Zoe’s heart raced as she dodged the goblin’s swinging club, the forest around them alive with the cacophony of battle; here, in her internal world, she was amazing!
The dense foliage echoed with the growls and snarls of goblins, mingled with the shouts and cries of her three comrades. The moon hung high, its blue light filtering through the canopy, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor.
Rachel was a blur of motion beside her, her silver hair reflecting the moonlight as she swung her hammer with deadly precision, each blow resonating with a satisfying crunch of goblin bone. Scarlet was flitting between targets, blood dancing around her, the crystal sparkling amidst the lunar rays. And, a new addition to her nightly training was magical girl empowered Alexa!
“Watch out, Zoe!” Rachel shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. She pounded the skull of another goblin, her movements fluid and fierce. “Another pack coming in from the north. Alexa—”
“I’ve got it!” Alexa’s voice was strong and clear as she floated above the fray, her magical girl outfit shimmering with ethereal light. With a flourish of her wand, she sent blasts of energy into the advancing goblins, the air crackling with power. A gust of wind surged from her, creating a protective barrier that shimmered. “That should last five minutes!”
Zoe’s claws extended instinctively as she lunged at a goblin that had gotten too close, her feline reflexes saving her from a deadly blow. She’d seen it coming but wanted to see how worried Rachel would get.
She could feel the strain in her muscles, the burn of exertion—but she was keeping up. She could sense the rhythm of the fight, the push and pull of the battle. Every move was calculated, every strike precise. Her ears were up, tail weaving with her movements for balance, and she was as swift as Rachel! Only…this was Anthony’s first Quest Rachel, but Rachel nonetheless.
The forest itself seemed alive, branches swaying as if in response to the violence below. The scent of pine and earth filled her nostrils, mingling with the metallic tang of goblin blood. The ground beneath her feet was uneven, roots and fallen leaves making each step a calculated risk. She could hear the rustle of leaves and the distant howl of nocturnal creatures, all blending into the symphony of combat.
Rachel’s hammer swung in a wide arc, connecting with a goblin’s head and sending it sprawling to the ground. “Zoe, to your—”
“Wait! Stop. Stop. Stop…” Zoe groaned, a goblin’s blade inches from cutting off her tail.
The whole world froze, and she backed up, ear twitching while surveying the hundreds of goblins that lay around the clearing, a new company rolling in that Alexa was holding back. Alexa’s transformation was from a conversation they’d both had before bed.
Zoe’s agitated eyes darted to the hammer in Rachel’s hands, the blood flying around Scarlet, and the totally fictional Alexa flying overhead, flinging overpowered magic like she was Fiona. Spinning around, she let loose a low growl, spread out her arms, and plopped onto a mattress that appeared out of nowhere.
“Why am I buffing everyone with things they shouldn’t even have at this level? It’s cool…but it’s not helping me.”
She pulled up her data sheet and flipped through the screens, her nose creased as she said the same dull phrase over and over again. “Rank S…Grade One. Rank S…Grade One. I’m Level 9, and I don’t even have a single Grade Two Feat! I suck… Rachel was popping off and getting Grade advancements like crazy. I bet she has a Grade Three Feat at this point…and is a way higher level. I went on all of Anthony’s Quests with the girls…but I really didn’t do much.”
Feeling unfulfilled and as if she’d hit a hard cap, she rolled over on the mattress to flick back through the Feats, everyone still frozen around her.
“Know what I need? A freakin’ Schrödinger’s Cat Feat. I have all the info that Rachel has…well, granted, there may be some new stuff when she gets out, but… I need to do something to unlock an Achievement Feat…or is that only for Legendkin and Mythickin? C’mon, think! You do this every night, Zoe, so figure something out! You’re supposed to be a gamer… Nothing works, though.”
Nibbling on the inside of her cheek, she considered everything Rachel and the others told her. Most of them got their huge upgrades through high-stress situations. Although Rachel did get favoritism from a ton of gods and goddesses. Then again, she kind of put herself in the position to get that favor. A new thought popped into her head, sparking a big grin.
“What if…I tried to will a Feat into being? This internal world space responds to anything I try, so… Why not give it a shot?”
Wiping away the battle scene with the goblins, Zoe’s tail flicked nervously as she took a deep breath, knowing exactly what she wanted—one of the most OP abilities in all of fiction!
Summoning the memory of one of her physics professors, she listened to him give a super fun lecture that included someone having such a concept as a superpower. The middle-aged man’s voice was engaging and deep, drawing her back to her school days, daydreaming about living in an anime.
