⚡️-REWRITTEN ELECEED ALTERNATE UNIVERSE-⚡️

CHAPTER 10: GRAB AND RUN!

Almost there...

It was particularly cold in this small alleyway. I didn't know if it was the rising sense of uneasiness in my gut, or the fact that the small amount of sunlight provided no warmth on this winter morning.

I felt something nab at my left foot. I squeaked and looked behind me.

It was Kayden.

"Someone else is here." He whispered. After a moment of hesitation, I nodded, pursing my lips.

He advanced ahead of me, inconspicuously peering around the corner.

Kayden reeled his head back quickly, causing me to send him a puzzled look.

He mouthed something to me, but I couldn't quite tell what he was saying, so I squinted at him to show him my confusion.

He facepawed.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice interrupted our train of thought.

"You little shit...! You almost got me killed!"

I froze.

It was the voice of a... if I were to guess, a man in his sixties to seventies.

He sounded quite furious.

Not long after he said that, came a low, defensive growl.

Of course, —speaking from experience— I could tell that was the cat we were looking for.

As curiosity grew increasingly unbearable, I finally risked my position by peering my head around to look.

Yes, he was definitely a man in his sixties. He had a more lanky figure, wore a maroon suit and blue button up, disproportionately set tie, and a slight hobble to his walk.

One thing in particular that stood out to me was his face. He had probably the most dreadful eye bags I had ever seen. His irises were unusually small and frantic.

Many stress lines marked his gray face, only making his unfriendly countenance... more unfriendly.

I chewed at my bottom lip as I continued to observe.

"Looks like you're not a dud. I almost thought my latest experiment wouldn't work on you, but I can definitely tell you have awakened."

He squatted down close to the cat's level, a few bones cracking in the process.

"But strangely enough, you have a few injuries on you that I don't quite remember inflicting on you..."

His already narrow eyes narrowed.

The cat let out another vindictive growl, and swiped its claws at the old man.

I could tell by the way the old man reacted that the cat managed to sink its claws into his skin.

The cat, in an attempt to run away, quickly retreated in my direction.

My mouth dropped as soon as I realized that.

I quickly retracted my head, scrambling backward as panic set my brain to its last brain cell.

And the strangest thing happened next.

A supernatural red haze manifested itself uncomfortably close to where we hid, directly in between me and the cat.

I quickly smacked a hand over my mouth after making the mistake of yelping.

Please, for the love of everything good in this world, please tell me he didn't notice—

Bitter saltiness now saturated itself on my tongue. I didn't realize I had bitten my tongue too hard until I tasted the blood.