Chapter 3

Tonight was a total annoyance. There was no other way Kyle could possibly describe it. Usually sleepovers at Cartman's house included pizza and video games and laughing and… and just… not this.

When Cartman wasn't gushing over the fucking cat, he was talking about how he had to re-cat-proof the house with a dumb fucking smile on his face! He was like some kind of girl the way he fawned over the damn thing as it limped around the living room and played with his shoes.

Kyle didn't think he could have possibly been more irritated at something so tiny. There was just something so incredibly weird about this animal, something that didn't sit well with the redhead, and while Stan and Kenny encouraged Cartman's dumb antics with the feline, Kyle wanted absolutely no part of it.

Why was it so hard for anyone to believe his suspicions about the thing when they lived in SOUTH PARK of all places, where weird and fucked up unexplainable shit ALWAYS happened?! How could they all look at KYLE like HE was the crazy one in this mess of a day? Kyle was just being careful, cautious, protective even! And all for… Cartman…

Shit.

Kyle's eyes opened detaching from within the chaos of his mind to find a darkened, quiet living room. His eyebrows furrowed as he sat up. He felt lightheaded and his shoulder kind of stung. Glancing to the side, he stared at Cartman's sleeping figure and the way he turned in his dreams, chest steadily rising and falling. Kyle almost thought it was innocent before he reminded himself of just who he was looking at.

There was nothing innocent about Eric Cartman.

After correcting that very dangerous thought, Kyle stood up and stretched, rolling his stinging shoulder with a wince. What time was it? He couldn't see the clock behind Stan and Kenny's sleeping figures on the floor. Oh well. It didn't matter. It was dark outside and he wasn't supposed to be home until morning. Kyle's eyes fell on two bright red orbs that contrasted with the darkness. The tiny black kitten with a casted foot stared at him from the television stand.

How the fuck did it even jump up there…?

Kyle rolled his eyes, deciding that he didn't give a fuck about anything that weird animal did, and tiptoed his way over his friends carefully so he wouldn't step on anyone. The hall seemed a lot narrower than it usually was, but that was definitely Kyle's groggy mind playing tricks on him. Eventually, Kyle reached the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

There was no point in going back to sleep, not when his head was pounding like this and his shoulder was throbbing so painfully. Kyle decided to wake himself up by turning on the cold water and splashing his face a couple of times in the sink. The water… didn't do anything.

That's weird, Kyle thought to himself as he looked in the mirror and touched his face. He definitely just splashed it and it wasn't even wet.

What?

Kyle stared at his own expression, puzzled, and leaned over the sink once more. He closed his eyes and let the freezing water gather in his hands, before holding his breath and splashing his face with it once more.

…Nothing. Again.

Kyle's eyes opened, only to be inches away from those same intense, red orbs from moments ago. The cat was sitting in the sink and staring. Kyle cried out in surprise, reeling back and slamming into the wall behind him. His chest heaved, heart pounding as he stared at the cat.

"How-!?" Kyle exclaimed, eyebrows coming down. The cat stood up and propped itself up on the sink, tilting its head at Kyle. Kyle's entire body tightened and his breathing picked up as he stared into those eyes that kept becoming a darker and darker red. He swallowed thickly as the cat grinned, bare gums exposed. Moments later long jagged fangs ripped through that pink flesh as blood spurted out. Kyle's mouth dropped open and he gasped, "What the FUCK is going on?!"

Without warning the cat doubled in size, transforming into some sort of black mass. It molded into a long insect with hundreds of tiny legs. Without warning it sprouted tentacles from its face, and not a second later did it wrap around Kyle's head, yanking him forward. Kyle's eyes widened, pupils dilating as he came to terms with what was in front of him. As Kyle struggled with panicked choppy breaths, the creature whipped Kyle's head forward and held it still, tentacles prying Kyle's mouth open and stretching it wide. The awful stench of the creature's breath burned Kyle's nose and adrenaline rushed through him as it shrieked right in his face.

Fighting with all his might, Kyle was able to pry the tentacles from his face, ripping them off and turning away with a fearful yelp. A sharp pain tore through Kyle's shoulder as the creature bit into it in retaliation and Kyle screamed, kicking and writhing until he was dropped. He fell to the door in a heap and struggled up, smashing shoulder first into the bathroom door which immediately broke open. There was no floor to catch his foot, and Kyle fell down, a rocky death rushing towards him fast and quick, the breath rushing out of his lungs.

