Chapter 1: the catalyst

Judith followed behind Amon, excited, quickly yet quietly so as not to be noticed by the young, dark-haired fella walking in front of her.

She hid behind a cement pole, watching him as he bought a cone of ice cream.

“Why is he buying cone ice cream? He prefers his in a cup,” she whispered to herself.

As her thoughts spiraled, the boy turned his head toward the pole, but he saw nothing—just a slightly leaning pole. He walked closer to it until he was directly in front of it.

“I’m sure I heard something,” he said, licking his vanilla-flavored ice cream.

“It definitely wasn’t my…”

He looked up and saw Judith tightly holding onto the top of the pole.

“…imagination.”

He was momentarily stunned.

“Amon!” she exclaimed.

She let go of the pole with one hand and reached into her bag. She took out a handkerchief and started waving it.

“Amon, look! It’s your handkerchief. I wanted to return it!”

At this point, most of the people around them stopped to look, then quickly walked away, including Amon.

He got over the shock and quickly started walking away.

Nope. I’m not going to think about this, he thought. I’m just going home.

Judith continued waving his handkerchief, trying to get his attention.

“Just keep it!” he yelled as he turned his head.

Then the hand she was using to support herself slipped.

Amon saw this and immediately ran back to catch her before she fell.

Is this how I die? I hope it’s not painful.

She closed her eyes and waited for the impact, but she didn’t feel the hard, cold surface of the ground. Instead, it felt softer.

She heard someone panting.

She slowly opened her eyes and saw a worried Amon.

“Amon…” she said, love-struck and relieved, staring into his golden eyes.

Amon’s brows furrowed as he panted.

“You’re insane.”

Then, a thick cloud of blue, odorless smoke suddenly burst from between them, and Judith landed hard on her bottom.

“Amon? Amon?” she called out, her voice laced with worry.

She could no longer see him.

“Amon? Amon?! Where are you?”

The thick smoke obscured her vision as she scanned the area.

Then she heard a sound.

“Meow.”

She looked in the direction of the sound and saw a small black cat.

They locked eyes—pink and golden.

They stared at each other.

Then the cat prepared to flee.

Judith quickly jumped toward it and trapped it beneath her. It struggled violently.

“Amon? Is that you, Amon?”

The cat did nothing but struggle.

Judith’s smile turned into a giant grin as she hugged him.

“It is you! I recognize those golden eyes from anywhere. You’re so cute!!!! I mean, normally you’re already handsome, but as a cat, you’re so cute! I’ve always wanted to hug you. Please forgive me!”

“Meowwww!!!!!!!”

He struggled desperately, failing to get away from her.