“Schrödinger’s cat is the theoretical concept of a quantum particle being both alive and dead, hidden and unhidden until it is observed. The idea that a feline might exist in a state of superposition, or a certain superhero who can be anywhere and everywhere unless observed is an interesting concept, is it not?”
Zoe’s ears twitched with excitement as the short scene came to a close. Sitting up on the mattress, she closed her eyes and focused, chanting softly, “I want [Schrödinger’s Cat] Feat… I want [Schrödinger’s Cat] Feat…”
She repeated the words like a mantra, willing the power into existence. Her heart raced as she concentrated, feeling the ambient energy of her internal world shifting and responding to her desire. It was working! She could feel it! Or…it could be her stomach; she’d had an upset stomach lately when she allowed her mind to wander back to her MIA family members.
A strange sensation washed over her, like the pulse of the universe gently brushing against her consciousness. And then, the chime of a bell rang across an endless expanse. She opened her eyes, expecting to see some sort of change, but…there was nothing. She sighed in frustration and slumped back onto the mattress.
“Well, that didn’t work,” she muttered, her ears flicking irritably. She paused, her tail curling around her, and considered a different approach. “Okay, ‘manifest your destiny’ didn’t work. If I can’t just make the Feat appear… Maybe I can ask for a way to get it. Or a mentor to teach me. Or…anything—just anything at this point.”
Closing her eyes again, Zoe took a deep breath. “Give me a way to obtain the [Schrödinger’s Cat] Feat. I want something to help me keep up and not get left behind by everyone! Give me a sensei. Give me anything that can help me achieve it,” she fervently whispered. “Anything…”
She heard another soft chime, like the tinkling of a bell, and her eyes snapped open. Sitting in front of her was a Chinese elementary girl with ink-black locks curling under her jaw and large, greenish-yellow eyes. She wore a short, red summer cheongsam with golden bow-ties sewn around the edges, her twin, crimson-tipped tails flicking with curiosity.
“Eh! It worked?” Zoe gasped, matching the Chinese kid’s tilted-eared stare. The girl looked around Zoe’s inner world, a mixture of intrigue and slight confusion on her face. “Uh. Hi!”
“Nilly doesn’t know how Nilly got here,” the girl said, her voice high-pitched and playful. She blinked at Zoe, her feline eyes narrowing. “This isn’t Nilly’s space. Nilly’s been on the swirly doom spinner ride but Nilly hasn’t been on it yet.”
A lightbulb clicked on in the girl’s expression. “Ooh. Fox friend’s special path! Yes. Yes. Nilly sees. Nilly sees. Auntie Rose. Nilly heard ripply space dreams of a kitty. Did little Kitty-Cat call Nilly for help? Nilly’s strong, you know!” she winked, Zoe trying to keep up. “Nilly’s a sneaky-sneaky kitty. Mom of the Kittens is Nilly; just call Nilly, Mommy Nilly! Nilly can help because Zoe is a scared little kitty, and Nilly is the big mama kitty!”
Zoe’s heart pounded, her throat going dry as she leaned to the side to spot the girls swaying split tails—she knew what this creature was. “You’re…Nilly? You’re a Nekomata?” she stammered, unable to believe her eyes. “Are you real? Am I just imagining this and summoned you out of nowhere to make me feel better?”
Nilly tilted her head, her ears twitching. “Nilly isn’t a Nekomata. Nilly’s never been here. Nilly’s always been here. Nilly is Nilly! Why is Kitty-Cat surprised? Nilly is super strong! Nilly can see everything. Nilly knows all the things,” she proudly proclaimed.
“Okay,” she mumbled, matching her energy. “And where did Nilly come from?”
“The big ocean battle of spinning doom! Nilly needs to gobble up the sardinia armada so Nilly doesn’t go poof. So Nilly knows of Scarlet’s little playtime with scary-ma-things. Eh—Eldritch-a-ma-bobs? Mhm! Mhm! Nilly knows! Nilly knows,” she repeated, leaning in way too close to look at her. “Zoe wants Nilly’s help?”
Zoe’s mind raced, trying to process the unexpected appearance of this mysterious cat-girl. “So Nilly’s like…a cat goddess?”
Nilly snorted, body shaking as she fell back and rolled around the mattress. “Nilly isn’t a little tiny kitty cat! Nilly is the biggest kitty cat! Funny little kitten. Funny, funny!”
“Right. Uh, I…I was trying to get a new Feat. Something really powerful called, eh, Schrödinger’s Cat. Have you…heard of it, Cat Mom? I thought maybe I could, I don’t know…create it or find someone to teach me how to get it. Do…you know how I can get stronger?”
