Isabelle's POV

"Phew, what a long day." I breathed out as I arrived at the doorstep, swiping the imaginary bead of sweats on my forehead with the back of my palm.

I even had to lean against the wall for a while just to catch my breath. Who knew few miles could mean this much trouble. As I reached out for the door knob, a sudden faint sensation swirled inside me. I'm pretty much sure it had nothing to do with lunch because I remembered crosschecking its expiration dates and manufactured date as well. Before I knew it, my hands made its way to my abdomen—as if to stop the throbbing feeling. Of course I had no idea what had happened but I felt like something wasn't right or worse, was about to happen—pretty much like...an omen.

The feeling of two bombarded spirits awaiting me.

Shaking my head at once, I shrugged the feelings off as me being delusional as usual. I mean, there's no such thing as omens, Isabelle.

Letting out a tired yawn, I gave up my thoughts and finally twisted the knob, almost jumping to see the two persons I was planning to avoid throughout today.

"Huh?"

The fact that my parents were already at the door, folding their arms with an unwavering frown written all over their faces, meant that they knew.

Wait, this was what the feeling was trying to—

"Isabelle!" yelled mum.

I was ready to be punished for all I cared, but I was ready to not budge like other times. The madness I've had in school is definitely more than this.

Where's luck when I just need it?

I didn't answer them, but instead raised my head to meet their angry faces. Darn they look so mad. I don't even know whether I should laugh or sigh anymore.

"How dare you!"—My dad started—"take that box to school!" Mum spat out the completion of his words, standing akimbo. "Do you realize what you've just started!?"

Great, the school just have informed them already...

"Well, it's mine?" I raised an eyebrow at how suspicious they were already beginning to sound. I really thought they were going to mention the case of Ryder, ugh. "Since when do you guys even care about any of my stuffs anyways?"

"That wasn't just a stuff young lady!" Dad roared.

I was confused at the last sentence and how they were dragging the whole situation, but I still ended shrugging it off as their usual bluffs.

I swung my bag across my shoulders and walked to their front angrily. I have to deal with sanity and they're here arguing over a mere box. And they say I'm the immature one here. This ends today, as well as their annoying controlling attitude.

What am I?

Their freaking puppet?

"Look! You two can't keep me in the dark side forever and expect me to be all like the goody shoes...I'm hungry—just get me something to eat and quit these nonsensical questions!" Burning with rage, I pointed a finger to their faces and walked straight to my room. Yes, the typical badass me. Something is really changing inside of me, somehow I can...feel it, and I like it.

I like this new side.

Unlike the other times, they didn't even follow me or scream at me, which was pretty weird honestly, since I was used to all that. Even with my eyes closed, I can tell that there's something pretty weird going on around here.

Whatever—

It's better this way...

"I just wish I had a companion or something—someone who wouldn't be a mirror of my pains every single day!" I slammed my fist against the wall and ignored the stinging pains that followed after. Again and again, this repeated itself. I was this close to tears when I felt something trickling down my skin. Wiping off the lingering tears in my eyes, I sucked in some air to calm myself down when the sight of blood trickling down my sore fist caught my attention. As if karma wasn't enough today. "Ugh, just why me fate? I didn't ask to be treated this way, neither have I done any wrongs in the past. I just wish...there was a way to end all these." I bit my lips and fought with the sudden urge to continue pouring out my conflicted feelings—to cry, and to cry out. With a defeated sigh, I looked away from the red stains and was just about to lick the flowing clots from my fingers, when surprisingly, the cuts seem to be already healing on it's own. Well, that was fast? Thank goodness, I've to spare my tongue for something nicer.

"Meow."

That sound again...

I know that sound...

I gasped and froze at the very spot. I don't recall seeing any cat around here before, so why that sudden cry? It sounds so familiar too.

To my very surprise, I saw the same cat I met earlier on my way home, laying down on it's paws at my window sill with it's stare never leaving me. Seems pretty much intense coming from an animal, not to talk of a cat.

What the—

How did it get all the way there!

