Coushatta LaRue

ALERT BEFORE READING: THIS WRITING HAS NOT BEEN PROFESSIONALLY EDITED. I try my best though! 😀✨
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Welcome to my first long short story! Cats! This story is based off of a dream I had, enjoy! Share if you wish 💖

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In a desperate escape from her crumbling hometown, Ashley and her friends set out for help. But when they cross paths with a sick town folks, Ashley’s hope for rescue quickly turns into a nightmare.

CATS

Ashley swore her heart would beat right through her chest as she crept from her bedroom into the dark living room of the small, manufactured home. For two months, she had woken with a sense of panic that she couldn’t shake. Every morning brought the same creeping dread. If she hadn’t seen the truth with her own eyes, she might have dismissed it as irrational fear. But this—this nightmare she was living—felt like a cheap sci-fi movie she desperately wanted to laugh off. Instead, tears welled up in her eyes.

The only light in the room came from the microwave clock, which blinked 6:00 a.m. The tension in her chest tightened, twisting into knots in her stomach. She inhaled slowly, trying to steady herself as she stepped further into the living room, careful to avoid the old brown couch. Her gaze flickered to the windows, covered in layers of tinfoil.

 Thin rays of morning sunlight pierced through tiny gaps, casting eerie beams across the floor. She didn’t want to go outside; didn’t want to face the world she hadn’t seen in months. But it was what she wouldn’t see that scared her the most. Ashley knew that waiting was not going to save them. As much as she hated that truth, she understood that it was the only thing that made sense.

The weight of her backpack pressed into her shoulders as she glanced back over her shoulder. The hallway was much darker than the living room, and she knew what lurked in the shadows. To the left was her small room, her refuge for the past nine months. It wasn’t much, but it was better than the lonely dorm room in the city she had left behind. She never imagined dropping out of college and moving back in with her parents at 26, but they hadn’t judged her for it. They had welcomed her home.

Guilt gnawed at her. She had been so close to being the first in her family to graduate, to make something of herself. But instead, she had let anxiety tear her apart. The fear of failure had been so overwhelming that she hadn’t even tried. Part of her despised herself for that. But just as she had begun to piece together a plan for her future, the world had turned upside down.

Beyond her bedroom, the laundry machines hummed softly in the darkness. Past them was a small bathroom and the back door, which had been hastily boarded up. Next to it was her parents’ bedroom, where her father was likely fast asleep. She prayed he was dreaming of better times—memories of her childhood, of playing on the beach and building sandcastles with her mother. The thought of her mother made her heart ache. She had been the strongest, always encouraging Ashley to follow her dreams, no matter where they led.

Her mother had been the first to tell her she was proud when she dropped out of college. Not because she didn’t believe in education, but because she knew Ashley was struggling. She wanted her daughter to find her own path, even if it wasn’t the one they had expected. Ashley sniffled, wiping away a tear as she looked at the microwave clock again. Three minutes had passed since she had been standing there, debating whether this was the right choice.

She wanted to stay, to wait it out like they had been told. But no word had come from the authorities in over a month, and their food was running dangerously low. At night, the noises outside the trailer had grown more menacing—sharp claws scraping against the metal walls, low growls rumbling through the dark. How much longer would the boarded-up windows and doors hold against the evil waiting to break through?

Ashley didn’t want to find out. She couldn’t bear to watch another parent succumb to the twisted sickness that had already taken so many. Her legs stiffened with every step forward, her body resisting the urge to flee. But she had no choice. The only way to save herself was to move forward. Her mother had always said that, reminding her that even if the path was dark, she had to keep moving forward.

At the front door, she hesitated after unlocking the three locks. Two metal bats rested beside the door—one silver with black rings. She picked it up with a trembling hand, gripping it tightly, praying she wouldn’t have to use it.

With a final glance down the dark hallway, she whispered, “I promise I’ll bring help, Dad. I won’t let you down.”

Then she opened the door. The sun greeted her with a warmth that caressed her cold skin. She held her breath, bracing for an attack, but all she heard was the distant sound of birdsong and the faint taste of salt from the Gulf of Mexico on her lips. For a brief moment, the tension in her chest eased. The world outside looked… normal.

Her small neighborhood, lined with manufactured homes and modest shacks, seemed untouched by the horrors she had hidden from. In the distance, the beach shimmered under the morning light, the ocean calm and beautiful in this broken world. She licked her dry lips, her gaze drifting to their yard, where her father’s old barbecue pit sat beneath a large pine tree. It had been a gift from her two years ago. He loved that grill, and the thought of how much he missed using it brought a fresh wave of sadness.

Under the tree, two chairs and a small side table sat undisturbed. On the table, two glasses of sweet tea sat forgotten, the ice long since melted.

The day everything came crashing down was unexpected. People abandoned everything where it was, fleeing into their homes. Ashley shook as she looked down the road, knowing she couldn’t afford to waste any time. Abandoned cars cluttered driveways and the cracked pavement, remnants of lives that had once seemed so ordinary. She wondered where the owners had gone and a part of her hoped, she would never have to find out.

“Psst,” came a sound from somewhere up the road. Ashley froze, narrowing her eyes as she instinctively gripped the straps of her backpack tighter. She spotted a silver car, half-sunken in a ditch. “Here!” a voice called out, accompanied by a quick wave from behind the car.

She fought the urge to turn back, to lock herself inside the safety of her home once more. But she knew if she looked back now, she might never leave. Swallowing her fear, she hurried down the wobbly wooden steps, across the gravel driveway, passing her parents’ red SUV and her own blue Toyota. She scanned both directions before darting across the road, the silence pressing down on her like a weight. Only birds chirped, no children playing, no chatter from neighboring homes, no hum of distant traffic or music from town. The quiet was suffocating.

Rounding the corner of the car, she found two men crouched behind it. One, of Asian descent, managed a weak smile, his dark eyes reflecting weariness. Jace had always been a handsome man but now his glow seemed dull. The other man’s pale skin was slick with sweat, his wild blonde hair disheveled and unkempt. Both men carried backpacks. Jace gripped a machete, the other a small hand axe. Ryan stood up, scanning her with a disappointed frown.

