Two days later.

Waking up at the crack of dawn, the chimera opened up his phone. Search overview informing him a train ride to Switzerland would take eight hours, he let out a yawn. Would this really be worth the trip? By the time he got there, it would already be noon. Was time the same in Italy as it was in Switzerland? He didn't know. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, the familiar soap opera played.

"Morning, Siorc," Strix said, yawning. "Mmm, you're heading to Switzerland, right? Pira told me."

Question coming his way, the chimera broke into a sweat. Man, Pira told him everything, didn't he? Well, it's not like it was a big secret or anything. Reaching for his tablet, he scribbled away. Strix didn't hear about the chocolate cake monsters, right? Surely, he hadn't heard anything about that.

[That's right, I am.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"You're not baking a chocolate cake, are you?" Strix asked. "I heard rumors that chocolate cake ghosts are running rampant right now."

[I'll see if my client will want me to cake them something else.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"Okay, good luck," Strix said, yawning. "I'm going to sleep now. See you tonight."

Shoes on, the chimera strutted off towards the metro. Ticket purchased, the hyena seated himself. Practically dozing off as the locomotive pulled out, he braced himself. Maybe he should have told the anonymous blogger he wanted to investigate this case. But, no, it was way too soon to do that. It was best to wait for now. Head slumping as he closed his eyes, he could feel himself pull into dreamland.

"We have reached Zurich," an announcement said in Italian and then English.

Snapping awake, the hyena stood upward. He had reached Switzerland already? Man, he slept through the whole ride! How could he do that? Hurrying out of the train, he read the instructions. Where did Bogart live again? Ordering a ride, he drummed his fingers on his knee as he read the estimated time to get there. Thirty minutes? This station wasn't close to their place at all!

Stranger popping up and asking him where to, the hyena pointed at the address. Driver speeding away, he broke out into a sweat. Could this person obey the speed limit please? But, he couldn't bring himself to say such a thing. Reaching a rather large home with a gate his collar grew sweaty. What was this, a castle?

Popping towards the gate, the restraints soon opened. Man, the Hakimis, they were rich, and yet they hired him, of all chimeras. Well, they were asking for the best of the best, after all! But, he bit into a humbleberry pie. Cool it, cool it, there were better cooks out there than he! Strutting towards the door, he knocked slowly. Door opening, a not so familiar face waited for him.

Standing at the door had been a dark skinned panther woman with long sea green hair pulled into two low pigtails that went down to about her waist. Adorning a pitch black buttoned down shirt and skirt the same shade to match, her brown eyes had a little black rings around them. Tail behind her swishing up a storm, he tried to remember her name. This was Waiola, right? Bogart's twin sister? She had graduated already in his second year. He never really interacted with her.

"Oh, you're Siorc," Waiola said, sighing. "I told Bogart to hire someone from here. Sorry to make you come all this way."

[It's alright, don't worry about it.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"I'll pay you a little extra since you came all this way from the metro," Waiola said, sighing again. "Come in." She then let out a scream. "Bogart, stop playing with your hair and come out already!"

"Geez, Waiola, never rush a queen when it's doing its hair!" Bogart cried. "Hey, Siorc, thanks for coming!"

Waving at him had been a short dark skinned panther man with dark blue dreadlocks with a little curly poof in the center. Seeing such, the hyena's cheeks practically grew pink. Hello, did heaven invite an angel to earth? Because, he was looking straight at one! Poofy pink dress trailing to the ground, he tried to make his eyes wander. Man, who would have thought the rich had such a good fashion sense? Not him!

"Can't believe you asked someone from Italy to bake a cake," another person said.

"I reckon he has to be good if he came from so far away?" another person asked.

Standing with an annoyed look on her face had been a dark skinned panther dragon woman with short yellowish-green hair pulled into a low bun. Slanted green eyes with scales around them, she adorned quite old looking yellow dress. What was her name again, Rashmi? He believed so. Bogart would always talk about her in their first year at college together.

Next to her had been a tall dark skinned panther dragon girl with long olive green hair that went down to about her waist. Adorning a yellow varsity jacket, her small light brown eyes looked like they were squinty. Scaly red hands upon her, he couldn't help but wonder. Were the Hakimis dragon or panther chimeras, or both? How strange. What was her name again? Ah, right, Malati, he almost forgot. But, as he thought such, another group soon rushed in.

"You're gonna make me a chocolate cake, huh?" an alto voice asked. "Thanks! It's not every day you turn twenty five!"

"Thanks for agreeing to make a cake for babe," a bass voice said. "For some reason, all the chefs in Switzerland are refusing to make chocolate cakes. Don't know why."

Looking at him with a smile on her face had been a dark skinned panther woman with long curly light pink hair pulled into high pigtails with long loose pieces hanging downwards towards her chest. Down portions of her locks going down to about her shoulders, she adorned a bright red leotard like outfit with a heart shaped center. Tall, dark skinned muscular man next to her with strawberry red hair covering half his face, his six pack abs were on public display. What was this man's name again, Goma? Pitch black frog eyes upon his face, he tried to remember where he had seen him. Oh, he was that guy on that wrestling show, or something. Snore. Scribbling away, he knew any second now, rejections towards any other cake type would come his way.

