POV: Alexia

  *Clack, clack, clack, cla-clack*

  With a slow breath I filled out the document before my eyes as I listened to the rhythmic clacking of my keyboard, sometimes falling in line with the many other keyboards on this floor of the office. The monitor flickered slightly, showing signs of old age, if I focused enough I could even make out the old format of this same document I'm filling out right now, burned into the screen like an imprint. Like the monitor, a memory flickered inside my head, a video of some puppies, bringing my lips up to a slight smile before just as quickly falling back to the ever present neutral, just another ephemeral drop of emotion. Sending the document off into the company workflow, grabbed my water bottle - 'Empty...' - and got up for a refill, passing coworker after coworker.

  "Hey Alexia! Wanna go out and grab some drinks afterwards?" One of my coworkers, Katarina asked as I was refilling my bottle. "Denise and Macy are also tagging along..." She continued as per usual, every other day she'd ask the same question, for the same answer.

  "No, thank you Kat. Sorry, but I'm busy." I lied, watching her eyes dilate slightly, she knew or at least suspected that I was lying.

  As I turned to walk back to my desk, my step faltered as I heard her again. "S-sure... Alexia, see ya tomorrow."

  "Y-yeah..." Is all I mustered up, returning to my workspace to finish up.

  On my way home I pulled the hood of my jacket up, just as I turned onto the busy main road. Horns and the rattling of engines welcomed rush-hour like clockwork, I stepped over the large crack in the pavement of the sidewalk and listened absentmindedly to the cacophony of different radio stations from various cars trying to outdo the music of the many clubs, pubs and restaurants littering the promenade. I could still hear a bit of it, as I was ascending the stairs to my apartment, with a practiced flick of the wrist I brought out my keys, entered and locked again behind me. Throwing my bottle on the couch, I popped leftovers in the microwave and went to take a quick shower, after which I ate in silence and cleaned up swiftly.

  Back in my sanctum, my bedroom, I indulged in the few things that could break the monotony. 'Oh, a new chapter published earlier...' were my thoughts as I sat there reading and playing, I noticed the coldness in my chest clawing, till I felt tears rolling down my cheeks, at which the coldness seemingly lightened just slightly. 'Too soon...' I gritted my teeth as I wiped away the tears at the end of the chapter, feeling more for the characters in that visual novel and those web novels than I did for myself, so I indulged more by the medium of music with my favorite playlist, consisting of mostly metal with some grunge sprinkled in between. With those helping hands I didn't even notice when my eyes closed and I drifted into another dreamless slumber.

  The next day.

  *Clack, clack, clack, cla-clack*

  I filled out another document and sent it through the workflow, I blinked and squinted, unable to find the imprint as my vision turned blurry, realizing that IT probably switched out my monitor for a new one. With a shake of my head I came back to my senses and clutched my chest, taking a deep breath, my friend, the cold embrace returning after this brief disruption of my day. Getting up for another refill, I drank the few gulps before making it to the break room. 'Seems like today Kat isn't going to invite me... good, wouldn't want to sour their mood again...'

  Just as I returned to my booth, I heard a few pairs of heels tapping in a frantic pattern, coming closer.

  "Hey Alexia! Wanna go out and grab some drinks afterwards? Denise and Macy are also tagging along for another girls night!" Katarina asked, a strange undertone swinging in her voice, to her side were Denise and Macy, putting on an inviting smile, though I could see the uncertainty in their eyes, the same uncertainty as in Katarinas eyes.

  "No, thank you Kat. Sorry, but I'm busy." I lied once more, incidentally wiping the soft smile from Katarinas face, replacing it with something else. 'Panic?...'

  "Listen... Uhm. Listen, Alexia... If you need anything, you can always come and ask me, I'll gladly help you out or give advice, or just be an open shoulder for you." Katarina pressed on, taking a step towards me.

  "N...No, thank you Kat. Uhh, I'm... I'm fine." I lied again, forcing a weak smile and saw Katarinas eyes turn glassy.

  "Su-Sure... alright, Alexia. W-well, s-see you tomorrow then." She stammered helplessly, behind her Denise and Macy exchanged worried glances.

