New Girl in Town

She loathed this time of year. It was the first Monday following the time change, and clocks had just been restored to standard time. Fall Back, it was called, but it felt like time moved forward. The difference of an hour was small but significant this time of year, and if she were to get home before dark, she would need to move with haste.

She had just moved to this town over the summer, after her parents had finalized their divorce. Her father had run off with his lover, and had not even fought for custody. Her mother had taken a job in another part of the state, in order to give them both a fresh beginning. That had landed them here, in an unfamiliar place where she had no friends.

She also had no siblings, so her mom had encouraged her to join the middle school volleyball team, in an effort to make friends. She was confident in her prowess on the court, and welcomed the opportunity. She had hoped that this would earn her an invitation to sit with her teammates at lunch, if not a starting spot on the team. However, the other girls did not see things the same way. They all grown up together since kindergarten, and the hierarchy among them had long been established. It would take more than a few spikes and saves on her part to change any of that, thus she continued to feel the alienation of being the new girl in town.

She was aware that her mom was in a similar situation at her new job, and that she was working long, hard hours in order to make inroads of her own. This meant that the girl would have to walk home from school for the foreseeable future, but she didn't hold a grudge, despite the inconvenience that it caused. But now, because of the time change, it would be almost dark by the time she got home, and that made her a bit uneasy.

When practice had finished, she gathered up her belongings, secured her locker and exited the building. She went out the door which led to the parking lot where the other girls would be getting their rides. She meandered a bit, while they got into their cars. She had held out hope that one of her teammate’s parents would offer her a ride, but that they drove by her as if she wasn't there. Loneliness crashed against her like a wave, but she fought against it. As the last car pulled away she zipped up her coat, slipped her arms through her backpack and headed in the direction of her home.

The late afternoon was brisk, but not cold and the sky was clear but growing dark. Over the last few weeks, she had learned few shortcuts, but there was one she had not yet taken that wanted to put to the test. It was an old country road that circumvented the town and wound its way along the backside of her neighborhood. A thin swath of trees separated the road from the houses and a dirt trail connected the two. There were no sidewalks or streetlights, and rarely any cars, but it would trim enough time off her trip that she might make it home before dark. Her mother had cautioned her not to go that way at night, so she moved with a purpose.

Daytime gave way to twilight as she stepped off the sidewalk and turned left onto the country road. She trudged through the tall, unkept grass on the left side of the road, and from the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a flicker movement in the brush on the other side. At first, she could not discern anything, then all of a sudden, a sleek, four-legged creature darted across the road in her direction. It came to a sudden stop a few yards ahead and sat waiting. She was startled at first, but recovered and brought out her phone. The illuminated the flashlight on her phone revealed the glowing green eyes of a short-haired cat, onyx in color. For a moment, the two stood motionless, measuring each other. Silence hung in the air, and neither of them moved. Then the cat meowed and the girl's heart melted.

"Hello, sweet thing. What are you doing out here by yourself?"

The cat stared for a moment, meowed again and took a tentative step in the girl's direction.

The girl then squatted down to seem less imposing, and held out a fisted hand in an offer of friendship. She had always loved cats and had pestered her mom for one ever since they moved here. The company would be welcome. She had been around enough cats to know that they were cautious creatures and likely to strike out with their claws if frightened so she continued to hold out her hand in a fist and remained as still as possible.

The cat scrutinized her with a calculating gaze and eased its head forward. It's nose twitched and pulsated as it explored the scent of her hand. At last it was satisfied that the girl was not a threat, and nudged its face against her hand. She could hear the low rumble of its purr as she rubbed the side of its head with a delicate finger. The purring grew louder and rubbed up against her hand harder. This was the most companionship she had had since she moved here and relished the moment, but it was time to head on. Not wanting to startle the creature, the girl slowly eased into a standing position. The cat meowed some more and rubbed up against her leg.

“Ok, sweet thing, it’s getting dark, and I have to get home, but you’re welcome to come with me if you’d like. If you don't have a home, maybe my mom will let you move in with us. Would you like that?"

The cat meowed in answer and fell in line alongside the girl as she resumed her journey.

"You sure do like to talk," she laughed, "Come on, we have to get moving."

Happiness washed over the girl as the cat kept pace. She had almost forgotten that she was alone on a dark road at night. As they came around the bend, she glimpsed the warm glow of lights radiating through the scattered trees on the right. Twilight had settled over the land. Soon she should see the path that would lead them to her home. She hope she wouldn't miss it.

She was filled with relief as the trail appeared on the other side. She was confident now, that her little black friend would follow. But when she crossed the road, the cat was no longer at her side.

"Aren't you going to come with me?" she said with sadness in her voice.

The cat meowed.

Twilight was failing and she could barely make out the creature's silhouette. Beyond its form, the woods were bathed in darkness, their intricate black branches stretched up toward the indigo sky. The limbs creaked and moaned in the gentle autumn breeze, as if swaying to music.

The cat meowed.

The moon had now crested the crown of the trees, and the light reflected upon cat’s eyes. The girl stood transfixed by their spectral glow. They beckoned her to come forward into the woods. She knew this felt wrong but could not find the will to resist. She girl stepped forward. Ash she got closer she heard the alluring rumble of its steady purr. The sound reverberated into the gathering night and resonated in her soul. The girl continued forward. They locked eyes once again and she felt a tingling sensation. Her legs now moved on their own. The cats eyes seemed to swirl and pulsate, drawing her in and commanding her to follow. With a feline grace, the creature began walking backward toward the woods. The girl was compelled to follow.

As they neared the the edge of the trees, another silhouette appeared. It too had glowing eyes, and it too, meowed and purred. Soon it was joined by another, and yet another.

Dry leaves crunched underfoot and and branches tugged at her jacket as she entered the forest. With each step she took, more cats appeared with glowing eyes and frightening voices. There were cats all around her now, in the forest below and the trees above. She found herself surrounded by an eerie phantasm of incandescent eyes which illuminated the forest with an ethereal glow. The meows and purrs were a hypnotic cacophony that echoed through the woods and beckoned her to come. She was powerless to resist.

The black cat pivoted on its hind legs and stalked into the woods, and the rest descended upon the girl.