Encounter with the cat
By Shelby kai dyer
The sound of whirring gears could be heard as the only sound that interfered with the precious silence. Sleep destroyed she rolled over to look at the opening windows. The window. Just another reminder that prisoners here didn’t have a choice. Then just as she rolled over to hopefully get back to the peacefulness of sleep a voice she knew all too well called from the aria of the door. “time to wake up.” the voice without a face said with almost a monotone quality through the intercom and when she didn’t move but instead growled “go away I’m sleeping” she was not very surprised to hear the insistent whistle that promised not to stop till she was up. Usually they let her sleep in. how annoying, she thought with a little more than a tad of menace. A look in the mirror revealed two twitching black cat ears that flicked at the slightest noise. They were covered in soft black fur with white tips. For what reason she didn’t know, maybe one of the scientists had been a real pervert and thought it attractive. Who knew, well she sure didn't.
She grumbled as she slipped silently into the side room that led to the bathroom. She ignored the persistent voice that was calling her through the intercom telling her it was time to go, now. She enjoyed for the moment, being able to hear the bit of annoyance in the voice’s usual monotone sound. Though she soon re-appeared wearing black colored tights under shorts and a long bodied t-shirt that was a light blue with the words. ‘Reach for the sky’ spread in floating letters across the faded cartoon character of a kitten with its paw up to bat a butterfly. She didn’t know about recent fashion but she deemed it can ok ensemble...even if it wasn’t her style. Pausing a moment she continued to look in the mirror.
Black hair that matched the fur on her ears hung now from a pony tail at the back of her head, though long bangs that covered her eyebrows accented her green feline eyes and slightly tanned skin.
She had a slim build though was well toned from lots of exercise though she was nothing like a bodybuilder. Instead her sleek mussels gave her the appearance that she was ready to attack at any given moment. Though from her knowledge cat like features weren’t attractive. She thought this as she studied the retractable claws that switched with a slight pain and a small noise from human nails to catlike claws. Put that all together with the ears and a tail that swayed back and forth in an almost hypnotizing fashion and you had Lim. All and all a strange combination of feline and human D.N.A mashed together.
She sighed as she moved to the door and waited in her room for the door to open and her escort to arrive. Having been here all her life she was still deemed unable to walk around without an escort. well probably because she had tried to escape when she had been allowed before to walk around. She sighed lightly as the door opened to reveal her escort. Oh today it was her, It was the very not amused owner of the monotone voice. “Sorry I took to long” she said with a sly grin that revealed slightly pointed feline fangs. The lady simply looked away. “This way, they are ready for you” she said in the same infuriatingly monotone voice that could drive someone mad. Luckily the lady only worked here one day every week or so she hadn’t even bothered to memorize the lady’s name
She was soon directed where a group of scientists drew blood, checked her pulse, heart rate and what felt like a million other tests.
Relieved that the tests were done for now she was led to the cafeteria where others ate, none like her but people who worked here. Smiling she helped herself to the make your own waffle bar. With ease she poured batter in and waited till it was cooked then lathered it with strawberries and a berry syrup she liked so much. Sitting down to eat she soon finished it off then was bundled off to the worst part of the day.
As usual the maze was once again changed so she wouldn’t know the full way through. Though one thing she did know was that traps were placed throughout the maze. Though there was a set time that was before things heated up. She knew all of this from previous experience. This was the most important test or so the scientists had told her before.
The maze was huge and covered up to an acre at one time.
She steeped up to the door and waited for it to open, though if her plan worked soon she would be free from all the annoying hurtful tests. She gritted her teeth as the door opened and she took a moment to count the traps she could see, though that was not many. The floor was mildly electrocuted to keep her running, and a few wires to trip her if she wasn’t careful. All and all it wasn’t as bad as what had happened before.
With a sigh she took off at a fair run. Though not her fastest. She saw the wires glinting in the light and was able to jump over then but she met quite a few dead ends on her journey through the maze. A climbing wall… then safety. The finish.
