There was no other explanation. Gabriel tried to asphyxiate me. Again. Thankfully I’d woken up in time. Milliseconds before his stomach formed a seal over my nose and mouth. He’d have happily deprived my brain of oxygen without a second thought.

“If you’d been successful, I’d have eventually lost motor functions, cognitive functions, then slipped into a coma. Permanently. What then, Gabriel? Who would go running with you? Who would take you to the ocean? Who would feed you? Not me, I’d be a vegetable.” I waited for an answer.

Gabriel looked at me quizzically. He made a small broof noise and pushed his nose into my thigh.

“Ahh! That’s cold, you big oaf!”

He broofed again. I knew what he wanted.

“Can’t you read the clock? It’s seven thirty-eight and I always feed you at seven forty-five. Waking me up earlier does not mean you get to eat earlier. Even if you strangle me.” I glared.

Gabriel wagged his crooked tail and stuck his tongue out at me. He mocked my pain.

“Fine. But don’t tell mum I’m feeding you early. Apparently, you’re on a diet.”

I got up with a groan, my back still taut from an overindulgence at the gym on Thursday. Gabriel didn’t care. As I lumbered over to the kitchen and popped open his food bin, he scurried circles around me. Before his meal hit the metal bowl, Gabriel’s tongue was in it. I could barely see his face, snout-deep in kangaroo steak delight.

Mum was right, it felt good to have him around.

I reached over to pet him, but my phone buzzed. Work. It was supposed to be Sunday, but maybe things worked differently in Australia.

-- 

“Come on old chap, you’re supposed to run WITH me. I can’t just run around you the whole way.” I said, maintaining a brisk jog-in-place as Gabriel collapsed to the ground, a leg in every direction.

We’d made it all the way to the graveyard before he gave up. We were supposed to round the whole neighborhood, but I didn’t want to push him. Admittedly, it was a record. On previous occasions he’d gotten distracted or wanted to go home.

I stopped jogging and took the opportunity to rest as well. A cool June morning breeze washed over us. I hadn’t adjusted to the inversed seasons of the Southern Hemisphere, but knew a hot winter was on its way. Gabriel flopped to his side and revealed his pale stomach. I rolled my eyes and tried to resist, but to no avail. With a huff, I sat down beside him, removed my jacket, and rubbed his belly as I looked around.

[drawing]graveyard[/drawing]

The graveyard was quite pretty. It was clean, simple, and organized in appealing symmetry. No fences. The occasional wilted flower, but no unnerving biblical figures to jar the eyes. Perhaps it was too sterile though. It lacked character. I wouldn’t have been disappointed to leave my body there. Still, I could do better.

The sound of a motor scooter coming down the road drew my attention, but I only turned when it slowed beside us. A kid hopped off, black shirt and jeans, bald and sweating. I wasn’t sure if they were a boy or a girl, but I could tell they were new to the vehicle as they tripped off it and approached us. Gabriel watched but didn’t budge from his slump, so I called out.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Are you… Dr. Carp?” They asked in worrying urgency between breaths. An American? I didn’t know any Americans, but one clearly knew me.

“Yes… But I’m not at work right now.” I tried to smile, but it didn’t seem to alleviate the tension.

The kid was lanky and unused to their own shape like they’d only just bloomed into a late puberty. Their bald head betrayed a subtle tan line where they must’ve shaved it not too long ago. But their bloodshot eyes struck me the most. Two sleepless brown voids, pleading at me.

“Have you tried contacting the office?” I asked, ready to give a phone number.

“No, I know, sorry. Ugh. I’m Harmony, Hi.” They extended a hand.

“Hello.” I took it.

“Um, Can I ask you a strange question? It’s important.” Harmony said, not asking.

“What’s wrong?”

“Have you been into work today? Did you get called in?” Their intensity grew.

“I’m not sure I should answer that.” I stood up and tugged Gabriel to his feet.

“I just need to know if your office has my… friend.”

“I apologize, but that’s absolutely against policy. Please speak to the sergeant If you need anything.” I said firmly.

I tried to turn around and walk away, but Gabriel was immovable behind me. Harmony quickly kept up and pressed me further. They were growing desperate, on the edge of tears.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Please. I came on too strong. I don’t need to know anything else, just what time you got the call. Please Dr. Carp. It’s a matter of life and death… Someone I love is in danger.” They pleaded.

I stopped walking.

“I know you know what that means…” Harmony let out a slow breath.

The kid’s eyes stared at me, glistening. Did I pity them? Did I believe them? My heart clenched.

“I got called in at seven thirty-nine. Almost seven forty… It’s eight now, I’ll be there in forty-five minutes. I hope that’s not your friend.” I said.

They looked relieved as they stepped back, mouthing ‘seven thirty-nine’ to themselves silently. Then they answered.

“It is. Thank you.”

Without warning or hesitation, Harmony drew a long thin blade from their pocket and slipped it into their chest, only wincing for a moment.

I froze. What had I just seen? Had they just…?

My thoughts gagged in my throat as the young stranger in front of me collapsed to the ground. I dropped Gabriel’s leash and dove over Harmony. A dark stain grew across their black t-shirt. I fumbled my phone out as I pushed on the wound. The knife was planted directly above the heart, so I bunched their shirt around the opening to stabilize the blade and stem the bleeding. If the knife had found its way into their heart, they didn’t have much time left.

Shit. What was the emergency number in Australia? Mum had definitely told me. I ought to know it but didn’t have time to find out, so I called the last number in my phone. It rang twice before he picked up.

“Randy. RANDY! Listen to me! I’m on the south side of the graveyard with a kid who’s just impaled themselves. A deep puncture wound, between the fourth and fifth rib. Bring any first aid from the lab and call an ambulance straight away. Immediately.”

I dropped the phone and wrapped my loose jacket sleeve around the blade. Harmony’s black shirt was saturated and oozing. I needed to keep the blade as still as possible, but Harmony was starting to seize. Their entire body went rigid. Both arms strained and curled as their chest convulsed, opening the wound further. I leaned in to keep their chest still without lifting pressure off the wound. Gabriel hid in the grass, whining in concern.

They convulsed again, straining against my weight.