The Cat in the Bag

I tiptoed towards the door and stood by it, leaning against the wall.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"Amber, I heard you screaming so I came here to drop by and remind you that your rent is only for single occupancy. You have to pay double if your boyfriend is going to live with you," the landlady said.

I could only imagine the look on her face seething with anger. All she cared about was money.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Jones. It's only me and my cat. Come, see for yourself," I said after opening the door.

Mrs. Jones looked around and paused, looking at Gideon hiding under the bed, then to my forehead.

"You're bleeding. Cat scratches and bites are something you shouldn't ignore. There’s a veterinary office across the road fronting our door. Have yourself checked, okay?" she suggested.

“Yeah sure. Thank you so much. I’ll pay the rent . . . maybe tomorrow or the next day," I said.

Mrs. Jones gave me one last look before closing the door and didn't utter any single word.

“Okay, that was weird. Get out, Gideon!” I crawled under the bed, and Gideon hissed. “You’re such a coward—"

Suddenly, one of Riley's demons smashed the glass window and got inside my room. I stood up as I watched the broken pieces scattered elsewhere that left a cut in my face.

"What the—" I muttered.

I extended my arms towards my pistol which was lying on the bed beyond my reach and made it fly in my direction. I caught it with a grip and fired at him. The demon disappeared and reappeared before me. I was faster than him, of course, and I hit his head with the gun. The demon fell on the floor and vanished again.

"You coward! Show yourself and stop pestering my life!" I screamed.

The door opened, and I facepalmed. "Oh sh*t," I muttered as I hid my weapon behind me. Thankfully, it was always quick to turn back into an angel's feather quickly. Whew!

Mrs. Jones looked at my bleeding face and around the room. Her eyes landed on the floor, to the broken window, then to the cat hiding under the bed. She hurriedly went under the bed and forcefully grabbed Gideon, making the poor cat scream in pain.

"Mrs. Jones, I am so sorry. My cat is just upset. I promise to put him in the cage," I said, walking after my landlady. I followed her to a basement with Gideon the cat in her hands. I was literally crying and pleading.

Gideon could be stubborn like me, but I wouldn't want him in danger. He saved my life. Well that's his role anyway, but regardless, who would save me from the demons without him? Who would help me find Human?

"Mrs. Jones, I am so sorry. Please . . ."

She put a leash around Gideon’s neck before putting him in a suspicious cage with a strange symbol marked on it. I was alarmed when Gideon became weak, and I didn't have to be a rocket scientist to analyze what was happening.

"Release him," I said, pointing my pistol at Mrs. Jones. Her eyes turned black as she grinned.

"Go ahead, kill this human," Mrs. Jones said, obviously possessed by a demon.

She grabbed my hand holding the pistol and pressed it against her forehead. "You can't do it, can you? You're an angel. You are forbidden to kill, or else, you'll be thrown into the depths of hell." She laughed devilishly.

"I'm already in hell," I said and pulled the trigger before blood splattered in my face.

***

The needle piercing through my skin was terribly painful. My hands and feet were tied to the cold metal bed, and I was screaming at the top of my lungs, kicking, and exhausting all of my strength to free myself. I was crying for help calling my mom, dad, and my precious dog, but they didn’t come to my rescue. Soon after, my mind drifted into a deep sleep, and I found myself in a recurring dream of my tragic childhood.

***

The sky is so blue in Malibu

Mom was singing her favorite song on the stereo. Dad glanced at her playfully with a smile as he gripped his hand on the steering wheel.

“Sweetie, how do you find me singing?” Mom asked.

Sitting in the backseat, I answered in a sleepy voice. “Great, Mom. Incomparable.”

“Aw! Aw!” Cassie barked.

‘Oh, Cassie baby, you liked my singing too?” Mom said, touching Cassie’s thick white fur.

“Aw! Aw!” Cassie replied while Mom smiled at her.

“Honey, do you remember the night you proposed to me in Malibu Beach?” Mom asked.

I cringed. “Seriously? Now I know why you chose to celebrate my birthday in Malibu, Dad.” I rolled my eyes and looked at the glass window.

“Yeah, Malibu is such an unforgettable place for me and your mom. That’s where I met the most wonderful woman in the world! She was wearing this red bikini, and I was like wow, wow, wow, I wanna marry this woman!’ Dad said enthusiastically.

“Really Honey? Blame it on the red bikini,” Mom said.

“Yeah, blame it on the red bikini,” Dad agreed. “One thing that’s weird about your mom? She doesn’t like Miley Cyrus. She’s 35, and she doesn’t like Miley Cyrus at all!” Dad added with a laugh.

“No, I don’t like Miley Cyrus at all.” Mom opened the compartment. “I don’t even have a CD of her songs, do I?” She fanned a CD with Miley Cyrus’s photo and signature on it..

“What? How come I did not see this, Mom? Miley Cyrus’s signature?!” I uttered in surprise.

“Told you she hates Miley Cyrus that much!” Dad said. “If I could see Miley Cyrus again, I would thank her with all my heart. Took your mom to one of her concerts and have her CD signed against hundreds of people in the crowd, can you imagine how I did that?”

“Well, you always had the choice to say ‘no’,” Mom said.

“Why not? When that was all it took for you to say ‘yes’ to me, Honey,” Dad teased.

I could only roll my eyes a hundred times hearing the most cringey story of all times.

“That’s how your dad loves me, Sweetie. He would cross an ocean of Miley Cyrus fans to get the magical signature for me.” Mom said, smiling. “I don’t even like this song you’re playing, Honey. The sky is so blue in Malibu .” Mom raised her hands and sang her heart out while Dad just kept on laughing.

“Alright, Honey. Bring it on,” Dad said, tuning the volume up.

“Keep it up, Honey! The sky is so blue in Malibu . . .” Mom and Dad looked like teenagers, and I facepalmed laughing.

“Sweetie, is the box of cake in there?” Dad asked.

“Yeah, it’s here,” I replied, touching the box with a pink ribbon on top of it and a card attached saying:

Happy 12th Birthday, Sweetie. Love lots, Mommy and Daddy.

“Happy birthday, Sweetie,” Mom and Dad greeted with a smile.

“Aw! Aw!”

“Thanks Mom, thanks Dad,” I said with a smile. Moving slightly forward from my seat, I wrapped my arms around each of their necks and kissed them. “I love you both.”

“Ohhh, we love you too sweetie,” Mom said.

“Yeah, yeah me too, sweetie. Daddy loves you so much. That’s why I am taking Mom and you to Malibu!” Dad said.

“Yeah! Alright!” Mom and I shouted.

“And have fun in the ocean!” Dad added.

“Yeah!” Mom and I chorused.

“And take a selfie with Cassie!’ Dad glanced at Cassie while Mom and I continued to applaud.

“Aw! Aw!’ Cassie responded and wagged her tail.

“Right Cassie?” Dad reached out to touch Cassie’s fur.

“Aw! Aw!”

“Dad! Look out!” Mom screamed.