[THE CAT'S CURSE] ARC

CHAPTER 20

Cat's in the Cradle: Things Are-A- Changen'

You hold a cup of coffee in your hands as you stare blankly forward. You're Peter Parker- a man of science. So, there's got to be some sort of rational explanation for everything that has happened.

Okay, so let's start at the beginning- your friend, Felicia Hardy has somehow grown cat ears and a tail, and has the slitted pupils of a cat. Furthermore her human ears have vanished suggesting…

You don't know. You weren't a biology major and you didn't study up on it!

You take a sip as you consider the possibilities. Firstly, are you infectious? Felicia has been, barring Gwen, the person you've spent the most time with and she's got the cat theme going on. Maybe the cat from earlier was enough that, along with enough exposure to you, to cause a mutation in her?

Or maybe it was because she might've been exposed to your blood, considering she had to touch you when you were injured, maybe there was some that transferred?

Is that how it might work? You don't know, damn it, this sort of thing wasn't supposed to happen!

You take a deep breath and try to steady your hands as you notice the coffee in the cup rippling from your shaking. You sit there thinking of any possible reasons through your head. After all, the only thing was that statue that you bought Felicia, and to think that has anything to do with this is crazy.

And speaking of Felicia, she's currently in the bathroom, inspecting herself and freaking out. And it's about ten at night right now.

Because she's now a goddamn Catgirl.

Somehow.

Damn it…

What should you do?

You take a deep breath. And then another. And another. Maybe one more for good measure?

You stare at the rippling coffee as your mind pieces a plan together using science.

The most important thing is to get some DNA for testing. Not only her new DNA from her new Catgirl form, but old DNA when she was normal to compare against it. Getting up, you head over to your bag and sort through it. Undoubtedly, there's zip-lock bags in there. Not necessarily perfect as glass vials would be for your purposes, but as they're unopened and unused, they should do to keep any samples safe for a little while.

Speaking of which, you should probably get a hold of someone who can perform DNA tests soon.

Still, you should get some samples. Walking over to the bathroom door, you knock on it several times until it cracks open. Felicia peeks through it, looking nervous. Incidentally, while this situation is horrible and would be something that Harry would want to watch as one of his shows, the mirror that you can see shows you Felicia's form, her tail nervously wiggling as her cat-ears lay back.

Damn it, this situation's terrible for her, but man if she isn't as arousing as this situation is bad. Hmm if you had a laser pointer-

No! Bad Peter!

Clearing your throat, you extend the plastic bag towards her. "We need to get a DNA sample from you as you are now, and an older one so we can find out how this happened."

Felicia nods, taking the bag as she points towards her room. "I should have a brush on the desk next to the wig in there that I haven't used for a while. Whatever hair is on there should be normal… I think."

Felicia quickly closes the door as you solemnly head towards her room. Looking in there, there is indeed a brush as you pick it up by the handle and use some tweezers to put the hair, not a lot but it's clearly her short white hair, into the bag before sealing it.

You head back to the living room and sit down, making sure to put the bag in a safe location as you glance around before freezing. Getting up, you go to the statue you bought for Felicia earlier but you don't touch it. Instead you look on confused- the draw of the small shrine has been a little cat sweeping on the shrine base, but…

The cat's gone.

Nearby, you head the door to the bathroom open as Felicia walks out wearing a hooded sweater, the hood up. She hands you the plastic bag before sitting awkwardly down on her chair for a few moments, nervously tapping on her knees, before getting back up. Her tail seems not to be visible right now.

"…I'll be in my room"

"Felicia, wait."

You put a hand on her shoulder as you see her tense.

"Look, I know what it's like to wake up different and to be worried. But-"

Felicia knocks your hand away and turns around, tears in her eyes. "Yeah, but you get to look normal, Peter! Look at me!"

She flings her hood down and raises the edge of her sweater, letting her tail out. Her tail's twitching agitatedly and her ears are back. Her hands clench into fists. Her irises have shrink.

"See, the first thing you do is look at them like I'm some sort of freak!"

Stepping forward, you wrap your arms around her and pull her into a tight hug. "Felicia, you're my friend, and you're no freak. I wouldn't ever do that or think that. Besides, I promise you that we'll find a way to fix this."

You run your hand through Felicia's hair as she relaxes into you hug as you feel her sob into you. You hold her like that until she begins to calm down. Eventually, you loosen your hug when you feel Felicia pull away some. She wipes at her eyes with her sleeves. Sniffling, she smiles at you.

