The Shadows of Blood

Incident One: The Dead Cat

'My life is a perfect graveyard of burried hopes.' 

-- Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables)

She did not sleep well that night. The crystal pendant was like a cold lump against her skin, though she didn't dare let go incase she were to loss it.

Her dreams were a mangled chain of events. 

She was walking through the corridors at night with only shadows for company. Turning a corner, she found herself in a gloomy hallway that she had never set eyes on, it was dark, with crumpling stone walls and moth-eaten tiles. There was something glistening up ahead. As though attracted by some strange magnetic force, Alina ran forwards.

The contents of the shimmering liquid turned out to be blood spilling from a leak in the wall, as Alina approached it, drawing a horrified breath, she saw to her terror that the corpse of a cat was swimming in the pool of blood. Its fur was matted, eyes still wide open, staring glazedly at the wall. 

A voice suddenly echoed throughout the hallway, it was soft, dangerous, and it spoke in a hiss, as though offering a dire warning. 'Once you leave, there will be no return.'

Alina spun around trying to see who had spoken, but the hallway was completely empty.

As though on cue, a chilly draft blew down the narrow corridor, sending a chill down her spine. The oil lamps hanging on the wall flickered and died out, leaving her with only darkness for company. She was alone.

Alina cast around wildly, but all was dark except the glittering eyes of the dead cat.

She gasped, the pendant dropped to the ground with a clatter, as Alina jerked awake, her forehead wet with cold sweat.

There were hurried footsteps outside her room and after a second, the door burst open. It was Rebecca standing there again, her face gaunt, teartracks running down the sides of her cheek -- she had obviously been crying.

Alina was a little taken aback. 'What's wrong?' She asked curiously.

'It's the cat, Ma'am.' Tiny Rebecca sobbed, tears pouring down her front. 'The cat's just been found dead in the corner.'

Alina froze in her tracks.