Short Stories

Twenty-Two: Animal

There was a secret meeting tonight, and I had to be there. I hurriedly grabbed my suitcase, and my black hat. Double checking that I had everything I needed for the meeting, I shut the door behind me and hailed for a taxi. As the wheels bumped over the old cobblestone street and the only sound you could hear was the horse's quiet trotting, I fiddled with my hands nervously. Why would they call for a mandatory meeting? The last time that happened was 7 years ago, and that was because of-

"Hey, we're here." I snapped out of my chance and gracefully stepped out of the cart and paid the old man his fare. He tipped his hat at me and then rode off. I looked at my destination. It was an old looking house built in the early 1800s. The dirt path leading up to the dark house was covered in dead leaves that made a loud crunching noise if you stepped on them. I waved the wand in my pocket, and the leaves all moved out the way of my feet as I walked to the house.

I knocked once on the door. Twice. Then, three times. When the entrance creaked open, it revealed a shiny floor without a single trace of dust on the floors. A young man stood by the doorway. I bowed my head to him, and he bowed it back. I slung my trench coat off and handed it to him. He graciously took it and hung it up on a rack. I walked down the pristine hallway until I reached a large wooden hatchway. I took in a deep breath before pushing open the door. Almost immediately hundreds of pairs of eyes settled on my figure, I walked on over to my vacant seat. It looks like I was the last to arrive.

"I'm very sure you all are very confused as to why we're here." The lead man, Jack Argentino said. Murmurs of agreement arose from the crowd.

"We called a mandatory meeting because the killings have gotten worse, and no-maj's have also started hunting our kind down. Last week, they killed Mrs. Amato, who you all know was 7 months pregnant with her first child. Two weeks ago, they brutally murdered 5 of us, all of who were innocent. In the last month only they killed 50 of us. They felt no remorse, no guilt, no nothing."

"Then, why have you called us here," Someone asked from the crowd, "Wouldn't it have been safer to send letters?"

"Yes, but I'm sick and tired of this abuse! They've hunted us relentlessly for centuries even though we've done nothing wrong! They've slain us simply because we can shapeshift into any animal we please. They've killed our families and our friends! Aren't all of you sick and tired of this? Isn't it time to fight back?!" His voice echoed throughout the room. No one replied to his question.

"Yes," I whispered. All eyes turned towards me. "It is time to fight back." I lifted my head and abruptly stood up. "Jack is right! It's time to fight back! They've killed our families and our friends just because we're different! I say it's time for a revolt!" Murmurs of agreement turned into cheers and roars of agreement. I turned to face Jack and nodded at him. He smiled and nodded back. We then returned to cheering and roaring. No longer would we hide in fear. No longer would we be pushed around. Tomorrow, we would fight back. And we would win.