Dr. Susan's Reign: Cat Johnson series (Cat Johnson Chronicles Book 1)

by Katerina Degratte

  “Shit, he heard us. Better take off before we become spider stew.” Serves them right.

  “What’s going on?” Maori grumbles, having slightly been distributed by my movement. Hopefully, she didn’t catch what was going on. The poor girl already had more than enough on her plate.

  Chapter 28

  Cat

  “Cat, you are aware that any evidence you found regarding the cat issues, you should have brought to our attention immediately. You were said to be leading one to the wilds. Care to explain that?” I feel my throat getting dry.

  I’m not good at lying. I get nervous and dry up, almost like a fish out of water, struggling to breathe.

  “It was true I checked out her lab, but due to my own safety, I didn’t interact with the animal.” I bow my head, hoping they can’t see right through me. That was the last thing I needed.

  Technically with Tiger a few days ago, Maori was doing most of the conversing. Sure I gave him some comfort and interacted with him when I was trying to not die.

  “It didn’t occur to you to contact HQ about the movement?” Brian snarks at me, earning a glare from Raven.

  “My phone was dead.” I regret the words as soon as they leave my lips, some type of excuse that was. It sounded unresponsible to an extreme, which wouldn’t be earning me any brownie points from mother hen… When I was usually the first to offer to cover.

  “Ignoring that it should have been mentioned at the soonest possible moment.” Gen shuffles her papers, giving me a pitying look. She wanted to take me back, but I had to give her more to work with than just being the aloof character.

  “What about the cat that you helped escape a few days ago?” Brian breaks the silence, earning himself a glare from the surrounding members.

  “That was my cat Maori.” A few looks of sympathy. “You know she’s special, but she got tested on. She was able to get us the bird that you see in the crate.” Some nods and murmurs. “Love may have clouded my decision.”

  “May have?” Brian asks indigenously, clearly judging me for such an action. Well, sorry, some could feel love, unlike him.

  “Quiet.” Gen holds up a hand. “Maori is the talking one, right?” She directs the question towards me. How could someone forget such a thing? She was technically a trained member of sorts at HQ. Of sorts because have you tried to put a cat through training, that was just something that didn’t happen?

  “Yes.” I nod.

  “Interesting. We could then have someone in on the floor to get more info on what Susan has been doing.” I’m not sure I like having the idea of Maori being used for HQ’s personal gain, but it was better than nothing, right? “As a housecat, she wouldn’t be able to infiltrate the area. But with her there, we could get a scan of things and undo the damage Susan has caused. You brought the enlargement formula, right?” She confirms with me.

  Brian is throwing her the look as if she’s gone insane for mentioning such an option. I mean cats, can you trust them? I just had to hope Maori didn’t lose herself in that wooded area.

  “I wanna help too,” Charming tells me, rubbing against my leg. “Tell them I can help.” They didn’t know I could talk to all the cats. Well most. Tiger was more feral than others, so his words didn’t come as well to me.

  “That is correct. I can’t make much sense of it as that isn’t my area of jurisdiction. But I’m sure HQ’s scientists could better understand it.”

  “Wait while we discuss.” Judging by the faint smile Gen is giving me, things will turn in my favor. It was still mind wracking watching them discuss me while I just sat there.

  “Cat, why aren’t you paying attention? I wanna help?” God no. Charming would just cause more issues while he was running around trying to ‘help.’

  “Baby.” I pick him up, holding him. He climbs on my shoulder. “You are doing more than enough to help with how cute and snuggly you are.” He rubs against my face.

  “You are so nice, mommy.”

  Gen addresses me. “We have decided what to do, Cat. You will be continued to let on to work, but will be working alongside others on future cases until otherwise discussed.”

  I nod. Fair enough.

  “Any other questions, Cat, before we call this meeting to a close?” Gen asks.

  “Just one,” I mentioned awkwardly. “Can I get a work note?”

  xxXxx

  Another day, another page written. After Raven’s insistence with me being around her earlier, I was almost shocked and the tiniest bit disappointed when she wasn’t there to greet me with the good news.

  Just gave me the chance to speak with Maori and give her the download of what was happening. The others at HQ are willing to watch Charming and escort him back to the apartment. He was the socially adept kitten. Currently, he was small enough to fit in one’s hand. If only he could stay that small forever.

  Got nice comments from other people about how they knew things would work out or other stuff along those lines.

  “Maori?” I call out when I’m at the edge of the woods. Calling out again when I don’t see her coming towards me the other time. I could go to where the cave was if need be. “Maori.”

  Chapter 29

  Brian

  She defies nearly all the rules and gets off scotch fucking free. And Raven, who was supposed to help with taking her down, let her own feelings mess up the situation instead. Bloody fucking brilliant.