Her feet hurt from the mild electricity but they weren’t hurt. No the scientists wouldn’t damage there project. Not one they had worked so hard on for so long on.
She would escape, soon, soon. She thought as she went to eat dinner and then retired to her room.
Namko sighed contentedly as he finished writing a long boring story for his writing class. His wrist ached dully but it was done. A pencil with pink strawberries imprinted onto it lay in front of him. He knew the pencil was girly but he didn’t care, strawberries were his favorite food and it was unique so he would always be able to find it. Though it was also the one hiss older sister who had moved out a year ago had given to him as a joke. He only used it for projects he wanted to get a good mark on.
With a contented feeling he saved his work so he wouldn’t loose it and waited for the bell to ring. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to wait for long. Then he heard it; yes it was the beeping annoyance that was his freedom from school, the bell. With a grin of happiness that was almost comical he joined the rest of the world and for the next little bit wouldn’t be confined by the mandatory hell that was the modern school system. He walked automatically to his locker though on the way he pondered why school was really mandatory. Though he only came to the conclusion it was to keep kids and teens out of the way of adults. Well besides the fact to learn the things they might need as adults. Though he couldn’t help but think that he sounded like a depressed teen how funny since he was never really depressed. “I need to stop thinking so much” he said with a sigh. When he did get to his locker he got out his stuff and like many others that were in the school, rushed out to greet the weekend of freedom. Though the thought of the loads of homework he had to do passed through his mind he soon threw them away. As always he would save it till Sunday night at the last possible moment and get a passing grade. How boring, Hopefully the weekend would be more interesting. Though he didn’t have anything to do at the moment and it was such a nice day out. In a snap decided to take the long way home through the alluring twisting alleyways and behind the shops where it seemed like an entirely different world.
Lim woke up early that morning. Not because the voice or whistle had woken her up but because she knew she had to, and so in turn she had slept lightly. She dressed and then waited by the door, the door opened but that’s when the routine changed. When the door opened she punched at her escort not with full force because she already knew from tests that she was stronger than a regular human. Though her punch landed right between the eyes almost snapping his nose but instead dropping him so he lay unconscious. It was rather un-nerving to know that she had dropped a full grown human so easily. “Humans are so fragile” she muttered with a passing glance at the unconscious man as she ran. She had a ruff idea of where the door was, though not perfect since she wasn’t really allowed near the doors.
She reached the door after a few false ends and just as the alarm rang warning everyone that she had escaped. So she bolted into the forest that surrounded the ‘science center’ on all sides.
“now where to go…” she said in-between breaths, she hadn’t thought this far ahead. So instead she stayed going one direction for she knew that was the easiest thing to do. After all she had to hit somewhere eventually, it was just plain common sense.
She kept running her breath labored and coming in gasps but she couldn’t stop. No she could feel them just behind her, just out of her line of sight waiting till she slowed down so they could catch her and bring her back to the hellhole that was the center.
She wore no shoes and her feet were being cut and were hurting, she knew that it usually was just common sense not to run around in bare feet. But then again she didn’t have much of a choice. Her arms were being scratched badly by the thorns and were whipped by tree branches that loomed in her way. But who cared, All she wanted was to get away from the center, now.
The rest of the day passed in a blur that she couldn’t remember any details from. Running and hiding in snippets, never stopping for to long in one place. Always doubling back to loose any pursuers and crossing and going down rivers when ever she could.
Though soon she found the forest thinning and the sun shining through the trees more apparent. The amount of comfortable hiding places getting fewer and fewer. Though that wasn’t the least of her worries, people. Humans were becoming more and more common. She decided that she needed a rest. Well decided was a bad word for it; it was more like if she didn’t rest she would fall over on the spot. She climbed up a fairly nice large, full tree using the claws that appeared forming from the normal nails that were human. So she used these nails to climb till she reached the lower branches. It was hard and was tiring her out more and more but here she would be safe from human eyes. She waited, rested, and hid on the thick branches of a full maple tree. Cradled between two branches she fell asleep unaware of the bustle of the humans walking below her, going about there daily business.