“Where’s the gun?” Ryan asked quickly, his voice tight with anxiety. His eyes flicked toward the trailer she had just come from. “And your father? Where is he?”

“He’s not coming,” Ashley said, keeping her voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside her. “I left the gun with him.”

“What? But he promised—”

Jace cut him off, placing a calming hand on Ryan’s chest. “It’s okay, Ryan. We have enough protection,” he said with a gentle smile.

Ryan stared at his husband of five years, terror flashing in his eyes. He looked more frightened than Ashley felt, but she couldn’t blame him. She had lost her mother, but they had lost a child. Her gaze drifted to their small brown home. She could almost see the tiny mound of dirt in the backyard, beneath the palm tree where their child lay buried. Everyone had lost something. The grief was etched deep in their bones.

“Are you kidding, Jace?” Ryan hissed, waving his axe in frustration. “An old axe? A machete that hasn’t been sharpened in years. And a bat?”

“Ryan,” Jace said firmly, his tone kind but resolute. He squeezed Ryan’s shoulder, his eyes softening. “This is all we have. It’ll have to do, okay?”

Ryan opened his mouth to argue, but stopped, staring down at the axe in his hand. Reluctantly, he shook his head, accepting their grim reality. Jace turned to Ashley, nervousness flickering behind his calm facade.

“Is your father okay?” Jace asked quietly.

Ashley glanced back at the trailer she had grown up in. It wasn’t much—just a small, weathered two-bedroom with rusting panels. She had always hated it growing up, always felt embarrassed by it. But now, standing on the edge of leaving it behind, she realized it didn’t matter what her home looked like. All that mattered was that it had been a home, filled with love. And already, she longed to be back inside it.

“He doesn’t want to leave Mom,” she finally replied, her voice thick with emotion.

Ryan winced, understanding the weight of her words. They all looked toward her backyard, where a mound of dirt beside the rose bushes marked her mother’s final resting place. The pain was palpable, shared between them all.

“We’re leaving our boy,” Ryan muttered, his voice choked with grief. “Why can’t he—”

“Ryan, please,” Jace cut him off, his eyes pleading. “It’s not easy for anyone. We can’t judge how people deal with their pain.”

Ryan scowled, turning his gaze away, but the argument died on his lips. Jace gave Ashley a small nod, and she returned it, a silent agreement between survivors.

“We need to hurry to the jetties,” Jace said firmly. “I don’t think it’ll take us till dark, but we have no idea what we’re going to run into.”

“You said the cats are less active during the day now,” Ryan whimpered.

“They are, but some of them could still be roaming around. Not all of them are affected the same way,” Jace replied. “But it’s safer this way.”

“And the people?” Ryan asked, his eyes darting around as if waiting for a ghost to pop out.

“Their vision is poor during the day, and the sun hurts their eyes. They’re less likely to come outside, but some who aren’t fully affected might still be out there,” Ashley said, her voice calm yet edged with a hardness. “It won’t be safe at any time, but right now is the safest it’s going to get.”

“I knew this was a bad idea,” Ryan muttered.

“Let’s just get going, okay?” Jace sighed, tugging on Ryan’s arm. They all began to move down the road together.

Silence engulfed them as they walked in the middle of the street, each of them secretly dreading the drainage ditches. What might be lurking in those small, dark holes? What hid beneath their feet, in the safety of the shadows? None of them wanted to find out. As they passed by other homes, Ashley could have sworn she saw eyes peering out from shadowy windows.

Were they being watched? And if they were, were those watching them sick—or were they just like them, hiding in fear? Part of Ashley wanted to know, but another part prayed they wouldn’t encounter anyone else. As they neared the intersection, Ashley’s grip on the bat tightened until her hand went numb. She knew she had to relax, but the unexpected danger gnawed at her nerves.

All they knew was what the authorities had told them on the television, but what if they had missed something? What if there was more going on than they realized? Ashley didn’t feel prepared, and the thought made her feel weak. A seagull flew overhead, and she watched it soar towards the beach ahead. When her eyes fell back to the ground, she noticed a house with a door slightly ajar.

Her heart pounded as she stared at the narrow gap between the door and the frame. Her mind whispered that something was standing there, watching her, beckoning her to come closer. She forced herself to look away before panic could take hold.

At the end of the road, they stopped, glancing right and left. To the right, the road ended just a few feet ahead, more houses lining the dead end. To the left, the road curved and continued, leading to another intersection. Their plan was simple: reach the beach, then walk along the shore until they reached the jetties where a boat waited to take them away from their small, salty town. The simplicity of the plan frightened Ashley the most. Easy plans rarely came without complications.

“Do you think we’re being watched?” Ryan asked as they turned left.

“If we are, it doesn’t matter,” Jace answered.

“I feel my skin crawling just thinking about it,” Ryan said with a frown.

“Then stop thinking about it,” Ashley groaned.

“Seriously, Ashley?” Ryan shot her a nasty look. “I know you’re thinking about it too.”

She rolled her eyes, glancing towards the quiet houses and dark windows. Of course it was on her mind—who was watching them? The thought clung to every step they took, threatening to unravel her.

“Let’s just focus on the task at hand,” Jace said. “We need to stay calm.”

“Easier said than done,” Ryan muttered.

As they reached another stop sign, they peered down the empty road to their right. The eerie silence made Ashley’s skin crawl. The neighborhood had never been bustling, but it had never been this quiet. Just as they started to move forward again, a sound froze them in place—a car engine, growing louder, coming from behind.

“What the hell is that?” Ryan gasped.

They all whipped around to see a white car speeding down the road they had just come from. Ashley’s chest tightened. She didn’t know what a heart attack felt like, but at that moment, she feared she might be having one. Her breath quickened, her thoughts twisted and bent, leaving her frozen in place.

“Run!” Jace shouted, grabbing Ashley’s arm and pulling her with him.

