[Center][b][u]1:50 PM, January 25th, 2026
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico[/u][/b][/center]

10 year old Daniel was playing in the backyard, throwing a tennis ball against the side of his house. His mom told him to play outside while she was on the phone. He could hear her yelling sometimes. Daniel kind of wanted to see his dad, but his mom said he had to go away. That made him feel sad.

[Color=DimGray][b]"Hey, kid."[/b][/color]

Daniel turn around quickly upon hearing the voice, but saw nobody in his backyard but him. He looked over into the woods at the edge of the yard, but could find nobody in the treeline.

[Color=DimGray][b]"Up here."[/b][/color]

Daniel looked up, seeing a gray cat on the roof of his house. It sat there, staring at him. Then it began to speak.

[Color=dimgray][b]"What? You've never seen a talking cat before?"[/b][/color]

Daniel stood in shock and awe at the cat for a moment, before responding.

[b]"How are you talking?"[/b]

[Color=dimgray][b]"I'm a magic cat, obviously. I can grant wishes too!"[/b][/color]

[b]"Really?!"[/b]

[Color=dimgray][b]"Well, it depends on your wish. Do you have a wish?"[/b][/color]

Daniel thinks for a moment. He just found a magic cat that grants wishes! What did he want most in the world? On cue, he could hear his mom yelling at the person on the other end of the phone. He was pretty sure it was his dad. Something happened that made his parents not like each other anymore.

[b]"... I just want my mom and dad to be happy and like each other again."[/b]

The cat is silent for a few moments, seeming to consider his wish. This is probably the most intense moment in Daniel's life.

[Color=dimgray][b]"... Your wish is a noble one. I can indeed grant it."[/b][/color]

Daniel was overjoyed, jumping up and down in excitement. The cat hopped down from the roof and started walking towards the woods. Daniel was confused. The cat turned to him.

[Color=DimGray][b]"Do you want your wish or not? C'mon, follow me!"[/b][/color]

Daniel follows with no further hesitation, into the woods with the magical cat. After a few minutes of walking into the woods, the magic cat dashes forward out of sight. Daniel tries to keep up, but the cat's nowhere to be found.

[b]"... Magic Talking Cat? Where'd you go?"[/b]

[Color=Dimgray][b]"Over here!"[/b][/color]

Daniel follows the voice, leading him to the cat perched on a thick tree. Hanging from this tree is a single golden apple, hanging from a low branch close to the trunk.. The cat explains.

[Color=dimgray][b]"There you are. Now, to grant your wish, you need to pick this golden apple. I'd get it for you, but then it wouldn't work."[/b][/color]

Daniel gazes in awe at the apple, shining in the light. He begins to climb the tree, hugging it as tight as he can. He gets to the apple, and reaches out for it. The tree then pulls Daniel inside itself, it's texture going from hard and sturdy to soft and mushy. It closes around him, the cat and the apple likewise sinking into the tree, returning to being just another tree in the forest.

[hr]

[Center][b][u]2:10 PM[/u][/b][/center]

Daniel's mother, Rebbeca, hung up the phone in anger and frustration. That son of a bitch can take his whore and go, but he wasn't taking her son with them. The court agreed with her, and he needs to get over it. Once the divorce is finalized, she's taking Daniel and getting the hell out of this city. She heads outside and shouts out the door.

[b]"Danny, you can come back inside now!"[/b]

There was no response. Rebecca stepped out into the backyard.

[b]"... Danny?"[/b]

She looked around the yard, but her son was nowhere to be seen. She started to panic, but it was in vain. He was already gone.

[b]"Daniel?! DANIEL?!"[/b]

[hr]

[center][b][u]11:30 PM[/u][/b][/center]

The police had looked for Daniel in the surrounding woods, but he was nowhere to be found. It had gotten too dark to search any longer, so they'd given up the search for the night. Rebecca's ex-husband was currently being investigated. Rebecca herself was sitting alone at home, having cried her eyes out for hours. She wanted her son back.

[b]"MOOOOOM!"[/b]

The shout echoed outside, and Rebecca perked up. She looked out into the backyard, seeing a small figure in at the treeline. She immediately ran outside.

[b]"DANIEL!"[/b]

The boy screamed, being pulled back into the woods. Rebecca was startled for a second, but chased after him. She didn't worry about the dangers. She'd lost him for a moment. The forest was dark, lit only by the moonlight.

[b]"DANIEL, WHERE ARE YOU?!"[/b]

[b]"MOMMY!"[/b]

She followed the voice, finding her son in the fetal position against a tree. She crouches besides him and hugs him, checking him for injuries. She's in tears.

[b]"Daniel, oh my god! Are you hurt, baby?!"[/b]

The tree's branches twisted and turned, grabbing Rebecca. She was pulled into the trunk before she could resist, half-phased in. Her son started to giggle as the cells began eating her, and she watched as he stood up, a tree branch connected to his back. Daniel slowly morphed into another person entirely.

[Color=Dimgray][b]"... You know... I don't like to eat children like some sort of boogeyman. The taste isn't really... [i]there[/i], you know? Like wine. Needs time to mature."[/b][/color]

Rebecca tried to scream, but the "tree" covered her mouth in it's bark. The cells ate away at her vocal chords next.

[Color=dimgray][b]"And according to some 'research'... You're pushing on 70.
And when I first sniffed you out, I [i]knew[/i] it wasn't some sort of age-defying trick. And from what my cells are telling me, you taste [i]amazing[/i],
just like your boy. You're something special."[/b][/color]

Virus eats away at her body, assimilating her slower than anyone else he's eaten. She can't even cry in pain as she sinks slowly back into the tree.

[Color=dimgray][b]"Don't worry, though. You'll see your son again. Soon."[/b][/color]

Rebecca sinks into the tree, and after a few minutes of incomperable pain, she's no more.

Virus claims another.