That was the thought that nudged my mind when I stepped inside. Silly me. I shut the door behind me but not before something streaked past the yawning door. I stood in stunned silent as something black rushed straight to the kitchen. Black and plump and fluffy.
Swallowing back the sudden fear growing inside me, I grabbed the umbrella by the doorway and settled my laptop bag on the scratched wooden floor. It was just a cat, I know, but… wasn’t that the black cat in my office?
My heels were making click-clack noises so I silently took them off. Now I had both hands on the umbrella. I made my way into the small but sunny kitchen, its walls a cheerful canary yellow. The cat was nowhere to be found. Maybe it went to the sala. I continued to walk, my body tight and tense. What, exactly, was I doing I have no idea.
My right foot stepped on something crunchy yet soft. I looked down and saw a familiar notebook paper, balled and wrinkled. My heart now thudding furiously against my chest, I bent down and picked it up with one hand (the other held on tightly on the umbrella). I smoothed the paper out and read the still familiar message penned out in black ink. I let the paper fall back to the floor. My breath was now coming out in gasps.
Rotten luck for ten years.
I tiptoed my way into the sala, where sunlight spilled into the room and everything was just as spotless and neat as before. No black cat. More importantly, no one. Nothing. (What thing, exactly?)
Rotten luck for ten years.
I moved to my bedroom, cautiously opening the door. Unaware of the perspiration forming on my upper lip and creeping down my neck, my eyes swept the small, tidy room.
Rotten luck for ten years.
Nothing. No movement. Not a thing out of place.
But there is still that wooden closet. I inched closer to it, my pale hand hovering over the cabinet door.
Rotten luck for ten years.
I pulled it open and what I saw made me scream.
The black cat sat on my pile of clothes, its large yellow eyes looking up at me, unblinking. But then it seemed to say…
Rotten luck for ten years.
I stumbled back and landed on the floor, confusion and surprise and fear rolling around inside me. Something solid hit my back and I realized I had my back to the bed. I barely registered the pain. My eyes were still on the black cat and it was returning the favor.
Rotten luck for ten years.
This did not make sense! My mind screamed. I grabbed the lip balm in my suit pocket and threw it at the cat. “Go away!” I shouted.
The cat jumped down, gracefully landing soundlessly on the floor. It sat an inch away from my feet, its eyes still disturbingly… human.
I scrambled my way up to the bed, the umbrella laid forgotten on the floor.
The cat licked its paws, but its eyes were still looking at me. Suddenly, it stopped its movement, cocked its head and then looked up at the open bedroom door. I looked at the same direction but could not hear a thing. I darted a nervous glance at the cat, who was still staring at the doorway. When I looked at the hallway, I could now make out a shadow on the floor. Someone was approaching the bedroom.
Rotten luck for ten years.
Stifling a sob, I climbed out of the bed and started to make my way to the window. I had one sane, if not panic-soaked, thought and that was to get out of here.