"Shooo! Off you go, stray cat!" I threw my hands in the air to scare the hell out of this strange cat, but it didn't move an inch—neither did it look away. Instead, it just slowly wagged its tail in response, sheepishly. The fact that I could almost imagine it mocking my attempts was very surprising, but terrible.

This is bad.

Why won't it move?

"Okay, I know I saved your life...I don't regret doing that either but...I don't just want you here, not right now—please...just leave!" I ordered, like I was losing my mind, which I pretty was—for someone like me to be screaming at nothing but a cat. I bet I look like a lunatic right now, despite the fact that all my teeth are still intact.

After several abortive attempts of trying to chase it away, I collapsed in my bed feeling completely weak and tired at the same time. My whole body seems to be trembling at it's own will somehow. For a moment, I thought I even heard the sound of my own heartbeats pulsating with incredible speed and rhythm against my eardrums.

Sighing, I squinted my eyes and let out a small groan. "Feel so...weak and...broken, what the heck is suddenly wrong with me?" I mumbled, rubbing my temples with my fingers as gentle as I could. "It feels like my body's trying to dance to it's own tune, how funny." It feels like a heavy weight has been placed on my chest such that I'm starting to have the feeling of being paralyzed.

How strange.

Suddenly, an unusual wave of warmth stirred within my abdomen, sending sparks of strange burning sensations through me. I almost flinched when I turned to the side, the black cat was slowly nudging its cheek against my arm, its furry paws tilted against my sides.

I can't believe I almost forgot about this cat.

Of all the crazy things that happened today, I couldn't help but smile at its gentle gesture. Not even a human tried to make efforts to cheer me up like this, not even in the slightest manner. I guess you could say it's trying to comfort me...in its own way. How sweet and thoughtful of it.

It seems lost though—

I wonder what its name?

"Do you...do you have a name?" I could barely hear myself as I questioned it. Ugh, what I'm I doing? Of course it doesn't understand me. "You know what? Why don't we give you our special name huh?" I smiled to myself when a cute purr resonated from its chest. I guess it was satisfied with the idea of having a name, just like I was.

"Hmm, what shall I name you?" I tapped my chin with a defeated sigh. It's been a long time since I named collection of what I call treasures, my treasures. "Uh, how about Snowball? Nah, that's too snowy. Furrball? Too specific perhaps. Snuggles? I think that's it!"

"Hmm, on a second thought...that's not good enough." I told myself.

"Hey! I got it! How about...Minute? You always come at the dying minutes...or wait—" I tilted my head and gasped softly when it mimicked my action. "I'd name you Minuet... you're one of a kind, a strange mysterious black cat that is. I'm just going to let go of the question, 'how the hell you got all the way up to my balcony' and let you stay for some while, hm." I let my fingers stroke its furry back severally before stretching my sore body in a not-so-enjoyable manner.

"Unfortunately, I'm not a cat fancier, as I've never had a cat before—" I sat upright with the cat now curled up on my laps. "—so...I don't have cat foods or uhm...beds. But I do know how to speak animals, including your very kind."

The cat meowed gently as a response. "Surprising huh?" The sweet smile on my face slowly dissolved into what looked like a bitter one. "Also, if you followed me enough, you'd notice that... I'm a loner." I sighed, pushing away all the negative thoughts prying into my mind. The cat just kept on stroking my arm as I went on talking about my boring life.

Ink pens sticking out of their bottles, far on the ends of the dressing tables suddenly gave me a thrilling idea. Propping my elbow against the sheets, I was able to grab one or two ink bottles and pens.

This should do the trick for now.

I stopped talking when I started hearing the cat making some kind of weird noises, particularly hisses. Sitting upright, I noticed the cat walking around my sides restlessly, like it was trying to circle me or something. Oh no, did I upset it?

"What's wrong?" I tried following its twitching gaze with patience but I still couldn't get what it was trying to tell me.

I furrowed my eyebrows when my eyes finally landed on the one thing that it had been staring at.

Right there at the corner of my room was a shimmering object sticking out from across the dressing table. I don't remember placing it on the table when I entered the room.

No way...

Is that my—