  I hear a set of footsteps make their way into the room. Raven. “You do know that fuckup is going to keep you from seeing your kids longer, don’t you?” I offered to pull some strings, do what I could do.

  “I realize that.” Her words are short, void of emotion.

  As long as she knew the consequences.

  “What made you give up your family for the sake of helping her?” I figured the stakes were high enough to make her want to do what she could.

  “Cat was a nice person, and if my kids ever found out what I did to her, things would have gone down...they never would have forgiven me.

  Interesting. “You’re lucky I didn’t let them know about you working for Susan with the stunt you pulled on me.”

  “Was.” She answers. “She’s dead now.”

  “You can take off.” I dismissed her. She would likely go running back to Cat. Hell, Cat likely wouldn’t even accept her with all the lies she spewed. If she did, though, there were other ways I could attack Cat. The woman that came down here with no experience and literally got flying stars from Genovia. I worked so hard every day, and yet they still don’t value my opinion.

  I’d just have to go with the next available plan...

  “When am I going to get to see my sister?” The voice coughs out, having gotten up from the long-winded tranquilizer nap.

  Yes, I don’t know why I didn’t see it before.

  Dear Reader,

  Thanks for spending the time reading ‘Cat Girl Book 1: Dr. Susan’s Reign.’ The cats characteristics were based on my own two babies.

  If you enjoyed it, please leave a review.

  Now for an excerpt from the following novel, Cat Johnson: The One You Love.

  You can order it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BDGHDQR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+one%27s+you+love+katerina+degratte&qid=1627506191&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

  …

  I re-awaken in a way too brightly lit room, making it hard to see anything. Everything is coming out in blurry globs of color, like I’m a human in critical need of glasses. Or maybe that’s just the effect of whatever was in those needles that those assholes gave me. I detest feeling so helpless. I loathe being weak.

  "I wouldn't have done this to her if she would have just let my original experiment be." Susan's voice is like nails on a chalkboard. I've never liked it, never understood the appeal. I’ve always opted to hide under the bed or in the closet when Cat wasn't around.

  "Lady, if you're searching for sympathy, that's not something you're going to get from me." I narrow my eyes at her, wishing them
to resemble those of a fierce tiger, but she doesn’t appear fazed.

  "You were optimal from the start, though."

  I wince as another liquid of some sort is shot into me. I wish I wasn't detained and could slash killer claws at her. My body tingles before pain shoots through me. . My limbs feel like they're about to burst as they grow ten times their natural range.

  "You talk so very special for a cat. You and I can be something together, Maori."

  Damn, if I was more of a people person, maybe I could delay matters a bit. I was never one for small talk, though.

  "Can you feel it making you stronger?" Susan asks, her voice sounding far away yet dangerously close, almost like it’s echoing.

  "It makes me feel …" I attempt to stand up, but I instantly fall to the side. Chemicals reverberating through me prevent me from feeling any pain, as I hit the cool aluminum floor.

  "The chemicals work their course through your veins, making you undefeatable.” The immense agony, causing me to pass out. “The perfect soldier." I hear the words faintly, before my vision is gone.

  XXXX

  "Maori. Maori. Maori." I hear her voice ringing out. "Come on, you can't pass on me. Please wake up and see me." The voice chokes. I'm pretty confident it's Cat speaking to me. It isn’t clear how that’s feasible because I'm pretty sure she went out on her date tonight and wasn't around. "Wake up. You can't let yourself die from this. We can work through this."

  What happened to me?

  I blink my eyes open, feeling the golden light surrounding me as it envelopes me in its warmth. "Cat?"

  She's standing there in a glowing abyss. She looks bigger than she used to look. When I see reflection in a nearby mirror, I realize I’m the size of a kitten. Cat’s clothing looks far from date wear; she’s in her beloved torn Beatles shirt and pajama shorts. I was the runt of the litter, a little thing, in the conditions she found me in. Fleas hoping from ear to ear, eyes sick.

  "Mommy?" I try to go towards her, but my progress is slowed. My legs feel as if they're being jabbed with a million tiny needles every time I struggle to go forward a step.

  "Maori, you can get through this. We can get through this together," she cries to me, running towards me with her arms outstretched. I'm so close to reaching her, but as soon as I'm about to, she starts to vanish. "Don't forget that I love you," she mouths before withering away altogether.

  XXXX

  I groan as I wake up, savoring the cool floor against my fur. Stretching my limbs, I blink my eyes open, and everything is a haze like I’m on one of those lousy drug trips. It’s been a while since I had one of those on accident. Cat swiftly kicking that roommate out to the streets and seeking me immediate help.

