The Cat, The Wolf and The Moon

It would be a fun night. She wasn’t sure if she would go, but her neighbors had been so insistent, wanting to include her and it was just a short walk around the block.

“I guess I’m ready…ready to get out into the world of the living again….on the Night of Dead! How appropriate!” She told herself, shaking her head as she sat looking at her dramatic feline make-up in the mirror of her dressing table. She finished off the look with dark red lip stick and a spritz of her signature Chanel No. 5. “Meow!” she growled, flexing her claws.

It had been months of feeling numb, dead inside, just lying around, despondent, trying to find some shred of happiness, but with so many questions, there was still no closure. She felt like a walking Zombie…just going through the motions, day after day.

Ever since her husband disappeared, everyone was in shock, especially her…her fairy tale life shattering and breaking into a million pieces. So much left unknown. She “thought” they had a great life. He seemed pretty happy.  They seemed pretty happy.  She just didn’t understand any of it.

She tried to stay busy and tried not to think about it, but the words from the note he left still played over and over in her mind…“It’s for the best. To keep you safe. Safe from me and the others. If I would live, it is for your love. And, if I would die, it is for your love. All I would ever live and die for is you, my Love.”

“Live and die.” She said to herself. “Is this living?” she laughed, thinking about her nothingness and aloneness without him, who she thought she had finally found her soulmate in this life…only to vanish into the night.

The party was always festive. The Annual Neighborhood (Adult) Halloween Bash…and things were just getting underway as she made her way over, the shadowy sidewalks now empty, with the kids curfew of 9:00 just past and tricker treaters safely tucked in their beds with their candy stash stealthly hidden.

The red light pulsed from the front porch as a strobe light strobed from inside. She could see silhouettes dancing and the din could be heard humming on the front porch.

A very convincing Werewolf in a tuxedo, cape and mask greeted her at the door. “Enter if you dare!” he sang with a growl, waving his arm and cape to one side. He gently took her hand, bowed and kissed it. Her heart fluttered a little as she smiled and blinked twice.

“Phantom of the Opera Werewolf style!” she meowed. “I love it!”

“Thank you and welcome.” He said in a very low sensual voice, his golden eyes looking right through her. She could not hold his gaze and shyly looked down. 

“Thank you.” She purred softly and made her way tentatively into the throbbing house party. She looked back to see the Werewolf leering at her still. Licking his chops. It was unnerving.

Her heart was beating fast. She began to perspire. The music was loud…all the ghouls and witches danced to the Monster Mash! Frankenstein and then the ultimate Halloween tribute, Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Her cat costume served her well and gave her the freedom to dance about without care, letting her despair from the past year disappear.

The vino flowed. She had several glasses of a blood red blend that made her loosen up and helped her forget her missing love.

She took some photos with her witch and vampire friends, becoming the black cat mascot.

The witch, better known as her neighbor Diedre, clutched her arm and spoke loudly in her ear over the music, “I’m so glad you came. I’m glad you got out. You’ve been cooped up in that house for too long.   Here, have some more wine.” She handed her another glass, full of the bloody blend.

“Thank you D. It’s a fun night.” She smiled sipping the wine cautiously, scanning the room for her elusive Werewolf.  It was delicious and went down like velvet and then right to her head.  She was having a good time, actually.

She mingled more, slinking in and out between the guests, and caught up on (the other) neighborhood gossip. It was nice “they” were talking about something other than her husband’s disappearance.

There had been a disappearance of pets lately too…small dogs and cats missing. Coyotes most likely. Even in their suburban area, it bordered some open spaces where wildlife could still call their own.

“I won’t let Bitsy out alone. I couldn’t bear the thought of loosing her!” Deidre cried.

“You can’t be too careful these days.” She confirmed.

More people were mingling about. The two women enjoyed some of the other costumes…a fellow dressed as a gift box with a tag on the front that said “From God” and “To Women.”

“That’s a good one!” they laughed.

“Another glass of the Red?” asked the Wolf, coming from nowhere behind her.

“We were just talking about you!” Deidre joked.

“Me? The Gift From God?" he questioned.

“Yeah right! ...with the pet disappearances lately, we thought it was a Wolf.”

“Ahhh... only on a full moon. But I do like cat snacks!” he joked, looking directly at her and smiling a big grin that showed his very realistic fangs.

“You make a great cat btw!” he growled.

“And you're a very scary wolf!”

“Don’t be afraid.” he said taking her hand and twirling her around to the sounds of A Werewolf in London.

He howled to the song. He leaned into her and whispered “I’ve been waiting for this night.” His whiskers tickled her neck. She was in a whirlwind, the room was spinning.

Deidre abruptly cut in. “It’s getting late. It’s almost Midnight.”

Gaining her senses she felt an urgency to get home. “Yes, I should get going. Before the Witching Hour!” she called out as Deidre skirted the wolf away.

“Humm…that was odd,” she thought. Deidre had always been a good friend and neighbor and protective of her, even more so now, but why?

Yes, she needed to get home. It was getting late. 

She slid out the side door unnoticed...or so she thought. Her dark costume made her blend into the shadows and the darkness. She scampered quickly down the sidewalk toward home, feeling very feline. 

She thought she was being followed. She heard footsteps behind. She stopped. The footsteps stopped. She turned to find nothing but an eerie silence. A slight breeze rustled the leaves underfoot and whispered to her... "Hurry. Your time is short"

The full moon cast shadows that came to life, taunting her. She passed a neighbor’s home and their dog started barking frantically. She was breathing hard and her muscles were aching and tight. Her head was pounding.

She could feel a presence. Breath on her neck. She was afraid to stop to see what was behind her, she just had to hurry! 

Her home was just ahead. She could see her steps, her door, her porch light a beacon in the distance. Just a few more steps.

Headlights were coming towards her. She quickly ducked behind some shrubs. 

Why did she do this? Why was she so afraid? What was happening?

She made a run for it, sprinting like she never had before. Running for her life she dove through the pet door, it flapping behind her. 

She sat on the floor in the foyer panting.

It was quiet. Eerily. Only her breathing.

Then, a clawing at the door. She could see the ominous silhouette standing there. The wolf.

The clawing turned to knocking as the form morphed into human. 

“It’s me, my love. I’m here.” He whispered, helplessly knocking his head on the door.

She sat there hissing and baring her fangs.

“I know you don’t understand.” 

The clock struck midnight.  

“Until next year then, my Love. Next Hallow’s Eve.”