100 Stories to tell in the Dark

4. The Black Cat

Everyone knows that the black cat means bad luck.

If it crosses your path, you will come across misfortune all day.

But isn't it the same if you walk underneath a ladder?

How about a broken mirror?

Those are just stereotypes.

Why do others believe in them?

No one can prove that bad luck happens only with stereotypes.

Mreow~

Oh look, there's a black cat crossing my path.

It looks up, staring with its yellow eyes.

Why do you look at me like that?

No, stop.

Don't come near me.

But it's already too late.

Rain starts pouring down, soaking my clothes.

I run for shelter.

A car drove by, running over a puddle.

I am soaked again.

I look behind me and see the cat following.

Go away.

But it doesn't stop.

I run on the concrete sidewalk, my wet clothes dragging me down.

Mreow~

Oh no.

It's behind me again.

I pick up my pace.

I start jogging, then running, then sprinting.

The light turned yellow.

I can make it.

It turned red.

I start to cross.

I see the cat behind me but then everything turned black.

I wake up, staring at my body.

I died.

How?

I was running away from a black cat.

I didn't want bad luck.

But I ended up dying.

How?

Because I wasn't paying attention.

I didn't see the light turn red.

I didn't see the cars start to drive.

I was distracted by the cat.

It's not the black cat that gives you bad luck.

It's believing that it does and trying to avoid it gets you in trouble.

Mreow~

The cat rubbed up against my dead body and purrs.