by Joe Augustyn
“I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.” Felicia stifled a yawn. “I doubt if it’ll be back here anytime soon.” At least not until that damned hunter leaves town.
“And what makes you think that?”
“Just a feeling. Big cats cover lots of territory. It probably just stopped on our tree to lick its chops and clean itself up after eating one of those boys.”
“Felicia,” said Laurie, appalled. “What a horrible thing to say. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Felicia turned away. Hiding the grin on her face.
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The Nine Lives of Felicia Miller
54
Felicia kicked the sheets off her legs and twisted her torso hard against the mattress. She was sweating lightly, not really feverish, just antsy and out of sorts. She’d had nights like this before, always on hot summer nights.
This must be what hot flashes are like, she thought, dreading the future prospect of menopause.
She rolled onto her back, fighting the temptation to masturbate. She wasn’t exactly feeling horny. Just in a bit of bother, as the Brits might say. But she knew that a good stiff orgasm might relax her enough to finally get some shuteye.
The cause of her discomfort was no mystery. Ever since the superstar hunter arrived in Greenville, she’d been counting the days. Longing for the freedom to change into a cat and go out on the prowl.
Every night her desire grew stronger. She felt like a caged beast.
I’m turning into some kind of freaking addict.
She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind. It used to be easy for her. On any given night of her previous “normal” life she could empty her mind simply by refusing to dwell on any one thought. Just shrug away any concerns. Blank her mind. Let no conscious thought take root. Sleep was always quick to follow.
But try as she might, she couldn’t stop the wheels in her head from turning. Thoughts of running and jumping and climbing possessed her. She wanted to be out in the woods. Smelling the clean forest air. Sharpening her claws on a tree. Tearing into someone’s flesh. Crushing a throat with her jaws.
Lifting her head she pulled her pillow from under it and stuffed it between her thighs. The soft Egyptian cotton and downy stuffing felt good against the fabric of her panties. She clamped her legs and rolled onto her side.
Minutes later her body tensed and exploded with pleasure… she shuddered and settled… and finally drifted off to sleep.
In her dreams she was a cat again. A slinky black panther, patrolling the woods. Looking for a boy to destroy.
She stepped towards a wooded thicket but with each step she took the woods slipped further away… as if retreating from her approach. She turned and headed towards a brook but it too seemed to gain a little distance with each step she took.
No matter which way she turned it was the same. As if the entire world was retreating in terror.
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The Nine Lives of Felicia Miller
55
“I’m happy to announce the end of our nightmare,” Mandee proclaimed proudly to the townspeople gathered in the town hall. “I think we can all agree that Wiley Bohannon deserves his reputation as a great white hunter. He has certainly earned his bounty. And the undying gratitude of Greenville County.”
Turning to Bohannon she waved him up to the podium, flashing a pointed smile that said, if you want your reward get your ass up here now and say exactly what I told you.
The hunter joined her at the podium and raised his arm high, showing off the limp dead carcass of a bobcat.
The crowd bolted to their feet, showering him with whistles and applause. All except some of the local hunters, who merely traded skeptical glances.
“Thank you, thank you, please…” said Wiley. “Of course without hard evidence we can’t really be sure this is the same beast responsible for all of the attacks.”
“Mr. Bohannon, please,” Mandee cut him off sharply, “There’s no need to be modest. As soon as I saw the huge claws on that thing, and the size of its fangs, I knew this was our monster. And so, I am happy to present you with this check for seven thousand dollars, which is small compensation for the safety and peace of mind you have brought to our humble community.”
Wiley felt a stab of guilt as he reached for the check. He knew there was a good chance that the real feline culprit was still out there somewhere, and might strike again. The paw print they found at the start of the hunt hadn’t come from this little bobcat. But he’d earned his bounty and the Councilwoman was obviously determined to close the books on the problem. He had done his best to convince her otherwise, but she refused to finance the hunt any longer. If he wanted his payday, he had to play ball. And Mandee clearly owned the ball in this town.
“Thank you,” he said, eyeing the check coolly, “I can say in all honesty, I have only been a bit player in this drama. The real safety of this town is owed to Ms. Madisson here… and the extent to which she has pursued a just resolution.”
Mandee’s brittle smile told him she got the message. Then she grabbed the mike before he could say anything more incriminating. “Let’s here it again for Mr. Wiley Bohannon. The great white hunter of Greenville!”
Amid the renewed applause, Wiley leaned in to whisper in Mandee’s ear, and handed her the dead bobcat. “Stuff this,” he said bluntly. “You paid for it.” Then he turned and made his exit, waving goodbye to the crowd like a parade queen.
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The Nine Lives of Felicia Miller
56
“It’s like an addiction,” Felicia gushed into her phone. “And the bigger the cat, the bigger the rush.”
“Tell me about it. It was such a rush when I first turned into a python. But it also gets hairy. You have to take extra care not to draw unwanted attention. I’m always fighting the urge to turn into an anaconda.”
“I couldn’t change at all when the hunter was in town. That’s when I realized how far gone I was. Like a junkie.”