  The coldness in my chest tightened, my fingers turned numb and for once in my adult life, my smile was earnest. "Yeah, sure." I lied for the last time and turned away as the three of them walked off unsteadily, whispering to each other. The cold determination in my torso, brought ease to my work, so I finished up a few minutes early and went on back home.

  Closing and locking the door, I felt like I was on auto-pilot, taking a backseat while still seeing through my own eyes. I kneeled beside an empty cat bed, a collar resting on a tiny pillow with a name stitched amateurishly on the collar, holding it carefully to my chest. 'I'm coming Maya~' I imagined my cat using my couch as a scratching post again, giggling to myself as I started dropping my clothes, picking out my smartphone before I reached the bathroom. I set it down on the sink, playing my favorite songs as I was letting water into the tub, turning back to set my playlist to shuffle and grabbing my razor. With a sigh I turned off the water and sank into the warm water, glancing at my legs for a few long moments before turning my gaze to my arms, baring several scars from bites and burns to cuts.

  'Funny, how strong the human body can be...' I thought as I snapped the razor effortlessly, nicking my fingers in several places, droplets of blood trailing down my hands.

  "Heheh..." I giggled with tears in my eyes as I raised the broken free blades. 'So flimsy...' the warm water stopped registering to my mind.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "Hehehehe~" I pressed the sharp edge into nook of my elbow, for a brief second the coldness was driven away by pain and I ripped the blade down my arm. 'Along the river, not acrosssssss~' My hazy mind conjured up memories of troll comments on group forums for people looking for help.

  "Hehehehehehee!! Freeeee~" I squealed as I repeated on my other arm, both of which slowly sunk into the water, like a bath bomb coloring them a nebulous red. With fleeting strength I raised Mayas collar and placed it on my chest before sinking deeper into the water.

  'Let the coldness finally be over....' I heard my phone buzz softly in the ever growing distance of my bathroom, growing fainter by the second. My music stopped abruptly as my ringtone started playing, shortly followed by the rapid-fire buzz of messages. I closed my eyes with a smile. 'Where is the light of my life~ Not here~ Never found~'

  My head slumped back as the ringtone switched to the designated one for my mother. 'Sorry mom, I wasn't strong enough to find my light~' In the far hazy distance urgent knocking on my front door faded to silence and darkness.

  Messages scrolled rapidly across the screen of my phone.

  Mom<3: 'Sweetie, I've had a terrible nightmare and I got this terrible feeling, please pick up!'

  Katarina: 'Sorry Alexia, I had to call the police, I got afraid you'd do something stupid.'

  Mom<3: 'PLEASE PICK UP!'

  Mom<3: 'ALEXIA PLEASE PICK UP!'

  POV: ???

  I heard the sobbing of a woman... I don't know why but even her sobs sounded motherly to my... ears? I was surrounded by warmth, embraced in something indescribable, something beyond my understanding.

  "I'm so sorry little one, I've failed you... I've failed to place your other half in your other realm, little one. Mark my words little one, this realm... is different." The motherly voice whispered between sobs, before they slowly faded, yet the warmth never did. I tried to respond, but no words left my mouth. 'Thank you...'

  The silence was steadily replaced by loud thumping, reverberating all around me. *THUMP THUMP*

  I felt weak and as if I wasn't in control of my limbs. *THUMP THUMP*

  'So... tired...' I thought, curling up clumsily. *THUMP THUMP*

  'But something is telling me... to not sleep.' *THUMP THUMP*

  Suddenly the warmth started to grow in intensity, seemingly manifesting out of nothing the warmth became walls, walls that hugged me.

  Before I could understand anything I was blinded by something bright. So bright in fact, it hurt my eyes, causing me to scream, trying to raise my hands to shield my eyes. 'Where is the warmth?!' I panicked and screamed even more, I needed the warmth!

  "*Grumble Grumble Rumble*" A rough voice spoke in a language I didn't know.

  "*Rumble Grumble Rumble*" A different rough voice sounded, this one a little quieter.

  "*Rumble Yip Rumble*" A much softer voice, giggled?

  Something in my mind shifted uncomfortably, till it clicked into place and I heard muffled voices as something big, warm and fluffy was wrapped around me.

