Before Dawn

The darkness was thick, almost tangible, as he slowly opened his eyes. His heart raced with anticipation, and he could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He knew what he had to do, and he couldn't wait for the sun to rise. Slowly, he sat up, taking care not to wake his wife or children. They slept soundly, their soft breaths the only sound in the room. He slipped out of bed, his movements quiet and precise. He dressed in the dark, pulling on his old, worn clothes. He grabbed his hat and coat, checking the pockets for the last time. He slipped out of the house, closing the door behind him. The cold air hit him like a punch to the gut, but he didn't mind. He had a job to do, and nothing was going to stop him.

He walked through the empty streets, the silence broken only by the sound of his footsteps. He knew the way very well, every turn and every shadow. He was careful not to make any noise, not to attract any unwanted attention. The alleyways were dark and treacherous, but he moved with ease, his senses on high alert. He could feel the eyes on him, the whispers trailing behind him, but he ignored them. He knew what he had to do.

Finally, he reached his destination. It was an old, run-down building, with boarded-up windows and a door that looked like it was about to fall off its hinges. He pushed the door open, wincing at the creak of the hinges. The inside of the building was just as he remembered it, dusty and abandoned. But there, in the corner, was the reason he had come. 

His pet.

He walked towards the cage; it was a large cage, made of rusted metal. His steps were slow and deliberate. His pet was a creature like no other, with sharp claws and teeth, and eyes that glowed in the dark. Inside, he could see the faint glow of its eyes, the soft rustling of wings. But he trusted it and had raised it since it was a tiny thing. He opened the cage, reaching in carefully. The creature sniffed his hand, then licked his palm. It growled softly, its eyes never leaving his face.

He grabbed a small pail from beside the cage and started to fill it with food and water. The creature watched him, its tail swishing back and forth. He knew it was hungry and had waited all night for him. He placed the pail inside the cage, then stepped back, out of reach. The creature lunged for the food, its claws scrabbling against the metal of the cage. He watched as it tore into the meat and drank the water greedily.

He smiled, feeling a rush of affection for the creature. He poured more food into another bowl, setting it down on the floor of the cage. The growl turned into a purr, and the creature dug into the food eagerly. He watched it eat, his heart filled with tenderness and love.

He knew that this pet was not like any other, not by a long shot. It was dangerous, unpredictable. But to him, it was more than that. It was his responsibility, his duty to care for it. He had taken it upon himself to look after it, to make sure it had food and shelter. And he would continue to do so, no matter what others might think or say.

As he watched the creature eat, he couldn't help but wonder about its past. Where did it come from? What kind of life had it led before it ended up here? He knew that he would never be able to answer these questions, but they still haunted him. He felt a deep connection to this creature, a bond that he couldn't explain.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching from outside. He tensed, his heart racing. He didn't want anyone to find out about his pet, about what he was doing. But it was too late. The door to the building creaked open, and a beam of light shone into the dark room.

He turned to face the intruder, his hand going to his pocket. He pulled out a small vial, filled with a strange, glowing liquid. Without hesitation, he threw the vial at the light source, shattering it. The room plunged back into darkness.

He heard a curse from outside, then footsteps running away. He sighed in relief, then turned back to his pet. It was finished eating, and now sat in the corner of its cage, watching him with those glowing eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out another vial, this one filled with a strange powder. He opened the cage and let his pet out, then sprinkled the powder on its food.

The creature sniffed the powder, then started to eat again. As he watched the creature finish its meal, he couldn't help but wonder what would happen if it ever escaped. He shuddered at the thought. The creature was dangerous, and he knew it could cause harm to anyone who crossed its path. But at the same time, he felt a sense of responsibility towards it. It was his job to make sure it stayed safe, even if that meant keeping it locked up in this old, abandoned building.

He checked his watch, noticing that it was almost dawn. He needed to hurry if he didn't want to be late for work. Reluctantly, he began to tidy up the cage, making sure there was no food left out. He carefully gathered all the scraps and put them back in the bag, not wanting to attract any unwanted attention.

As he turned to leave, he heard a soft whisper behind him. He froze, his heart racing. Slowly, he turned around, his eyes scanning the darkness. But there was nothing there. The whisper had been his imagination, he told himself. Shaking off the eerie feeling, he hurried out of the building, making sure to lock the door behind him. He had to get back before anyone noticed he was gone, before anyone saw him with his pet.

The walk home was long and arduous, and he could feel the weight of his secret pressing down on him. He was torn between his love for his pet and the knowledge that what he was doing was wrong. He wished there was some way to make things right, to free his pet from this life of captivity. But he knew that it was not that simple. His pet was a part of him, and letting it go would be like losing a limb.

As he finally reached his front door, he paused, taking one last look at the sky. The first rays of sunlight were beginning to peek over the horizon, and he knew that soon the world would be awake. He steeled himself, taking a deep breath, and opened the door, stepping inside. His wife and children were still asleep, their gentle snores filling the air. He closed his eyes, wishing he could forget what he had seen, what he had done. But he knew that it was impossible.

He would continue to visit his pet, to care for it as best he could, even as he tried to convince himself that it was all just a product of his schizophrenia. It was a delicate balance, one that he could not afford to lose. For as long as he had this secret, he would always be torn between the man he was and the man he wished he could be. But for now, he had to focus on his responsibilities, on keeping his family and his secret safe. He knew he would be back to that abandoned building, tomorrow, just before dawn.