She walks through the door.

Her head held high.

“Me-ow,” she grins, licking her lips.

“Willow?” I run over and pick her up. “There’s blood on you- are you okay?”

“Me-ow.” She kicks, I sit her down. She looks at me with devilish green eyes, the black kitten trots to the door and looks over her shoulder as if she’ll lead me to something.

“Are you bringing me somewhere?” I follow. “Where are we going? What happened?”

I put the bowl of milk beside her tray in the kitchen and follow her out. I got her a week ago, just a small thing.

She stops- sniffing a puddle on the dark pavement, she licks it. Then continues walking. I step through it, cursing myself as the cold liquid soaks into my jeans. I look down, examining the damage.

A crimson stain has settled into the cloth. I jump back, my breath hitching. I glance up, and hurry to follow the kitten as she disappears down the alleyway where the apartment complexes’ garbage is collected on Fridays.

“Willow-“ I call, breaking into a run.

Only to stop-

When I see…

What’s on the ground.

When I see who is on the ground.

Dozens of cats swarm a young man’s body, lapping at the blood that seeps from his wounds. They hiss at me, prowling around.

“Oh. My. God.”