Fear was like a rope that wound around Iris, locking her in place. Her body was stuck in one position, unable to run or hide. The phone stayed between her fingers, but she couldn't force herself to move them to write anything.
All she could do was listen to the footsteps. They echoed in her ears like a requiem, announcing her upcoming death.
As she thought that, her phone slipped and flopped on the bed. It was a soft sound. No one would have paid it any attention on a normal day, but in the silent apartment, it was ear-shattering.
For a moment, Iris just stared at it, at her own fingers. What had she done?
Before she could come up with an answer, the footsteps in Kyro's room faltered. They remained still for a heartbeat or two, then shifted direction and started coming closer. In a hurry.
Iris closed her eyes and wished with all her being to change. This was her only way to survive, her only chance to remain sane. The knowledge of what happened was missing from her mind, but it was impossible that it'd be anything good. And now the person was back for her.
In no time, the footsteps reached her room, and she looked up at the stranger from way below even if she was on the bed. 'I changed!' she screamed out in joy, her paralysis fading away.
"A fox?" the newcomer murmured to himself.
He was in his thirties and looked clean and well-dressed. His dark hair was cut short, not hiding the frown on his face.
Without care that this was not his house, he entered the room and looked around. He first went to check behind the bed and beneath it, to make sure that there was no one hiding there. Once he was certain of it, he breathed a light sigh of relief and turned back to Iris.
His eyes were small and narrow, unfriendly. Something in their debts spoke of a nature to destroy first and ask questions later.
This thought pushed Iris into motion. She jumped off the bed, ready to run away, but the stranger moved at a speed she didn't expect. Like some kind of demon, he dashed over the bed and caught her by the back. His long fingers encircled her whole body.
The man's grip wasn't kind, and Iris whimpered as air became a luxury. Every breath hurt as her chest was squeezed tight.
"So you're hi—"
The words were left unfinished as a giant ball of black rammed into the man's foot. He staggered while cursing, but was unable to stop Lucy from climbing up his body and leaving a deep scratch on his chest.
During that moment, the man's grip relaxed, and Iris fell to the ground. She quickly rushed to her feet, only to see Lucy being flung away into the corner of the room. His pained meow tore at her soul, and she rushed to his side, whimpering her worry.
Their oppressor cursed, looking with disgust at his torn shirt and deep claw marks on his chest. A few of them were bleeding a bit. The sight of it seemed to infuriate him, and he advanced forward. Towering over them like a god, he sneered.
As if sensing it, Lucy raised his head and pushed himself up. He stood up on shaky legs. It was heart-breaking instead of inspiring, but Iris couldn't move her eyes away from this valorous cat.
Even when he had no chance to win, he still stood up to protect her. Forcing her back, he took the position at the front while hissing with his fur raised. He looked twice as large like that, and Iris was sure that any predator would think twice before approaching this cornered giant.
The stranger was no different. His steps stopped, and he watched the cat with what could only be fury and disbelief warring in his expression. It was clear he wanted payback, but was afraid that coming closer would only result in more injuries on his part.
After a moment, he cursed again and turned around, giving up. Lucy used that moment to strike. He launched himself forward like a bolt, colliding with the man's leg once more. This time, though, he didn't try to climb him. Instead, he bit where he could reach, clamping his jaws around the man's shin.
A scream tore through the quiet of the apartment. The man tried to kick Lucy away, but the cat did not let go. His claws slashed at the leg, as if he didn't feel the hits the man was landing on his back.
Horrified, Iris ran over, trying to catch at least one of the hands. Her movements were slower and less natural than those of Lucy, but she still managed to stall the man. He couldn't beat up the cat and avoid her little teeth at the same time. The latter were nothing to write stories about, but they had grown sharper over the time, like little needles.
More cursing was followed by the man trying to swat Iris away, and she used that moment to jump and catch one of his fingers. The feel of human flesh giving way under her teeth was disgusting, but Iris didn't let go right away. She first worried at the finger to make sure the man wouldn't be able to use it freely.
When she retreated to take a look for a next opportunity, the man finally managed to fling Lucy away. The cat landed in an unnatural heap by the wall, and Iris' heart stopped. There was no sound from over there.
Her sight clouded over, and she abandoned all her reservations. Jumping on the bed, she catapulted herself at the man's face, who was distracted by observing his mess of a leg.
Foxes could jump higher than most people imagine. In a fraction of a second, Iris was at her target, her claws sinking into flesh. Bile threatened to overpower her, but the memory of Lucy unmoving by the wall urged her on. If she couldn't save him, she could at least make sure that the one who hurt him would suffer.
There was little to hold onto, so she soon fell down. But the burning fury in her didn't abate. What right did this aberration have to come and disrupt her life? Hurt those she cared about?
While standing up, Iris screamed out her emotions. Her voice was sharp and shrill, and for the first time she took a liking to it. Her lips curled into a sneering smile as the man winced at the ear-splitting noise.
If he dared to hurt Lucy, he had to be prepared to face the consequences. That cat was the epitome of what's good in the world, and no fear was going to stop Iris from making those that touched Lucy suffer. Anyone who could do that was beyond redemption.
The man made a grab for her, and Iris dodged at the last moment. It was easy when she thought about it. Hadn't she played this game often before?
On the next attempt, she even jumped on the man's hands, scratching them on her way out. Then, she ran out of the room while taunting him by the doorway.
It was best to lead the stranger out of the picture, where he couldn't see Lucy. If the cat was to have any chance to make it through, it was if he wasn't touched or moved again.
In the living room, Iris ran a few circles while allowing the man to think he was just a hair's breadth away from catching her. Then, when he was making a corner, she changed direction and ran between his legs.
Surprised, the stranger made a grab for her, forgetting that he was mid-turn and his left leg was injured. His balance betrayed him, and he went tumbling down, face first. Iris didn't waste such an opportunity and jumped on his back, her little claws extending as far as they could and tearing at the man's back.
Every hit was for Lucy. The cat hadn't done anything, so why did he have to suffer? All he did was try and protect her.
The man positioned his hands to push himself up when the door of the apartment opened up. Neither the stranger nor Iris had heard anyone approaching, so both of them looked up at who had come.
In the doorway, Kyro stood with a dark face. If death gods existed, Iris was sure he'd be one of them. Never before had she seen a face so obviously unchanged yet filled with so much cold ferocity. He seemed ready to tear someone limb from limb and not blink an eye.
Iris smiled and sat down on the stranger's back, her eyes shining. Now, Lucy might really have a chance to survive. With Kyro's help, she was certain that they could subdue this crazy man.
After that, they would take Lucy to the hospital, and everything would be fine. Everything would be as it was before.
It was one big lie, but Iris let herself believe it for a moment. In the world which might soon lose its greatest cat, she needed a little light.