When she woke up next she found it was dark and that the moon lit up the surrounding arias as it was waxing into a full moon. Though at the moment it was slightly more than a crescent on the sky.
“Perfect conditions” she purred to herself as she stood up stretching not even worrying that she was high above the ground. She listened for a few moments her cat ears twitching. Crickets chirping, frogs, the odd morning sprinkler system turning on, and a dog barking in the distance but as far as she could tell there was no humans up and about and she was free to travel the streets.
She quickly got down from the tree and once again started running. Though this time through the suburbs that led into a city. The houses were small with green lawns and gardens full of flowers. They seemed like things that should be found in a picture but this was no picture this was indeed real life.
Running she stopped for a moment to find herself in the middle of a city and this place wasn’t as asleep. So quickly she made her way into the back ally behind buildings. Unknown to the regular folk there was many different tunnels and back allies that were never used but were perfect for travel.
Though soon the sun was once again rising and she had to find a place to stay safe for the time that the streets were crowded full of people. So she wandered for a bit and she ended up in front of an old building that was boarded up to keep unwelcome visitors out. It would have been bulldozed but it was to close to another building. Perfect. This way she could have a safe place to stay. She was exhausted and so she curled up on the dust-covered floor happily in a patch of morning sun.
Though she soon found that she couldn’t sleep for long. Though she had slept. It was later in the day. Probably about three or so in the afternoon. With a sigh she looked around at the building she had crawled into. It was an old movie theater. Most of the seats were missing and the air smelled stale and of mouse. Though the blue curtains at the front were still hanging as if waiting for the show to begin.
She listened and then climbed back outside to the narrow alleyway.
Though she couldn’t believe she hadn’t heard them before. Footsteps very close coming down the ally. She flicked her ears to catch the sound.
Namko knew that is was Sunday and that walking around exploring the alleyways was not the smartest thing to do but he continued walking silently or well silently to him at least. He was being careful for he knew people got attacked in alleyways but then again that’s what made it so much more fun. The thrill of doing something dangerous. He though wasn’t prepared to see a person. Mostly hidden by shadow as he turned the corner. Curiosity drove him on as he watched the female figure. “miss, are you…” though the words died on his lips as his eyes had strayed up see two very not human, feline ears then to the swaying cat tail.
He couldn’t think of anything to say as he watched the strange girl so he said the first thing that came to mind. “Nice kitty…” as well as started to back away.
Lim was startled but slightly amused to see the footsteps were of a human child who was shocked at her appearance. “Nice kitty?” she asked with a raised brow. This kid was something else.
But soon there meeting was disrupted as a black car with dark tinted windows came down the ally carefully. “Damn…” she said knowing who was in that vehicle all to well. “Sorry kid, I can’t leave you know that they have seen me with you. Not unless you want to play question the kid” she said with a grin as she pulled a still speechless Namko along with her at a running pace. Lim kept on dragging him through allies that were no more than foot paths and cracks between buildings.
Finally for a moment she stopped and listened. “Nope no cars…” she said to herself. Though she soon turned to Namko. “Ok so you’re all surprised and stuff but trust me…” but she was soon interrupted by Namko who was facing her. “Who are you, better yet what are you?” Namko asked pausing slightly before bombarding her with questions. “Why were those people chasing us? Why did you drag me along? Are you an alien?...” the questions poured forth before she sighed and put a hand over his mouth. “Your questions are making my head hurt, so be quiet” she said with a sigh. “Ok I dragged you along because those people are bad people and I’m not sure what they would do to you. That and I have no aspiration to be back with them again.” She sighed once more before looking over at the boy who was now assessing his situation.
She sighed, as it seemed like a good thing to do. “Come on lets go find a building to hide out in for a while.” She walked slowly and carefully assessed the buildings. Finally one tall skinny building with allot of flights stood out. The sign in front of it said that it was sold. It would work for a bit. To tell the truth she had been ignoring the boy who walked behind silently.
