The Imposter Cat

Imagine coming home. From a two-week trip. And your family is petting a creature

that isn’t your cat. <break time="1.0s" /> You drop your bags. Your kids hug you. Your wife smiles.

Everything feels normal. Until you see it. <break time="1.0s" /> They’re petting “Mr.

Whiskers.” But the real Mr. Whiskers… Is behind them. Staring at you.

Silent. Terrified. <break time="1.0s" /> The thing on the couch moves wrong. Its head turns too

slowly. Its purring sounds wet. Artificial. Like something pretending. <break time="1.0s" />

“That’s not our cat.” Your family laughs. “Jet lag is hitting you hard.” <break time="1.0s" />

That night… Footsteps. Not paws. Bare feet. <break time="1.0s" /> Something stops