“It’s too late,” she murmured through trembling lips as the car blew past the stop sign and veered toward them at high speed.

They scrambled to the side of the road, weapons ready, faces pale and eyes wide with fear. The car screeched to a halt beside them, and Ashley found herself staring at the two men inside. The driver had long blonde hair tied in a ponytail, but it was his wild eyes that caught her attention. They were blue, but tinged with red and a sickly yellow. His skin was pale and bruised, his chapped lips cracked at the corners.

The man was rail-thin, and his teeth were rotting. As he stepped out of the car, Ashley braced herself with a horrifying realization—she might have to kill him to survive. The thought sent a chill through her. A foul stench wafted from the car, and she heard Ryan gag beside her. Inside the car, the other man remained slumped. He was even thinner than the driver, his brown hair patchy and his lips peeled back, exposing dark, cracked skin.

Blood dripped from the man’s nose, and his eyes had more yellow than white. He was shaking, his head bobbing as he muttered to himself. Ashley recognized the sickness, and painful memories of her mother’s final days flooded her mind, each second eroding her mother’s sanity.

“What y’all doing?” the driver asked with a twisted grin. “I saw y’all outside my house!”

He pointed down the road, but Ashley couldn’t tell where. When he smiled, the skin on his lips stretched, tearing slightly and causing tiny rivulets of blood to leak out. His eyes darted eagerly between the three of them, filled with madness. He couldn’t stop moving, his hands jittery and restless.

“Just out for a stroll,” Ashley heard herself say. Her voice sounded weak, but she knew she had to respond. “Needed some air.”

The man glanced up at the blue sky, looking confused. That’s when Ashley noticed his skin wasn’t just bruised—it was sunburned, deeply scorched by the sunlight. Oozing sores marred his sweaty flesh, and some patches of skin were so burnt they looked bloody. He was nearing the point where he wouldn’t be able to stay in the sun much longer.

Rubbing his hands together, he licked the blood from his lips, then grinned at Ashley. “But don’t y’all think it’s too hot? You can come back to my place. We got a lot of friends there.”

Ashley’s throat tightened. Friends? She didn’t want to know what he meant by that, and judging by the look on Jace’s face, neither did he.

“They got the cutest little noses,” the driver exclaimed with twisted glee.

“No!” Ryan suddenly shouted, lunging forward with his axe raised, ready to strike.

Jace grabbed his husband, pulling him back to stop the attack. Ashley’s heart pounded as she looked back at the driver, who now glared at them with clenched fists. Blood dripped from his palms where his nails had dug into his skin, and malice flickered in his infected eyes.

“Sorry!” Ashley quickly blurted out. “He hasn’t had air in a while. He’s been taking care of a new litter, you see. He’s just tired. Really, he just needs some air.”

For a moment, the driver seemed unconvinced, but then he clapped his hands together, splattering blood onto the pavement. His face lit up with excitement again, as if everything in the world was suddenly okay.

“Babies?” he cheered, glancing back at his comrade in the car. “You hear that, Bill? They got babies!”

Bill didn’t respond. He was convulsing in the passenger seat, bloody foam bubbling from his mouth. But the driver didn’t seem to notice, or maybe he just didn’t care. His attention snapped back to them. Ryan was crying, and Jace was doing his best to shield him.

“Can I see the babies?” the driver asked.

“Yes, when we get back. I promise,” Ashley lied, forcing the most convincing smile she could muster, praying he wouldn’t see through it.

“That sounds wonderful!” the driver sang as he twirled in a circle before heading back to his car. He pointed down the road again, but Ashley still couldn’t tell where. “Come get me at my house when you’re done, okay?”

“Of course,” Ashley replied, keeping up the facade.

The driver cleared his throat and spat onto the asphalt. The red, gloppy mucus made her stomach churn. He got back into the car, reversing into the ditch before scraping a sign as he waved goodbye and drove off the way he’d come. As they left, Ashley noticed the passenger staring back at her, his eyes empty and lifeless, like those of the dead.

“Let’s go, now!” Jace demanded, grabbing Ryan’s hand and rushing forward. Ashley followed close behind without hesitation. No one spoke as they moved swiftly down the road, their pace quickening with every step. As they neared the end, something stirred in the ditch ahead. Ashley froze, but Ryan kept going.

“Wait, Ryan,” Ashley called out.

“It’s a dog!” he exclaimed.

They all walked to the ditch and found a small mixed-breed dog with wiry hair and a pushed-in nose, staring up at them sadly. The dog looked well-fed but was tied by its leash to a speed sign. Ryan hurried down into the ditch to free the poor thing, but Ashley felt a growing sense of danger.

“This is a trap,” Ashley whispered to Jace. He nodded, wiping sweat from his brow as he hurried to Ryan’s side.

“We need to go,” Jace urged, pulling at Ryan’s arm. But Ryan swatted his hand away, determined to free the dog. “Damn it, Ryan, this is a setup.”

“I don’t care. I’m not leaving him!”

Ashley’s eyes scanned the area. There were no houses near the ditch, but she could see some in the distance. When she turned to the other side, her heart dropped. A small yellow house with a brown roof and a porch that sagged inward stood in front of them. The curtains were drawn, but behind them, she saw eyes—dozens of cats, all watching her intently.

The cats looked calm, nothing suspicious about them. But that was the problem—there was never anything suspicious about the cats. They weren’t sick like the others, but they carried the infection. And they weren’t normal, not really. Ashley felt the urge to run.

The door to the house slowly creaked open, and Ashley raised her bat, growling, “We need to fucking go!”

Ryan and Jace backed up onto the road, Ryan now cradling the scraggly mutt in his arms as it licked his face. Jace’s face went pale as he saw the door opening wider. The sound of meows filled the air, and Ryan’s face drained of color. The dog in his arms snarled as a small girl stepped onto the porch.

Her hair was pitch black, and her eyes were no longer innocent. Once hazel, now they were a sickly mix of yellow and red. Her skin was sunburned and sticky, her lips torn and stained with blood. Her bony hands had dirty, unclipped nails, and the blue dress she wore flapped in the salty air, covered in fur.

