After Forever

by Krystal McLaughlin

  I nodded again, choking back tears. “Yes, that would be nice. I’ll just be a minute.” I pushed the bathroom door open, stepped inside and completely lost it. I cried and cried, until I threw up. That made me feel slightly better, but only physically. Emotionally, I was a wreck. My parents were dead, Wyatt was in the hospital, and Rania was hurt, all because of me. I was even more determined to end this all. I had to. I had to avenge my parents’ deaths. I owed them that much.

  I composed myself as best I could, splashed some water on my face, took a couple deep breaths, and headed back out into the hallway. The officer was there with a glass of water. He handed it to me and I took a small sip. Stella and Rania were close behind him.

  “Are you ready to go home?” Stella asked. “She isn’t needed for anything else, is she?” her eyes now focused on the officer.

  “Oh, no, she’s free to go. We’ll call if we need anything else.” Then turning his attention back to me, “My apologies for your loss.” He turned and walked away.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Rania insisted. “This place gives me the creeps.”

  Once we were out in the parking lot, I insisted that I needed to go back to my house. “I think I found mom’s books on fighting the witch. It was in an antique trunk in the back of her closet. It’s locked though. I need to find the key. It’s important. Please, Stella, can you drop me off at the house. I’ll leave as soon as I find the key.”

  She dropped Rania and me off at the house. Rania insisted that I shouldn’t be left alone. I would have been fine, but there was no arguing with her, and Stella agreed, so Rania stayed with me.

  Once we were inside the house, Rania demanded I show her the trunk. “It will be easier to find the key if we know what it looks like. You know, from the lock on the trunk.” She had a point.

  Once we were upstairs, I pulled the trunk out of the closet again and set it on the bed. Rania glanced at it casually and said, “From the looks of it, it’s a small skeleton key.” How she knew that, I would never comprehend. “Actually, now that I think of it, I’m pretty sure I saw one when I was rooting through the drawers in the kitchen, in the junk drawer.”

  “Well, go get it then!” I was hoping it was what we needed. I didn’t think I could stay in this house, especially this room for much longer.

  Rania hurried from the room, not at all happy about having to be the one to go get the key. But I insisted it had to be her, since she knew what she was looking for. A few minutes later she waltzed back into the room, holding up a key, happy with herself. She tossed the key at me, “Well, let’s try it and see.”

  The key bounced on the bed next to me. I picked it up and placed it in the lock. It fit perfectly. I turned it and the lock clicked open. Inside the box were several extremely old journals. They had to be what I needed. I flipped one open. The pages were yellowing, and there was flowing, cursive on all the pages. It was hard to read, but with some effort, I could make out what it was saying. It was an account of what happened with the witches back in the 1600’s. “This is it,” I exclaimed. “This is what we need to fight back. With my mom’s journals and your dad’s, I think we can do this!”

  “Great, let’s get out of here then,” Rania demanded. “It’s awkward being in here, after seeing your parents at the police station.” I couldn’t agree more with that statement.

  I told Rania if she wanted to go back to the hospital to spend time with her dad that she could. I would manage the research by myself. I knew full well that Rania would be no help at all. She hated reading, she hated studying. I was better off doing this myself. She agreed, but promised she’d be back later on to help me. I knew she wouldn’t, but didn’t argue with her.

  Over the next several hours I poured through my mom’s and Wyatt’s journals, hoping for something, anything that would tell me how to stop Cinder. There had to be a way to stop all of this. I ended up falling asleep at Wyatt’s desk. When I woke up, it was well past midnight. That’s odd, why hadn’t Stella or Rania woken me.

  I got up and stretched, then wandered out to the living room. No one was there. They probably already went to bed. I climbed the stairs to Rania’s bedroom. She wasn’t in there. That’s extremely odd. She should have been home by now. I tried to write it off as nothing. Maybe she decided to spend the night there. Yes, that has to be it. But in the pit of my stomach I knew something was wrong, very wrong.

