Runaway Rivalry

- // 04 // Hunted. -

Cosmo strolled past the desolate area outside the city and the lights that encircled the hapless deaf people. He understands Vivian's desire for peace on this world, but because they are deaf, how could they possibly learn?

Despite the cat's desire for the helpless to live in peace, he was unable to see it occurring in this situation. The only activity here was for people to wear suits and saunter through the streets before going into and coming out of buildings in a continuous cycle. Since they all resembled one another, he was unable to determine the gender of the creatures.

Then Cosmos shoe came to the stairway leading to the roofs of the buildings. He fumbled in his bag for his MP3 player and headphones, which he quickly took out and put in his ears. Due to their deafness, the people were completely unaware of the sounds their moans, horns, and equipment were producing. The Rag-doll also simply felt more like himself when imagining scenarios with music playing in the background.

He moved while "Brazil by Declan McKenna" was playing through his headphones, aiming for the tallest building where he and Gemini used to hang out. He had a good number of tunes he liked.  He increased the volume to its highest setting as the chorus began, leaped off the final plank onto the wanted roof, and began singing along. Not being heard and not being judged was pleasant. As he skipped to the edge to get his notebook and pencil, he spun and his tail waved in the air. He was 21 but that did not stop him from having a good time.

He was now grasping his pencil and shifting it to the new, clean but torn sheet as he sung while perched on the edge and kicking his feet. His hand moved as soon as his gaze landed on a structure that spoke to him. From what he observed, he started to design the structure while still singing merrily as if there were no tomorrow. But when the song was coming to a close and Cosmos' ears turned to look behind him, his voice stopped since that was not music.

What was that?

The grey fur on his tail began to spike up as he looked behind him while removing his headphones; he wasn't sure if this was out of fear or out of protective instinct.

Who was that?

He recalled Vivian's advice to hide if you hear something. Gemini's parting advice: Be safe wherever you go. His trembling eyes drifted to the roof-top boiler room. Cosmo hastily gathered everything in his knapsack and hurried to the small building on the roof to hide as the footsteps drew nearer. Holy Shit.

His trembling finger pressed the button, completely turning off the music. He heard what sounded like one person's boots as he listened to the footsteps. None of the other creatures, apart from himself and the two from home, were smarter than the three. Although I don't mean to offend the people on the planet, none of them knew about the boards that supported the roofs. Who is this, and how did they find out?

Thump. That last thud. They were on the roof, just a short distance from Cosmo. Due to the sound, they remained still and appeared to be searching about. Cosmo covered his mouth with his palm to attempt to be as silent as he could. Only then will the white-furred cat heed Vivian's counsel.

The steps continued up to the ledge where Cosmo had been sitting. Now that he was peering over the little structure with his ears down, the kitty could see the figure. The figure was a cat like Cosmo himself but this one seemed more menacing. They were dressed in blacks and greys with orange on their knees and shoulders. He searched the scene with his orange glare. Although it was wonderful to encounter another member of his kind after such a long period, Cosmo remained silent and concealed.

The strange cat then raised his wrist to a transmitter, speaking in a brazen yet almost soothing manner, "It has fled the scene, but it hasn't gone very far, I heard it, but the rascal knew before I got up here."

Cosmo was being sought after? Who would be motivated to take such action? It finally dawned on him—his parents.

—————

Back then, Cosmo lived in a big house with his mother, stepfather, and sister. Cosmo cleared the table after dinner because he had to earn it in order to have a clean surface on which to eat.

Unfortunately, Cosmo was running a little behind schedule for this work when his horrifying figure of a father entered.

"Let's go, boy! If you can't be quick and eat it yourself, I'd better eat your meal since it's already frozen! It's pathetic, isn't it?" It was there—preferred Peter's moniker for Cosmo. Pathetic.

On this same evening, Cosmo, the 18 year old, lost his temper and snarled at his father before throwing the fabric on the ground "Proceed now! I'll just starve to death, monster!" With a frown that caused his hand to claw and swing at Cosmo in response, Peter retreated after hearing this comment. getting a scar on his left eye.

When Cosmo raised his palm to his eye, blood quickly seeped through his fingertip tips, temporarily turning his fur red. He was crying with his other eye. He could no longer do this; this was it. He would curse the name. Peter.

His father was not far behind him when he turned and went up to his room, yelling from behind the now locked bedroom door, "Make a wise choice, boy! No matter what you choose, I'll be on your sad miserable ass!" The young Cosmo packed a little bag and carelessly threw a book at his fragile window as the man attempted to pick the lock. What else was there to think about besides freedom when one eye was inflamed and the other was blurry?

The door slammed open as the window crashed with a tremendous noise, scattering glass all over the floor. Cosmo made the instinctual decision to flee rather than fight. He climbed out of the window and onto the roof after grabbing his stuff and narrowly escaping his father's frightening grab. To allow himself to go down the drainpipe and land on his feed among the sand, he cautiously crossed the roof. He had never experienced the sensation of air on his fur or sand between his toes. Although it was thrilling, he allowed himself to run and escaped the jail that had been holding him.

The last words he heard as he escaped came from his father, who was being restrained by his mother out of the doorway, "No matter what, I will track you down and send you to hell! Pay close attention to what I say!"

That was it; it had been three years and counting since he had last seen or spoken to his family. He had to go alone for one of those years till he was unable to do it any longer, but Gemini saved him. He was thankful for it. So thankful.

——————

Stupid coward! Cosmo presumed Peter was afraid, so he sent a hitman rather than going to retrieve his son himself.

What anticipated Cosmo? Because Peter was so unkind to other people, he was a self-centered, egotistical loser who needed other people to do everything for him. Even locate and return his son. Which would not happen. He was not going back.

He observed as the cat dropped his arm and heard a voice, but it wasn't his parents, at least not that he could tell.

"We need that cash, dead or alive."

Shit, what nerve this guy had to have a reward placed on his head. The second cat then disappeared once again, sprinting off as he pulled his hood back over his head.

Cosmo went out from behind the building holding his bag once he was out of sight and mind, the same bag he used to flee all those years prior. His feelings were muddled by something inside of him. Must he be frightened? Angry? Upset? It pained to think that he didn't know.

He remained there in stillness, his thoughts circling as the breeze ruffled his fur. His hands were gripping his bag's strap, but he placed one of them onto his eye scar. How is he going to proceed?

He's decided on a single word in his head. Hunted.