“Come play with my friends,” she said in a high-pitched, unnatural voice. “They want to play with you.”

“Fuck this kid,” Ryan muttered as he sucked in a breath and bolted down the road.

“Ryan!” Jace shouted, running after him. He glanced back at Ashley and called, “Ash, come on!”

Ashley’s eyes were still locked on the little girl, who tilted her head, blood-tinged drool dripping down her chin. What had once been a vibrant, joyful child was now the hollow shell of a corpse. The meowing grew louder, and Ashley caught a glimpse of a fluffy tail in the doorway. Nausea twisted in her stomach.

“Play with my friends,” the girl repeated.

Without another word, Ashley turned away from the house, but not before catching sight of a one-eyed cat licking the window. She sprinted after the others, catching up to them at the stop sign at the end of the road. Jace was trying to calm Ryan down, but he was in the throes of a full-blown panic attack.

“We should’ve never left the house!” Ryan cried out. Jace reached for him, but Ryan twisted away. “No! We’re going to die out here!”

“Please, Ryan, calm down. Lower your voice. We don’t need anyone else hearing us,” Jace pleaded.

Ashley bent over, gasping for breath, trying not to faint. She glanced back and saw that no one was following them. The road was quiet again, except for the sound of a dog collar jingling as the scraggly mutt trotted toward her. She looked up as the dog sat beside her, whimpering softly.

Ashley knelt, running her fingers through his wiry fur, surprised by how soft it was. The dog looked up at her with large, frightened brown eyes.

“It’s okay, buddy. I’ll protect you,” she whispered, leaning down to kiss his forehead. The dog licked her nose in return, and she giggled, brushing his fur with her fingers, feeling a fleeting moment of joy she thought she had forgotten.

“We just have to keep going, Ryan. I swear, it’ll be okay,” Jace said, his voice steady but strained.

“You can’t promise that Jace. You promised Rachel would be okay, and now she’s buried in our backyard!” Ryan sobbed, his voice cracking with grief and anger.

“That’s not fair! You know that’s not fair!” Jace snapped, his frustration and sorrow evident in his voice.

Ashley’s world turned grim again as she was reminded of the horrors surrounding them. The salty air twisted around her, and she spotted more seagulls heading toward the beach. Was the world okay beyond their small town? The bridge was blocked off, and the ferry had stopped running. The only ways out were through the marshlands filled with alligators or by boat on the ocean or the jetty canal.

The last message they had received from the authorities on TV claimed that the surrounding towns were okay. They were conducting a mass euthanization of cats, but supposedly the sickness hadn’t spread beyond their town. She wondered why it had only affected them. Where had it come from? And now that she thought about it, she had never heard of a sick cat—at least not a rabid one. So, where did the infection originate?

“You guys, we have to—” Ashley’s words caught in her throat as she spotted another man on the road.

For a moment, her vision blurred with fear, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn’t let the terror paralyze her. As she focused on the figure, she recognized him, and some of the tension eased from her body.

“Bruce?” she asked.

Ryan and Jace fell silent as they, too, noticed the man. Bruce was 6’2″, bald, with a strong build and a kind face. He carried a large duffel bag, his expression uneasy.

“I was worried I missed y’all,” he started, but as he moved closer, they all instinctively stepped back. Bruce looked momentarily offended, then smiled and said, “Sorry. I know I said I wasn’t coming, but I decided I couldn’t stay here. I’ve got to get the hell out of this place.”

“What about Maria? And the girls?” Jace asked.

Ashley watched Bruce as the crickets chirped in the surrounding silence. Bruce glanced down the road, a sad look crossing his face. His eyes grew distant, and something twisted in his expression—sorrow or shame, she couldn’t tell. When he turned back to them, he seemed deflated.

“When we get help, we’ll send it back to them. They’ll be fine,” he said, though his voice lacked confidence.

“I’m sorry, Bruce,” Jace said, stepping forward to pat him on the shoulder. “What you’re doing is hard, but it’s going to help them. I swear.”

Bruce just nodded, frowning. Ashley glanced at Ryan, noticing the skeptical look on his face. He seemed annoyed, almost displeased by Bruce’s appearance. The small shaggy dog at Ryan’s side let out a low growl, causing Bruce to step back in surprise.

“Holy shit, is that old man Earl’s dog?” Bruce laughed.

“Earl?” Ashley looked down at the dog and remembered—it was the little dog that had always followed the old man named Earl. “Oh, I think it is.”

She leaned down to check the collar and flipped over the shiny silver name tag.

“Bubby,” Ashley read aloud. She smiled, brushing her fingers through the dog’s wiry fur. “Hi, Bubby.”

“Well, let’s go. Time’s wasting,” Ryan snapped, turning and heading down the road before veering right toward the beach.

Ashley gave Jace a sad look, but he just dropped his head, looking defeated. She couldn’t blame him. They had lost their child, and it seemed like Jace was losing his husband to grief as well. As she started walking, Bubby followed close behind.

“We’re taking the dog?” Bruce asked, sounding confused.

“Yeah,” Jace replied.

As Ashley walked, she glanced back at Bruce with a smile but noticed his discomfort. He clutched his bag tightly to his body and gave Bubby a wary look. It made her uneasy, but she turned her attention back to following Ryan. The ocean breeze started to twist toward them, and the warm air began to cool. Every so often, Ashley glanced back to check if anyone was following them, but the road remained eerily empty. She wasn’t sure if that was comforting or not.

Opening the side pocket of her backpack, she pulled out a water bottle and took a deep drink. Bubby whimpered at her feet, and she looked down, giggling.

“You’re thirsty?” she asked.

Bubby wagged his tail happily as she slowly poured water from the spout. He drank eagerly, his tail wagging the whole time.

“Don’t waste your water on a dog,” Bruce called out. Ashley looked up at him, her brow furrowing as he glared at the dog. His expression softened as he added, “He could have germs. What if he’s sick like the cats?”

