Cat Woman
written by: Emee Ring
Elizabeth laid a ribbon along the page and closed her book. The last-day-of-October sky still held some light. It was time to make the tea. It took a moment to plant her cane, hoist herself up from the armchair, and steady her feet. Her black cat mewed and ran in front of her legs as she shuffled toward the kitchen.
“Yes, yes, Panther,” Elizabeth said. “I’m coming.” She filled the kettle and lit the stove. She pulled raw, chopped fish from the refrigerator and scooped several large spoonfuls into Panther’s blue bowl.
“There’s your tea,” she said, stooping to set the bowl on the floor. With one hand on her cane, she ran the other along the cat’s sleek fur.
A thunderous crash made her turn. A large man barreled through the back door and into her kitchen, his face obscured by a yellow ski mask.
“Who are you?” Elizabeth wondered aloud as she straightened to face him. Was this his Halloween costume?
In two steps, he was on her, his breath like wet dog. “Where’s the money?” he growled. He shoved her hard against the counter.
She hesitated. He had blue, bloodshot eyes and no respect for old women. Calm as a cloudless sky, Elizabeth whispered, “Panther. Release.”
Panther, suddenly large, rose up behind the man. His jaw yawned open. His claws slashed across the man’s back.
For a second, the man’s eyes widened and seemed to form a question. But before he could speak, Panther tore into his neck. The man fell, reached out, and pulled her cane down with him.
Elizabeth gripped the edge of the counter and stretched her arm out toward her cane.
“Panther. Hold.”
But she’d have a hell of a time getting Panther to hold without her cane. And the trick-or-treaters would be arriving soon.
- Cat Woman - October 31, 2025
- Crummy Baby - July 12, 2025
