Elara walks through a crowded city, the noise of traffic, footsteps, and distant chatter blending into an endless hum. The sky above is a dull and lifeless grey, perfectly matching the emptiness she feels inside. She wanders aimlessly, lost in her thoughts, disconnected from the world rushing around her.

The scenery shifts, showing her monotonous routine—waking up, getting ready, riding the bus to work, scrolling through social media like everyone else, working at her computer, eating alone, going back to work. The cycle repeats endlessly. But tonight, her routine breaks…, she's stuck staying late to finish a project.

Elara (thinking, distant and drained): “Every day’s the same—work, sleep, repeat. Missed chances, forgotten dreams... Where did I lose my spark?”

She steps outside for a quick break, lighting a cigar. When she returns to her desk, there's a cup of coffee waiting with a note: "Don’t overwork yourself 😊". She glances at it, then pushes it aside, diving back into her work.

On her way home, the city blurs past her—people moving like robots, all in a rush. A neon sign flickers in the distance, catching her attention for a brief moment. At a crosswalk, she stops, not really focused. Suddenly, a cat crosses the street, looking lost but well-kept, like it belongs to someone. A little boy appears, running toward the cat with joy, as if he's found his missing pet. But in the same instant, a speeding van barrels toward the boy, unnoticed.

Elara (thinking as she sees the van speeding toward the boy): “Why isn’t anyone else moving? Am I really about to—”

Her body moves before her mind catches up. She throws herself forward, shoving the boy out of harm’s way. She lands hard, her vision blurring as the street noise fades.

Pause. Her breathing is shallow as she lies on the ground, staring up at the gray sky.

Elara (thinking, stunned): “I actually did it... I saved him.”

She doesn’t feel the impact immediately, but her body is thrown to the ground. The world around her fades as she watches the boy, now safe, holding his cat tightly.

Elara (thinking, with a quiet, haunting realization):

“Why do I feel so… numb?”

Her fingers loosen, the world slipping out of focus as she watches the boy, now safe, holding his cat tightly.

Everything goes black.

Elara’s heart pounds violently as she blinks, struggling to focus. Her vision feels stretched, too wide, colors sharper yet somehow dimmed around the edges. She looks down, expecting to see her hands—but instead, she sees two small, furry paws. Her mind blanks, then jolts, a wave of panic breaking through.

Elara (thinking, disoriented and frantic): "This… this has to be a dream. I’m not a cat! I’m… human. I was just… How did I—?"

Her pulse drums loud in her ears, but it sounds strange, quicker, lighter. Her whole body feels alien. She tries to take a step but stumbles, feeling as though she’s balancing on the tips of her fingers. She instinctively extends her front paw, only to watch it twitch with sharp, retractable claws.

Elara (trying to steady herself, mind racing): "Okay, okay… just breathe. It’s not real. Or… is it?”

The ground beneath her feels like it’s buzzing, every small vibration and scent—of earth, metal, something faintly sweet—heightened to an overwhelming level. She tries to move again, only to feel her tail brush the ground behind her, sending another shock through her system.

She stumbles, her body not responding the way she expects, like wearing an ill-fitting suit.

Elara (trying to breathe, her thoughts spiraling): "Wake up. Wake up. This is so not real. I didn’t sign up for some viral cat challenge… or am I dreaming? Oh Geez!! I gotta be."

Her whiskers twitch, and the scent of something earthy fills her nose, sharper than anything she’s ever smelled before.

Elara (panicking)“Oh no, I can feel every little movement, every sound… This is real. This is actually real.This is not a TikTok prank. This is a nightmare."

Elara (thinking, as she tries to move her new body, calming herself down):

“Okay, so I'm a cat now. Does this mean I get, like... nine shots at this? Or is that just a myth?”

She tries to shake off the idea, but the number keeps circling in her mind, an unshakable reminder of her strange new reality.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Elara stumbles, her mind reeling, but something strange pulls her from her spiraling thoughts. The air around her chills suddenly, the sounds of the night fading to an unnatural silence. Her own heartbeat feels louder, each thump echoing in the quiet as if amplified. She looks around, her ears twitching at the faintest hint of movement, but there’s no one there.

A sudden wisp of fog coils around her, forming tendrils at her feet, thickening in the shadows. A low hum vibrates through the air, a sound she can’t quite place—like the distant rumble of thunder, though the sky above is clear. A voice, calm yet piercing, finally breaks the silence.

Rixnovem (voice only, resonating in the silence): "Elara... you have fallen."

Elara freezes, the voice echoing through her like an icy shiver, more felt than heard. She spins around, her heart hammering, eyes wide as the fog in front of her parts, revealing a tall, otherworldly figure emerging from the shadows. His silhouette sharpens, his eyes gleaming like twin embers in the mist. He moves with a slow, measured grace, every step somehow commanding the ground beneath him.

As he steps closer, the fog pulses faintly with each beat of his movement, shimmering in the strange glow that follows him.

