I'm Scared Dad (I'm Not Your Dad)

For a while, Streamer couldn't feel anything. Nothing but the primal sense of fear, but he can't even recall what made him so afraid. He can't recall... anything, really.

And then, suddenly, a tug, a rough pull, and he hit wood. Coughing at the sudden return of air to his lungs, his ears pinned back as he returned to himself. It took him a moment to get his blurry vision straight. Blinking away the tears that came to moisten his dry eyes, he stood up and looked around. He quickly remembered where he was. Alistair's manor. He came in here to record the spirits lingering, but he got caught, then...

Then what?

He looked behind himself and to his horror- an empty painting.

"I was in that." He murmured, shivering. Alistair trapped his victims in paintings. And he had been in one. For... who knows how long. Maybe he should count his blessings that he came out alive.

It was then he finally noticed the phone ringing in the room. How didn't he notice it sooner? It's... pretty loud. Probably not meant for him. But noise meant something for Alistair to hear and investigate. Best to pick up and then quickly hang up.

He grabbed the phone, and before he could slam his paw back down, a familiar voice quickly came through.

"Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you all week."

"Boss!" His tail quickly wagged, thank goodness! He was just about ready to break a window's glass and jump out of here! He then remembered Alistair's mansion was on top of a mountain. Hm. Perhaps not his brightest idea.

"I had assumed Alistair had found you. Or possibly that you even tried to abandon your job." The boss responded gruffly, which made Streamer's tail stop. He wasn't stupid enough to try that. "I don't think he was thrilled you were sneaking around, recording his place. You're lucky, I gave you a badge just for this occasion. Helps me get you out of those paintings. I need you to get out of there as fast as you can, we have work to do. Don't be stupid and get spotted again."

Okay. Easy enough. "Where do I start, boss? This place is massive..." He asked.

"The dining room should be to your left, go through and head to the Gallery. You know personally how obsessed Alistair is over paintings. Now get to it, I'm on my way there now."

The phone was hung up, and Streamer put it back. Okay. This was all easy enough. Super easy. Just get out of the big manor of the guy who just kidnapped you and put you in a frame for his amusement. Awesome. He's definitely not terrified and wants to just curl up and cry.

Oh, who is he kidding? He's TERRIFIED. He knew this whole thing was going to be dangerous. (Then again, it wasn't like he ever had a choice.) But he can't stop the shivering through his whole body, the sweat clinging to his fur. It would only take one misstep and he'd be back in that painting, frozen in fear. It would be so easy. His paw twitched, but he quickly pulled it back to his chest. It would be stupid to pick up the phone again. Childish. He's not a child. He's brave, he has to be.

He picks up the phone anyways.

"What? What is it that you need?" He sounded annoyed, and Streamer knew he sucked to talk to when he was annoyed. But it was the boss or the other paintings that probably can't hear him.

"I-I'm scared." He confessed, gripping his shirt tightly. "I don't think I can do this alone. I don't WANT to do this alone. There's no way I can just walk out of the door, he'd never make it that easy. Are you sure I even CAN leave?"

A long sigh before the boss responded. "Listen, kid, it won't be easy. Never said it would be. But it's most definitely possible. He probably has puzzles set up, to prevent any escapees- like yourself- from escaping. There's many phones in his manor, I can assist you if you call me from their rooms, but there's only so much I can do for you. You gotta toughen up a little, kid." A beat passed before he continued. "There should be lost spirits around, they can help you regain your sanity if your nerves take too much from you. Use your head and don't get spotted, kid. Got it?"