“Dogs aren’t the problem,” Ryan snapped. “Don’t you dare blame them.”

“Ryan…” Jace sighed, “Please, don’t.”

“Don’t what, Jace? That dog is innocent—”

“And how do you know that?” Bruce interrupted, sounding annoyed.

“Because they fucking are,” Ryan hissed, tears filling his eyes. Jace gently took Ryan by the arm, wrapping his hand around his. He tugged him away, trying to pull him from the pointless argument.

Bubby whimpered, and Ashley noticed the hair on the back of the dog was slicked down, his ears pinned back. A low growl escaped his lips. Jace put a hand on Ryan’s face, whispering something, while Bruce stood there, looking confused as he shifted his duffel bag to the front.

“It’s okay,” Ashley said to Bubby, glancing down at the dog. “He’s just hurting. He doesn’t mean any harm.”

But Bubby’s growl only deepened, his snarls growing louder until he barked.

That’s when Ashley heard the hiss of a cat. Her eyes shot up toward Bruce and the open duffel bag he held. A cat struggled in his hands, hissing and scratching furiously. Its claws dug deep into Bruce’s arms, drawing blood. But Bruce just smiled, as if nothing strange was happening.

“Jace!” Ashley screamed.

It was too late. When Jace and Ryan both looked at Bruce, the man hurled the cat at them. Jace stumbled back, a yelp escaping his lips. Ryan screamed as the cat latched onto his arm, hissing fiercely. With a screech, Ryan twisted, grabbing the cat by its body, trying to pull it off.

“Ryan!” Jace shouted in panic.

Ashley saw Bruce pulling out another cat. She screamed, “JACE, RUN!”

Jace barely had time to react as Bruce tossed the second cat at him. With quick reflexes, Jace dodged, but Bruce grabbed his arm, yanking him backward. Jace let out a painful scream as his ankle twisted with a sickening snap, and he hit the pavement hard. Bubby snarled and lunged, sinking his teeth into Bruce’s leg as the man reached into his duffel bag again.

Another cat shot out of the bag, but it bolted away in a panic. The cats were terrified, unaware of the nightmare they were creating. Ashley ran forward as Bruce dropped the bag, moving toward Bubby with a look of fury.

“Fucking dog!” Bruce snarled.

“No!” Ashley cried out, swinging her bat as hard as she could. It connected with Bruce’s face, and she heard the sickening crack of bone. Blood splattered across her shoes.

Bruce hit the ground hard, another cat escaping from the bag. Ashley barely dodged it as it darted past her. Bubby barked and gave chase but quickly returned to Ashley’s side. She stared down at Bruce, seeing the skin split open on his head. Suddenly, Jace was next to her, pain evident in his eyes.

“We have to go!” he shouted.

Bruce groaned, sitting up, a hand clutching his bloodied face. When his eyes opened, Ashley saw the sickly yellow hue in them. She wondered about his wife and children. Were they infected too? Or dead? Jace pulled at her, and she started to cry.

“Where’s Ryan?” she asked.

“I don’t know!” he responded, breathless as they began to run.

The sun shone down on them, white clouds drifting lazily in the blue sky. Bubby stayed close to their feet as the asphalt road gave way to sand. Their legs burned, and their knees grew weak until they could no longer go on. They collapsed after what felt like miles, falling forward into the sand. Ashley gasped, her hands digging into the ground as her bat tumbled beside her.

She sobbed, and Bubby nuzzled her, licking away her tears. Jace sat beside her, his face flushed red, staring down at his swollen, bruised ankle. When Ashley’s tears finally dried, she glanced at the ocean. The serenity it offered seemed so at odds with the broken world they had fled. If she could, she would stay on that beach forever, lost in that peaceful illusion.

“We have to hurry,” Jace panted, his voice shaky and weak. “We need to—”

Ashley looked at him and saw he was crying. She crawled to him, wrapping her arms around him. As they held each other, she closed her eyes. He was trembling, and she found herself staring back at the empty road. There was no sign of Ryan. She hoped he would follow, but deep down, she knew it wouldn’t be a good idea. She had seen the cat bite and claw him. There was no way he wasn’t infected.

“I’m so sorry, Jace,” she whispered. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

They held each other for longer than expected. When they finally let go, their tears were dry, and Bubby was curled up beside them, sleeping. Ashley placed a hand on the dog, smiling sadly. Even the animals were suffering now.

“Do you ever wonder how this happened?” Jace asked, breaking the silence.

“Dad and I talked about it, but we couldn’t figure it out,” Ashley admitted with a sigh, her hand still on Bubby’s fur. The touch made her feel less hopeless. “Mom thought maybe someone brought a sick cat from the city, but I don’t know. To be honest, if I hadn’t seen it for myself—a cat that didn’t even look sick scratching Mom and getting her infected too—I wouldn’t have believed it.”

Jace nodded, speaking softly. “Me neither. Those poor cats are victims too, I think. They’re innocent. They have no idea why people started trying to kill them. At first, it made me so mad, but then I saw it for myself too. Mittens was always a good cat, but Rachel could be rough with him.” He paused, a long breath escaping his lips. “Rachel was barely bitten by him, but it was enough…”

Ashley stared at the calm waves before them, a part of her longing to feel the cool water on her bare feet, hoping it could wash away her fears and pain.

“Ryan… he’s always been more sensitive than others,” Jace began, his voice low. “Because of his childhood… the abuse. It made him paranoid. He had this theory, something he heard from his old buddies at the fishing docks. I thought it was crazy at first, but the more I think about it, the more I wonder if he was onto something.” Jace’s eyes drifted toward the ocean, and Ashley noticed he was fixated on one of the oil rigs in the distance. “You remember when Morningstar moved into town?”

“Yeah, that rich company, right?” she replied.

“Exactly. They promised jobs, and they delivered. Their rig was massive and needed a lot of help. But Ryan told me some of his friends who worked there said it was even bigger than expected—advanced. One guy even described it as a spaceship,” Jace chuckled, but his expression remained blank. “There were places on that rig they weren’t allowed to go—locked doors with keypads, people in white coats. The rules were strict, and if you asked the wrong questions, you could get kicked off.”

