Silver Burn

The rain-slicked pavement shimmered under the hazy streetlights, each puddle a distorted mirror reflecting the dreary evening. Silver Wolfe trudged along, the damp air clinging to his clothes and the frustrating events of the day weighing heavily on his mind. Sweet coffee, a broken bus, a professor's lecture, and then... Cassiano Voltair. Just thinking about the arrogant arts major made Silver's skin crawl.

Turning down the familiar street towards his apartment, the world began to haze at the edges of his vision. A buzzing static filled his head, dissolving coherent thought. He found himself standing in his neighbor's garden, staring into a puddle.

Golden light swirled in the water's depth, dissolving into dust, then reforming into a scene of sorrowful faces. A ripple warped them, their grief twisting into something sinister. A whisper called from the puddle, beckoning him closer, promising acceptance. Logic blurred, and Silver stepped forward, jumping into the mirror-like surface.

He landed with a splash, still in the garden, only now his shoes and socks were soaked. The post-illusion clarity was a cold splash of reality – it was just a puddle. With a sigh, he moved to a nearby bus stop bench to wring out his socks. That's when he heard it – a small meow.

The large black cat with silver whiskers, a frequent and elusive presence, sat across from him, its green eyes fixed on him. Despite his words that he had no food, the cat continued to stare, an unnerving, relentless gaze. 'What do you want?' Silver finally asked.

The cat stood, trotted past, and paused, looking back as if expecting him to follow. Against his better judgment, Silver rose and followed the black cat down the street, onto a side road, and eventually into the forest, leaving the mundane world behind for the unknown.