While You Were Sleeping

It's a shame you can't see what we see. I sit motionless on the cold, smooth linoleum, peering into the corner without blinking. It's empty. Still empty. After a while, the darkness within will begin to thicken, giving birth to living matter—and then the battle will begin, the fight, the brawl—call it what you will, but the meaning remains the same: I must win. There's no other way. I let out a victorious cry and quickly attack, not giving the enemy time to recover. Strike, strike again, unleash my claws, leap to dodge the cold, paralyzing breath, climb up the curtain, from there fly onto the closet, and, somersaulting over my head, leap from behind, catching the reptile, still sleepy from its daytime nap, by surprise. She screams silently in rage and pain, her crocodile mouth open in an attempt to bite my tail, but I'm faster, smarter, and more cunning. As a result, her teeth, woven from darkness, bite the air mere millimeters from my ass.

Snorting contemptuously, I bite her scruff and rake my claws across the shaggy nape, tearing off chunks of flesh and spitting out fur and hair trying to clog my nostrils. Phantom blood splashes everywhere, leaving misty puddles on the floor, and runs down the walls in unsightly brownish-gray streaks. Well scratched and battered, the darkness, howling with hatred, hastily retreats, saving its pitiful life. He vanishes into thin air, like a memento (or a parting gift, whichever you prefer), leaving behind a sore side and a dull ache in his paw.

I've won again, just like always. How could it be otherwise, ha-ha. Satisfied, I lick my tousled fur and inspect myself for injuries. I seem to be all right. And the pain isn't scary; it'll stop. The main thing is, I've won again.

The owner tosses and turns under the covers, discontentedly, and sits up, squinting weakly into the darkness.

"Barsik, take your tail and leg! It's two in the morning! How long can you keep jumping around the apartment at night? Stop it, go to bed!"

Limping, I walk over to her, jump into bed, and curl up into a cozy ball at her feet. Thank goodness you can't see what we see. Because invisible guts scattered across the floor of a room are not a pleasant sight.