"HHh—!"

Kyle awoke from his nightmare with a loud gasp, eyes snapping open and focusing on the turned off television in front of him. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to catch his breath, heart slamming in his head, his shoulder still stinging, though it was a lot less pronounced now. He realized he was leaning against something warm and solid, very obviously Cartman's shoulder. Kyle turned to look at him, only to lock eyes with those malevolent red orbs that tried to kill him seconds ago! Kyle cried out in fear, falling off of the couch, and the stinging in his shoulder instantly disappearing.

The cat stood up, still perched on Cartman's shoulder and undeniably calm. Kenny and Stan woke up, startled, as Kyle fell on top of them. The cat's claws were now dug into Cartman's shoulder comfortably; obviously the source of what had been stinging Kyle's skin moments ago.

"Grrugh…"

"Ow, fuck dude!"

Stan and Kenny gently shoved Kyle off of them, sitting up and attempting to recover from that rude awakening. Kyle stumbled to his feet, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He pointed a shaking finger at the cat.

"That thing isn't a cat it's a THING!" Kyle exclaimed, body itching. "What the fuck what the actual FUCK!"

Stan rubbed his head and blinked slowly at Kyle, annoyance quickly turning into worry. He stood up and put a hand on Kyle's shoulder, eyebrows furrowed.

"Are you okay dude?"

"No, dude! I'm not fucking OKAY!" Kyle insisted as Kenny got to his feet and looked at the redhead blankly, before following Kyle's eyes and staring at the cat. Kyle hugged himself, shaking slightly, his face very pale. "That thing, I woke up and it was clawing me! It was clawing into my fucking skin!"

"…Cats do that." Kenny replied, but kept his eyes on the cat who was staring back blankly, still perched on Cartman who had yet to stir. Kyle scoffed and turned to Stan, chest heaving and eyes burning.

"Bullshit! There's something wrong with it!" Kyle insisted. "I fucking KNEW it I knew it was-it-I had this dream and it just CHANGED into this disgusting fuckin—"

"A dream, dude. Calm down. It was just a freaky dream." Stan comforted. "Just relax."

"No!" Kyle exclaimed and shoved off his hand. "I can't relax after that shit, Stan!"

"Nightmares fucking suck and all Kyle, but c'mon." Stan replied, rubbing the back of his head. "Don't you think you're overreacting a little?"

"I-but-No, dude! It fucking…" Kyle trailed off and glanced at Kenny who had started to reach out to the cat curiously. The cat instantly retreated, Cartman's hands shielding the animal before the brunet even lifted his head. Cartman's expression was dark, his scowl making all three boys back away a little. There were dark bags under his eyes.

"…Cartman..?" Kenny mumbled, anxious.

"There's nothing wrong with him." Cartman growled, eyes narrowed and dangerous as he pet the cat gently. It started to purr and settle in his hand. Kyle bristled immediately and got right in Cartman's face.

"God damn it, Fatass! Just listen to me!" Kyle demanded, glaring down at him. "I've never had a dream that real! Your 'cute little cat' almost ripped off my jaw! It turned into this gross fucking THING and tried to KILL me! You can't keep pretending like that's your typical everyday house pet!"

Cartman said nothing. His merely blinked.

"Hello?! Did you even hear me?" Kyle exclaimed, and Kenny grabbed his arm pulling him back a little. "You actually think a cat with glowing red eyes is normal! How the FUCK can you think that's normal?!"

Cartman slowly turned his head, tired eyes staring at the purring little bundle in his hand. He was gentle as he laid the cat down on the cushion next to him before deciding to stand up and face Kyle. There was a foreign coldness in his stare as he advanced forward one step at a time.

"You're pissing me off." Cartman said very calmly, glaring at Kyle in what could only be described as malice.

"Wha..? ..Cartman. Hey." Kenny attempted, instantly recognizing Cartman's dangerous tone and menacing body language. Kenny stepped in front of Kyle. Stan looked on in an uncomfortable confusion, stepping back slightly. This wasn't the way Cartman usually addressed Kyle.

Kyle seemed thrown off for a moment, but it didn't deter him.

"Why, huh?" Kyle replied, body tightening and preparing for a fight. "Because I'm telling you something you don't wanna hear?"

Cartman halted when Kenny pressed his palms to his chest, but he tensed at Kyle's words and his jaw tightened. Kenny looked back at Kyle.

