Wednesday: The Cat's Warning
By morning, Jas was sitting up, their strength slowly returning. Sleepy Z hopped onto their lap, nudging their chin.
“Hey, buddy,” Jas said, scratching the cat’s ears. “Looks like I owe you for keeping me company.”
But Sleepy Z suddenly stiffened, his fur standing on end. He hissed and leapt to the windowsill, staring out into the woods.
“What’s wrong with him?” Roman asked, joining Sleepy Z at the window.
“I don’t know,” Ivy Mae said, her eyes narrowing. “But animals usually sense things before we do.”
The woods were eerily still, the only sound the rustling of leaves in a faint breeze. Miracle growled low, his ears pinned back.
“I don’t like this,” Roman said, shutting the curtains.
“Neither do I,” Ivy Mae agreed. She clutched the engraved box tightly, as if it might protect them from whatever was coming.