He paused, his gaze hardening as he stared at the rig. His face twisted in disgust, then he looked at Ashley, and she saw the torment in his eyes. It crushed her because she felt it too. Someone was responsible for all of this, and she wanted to know who. She wanted them to pay.

“Ryan said there were rumors they were doing experiments on that rig. I don’t know if it’s true, but he mentioned hearing that some people on the rig got sick. They were supposed to quarantine there, but one of them left when they weren’t supposed to.” Jace took a deep breath, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “And apparently, that guy had a cat.”

Ashley blinked, absorbing the information. She turned her gaze back to the ocean, scanning the horizon and the distant rigs. Would it be possible? Were there really experiments going on? How could someone get away with that? But then again, with the right amount of money, anything was possible.

“If it’s true… do you think there’s a cure on that rig?” she asked slowly, her voice quiet. They exchanged a look, and Jace just shrugged.

“I really don’t know,” he muttered, disappointment evident in his tone. He cleared his throat, then began to stand, groaning in pain as he put weight on his injured ankle. He offered Ashley a hand. “Let’s get moving.”

They walked down the beach together, with Bubby following closely. It felt like they had been walking for days before they saw the first sign of the jetties—a long boardwalk over the water surrounded by large rocks. They spotted a parking lot with a few vehicles scattered in it. Their eyes followed a small road leading up to the jetties, where another dock extended out to the water. Ashley remembered the town gathering there for Fourth of July fireworks. She longed for that sense of normalcy again. Beyond that, the road stretched toward the water’s edge, where a company had set up shop. She wondered if anyone was still there—someone normal, someone who had survived.

She thought of her father, and her heart sank. Ashley hoped he was okay, and she couldn’t wait to get back to him with help. Jace cleared his throat, and she looked at him as they neared the parking lot. The sand gave way to dirt, then dry grass. Glancing back at the ocean, she spied on the rigs in the distance, wondering if the rumors were true. Was there really a lab on one of those rigs?

“Let’s hurry to the docks,” Jace huffed.

Ashley noticed the pain etched on his face from his ankle. There was nothing she could do about it, and that made her feel helpless. As they reached the edge of the grass and the start of the pavement, they stopped, scanning the parking lot. Each vehicle seemed empty, but that didn’t ease their nerves.

“Be vigilant,” Jace whispered, adjusting his backpack straps. “Just because the cars look empty doesn’t mean they are.”

Ashley nodded, gripping the bat tightly in her hand, trying to ignore the dried blood on it. She wished Jace hadn’t lost his weapon, but he was much stronger than her. Thinking of Ryan, she grimaced. Was he dead? If not, would he go back home? It was a hard pill to swallow, and she hated to imagine how Jace was feeling. He had lost his son, and now his husband. She had no idea how he was even standing.

As they walked past a few cars, Ashley listened to the waves lapping against the rocks ahead of the boardwalk. She wished they were already at the docks, with boats ready to take them away. But unfortunately, they still had miles to go. Staring at one of the guard shacks near the entrance to the boardwalk, she saw it was empty. Her eyes traced the sky, then glanced toward the town, and her heart sank.

There were no moving cars, only smoke in the distance. What had happened to everyone? Had anyone escaped? Were people rallying together to help each other, or were they tearing each other apart, trying to survive? She didn’t really want the answers, fearing the truth would be worse than she imagined.

“Wait,” Jace put a hand up, and she looked at him nervously. Bubby halted too, suddenly starting to growl. “Did you hear that?”

“No… what?” she replied anxiously, glancing at Bubby and then back at Jace. Her eyes darted around the empty parking lot. “What was it?”

He looked behind them and said quietly, “I swear I heard footsteps.”

At that moment, Bubby began barking at a red truck just two cars away. They both stared in horror as they saw two feet on the other side of the vehicle. Snarling, Bubby moved forward, but Ashley quickly stepped in front of him.

“No,” she stated firmly, hoping he would listen.

“Come on, Ashley,” Jace whispered, starting to turn around. “Let’s just run.”

She nodded in agreement, and they began to turn away, Bubby following. But then Jace gasped, and Ashley knew who was behind the truck. When she looked back, Ryan was there. His face was flushed, his eyes a reddish, milky yellow, and his skin was bruised. Burns marked his neck and under his left eye. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and she could see he was trembling.

“Ryan…” Jace cried out, “No…”

Jace didn’t move, but Ryan slowly stepped around the truck as Bubby began snarling again. Ashley raised her bat, gripping it tightly, feeling sick as she stared at the dried blood on it. The thought of doing this to a friend was horrifying. Ryan stumbled forward, then stopped, a dark trickle of blood dripping from his nose.

“Honey, I found you,” he rasped, his voice hoarse and sickly. “I thought you were gone already.”

“Ryan,” was all Jace could say, tears rolling down his face.

Ashley studied him, seeing Jace trembling. All she wanted to do was grab his hand and run, to escape together. She understood how hard it was to see someone you loved so sick. They both did. Fear grew inside her, and she knew they might lose another friend today. It wasn’t what she wanted, but if it came to it, she would stop Ryan before that happened.

“We said we’d go together, Jace.” Ryan smiled, the cracks in his lips beginning to bleed. “You promised.”

“I know, Ryan.”

“Jace…” Ashley whispered, feeling her own tears build. “Please, Jace… We have to go.”

Ryan let out a low growl, pointing his bloody machete at her. “No one’s talking to you, whore.”

Shocked, Ashley clenched her jaw, staring in disbelief. Even Jace looked horrified by the comment and stepped in front of her. She knew he would protect her, even to the death. But this wasn’t what she wanted. It was supposed to be an easy trip to the docks, an escape for help. Not this. Not this nightmare.

Ashley clutched the bat tightly, her knuckles white as she watched the scene unfold in front of her. Jace stood between her and Ryan, his voice pleading as he tried to reason with his infected husband.

