"Okay Lily, we have another eventful day ahead of us. Did you shower?"
"Yes!"
"Did you clean your shedding fur?"
"Yes! Lily's ready!"
"Good. Put on your cloak, and we will head outside."
"Okay!"
It's been a few days since Lily's met Vex, but I can tell that he is a kind person. He's a bit scary sometimes, but he's helped me learn a lot.
I can even bathe myself! Mommy would be so proud of Lily!
"Listen up Lily, do you remember what I told you yesterday?"
"Umm…"
Lily's learned a lot, but Lily's still not good at remembering some things…
"Umm…knock before entering the bathroom?"
"Ermm…"
Oh no, he's making a scary face again! Vex is not happy with me.
"Lily's sorry…"
"It's…it's okay, Lily. Today, we are going to the arena for a curse match tournament. You do remember what those are, right?"
"Yes, Lily remembers! It's a game where people beat each other up with their curse powers. Right? Right?"
"That's right Lily, good girl."
Lily loves Vex's head pats. It feels so good!
"Sometimes, I'll be on stage fighting. When it's my turn, I can't take you with me on stage, so you will have to sit by yourself until I'm done. That means–"
"Keep my cloak on, wear my hood, and don't interact with strangers!"
"Well, what do you know, you're not that bad at remembering things after all. Still have some work to do though."
I pat my chest. Lily's very proud!
"AND THAT'S GAME! WE HAVE ANOTHER WINNER, GIVE IT UP FOR THE TIER 1 VICTOR, ANJI!"
"Vex! Vex! Did you see that? Did you see that?"
"Yeah, I saw that, Lily. No need to repeat yourself."
"That lady was really really strong–her curse is so cool!"
"Eh, she's alright, I suppose."
Today has been an exciting day for Lily. So many grown-ups were strong; even the people who did not win looked strong too. I want to try it too!
"GENTLEMEN, LADIES, AND DEMIES, WE HAVE ANOTHER HOT SET THAT YOU DON'T WANNA MISS! THE FIGHT WILL FEATURE THE RECENT TIER 3 CHAMP, THE MASKED MYSTERIO HIMSELF, VEX!"
"Vex, are you the 'Masked Mysterio'?"
"Much to my dismay, yes. Looks like I have to go now."
"Vex, can Lily go with you? Lily wants to play too!"
"Lily, what did I tell you? This is a serious competition, not a playdate! Stay here and wait until I return. Got it?"
"...yes."
"Good. Keep your hood on and stay put."
"Okay..."
Vex is a meanie to Lily sometimes, but he's not mean like the ones who took me away from mother.
At least Lily gets to watch Vex fight again, just like when he saved me!
"ALL BETS ARE IN! THE COMBATANTS ARE SET, SO IT'S TIME TO DUEL IN 3, 2, 1, FIGHT!"
Vex doesn't seem as strong as the lady he's fighting, but somehow, he's moving faster and dodging her attacks. Lily's never seen a human do so well against a demi-human. Is this the power of Vex's curse?
"OH OH FOLKS, THE HEAT IS TURNING UP! KILLAY IS CHARGING AT VEX WITH HER INFAMOUS SPECIAL FINISHER! LOOKS LIKE THERE'S NO AVOIDING THIS ONE! HOW WILL VEX RESPOND? DON'T BLINK OR YOU WILL MISS THE ACTION!"
Oh no, Mr. Vex is in danger! I want to see how he's gonna win, but too many people are blocking my view.
"Yeah man, Vex is finally done for!"
"Nah, he's gonna win. Watch!"
"This is rigged. I bet he's going to cheat again!"
Too many people are yelling! Lily can't hear or see Vex well. This dumb hood is in my way too…
I'm sorry Vex, but I must move a little closer!
"Excuse me."
Just a little closer.
"Sorry!"
Just a bit closer.
"Please excuse me."
Almost there!
"Um, miss? Would you please step aside? Lily's trying to…!"
Sniff sniff. That smell. That smell! Why does this lady smell like…
"?!!!!!"