Namko couldn’t stay quiet. “is your tail real?” he asked reaching out to brush his hand along it. Lim jumped in surprise as he felt her tail. “Of course its real” she said with a scowl. “Its what those people did to me…” though she noticed the question forming on the child’s face and shook her head. “Come on.” She said as she led him through the window and up the flights of stairs to the middle of the building. There she sat down and motioned for him to sit down as well. “We should be safe here for a bit…”
Though it didn’t last long for what she said to be wrong. Lim looked away to the boy whose name she still had to learn. “Damn” she swore as her ears flicked to catch the sound. “They found out where we were” she said then looked to the boy. “Boy, child, human,” she said not sure what to call him. Though Namko cut in. “my name is…” though he didn’t get to finish before Lim hissed at him. “Shut up and go hide” for a moment Namko looked surprised. “You put us into this situation” he pointed out. He hadn’t wanted to go hide but soon even he realized the situation as he could hear heavy feet clanking up the fire escape stairs and the tad and slam as doors were opened then slammed shut, as if warning the odd pair that they were coming to get them.
For a moment his mind turned to thoughts like. ‘This is odd, I wonder if I’m dreaming.’ And other odd thoughts. Though it didn’t last long as he let out a slightly muffled yell as he was pulled backwards a hand on his mouth.
He soon found himself in a closet that he hadn’t noticed for it had been hidden by boxes. He knew just who had put him there. The same person who whispered into his ear. “be quiet boy”
The opening of the door seemed quiet in comparison to the thumping of his heart. Though the boot steps grew louder, and louder as they approached the closet where they sheltered.
Lim knew there was no more time to escape from there pursuers. So at the last moment she pulled the boy with herself into a closet. She listened quietly to the sounds of the boot drawing Closter then so close she could hear him breathing from the climb up the stairs.
Then a yell back. “Empty” was clear from the other side of he closet door. Safe... The door slammed shut as they moved to the next room. “My names Lim by the way.” she said very quietly.
There was a moment of silence before Namko moved her hand. “Cool, my names Namko. Not boy, human or child” he said with a slight hint of humor to which Lim replied “fair enough, Namko” though she knew she couldn’t just keep running with him it wasn’t going to work. He was just a boy after all.
Suddenly Namko felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck that made his vision swim and then go black but his thought before it all went black were. “What is she doing?”
Fe felt dab for knocking him out but she had no choice. He couldn’t get involved in these things. She decided to look through his pockets to see if she could find out where he lived and that’s exactly what she did. She didn’t find much but did find a letter with one address that was addressed to him. There we go bingo.
Hefting onto her shoulders she couldn’t help but notice how light he actually was. It only took a few minuets before she arrived at his nearby house. There were no cars in the driveway and the lights were off. Perfect.
With a smile she had also found a key in his pocket. She used this to unlock the backdoor and slip in where she laid him on the couch. Though she accidentally scratched him as she placed him down. A faint line along his jaw line. Oh well at least she would be able to recognize him later. She looked at the clock. “Seven o’clock?” she said aloud. That wasn’t too late. She smiled as she placed a kiss upon his forehead before leaving. She had become accustomed and actually cared for the boy. Though she remembered to leave the key and letter on the side table.
With that she left as silently as a shadow. Hopefully he would have no memory of what had happened.
For a moment Namko was not sure where he was. His living room? What was he doing here? Was it a dream? He sighed as he then felt a pain along his jaw line. “Ouch” he murmured as he felt it. “Blood?” he said looking at the drop of blood on his fingers. Standing up he walked to the bathroom to take a look. “Looks like a cat scratch,…” he mused. “Oh, then it wasn’t a dream” he then smiled. He knew he would meet her again, and that time he wouldn’t be as useless or treated as a child. No he wanted that adventure. But for now he had better put a bandage on the scratch. He then noticed outside a shape moving in the shadows, a girl with a tail and ears... but as soon as he caught a good glimpse the shadow was gone
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