The Differences

Part One: Chapter Two

"Um, can I have that back?" said Maeko, sitting in the chair calmly. This did not avert Lemon's gaze; she was staring into Maeko's soul. Maeko stood up, jumped, and grabbed the beanie from Lemon's dangling hand. "Y-You..." said Lemon, stuttering. "What?" asked Maeko, putting her beanie back on. Her hair was now the normal mint green pigment, and her eyes changed to a soft purple.

"You're not human"

Struck in Maeko's eyes was fear. Fear. Never did she hope to hear those words slip from someone's tongue. Paralyzed, she was. She was telling her muscles to move, to run, to escape, yet all she could do was tremble. It grew extremely cold in the once hot room. Nobody said anything. Coming in from the window was a gentle breeze, but it felt like an angry wind. It carried snowflakes into the room, scattered across the floor, glistening as the sun was still out. Lemon was shivering cold, but Maeko was still. She had gathered her thoughts. In the depths of her pure eyes lied hatred, anger, and the want to kill. "Why...is it snowing?! Why is it so cold?" asked Lemon. "Shut up.." Maeko whispered. "Maeko, you'd better explain this" said Lemon. Maeko began laughing. Hysterically, then violently. Lemon was frozen in fear.

"You see it now don't you...I lied to you. I didn't come here to make friends, more less I didn't want people like you to know my secret. So I'm afraid now that...I'm going to have to kill you" Maeko said psychotically. Lemon made a run for it, when Maeko pulled her back and threw her on the floor. Maeko sat on top of Lemon, holding a knife to her neck. "Move a muscle and I'll cut you..." said Maeko, smiling. "What is wrong with you?! Psychopath, get off me!" said Lemon, trying to move. "Maybe it'd be more enjoyable to watch you freeze" said Maeko, pulling off her beanie. The blizzard outside strengthened, and the wind began whistling loudly. Roars of snow and ice could be heard in the distance.

Maeko tied Lemon to a bed and left the window open for her to freeze to death. Snow and ice blew in, along with an icy breeze. Maeko stood in the doorway staring at Lemon before she left. "Die, demon" she said closing the door and locking it from the inside.

Maeko made sure to carefully sneak out of school without anyone noticing her, and walked home quickly. She began to fade out. "No, I'm not home yet" thought Maeko, as she passed out on the concrete. Or so she thought. Maeko woke up in a warm room. Her beanie was placed back on her head. "Where am I?!" she panicked to herself. "I see you're awake" Zero said, standing in the doorway. "What did you do to me?" Maeko asked, scooting away on the bed. "Nothing. I just saved you. I was trailing you from when you left school" Zero said. "Stalker! Wait, then you too kn-"

"Yeah. I knew from the beginning"

"How did you know?!"

"Cats can sense others. I was pretty sure you were only half and only recently became one since the signal I was getting from you wasn't strong. So, you probably can't sense other cats yet, or use your power properly, am I right?"

"W-well...you're not wrong? Where am I anyways..."

"My house. I want to teach you a little bit about being a cat"

"I can't remember anything after I hit my head in the library..."

"That's not good...do you have any idea why you'd use your powers at school?"

"Wait, I what?!"

"You used your powers. You have ice powers, don't you? You can trigger a snowstorm at any time whenever your ears are revealed. But when the storm ends, since you can't control the duration or yourself, you pass out..."

"How did you know?"

"I'm smarter than I look. Now let me teach you a thing or two about being a cat"

Maeko smiled.

A heavy knock came at the door. "Coming, coming" Zero said, stepping out of his chair to go answer the door. "Hell-" Zero said, as a guy rushed into the door slamming Zero onto the wall. "WHAT THE HELL MAN?! WHERE'S LEMON? I'LL KILL YOU, SO YOU BETTER TELL ME NOW, FLUFFY" said the guy, holding a pocket knife to Zero's chin. Maeko recognized him a bit, he was in their class. He looked very dark, and had long black hair running down to his shoulders. Through his left eye ran a scar. Maeko watched.

"What are you talking about man? I don't know where your girl is!" Zero said, putting his hands up. "SHE'S NOT RESPONDING TO ANY OF MY TEXTS, YOU BETTER TELL ME WHERE SHE IS BEFORE I SLIT YOUR THROAT" said the guy. "Onyx, I didn't text her today so I wouldn't know! I'm being honest!" said Zero. Both Onyx and Zero's gazes became fixed on the TV. So did Maeko's. "Breaking News: A student today at Garnet High School was found dead in the nurse's office. Cause of death is still unconfirmed, but police believe she froze to death. The student is said to be identified as Faith DiFronzo. She was found after school at 3:11 p.m. today while a teacher was looking for..."

The TV drowned out. Maeko couldn't hear anything. Zero couldn't hear anything either. Maeko began twitching. Onyx dropped the knife. He fell to the ground on his knees and only then did his eyes fill with a clear liquid that ran from the waterline of his eye to the middle of his cheek. He screamed and held his hands to his heart, but it was unheard. Maeko couldn't hear anything and so couldn't Zero. It was dead silent.