“Ryan, don’t! She’s our friend!” Jace shouted, desperation thick in his voice. “Please, calm down!”

Ryan snarled; his face twisted with rage. Sweat dripped into his right eye, but he seemed oblivious to it. He let out a bitter laugh. “Calm down? You’re always telling me that!”

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt,” Jace said, his voice softer now, trying to soothe. He raised his hand, inching closer to Ryan. “Babe, I just want to help.”

For a moment, Ryan’s expression softened. He wiped at the blood trickling from his nose, then sniffled, spitting a mixture of mucus and blood onto the pavement. Ashley’s stomach turned as she watched it sizzle. When she looked back at Ryan, she noticed fresh red burns on his arms. The infection was progressing fast, and she wondered how much longer he could survive. Did he even feel the pain anymore? Did he realize what was happening to him?

“I know,” Ryan sighed, his voice softening into a sickly smile. The stench of decay wafted from his gums. “Leaving town was a mistake. Let’s just go back home and wait, okay?”

Jace glanced back at Ashley, and she saw the defeat in his eyes. Her heart clenched, the realization that she had lost Jace too crashing over her like a wave. Her throat tightened as she looked back at the beach. Two figures were approaching, with several cats trailing behind them, unaware of the horrors they were spreading.

“Jace!” Ashley gasped, pointing at the figures. “They’re coming.”

Jace and Ryan both turned to look. Ryan, however, just shrugged and smiled. “They’re our new friends, remember? We’re supposed to see their kittens.”

Jace shook his head, stepping closer to Ryan. “I’m so sorry, Ryan, but that can’t be. We can’t stay here, and you know it.”

Ryan’s demeanor changed in an instant. His face reddened with fury, and his eyes darkened with madness. “So, you’ll abandon our baby boy?” he screamed, spitting blood onto the pavement. “You promised you’d never leave us! And now you’re trying to run off with this whore? Do I have to bash her head in for you to get it?”

He lunged toward Ashley, and she stumbled back in shock. Bubby barked, but Jace quickly stepped between them, blocking Ryan’s path. Ashley’s eyes darted to the figures getting closer on the beach. The terror of the moment weighed heavily on her, and yet, she found herself thinking of how ridiculous it all was—being afraid of cats, innocent creatures who had no idea of the devastation they carried within them.

Jace moved closer to Ryan, reaching out as Ryan raised his machete. “Ryan, please!” Jace cried, grabbing Ryan’s arm. “Stop!”

Ashley’s breath caught as she watched them struggle, tears blurring her vision. The world seemed to slow down. The wind blew gently, carrying the scent of saltwater, but all she could focus on was the horror playing out before her. She wanted to scream, to help, but her feet were rooted to the ground.

“Run!” Jace’s voice broke through the chaos.

She snapped out of her trance, her heart pounding. Jace was holding Ryan, struggling to keep him from breaking free. Blood trickled down Jace’s face from where Ryan had headbutted him. Ashley hesitated, torn between wanting to stay and help and knowing that she needed to survive.

“Please, Ashley,” Jace pleaded, his voice ragged. “Live for us.”

With a final, heart-wrenching look at Jace, Ashley turned and ran, Bubby closed on her heels. She dashed past the cars, her feet pounding against the pavement as she raced towards the guard shack. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps as she spotted the gate controls. She fumbled with the keys, finally finding the right one, and activated the gate. The metal squeaked as it slowly closed behind her.

A scream echoed through the air, and Ashley looked back, her heart in her throat. Jace was standing, blood streaming down his face. The two sickly figures were almost upon him, their skin burned and blistered, their pained smiles grotesque. The cats meowed and rubbed against their legs, oblivious to the chaos they were part of.

Ashley fought the wave of dizziness threatening to overtake her. She couldn’t afford to pass out, not now. She had to keep going. She had to find help.

She ran. Miles passed in a blur as she pushed her aching legs forward, her track training from childhood kicking in. Bubby kept pace, his small body moving with determination. They didn’t stop until they reached a large parking area near the docks. Three cars sat abandoned, two with boats attached to them. Ashley’s eyes locked on a small white and blue fishing boat bobbing in the water. It wasn’t tied to anything, but it hadn’t drifted far. She would have to jump for it, but it was her best chance.

Panting, she scanned the area one last time. There was no sign of pursuit, no one coming after her. She threw her bat and bag into the boat, then took a moment to look back at the town she had once called home. It felt like a lifetime ago that she had dreamed of leaving this place, of escaping its small-town gossip and quiet streets. Now, all she wanted was to see it alive again, bustling with people, laughter, and life.

But that life was gone, and nothing would ever be the same.

With a deep breath, she steeled herself for the jump, ready to do whatever it took to survive. She was on a mission, and she wouldn’t stop until she completed it.

Ashley scooped up Bubby, steeling herself for what was to come. With a surge of adrenaline, she sprinted and leaped over the water, crashing into the boat. She tripped over her bag as she landed, rolling painfully across the deck. Bubby yelped, and she cried out as her back slammed hard against the side of the boat. Dazed, she looked up to see Bubby unharmed, staring at her with his tongue lolling out. The little dog waddled over, licking her face as she lay there, sobbing in relief.

“We did it,” she whispered, clutching Bubby close. “We made it.”

She lay still for a moment, letting the adrenaline drain from her body. Exhaustion seeped into every muscle, making it hard to even move. But Ashley knew she couldn’t afford to rest, not yet. She reached into her bag, pulling out a bottle of water and a protein bar. After breaking off a piece for Bubby, she ate and drank quickly, trying to regain some strength.

Peering back toward the road, she saw nothing—no sign of pursuit—but she couldn’t trust that. She forced herself to stand, walking to the front of the boat. Memories of her father teaching her how to operate a boat flooded back. She’d never actually driven one before, and she hadn’t liked them much either. But her father had made sure she knew the basics. Now, she just had to hope she remembered enough to get by.

