"What just happened, actually?!"
My voice cracked — I swear my heart was about to burst out of my chest.
"I don't know either," Charlotte whispered, her eyes glued to the empty hallway behind us.
Suddenly.
"I think I can help."
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
We jumped — so hard the notebook in our hands went flying across the room, hitting the wall with a thwack.
"What the hell is that?!" Cody snapped, his face bright red with shock and anger.
"It's me!"
Cody and I stared. Our eyes went so wide I thought they'd pop out. We just... froze. Like two statues in the middle of our messy bedroom.
"Hey? Kids??? What's wrong with you two?"
I slapped Cody's arm so hard it left a pink mark. "Dude.... Slap me. Now."
"Slap me too, Cha. I need to know this isn't a dream."
Smack. Smack.
"OWWW, that hurts!" Cody yelped, rubbing his cheek.
"Wait — I got slapped too?!" I stared at my hand like it'd betrayed me.
The cat in front of us lifted one paw, tilting its head with a sassy glare that could kill.
"Oi, what's with the dramatic slapping? I'm not that scary."
"AHHHHHHHHHH!"
We tackled each other in a hug, hiding our faces in each other's shoulders.
"What are you?!" I screamed into Cody's shirt.
"A cat, meowwwww."
"Liar! Cats can't talk!"
"I can. Duh."
Cody and I pulled apart just enough to look at each other. The same thought was written all over both our faces.
"We must be going crazy T-T"
"OI, RELAX, RELAX!" The cat's voice got louder — almost like it was annoyed at our panic.
"How are we supposed to relax when a talking cat is standing right in front of us?!" I shot back, my hands shaking.
"Chill out. For the record? I don't even care that you two were reading my diary."
"Since when do cats have diaries?" Cody and I asked at the exact same time.
"Because I'm not just a cat, genius!" It rolled its eyes — ACTUALLY ROLLED ITS EYES.
"Then what are you?"
"Me? I'm your grandma?"
"Huh. Since when did our grandma turn into a cat, Cody?"
"Beats me. Maybe she lost a bet with a witch or something."
"Oi! Do I really have to explain this in details? You kids have no patience."
"YES, OBVIOUSLY!!!" We yelled in unison.
"Fine, fine... I'll make it quick. Okay — I'm not exactly your grandma."
"Then what are you?"
"Patience! Let me talk! Don't interrupt your elders!" It huffed, its fur standing up a little.
"Okay, okay. Sorry, uh... Grandma?"
"I'm your grandma's sister."
"Her sister? But grandma said her sister died 75 years ago!"
"Since when did I die, huh?!" The cat's voice got sharp.
"Since... 75 years ago? That's what everyone says!"
"That wasn't death."
"Then what was it?"
"Let me explain first, will you?"
It sat back on its haunches, looking surprisingly serious.
"So... I did a huge crime against the WWS. The Witch Wizard Society." A shiver ran down my spine at the name. "So they punished me."
"What was the punishment?" Cody leaned in, his fear forgotten for a second — replaced with curiosity.
"I'm trapped inside this book and this cat's body until —"
"Until..." We leaned closer, our breath caught in our throats.
"Until I kill the WWS President!"
"HUH?!"
I stumbled back. "Grandma..? Cat...? Ugh, whatever — we have to murder someone?!"
"Actually, no... I don't even know what he said. I had my ears plugged back then — he was being so loud and annoying."
"Why'd he do that?"
"Because he's cruel! Duh."
"Oohh..." I nodded slowly, still trying to wrap my head around all of this.
"Aren't you two scared anymore?"
"Still scared..." I admitted, "but if you're our great-aunt or whatever..."
her whiskers twitching
"How annoying."
"Huh??? Why?" Cody stammered, edging away a little.
"Don't call me grandma. I'm not that old."
"Then should we call you Mrs. Meow?" Cody grinned, trying to lighten the mood.
"Ugh, what kind of name is that?" She scoffed, looking at him like he'd just suggested she wear a tutu.
"Then what do you want us to call you?"
"Aly."
"Okay! From today on, we'll call you Grandma Aly!"
I reached out to pet her, my fingers trembling a little.
"Awwww, you're so cute, Alyyyyy!"
"OI!" She jumped back so fast she almost knocked over a cup of water.
Then — oh my god — she held up a leg that was not a cat leg. It was black, fuzzy, and had eight little toes. A spider leg.
"EHHHHHHHHHHH — WHAT IS THAT?!" I screamed, jumping behind Cody.
"A spider leg. Its sting is as strong as a venomous snake's bite," she boasted, wiggling it around. "Though I can choose to make it non-venomous if I want. See? I'm nice."
"That's... actually kind of cool," Cody admitted, leaning in to look closer. "But... what did happen earlier? You know — before you scared the crap out of us?"
Aly's eyes lit up, like she'd been waiting for that question.
"Finally! You ask! What happened was —"
TO BE CONTINUED ~