In a small city smothered with Smog and storm clouds much like the large city of London that we all know so well, people walking around greeting one another, different species all combined into one small community, all lead by one Cat. The townsfolk don't see him too often but every now and again he rises from the shadows to heal the broken and aid the helpless, and on this day he returned for that very reason, he was hunched over and crouched down wrapping an ankle that had been sprained during the work, the townsfolk watched as he worked his magic to fix one of their own, his cloak was draped over his body hiding his clothing and fur that lay underneath, a hood to hide his face revealing only his emerald green eyes that hold so much hate and determination though no one bothered to notice.

As he finished the last of his aid and healing he was ready to stand up and leave until suddenly a small child ran to the Cat holding out her hand to him "please sir may you take me to the park and play?" She asked so innocently but alas the Cat refused and with a shake of his head he turned to walk away.

The young girl grabbed his leg tightly hugging it "Please Sir just this once" she begged but yet again he refused, this was it her last chance, she hugged him tighter "I'm not letting go until you take me to the park" she said causing the Cat to snap turning to the child clinging to his leg and growled "I have no time for games! And I certainly have no time for you!" He yelled shoving the young girl back causing her to have no grip of his leg and fall backwards onto the ground.

The Girl sits up as all her hopes were crushed in that moment, her bottom lip began to quiver as she cried "I Hate You! I Hate you!" She screamed watching the Cat leave into the shadows once more

20 years later in a little cottage just outside of town a young maiden was humming away as her freshly washed clothes are being hung out to dry on this somewhat sunny day, though there was still smog and clouds in the sky like always the maiden did not let that bother her.

"Aria May" a small weak voice from within the cottage called out catching the maiden's attention, she lays down the basket with the remaining clothes and walked inside towards the room where the voice beckoned from, upon reaching the door Aria May gave the door a gentle push revealing her sweet elderly mother laying in bed

"You called for me Mother?" Aria spoke stepping closer to her sitting on the edge of the bed and tucking her in more keeping her warm

"Please be a dear and go into the town for me, Mr Headerson is expecting the book to be returned today" Her mother spoke yet again in a weak soft voice pointing at the book resting on the table beside her rocking chair

"Of course mother now you just rest and stop worrying about the book now" she said standing gracefully and walked over to the table collecting the book "Shall I bring back another for you to read?" She asked turning back to face her mother only to earn a soft smile

"You are too good to me Aria" her mother replied before closing her eyes to rest once more, Aria left the room and slowly closed the door behind her, she began packing her basket and collecting a few coins to buy some groceries for supper that evening. She placed her hat upon her head and made her way into the dreaded town.

The town had changed over the years, people became more cruel and the friendly greetings had come to a stop, it isn't as peaceful as it once was, as if the town had fallen upon a curse but no one really knows what brought this behaviour

Aria paced calmly through the riff raff streets toward the library ringing the doorbell before entering inside, Mr Headerson was at the desk sorting through his books with his spectacles on the bridge of his nose

"Good day Mr Headerson" Aria spoke placing the books gently on the desk, his eyes raised from his work and looks at the maiden a gentle smile curled his lips

"Hello  Miss May, I see your mother has finished the book you got her last week" he replied standing from his desk, Aria simply nodded "Yes she is enjoying these books, it makes her happy especially with these dark days" she said softly walking to a book shelf

"I hear ya ever since that day those shadows never left this place, this cursed town needs some type of happiness" Mr Headerson replied placing some books onto the shelf turning to look at Aria "How are they treating you out there?"

Her body tensed at the question, her hand grasping a book gently "Same as always, they all blame me for what happened" she uttered softly relaxing her body again and taking the book off the shelf

"I'm sorry Aria I wish it was different for you" He said in a kindhearted manner, Mr Headerson was always such a nice man, he saw the good in everyone even when no one else did, it seemed he was the only one that understood what happened that day, he was the only one that listened and helped Aria, he never blamed her nor did he shun her like the rest of the town

Aria smiled hiding the hurt she felt and looked at him "it's quite alright, I've gotten over how they see me" she said placing the new book on his desk

"You need to stop bottling your feelings Aria it won't make things better" Mr Headerson replies writing down the book information and the return date before handing her a duplicate piece of paper as a reminder for her too, Aria took the paper gently and nods slightly "Thank you Mr Headerson I shall see you next week" she said placing the books in her basket and headed to the door

"Aria I meant what I said" Mr Headerson uttered placing his spectacles on his desk, Aria faced him one last time "I know but my mother is more important to me right now" she said earning a nod from Mr Headerson before leaving the library and making her way to the groceries store, her shoes clicking on the stone pavement walking past townsfolk whom stop what they are doing and stare at her whispering and muttering words to one another.