"So, what's the plan, then?"

You've already thought this out. You'll need to get her DNA tested. You know someone that could do that, but it'd mean bringing in Gwen. Otherwise, you'd have to ask her if her doctor friend could do it, but that's a lot of variables to work with there, a lot could go wrong. Furthermore, that statue's odd change bugs you, too.

But none of that's more important than finding out and observing what Felicia's current condition is, if only to make sure that she isn't still changing. You nod your head, that's why you and Gwen did- always keeping an eye on your condition, making sure nothing has changed.

"Alright, the first thing that we'll need to do is make a record of everything that's changed, so we'll have a way to see if anything changes."

You pull out paper and begin writing down each and every change she's noticed. "Well, my old ears are just gone- there's nothing left there the old ones were and my new ones are, well weird. I know how to use them and I don't really notice them as they move on their own, but I can focus and control them if I really try, same goes for the tail.

"They're covered in a really fine well, fur, which is the same color as my hair and I can actually feel it when they're touched. Also, I'm able to hear with a lot more sensitivity."

She gestures towards the ears and tail before pointing at her eyes. "Also my sight's different. It's hard to say how exactly- I can see in the dark better and they adjust pretty fast to changes in lighting. Oh, and I can smell thing's a lot better now too. Which is both good and bad, I guess."

Felicia points at her hands and feet. "I still have nails, so there's no claws or anything. Well, not that I've noticed. Other than that…"

Felicia fidgets, looking away. You put a hand on her shoulder, rubbing it comfortingly. "Hey, it's alright. You can tell me."

Felicia look back to you before nodding. "Well… I- I-"

Her ears go back as she shuts her eyes and grits her teeth showing her slightly larger canine teeth that she didn't comment upon. Tears leak out of her eyes as she faces away, embarrassed.

"-I HAVE BIG, FAT CAT TATS!"

You freeze before locking your eyes onto her face as you realize what she just said. Looking down would ruin everything as you see Felicia's face flush.

"…what?"

You're only a man. You might not be looking, but your mind is whirring away. Does that means she's mutated to be more like a cat? Or does she just have a gig…

Clearing your throat you see Felicia covering her face. "Oh, god. I said that out loud like that, didn't I?"

You only nod, making sure to keep your eyes on hers as she wraps her arms around herself. "I was proud of my slender form! I was able to disguise myself as almost anyone and while they're were small, they wouldn't become disgusting drooping breasts when I was older!"

She grabs you by the shoulders, her pupils narrowed to almost slits as she pins you down. "Peter, I need you to fix this for me."

Well, there is somebody who could help, but you don't know if Felicia would want her help. "Well, there is someone, but…"

"But?"

Felicia's staring at you intently, and honestly there's a strange intensity that kind worries you a little.

"It's Gwen Stacy, she'd be able to help but we'd have to fill her in about all of this."

At her name, Felicia's eyes narrow as she stares down at you, some sort of conflict brewing within her before Felicia nods.

"Call her."

Grabbing your phone from your pocket you call Gwen's number, as she quickly answers it. "Peter? Is there something the matter?"

You glance at Felicia, who is staring at you like a cat playing with a spider. "Yeah, I'm having a bit of a /problem/ and I'm REALLY going to need your help. And if it wasn't serious and I needed your help, I wouldn't call you."

You quickly rattle of Felicia's address to Gwen before you hear Gwen grunt in confirmation, her voice worried. "Alright, I'll be there as soon as I can. Hang in there, Peter."

She hangs up as you see Felicia staring down at you, breathing deeply, her tail erratically swishing behind her. Within arm's reach is the television remote, as your eyes go back to her tail.

No no no Peter! Gwen's on her way, you must resist!

You look at Felicia and see the tail waving there. It's so fluffy looking. Raising your hand, you touch it, running your hand down the length of her tail as Felicia shudders. Hooding her eyes, she leans into you, rubbing her head along your shoulder, purring loudly.

You close your eyes as she leans into you, as you continue to stroke her tail with one hand, using the other to gently rub one of her ears as her purring grows louder. You let out a small smile. It's actually rather adorable, like a little cat. Felicia might be a bit mad later, but who could resist?

And then you feel her tongue run up your neck, its sandpaper-y rough texture unfamiliar but not altogether unpleasing. Her hot breath on your neck along with her licking it and her attractive appearance, it's hard to keep focus.

