I have always hated cats. At times I considered them as bad as demons. So I probably shouldn't have been surprised, they don't care any more for me than I do for them.
I pulled my old beat up Carolla into my prefered parking space around back behind the coffee shop. Many of the patrons would joke that this particular spot was reserved for me and that I should have my name engraved here. I didn't argue.
I came to this coffee shop nearly every day, sometimes multiple times a day, and for several hours a day. I loved the ambiance. I loved the people I met here. I loved... the coffee.
I dressed too warmly for this southern Florida heat. Even late as it was the heat was unbearable. But I was in one of those moods and dressed in my hunting clothes. The soles of my thick leather boots echoed though the dark hallway as I made my way to the shop. The hallway was not long, and normally it was a busy walkway, but being Monday there just wasn't a lot of commotion tonight.
So I was surprised to hear that more than just my footsteps where echoing in the hallway. Being the hunter that I was, I was always alert to unexplained noises, strange people, and weird feelings. I didn't want to seem to obvious, so I turned slowly.
There was no one else in the hallway. I made my way cautiously back the way I had come. That's when I noticed the cat.
She lay perfectly still near the entrance to the hallway, those golden orbs that were her eyes were trained on me. She was completely black, blending into the darkness.
As I stepped closer she made no attempt to flee. "Probably a pet" I muttered.
I reached my hand toward her and still she didn't move. Just as I was about to reach her she swatted violently at my hand, her claws ripping four deep scratches on the top of my left hand. Blood quickly pooling into the little trails.
I whipped my hand back from her, and still she did not flee. I cursed under my breath and decided to just go to the coffee shop. I could wash my hands and look for a bandage there.
I walked back into the hallway but stopped abruptly- I could here the footfalls behind me again.
I turned around quickly this time, and in the darkness could see those golden orbs staring at me. Steadily, unblinking, the cat unmoving. I pulled my vest a little closer, suddenly feeling quite chilly. My hand reached instinctively for my gun.
How could I even think of shooting a cat in the hallway between a commercial development with people nearby?
My injured hand felt like it was burning in pain and I looked to see that it was bleeding far worse than it should. I looked back towards the cat to find that she was not there. Cautiously I turned around and continued toward the exit.
Again, the footfalls.
Again, I turned quickly.
Again, the golden eyes of a predator stared back at me.
Panic washed over me. Ridiculous. I pulled myself together quickly. This was just a stupid cat. I dealt with far worse on a daily basis. Unless... nonsence. I attempted to wash the thought from my mind.
But even as the thought crossed my mind the cat must have known exactly what I was thinking. In that moment she began to race towards me. I did the only thing I could. I began to run.
The hallway seemed to stretch and grow before me impossibly. It was a short hallway and yet now it seemed to stretch on for miles. Just as I was coming out of the other side of the hallway the cat ran between my feet and tripped me.
I went flying out of the hallway, hitting the floor hard and rolling onto the sidewalk. Luckily, it was a Monday night and almost no one was there to see my inglorious entrance. Almost.
Mishal, the coffee shop's proprietor, was brining in supplies from the grocery store and witnessed the whole thing.
"Oh my God, Bay!" he yelled as he came running over. He helped me into a sitting position and saw my bleeding hand.
"It was that damn cat..." I gestured toward the hallway, but suddenly the cat was nowhere to be seen.
I struggled to my feet, finding it incredibly hard to stand. Mishal helped me get up and that was when I looked into the large window in front of his shop. From within I could see a young lady staring at me. I was so embarrased, she must have witnessed the whole thing.
That's when I noticed her penetrating gaze.
Her black, black hair.
And her golden eyes staring at me.