  There was nothing I could do at this late hour. I’d call Rania in the morning. It wasn’t enough to keep the nightmares away though. I woke up around 6 a.m. and couldn’t fall back asleep. I got out of bed and dressed, made myself some breakfast, and waited. It was still too early to call Rania. But I couldn’t just sit here idle.

  I grabbed my car keys and headed out the door. I was going to find out what was going on. I drove to the hospital. At least I tried to. I couldn’t get anywhere near it. All the roads were blocked. I could see smoke wafting from the direction of the hospital. No! No, no, no!

  I parked the car and walked towards the barricade. A police officer tried to stop me. “My friend, she was in there,” I screamed at him. “What’s happened, tell me what’s happened!”

  “You can’t go in there, there was an explosion. I can’t tell you anything else. I’m sorry. You’ll have to leave now.”

  “But my friend…”

  “I’m sorry young lady, but you have to leave,” the officer insisted.

  I wasn’t going to get any information this way. What was I going to do now? Cinder had taken everything away from me. I had nothing left. I went back to my car, sat there and cried. Once I couldn’t cry any more, I headed back to Rania’s house. There was only one thing left to do.

  Cinder was sitting on the steps to the house when I got there. It made things so much easier for me. He looked up at me as I approached, almost as if he was happy to see me. I picked him up, holding him close. “It’s okay Cinder. I won’t hurt you,” I murmured to him, petting him gently.

  Still holding him, I walked into the house. I put him in Rania’s room and got him a bowl of milk. Once he was distracted by the milk, I went back downstairs and found a bottle of lighter fluid in the garage and a box of matches. I knew what I had to do.

  I dowsed the entire ground floor in lighter fluid, and then standing at the bottom of the stairs, I struck a match and dropped it. Walking up the stairs, I watched the flames consume everything around me.

  Slowly, I walked back to Rania’s room, closed the door and waited. Waited for it to all end.

  Puss and the Bone of Riches

  By S. Cu’Anam Policar

  ©by S. Cu’Anam Policar

  “Hey Puss!” The voice is almost childlike with a pseudo mobster twang as my name passes through his lips.

  My orange ears pique as I turn the upper half of my body to look at the owner of the voice, who I know from experience, is none other than Valdez, my boss.

  I’m definitely unique in this town of hounds. Standing five foot even, I’m not what one would call tall. I keep myself in tip top shape, I have to in my line of work. It shows too as my sleek orange furred form twists almost completely around. I lift a white furred paw and brush the orange fur on my face as my amber depths fall on Valdez.

  “What?” I practically hiss to the large Doberman who’s dressed in a charcoal colored pinstriped suit.

  Valdez adjusts his wide brimmed hat, which matches his suit, and brings it lower on his head almost covering his left eye. The butt of a cigar teeters dangerously as his sharp featured muzzle opens. “I have a job for you Puss.”

  My amber depths roll dramatically as I command my legs to twist and realign with my upper body. “Look Snoopy I told you I’m out of the business. I have better things to do than play fetch for a bunch of flea ridden mongrels... Present company included.”

  Valdez growls low in his throat as he first plucks the cigar butt from his maw then flicks it in my direction. Both of our gazes watch the arch of the butt’s ascent before it begins its de
scent to land a few inches from my black boots. I lift a black leather clad leg and stomp on the butt as I smirk to my former boss.

  “You walk a fine line feline. If it wasn’t for me you’d have been mauled the day your sorry excuse for fur arrived here. This place ain’t called Dog Walk City for nothing you know.” Valdez reminds me as he seems to every time I try to deny him a job.

  I drum the claws of my right hand on my left arm, my tail swishing in agitation. “It won’t work this time. I told you last time Valdez, I’m done. I have enough respect earned in this town to stay or go, either way I won’t be your lap dog anymore. Get that new recruit of yours, what’s his name? Fido? To do it for you.”

  Valdez actually chuckles at this comment. “His name is Filipe. And he can’t do it; you know how nervous Chihuahuas are. He’d crap himself before he got near the mark.”

