Bella's Arc

Chapter 3 of 13

The moment Marella set her down, Bella shot across the carpet toward the sideboard. The black purse sat open at the top, its mouth gaping. Inside, something was moving. She heard the soft scrape of small feet on leather. Bella sprang. Her claws caught the edge of the purse and she hauled herself up, nose first into the dark. Two tiny faces blinked up at her. The twins had the bunny between them. One clutched a bright pack of little tissue towels under her arm. The other was dragging a small cushion bed, cream blanket trailing, packed with bits of Marella's forgotten life — a lipstick cap, a button, a folded receipt. Bella hissed. She lunged for the bunny's ear. Her teeth closed on empty air. The twins were already moving, fast and sure, like they'd watched her do it a second before. The purse tipped. Bella tumbled out with it, landing in a storm of receipts and pennies. The twins hit the carpet running. They sprinted across the room toward the tall wooden clock in the corner, bunny bouncing between them, tissues and cushion clutched tight. A small door at the clock's base swung open. They vanished inside. The door clicked shut. Bella scrambled up and threw herself at the clock. She scratched the wood. She yowled. From inside came two muffled giggles, then silence. Marella sighed behind her. "Bella, no. Off the clock." Warm hands lifted her away. "Silly girl." Bella hung limp in her arms and stared at the closed little door. The bunny was gone. The twins were gone. And now she knew exactly where they lived.