The Cat's Maw

The lingering pain in your broken leg is a constant reminder of the car accident. Trapped on a lumpy cot in the living room, you're bored and frustrated. Your mother's sighs and thinly veiled annoyance make things worse.
She wants you to be productive, to 'find a friend' outside. But friends are far away, and the only place that truly interests you – the old Thomas house and its hundreds of cats – feels off-limits, especially now.
As you drift between restless waking hours and vivid, horrifying nightmares, the line between reality and dream begins to blur. The strange cat that led you into the road appears in your mind, speaking cryptic words. A metallic taste on your tongue after drinking your mother's milk seems to plunge you deeper into the nightmare world. Something is terribly wrong, and it’s not just your broken leg.