  “I don’t care Valdez. I’m done.” I spit as I turn back around and begin to walk away. My hips sashay causing the holstered belt on my waist to jingle. I never leave home without my pieces. I’d be dog food out here if I did. Respect or not, without my guns, I’m nothing but a snack to the mutts in this city.

  “Don’t be so hasty to leave Puss. I don’t think you’d want this little one to grow up like you did.” Valdez says with a laugh.

  That stops me dead in my tracks. I turn around quickly. My paws itching to grab the guns from their holsters as I see Valdez dangle a very small kitten in the air. He swings it around for emphasis and I cringe hoping he doesn’t drop it.

  A sigh leaves me causing my whiskers to twitch. “What do you want done?”

  “I knew you’d see things my way Puss... That’s why you’ve lasted this long out here. You’re smart.” Valdez praises.

  “Just get on with it Valdez. The faster I get it done, the faster I can leave.” I remind him.

  “The museum the next town over has a new exhibit. It’s some rare bone that’s supposed to grant whoever possesses it riches beyond imagination.” Valdez explains.

  “Why would I help you get a bone? Get one of your lackeys to do it.” I counter.

  Valdez shakes his head. “None of them are agile enough. None of them can maneuver with the grace of one of your particular race.”

  “If I refuse?” I question arching a brow.

  “If you refuse, or fail in your mission, then the fur ball here gets a one way trip through the back door of the pound… If you get my drift.” Valdez states.

  Paws to my hips, my midriff clad chest heaves as I exhale. I cock my head to the right. “Why would you think I care what happens to some kid that wandered where it shouldn’t have?”

  “I’m not stupid Puss. Beneath all that hard tough girl exterior, you’re still the gentle kitten I swiped all those years ago.” Valdez says as if he could possibly know anything that goes on in my head.

  However, this time, he’s pretty much on the mark… Damn…

  “Fine. I’ll get your stupid bone and then I’m done.” I announce as I walk off toward my small house to plan how I’ll do this.

  It takes me three days to figure out exactly how I want to do this. Valdez sends Filipe to me two days prior with a blueprint for the museum, he wasn’t kidding. Filipe stands half my height and was shaking so hard, I think for sure he is having a seizure and is going to just fall out dead on my carpet. His large brown eyes are watery, and his massive ears keep flattening to his head every time he speaks.

  “Meester Valdez say you need print of de place. I bring for joo.” Filipe says in what can only be defined as Spanglish.

  I arch a brow and nod. Filipe produces a large rolled up blueprint and hands it to me with a nervous hand.

  I unroll it and spend the rest of the day pouring over it looking for the best way in and out. This is definitely going to be a tough one.

  Now that it’s the day of the heist, I’m definitely having some reservations about doing this. I mean what the hell? Why should I care about a fur ball Valdez got from god only knows where? But I do care. And one of these days caring is going to be the end of me.

  With a sigh, I clad myself in black, from the rubber soled slippers, which keep my steps silent yet still maintain traction, to my one piece leather “uniform” that hugs my body like a second skin, it even has a space for my tail that still allows it to swish around normally. The last thing I put on it the mask that covers my eyes and nose. The only orange pieces left are my ears and some of my face. My paws I clad in rubber grip gloves, these are not your everyday gloves. I flex my toes unsheathing my claws, then open and flex the ole paws a couple of times getting used to the feel. Slipping my holstered belt on, I’m ready to go. Almost.

  As I’m leaving I remember I’ll need to cut glass. Rushing back into my house, I open the top drawer of my nightstand and trip the lock on the hidden compartment. The top of the drawer drops down revealing several different types of claw extensions. I grab a diamond tipped one and slip it into my belt with the other everyday use claw extensions I carry. Now I’m ready to go.

  I hear the train whistle while I’m still two blocks from the train yard meaning it’s eight at night. This is the last train for the night. I know if I miss this train I’ll be stuck and the mission will be an epic fail. I see the smoke start to flow in small billows from the train’s engine as it pulls out of its bay. Muttering a string of curses, I scramble up the building I’m standing by which happens to be Valdez’s deli which is nothing more than a front for the weapons trading he does in the stock rooms.