Aria felt anxious and picked up the pace, walking quicker to the store and pushing inside, as the door opened a small ring of a bell sounded announcing to the shopkeep that they have a customer

From out the back a young gentleman about Aria's age stepped into the shop front ducking slightly to fit into the door frame without hitting their head, but before walking through the door frame entirely he glanced at who was in the store and stood straight hitting his head, a soft groan of pain came from the gentleman placing his hand where is hurt and rubbed it slightly ruffling his brown lushes hair

Aria heard him and turned in his direction before giggling softly "Did I surprise you Eric?" She asked him smiling softly

Eric flashed her a friendly smile and chuckles "Just as Always M'lady" he replied, Eric was a friend of Aria since they were little and even after that day he still was friends with her, though his family wasn't keen on their continued friendship, they would try usher him away from her or shoo her off before Eric seen her, he always had a love interest towards Aria but was too shy to admit it to her and worried what his family would think about it, so he kept quiet to himself and just played it off as nothing more than what it was, a friendship

Aria smiled stepping closer to the counter, "So what will it be today miss? Apples for you delicious Apple Pie? Flour for your fluffy scones?..." he started to say

"Actually I was hoping to get some vegetables for a soup for my mother" she interrupted placing her grocery list down for him

"Oh I see" he said picking up the paper and reading the list "I shall collect these for you, I won't be a moment" he said then ducked out the back of the store again to gather the vegetables

"Who's out here boy?" His Father spat as he sat on the couch, Alcohol bottle in hand, Eric sighed and looked at him "it is a Customer just needing vegetables" he replied placing the last of the vegetables in a box

"Don't get smart with me boy, if it's that girl from out of town you ought to get her out of here quickly" his father growled, Eric felt a spark of anger "She has a name you know" he spat but immediately regretting it as he father glared at him, swallowing nervously Eric rushed out to the front of the store and looked at Aria putting on a smile again, she always put a smile on his face, he placed the box on the counter and pulled out the vegetables "Right we have the Carrots, Cabbage, Spring onions, potatoes, corn and beans" he said softly then looks at Aria "Was that all?"

Aria smiled and nods "That is all I need thank you Eric" she said then pulled out her coin pouch "how much do I owe you?"

Eric shook his head "On the house, my gift to you and your mother" he said softly and smiled "but will your father not be mad at you?" Aria question earning a shrug "No more than usual" he replied

Aria nods placing the groceries in her basket walking to the door, she turns back to look at Eric "Thank you" she said softly opening the door and stepping outside, before closing the door she heard his father yelling at him, she sighed and walked down the street back to her house "Poor Eric"

More mutters and whispers chattering to each other, cruel words, eyes burning her skin Aria felt uncomfortable she kept rushing, her pace quickening to get to her home fast, echoes, chatters, murmurs and slander, blame nothing but blame escaped their lips Aria tried blocking them out covering her ears until a sudden crash of thunder snapped her back into reality, no one was around her, they were all inside hidden from the storm approaching, popping open her umbrella she walked back to her cottage in a hurried manner to get the clothes from the line.

Pushing into the front door of the cottage and placing her basket on the table she scurried outside gathering the clothes and bringing them inside before the rain began, she sighed in relief before glancing at the clock "Supper is in two hours, I will have just enough time to finish with the clothes and prepare the vegetables" she spoke softly to herself, she smiled and began folding the clothes sorting her mothers clothes and her own into separate baskets, another crack of thunder startled Aria "this storm is really getting close" she said worried shutting the windows and locking the doors "Tonight will not be a good night, I can feel it" she said glancing at her mother's bedroom door before shaking her head "Right I have to make supper" she reminded herself grabbing the vegetables, chopping, slicing, preparing before thrown into a pot of water and set to boil

She placed a bowl, spoon and napkin onto the bed tray neatly, boiling the kettle and making some honey tea, milk and two sugars just the way her mother liked it, she gently placed the tea cup on the tray before scooping some soup into the bowl, once everything was perfect she placed the book from the library in its designated spot on the tray and slowly carried the tray to her mother, pushing the door open gently

"Mother it is time for supper and tea" Aria said softly, her mother's eyes open slowly and a small smile spread across her face "Thank you Aria" she said softly and sits up slowly, Aria placed the tray in her mother's lap gently helping her get into a comfortable position, "would you like the television on mother?" She asked picking up the empty glass from the table beside the bed

"No no, not tonight I'm going to start my new book" Her mother replied earning a nod from Aria "If you need anything more just call out for me ok?" Aria said and smiled softly watching her mother enjoying the soup before going to the kitchen and serving herself some soup, she sits at the kitchen table sipping the soup off her spoon when she flinched once more of the thunder outside, a few moments later a flash of lightning storms never bothered Aria, but it is said that storms like this means bad luck approaches.

Crash! More thunder and flickers of lightning, pitter patter of raindrops hitting the roof of the cottage at a heavy flow, with a yawn Aria stood from the table to check on her mother who had fallen asleep with her glasses on and book in hand, Aria giggled softly placing the book on her table along with her glasses before tucking her in, she took the tray to the kitchen and washed up everything, as she washed the dishes she stared out the window watching the lightning and rain, she suddenly gasps as a flash of lightning illuminated the garden just enough to see a hooded figure standing out in the rain "I...it Can't be...."