Rixnovem (emerging fully): "I am Rixnovem, one of the Guardians of Nine Lives."

Rixnovem steps closer, his presence commanding yet calm. His forehead bears a glowing double-crescent moon mark, and the vertical lines within it pulse softly, as though synced with the rhythm of some unseen force.

Elara (backing away slightly, her pulse quickening, eyes wide): "Who... What are you? Some kind of cosmic cat gentleman?"

Her attempt at humor feels hollow, her fear barely masked.

Rixnovem (calm, with a hint of mystery): "I’m your guide to second chances, your fate rewinder. You now possess nine lives, Elara. Each one’s a gift, and each a test."

Rixnovem’s voice lingers in the air like a soft echo, his words wrapping around her. Elara feels both intrigued and unnerved, the pull of his presence unsettling her as though she’s being drawn into something far bigger than she can understand.

Elara (scoffing, voice dripping with skepticism, as she backs away slightly):

"Nine lives and a mission? Look, I barely had things figured out as a human. My so-called 'life' was already a mess—I mean, seriously, what qualifies me to… save people?"

Her words linger, a bitter edge slipping through. She feels a flash of resentment; all the missed chances and years spent drifting flood her mind. Her tone sharpens as she continues.

Elara (half to herself, almost accusingly):

"I couldn’t even save myself. I kept waiting for things to change, but they never did. I was… just stuck. And now you’re telling me I’m supposed to help others? What am I supposed to do that’s any different?"

Rixnovem’s gaze remains steady, unwavering, as if he’s seeing something beyond her frustration. His calmness only unsettles her further, leaving her feeling exposed. A flicker of curiosity breaks through her anger, and she glances up at him, hesitant but unable to ignore the nagging question forming in her mind.

Elara (reluctant, almost whispering):

"And why me? Out of everyone, why did I get this… second chance?"

Rixnovem (voice calm, almost challenging):

"Because, Elara, you have the strength to understand what others do not—to face yourself and choose a different path. Even if you do not see it yet."

Elara opens her mouth to retort, but the words die in her throat. She feels the weight of his words press into her, tugging at something buried beneath the frustration and self-doubt—a small, painful part of her that wonders if maybe, just maybe, there’s more to her than she realized.

Rixnovem (tilting his head slightly, his gaze penetrating, as though he can see through every layer of Elara’s confusion): "You stepped into the abyss, Elara. But instead of the end, you’ve been given a new beginning. For each of your lives as a cat, you have the ability, the option, to save someone—one life for another. Only then will you understand your purpose."

Elara stares at the Guardian, disbelief and curiosity clashing inside her. Her mind rebels against the words, but something about them stirs an emotion she can't name—fear mixed with a strange, unwanted hope.

Elara (sarcastic, but the edge in her voice is tinged with fear and disbelief): "Save people? As a cat? This has to be a prank. I can barely handle my own life, and now I’m a feline superhero? No thanks."

Her voice cracks slightly at the end, betraying her discomfort. The truth of her statement hangs heavy—her life was already a mess, and now she’s supposed to save others?

Rixnovem (his expression unreadable, his eyes narrowing slightly): "Your human life wasn’t as ‘boring’ as you thought. Nor as insignificant."

Elara opens her mouth to argue, but stops. Rixnovem’s words strike a nerve she didn’t realize was so raw. Boring? Maybe her life was boring—but insignificant? No. Or maybe… she wonders. Her past mistakes bubble up, weighing her down. The words she’s been avoiding—I could have done more.

Elara (soft, almost to herself, her fear momentarily giving way to a darker thought):

"Wait — What happens... when I lose all nine lives?"

Rixnovem steps closer, towering over Elara's small feline form. His voice lowers, and for a moment, it feels as though the air around them stills, the world holding its breath.

Rixnovem (whispering, his tone enigmatic, almost like sharing a dangerous secret):

"You will find out... in time. But for now, the clock starts ticking. The first life awaits."

Elara feels a strange tug at her very essence, as though the world itself is shifting beneath her paws. The glow surrounding Rixnovem intensifies before he begins to dissolve into shimmering lights. The room darkens, the weight of his words hanging in the air like a challenge she never wanted.

Rixnovem (his voice lingering as he fades into the ether):

"Embrace this chance, Elara. Perhaps, in saving others, you will learn..."

Everything that Rixnovem told Elara after this point feels like a blur—his words, once sharp, now dissolve into the haze of her overwhelmed mind.

Silence falls once more. Elara stands alone in the surreal dreamscape, the weight of Rixnovem's words settling uncomfortably in her mind. She takes a deep breath, trying to make sense of it all. She’s a cat, with nine lives—and a mission she never asked for.

The world around her begins to shift again, pulling her back into the waking world, but the questions—Why me? Can I even do this?— How do I even begin? cling to her, refusing to let go.

Scene fades to black.

To be continued...