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Imagine the sounds of blaring alarms all over the city; it wasn’t just loud; my ears were bleeding.
I mean that literally.
“Attention, this is not a drill; I repeat this is NOT a drill.”
The voice was going into a muffle, all I could focus on was the bleeding from my ear…it wasn’t just a tiny drop. I heard my cats’ loud screech. That was the last thing I heard before I fell unconscious.
My name is Dr. Yamaki…or well I’m about to be, and I work as a trainee scientist. Everyday is almost a daily routine; I wake up, make breakfast, drink coffee, feed my cat, and head on to work. I heard rumors around my workplace that there’s a dangerous experiment they’re working on that I can’t know of. However, I have to admit I was curious. We all were.
I live alone unfortunately; I do not have much friends. However, I do have my cat. Our bond is something you cannot describe alone with words. The emotional impact my cat has on me is beautiful, not to mention I’ve had him for eight years now.
12:00pm
Finally, my training shift is over…
“Sachi, wait!” Dakota called out, she’s training with me, I might not have friends, yet I think she’s the only one I would consider one. I stopped right in my tracks and turned to her, she walked along with me “I have to go in this direction as well, so I wanted to walk with you!” All I did was nod; I have to be truly honest, I’m no good when it comes to small conversations, thankfully she is. “You know…I heard the higher-ups are experimenting on animals.”
“Animals?” Have you ever went on a high rollercoaster? And when you go down, you feel your heart drop? That’s exactly how I felt.
I may be training to be a scientist, but I’m very against animal experimenting. Truly, there are better ways.
Eventually, I reached my house, said my farewells, and went inside, calling for my cat. Poor thing must be hungry. “Romeo!” Was his name. And for once, he didn’t come running which not only shocked me--but terrified me. I looked everywhere, yet I couldn’t find him, I rushed outside, remembering that I left my fence open this morning since I was in a hurry. I ran outside, looked in every corner, every park, but I found absolutely nothing. I got back home and sat on the couch.
I still can hear the laugh of an innocent child, my laugh. Back when I wasn’t completely alone. It was my 12th’s birthday; my mother got me a cat. I only had two friends so that cat was a ‘New friend!’ in my words. That cat was Romeo. I’m 20 now and that cat has always been by my side, with every sandwich I make, every glass of water I drink, he’s there.
2:00pm
I then heard a phone call; “Dakota”, after a few rings, I decided I have nothing better to do than to answer. “Hello?” I said, but couldn’t mutter anything more, she immediately went on a rant. “Okay, super crazy, but I decided to sneak into the lab where the secret experiment-“
“You did WHAT.” I replied, I don’t think anything could’ve prepared me for that, was she really willing to risk her job??
“Look, I know, it’s crazy. But you really need to see this!” Dakota continued. This is such a bad idea, and I would NEVER DO SUCH A THING.
10 minutes later, I stood beside her.
Honestly, it’s much worse than I expected.
I truly believed I was in some nightmare where wolves gathered around, hunting prey, ripping its’ heart, only to drop it as if they couldn’t care less, or mind who’s scarred in the long run. I saw a bunch of animals, different species, locked up, suffering. “They’re…experimenting on them?” Dakota said; she was just as surprised. She continued speaking, I heard words, I just couldn’t understand what she said. There from afar, I saw my cat. The red glittery collar with the name “Romeo” made it clear that it was truly him. Without hesitation, I ran in “Sachi!” Said Dakota in a loud whisper, he’s locked in a secure cage, I pressed a few buttons, the cage opened. Before I knew it, tears came down my cheeks; I held him in my arms and sat on the ground. Dakota quickly helped me up “Someone’s coming!”
We went back, parting ways. I took Romeo, whom was quiet, home. Eventually it was 4:08 pm. “Romeo?” I was setting up food for him. He came to me, only for him to suddenly out of nowhere, scratch me. “ROMEO!” Why would he do that? That’s unlike him… My cat ran out, escaping his home of eight years for a second time the very same day. As anyone who has a strong bond with their cat would do, I ran out, chasing after him. I went everywhere looking for him; scanning each place I stepped in, wondering what’s going on with Romeo.
5:38pm.
As I decided to head home, I heard something familiar, Though, Most cats sound familiar, I still checked it out. The sound came from behind the fence of an abandoned house, there were flies everywhere, I assume from the rot and dust. I saw something I couldn’t believe, my cat, the one who wouldn’t hurt a fly, eating an unknown source of flesh. A dead animal or body? I am unsure myself. I felt like I was going to throw up. Blood dripping from his mouth, his fur disgustingly filled with blood that’s slowly starting to dry, I picked my cat up, wanting to take him home, that’s when a bunch of other cats, looking bloody, same as my cat gathered around, hissing. I noticed most of them had bite marks on their skin; the teeth looked familiar, as if my cat had bitten them, and somehow, he cursed them. They all tried attacking me, but I dodged in time making them all bump into each other, and so I ran, and ran, till I got home, closing the lights.
6:18pm I got my cat home, He won’t stop hissing. I had to lock him in a room out of fear, he kept scratching the door, shrieking, why won’t he stop? Stop. Please stop. It’s so loud, it’s driving me crazy.
6:28pm. He stopped. Why?
I unlocked the door, that’s when I heard the drill. “Attention, head to the quarantine zone for evacuation immediately.” I opened the door; my cat scratched my ear, making it bleed non-stop. “Stay away from ALL animals.” I should’ve never brought my cat back… “This isn’t a drill” My cat screeched, will he attack me again?
My name is Sachi Yamaki.
My cat is the reason for the worldwide apocalypse that has caused animals to go rouge, attacking people. If an animal scratches you, you’re doomed.
7:00pm, exactly eight hours. Someone was laughing, as if they knew this was going to happen, wanting it to.
Dakota Marwood; someone who seems so pure, but in truth, they’re worse than devil itself. Like a dolphin.