Nilly’s eyes widened, her lips curving into a mischievous grin. “Oh! Nilly likes that. Little Seed kitten wants a special power! Seed Kitten wants Nilly’s powers like Karma has lots and lots of fun other powers. Nilly can help, maybe…”
She jumped up and Zoe’s mind blanked as she looked around, seeing Rachel in some fancy blood library, pouring over some papers before tossing them into the fire.
“Where…are we? I’ve never been anywhere like this. Is this…live?! Is that really Rachel?!”
Nilly’s big eyes narrowed with a secretive smile. “Nilly is very good at finding things and teaching things and getting to places Nilly shouldn’t go. Nilly is the best! Everyone knows Nilly.”
Zoe swallowed nervously, feeling a mixture of hope and apprehension. “You can help me? Really?”
“Nilly can do anything!” the girl declared, puffing up her chest.
She skipped over to Rachel to start looking at her from every angle. Every time Zoe blinked, she was in a new position, sometimes around the library looking at books, and sometimes sleeping on the couch, her movements fluid and graceful.
“Ooh! Nilly sees lots of Seeds. Greater Seeds, Hidden Seeds, Little Seeds, Secret Seeds… Little Seedling Kitten wants to be a helpful kitty. Nilly knows many secrets. Nilly can give Kitty-Cat some of Nilly’s power. Nilly can change Little Seed into Founder Kitty Seed. But first…”
The Chinese cat girl vanished with the rest of the library. They were now in the center of the white base platform of her inner world, and the Nekomata’s lips peeled back to show monstrous fangs, her wide, frightening eyes locked on her. With each word, the girl aged, new earring loops appearing with each increase in age before she stood right in front of her, now the same age as her.
“Nilly needs to know… Why does Zoe really want this power? Nilly wants to know.”
Zoe hesitated before the terrifying girl’s close face. Do I really want to do this? Rachel’s made deals with devils and Hell Lords… Okay, that’s a horrible example! I just…
“I want to be stronger,” she finally said. “I want to help my friends and protect them. And…and I want to prove to myself that I can be just as powerful as Rachel and the others. I don’t want to be left behind…to be forgotten.”
Nilly’s expression softened slightly, and she nodded, her tails weaving in the air behind her. “Kitty-Cat has a good heart. Nilly likes that. Nilly doesn’t want to be forgotten, either. Nilly will help. But Kitty-Cat must listen and learn. Nilly’s lessons are not easy… Nilly is a scary, petty, and evil kitty… Nilly is a mean, mean kitty mom to those who hurt Nilly and Nilly’s kittens. Can Zoe be like Nilly? Can Zoe eat everything like Nilly?”
Zoe gulped as the cat leaned forward, centimeters between them, locked inside the cat’s swirling, manic eyes. Zoe gulped, finding it hard to breathe, but she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Finally, someone was taking an interest in her… She had someone who could help her.
“If someone hurts my friend…I’ll do whatever is necessary.”
Zoe didn’t even blink, and Nilly was a meter away, a middle school girl now. She clapped her hands, her face lighting up with excitement. “Good! Nilly likes her newest kitty friend’s spirit. Cat moms take care of their kittens! Nilly will change her new kitten’s Little Seed. Welcome to the Cat Family!”
Zoe couldn’t react as Nilly was abruptly in front of her, a finger flicking against her forehead; now, she was a mature, gorgeous woman, showing a mischievous smirk.
“You’ll forget about me, but I’ll be around… New kittens are the most adorable things. Welcome my Cat Family, little one.”
Zoe felt a tugging sensation, a strange pulling that disrupted her focus. Nilly’s adult face blurred and faded. She blinked, confusion washing over her as the vivid, terrifying encounter dissolved.
She opened her eyes to find herself in a cozy guest room, the early morning light filtering through the curtains. A strange bell sound lingered in the air before a concerned man’s face loomed above her.
“You aren’t—hey, hey!”
“What are you doing in my room?!”
Claws extending and a hiss rumbling in her throat, she leaped back with feline grace, ready for a fight before realizing it was one of the marines that were stationed to guard them. He held up his hands in defense, backing away to give her room.
“I apologize for entering without permission, but you weren’t responding to my knocks, and I’m not sure what shit to expect with any hostiles, considering the report I was given.”
Zoe’s cheeks turned pink, realizing it was likely her [Catlike Nature] Feat that had alerted her to his shakes, despite being in her inner world that generally blocked out all outside activity. They darkened further upon realizing she was in a sports bra and silky sleeping shorts.
