Missing Cat

The town was far from popular, less than a thousand people lived there. It was discreet, hidden along large patches of trees with homes tucked into the forests. Since it was small it was peaceful but because it was small word spread quick.

When the hiker went missing no one could have guessed what had happened to him but it wasn't too shocking the weird group of outcasts had something to do with it.

The leader was an older man in his 30s but had hair as white as it could be. Something about him was mesmerizing like he was the flame that attracted the moths. Jacob remembered when he first met him he simply just thought this man was beautiful, like an angel, maybe that's why he was so drawn to the teachings of the group. He wasn't sure now what had made him partake in the sanctimonious spectacle of devouring parts of a corpse but he remembered the taste and it made his stomach vile.

Now that the young man had returned home, everyone in town knew. That disgusting youngest of the group had been released back into the wild and no one wanted anything to do with him or really his family for that matter so Jacob was surprised when bringing the trash bins from the curb he spotted the elderly neighbor women wave at him along with a new face that slowly was approaching from across the road in the sea of trees.

They waved as they obviously were also picking up their bins. This person was a young man as well, someone at least 16 that Jacob had never seen before. He timidly waved back before quickly shuffling back up the long drive way.

His neighbor, the elderly women lived across the street, though her house wasn't buried as deeply in the trees as his home was and could be seen from the road it was still rather secluded. Jacob remember this women from his childhood, Mrs. Gutierrez.

Jacob thought about her as he drug the bins back up to the house where he was met by his sister who stood on the pouch dawned again in that large coat.

"Did you met Eddie?" She asked.

"Yeah," he pushes the bins to their respective spots, "I think?"

"He's her nephew, he's from Florida here to visit but he leaves today I think."

Jacob didn't care too much about this information as he reaches the porch, "I didn't know she had family."

"She has a cat too," Maggie answered quickly, "but he's been missing."

Ah. Just like that hiker Jacob thought. He hates that was what he thought and soon the gloomy mood was returning. "That's a shame." He spoke as he returned back into the house to leave Maggie alone.

--

Maggie spend a lot of time alone outside Jacob noticed. It had been about a week since he returned home and as all the members of his family came and went it was often only them at the home alone before Maggie would disappear for hours on end. Jacob assumed it was because why would she want to spend any time with him, with the cannibal but oddly enough every moment she got she spoke to him kindly. Girls were simply too weird was all he could accompany it too.

One day thought Jacobs mother convinced him to go to the liquor store with her. He assumed that not many people would be there and so it would be okay. Much to his surprises though as they entered again he was greeted with that familiar smile of the elderly neighbor he saw the week before.

"Jacob Heeler," she spoke softly "it's been ages."

"Hi Mrs. Gutierrez.." he said back nervously before his mother spoke up.

"Helen! Good to see you!" She was always a people person and spoke so lively but now Jacob really notices as she placed her hand on his shoulder as if to steer him away.

The older women's expression changed slightly and her tone changed, "Your daughter hasn't returned Oliver yet."

Quickly Jacob felt his mother push his back as if to shove him back out the store, "I told you your cat just ran away Helen. Maggie didn't take him."

"Yes she did! I saw her!" The old women's voice got louder and Jacob felt his heart tighten. This was the reacting he was expecting but never had he thought it wouldn't be focused towards him.

This Jacob quickly found himself walking directly out the store, hiding back in the car as his mother finished up.

When she returned to the car she looked frustrated and sighed heavily closing the door behind her, "That old women is crazy."

"What was she talking about?"

"She's just senile," his mother scoffed "her damn cats missing and she thinks Maggie took the stupid thing."

His mother always started to cuss when unset and it riled him up a bit but he did think for a moment but then spoke without thinking, "What does Maggie do outside all the time?"

His mother was caught off guard, "You don't know? Remember that treehouse your Dad built you guys? That's where she goes," she then paused and made a face "You don't honestly think she did anything to that cat do you?"

"No, no, of course not!" Jacob muttered back, surely he had no room to accuse anyone of any wrong doing.

"That stupid cats just missing." His mom spoke again before driving off.