FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

In A Cage: Chapter 2 Quickly I ascended the stairs of my basement, looking over my shoulder as I did, my mind racing with thoughts and wonders. Nigel...after months of talking with him I never knew his name, but now I feel I know so much more. I couldn't help but wonder why Dad keeps Nigel in a cage; did Nigel do something really bad? Did I do something wrong? What did he do to deserve it? I just couldn't keep my mind from wandering to these questions.

As I got to the top of the stairs, a slight pant in my breath as I look around the corner of the door to see my Dad busy within the bowels of the kitchen, the frying pan sizzling the hamburger meat, bringing a pleasing smell to me, a smile gently gleaming over my features. "How much longer Dad?"

"Only a couple of more minutes son, go ahead and have a seat, I will be right there." Quickly I got to the living room, having a seat on the couch, eager to have the delicious hamburger that I knew was waiting for me. Though, the questions still crept up into my mind about Nigel...maybe I should ask Dad about it. I shook my head gently; keep it out of my head for now I told myself.

"And there we are," my father handed me a plate with one hamburger and a delicious looking set of fries. "Dig in Rob."

My smile couldn't help but peel into a much larger and greater beaming and most likely adorable specimen. "Thanks Dad." Quickly I wrapped my hands around the thick bun, digging into my meal whole heartedly. A feint chuckle could be heard from my Dad, but I was too hungry to care. I kept eating and eating and before I even knew what has happened, my plate was empty. I released a soft belch, a blush creeping to my features.

My dad chuckled as he ate his own burger, chewing into his own food as I ate. My thought continued to race about Nigel...ending up with me staring blankly out into space as I thought. My dad gave me a strange look and slowly stopped eating, putting down his hamburger, sighing out gently; was he already upset with me? "Rob? What's on your mind?"

I felt so small. I didn't want to bring up what happened between Nigel and me, but it was all I could think about, all that I wanted to think about. I had to let it out, there was no way I could hide it. "Dad, when I was down there today, me and the...thing had a conversation."

My dad himself stopped eating, looking to me with a weird look in his eye, almost as if he was worried for me for talking to Nigel. "Oh...and how did that go?"

"It...it was interesting Dad, but...why was I never allowed to know his name was Nigel?" He gasped, looking down at his burger, he seemed to be rather deep in thought, I always wonder what's going on, and ever since Nigel got here they have always been acting strange. My dad put down his burger, slowly looking over to me. "Son, you need to understand this is...a very important thing, alright? Nigel is...something that we just shouldn't share with you. But I can never resist, especially since he has taking such a liking to you...Nigel always gets so excited to talk to you, to just...know you are there. He is very powerful Robert, very very powerful, and you need to understand I am just...trying to protect you. Ever since he got here that is all I have ever tried to do." My dad looked rather upset, stressed maybe; that all this has come crashing down at once on his shoulders. I couldn't help but frown, seeing my Dad so...broken.

"I...I am sorry I brought it up Dad, I never meant to screw anything up...especially dinner for you..." I looked down to my feet; I felt like the worst son in the world. How could I ever be so cruel, making my dad feel so bad?

"Rob..." he sighed, gently shaking his head "Rob you never do. I just, am trying so hard to keep this...this all a secret to you, but maybe it isn't right to do...I...I will have a talk with Nigel tonight, alright? I will see about all of this, and I will come up with a solution for you, alright buddy?" I looked back up to my dad, nodding gently. I was crying, no reason I could think of popped into my head. Maybe I was just as saddened by this whole mystery as dad was clearly stressed by it.

"Alright Dad...I am so sorry."

"It's okay sport, it is all okay...why don't you, get yourself cleaned up and play some Playstation for a bit...yeah? I will have a talk with Nigel while you do, maybe we can get this settled now." I looked to my dad, "but, what about the burgers?"

He smiled to me, a small chuckle rising from his throat; it was good to hear that sound again. "Don't worry, you ate, that's all that matters, now go have fun, I will see you in a bit."

I couldn't help but have a smile creep over my features, I was so glad to see my dad back to normal so quickly. "Alright Dad, I will be upstairs if you need me."

He smiled as I slowly walked up the stairs to my bedroom, not being able to see the smile on his face fade as I disappeared. He sat himself down on his comfortable leather chair, the creaking of the leather against his legs as he sighed out. He would have to talk to Nigel...he would have to talk to Nigel alone.

*-*-*-*-*

I slowly walked my way down the stairs, Robert as his games long passed forgotten in my mind as I made my way down to the basement, sighing softly as I passed the light switch. I dare myself to not turn it on, the only reason I tell Rob not to is because Nigel hates the light it produces. He states that the light is not of a "pure nature" and wishes for it off. The last thing I would want to do when I have to disturb Nigel is to make him uncomfortable.

Slowly, I made it to the bottom of the old creaking wooden stairs, my final step clicking through the cement basement as I heard a soft rumble from beyond the cage. I swallowed roughly for what little saliva I had left in my mouth: it was now or never.

I softly approached the cage, coughing as I tried to conger up the courage to speak. "H...Hello Nigel...how are you this evening?"

A cold growl is all I could hear, my heart sinking in my chest as I heard quick scrapings across the floor; he was not amused in the slightest. "What do you wish of me Brandon? You never come to visit just for a chat."

