From the Shadows

Chapter One

The wind growled and still rain clawed at the window. The storm had lasted since dusk. It was midnight now but Evelyn still hadn't gone to bed. She wouldn't now. Not until the night gave in.

There was something out there, on the other side of the window. She couldn't see it, but it was there, masked by the rain and the warm night air.

A yowl filtered through the back door. Evelyn turned off the tap and put down the plate she had been washing. Tip-toeing to the door, she opened it a crack. The noise of the storm heightened. Rain sprayed her nose.

A cat limped through the doorway. The rain had slicked his fur down like hair gel. He stared Evelyn down with narrowed eyes, and shook himself.
"It's not my fault you're wet, you bumbling idiot," Evelyn grumbled. The cat growled at her and spat his offering onto the doormat before stomping out the kitchen. "If you wet my bed I'll skin you. I mean it this time," Evelyn shouted. She didn't get an answer.
"That bloody cat..." She couldn't help smiling.

She bent down over the cat's offering. It was small enough to fit in her palm. It stirred as she picked it up, staring up at her with wide black pupils.

Evelyn's expression tightened.
"Hello," she muttered. The creature didn't blink. It's skin was clammy and jagged wounds throbbed across its skin, oozing crimson slime. Evelyn carried it to the cupboard top and forced a knife through it. It squeaked softly and died, eyes open. Evelyn opened the door again and set it on the step. She closed the door firmly and locked it. Afterwards she went back to washing dishes.

Something scrabbled at the door. It's claws grated quietly on the wood, like chalk on a black board. It could barely be heard above the sound of the storm. Evelyn gritted her teeth and ignored it.

She finished washing the dishes and left them on the draining board in a precarious stack.
"Ashes!" She called, and the cat trotted back into the kitchen, whiskers still dripping. She lifted him up and rubbed him with a towel. Ashes rumbled grumpily and glared at Evelyn, but with his fur fluffed up he couldn't look menacing. Evelyn scooped him up and carried him into the living room.

Dropping onto the couch, she picked up her embroidery and started to cast on. The cat jumped up onto her lap, daring her to protest with wide amber eyes.
"Oof, you're heavy," she complained, rubbing his notched ears. "Maybe I should stop feeding you - you eat too many birds." The cat meowed softly and snuggled into her chest.

There was a clattering of plates from the kitchen as the stack fell. Evelyn's arms tightened around the cat. She didn't get up; she knew better than to investigate. Eventually she fell asleep on the couch, the cat purring in her lap.