  From the roof, I can see the train beginning to pick up speed. Damnit! I think as I start racing across the roof, leaping from roof to roof as fast as I can. I cut across the fifth roof in the opposite direction of the train knowing it has to loop to head to the next stop. This roof has nothing but open expanse in front of it. Just as I reach the roof’s ledge, the train starts to flash past. I mutter a silent prayer to whatever god will listen, though I’m sure I was forsaken long ago, and leap. I land on the last car, barely. My claws scratching and scraping for purchase on the metal domed roof. After a moment of panic where I am certain I am about to plummet to the tracks and break every bone in my body, I finally get a grip on the tin can and hoist myself up.

  I keep myself flat to the top of the car, my front claws all dug into the metal as the scenery flies past me. It’s going to be a long few hours.

  It’s around eleven at night when I see a sign fly by with the words “Kitten Caboodle: Populations 43,000” scrawled on it. I groan. It figures Valdez would send me to the place he took me from for my last job.

  The city is virtually deserted. I assume this has a lot to do with Valdez and his gang of mutts catnapping the population. There’s still the odd cat out here and there. I hear a group of young boys in the alley across from me. The area reeks of catnip, I can bet it’s coming from them. The further into the city I go, the brighter it becomes. The lights are almost blinding after being in the dark for all these hours. I know I can’t afford to be spotted, especially not in what I’m wearing, so I backpedal until the lights are once again dim. Finding myself in front of a club called The Litter Box, I slip into the ally between it and the building beside it. The ally is nice and concealed in shadows so dark I can’t even see the whiskers attached to my face. I grin to myself as I pop open the pouch on my belt that holds my claw extensions and pull out a metal claw that has three hooks on the very tip. I slip the claw onto my front left pointer toe and then point to the roof of the Litter Box. I still want to know who thinks that name is appealing… I mean really?!

  Anyway, so I point to the roof of the Litter Box, and nothing happens! I arch a brow and look at the claw and sigh before tapping it a few times against the brick of the building.

  “Let’s try this again shall we?” I sigh as I once again point the grappler claw clad finger at the club’s roof.

  This time it works and the tri-hook shoots silently out of the claw tip. I hear it latch to the roof’s ledge almost silently. Wrapping my other front pa
w’s toes around the grappling line, I give a sharp tug on the line and am instantly whisked up to the tri-hook.

  Don’t look down. Don’t look down. I chant in my head as I launch myself over the ledge and onto the roof. I’m terrified of heights, it’s a wonder how I even manage not to plummet to my death on a daily basis... Damn Valdez! I hope he gets mange for making me do this crap!

  The roof is nothing special. One of those hasty tar overlay jobs that makes everything smell like melted rubber on a hot day. I scrunch of nose causing my whiskers to twitch. It had been a hot day after all.

  Forcing myself to ignore the stench tickling my smell preceptors I drop the grappling claw back in the pouch and make sure the clasp is closed, then I begin my race across the rooftops of Kitten Caboodle. I know I only have an estimated four hours to get in and get out with the bone. And with how this city is designed it will take me almost an hour to get to the museum.

  I finally spy the museum about across the four lane blacktop from the roof I’m perched on. “Are you kidding me?!” I almost scream in frustration. There’s not a chance in the pound I can jump across this distance without becoming one with the tarmac.

  I pace along the ledge of the roof for what seems like at least two of my nine lives, paws on my hips, contemplating how to get over there without being seen.

  I look both ways from my perch and smirk. There’s a medical delivery truck displaying “Nine Lives Medical: Where all your lives count” on the side stopped at a red light to my left. To my right a food delivery truck promising that “Fluffy’s has the best gourmet wet food within 3 towns” stopped at that light.

  My head snaps back and forth between the two lights. I have to time this just right or I’ll either be seen or die. Personally if I had to choose I’d rather be seen, but that’s just my opinion.