Page 7 of Devil's Crossroad

“It’s very nice to meet you, Zara. Are these beautiful cats yours? They like you for sure.” I reach out to pet the closest cat and she hisses at me but then lets me pet her, but then she runs behind Zara.

“I am their human. Cats don’t have owners. They claim the human they will stay with, and if I care for each of them as I should, they will never leave me. I am their human of choice.” Zara’s eyes have a faraway look. “Have you seen another black cat? I have one missing. I need to find her before we leave today.” That has a question popping into my head.

“Do your cats need to stay inside with you tonight so they will be safe?” The woman looks at me as if I am the crazy one.

“You can’t contain a cat. Cats are natural prowlers, and their souls belong to the night. I need to feed them before they have their night out. My sister will bring fresh tuna for them. We buy it from local fishermen. It’s the only thing that is good enough for the cats.” I bring my phone out, and I am about to text Kylar, but I hear his bike coming from up the road. At about that time, Zelda comes out the front door of the grocery store.

“I see you have met the stranger staying in the cabins tonight.” They both look at me.

“She has kind eyes. I think she will be fine.” She is looking at her sister; then her eyes swing to me. “Stay inside tonight to make sure.” Both ladies pick up a bag and start to leave, then Kylar parks, and they watch us. I walk up to Kylar and he has a cat inside his jacket. Another black cat. Is it weird that I have only seen black cats in this town? These people are getting to me. I am overthinking everything.

“Why do you have a cat with you?” I ask Kylar.

“She ran out in front of my bike, and I had to swerve to miss her. I stopped and filled up with fuel at the gas station, and she followed me. John, the owner of the gas station, did not like her at all, and just let me tell you, the guy was creepy. He grabbed the shotgun to go after this little lady, and I decided the safest place for the cat was with us. I wouldn’t want to hurt the man for being cruel to this beautiful little lady.” Kylar dismounts his bike and puts the cat on the ground. The cat runs straight to Zara and Zelda and Zara’s cats.

“Thank you, Devil, for taking care of Sarina. She is back where she belongs.” Kylar and I both look at each other.

“Do I know you?” Kylar asks Zara.

“No, we have never met. I know you are the Devil himself, but you like cats, so I am alright with you. You protected Sarina from that evil man, John.” Kylar dismounts his bike and helps me make room for everything from my bags into the bike’s saddle bags. When we both look for the women again, they have vanished, and the cats are all gone, too.

“These people are getting on my bad side. Let’s return to the cabin and enjoy a normal night together.” I laugh at Kylar.

“All it took was a few strange people and you are ready to discuss our problem. I must get Zara and Zelda to return to Oklahoma with us.” I keep laughing because the situation deserves the laughs.

“Don’t forget the cats. Did you see they were all black cats? I guess it is against town rules for any other color of cat. After we get home, I should sneak back to this town with many assorted colors and types of cats.” Kylar hesitates for a minute. “No, I need to do it next Halloween. Yes, I’m doing it. It will blow these people's minds.”

“No, Kylar, that would be mean; if nothing else, think of the cats. If no one adopts them, they will go without food and shelter. Cats need love too.” My heart hurts just by the thought of it.

“It would serve these people right for trying to scare everyone passing through. John at the gas station was as serious as a heart attack, and so was his assistant. I wouldn’t do it unless I was shit-faced and bored.” Kylar is right about that. He only does stupid crap when he has had too much to drink, and he is bored. That’s when all the club members do their stupid shit.

“I’m starving handsome. Please take me to the cabin so we can get us some food. I got some pretty ribeye steaks. The thought of them after you grill them makes my stomach growl.” Kylar shakes his head.

“Great idea, woman. Let’s get dinner started.” We both mount his bike and I hold Kylar tight. This trip to the grocery store and all the cats with the women has been unsettling. It’s not, I believe the stories. It’s just creepy. The ride to the cabin will calm me down, and then I can shake this feeling taking me over. I’m not scared, just cautious now. The one good thing about this strange town is it has distracted me from the conversation that Kylar and I are going to have tonight. Tonight’s discussion will change our lives one way or another. I relax a bit and enjoy the rest of the ride.

TEN

Kylar

Two hours later

I got busy when we got back to the cabin, and we ate a light snack to starve off the angry hunger pangs in my stomach and the ones I guess Callie was also having.

I checked the brakes on my bike to make sure there was no damage to my bike from earlier today. Everything looked great. I washed up and then got busy on the steaks.

The steaks are putting an aroma off that has my stomach growling again. I take the fork I have and take them off the grill. I make sure the grill is safe to leave, and I see four black cats climbing into the tree outside the cabin. I guess they ended up following us back here. I hope those ladies aren’t around too. That one was crazy. It was probably because of her age, but who knows, maybe she hits the booze too hard in the afternoons. I have been called the devil many times since I had the same road name in my club, but she had no way of knowing that, and when she looked into my eyes, it was like she was trying to read my soul. This town is too freaky for me. Now, I am psychoanalyzing everything. One night in this place is plenty. I laugh at myself for being so stupid for thinking this shit over so much. I need a beer. I walk the steaks in the cabin.

“Are you ready for these bad boys, beautiful?” Callie already has a small salad, rolls, and baked potatoes ready.

“Yes, and my stomach is ready, too. I set the table and I have a beer in there for you.” I wink at Callie and she follows me to the table. I put one steak on her plate and the other on mine. “I thought we could just fill our plates in the kitchen. I moved the table here so we can look out the window while we eat and talk.”

“I forgot about our talk until right before I returned to the house. The people of Pandora had me ready to commit murder, and it slipped my mind. I’m ready for the talk so we can go back home. One night in this place is plenty. The town is small, and the minds of the people are smaller. What kind of man would think it is alright to shoot a cat? I wanted to call the cops on him and you know the law and I don’t get along by principle alone.” Callie doesn’t laugh like I thought she would. I look at her.

“I think there was more going on in Pandora than we knew. Zara said Zelda was her twin sister. Zelda looked much younger, but she told me she was in her seventies. I think this town plays a hoax on anyone coming through here on Halloween. They don’t want strangers around here. That’s the only thing that makes sense. I don’t understand what they get out of it.” Callie tells me the same thing I was thinking earlier. We’ve been together for so long that we think the same way.

“They aren’t running us out of town. We paid for the cabin, and we are staying the night. I am driving back through town tomorrow morning to show them we made it just fine.” I tell my woman.

“That’s my man. Digs his heels in and doesn’t let anything budge him.” We have fixed our plates as we have been talking. We return to the table and sit down across from each other. I take a drink of my beer, and I see Callie is drinking water. The trip into town rattled her. She doesn’t want to admit it to me or herself. I need to keep a close eye on her tonight. These people are going to push me too far. Then they’ll see the wrath of Devil. “Are you ready to have this serious talk between us? Maybe then you can relax a little tonight.” Callie laughs at me.

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