This is the prequel to The Black Cat. If you haven’t read it yet, you can check it out here.
The black cat first appeared at Golden River High on an overcast morning. Sleek and silent, it prowled the school compound with an air of eerie purpose. Its bright yellow eyes seemed to glow, cutting through the gloom like twin beacons.
The whispers began almost immediately. No one knew where the cat had come from, but the fear was undeniable. The first tragedy struck when the cat leapt onto Jamie’s desk during class. Jamie, a senior known for his cruel jokes, smirked at the feline and made a show of shooing it away. The next day, he was found dead in the school swimming pool. His death was ruled an accident, but everyone who had seen the cat knew better.
A week later, the cat appeared again, this time on Melissa’s desk. Melissa, another of the school’s notorious bullies, laughed at the warnings of her classmates. Within three days, she died in a freak elevator accident, her body crushed in the malfunctioning mall lift.
The deaths continued, each one more horrific than the last. Desks, where the cat had sat, were avoided like the plague, but the feline seemed to pick its victims with unerring precision. Everyone in school was terrified by the cat except Evelyn.
Evelyn Moore was a junior at Golden River High, often overlooked by her classmates. Small and quiet, she blended into the background, her presence almost ghostly. Evelyn’s only companion was Midnight, a stray black cat with whom Evelyn had a strong bond. They were inseparable—until one fateful afternoon.
Jamie, Melissa, and their friends, always eager for cruel amusement, took Midnight from Evelyn. Their prank turned tragic when they left Midnight locked in a plastic bag by the pond. By the time Evelyn found him, it was too late. Her grief quickly turned to rage.
That night, she buried Midnight near the pond. But she didn’t stop there. Consumed by anger, Evelyn sought out forbidden texts in the dusty corners of the library. She read about ancient rituals and curses, and a chilling plan began to form.
Using Midnight’s severed paw as the focal point, Evelyn cast a spell of vengeance. She created a link between Midnight and those who had wronged her. The black cat that haunted the school was no stray—it was the vengeful spirit of Midnight, brought back to claim justice.
Evelyn recorded the ritual and its effects in a leather-bound journal. Each death was marked with the victim’s name, crossed out with an eerie satisfaction. But the deaths were soon to be uncovered.
Alex, a quiet student with a sharp mind and a love of mysteries, grew suspicious of the cat’s connection to the deaths. One evening, he followed the feline to an abandoned maintenance shed on the edge of the school grounds.
Inside, he found a trapdoor leading to a hidden basement. The air was thick with mildew, and the faint smell of decay lingered. At the center of the room was a wooden altar, carved with strange symbols. Beside it lay a journal and a small ornate box.
As Alex read through Evelyn’s journal, the horrifying truth unfolded. The deaths weren’t accidents—they were deliberate acts of vengeance orchestrated by Evelyn and Midnight. The final entry read:
“They took everything from me. Midnight will make sure they pay—with their lives.”
When Alex opened the box, he found Midnight's severed paw. At that moment, the black cat appeared, its glowing eyes fixed on him. The trapdoor slammed shut, and Alex was never seen again.
The next morning, Evelyn walked the halls as though nothing had happened, her gaze distant but oddly satisfied.
Thirty Years Later
Claire arrived at Golden River High, a transfer student with a quiet demeanor and haunted eyes. Like Evelyn years before, she became a target for the school’s bullies. She spent her days in fear and anger, longing for a way to make it all stop.
One evening, while sitting by the pond, Claire saw the black cat. Its glowing eyes locked onto hers before it turned and disappeared into the shadows. Intrigued, she followed it to the old maintenance shed.
In the basement, she found Evelyn’s journal and the box containing Midnight’s paw. As she read the journal, she felt a strange connection to the girl who had once suffered as she did.
Claire knew what she had to do. She whispered the incantation written in the journal, reigniting the curse. The next morning, the black cat reappeared, its bright yellow eyes scanning the classroom.
And so, the whispers began again, as Claire ensured Evelyn’s legacy of vengeance would live on.
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