But, you've been get for a little while, petting her tail, and Gwen should be here any moment. Glancing at the clock, you pause in your petting of Felicia, who growls and nips at your neck before grinding into you.

She grabs her sweatshirt and begins tearing it, revealing her now rather ample chest as she continues to nip at your neck, grabbing the hand from her ears and placing it against her breast. You should really stop but-

Felicia, noticing your lack of committal, grabs your face with both hands and kisses you, deeply. Her rough tongue tangles with yours as you feel her purring resonate against you as she presses herself against you. There's some sort of noise in the background, but it's hard to care.

You see Felicia tense as the noise seems to keep going as she presses you down with strength you didn't think she had as she nips at your lips roughly, causing you to gasp as she goes to plunger your mouth once again.

And that's about the point the door is kicked down.

Glancing from where you're pinned you see a frantic and worried Gwen standing steer looking frantic and worried. Her expression shifts from worry into confusion and outrage as she stares at you and the transformed Felicia's compromising position. Above you, Felicia's tail swishes as she grows menacingly.

"-What the hell's going on here, Peter?!"

"Gwen, there's a good reason for all of this and I called you over because Felicia's turning into this and I have no idea what to do because I'm not good with biology like you! And I'm really worried something bad is going to happen because she's getting more animalistic!"

Gwen takes a look at your scratched and bitten form, still rather confused, before nodding as Felicia continues to growl at Gwen whose eyes widen as she actually takes a closer look at Felicia. Tapping a finger against her glasses, Gwen's eyes widen.

"Grab her by the scruff, Peter! The Scruff!"

You use your prodigious strength and your well positioned hand to act before Felicia can react to what Gwen said as you pick up Felicia by the back of her hoodie- torn as it is, it still works to keep her in place as Gwen picks up the door and puts it back where it was. With Felicia struggling in your grip, Gwen goes to the kitchen and grabs a large bowl before filling it with water.

As she approaches, you notice Felicia is struggling more and more against you, clawing in Gwen's direction, before Gwen drenches her (and you) in the freezing water. With a yowl, Felicia jerks away before flopping face first into cold, wet carpet. You wait for a second before Felicia gets back up, shivering, as she looks around with comprehension before shrieking and running towards her room, the door slamming shut behind her.

Gwen gives you THE LOOK at you as you let out a sigh.

"Alright, I'll tell you what I can."

With the exception of Felicia's alter Ego, you explain that she's been helping you out and that after you got injured she helped patch you up and there something there, but it's been on hold because of the weird situation with Gwen.

Sitting down, Gwen lets out a sigh, taking off her glasses and rubbing at her eyes. "You don't kid around, do you Peter? I'll have to analyze the DNA samples before I can tell you anything, but while someone needs to be here with her for obvious reasons, you… might not be the best option."

Gwen rests her chin on her palm. "Still, this is a... unique way to be let down. But, Peter…

Gwen gives you a serious look. "If this is related to us, if we are… contagious, we'll never be able to continue our normal lives. And unless we can find some sort of cure, neither will she."

She shakes her head, looking at the two samples she has. "But it doesn't make sense, though. There was nothing in the samples that should have acted like a retrovirus, and especially not like this. Why a cat? If she was going to get powers, why isn't it the same as ours?"

"Well, maybe there was something different with me? I was bit first, after all. I've been keeping the blood samples in my basement's fridge, so I'll get those to you so you can study them. But, if that's not the case…"

You glance over at the shrine and shake your head. The scientist in you is laughing at this, scoffing at the prospect, and hates that it cannot explain this.

"You see that little shrine diorama there? I bought it from a street side vendor, a little creepy old Asian man with a strangle laugh. But, when I bought it, it has a little cat in an ornamental outfit sweeping the shrine with a broom. I got it for Felicia as a gift, but this morning, after Felicia went all catgirl, I noticed the cat was missing. There isn't even any paint missing where it was standing, like it was never there."

You remember back to when you got it. The old man kept it out of your reach and he was also wearing thick black gloves with strange symbols on them. "But Felicia was the first person to touch the shrine, too. Neither I nor the old vendor touched it without bare skin. I know it's ridiculous to bring it up, but all things considered could it be… cursed?"

Gwen looks at you blankly. "What, like something out of Strange Mysteries?"

You stare blankly at Gwen.

"Who's a what now?"

You blank stare and incomprehension make Gwen sigh. "It's a supernatural show that's been running. It's about 'Doctor Stephen Strange' who travels the country and solves mysteries. It's apparently a spiritual successor to some older thing, but my dad watches it whenever he's home religiously and always makes me watch it."