“No, it’s okay, uh… Why did you need me?” she tentatively asked, cat ears twitching. She snatched her discarded t-shirt on a sitting chair to throw on as the soldier turned away respectfully. “Did something happen?”
The tall marine man responded with a serious expression, acting as professionally as most of the military men that she’d recently encountered. “Captain Barbara has an urgent message for you and you weren’t picking up, so I was sent to see if there was an issue.”
“Right… Sorry about that,” she mumbled, her tail stiff and heartbeat still thumping.
“Is everything alright, sweetie?”
Molly appeared in the doorway as Zoe shuffled past him to get to her phone on the nightstand; her husband was close behind her. Message delivered, the soldier promptly turned, nodded to Molly, and left to return outside to his station.
“Just relaying a message, Ma’am. I apologize for the early morning intrusion.”
Zoe showed a strained smile after snatching up the device. Rachel’s parents lingered in the doorway, looking to her for answers; she heard others in the house rising for the morning.
“Thanks for inviting me to stay with you since I don’t really have anywhere to go, Mr. and Mrs. Park. I was just in my internal world and…had a hard time waking up. Captain Barbara needed to get a hold of me, I guess.”
Molly’s brown eyes lit up as she stepped inside. “Is it about your parents? Did her friend get in touch with them?”
Zoe shrugged, feeling a little hopeful herself. “Probably. I can’t see any other reason why she’d want to get in touch with someone like me. Is…Jeanne still here?” she whispered, opening the blinds to look at the fancy back pool area, reminding her how Rachel’s parents were fairly wealthy business owners.
Sam crossed his arms and joined his wife, following her gaze through the window. “She went to sleep three hours ago, when I woke up to take a few business calls. She went to sleep on the deck since she’s guarding the back. You should be able to see her banner…there, shielding that half of the house from anyone entering.”
“That’s comforting,” Zoe gulped, ears peeling back further and tail drooping at how much less useful she was than the legendary Frenchwoman. “Thanks for worrying about me and taking care of me… I feel like I’m not really helping at all. No, forget I said anything!” she quickly pivoted upon seeing the worry that touched the pair’s eyes. “Is, eh, Felix awake?”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Molly pulled her into a tight hug that made Zoe want to cry; she wanted to feel her mom’s hug more than anything. “We’d expect another family to do no less if Rachel was in your position, Zoe, and you’ve been a wonderful support to Alexa. You two have so much in common. And no, Felix is still asleep; he tried to stay up another night in case his sister called.”
Sam’s gentle smile caught her attention as he nodded and pulled back a little to give them space. “You’ve got sharp ears and instincts, as well, Zoe. Jeanne told me yesterday that you’re stronger than the average Beastkin she’s met. Have a little faith in yourself. Rachel chose you out of everyone else in your college to support her, and my daughter doesn’t select just anyone to help her.”
“True,” Zoe whispered, thinking back on the time she’d spent with Rachel just after The Oscillation. “Domestic Cats do have some interesting things in mythology and folklore and stuff, so…who knows. Anyway! Thanks for cheering me up,” she grinned, feeling a bit better.
“Of course,” the dark-haired Korean mother returned, squeezing her hand. “I think now is a good time to start cooking everyone’s breakfast, including the marines that are defending us! Plus, I think we have some new neighbors moving in,” she mumbled with a slight frown, looking at the wall. “The Graysons did seem uncomfortable learning about Rachel’s involvement in the Miami incident and her working with the government.”
Sam rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Vince was always on some anti-government shit. Honestly, I’m glad they’ve moved. It will make the local discussions lean less toward conspiracy theories. He probably believes that ridiculous talk about those who changed being aliens.”
“Maybe our girl is an alien,” Molly chimed with a wink that made her husband laugh. “I’ve never seen our girl so flustered as when I play with her tail or ears. Our girl has a new weakness I can exploit!”
Zoe couldn’t help a smile, waving the two parents off. They were so different from Rachel; sure, they were busy-bodies, like, super active, but they were also very kind and supportive. Molly was pretty overprotective, though, and Zoe noticed she’d always be worrying about someone close by—she was a mother, through and through.
Now alone, Zoe swiped at the phone screen, groaning as she saw several missed calls and voicemails. She hovered over the voicemail option before her nervous stomach got the better of her and she shivered. Trying to work herself up to it, she quickly pulled on a hoodie to cover her pajamas, threw up the hood, and slipped on some jogging shorts with a slit cut for her tail.
Zoe stretched again, her throat dry and body still tingling from the dream. She could hear the faint sounds of Molly and her husband talking in Korean while the woman worked the kitchen downstairs, their voices comforting in the early morning quiet. The soft hum of a moving truck and distant chatter told her that some neighbors were moving in next door.
