Chapter 3

The next afternoon, the doorbell rang.

Looking through the peephole, I saw Austin standing outside, with a beaming Mia next to him.

She was wearing a designer dress and pulling a massive suitcase. That did not look like she was staying for "just a few days."

I took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Chloe! Thank you so much for having me!"

Mia’s voice was sickeningly sweet. She walked right in as if she owned the place, looking around curiously.

"Wow, your apartment is so cute and cozy! Did you paint all of these? They're amazing!"

Austin followed her in, smiling at me. His eyes practically said, *See? Told you she’s sweet.*

He rolled Mia’s suitcase into the hallway. "I’ll leave Mia in your hands then."

I forced a smile. "Sure. Come on in, take a seat."

I turned to get them some water, but felt a frantic scratch at my ankle, followed by an anxious "meow."

It was King, the old stray tabby I always fed.

He must have sneaked in when the door opened. Normally, at this hour, he’d be sunbathing in the courtyard or waiting for his dinner.

But right now, he wasn't rubbing against my leg for food. He was pacing around me in tight, frantic circles. His tail was puffed up, his fur standing on end, and he was letting out sharp, panicked cries.

[Meow! Two-legs! Dumb two-legs! Don't trust him!]

I froze. This ability... it was happening again.

I could understand animals. It started after an accident years ago.

But usually, I just treated it as random cat gossip or complaining. I never took it too seriously.

[Meow! The male two-legs! And this new female two-legs! They smell completely wrong!] King’s meows became even more frantic.

Austin and Mia looked over, confused. Mia even took a dramatic step back, hiding behind Austin. "Oh, a cat! Chloe, you have a cat? It looks so mean."

"He’s just a stray from the neighborhood. We're close," I explained, though my mind was reeling from King's words.

King didn't care. He kept screaming at me, his round green eyes full of panic and urgency.

[Meow! They are planning! Planning to steal your big nest! This warm nest made of stone!]

[Meow! They said! They said your drawings can buy lots of green paper with the old man’s face! So much green paper! Once they get it, they’ll kick you out!]

[Watch out! Watch out for the female! In her bag! In that square thing! There’s a weird little bottle! Danger! Very danger!]

My blood ran cold. A chill crept up my spine.

Steal my apartment? My art? A weird bottle? Kicking me out?

I stood there like a statue, the fake smile frozen on my face.

Austin seemed to notice something was off. "Chloe? What's wrong? You look so pale. Are you feeling okay?"

Mia chimed in, sounding innocent. "Chloe, did we come at a bad time? Are we bothering you? Maybe I should just..."

"No, I’m... I’m fine," I interrupted quickly, my voice raspy. "Just a bit dizzy. Low blood sugar, probably. You guys sit down. I'll... I'll go down to the convenience store to grab some drinks."

I needed space to think. I needed to verify King's words!

I practically stumbled out of my own apartment, forgetting even my purse.

As the elevator went down, my heart was hammering against my ribs. King’s warnings screamed in my head like a siren.

Stepping out of the lobby, I saw Tubby, a chubby ginger cat I also fed, napping on the flower bed.

Seeing me, he let out a lazy "meow" in greeting.

I knelt down, my voice shaking as I whispered, "Tubby... do you know those two people who just went up? The new girl and the guy who always comes over?"

Tubby tilted his head and licked his paw. [Meow~ I know them. They smell gross~]

He purred lazily. [While you were gone, they sneaked into your room. They touched your blue folder—the one in the tall wooden box~ Meow~ They also tried to open your glowing flat box (laptop), but couldn't~]

The blue folder? My property deed!

I kept it in my home office drawer!

The tall wooden box was my desk! They were actually searching my things!

Tubby added, [Meow~ The male two-legs said they have to hurry. Otherwise, the dumb two-legs—that's you—will find out... find out what again? Meow~ I forgot~]

The last shred of hope in my heart shattered.

King and Tubby’s stories matched perfectly. Austin and Mia were definitely planning something terrible.

A wave of shock and betrayal washed over me.

Austin, the man who said he loved me, the man who pretended to have boundaries just to make me feel safe, was plotting to steal my apartment and my hard work?

And that sweet, innocent-looking Mia—what kind of dangerous stuff was she hiding in her bag?

Fear gripped me, but a strong survival instinct kicked in.

I couldn't panic. I couldn't let them know that I knew.

I lingered in the convenience store for a while, bought some drinks, took several deep breaths, and forced myself to look calm before heading back up.