“I hear you. The fever… chills… hot and cold sweats…”
“Yes. It’s so good to hear you say that. I’ve felt so alone since you left, Ruta. So what did your parents say? Did you ask if you could come visit this summer?”
“My dad already booked a big family vacation. He also hooked me up with a summer job. To teach me responsibility.”
“No. That sucks. Big time.”
“Yeah. Just hang in there. We’ll see each other soon.”
“I hope so.”
“We will,” Ruta assured her. “You be careful now. Don’t go getting too big for your britches.”
“I’ll try.” Felicia shut her cell and rested her head on the table. Wishing she could tell the whole world who she was. Who she really was.
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The Nine Lives of Felicia Miller
57
“I’m s-so glad you c-called me,” said Crystal. “I thought you w-were still mad at me.”
“Forget it.” Felicia stepped up her pace, pedaling her bike harder as they reached the sloping path to the old wooden bridge.
Crystal pedaled hard to catch up. They coasted to stop on the bridge and rested against a stout railing.
“I w-wouldn’t blame you if you w-were mad,” said Crystal meekly.
“I said don’t worry about it. I just want to forget that night.”
“I’ll bet it was h-horrible,” Crystal prodded.
“Crystal.”
“S-sorry. It’s a really n-nice day today, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Felicia said, wondering how far she could trust Crystal. She considered for a long moment, then decided to take a gamble. “I need you to do me a favor.”
“Sure. Anything.”
“You can’t ask any questions. I just need you to cover for me.”
“Is this about N-nelson? Are you t-two back together?”
“What did I just say about asking any questions?”
Crystal was taken aback, not by Felicia’s rebuke, but by the
sharp tone of her voice. She was obviously not the same easygoing friend that Crystal remembered.
“R-right. S-s-sorry.”
“It’s okay. I just need to know that I can count on you.”
“Of c-course you c-can count on me,” Crystal assured her. “That’s w-w-what friends are f-for.”
Felicia finally smiled. But even the friendly expression seemed somehow tinted with a dark edge.
Even her smile looks different, Crystal thought. She looks almost… feral.
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The Nine Lives of Felicia Miller
58
“I’ll be back Sunday,” Felicia said, setting her overnight bag near the door.
Her father glanced at the bag, which was stuffed to its seams. “You think you have enough stuff for a two-day sleepover? You sure you didn’t forget something? Like maybe the kitchen sink?”
“Wow,” replied Felicia. “How does Carrot Top sleep at night knowing you’re waiting in the wings?”
“Must you two always bicker?” Laurie pleaded.
“Who’s bickering?” asked Felicia. “I’m just in awe of dad’s comic genius. Maybe we should send him to the Catskills. He might get discovered.”
“And maybe you’d rather sit home this weekend, young lady?” Laurie said testily, “I’m getting a little tired of this attitude of yours.”
“Now dear, let’s not overreact.”
“Yes, mother,” quipped Felicia smugly, “Listen to daddy. He knows we’re just teasing.”
“I give up.” Laurie went into the living room.
“So punkin, you need a lift?”
“No. Thanks anyway. I’m meeting Crystal up the street. Her mom’s going to drop us at the mall and pick us up later. After she gets her hair done.”
“Okay. Well. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Not even get my nails done?” Felicia waved her fingers in the air.
“Got me there,” Bill grinned. “No, you can do whatever you want with your nails.”
Felicia smiled. Oh I will, she thought. Imagining what she might do with her nails that very night.
“Okay, daddy. You and mom have a good weekend. And don’t you do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“I’m not making any promises on that front. We’re not that old.”
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The Nine Lives of Felicia Miller
59
The bulldozer rolled to a stop facing Granny’s house. Ben Creedy looked down from the cab, waving a greeting as Tom McElhorne pulled up in his big white pick-up truck, with his eldest son Brian riding shotgun.
Ben held up his hands in the “what’s up?” gesture.
Jumping out the truck, Tom climbed up on the bulldozer’s track and spoke through the window. “Hey, Ben. Sorry we’re late. Hang tight for a minute. I just have to make sure the cabin is clear. Last thing we need is another frivolous lawsuit like we had with the Burrows place.”
“Be careful the witch don’t put a spell on you,” Creedy smirked and sat back, enjoying the throbbing vibrations of the massive diesel engine massaging him through the padded seat.
He made a quick assessment of the old wooden house as Tom approached it, considering whether he should have some fun using the bulldozer’s ripper or just storm through it with the blade for a quick demolition.
As he reached the cabin door Tom was dismayed to find it cracked open. Even more foreboding, the posted eviction notice was hanging in shreds. It looked like someone had taken several swipes at it with a hunting knife. Beneath the tattered paper the door was deeply scratched.
Lord. Don’t tell me we’ve got some psycho squatter camping in here.
Tom turned to his son Brian, who was following on his heels like a dutiful apprentice. “Careful, Bri. Looks like someone might be in there.” He pulled his massive maglite from his tool belt to use as a club if need be, and his boy followed his example. “Let’s hope it’s not some goddamned squatter. That bitch Madisson will have a conniption fit if she has to waste more time and money on another eviction.”
