Part 2My Pets Were Plotting My Murder

Zara knelt down, still holding Apollo the calico.

She peered at the little black snake and the hedgehog that had scooted closer.

Styx seemed to sense something was off.

He raised his head higher, turning slightly toward Zara. His tongue flickered out quickly.

Gizmo the hedgehog shifted his tiny paws, his black bead eyes fixed on her.

That’s when Apollo, the cat in Zara’s arms, made his move.

He let out a soft, sweet “Mrrrrow,” then rubbed his velvety head frantically against Zara’s chin. His tail stood straight up, the tip curved into a perfect question mark, and he began to knead her soft cashmere sweater. He looked utterly, desperately devoted.

At the same time, his back legs, seemingly accidentally, gave two tiny, swift kicks.

They landed precisely on the heads of the approaching black snake and the hedgehog, causing both to tumble backward.

HAHAHAHA! Nice one, Kitty! That’s how you win the attention battle!

All hail Cat King! We knew you loved our Zara the most!

Poor Snakey and Gizmo, but sorry, I’m siding with the cat.

Zara’s attention was instantly captured by the passionately affectionate, adorable fluffball in her embrace.

No girl could resist a purring, cuddly cat, especially one as beautiful and cunning as Apollo.

Watching Apollo’s performance, I felt a chilling emptiness inside.

It was almost funny.

When I first found him, he was skin and bones, filthy, and followed me for blocks just for a scrap of food.

When I brought him home, he was exactly like this—doing everything to charm and please me.

Rubbing my legs. Rolling over at my feet. Purring loudly.

My heart softened, and even though I already had Styx and Gizmo, I thought, What’s one more? I brought him in.

And what was the result?

Once he was comfortable, he reverted to being cold and distant.

If I tried to pet him, he’d impatiently pull away. Sometimes he’d even lash out, leaving me with a bloody scratch.

He ignored every toy I bought. His day consisted of eating and napping in the sun on the windowsill.

Only when Zara arrived did he transform back into the clingy, affectionate darling, begging her for imported tuna.

I realized then that his loyalty had been skewed all along.

No.

He had no loyalty.

All his actions were driven by a clear goal.

Just as the bullet screen said: they were only "borrowing my life force for their transformation."

They were enduring me, waiting for me, the "cannon fodder," to exit the stage.

Zara gently squeezed Apollo’s tiny paw, her face alight with affection.

“He’s just so attached... Fine, I’ll take Apollo. It seems he’s just as eager to come home with me.”

She pulled out her phone and tapped a few times.

My phone immediately chimed:

“Ding—$10,000 deposited into your account.”

“There you go, Elena. I transferred the money.”

She scooped Apollo up and placed him inside a very luxurious, designer pet carrier.

“So... I’ll take him home now? Don’t worry, I’ll take the very best care of him.”

“I know you will.”

I nodded, my voice perfectly level. “If you ever want to get him a companion, you know where to find me. I still have two here.”

I gestured to Styx and Gizmo on the floor.

Zara paused, but then smiled and replied, “That sounds good,” before carrying her new ‘favorite’ out the door.