragged into the basement. He looked at Parker and Naveah; Parker was comforting her, not even sparing Chester a passing glance. Horror washed over him; was he actually going to die?
“Parker!”
Parker turned his head toward them, but that was all Chester could see before being thrown down into the basement. He landed on the cold concrete floor, his sunglasses flying off his face. He let out a caterwaul as pain shot through his body. The door slammed, and he heard it being locked. Chester tried to scramble up but collapsed.
“Fuck,” he groaned, trying to ignore the pain as inched his way across the floor. The pain was overwhelming, and he longed to be back in bed with Parker, sleeping peacefully. But then he remembered that, no, he didn’t want to be anywhere near Parker. Parker hadn’t even noticed Chester. He was too concerned about Naveah.
God, he hated Naveah. He hated how she stole Parker away from him. Parker was his best friend. Not hers.
A shadow loomed over him.
Fuck.
He was going to die.
He was definitely going to die.
He looked up; Uncle Bob was stumbling over to a cage that was covered with a towel. The towel was stained with what Chester assumed was blood. He tried to continue moving, but he hurt. He hurt so much.
The towel was thrown, and it landed beside his head. The stench of rot filled his nose, and he had to fight back a gag. From the cage, a shrill screech was heard. Such a shrill screech that Chester thought his ears might bleed.
He heard the cage rattle, and Uncle Bob shushed the thing. The noise quieted down, which made Chester’s heartache. This couldn’t be good. This couldn’t be good at all. He started to try to wriggle. He wasn’t ready to die.
“Chester,” Uncle Bob gargled out, making him pause his attempts at wiggling away. He held his breath for a moment. Why wasn’t the thing attacking him?
“What…” Chester stammered out breathlessly, “What do you want with me? Please just…just let me go!”
“Do not be afraid,” Uncle Bob said, his demonic voice sending shivers down Chester’s spine, “It won’t hurt for long… If you don’t fight it, that is.”
Chester managed to sit up a little, backed up into a corner now. He caught a glimpse of the cage; inside was what appeared to be a dog. It wasn’t normal, though. Its eyes were hollow, and it looked more like something wearing a dog skin suit.
“Please, I just wanna go home,” Chester whimpered. He was now trembling. He was in so much pain and was beyond terrified.
“Home?” Uncle Bob laughed, “With that Parker, I suppose?”
Chester nodded.
“Yes,” he begged, “Please. I’ll do anything. Please let me go.”
“Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Uncle Bob said, “Do you think Parker’s still even here?”
Chester felt his stomach drop. Had Parker left? Surely not…
“I’m not saying he did leave,” Uncle Bob explained, which calmed Chester, “But, if we think rationally, he most certainly did. He loves Naveah; do you think he would keep her in danger for you?”
Chester stared up at Uncle Bob and tried to appear strong.
“Parker wouldn’t do that to me,” he spat, “He’s my best friend. Let me go. Now.”
Uncle Bob tilted his head.
“Come now, Chester,” he said, “You know that is a lie. Join me; you’ll never have to worry about him again. Allow yourself to become like us, or you will be fed to us.”
Chester was about to yell, but Uncle Bob didn’t give him a chance.
“He’ll never love you, for you aren’t Naveah. I’ve seen the way you care for him. It is a waste of your heart. A waste of your soul. Parker will never listen to you. He’ll never hear you. He’ll never see you. Do you think he feels good when you smile? Do you think he cares about you at all? He takes advantage of your heart. Deny him the satisfaction. For he’s a losing dog, and you’ve done nothing but bet on him. Join us. Let us bring you warmth. We will make you feel whole again, you poor soul.”
Chester listened, his eyes widening. Each sentence made his heart shatter more and more until it was in pieces. Scattered about the floor as though it had been thrown.
“Come, Chester.”
Uncle Bob extended his hand to Chester. He stared at it, not blinking.
“I…”
Uncle Bob was right, wasn’t he?
Parker never listened. Parker was a fool. He was a losing dog, and Chester kept betting on him.
Parker was so stubborn. So hell-bent on saving others.
He’d never listen.
He was a fool.
Chester lifted a hand as he contemplated what Uncle Bob had said.
They could bring him warmth.
Maybe one that rivaled the warmth that Parker brought. God, he had been so stupid to think that Parker would ever care for him.
His hand twitched, thinking of Parker’s smile for a moment. The way they had cuddled.
If Parker didn’t care, then why did he save him every other time? Why would he allow him to share the bed? Why did he let Chester cuddle him?
His hand twitched some more.
Parker was a fool…
But Parker was his fool. And if that made Chester a fool, then he’d proudly say it.
He was a fool, too.
Maybe he was also a losing dog.
So instead of taking Uncle Bob’s hand, he launched himself forward with all of his strength, ignoring the pain coursing through his body. He snatched his sunglasses from the floor and stood on wobbly legs. Uncle Bob let out a roar and reeled his arm back. With a swift motion, he snagged Chester’s belly. Chester didn’t fall, though. He simply yelled and grabbed a nearby chair, hurling it at the monster. The dog-like creature screeched from its cage, desperate to join the fight. Chester started clambering up the steps, ignoring the blood from his gash dripping all over his hands.
He had to get out. He had to live. He was not going to die.
He heard the cage open.
Shit.
He grasped his sunglasses between his teeth as he started to attempt to unlock the door. The blood was making it difficult to do anything.
Shit, shit, shit.
The two snarling monsters started to approach, ready to feast upon Chester’s flesh.
And Chester couldn’t unlock the fucking door.
Just as he was about to turn around and attempt a fight, Chester heard a click, and the door swung open. At the sight of the exit, he lunged. His sunglasses landed first, skidding across the floor. He then fell to the floor with a thud and gasped for air. He heard the door shut and lock again, and, when he looked up, he saw none other than Parker. Parker’s eyes were already wide when he turned, but when he saw Chester they turned as wide as saucers. His eyes were red, as though he had cried.
“Chester, I…”
Chester blinked and started to try and sit up, but the pain from his wound washed over him. He yelled out and went limp, too tired to even try to move.
“Chester!”
Parker was by his side now, breathing shakily as he scooped Chester up a little. Chester didn’t have the energy to open his eyes until he felt Parker’s hand cup his cheek gently. He opened his eyes weakly to see Parker’s distraught expression.
“Chester, I’m sorry,” Parker said weakly, “I didn’t notice you at first, and we went to go look for a key…I’m…I’m so sorry, Chester…”
Parker was on the verge of sobbing, and Chester couldn’t bear to see him like that, so he managed a small smile and leaned his face into Parker’s hand.
“It’s okay,” he said softly, “You still saved me, dude.”
“Barely,” Parker hiccuped, “Chester…I’m so glad you’re alright. I’ll get you home; I’ll patch you up. I promise.”
He gently held Chester into his chest, burying his face into his hair. Chester couldn’t help but nuzzle his face into the crook of Parker’s neck.
The two sat there, breathing shakily. They were both fools, but they were each other’s fools, and that was enough.
And as they sat there, it became abundantly clear.
They were both betting on each other.
And every time they lost a fight, they’d find each other. They’d find each other and they’d snuggle together like the mangy mutts they were. Flea and tick-ridden, they would nuzzle each other until they were ready for their next imminent loss.
They were both losing dogs, and they’d bet on each other forever.