the black cat | dnf

1967, 9th of September.

1967, 9th of September. 5 days had passed since Clay died and George had visited his grave a total of three times.

He would often go there if he was not busy, or maybe even sad. He'd go there to set down a paper from Phils poet book, ones normally being about a loved one. They'd have disappeared within the next day, whether it was the wind or someone snatched it. They would always disappear out of sight.

George decided not to tell Phil. Only a few days after, he found out who had took the pages. He had come home a late and cold evening to see the black cat sleeping peacefully near his door. It was lying on a few stacks of papers. At first, George assumed it was only random newspapers that had blown away. But, looking closer he could see cursive writing and tea stained edges. It was a page from Phils poem. George stared at the cat, unsure on how it had managed to take back a page all the way away from the graveyard. 

George sighed, he left the cat for a small minute before returning with food. He had hoped the cat would leave him alone if he gave him a small snack but the misty cat jumped onto his lap, his tail curling round his finger. George showed a serene smile and started to stroke the cat. That's when the cat looked up at George, its eyes were so familiar yet so cold and lost. 

George stopped and stared at the cat with sad eyes, he was reminded of Clay. He let the cat leave his lap and run off to the next street. It was dark and only the street lights were on, a shadowed figure of the cat as he ttaiked away. George got up slowly, eventually going back to his house.

. . .

"Clay, why are you calling me at this time?" George picked up the phone, hearing Clays shaky voice from the other end. It sounded like he was worried. George grew a little concerned as loud breathing could be heard.

"George, listen to me.  I need you to run to Dad's house, and explain this to him." Clays voice was intense and so shaky that it began to scare George.

"Whats going on?" 

"Will you please start running, George!?" 

There was silence, George had never heard Clay be so aggressive and loud towards him. He started putting on a large winters coat and boots.

"Tell Dad, and Techno, that I am at Emily's house. You need to go to Emily's house quick with Dad and Techno." Then a ear aching static hurt Georges ears. He dropped the phone on his floor and ran to Phils. 

Once he arrived, he knocked multiple times until a tired Techno opened the door.

"Geez, George. You're gonna wake up the whole neighbourhood, its only–" He started before getting cut off by George.

"Get Phil and we need to go, now. Clay needs us to go to Emily's house. You remember her, right?" He panted, Technos face became serious. "Emily, his ex wife."

"We don't have time, let's just go without Dad." Techno insisted, pushing past George and running. Truthfully, Techno was a faster runner than George but that didn't help getting in time. They were already too late.

When they arrived, the lights were off. Everything seemed silent but Techno still barged in, not caring to hear Emily's excuses. He looked around hastily.

"Clay! Clay, where are you?" The two men called before seeing a bleeding Clay on the floor of the dining room. His head was smothered in blood and had been beat to his skull. No doubt about it, he was most likely dead. But even if he was alive, he would have eventually died in hospital. 

The two men looked at their friend. Their brother, their dearest lover. George felt tears spill out and he looked at Emily, in one hand she had a smashed bottle which was now empty. It was dripping splodges of blood. Meanwhile, Techno had already gotten on the floor near him and called the hospital. 

Emily was arrested for murder and Clay was in hospital. He wasn't doing so well. His entire left of his head was damaged badly and he couldn't speak well. Two days later he died in the hospital.

. . .

Clay died due to head injury by his ex-wife, assumed he had provoked her in an argument and had barely enough time to ask George for help.