The Black Cat

Chapter 8 The Shadow Man

Rayne was the first to wake me up. Apparently starvation had finally gotten to her.

Even knowing that I was asleep and what I experienced was a dream, it all felt so surreal. Being human again...as if I was one before. It felt so real. Too real. The thought of it just makes me want to expierence it all over again.

I hissed agian.

The insects around here are terrible. First it was the cockroach and now it is a gigantic fly. The fly insisted on trying to zip past me yet again and interupt Rayne.

It's not like it took Gunther all morning to beg enough to steal up an entire hamburger and half a box of fries.

"That's not very polite Erin, that fly didn't do anything wrong for you to try to kill it."

I chuckled and turned to Rayne. "Deary...what do you know of nice and kill?" I tuned to her fully and flicked my tail towards her meal at hand. "You are barely ten years of age so I will forgive you. But, Rayne," she looked confused now, "what exactly is between those seasamed buns in your hands?"

Rayne looked at the hamburger. She seriously looked at all aspecs of the meal and then shrugged her shoulders. Not matter if she had an advanced power unheard of to exist, she still was a child.

I turned back to the mostly boarded up window next to me. I growled as the monster fly rested on my shoulder to mock me. I swiped through the air and scratched one of the boards on the window.

"You need to calm down Erin," Gunther whispered approaching my right. He spoke slowly so that Rayne couldn't hear. "Has your dream got that much of an effect on you?"

I looked through on of the many cracks of the window.

I stood up and stretched out. "Now I'm hungry. I'll be out."

With that I simply left the room with high tension. Even if Rayne was a child, she could have noticed that. She can read animals voices like a book, I just hope she can't read minds.

"Felix! Nice to finally be offered food from you." I purred as I approached the Italian man. "Uh! I have been so lost without you Felix! I ran into a theif and then got caught up in this whole mess. I only wish I hadn't heard that woman scream."

Felix layed down the soft plate he typically offered and dropped down the leftovers from yesterday. The fat man sat in a chair rested by the back entrance of his resturant. "I have something I must tell you."

I ignored him and tore into the warm noodles. Only when I was half way did I hear a key word, 'Leave.'

"Skatty. I have gotten the break I've always wished for! I know you want the best for me as well as I, but reaching the top also means relocating."

He bent down and stroked my head. "Ah, as you may say I am a hermit who has outgrown his shell."

I yowled and tugged at his clothes. "You can't leave me! You're my favorite."

Felix sighed. "That's the thing I wanted to speak to you about. I've known you for a long time now Skatty and I want you as my own."

He opened his arms to me.

I stared at him and then returned to my plate.

"Oh Skatty I-," he began.

"Mr. Felix! Trouble!" A emplyoee called from the back cook's area. A skinny man with blond hair poked his head out and looked at Felix."Trouble in front." He motioned for him to follow and Felix did. He moaned and rushed into the kitchen.

I raised my head and listen for his footsetps to disappear. Once the sound left, so did I.

The alleyways slipped past me as I darted down them. The sky turned a sour pitch black and the light that illuminated the streets dimmed. All noise quieted as well.

I soon stopped and listened to irrational sound of silence all around me. I looked behined me and then in front of me. All around there was nothing moving, nothing even breathed.

"Who's there!" I hissed spinning around frantically. I snarled as I finally backed into the brick wall that was behined me.

"Calm creature."

I was immediately silenced. Who ever gave the order had some force and power in his voice. I could not speak, even though I tried.

"Yes. Creature, I am no harm to you. I only wish to know if you seen these people I am looking for. They say black cats are good luck...for my kind at least."

I looked around me for a person and finally turned toward the opposite brick wall. "What are you?"

What was in front of me was something anyone would have oversaw. A man was in front of me. Not a physical one, but...a shadow of one instead.

"I am what I am, a nightmare. I want to know if you've seen a girl who looks just like this."

The six foot tall shadow man sculpted and scrank into a exact copy of Rayne. The shadow waved giggled just like Rayne as well. It was scary. All of the movements he made were Rayne's. It's as if that the figure on the wall was he true shadow

"Do not lie to me either."

"I will not," I whispered not of my own will. "I have....have seen a girl like that," I nerveously stuttered. I purred and stretched out like any other cat that wasn't guilty would do. "I cannot remember where, but she was with a woman I think. Yes," I have captured his attention. "A long haired woman. It was the day.....the day of when they found the small boy."

The shadow changed back to his original form. It was silent for a while as it was still, but it did not do anything quickly. "You have not lied. Sadly to say that time was when I last saw her as well. Thank you black cat. One more before you go."

I couldn't hold back my fear for much longer. Being in the presence of this...thing was starting to burn my fur like ash being spread on me from above. I've never been in snow before, but this must be what it feels like.

"That same boy, his father has something I want. When and where was the last time you seen him if at all?"

"I have seen him. Not...not close enough to catch his face, but I have seen him. Last I saw of him was him racing away in a car...probably almost a week ago."

The shadow man bowed and then melted into the shadows of the buildings around me.

"Thank you for you time."

I stared at the spot where the man was and collasped. I couldn't move. The weakness in me taken over. Rayne was in danger and Rayne's pursuer was scarrier than she described.