[SECOND TRIAL : FEROCIOUS FELINES (mutated)]
[OBJECTIVE: KILL 10 FELINES AND SURVIVE]
[TIME LIMIT - 1:59:54]
With the quest for survival given, the portals started spewing out different members of the cat family from random locations.
In open areas, people ran for shelter since it was literally raining cats of different sizes, and they didn't want to be crushed under the weight of a tiger or lion.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the expected downpour didn't happen the way they expected, with the unexpected event being the fact that the felines were walking on air as if it was solid ground.
Some laid on the ground, others on skyscrapers while a minority floated in the air, eyes glowing green under the dark sky as they exuded the presence of judges meant to decide who was worthy or not.
*In one of the bigger stores of a shopping mall, a group of eight remained crouched together in a dark corner, hoping to wait the trial out*
Meow! Rawrr!! Rrreee!!!
Cats started pouring out of the portal which had spawned on the only door in that shop, effectively trapping them.
Lions and tigers roared, show their dominance.
Panthers and cheetahs slunk into the darkness, bidding their time while the regular housecats just purred and hissed, not feeling out of place while being surrounded by their undomesticated versions.
From the shivering crowd, a young girl no older than 8 flew out, the outstretched hand of a rugged looking man behind her previous location suggested that she had been pushed.
"VIKTOR, WHAT DID YOU -mmphh, mphh"
A frightened looking young woman shouted, the similar facial features she shared with the girl identified her as her mother.
"Shush Angeline. Do you want the beasts to eat us. And don't worry about your daughter, we can always make a replacement." Viktor whispered in her ear, one hand covering her mouth while the other roamed her body, lust burning in his eyes.
Bear them the other four women stifled their sobs and hid the disgust they felt, as Viktor's partner who had introduced himself as Romeo, had his way with them.
As the two perverted men were half a step away from fulfilling their carnal desires with the 5 helpless women, the girl who had been thrown remained frozen, not daring to meet the hungry eyes of the felines.
Meow! Meow!!
A black cat had taken the initiative and walked to the almost tearful girl, rubbing its fur on her and purring for attention.
Slowly and fearfully, the girl reached out her right hand and stroked its fur once.
Then twice.
Then thrice.
Before she knew it she was seated with her back against the wall as she petted the black cat on her lap, its satisfied purrs encouraging her to continue.
"Aww you're so cute. And you're fur is so soft. How about we call you Mr. Softie. Do you like that name huh Mr. Softie."
A tilt of the head was the only answer she got, but for her that was enough confirmation.
"Look mum, I made a new friend. His name is Mr. Softie. Can we keep him, please."
Turning her head to ask the question, she saw a sight that no one should ever have to see, but her childlike innocence made sure that she was none the wiser.
"Mom why have you taken off your jacket. Are you feeling hot. Also why is Mr. Viktor's hand on your chest. Is he hurting you ma."
Seeing the tears on her mother's face as she was being touched by the man they had met yesterday, the little girl, Maya picked up Mr Softie and went to the crowd.
"Why are all the aunties crying. Are the uncles hurting them."
"Shut up and sit down little girl. Don't you dare come here with that monster." Viktor said, one hand on Maya's mother while the other roamed the body of the teen beside him.
"Uncle Viktor, Mr Softie is not a monster. Here pet him. His fur is so soft."
*Slap*
"Stupid b*tch. I told her not to come here with that monster."
Slapping Maya without a sign of remorse on his scruffy face, Viktor was about returning to his pleasure when Mr Softie suddenly went ballistic, scratching him across the face.
With a bit of struggle he grabbed the cat by the neck and chucked it away, watching as it crashed into a cluster of silverware, the shops specialty.
Pushing away the two helpless women, he walked past Maya and into the heap of pots and pans where the cat lay.
"F*king cat f*king scratched me on my face. I'm gonna end its filthy little life as compensation."
The others watched with wide eyes as the other cats, both domestic and wild remained unresponsive even as Viktor held their kin in his big hands, about ending its life.
Wanting to milk it for benefits before its death, he activated his Envy special skill, STEAL to see if he would get anything valuable.
Big mistake, last mistake.
Like a hidden switch had been flipped, all the felines turned aggressive and bolted to Viktor, claws and canines having their way with him as his body was torn apart so fast that he didn't even have time to express shock, a twisted smile being the last emotion held on the body-less head as it bounced and rolled over to the crouched group.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaa", a scream rang out from one of the other women who were being abused.
Deciding that they had had enough, all the women with the exception of Maya's mother activated their special skills best suited to help them escape.
Two of the women activated SKIP, their Sloth given special skill, as they teleported short distances.
One activated BARRIER, a Chastity given special skill while the last one activated REFLECT, hoping to shrug off the attacks she would receive.
A massacre.
That was the only way to describe what happened next as the women were killed one after the other, some in the most brutal way possible.
The REFLECT woman had her head bitten off by a tiger who pounced on her from the top shelf.
The BARRIER woman found herself trapped in her own skill with a panther that emerged from her shadow, meeting a swift end.
The two women who had SKIP managed to last the longest but even they met their end under the endless barrage of attacks they faced whenever they appeared a distance away from their previous location.
The three people who remained untouched in all this madness were Romeo, Maya and her mom who hadn't bothered to fix her unzipped skirt.
Romeo had shrunk deeper into the corner, watching with wide eyes as shit hit the fan right before his very eyes.
Maya's mom sat crumpled on the tiled floor, tears streaking her face as she held out her hand and called for her daughter.
Maya on the other hand was lost in her own world as she mumbled 'Mr Softie' many times, searching for her new pet.
She eventually found it buried under the heap of pots and freed it, stroking its fur slowly as it let out labored breaths.
[The Felis catus before you wishes to bond.]
[Do you wish to accept it as your familiar.]
[YES] [NO]
Not understanding most of the words floating before her on account that she was just an average 8 year old, Maya used her flawed logic to choose.
'Yes means good, and no means bad. I like good, so yes.'
With a mental affirmation given, the words before her eyes vanished, quickly being replaced by new ones.
[Congratulations for acquiring Felis catus, Mr Softie as a familiar. ]
Maya felt a burning sensation on her chest as a miniature faint outline of Mr Softie was etched on her chest.
Overcome with immense tiredness, Maya slowly made her way to the fetal position and slept, too tired to notice or care about Mr Softie's absence.
But there was something watching.