I want to call back… I want to know, but…but if they haven’t called me in over a month, then… I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t anyone in my family call?
Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten much last night. She headed out of the guest room and into the large upstairs hallway. On her way downstairs, she looked at the expansive grand-front gathering area, leading out to the party area in the spacious back. The house really was massive, with at least 6,600 square feet of ocean-side property.
It didn’t feel real staying at the extravagant house and neighborhood. Cocoa Beach was unreal. Her ears twitched at the various sounds of the house waking up. As she reached the bottom step, she could see Molly bustling around the kitchen, her husband sipping coffee at the table.
“Morning, Zoe!” Molly called cheerfully. “Any news?”
“No, I’m going to go on a walk and call her,” Zoe replied with a questioning look. “Do you think that’s okay?”
Molly’s eyes softened at her raspy throat. “Just make sure to have one of the marines outside follow you. I hope it’s good news. Let me know if you need anything. Anything at all. Okay?”
Zoe silently nodded to not let the emotions get the better of her, and she slipped out of the roomy kitchen space and house. Motioning for one of the marines stationed around the front driveway, she let them know she was going on a walk.
She took a deep breath, letting her heart steady now that she was alone, and pressed the redial option for Captain Barbara. One arm holding her stomach, she waited for her to pick up. As the phone rang, she looked at the big moving trucks next door, a sense of anticipation and hope mingling with the remnants of her nonsensical dream.
Everything can be fine! There were a lot of troubles and craziness that happened after The Oscillation. All my friends are basically MIA, off with their own family, and some of them couldn’t get in contact with them for like two weeks… It’s not impossible. Just…weird no one in my family is picking up.
When Captain Barbara’s voice finally came through the line, Zoe’s heart skipped a beat. “Captain Barbara? It’s Zoe. Umm. You called?”
“Yes, Zoe,” the Legend paused, seemingly holding her phone against her chest while responding to another soldier. “Right. Hmm. I wanted to update you on a few things. Are you alone?”
Pain erupted in Zoe’s chest, her retracted fingernails pressing into her tight belly as she forced a laugh. “That’s not…something a girl wants to hear. I’m guessing there were some…issues involving my family.”
She glanced around, trying to prepare herself and fight back tears from falling. “I’m out on a walk alone—well, there’s the marine soldier following me, but yeah. I’m alone.”
Barbara’s voice was soft and filled with a heavy note. “I’d rather you be around someone, if I’m being honest. Can you return to the house and have Molly, Alexa, or Felix sit with you?”
Slowing to a stop, Zoe found it hard to unlock her jaw, feeling as if a giant rubber band was looping around her chest. “...Ahem, yeah. Yeah, sure. I can do that… Just give me a second.”
She couldn’t stop a few tears falling down her cheeks on what felt like an endless journey back to the house, her feet dragging and ears low. “Everyone was going to a big family gathering… I guess… No, just give me a second.”
“Of course.”
Zoe’s fingers trembled as she fumbled to unlock the front door, her breath coming in shaky gasps. The marine soldier gave her a concerned glance but maintained a respectful distance. She forced herself to take a steadying breath, trying to regain some semblance of composure as she stepped inside.
“Molly, Sam,” Zoe called, her voice cracking. “Can you come here for a second?”
Molly appeared almost immediately, wiping her hands on a dish towel, her brow furrowed. “What is it, sweetie?”
“Captain Barbara wants to tell me something important. She…she asked me to have someone with me,” Zoe whispered, her voice barely holding it together.
Understanding dawned in Molly’s eyes, and she quickly wrapped her in a comforting embrace. “Of course, sweetheart. We’re right here. Sam, come on.”
Sam joined them, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder as they guided her to the front room chairs. They sat down together on the plush couch, with Molly on one side and Sam on the other, both offering silent support.
Zoe put the phone on speaker, body quaking now. “Okay, Captain Barbara. I’m… Ahem. I’m with Molly and Sam now.”
Barbara’s voice was gentle but firm as Alexa came down the stairs, not having any clue about what was happening. “Thank you, Zoe. I wanted to update you on your family. There was a tragic incident involving a gas leak at your house… I’m so sorry, Zoe. There were no survivors.”
Zoe’s heart stopped, the words not fully registering. “What… A gas leak? No, that can’t be right. There must be some mistake. My whole family was at that gathering.”
Molly tightened her grip on Zoe’s hand, tears welling in her own eyes. Sam’s jaw clenched, his face reflecting the same disbelief and sorrow.
