³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. The clock on the mantelpiece beats out the seconds. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tabitha sat on the couch. Listening. Watching. I sat. I listened. I watched. Not a noise did she make. Not a muscle did she move. But her face was alert and tense. Like a predator watching its prey. Ready to pounce. I padded along and rested my head on her lap. Her face twitched but her head did not turn. Her hand raised and gently stroked my back, scratched my chin, played with my tail. Yet there was no love in the strokes, no affection, no warmth. Yet there was no hate either. No distaste or dislike or even regret. No feeling.
Her cold stone eyes were concentrated on the clock. Her sleek shining hair ran down her back. Distinctive silver hairs flowed among the gold and bronze. I looked up at her. Her eyes would not move off the clock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Her pallid face was now screwed up in concentration. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. I glanced at the clock myself. 5:25. Too long. All Tabitha needed was a few more minutes. And a few more minutes were not enough.
'Darling I'm home!' Rosemary's voice carried through the hall and to us in the living room. Tabitha started and jumped to her feet. Her tight, cold face softened and at once her amber eyes were sparkling and her hard lips and mouth melted into smooth, silky features.
'Hello Aunty Rose, did you have a good time at Jane's?' Tabitha gently pushed me away and walked through to see her Aunt. I lay on the couch, not listening, just thinking. I didn't need to listen. I knew what they were saying.
When would they learn? When would Rosemary see what was happening to her niece? When would Tabitha stop? Stop this torture? Stop this long tormenting struggle against me? Against everyone. Against life. Couldn't they all just stop and think. Stop and talk to each other. Sort it all out.
'And how's my little darling?' Rosemary waltzed into the room and swept me up, holding me in her arms like a human baby. She looked down at me, her old face, etched with lines, lit up, glowing with radiance and bliss.
'Were you a good boy looking after Tabby when I was out?' And she laughed the same musical laugh she always does everyone time she talks to me about Tabitha. She gently placed me on the sofa and turned to Tabitha.
'Tabby will you get Howl's dinner? I've just got to nip upstairs and do something.'
Rosemary strolled out of the room and up the stairs. Tabitha just stood there and looked at me. Her eyes frosted over and her face stiffened. Gingerly I padded out of the room and through to the kitchen, hoping that Tabitha would follow and feed me. I reached the door and turned back. Tabitha was following, her face turned to the floor. I waited at the food bowl, waiting, waiting, waiting' waiting' waiting'

So here I am now, stuck in a car, a deserted car, a grown over car, and I'm stuck in this car with this person, this monster, who has made the last few months of my life the struggle and torture they have been.
Tabitha.
And there is no escape. Or is it Tabitha anymore? I don't think that Tabitha has been in that body for a long time. Partly because I don't want to blame her for all the things that have happened to me. The things that have been forced upon me by that creature. I love Tabby. She wouldn't put me through this. She wouldn't.
I glance up at the figure. Her raw, harsh eyes watching. Just watching. We look at each other for a long time. And that's when I notice it.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. The clock from the mantelpiece beats out the seconds. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. The creature sits above me. Listening. Watching. I sit. I listen. I watch. Not a noise does it make. Not a muscle does it move. But its face is alert and tense. Like a predator watching its prey. Ready to pounce.
Watching me.
Its eyes will not move away from me. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Its pallid face is now screwed up with concentration. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. All it needs is a few more minutes. And there is nothing I can do.
Tick Tock Tick Tock

The clock

Tick Tock Tick Tock

Whenever she's listening to it

Tick Tock Tick Tock

I've got to stop it break it

Tick Tock Tick Tock

How?

Tick Tock

It's just behind her

Tick

How?

Tock

How?

Tick.

CRASH

I leap into the air, flying over her head. I land on the clock with an almighty thump. The glass around it shatters into hundreds, thousands, millions of tiny shards cutting, ripping, biting, tearing my skin.
Tabitha kneels beside me and gently lifts me into her arms. The glass falls from me but it still aches when I turn and look Tabby in the eye. They are shining like diamonds, content, full of life. She smiles and oh how good it feels to see her smile like that.
Still cradling me in her arms, she steps out of the car and together we begin the walk home.