Persephone

Chapter 3: Mr. Black

Chapter 3: Mr. Black

By the time Percy shut off her laptop, it was already one in the afternoon. She sighed and stretched on the couch luxuriously like a cat before moving to stand up going to the kitchen, the meeting with Zee passing her mind only briefly before she stared at a half-empty refrigerator. "Damn.."

Grocery shopping. She had to forget that she was about to starve.

Percy sighed and then went up the stairs to run a hot bath. Grocery shopping was never her favorite hobby. All these kind of food and this and that, and you had to check the expiration date to see if it was still okay to eat. Percy passed by another bookshelf and snagged her notepad, and shrieked when something black streaked across her footing, almost making her trip on the wooden floor. Her pad fell to the floor, a black cat with stormy grey eyes staring at her innocently.

"What the...?" Percy bent down to take the note, and the cat purred, butting its head gently on her hand. Her eyes widened, marvelling at how the cat's fur could be this smooth and shiny. It was like stroking satin. Surely this couldn't be just another stray cat, it was too... tame. Percy stood back up, her eyes still on the cat. And when she made experimental three steps forward, the cat followed her. And when she backed up, it ran after her legs, rubbing up beside them. It made her laugh, and she continued to the bathroom, listing down the things she was supposed to buy.

Chocolates. Eggs. Bacon. Milk. Chocolates. Meat loaf. Pan cakes. Chocolates-- Percy stared at her list again. She frowned at Chocolates which she had written about three times already, and shrugged. Her day wouldn't be complete without those sweets anyway.

"Uh, no, Mr. Black," Percy pushed the cat out of the bathroom with her foot gently. She still didn't like anyone, or thing, looking at her while she took a bath. "I'll be back, don't worry." She told it, thinking of the unopened can of sardines in her cupboards. She didn't even know why she was calling the cat 'Mr. Black' now. As if you could own a thing after it's tameful towards you.

After her bath, Percy changed into her jeans and a grey tank top, taking her red hoodie this time. She didn't bother combing the tangles in her hair, and she just tied it into a messy bun before going out of her room. And there was Mr. Black sitting patiently by her doorway, his tail swishing to and fro. "Are you even a male?" Percy laughed and then scooped him up, scratching between his ears.

Together with her new friend, or pet, rather, Percy placed him down on the couch and then hurried to the kitchen, popping open the can of sardines before taking it to Mr. Black, who found her black and red pillow comfy to scratch on. "Here you are," she laid it in front of him. The cat sniffed it curiously before rubbing his head on her hand again, as if saying a Thank You before digging in.

Percy didn't exactly know any domestic animals, nor that she could remember having a pet. But now, it just felt so natural that she found herself enjoying every minute with Mr. Black. Yep, animals didn't talk, but Percy was thankful for the silence Mr. Black was sharing with her. But she had to go lest she wanted to starve.

"I'll be back later. Don't...poop."

Percy was laughing as she closed the door behind her, Mr. Black almost saying Of course I won't. I'm sophisticated!

She took the shortcut through the woods again, and appeared by the highway. But as soon as she stepped foot on the pavement, a violent shock possessed her body and she retreated back on the grass, her heart beating rapidly. It was just a dream! She told herself impatiently, scoffing at her idiocracy.

But she ran across the street, not stopping until she slowed to pause by Dawney's. She waved at Belle, walking a little bit slowly and then continuing to the supermarket. Landmark wasn't exactly one of her favorite places, but the air-conditioning was over the top. Rows and shelves filled with different kinds of food filled the space, and Percy just ran here and there and took everything to the counter as quick as she entered. $56, a lot more than she would spend, was she that hungry?