[Are you sure you don't want me to make another type of cake? I can do strawberry, blueberry, anything else if you want.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"No way, it has to be chocolate!" Niesha cried. "Besides, those haunting rumors are totally bogus."

"Babe only wants chocolate," Goma said in a serious tone. "Don't worry, if something happens, I'll fight it for you." He then curled his fingers. "C'mon, I'll take you to the kitchen. Don't worry. I already left the ingredients out for you."

"This cake's gonna be so good!" Bogart cried.

Heading for the kitchen, the chimera pressed his fingers together. Would this really turn out okay? Surely, that tidbit about chocolate cakes being haunted was just a rumor! Right, of course it was, what else would it be? Hands scrubbed and ready to go, he gulped. Hold on, why is it so cold in here? Something's not right.

Preheating the oven, the hyena turned his attention towards the window. It was just a draft, right? Surely, it had to have been. Right, of course it was! It was just a cold breeze, nothing more than that! Dry ingredients stirred together, he swore he could see the chocolate staring at him from afar. Was it just him, or did the mix have eyes?

Butter and sugar plopped into the mix, the air grew chillier. Maybe he shouldn't have accepted this job after all. Eggs plopped in, the chimera shook as he mixed everything else in. Pastry looking ready to hop out of the pan, he shoved it into the oven. In it goes! Screams coming from the infernal burning trap, he grit his teeth. No, this isn't good, it's going to blow, isn't it?

"Hot, hot, hot, hot!" Something cried from the oven.

Timer ticking down, the hyena held back the urge to bite his nails. No, that thing was talking in there, wasn't it? Oh, no. He was so doomed. Clock beeping after half an hour, he reached for the icing tube. Naked chocolate cake looking at him with glaring daggers, screams had come his way, in an instant.

"How dare you bake me in the oven, I'll make the birthday girl pay!" the cake screamed.

Cake's eyes on fire, the chimera hurried and slapped the icing on. Of course the rumors were true about the chocolate cake ghosts, what was he expecting? Slamming the confectionary into the freezer, he huffed a breath. Please die in the fridge, please. Heading for the living room, heaven stared back at him.

"Party's in about two hours," Bogart said. "Wanna go play fashion versus?"

Nodding, the hyena threw such concerns away. Ah, surely, the cake monster would die from the cold, Right, of course it was, who was he kidding, right? Two hours passing by quickly, he raced back to the kitchen, but an awful discovery soon awaited in as he placed the candles into the dessert.

"I'll burrrrrrn the house down!" the cake cried. "How dare you put candles in me, pesky mortal!

Cake getting oddly warm, the hyena broke into a sweat. No, what was this thing doing? He knew he should have tried harder to get Niesha to pick a different flavor! Bringing the dessert out onto the party table, he turned away. Surely, they wouldn't go through with their plan, would they?

Goma getting out the lighter, the hyena's fingers twitched. Should he say something? Should he tell him to not light the candles? Placing his index finger upward, he tried to say something. But, nothing came out. Two and five candles and surrounding ones lit, everyone soon sang.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Niesha, happy birthday, to you!" everyone sang.

But, such was a mistake.

"Don't you blow out the candles you old haaaaaaaaaaag!" the cake cried.

Candles flames growing exponentially, the young adult grit his teeth. Flames decorating Niesha's outfit, she let out a scream. Cake bouncing towards the walls, the wallpaper had soon been given a fiery gift. dragon duo charred from the backsides as well, shouts added themselves to the mix.

"Niesha, we told you to not ask for chocolate!" Rashmi cried. "My tail, ugh." Tail blazing, she soon fell to the ground.

"My back, my back!" Malati cried, stop, dropping and rolling.

"Babe, hurry and get the fire extinguisher, it's gonna burn the house down!" Niesha cried.

"On it!" Goma shouted.

Extinguisher doing its duty, a large machete had become one with the birthday cake, in an instant. Dessert screaming its last shout, the hyena closed his eyes. Why did the rumors have to be true? Charred cake tossed into the garbage, a strawberry one had quickly been made to replace it. Disappointment painting Niesha's face, apologies had come her way.

House cleaned, the chimera stared off into space. Maybe this wouldn't have happened if he tried harder to suggest a different flavor. But, it was too late for that now, wasn't it? This was all his fault. Maybe he shouldn't get paid for this. Euro notes handed his way anyway, he tried to return it to Waiola, but a headshake had come his way.

"It's fine, take it, you came all this way after all," Waiola said, sighing. "Sorry things turned out the way they did. Have a safe trip home."

Returning home after what felt like forever, the hyena hopped on his bed, face buried deep into his pillow. Maybe he should have contacted that anonymous blogger first. That was his fault, wasn't it? Crawling underneath his covers, he closed his eyes as thousands of regrets flowed through him.

He shouldn't have disregarded that cake monster story as just a rumor.