WONDER ( Twisted Forbidden Tales ) Book Three

Happy The Cat ?

ALISSA

The wicked cute cat had fallen asleep in my arms. At least this time, the magic letters had given me a friend in this amazingly insane place, albeit a furry kind. The cabin was not too far up ahead and the trek was much needed after that crazy run-in at the portal. That Hank in these letters wanted me to help, was a complete i***t, unlike my furry friend here.

In the place called Happy Town, it was hard for me to believe someone like him could build a haven of that magnitude. The letters had not steered me wrong thus far, so I was still on the fence about how I felt. If what the letters said was true, then my daughter was here, but where? It was said that this Hank was to help me and I him in return, but his lack of intelligence astounded me.

I had been leaving hints for weeks about the mastermind after tracking his trail in the forbidden forest to Happy Town. It took me three days to build that trap device, leaving the mastermind for him to catch, but no, he just had to destroy the plan and deactivate it. Now the three of us are here, and I had no shame of leaving him behind. After all, the letters said not to interfere too much. Plus, he needed to learn a lesson.

The mastermind was too vile for words. Though I had never met Christine or the mastermind, they still played a major part in my missing daughter and how I ended up here in this world. Their actions had changed many things and I had long since stopped counting the days, weeks, months, and years. Looking down at the still-sleeping cat, his purrs strangely sounded like snores, and it made me chuckle.

This cat did not seem like a cat at all, but that would be too crazy for words, right? This cat reminded me of someone, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. It was truly unique with its soulful yet piercing green eyes and black ink fur. Its purple stripes almost looked like they crisscrossed into suspender straps just like that annoying person. The cat even smiled at her with its pristine white teeth, and it tugged at her heartstrings. I never considered myself a normal person. I was far from it, thinking a smiling cat was adorable when most would find it creepy.

“Ugh,” I said, shaking my head. That was impossible even if this world we were in was bonkers as all get out. Entering the cabin, I made sure I secured our surroundings. I placed the sleeping cat on my bed and headed to the kitchen to make some dinner. The little guy would be hungry when I woke up, since he hadn’t eaten the tuna.

Lost in my thoughts while cooking, I realized I hadn’t given the cat a name. For some reason, the cat's smile stuck with me and in my lightbulb moment, I decided to name it Happy. The name felt perfect. I wondered if Happy would like its name. After finishing up the last dish for dinner, I headed out to set the small table for two. Laughing at myself for setting up a place for Happy, it wasn’t like he could become human and keep me company. I didn’t know why I had the constant feeling this cat was more than met my current eye.

With everything done, I headed back to the kitchen to grab the two dishes I had prepared. Turning around, I was scared out of my wits to find Happy in one of the chairs at the table staring straight at me. Taking a big gulp to calm my nerves, I stood my ground and stared right back. Blinking, I came back to my senses and walked to the table to set the two dishes down. Chicken stir-fry and white rice wasn't too bad of a choice for now. The day's events hadn’t allowed me to reach the market and I had to use what was left.

Happy’s green eyes watched my every move. He only moved after I sat everything on the table, his cute little fur paw sat on top of the plate as if motioning for me to feed him. I knew he would be hungry, but I didn’t get what he meant just yet. He meowed and then used his head to move the plate a bit. I understood then and moved the plate over.

“You are a strange cat, Happy.” I sat as I spooned some rice onto the plate with a spoon of the stir-fry. I could've sworn Happy’s glowing green eyes narrowed in suspicion toward me for a moment as he understood me. He then meowed again before trying the food. We ate our dinner in silence, but at the same time, it was harmonious. My assumptions from earlier appeared to be right. He wasn’t a normal cat and ate the cooked food with relish.

“Oh, by the way, I have named you Happy, I think it suits you,” I said, before continuing to eat my food only to almost choke a second later at the sight of the unique cat before me. His green eyes had narrowed again, but his cute little cat's face was covered in rice and sauce. A light chuckle resounded from me and I grabbed a napkin to clean the sauce and rice. He sat diligently on the table and did not move till I was done. I looked to notice the plate was clean and that made me smile.

“Glad you enjoyed the meal. Are you thirsty?” I asked, fully aware that this was a cat, but I felt he could understand me. He purred as his answer and I got up to clean the table. In a few minutes, I returned with a glass of juice for me and a small bowl of milk for him. As if my eyes had been playing tricks on me from the moment we met. I swore he swore a cat up at me in mockery like he was asking me if I was for real. I didn’t understand he was a cat. Didn't he drink milk?

His angry meow was very telling me. He jumped down from the table to the chair and then to the floor. His long black tail with its purple tip wagged in rapid swings. I smirked at its cheekiness, took the small bowl, and took another with the same juice as mine. I sat on the floor next to my bed, but Happy didn’t come to drink immediately. It seemed he was surveilling the place with his deep green eyes.

“Make yourself at home,” I said, leaving him to his fancy and returning to the kitchen to clean up. He meowed at me again, the tone sounded quite snarky to me. Was he scolding me? I chuckled again, then paused, thinking how Happy had brought happiness to me since I found him at the pond.

Humming a tune, I found myself enjoying the cleaning process for once after all the time that passed since arriving here. As the last dish is put away, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Turning around, I subconsciously looked down to find Happy staring at me again.

“Geez! You got the scare vibe down pact huh.” I said as I bent down to pick him up and pet him. Happy meows then purrs as he nuzzles his head against the underside of my right breast.

“Hey, don’t be a perv Happy!” I said, scolding him. He wiggles in my arms and I let go to let him land on the floor. He sauntered over to my bed and jumped up, his green eyes daring me to scold him again. I plan to make him a bed tomorrow out of one of the worn baskets I used to shop at the market. Tonight would be an exception since it got pretty chilly around these parts at night for the season.

“My name is Alissa, by the way, and tonight will be the only night you will be allowed to sleep in my bed, got it!.” I said. Taking his staring eyes and scolding him firmly yet again. He just looked at me with a deadpan look and let out a nonchalant yawn as if saying “Yeah right”. Can a cat even look nonchalant? I shook my head and left him there lying lazily on the foot of my bed, heading to the bathroom to get changed for bed. Yup, I have been in this place way too long. Was this the day that I was going mad?

Thirty minutes later, I returned to find a wide-awake Happy, still at the foot of my bed, subtly wagging his tail back and forth. The bowl on the floor filled with juice was empty, and he finally looked less snooty, if that was even possible for a cat. I reached my hand out to scratch behind his ears and he surprised me by leaning into my touch. Happy was pretty tame for a cat as purred and snuggled closer to my hand.

What was he doing all alone out there by the pond? And how did the letters know how to send me there? I thought of all the things that had been happening here as of late. Things were not as simple as they appeared; however, my mission was to find Hank now, since he was the key to finding my daughter. I stopped petting Happy and climbed into bed, heavy thoughts on my mind. Was it too late to regret leaving Hank behind after we landed, now knowing he was the help that I so desperately needed?