The keys were already in the ignition, and Ashley couldn’t help but wonder again about the boat’s owner. She started the engine, which purred to life, and quickly reversed away from the ramp. The wind whipped around her as the boat pulled away from the docks. Numbness settled inside her, and she kept telling herself she would wake up from this nightmare. Her friends would be alive. Her mother too.

But deep down, Ashley knew that reality was dead. She would have to accept it if she wanted to survive. It was a crushing weight, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could carry it. But as the boat slowly moved past the jetties, toward the open ocean, she felt something stir within her—something that almost felt like hope. She had to get help. She had to save her father and anyone else left in the town.

Soon, she was out in the open water. Ashley refused to look back at the boardwalk where she had left Jace behind. Acknowledging that pain would break her. Instead, she focused ahead, steering the boat toward Texas. Despite everything, she allowed herself a small smile. She was doing the right thing. As heart-shattering as it was, this was the only way.

The sun began to set, and night embraced the sky. Ashley looked up at the moon, feeling comforted by its steady presence. The quiet of the ocean surrounded her, and she welcomed it. Just her and Bubby, together on a mission to make a difference. It kept her grounded, kept her from spiraling into despair.

Hours passed, and the darkness deepened. Suddenly, Ashley saw something up ahead—headlights, from another boat coming toward her. Her heart plummeted, and she scrambled for her bat. Bubby looked around, sensing her fear but unable to see what she saw. Her mind raced. Could the infected operate boats? She knew they could drive cars, and they thrived at night when the sun no longer harmed them.

“Whoever it is,” Ashley whispered to herself, gripping the bat tighter, “I’ll handle it.”

The boat slowed as it approached, stopping just a short distance from hers. The lights flicked off, revealing three figures standing aboard, watching her with confusion. Ashley’s grip on her bat loosened when she saw the military uniforms. Her heart fluttered with cautious hope.

“Are you from the town?” one of the men called out.

“Yes!” Ashley shouted back, her voice trembling with exhaustion. “Please, we need help! The virus is spreading so fast.”

The men exchanged nervous glances before nodding. “Hold on, let’s get you on board!” one of them called out as they carefully maneuvered their boat closer.

Ashley quickly gathered her bag, bat, and Bubby. One of the men—a dark-haired, dark-eyed soldier—reached out and helped her onto their boat. They checked her over, making sure she wasn’t injured, though Ashley knew she was far from fine. But she was alive, and that was enough for now.

Bubby growled when they tried to touch him, and Ashley couldn’t help but laugh as she ran her fingers through his fur. These men weren’t infected, and for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to feel a spark of hope. Maybe she could finally fulfill her promise to her father.

“It’s the cats,” she blurted out, her voice shaky. “I know you already know that, but they don’t even seem sick. The people, though—they’re losing their minds. Please, my father’s still out there. Others are too. They need help!”

The man with blonde hair nodded, sitting next to her. His smile was small, his eyes narrowed. “We understand,” he said. “We’re going to help.”

Ashley exhaled a long, shaky breath, leaning back and clutching Bubby to her chest. As their boat pulled away from hers, she closed her eyes, inhaling the salty air. Exhaustion finally caught up with her, and she drifted into a restless sleep.

She awoke with a jolt as the boat shuddered. Her eyes snapped open, and she saw the three men standing around something. Blinking, she realized it was a ladder—a ladder leading up, up, and up. Her gaze followed it, her stomach dropping as she took in the massive structure towering above them.

It was an oil rig.

Ashley’s heart pounded as she stared at the rig, her mind racing. This wasn’t just any oil rig—this was the one she had heard rumors about. A lab, hidden away in plain sight. Her throat tightened as the reality of her situation sank in.

“What’s going on?” she asked, panic rising in her voice. “Why are we here? I thought you were taking me to Texas for help.”

The blonde-haired man turned, smirking as the other two tied their boat to the ladder. He clasped his hands behind his back and walked toward her with a casual menace.

“What?” He laughed, his voice dripping with mockery. “No. You’re from the town. We have a lot of questions—and a lot of tests to run.”

“You can’t do this!” Ashley’s voice trembled with desperation. “Please, I just want to help the town! You promised to help!”

“I did,” he said with a cruel chuckle. “I didn’t say what kind of help I was offering.”

When he moved closer, Ashley swung her bat at him, but he dodged easily. Lunging forward, he grabbed the bat from her and then punched her in the stomach. Ashley crumpled to the deck, gasping in pain as Bubby barked furiously beside her.

“Someone get that stupid dog before I kill him,” the blonde-haired man barked.

One of the other men quickly snatched up Bubby before he could bite.

The blonde-haired man grabbed Ashley by the hair, yanking her head up to meet his gaze. His eyes were cold, filled with malice. He wasn’t infected, but he was just as much of a monster. Ashley cursed herself for forgetting that even in this nightmare, people could still be cruel.

“Please…” she begged, tears welling in her eyes. “Don’t do this. The virus—it’s dangerous. It must be stopped!”

He chuckled again, pulling her to her feet and shoving her toward the ladder. As she faced him, anger and fury surged inside her. Suddenly one of the other men let out a cry and she heard a whimper from Bubby. Her eyes darted over to see a flash for jumping or maybe even falling into the water overboard.

“Stupid dog!” One of the men yelled as he covered a fresh dog bite on his left palm. “Look he is swimming away!”

“Who gives a fuck! He’ll drown anyway,” another of the men stated sounding irritated.

Ashley barely had time to react as her beloved new furry friend vanished into the water when the ominous click of a gun echoed behind her.

“We know it’s dangerous,” he said, his voice dripping with sinister intent as he aimed his rifle right at her chest. “That’s why we’re not stopping it.”

With a flick of his finger, the gun fired. The bullet tore through her chest, shattering her dream of saving her father and the rest of the town. As she collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath her, she gazed up at the sky. The stars dazzled above, and the moon glowed with an almost welcoming light. She wasn’t ready to leave, but the darkness consumed her.

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Written by – Coushatta LaRue. Image created by me with prompts in nightcafe.