Hefting their metal flashlights like billy clubs they barged through the door, hoping to intimidate anyone who might be inside. If it was just some opportunistic drifter, he could probably be driven off with a stern suggestion and a few bucks to help him on his way. But if they had to crack a skull or two, they wouldn’t hold back. Mandee made it clear she wanted the shack gone by sundown, and her patience was thinner every day.
The place was dark and gloomy inside. A few dusty shafts of light bored in through gaps in the boarded up windows.
McElhorne took a step toward the kitchen and froze. Even before he saw what he saw, his instincts kicked in with a chilling sense of dread that made the hairs stand up on his neck.
A huge Bengal tiger lay stretched across the kitchen floor. It hoisted itself to its feet and fixed its eyes on them.
The men stood frozen in fear, feeling like their limbs had turned to jelly.
The tiger growled. The sound vibrated through the room. Tom was sure he could feel it creeping up his legs from the plank floorboards, pinning him in place so he couldn’t run.
The big cat snarled and snapped its mighty fangs at the air. The men nearly tripped over each other’s feet as they came unglued and bolted for the door.
Ben was perplexed as he saw the contractor and his boy fleeing the place like the devil was on their heels. They were obviously shaken, pale as ghosts as they jumped into the pick-up and quickly slammed the doors.
“Hey!” the bulldozer driver shouted, “What’s going on?” They look like they’ve seen a dead body in there.
Tom cracked open the pick-up door and leaned out, waving Ben frantically toward the back of the truck.
“Get in! Hurry up! Come on!”
“What?” Creedy hesitated, confused and not one to panic without good cause.
The throaty growl of the tiger drew his attention to the door of the cabin. He saw the big cat emerge and with one leap it was straddling the top of the bulldozer’s giant blade, eyeing him through the glass cage.
“What the fuck…?”
Ben heard the pick-up door slam and looked down to see Tom back in the drivers seat, revving the engine.
The tiger roared.
Ben saw its massive teeth and without another thought he opened the door of the bulldozer’s cab and leaped down into the bed of the pick-up, just as it was pulling away.
As it zoomed away toward the main road Ben pressed himself flat as a pancake on the cold metal bed, trying to make himself invisible. He murmured a desperate prayer. Praying that the tiger wasn’t giving chase.
The pick-up veered onto the road and accelerated.
Cool air whipped over Ben.
Feeling colder still as it breezed through the puddle in his pants.
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The Nine Lives of Felicia Miller
60
“Get a grip on yourself! All of you!” barked Mandee.
The men were still trembling uncontrollably, an hour after making it safely back to town. Ben Creedy, known as one of the toughest macho brawlers in the county, stood before her with his trousers damp with piss.
“There is no goddamned tiger at that site!” she continued. “Stop talking nonsense! I think you’ve been drinking bad moonshine or smoking crack or you all dropped LSD or something.”
“Believe us or don’t,” Tom said firmly. “We’re not on drugs and we know what the fuck we saw.”
Mandee slammed her office door. Too many people in the nearby suites had already heard too much. It wouldn’t take much to get the whole town back in a panic.
“Great,” she snarled. “This is just what I need right now. Just when I was getting things back on track.” Lowering her voice she confronted Tom head on. “Now you listen to me, McElhorne. I have new investors on their way here right now at this very moment. I can’t have them scared away by more crazy rumors—”
“Goddamn you, Madisson, this is the last time I’m going to sa
y it. This is for real. There’s a goddamn tiger out at that property. And there’s no goddamn way I’ll risk my life or the lives of my people just so you can make a quick buck.”
Mandee shifted gears. Softening her voice she offered her most charming smile. “Tom, please. You can’t do this to me. I’ve been pumping you up to all my investors. Telling them what a great contractor you are. How is it going to look if I have to replace you now? Do I tell them you turned out to be a flake? A drunken superstitious flake who believes in witches and sees tigers in the woods? What does that say about my judgment? Are they going to trust me with a penny of their money? Well?”
“I don’t give a shit how it looks. We’re done. I knew we shouldn’t have gotten involved with that witch’s house in the first place. Come on, boys.”
“Don’t you dare walk out that door, McElhorne. Or you’ll never work in this town again, I assure you. I’ll have you blackballed in the entire state.”
“You can take your threats and shove them, lady. See how successful your little development is when we start telling people what’s really going on out at that property. And how you tried to cover it up by blackmailing me.”
“Stop! Wait! You can’t. You keep your mouth shut, you hear me?!”
The men left, slamming the door behind them.
Mandee grabbed her phone and buzzed her secretary. “Get me Wiley Bohannon on the phone immediately. Yes, I mean now!”
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The Nine Lives of Felicia Miller
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Felicia wandered slowly through the forest, taking time to mark her trail at regular intervals. She rolled her big striped body in piles of leaves. Sprayed trees with her musky scent. Clawed ragged strips of bark off trees. Snapped thick branches with her massive tiger paws.