“I’m so sorry, Zoe,” Barbara continued, her tone heavy. “We’ve been investigating it for the past two weeks. There doesn’t appear to be any foul play, as crazy as that seems, but we can’t rule anything out completely. It’s just…there’s no sign of anything other than a tragic accident. I wanted to give you more…but I can’t.”
Tears streamed down Zoe’s cheeks, her body shaking with sobs. “How…how can my entire family be gone? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Molly pulled Zoe closer, her own tears falling as she stroked her hair and Alexa looked like she’d been punched in the gut. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. We’re here for you. We’ll get through this together.”
Barbara’s voice remained steady, though it was clear she was deeply affected by the news she had to deliver. “I know this is incredibly hard, Zoe. If there’s anything we can do to help, please let us know. We’re here for you, as well. Rachel should be back later tonight, if everything works out, but I doubt she’ll be able to stop by the house with her busy schedule.”
Zoe could barely speak through her tears, her world collapsing around her. “I…I don’t know what to do. They were everything—my whole family… How?”
Sam squeezed her shoulder gently. “We’ll figure it out, Zoe. You’re not alone in this. Rachel brought you into our lives, and we’ll be here for you as long as you need us.”
The weight of the loss was crushing, the pain unbearable, and the reality almost too much to comprehend. Zoe's mind spun in a dizzying spiral of disbelief and sorrow. She stared at the phone, still processing Barbara’s words.
“How can everyone be gone? How could it be true?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “All of them… My cousins, my aunts, and uncles… Not one of them survived?”
Molly tightened her embrace, her tears mingling with Zoe’s. “I don’t know, sweetie. It’s unimaginable. We’ll help you get through this, one step at a time.”
Zoe’s head pounded, yet her grief was mingled with anger and a desperate need for answers gnawing at her insides. As the reality of the situation settled in, a soft, familiar chime echoed in her mind, almost drowned out by her racing thoughts. Her ears twitched, picking up the faint sound of a bell.
Turning her head, she blinked in surprise as she spotted a small, red-tipped, two-tailed cat sitting calmly on the sofa across the room. It watched her with large, greenish-yellow eyes, its expression unreadable.
“Discover the truth. Go there and peer through time. After all…you were there. You were everywhere.”
Zoe’s breath hitched, and she wiped her eyes, unsure if she was hallucinating from the stress. Before she could react, the cat vanished into thin air, leaving only a lingering sense of her presence.
A sudden, fierce hunger for the truth gripped her. The cat’s presence stirred something within her. She couldn’t accept that it was just a tragic accident.
[Seed Evolution In Progress]
[Domestic Cat Founder]
[Achievement Feat Unlocked]
[Adjacent Kit of Nilly X]
[Hunger of the Nekomata X]
[Schrödinger’s Cat I]
[Feats Locked for 48 Hours While Seed Adapts]
“I need to know what really happened,” Zoe said, her voice stronger than before. “I can’t just…accept it like this. I need to go to my parents’ house and find out the truth.”
Sam and Molly exchanged worried glances, but Sam nodded. “We’ll help you, Zoe. Whatever it takes. We’ll join you when Rachel comes back. Give yourself time to process.”
Alexa, who had been standing silently by, stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug from the opposite side. “We’ll get through this together… Zoe, your tail?”
Zoe gave a start, glancing back to see her tail had split, now showing red tips. It didn’t remain long on her thoughts, though. Even her locked Feats rang hollow to her at this moment. She had a feeling something was off, now more than ever. She didn’t know how to react. Was there a right way to react?
----------------------------------------
Molly sighed, glancing at the clock on the wall as the sun faded beyond the horizon. It had been a long, painful day for everyone, especially Zoe. The young girl had spent most of it in tears, supported by Alexa and Felix, who did their best to comfort her. Molly had barely left her side, offering whatever solace she could, but there was nothing that could replace the hole in her heart—she knew that all too well.
Despite all I know…everything I must allow to happen, there are somehow still unknowns that creep into our lives. I’ve tried so hard to mitigate the fallout, yet things are progressing as if I’d done nothing at all… It’s futile. Isn’t that what you said, Mother?
The radio clipped to Molly’s belt buzzed, drawing her attention. She picked it up and listened to the marine sergeant stationed outside. “Mrs. and Mr. Park, the new neighbors have arrived. They’d like to meet you; I’d say they may be worried about the military presence in the neighborhood, but they do have food. I’d be cautious. Should I send them away?”
Molly glanced at Sam, who had just entered the room. She was a little blown away that they now had to look out for poison from the neighbors. “Should we?”