  The room is large, I only take up a third of it. Had to be a lab of some sorts with the pristine cleanness, and the tables full of needles. Two exits, a garage door I assume for other test subjects, and a human sized exit to the right of the room. A large glass panel, probably used to see how test subjects are doing, if its not safe enough right away to be around them. Some water dispensers at the top of the ceiling, but they must be for chemicals. To drug someone if they got too rowdy.

  "Finally, she stirs. I was growing worried about you." And the bitch decided to be in here, instead of safe haven. Underestimating me much?

  That's not Cat's voice. It’s too much like a witch's cackle, while Cat's is soothing. Well, most of the time, unless she’s having a meltdown. It’s never directed towards me, though, as I always lay beside her until she feels better, lending my strength.

  "Can you get up?" Susan tries to sound sympathetic, but there's underlying irritation. A rush to do something of some sort. "Come on, kitty?"

  If I could drop dead, I would just to spite the bitch.

  I try to stretch my legs to get up, but it hurts far too much. I want to get up for myself, for Cat, but it's like a million blades are being jabbed into my body at once. "I can't," I mutter, my eyes deciding to close again. Is this what Cat meant by not giving up, not dying? Or would giving up mean becoming part of Susan's reign? It’s a damned if I do, damned if I don't sort of situation. Where is that human when I need her?

  No. Cat meant for me to stay alive. Cat would never wish death on Maori Lucky Salvatore, her savior.

  "I suppose I may have given her too much. She's the same size as my last creation, but I upped the dose because she was the runt of the litter," Susan says to someone.

  "That was reckless, Susan," a man's voice replies. His voice is velvety, assured, sounding different than the beast that seized me. If the brute that took me was a bull, this man was a snake. A cobra or something of the sort. "If anything, you should have given her less."

  "I was just trying to get her ready before Cat got back to the apartment.” A cool metal is placed against my coat. "Fuck! The pulse is going down. No, no, no! It can't end like this. I didn't mean to kill the cat. I tried too hard for it to end like this!" Susan blathers. It’s almost possible that she believes in guilt. Cat moving things around must have disrupted her usual rational thinking. Love tends to do that. "What are you doing?" Her banshee-like screech is nearly enough to make me open my eyes.

  "A little adrenaline to get things going in Miss Tuxedo over here," the man answers in a tone as if to say it's obvious. As if Susan would be senseless for pondering such a thing.

  "What if it causes unexpected backlash?" she frets.

  It takes a moment, but I start feeling the energy and strength coming back to me. Tenfold to what I’m used to, not that I’m a weakling. Slow waves until I'm fully charged, like a cell phone on the cord charging up. My legs are not as on fire anymore, but my vision is foggier than ever. And this unmistakable urge, or hunger, is coursing through my veins …I can practically touch it to inspect what it is. What the heck?

  "Maori? Are you in there?" Susan tentatively approaches me as I do nothing other than stare, my teeth baring in a snarl. The insatiable hunger screams to my mind, and I can hear her heart race. A game of cat and mouse? It would fit with all the mice she experimented on. Imperfect human knows she fucked things up massively …

  No, I’m better than this. I’m not just some killer. Why would I want something other than cat delicacies? Humans would be too much of a mess. "Get away from me!" I bare my fangs at her, and she takes a few steps backwards, nearly tripping over her own feet. It’s like I’m the Beast in that one flick, who was Beauty then?

  "And give her a little of this." The man sticks something else into my veins that makes my brain go haywire, with straight thinking going right out the window. All the rest of the world is in a red furry.

  "What the hell are you doing, Jack?" Susan screeches. The rest of the world is melting away. All I feel is the urge to track that perfume of blood and demolish it.

  "I'm leaving. You can stay here."

  My head jerks towards the figure of the man leaving. The door shuts, sealing behind him before I can attack. That sultry scent, though, the mix of musk filling my nostrils After making me this monster, by injecting me with those vials! I won’t forget his treachery, and if we cross paths again, he won’t live to tell the tale.

  "Why?" Susan yells at him in desperation through the sturdy glass. "I paid you well. We were going to go into this new world as rulers."

  "You were getting too close to the answer of what happened to your parents.” I strike my paw against glass just to get an electric shock through my foot, then everything goes black. Ouch. “And I can't leave loose ends hanging." That's the last seen of his smug face for the time being.

  "Jack, don't!" I scream out, a pair of cool hands petting my fur. He was killing her because she was getting too close to finding out the truth. A memory that took a few days to drudge back up after the backlash of everything.

  I hear the voice again. “Maori.”

  "Go away, Jack!"

  You can order the next exciting book through this link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BDGHDQR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+one%27s+you+lov
e+katerina+degratte&qid=1627506191&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

  Dr. Susan’s Reign

  Cat Chronicles Book 1

  By: Katerina Degratte

  Edited By: Ashley Oliver

  ashleyoliverauthor@gmail.com