The Dog Read Online Free

base with civilization and make sure the rest of the world didn't go up in flames, huh?”
     
    ***
     
    As the car comes to a halt in the gas station's parking lot, I look out the window and immediately see that something seems different. I remember coming here a few times before, and there were always lots of other cars, and lots of other people too. This time, there are no other cars at all, and all the lights are off. The main road is empty, too, whereas usually there are always a few cars passing in either direction.
    “Do you see any sign of anyone?” Jon asks as he switches the engine off. “Anyone at all?”
    We sit in silence for a few minutes. Jon seems reluctant to get out of the car, maybe because he'd like to see at least some hint of movement first. He's much more cautious than usual, and it's clear he's starting to pick up on the fact that something is wrong. Maybe he's finally picking up on some of the signs that I first noticed a couple of days ago.
    Finally he turns to me.
    “I know I usually make you wait in the car, buddy, but do you want to come with me this time? It's not like there's any traffic to worry about.”
    He pauses before getting out of the car and then, to my surprise, he opens the door next to me and claps for me to jump down. Cautiously, I hop out and make my way across the tarmac, while carefully sniffing the air. There are tall trees all around, so it's difficult to really pick up any proper scents from afar, but the first thing I notice is that no-one seems to have been to this place for at least a day, maybe longer. In fact, there's no sign of recent human activity at all.
    “I don't mind admitting,” Jon mutters, stepping past me and heading toward the gas station's main building, “I don't like this too much. Stay close, buddy.”
    Not wanting to let him get too far away, I hurry after him and then keep pace. The building up ahead looks completely dark and empty, and after a moment I realize I'm picking up the scent of blood from close by. I immediately stop and let out a low, rumbling growl, to warn Jon.
    “Harry?”
    He stops and looks down at me.
    “What is it, buddy?”
    Keeping my eyes fixed on the door ahead, I maintain my growl. There's definitely blood somewhere on the other side of that door. Not a lot, but enough to make me really, really not want to go any closer.
    “You're freaking me out, Harry,” Jon says after a moment, leaning down and patting the back of my neck. “Come on, let's not overreact here, okay?”
    He keeps walking, heading toward the door.
    I bark to warn him, and he immediately stops and turns to me.
    “Harry?”
    I bark again, followed by another low growl. I don't know exactly what's wrong, but I know there's a strong scent of blood and I can tell it's coming from inside that building.
    “What are you picking up?” Jon asks. He turns and looks toward the door. “Is someone in there?”
    I bark again, before lowering my head a little and snarling to warn anyone who might be watching us from those dark windows. The scent is so strong, it's hard to believe that even Jon can't sense it now.
    “Hell, Harry,” he continues, “you really know how to put me at ease, don't you?”
    He stares at me for a moment, before looking toward the building again.
    “Are you saying we shouldn't go in there? Is that what it is?”
    I continue to growl at the door as Jon hesitates, but finally he takes a couple more steps forward.
    I bark again, and then again, to make him stop.
    “Calm down!” he says, holding up a hand. “Harry, quiet!”
    Ignoring him, I bark at the door.
    “Harry!” Jon says firmly. “Quiet! I'll be fine, okay? I'm just going to take a look! Quiet!”
    I know what that word means, but I also know that the sense of blood is getting stronger. The wind has changed direction a little, and now I can tell that whatever happened on the other side of that door, it caused human blood to get spilled about a day ago. The blood has definitely