Knights Against the Night Part 45

Freddie was gone again, the room was quiet. For once there had been no invaders the night before.

Bolt sat down next to Chester, within arm length but hopefully far enough away he wasn't pinging Chester's overactive danger sense.

"If you keep this up," Bolt said, shaking his head, "You're going to be a danger to Freddie."

Chester jerked back as if he had been hit, his ears jumping up and standing at attention, his posture stiffening.

"I will never hurt the boy!" Chester growled. "I promised her I could protect him."

Bolt nodded, "I know. But I know what I've seen Chess, and you're slipping away."

Chester snarled, standing up and walking to the edge of the bedside table. "Don't call me that. Don't ever use that name."

Bolt had flinched back from the sudden movement, but held his ground. "So what am I meant to do when you finally fall?"

An ear flicked impatiently. "Nothing. There is nothing you can do."

"So what?" Bolt demanded, getting to his feet "I'm just meant to grieve and move on?"

Chester turned and faced him then. There was doubt in his eyes.

"You would grieve for me?"

"Yes." Bolt insisted, taking a slow step forward, "I would grieve. I would miss you. You're my friend Chester, even if you don't want to be."

Chester's ears dropped to half mast, "There is only Freddie." He said.

Bolt frowned. "What?"

"In your heart. There should only be room for Freddie."

Confusion cleared. "They don't teach that anymore."

Chester shook his head, and jumped down, standing beside the bed.

Bolt followed him.

"We checked already." Bolt said.

"Yesterday we checked." Chester said, "And we still don't know how that monster got here.”

They hunted up and down, checked every possible location. Nothing.

“Did he close the door behind him?” Bolt asked.

Chester didn’t answer.