Cat N' Mau5

Chapter 4: Devastating News

Mikey was sat on the lump they called a lounge. He had his bowl of dry cereal in one hand, and his mug of coffee in the other.

His brother Gerard had gone to the biggest fight of his career last night. Mikey hadn't watched it as it was aired because it had been late, and he had been tired.

So he had gotten up nice and early this morning to watch it.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he put down the bowl to pick it up.

'New message from: Frank'

He opened up the message and glance quickly at the tv before reading the text, not noticing the warning labels flashing at the bottom of the screen in blue banners.

'Hey Mikes, watching g3rard's epic battle? :D Coming round to celebrate with you.

xofrnk'

Mikey smiled and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

The doorbell rang just as Gerard handed the opposer known as DeadMau5 a striking blow to the face.

"COME IN!" Mikey yelled, not wanting to miss the best part and knowing Frank wouldn't have a problem with walking in himself.

The doorbell rang persistently, and sighing Mikey put down his bowl once again, got up off his lump, and answered the door.

At the door stood a man and a woman in navy uniform.

'Oh no,' Mikey groaned to himself. 'Please tell me this doesn't mean Gerard got drunk celebrating and broke something important again.'

"Mikey Way?" The man asked.

"Yes, that'd be me." He replied solemnly.

Much to Mikey's surprise, both officers removed their hats.

"We're really sorry..."

Mikey's face paled, and a look of dread overcame his face.

"There was a fight," the woman began, but Mikey had drifted off into his own world.

A bar fight? Gerard had died in a bar fight?

"... And we're terribly sorry, sir." The officer finished.

Mikey shook his head in a dazed sense, gripping the door for support. It couldn't be true.

Suddenly Frank was at the door.

"Hey Mikes, what's up with the uniforms? Did Gerard break something again?" Frank asked. His cheerful smirk had been wiped off his face and was now replaced by a look of seriousness.

The officers stood aside and let Frank in, turning remorsefully to go, and leave Mikey to explain.

Still in shock, Mikey went back to his lump, and stared at the tv.

Frank followed him in, cleaning up the things he knocked off and closing the door behind him. He was beginning to worry, as Mikey was never like this.

Mikey wasn't exactly watching the tv, he was kind of staring through it instead.

Frank went and sat on the ground next to him and his lump, taking a handful of cereal and eating it.

"A fight..." Mikey said, still gazing at the tv.

"What?"

Mikey turned to look at his friend. "He was killed in a bar fight."

Franks mouth dropped open, and the cereal dropped out.

"W-what?" He turned back to the tv, finally remembering to close his mouth and swallow.

Mikey followed his gaze, taking a look at his brother in his last hours.

And then it hit him.

When the officers said a fight...

"Um, Mikey?" Frank asked, not being able to tear his eyes away from the large, glowing mouse robot.

"Are you sure it was a bar fight?"

The camera panned in on Gerard's face as he mouthed a single swear word. They then turned to see the huge machine collapse onto the dome, and static abducted the picture as the camera was hit.

Mikey and Frank turned to face each other, wide eyed and now both in shock.

"Did... That... Really just happen?"

Mikey was doing his best not to burst into tears.

Frank's red eyeliner was running down his face, along with hot tears. He brushed his matted, black fringe behind his ear and rubbed his eyes, smearing the red further.

"What are we gonna tell the girls?" Frank asked. Mikey sniffed and wiped his eyes carefully, smearing his own black eyeliner sideways.

"I... I don't know, Frank. I really don't know." He mumbled, and his voice cracked.

Shock kept the mournful tears from spilling. His fingers, lips, and the tip of his nose had all gone numb, and his throat ached from the lump that resembled his 'lounge' that had formed there.

Mikey looked across at Frank. His jaw was quivering and he was shaking violently.

"We have to tell them." Mikey said gently. Frank was taking it harder than you'd think the laid back guy would.

Frank nodded gently, and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He went to type a text, but couldn't and dropped the phone.

Mikey pulled out his own. "It's ok, I'll do it."

Frank nodded and stared at his feet as Mikey texted their other friends Ray and Bob, as well as Frank's wife. He'd never be able to tell her himself.

The feedback from the tv made the both of them jump. The static was gone, but instead was replaced by and eerily blue, glowing light in the dark.

One of the new Robo Cats released by Meowington Corp. was crouched low, stalking the camera. He tilted his head to one side, glowing eyes staring directly into the hearts of Frank and Mikey.

Suddenly the cat pounced with a murderous yowl and hiss, and the camera static returned again, before the tv shut off entirely.

Frank and Mikey exchanged looks and gulped.