I shivered in place, I thought of running away; screw this talk I want to live! But I had to stand my ground, for Rob if no one else. Maybe if I do this right...maybe if everything goes well, all of this could end. "I am here to discuss about Robert."

Suddenly the scraping stopped, the soft irritating sound no longer radiating through the room as I heard a soft...almost murr like sound. "Hmm...you have caught my interest. Robert as always been a rather curious and honest boy...as I entailed."

"We need to discuss this contract...if he should be allowed to know." I braced myself for the worst, this was the one thing keeping everything in line, the one thing that they wished of me.

He snarled, slamming his body against the cage, the shockwaves running through it as he growled. "He has the right to know where he belongs Brandon, he is your son! You must show him his path; show him where the future lies. This is where he belongs, with us, and the further you pull away the thinner my patience gets. I was there ever since he was born Brandon, to protect and show him the friendship and affection that he can never get from the likes of you. He deserves to know..." Nigel panted, clearly exhausted from the first outburst he had truly had in years, but something unexpected I head afterwards couldn't help but grab both my attention and my heart: he started sobbing.

"Please...I have been here for 10 years Brandon, only to assure him his safety...The only happiness I have ever known is my visits with him, seeing him, hearing him. He has grown up so well, and I always wish...wish that I could tell him the truth...Please..."

I couldn't help but contemplate. This world, these beings, I don't know if my son could ever truly be ready for such a thing. Could such a thing be really prepared for? Or no matter how hard of a father I try to be, will I always stumble and fall from it all?

"Please Brandon...I know you do it for the greater good...but he must know...he must." I could hear the pattering of tears as I sat there in my own silence, aside from the harsh breathing and sobs I wish I could ignore in my thoughts but simply cannot. Nigel has suffered for a decade now, just to see everything through and I...I need to give him what he wants. This is the right choice, he is right.

"Nigel I...I have tried my best to help ease this through...but maybe you are right. There is no easy way to where we are, maybe...I can lift the veil that covers you to him, and we will see if that is okay? I mean, try to ease him slowly, would that work?"

I could feel the lift as Nigel slowly stood, a soft breath escaping him as he thought. "This would be sufficient. It may be for the best for him to simply look at who he has been talking to for all these years." Nigel sighed out, a soft scrap, just on, going across the floor. "I apologize for my outburst Brandon, I know everything you do you do to protect him. I just have been through so much, and have felt so saddened by all these years that, I am not in the right mind all of the time."

A soft gentle smile caressed my features as I nodded to no one. "It is okay Nigel, I fully understand...but for now my friend, allow me to lift this veil, and hope that whatever you have wished for for so long comes true."

*-*-*-*-*

I slowly spread my Magic cards out on the table as I looked over my deck, a soft smile caressing my features as I looked at the masterpiece I have worked so long and hard to achieve. After months of booster buying, trading, and online shopping I finally got the perfect deck I have always wanted.

I quickly unpacked my new sleeves that I bought for the deck on the way home from school today, a female angel gracing the covers, reminding me of...of better times. I peeled them out and slowly began to stuff my cards into the sleeves, a mindless tune running through my head as I do, my feet kicking about under the desk I was sitting at.

I wondered if Nigel had ever played Magic before. Would he even know what it is? I wish I could teach him, just to have someone else to play with. No matter how new a person is to Magic, it was always so much more fun to play against some sort of competition rather than just myself.

Time flew by as I finally got the last card in my sleeves, as I smiled and looked at the fabulous artwork. Rather luckily I landed on my favourite creature, admiring its true beauty as I looked it over again and again. Suddenly I heard a call from downstairs, my dad probably wanting me for something; I quickly put the cards down and made my way downstairs, the carpeted hallways and staircase feeling rather pleasant on my feet.

Dad was standing beside the basement door, I couldn't help but panic inside my head. Did something go wrong? Did the conversation end badly? What if I was never allowed to talk to Nigel again? I couldn't help but have a worried figure as I got to my father.

"Son I...I need you to see something. Something I should have never kept from you in all my years of parenting." He knelt down to my level, grasping my shoulders in a caring gentle fashion as I wondered what was really going on. "Please, forgive me for all the wrong I have done. I only wanted to protect you son, make sure that everything would be alright, somehow...all you need to know, is down in the basement. Please, don't be scared, I will be right upstairs, and Nigel...he won't hurt you ever."

"Dad," I breathed "you have been awesome to me my whole life, how could you do wrong? You are great, really." I hugged him against me as I closed my eyes. Whatever was down there...this would change everything.

He smiled to me, hugging me back in the way only a real father can, petting my back gently as he did. Slowly he let go, a gentle pat on my head as he smiled. "Go on son, everything you want to know, is down there."

I nodded as I slowly walked over to the staircase, looking down the wooden stairs once again. This was it...everything has led up to this. I took my first step down the old staircase, my heart racing in anticipation too much for me to care about how creepy the stairs still were. I made it down them remarkably fast for how nervous I was. My stomach felt the most intense butterflies, even more intense then when I asked out that one cute girl to the dance...so you know it was serious.

I slowly look around and the first thing I noticed was that the black blanket like thing over the cage was gone, now I could see perfectly through the steel cage. I gently poked my head around the corner, to look into the cage. What I saw...I knew frm that moment on, I would never EVER forget.