You continue to stare blankly at her as Gwen looks away, flushed with embarrassment. "Look, it's well written starring a magician who fights the supernatural. Like ghosts, curses, Dracula. Things like that."

You blink. "Oh. Well, that doesn't much help us, does it?"

Gwen pauses. "He's going to be in town for a while, apparently doing some shows. Actually, I was planning to…"

She shakes her head and gives you a sad smile. "Never mind. Still, you should look into him if you want to look into supernatural stuff. Even if it's bogus, maybe he's run into something real before."

Gwen gets up, grabbing the samples and heading for the door. "I'll get those blood samples from you another day, Peter. I'll give you a call with my new phone, but, as for now, I've got to look at these and get home."

She carefully opens the door so it doesn't fall down before turning to you. "G'night, Peter. Tell Felicia I'm sorry about the door."

She starts to close the door.

"Gwen."

She pauses and looks back at you. "Goodnight. And… I'm sorry you had to find out that way. Maybe you and I could look into it during one of his shows?"

Gwen shakes her head giving you a smile. "No, you should probably look into it yourself tomorrow while I look into these samples. As for me finding out, well...

"Sometimes we can't always get what we want, Peter."

She closes the door behind her, her smile having turned remorseful and you can hear the sound of fast footsteps going off into the night. You let out a sigh. "Great, Peter. How else will you screw things up?"

You shake your head and go towards Felicia's room, pausing only to reinforce the door's hinges beck into place with some webbing. Knocking on the door, you don't hear anything until you knock again and call out.

"Felicia?"

"…You should go away, Peter. I'm not safe to be around you right now. You had something you're looking into, right? You should do that. I'll be fine on my own."

She's on the other side of the door, but it's locked.

Cat ears are truly fearsome things. You wonder how much she's heard, but then realize it doesn't matter. You'd doubt she'd ever tell anyone. No, what matters is the girl on the other side of this door.

"I don't care about that Felicia. You should know that."

There's silence for a few moments before you feel the door move slightly. "I'm not opening this door. It isn't safe. Besides you have more important things to do. I'll be fine Peter!"

She sounds upset, so really, there's only one thing to do here. You turn around and sit down, leaning against the door.

"Well, there's not much I can do tonight. Besides, even if you'll be fine on your own, it doesn't mean you should be."

"Peter, you…"

You close your eyes. You've already messed things up by letting one girl get away and distance herself from you when she was in trouble. You won't let it happen again.

"Besides, this is my stubborn payback for your insistence I see a doctor, Felicia. Even if I can't do anything to get you back to normal at this moment, I at least want to be there for you."

You hear something slide against the door and hear her voice, closer to you. "I'm still not opening the door."

"That's true. I'll wait for you until you're ready to come out, Felicia."

Her voice is hesitant, afraid. "…What if I never come out? What if I never get better? …What if I get worse?"

"Then I'll wait here forever."

There's silence for a while before Felicia speaks again. "And what if I open the door and I lose control again? …What if I hurt someone?"

"That won't happen."

You hear something scratch against the door. "And how do you know that?!"

You smile, because really there's only one thing to say. "Because I said it won't happen, Felicia. I'll be there to help you make sure it doesn't."

You hear and feel the door open behind you as Felicia peeks through, her green eyes shining out from the darkness of the room at you. "…You promise?"

Nodding, you extend a hand towards her. "Yeah, I promise."

Pushing the door open, she wraps her arms around you, crying her fears away into your chest. It hurts- you can feel your wound ache from her impact, but you endure it and hold her tight until at last, she falls asleep in your arms. When, at last, you're certain she's asleep, you lean down and gently kiss her on the forehead.

Whispering so lightly you're not even sure you actually said the words, "Goodnight, Felicia."

You think about trying to move her to the bedroom so she can sleep more comfortably, but think better of it. It might be a bit uncomfortable, but you can endure it so she isn't disturbed. You lean back against the wall behind you and watch over her form for just a little longer.

Before, at last, sleep takes you to that black oblivion.

You dream of countless webs burning in a blue fire. The flames seem to be coming from behind you, but no matter what you do, you cannot turn around.

A spider falls in front of you. It looks at you and twitches, trying to say something, but you cannot hear its words.

"Little Weaver, beyond the veil, the great destroyer watches. He/She will come and all will be left in ruin."

END
To Be Continued

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