His eyes mirrored her exhaustion and concern, but he gave a nod. “Hmm. Let’s go meet them. It might be good to have a brief distraction and meet whoever is living next door. Hopefully, they won’t be a conspiracy nut like the last one.”
She walked over to Zoe, gently touching her shoulder. “Sweetie, Alexa and Felix are here with you. Sam and I are going to step outside for a bit to meet the new neighbors. We won’t be long, okay?”
Zoe nodded, her eyes red and puffy. “Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Park. It’s… I’m really thankful to…to—”
“It’s okay. It’s okay.”
Molly gave her a reassuring smile before heading to the door with Sam. Nam and Jeanne, who had been a comforting presence throughout the day, joined them.
As they stepped outside, the cool night air was a welcome change from the stuffy, tear-filled house, no matter its size. Molly took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the day’s events still heavy on her shoulders. Sam placed a comforting hand on her back as they walked toward the gate, Nam and Jeanne behind them, talking lowly.
They walked toward the gate, where a young Filipino woman and what looked to be her seventeen-year-old sister stood, holding trays of food. The older woman stepped forward with a warm smile, speaking with a slight accent.
“Hello, we’re so sorry to intrude so late, but it took a while to get everything moved inside and situated. We’re the new neighbors!”
Molly returned the smile, feeling a bit of the day’s weight lift. “Thank you so much for coming over to introduce yourself. It’s been a tough day, and this is very thoughtful of you. I’m Molly, and this is my husband, Sam. Nam is my oldest, and Jeanne is a friend staying with us.”
Each of them gave a nod or short greeting once named.
The older sister nodded, her smile unwavering. “I’m Carmelita, and this is my little sister, Bernila. We just moved in next door; the price on the house was too good to pass up, and the sale went through so fast! We were…kind of nervous. And then all of the military stuff,” she mumbled, gulping and looking back at the host of vehicles. “We didn’t mean to intrude, but we wanted to introduce ourselves.”
The pair handed over the trays, filled with a variety of Filipino dishes. Molly’s heart warmed at their kindness, but knew they shouldn’t eat it. If Jeanne was present, then she didn’t feel all that worried about the pair attacking them, and the blonde showed a beaming smile.
“Thank you, really. It means a lot. Are you living with your parents or do they live overseas?” she asked, glancing at the large mansion next door before returning to the two young sisters. “Would you like to come inside for a bit to chat?”
Carmelita shook her head gently. “We don’t want to impose, especially on such a difficult day—oh, sorry.”
“Excuse me?” Molly whispered.
The older sister stressed a smile and took a step back, rubbing her elbow as Bernila gave her a small frown and responded.
“We shouldn’t hide it, Carmelita. You got powers from The Oscillation to see things from far away and you saw them talking about some rough stuff.”
“Bernila! That’s… Now we look suspicious,” she groaned. “I wasn’t trying to intrude… I was just really concerned with all the military stuff. I apologize!” she said, swiftly bowing her head, her twin braids nearly touching the ground.
Molly felt a shiver at the admission; having nosy neighbors certainly wasn’t a plus, given the situation. Knowing her husband, she jumped in before his temper got the better of him for intruding on their lives. Molly gave Carmelita a warm, yet firm smile.
“That is…troubling to hear, but I can understand your situation and our own daughter tends to have some big ears. I get your concern, Carmelita, and I appreciate your sister’s honesty and willingness to admit to intruding. But please, in the future, respect our privacy. I’m sure you can understand how sensitive things are right now.”
“Of course! I’m sorry for such a bad first impression. It’s just…difficult for people to trust those who have changed. I’m glad you’re not one of those people with prejudices…like our last neighbors.”
Sam’s brow furrowed as he glanced around at the armed men, ready to take action at a moment’s notice. “It’s been a rough day for all of us. The military is here to ensure our safety. Our daughter works closely with them, so please don’t feel threatened by their presence. It’s for the safety of everyone in the neighborhood.”
Bernila shuffled her feet, glancing at her sister before speaking up. “It’s just…with everything that’s been happening, we’ve been really on edge. We saw some shady people lurking down a few streets earlier.”
Carmelita nodded. “I’m really worried about my little sister’s safety, and I’ve been trying to scope out the area to see if, well, if everyone is okay with changed people. Do you…do you have anyone in the water scuba diving by chance?”
Molly’s eyes widened slightly at the mention of shady people and scuba divers. Before she could respond, Jeanne stepped forward, her expression turning from bright as the sun to the scene from a blood-soaked battleground.