"Would you please come with me, kitty? Or should I say, Lily."
No! Nonononononoono! Not her, not the woman I hate the most!
SNAP
____________________________________________________________________
"Man, I really don't know how to get out of this one…"
Here I am, once again facing an absurdly powerful demi-human–this time a panda woman. Fortunately, she's not as fast as the other guy I fought, but her hits are much stronger, and her defense is impeccable. She's managed to pin me down to this corner, so I can't avoid her incoming special finisher.
She's also not the type to talk much once she has labeled you as a target. Ironically, her lack of intelligence is countering me right now. Is this the limit of my curse?
"If only you were that store clerk lady instead. This would have been way more fun."
I wonder what Lily thinks. She's probably watching in terror of me getting pounded.
"Can't win them all, I guess."
I look over to Lily's seat…
She's not there.
"What?! Where did she–"
I frantically look at the nearby seats for Lily. Please don't tell me I lost her in a place like this. I can't afford to be in Crawley's debt!
"...Minda!"
I finally spotted Lily, but she's under Minda's grasp. I don't know how she knew that we'd show up here–must be some deep-networking these demi-human traffickers have access to. Most would have given up chasing after one escapee, but Minda is abnormally persistent!
Her eyes are lifeless, and she is struggling to resist. She's under Minda's control; I can't get to them on time!
"Looks like I have no other choice!"
I take a deep breath.
__________________________________________________________________________
"My precious little kitty, do you know how hard it was to track you down? You and that thief put us behind schedule, but we can regain our profits with you–especially now that you look much better than before!"
"I…won't…go…"
"It's futile to resist me now that I know your name, Lily. Now come, you and I have some lost time that we need to make up together."
Lily doesn't want to obey this lady, but I can't refuse–Lily's body won't listen!
Lily…I…don't want to be her kitty ever again! Mother…Vex…someone…please…help…
"LILY!"
That voice! Lily knows that voice!
"LILY! LILY! CAN YOU HEAR ME? SNAP OUT OF IT! DON'T LET HER TAKE YOU!"
"LADIES AND GENTS, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE HEAR THE MYSTERIOUS VEX YELL IN BATTLE! IS THIS HIS CURSE ACTIVATION?! IS THIS HIS RESPONSE TO KILLA'S ATTACK?! WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?!'
Lily's mind is becoming dark, but I can hear Mr. Vex's voice more.
Don't give up.
Don't give up.
Don't give up!
"I..h-hate…"
"You can just never do things the easy way, huh? The more you try to resist, the worse it'll end up for you, kitty. Did you really think you could get the best of me?"
Lily's heart is burning! Lily hates you.
Lily hates you!
Lily hates you!
Lily
Hates
You!
"I HATE YOU!"
Suddenly, I heard a screech that pierced the atmosphere with its intensity.
"NYAAAA!!"
In the blink of an eye, the little cat demi-human girl known as Lily disappeared. In her place stood a large beast in the shape of a lynx.
Her eyes are filled with bloodlust.
The beast towers over Minda. In one fell swoop, she strikes down the woman…then bites her head off.
GULP
I couldn't see Minda's full facial expressions from here, but I could make out the terror in her eyes–like prey trapped in the grasps of a predator, knowing that her life ends there.
As expected from the sudden transformation, and the blood of a dead person splattered everywhere, chaos ensued.
"LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY, I REPEAT, AN EMERGENCY! ALL MATCHES ARE CANCELLED! PLEASE EVACUATE AT THE NEAREST EXIT! WE HAVE A CODE BEAST; WE HAVE A CODE BEAST!'
Well, that's certainly one way to get out of my situation. But that doesn't matter, Lily is out of control!
Screams of terror and anguish echoed throughout the venue as the feline beast indiscriminately swipes her paws at various people.
"A monster! Run!"
"I knew demi-humans were all no good–!"
SPLAT!
"NYAAA!"
"HEY LILY, SNAP OUT OF IT!"
I scream as loud as I can to get the beast's attention. Now her bloodlust…
NYAAA!
…is directed at me.