Lying in bed around nine in the evening with one of my favourite novels(Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts) I sighed in contentment. What a perfect evening! I had come back early from work, cooked myself an amazing chicken and rice dinner(nobody around to challenge that!) gorged on a giant slice of chocolate cake that I baked from scratch(diet shiet, who cares… months to go before annual medicals), managed to catch Desperate Housewives on TV and now lay back with my book, finding all at peace in the world. Comforted by the familiar sounds of the TV and Dr Bhalla’s dry voice from across the paper thin walls, I turned another page.

Lost in the world of blood thirsty vampires and handsome knights, I didn’t hear the creak at first. When it came again, I assumed it was the good doctor opening his creaky cupboard. Unperturbed, I kept reading, one ear cocked unconsciously for the sound of it closing. The noise came again, but this time it was a definite scratching and it seemed to come from overhead. Puzzled and okay, I admit a little freaked out, I tried to figure out what the noise was. My eyes unconsciously went to the chimney outlet directly over my feet(cut into the false ceiling for the bukhari, or heater), widening as I registered two gleaming eyes staring out of the hole directly at me. Flicker of unease turned into full blown panic as I squinted, trying my best to get a better look. Half blind without my glasses, I gave up and looked frantically around for a weapon, not even realising that I had jumped out of bed. An ugly black head poked its head into the room, those horrible silver eyes never leaving my face, never blinking. By then I had found and put on my glasses. My brain witheringly told me that I was looking at the stupid black cat that prowled the rafters in search of mice and had probably poked its head into the room to say hello. But too far gone by then, I let out a battle cry(could also be called a shriek of fear, but the cat didn’t have to know that) I let loose my first missile. The slipper bounced harmlessly off the ceiling and squaring my shoulders, I threw the next one, which found its mark. The demon cat reluctantly withdrew, its eyes telling me that the encounter was far from over and it would be back…soon.

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