The café bell jingled as we pushed the glass door open, and for the first time in days, I wasn't staring down the throat of something with too many teeth.
Seraphine kept her hood up as she walked in, silver strands of hair peeking out from underneath. Even in a crowded city, her aura made heads turn. That's why she hated places like this. Too normal. Too human.
But she still came. Maybe she wanted the illusion of peace as much as I did.
The café was warm, wood-toned, with soft yellow lamps glowing against the evening gloom. The scent of roasted beans clung to the air. Students huddled over laptops, couples whispered across tables, and a tired-looking office worker dozed off in the corner.
For once, nobody screamed, bled, or burst into flames.
It was… unsettling.
"Two cappuccinos," Seraphine ordered at the counter. "And… do you have any pastries without cinnamon?"
The barista, a plump man with a cop-movie mustache, blinked at her. "No cinnamon. We've got lemon custard or almond croissant."
"Croissant," she said, curt.
I smirked as I adjusted my ever-present camera strap. "Not a cinnamon fan, huh?"
Her crimson eyes slid toward me like blades. "Don't record this."
"Too late," I teased, tapping my lens cap. She hated when I caught her being… normal. But that was my job—capturing all sides of her, even the ones that argued about pastries.
We found a booth by the window. Outside, people walked past, umbrellas dripping from the drizzle. A little boy clutched a balloon as his father tugged him along. Across the street, a vendor shouted about roasted chestnuts.
It looked so ordinary that I almost believed it. Almost.
---
[Live Chat]
NightOwl99: yo what happened to the fight?? where's the gore??
GhoulHunter: wtf is this… coffee break arc???
PixieDust: honestly? I'm vibing with this ☕ give the witch girl a break
xxxDEADxxx: nah bro… this feels sus, bet something gonna pop off
MoonlitCat: i like the vibes 🐈 calm before storm??
---
The drinks arrived. Steam curled from the cups, blending with the faint chatter of strangers. I leaned back, letting the rare taste of quiet settle in.
And then something furry jumped onto our table.
A cat. Jet-black, eyes like melted gold, tail flicking with authority.
Seraphine froze mid-sip. I thought she might hiss back at it. For a heartbeat, her hand twitched with a faint shimmer of magic.
The cat meowed.
"Cute," I muttered, raising my camera.
But the cat wasn't looking at me. Its gaze locked on Seraphine, sharp and knowing. Then, clear as day, it spoke.
"Still pretending you're normal, witch?"
The coffee nearly shot out my nose.
"W-what the hell?!" I coughed.
Nobody else reacted. The barista hummed behind the counter, the couple near the window was laughing, the office worker snored softly. The world carried on as if nothing strange had happened.
Seraphine's smile was thin, dangerous. "You shouldn't be here."
The cat licked its paw, unconcerned. "And you shouldn't be drinking coffee like a human girl. But here you are."
I fumbled with my lens, recording now for real. Of course this was happening. Whenever I let my guard down, the universe threw something insane my way.
---
[Live Chat]
User123: WTF THE CAT TALKED 😳
🍵CoffeeJunkie: cameraman is literally cursed, why's it always him catching this stuff
GhoulHunter: nah that's a familiar for sure
PixieDust: 🐈✨ best new character so far pls don't kill it
xxxDEADxxx: if that cat jump scares us I'm gone
---
Their voices were low but heavy, like every word hid a blade.
"You left your post," the cat said, its tail swishing. "The Coven won't like that."
"I don't care what the Coven likes," Seraphine replied coldly.
"You should." Its golden eyes flicked toward me. "Because the more you stray, the more he gets dragged in."
A chill slid down my spine.
Seraphine stood abruptly, chair screeching against the floor. Sparks of magic danced between her fingers, faint but enough to make the air feel heavier.
The cat blinked slowly, then leapt off the table and slipped out through the door. By the time I rushed to look, it had vanished into the crowded street.
Silence clung to the café.
I lowered the camera. "Okay. That's… top ten weirdest things I've ever filmed. Easy."
Seraphine didn't answer. Hood up, jaw tight, she strode to the door. "We're leaving."
---
The street outside felt different now. The drizzle had stopped, but the air was charged, restless. The same students walked, the same vendors shouted, but I couldn't shake the feeling something had shifted.
And I was right.
Because three blocks away, tucked between neon signs and dumpsters, shadows stirred in a narrow alley.
Something waited there.
Something patient. Ancient. Hungry.
And my lens would find it soon enough.
---
[Live Chat]
MoonlitCat: no way that's the last we see of the cat 😭
NightOwl99: alleyway vibes = jumpscare 100%
xxxDEADxxx: foreshadowing… we're dead
GhoulHunter: calling it now – cat works for the final boss
PixieDust: cameraman bout to scream again lol