  A soft and caring voice melted upon my ears, a deep purr resonating through my whole body. "Her name is Maya~"

  A few years later.

  POV: Maya

  "Nghhh~" I grumbled and rolled around, laboriously pulling the blanket tighter around myself and turning around, as the first rays of sunlight shone through the window above the bed. "Fi-five more... minutes" I waved at the sun, knowing full well I couldn't make the sun stand still.

  That is at least, what I intended to say, instead I heard "Fif mo mimi", my numb tongue betraying my command.

  "Mom, I think Maya is up." I heard in the distance and grumbled.

  "Oh thank you, baby~" My mom's voice echoed, a slight purr in her tone.

  "I'm not a baby! Maya is the baby!" My brother grumbled with a slight hiss.

  Mom chuckled lovingly. "Yes, right you're a big strong man already~" She teased as she came over to my bed with my brother on her heels. Her bright green eyes landing on me, making her smile turn from soft and caring, to a wide loving grin. "Hey baby~ how is my beautiful daughter doing, hmm?"

  "I'm doing good thanks mom." turned into a nearly incomprehensible "I on guth mom", causing her fluffy ears to perk up straight, fluffy beige cat ears, surrounded by a veritable waterfall of Moms dark brown hair. Her eyes dilated slightly as she leaned in further.

  "Awww, was that a perfect little mom you just said?" She snatched me up and hugged me tight, even her long and equally fluffy beige tail wrapped around us.

  With a slight sigh I shortened my reply to a simple "Mom!", which unleashed a squeal unlike any I've heard before, accompanied by the rhythmic vibrations of her purr, which subconsciously made me purr as well.

  "Gaaahhhh! Oh wait... say 'Aaahhh'. Mommy's got to look at your biting problem." She turned her back to the window so my face was bathed in sunlight. I knew that no matter how long i'd try to wiggle free and be over with this examination, I wouldn't be put in my bed again till it was over. 'Damned sharp teeth' I rolled my eyes after that thought and opened my mouth. "Aaaaaah."

  "Mhhh mhhh, alright.... mhhmm. You bit your tongue again in your sleep." Mom mumbled and carried me out of the room, sitting me down on the dinner table. 'Oh no, not the medicine again...' I frowned, behind me my tail raised and puffed up in alarm, but again I knew I wouldn't be able to get out of this situation, been in it too many times, all for my nightly self-tutored linguistic lessons, while I should be sleeping.

  She scraped the bitter gel like medicine with a wooden spoon, till she had a tiny amount clinging to the side. She shoved the medicine into my mouth and started smearing it across the vulnerable marks on my tongue, with relentless efficiency but also loving care, and that was all the treatment I had to endure as I forced down the reaction to close my mouth and use my saliva to help that devilish tasting stuff to dissolve, which would only spread the taste and weaken the potency.

  As mom turned away to seal the herbal medicine once more and store it safely, I saw my brother slink past her and stand next to me, his black cat ears pressed flat against his head as if he was trying to hide something from mom, but his body language betrayed some feeling of guilt or fear of being caught, offering a conciliatory half-smile, before he handed me a small leaf. I knew those too, as my eyes flicked up towards mom, one of her ears had turned nearly completely in our direction, undoubtedly she had heard him or maybe she was just trying to listen for me if i had any issues. I gave my brother a soft smile and took the leaf, placing it on the inside of cheek i relaxed a bit and savored the sweet flavor that occasionally was dragged in with my breath. 'Thanks you're a life saver!' I smiled silently and brightly as my brother sat down on a chair, actually sitting at the table unlike me.

  'I really have to learn how to speak properly... can't keep biting my tongue half way through a sentence.' My thoughts were interrupted as I felt a set of fingers pat my head, right between my fuzzy ears, causing them to whip back and forth trying to dislodge the intruding appendage. "Htahp ma 'aih!" I leveled my best glare at my brother, as he ruffled my hair.

  Out of the corner of my eye I could see Mom roll her eyes, trying to hide a small smirk as she closed the box of sweetleaf discreetly, her tail swaying lazily behind her, subconsciously evoking my own tail to wag, smiling awkwardly whilst occasionally giving the leaf a lick.