“We don’t have anyone in the water. That’s definitely a cause for concern. You both should get inside your house and lock up. Molly, I think it’s best if you gather everyone and head to the panic room until we can do a thorough sweep of the area.”
Carmelita’s face went pale, and she quickly nodded. “Thank you for understanding. We’ll go inside right away. The place has a pretty thick panic room, too. Can you tell us when everything is clear? Uh…here’s our number—is that alright to get right now?” she asked with slight panic.
Molly tapped the woman’s phone with her own to trade contact information, turning to the blonde, her expression troubled. “Jeanne, do you really think it’s necessary? It isn’t uncommon for people to swim in the ocean.”
Jeanne’s eyes were hard and focused. “Yes, I do. With the information they’ve given us, we can’t take any chances, especially with what is happening around Rachel right now. Let’s move quickly.”
Molly nodded, turning to Sam. “That makes sense. Let’s get Alexa and the kids into the panic room. Nam, can you help?”
Nam nodded, his expression tense. “Of course, Mom.”
They swiftly headed back inside, the sense of urgency clear, yet something didn’t feel right to Molly. This isn’t supposed to happen…
Molly found Zoe still sitting with Alexa and Felix, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She knelt down beside her, gently touching her arm.
“Zoe, sweetie, we need to go to the panic room for a little while. Jeanne and Nam will help us get there. It’s just a precaution, okay?”
Zoe nodded, her voice small and shaky. “Okay. What’s going on?”
The tension in the air was palpable as Molly and Sam led the way towards the panic room. Zoe clung to Alexa’s hand, her mind still reeling from the devastating news about her family. Nam walked ahead of them, his eyes scanning every corner, ready to create his energy constructs at a moment’s notice.
Jeanne moved through the open back balcony, her eyes fixed on the docks. “They somehow slipped past my barrier—I can tell they’re strong,” she muttered, her voice barely audible. “Nam, protect everyone. I’ll handle the rest out back.” With that, she leaped from the balcony, her lithe form disappearing below.
The sudden sound of gunfire echoed through the neighborhood, causing everyone to flinch and pause as the radio sounded.
“Armed men in civilian vehicles engaged—tires blown out. They appear to be gang members, possibly affiliated with the Miami gangs… They’re surrendering without a fight. Keep an eye on the roofs and nearby buildings. Move to support Jeanne…”
A surge of blinding light and clash of metal came from below, the Legend engaging what seemed to be several opponents.
Nam’s jaw tightened as he focused on forming his constructs, the orange energy-like men taking shape around them. “We need to move fast, Dad,” he urged, his voice steady despite the chaos outside, but she knew he must be struggling after the incident at the police station when he’d first gained a seed.
Molly’s hand quaked in her husband’s. Fate has made a serious move somewhere that countered Rachel’s misfortune. It’s the only answer. There’s something bigger happening in the background if she’s involved.
As they hurried down the hallway, Molly’s heart pounded in her chest. She kept a protective arm around Zoe, who was visibly trembling. Nam kept close to his pale-faced wife. “Stay close, everyone,” she whispered, trying to keep her voice calm. “Everything will be okay.”
They reached the entrance to the panic room, and Nam positioned his constructs at strategic points to guard them. Molly took a deep breath, relieved that they had almost made it to safety. But just as they were about to enter, her heart stopped.
From the corner of her eye, she saw a shadowy figure phase through the wall, dressed in black, blending into the dim light. Her breath caught in her throat as the ninja-like assassin hurled a green-illuminated projectile—it was aimed straight at her.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Molly’s mind screamed for her to move, but her body felt paralyzed—this had never happened in the past. Why couldn’t she move? It wasn’t any normal Feat. No, this had to be Divine influence.
She was stronger than this! She’d trained for this… Yet, she could only watch in horror as the deadly projectile hurtled towards her. Nam, reacting with lightning speed, moved into the path of the projectile, his constructs rushing to form a protective barrier.
The green projectile struck Nam's construct, shattering it into shards of energy before going right for her son’s throat.
“Nam!” she screamed with Alexa.
A radiance of white light erupted from beside Nam, feathers filling the hallway, and her son stumbled to the side, dragging Molly to the floor. A faint golden light radiated in the hallway, yet Molly’s gaze was fixated on the green-edged throwing star, frozen in space as if locked in time.
The black-dressed man was already in front of Molly, fractions away from sinking a knife into her skull. A frenzied energy seemed to lock everyone in place, saving her. Did Alexa have wings? A low hiss rattled the air, and Molly could see the assassin’s brown eyes widen in horror as a small girl with a split, emerald-flaming tail somehow instantly appeared between them—Zoe.