"Kyle." He said as a warning, but Kyle didn't pay him any mind. He was too angry. He met Cartman's gaze and narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

"Why are you so attached to it? It's been a DAY!"

"Him." Cartman corrected and shoved Kenny away. Kenny stumbled, but caught himself before he hit the ground.

"Who CARES?!" Kyle asked, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

"MY CAT'S NOT A FUCKIN IT!" Cartman boomed, kicking the coffee table as his voice echoed throughout the house. Stan grabbed his overnight bag and glanced at Kyle worriedly.

"Kyle, dude, let's just leave. He's really mad.." Stan mumbled. He tried to pull Kyle away, but he wouldn't budge.

"I don't fucking care!" Kyle spat to Stan before his head whipped right back over to Cartman. "Look at you! You're like it's fucking slave or something! It's not a person Fatass! We should be figuring out who it really belongs to! We don't know anything about that thing or why it looks like that!"

"That sick fuck broke his FOOT!" Cartman spat through his teeth and suddenly lunged forward, hand wrapping around Kyle's throat and lifting him off the ground. Kyle's eyes bugged out in shock and his lips parted as he choked, hands grabbing at Cartman's wrist pathetically as he kicked at the air.

"SHIT! KYLE!"

"CARTMAN, WOAH!"

Kenny and Stan sprang into action. Kenny struggled as he tried to force Cartman's arm to lower as Stan attempted to pull Kyle from Cartman's grasp. But Cartman wouldn't budge. He squeezed harder and Kyle made a soft choked off gasp in an attempt to get more air, the redhead's eyes tearing up as they locked onto Cartman's with a mixture of fury and fear.

"Whoever he fucking belonged to THREW HIM AWAY!" Cartman exclaimed, voice straining with excessive rage. "I'M taking care of him now! He's not going ANYWHERE you FUCK!"

"LET GO!" Stan snapped.

"Cartman stop! He can't fucking BREATHE!" Kenny yelled, shaking Cartman in a panic. Cartman shoved him to the ground in one motion, knocking him into the coffee table. Before Stan could attempt the punch he was aiming at Cartman's face, Cartman kneed him right in the gut.

Kyle's vision was blurring as Cartman's eyes met his once more. His struggle for air was dwindling and his kicking slowed to a stop. The darkness he saw in Cartman's gaze was completely alien to him. His mouth struggled to form words as he choked out, "Cart..m..a..n.."

Suddenly Cartman's hand stilled. He seemed frozen, his eyebrows shooting up. Kyle's did the same as he watched Cartman's pupils dilate slightly. A few seconds later and Cartman loosened his grip, letting Kyle fall to the ground. Kyle coughed uncontrollably the second he was freed, gasping for air.

"Get. Out."

Cartman's tone was so cold and eerie that Kenny didn't hesitate.

"Yeah dude. We're leaving." He appeased, holding his hands out as he crossed the room to get to Kyle who was still coughing. The redheads eyes were fixed on the black kitten that was staring back at them from the couch.

Cartman didn't move from his spot, only his extended arm returning to his side. He slowly turned his head as Stan and Kenny helped Kyle out the door, his face unreadable. Kenny closed the door firmly and helped Kyle to sit down on the stoop. Stan seemed really freaked out.

"Okay. What the fuck just happened?" Stan asked Kenny as he rubbed Kyle's back. Kenny ran a hand through his hair and shook his head.

"I don't know. ..Dude, he's never gotten like that with us…" Kenny replied. Stan scoffed.

"Yeah until now! Maybe he finally fucking lost it, Ken! What if he does that again?! He could've killed Kyle dude! He could've-"

"That wasn't Cartman."

Kyle's raspy voice caught both Kenny and Stan's attention as they looked down at the redhead. Kyle was staring at the ground as he slowly rubbed his neck back at forth. Kenny and Stan shared a puzzled look before looking back at Kyle. Stan shook his head in disbelief.

"What the fuck are you talking about Kyle, we all saw him try to—"

"No." Kyle insisted and met Stan's eyes. Stan blinked a few times and rubbed his head in confusion. Kenny helped Kyle up slowly.

"Then who was it?" Stan asked sarcastically. Kyle's eyelids lowered in thought.

"I don't know." He said and coughed. Kenny led them away from Cartman's house and looked back as they left.

"…We'll find out." Kenny mumbled.