Jin sighed as he realized he still needed to change his clothes for work. He couldn’t go back to his apartment because of the raven. The streets were still quiet, a soft fog settled in the early hours before the city had yet to fully awaken. 

“Jin, are you listening? I said I’m hungry,” the cat said loudly, interrupting his thoughts. 

“We don’t have time for that now, I have to go to my parents’ place. Even though I hate going there. They are always so condescending, fuck them. But I have some clothes there that would be suitable for work,” Jin remarked, the cat still perched on his shoulder. 

“Even better, your mother’s food is impeccable. She always has some tasty fish for me,” the cat meowed. 

Jin gritted his teeth, he really did hate going home to his parent’s house. They didn’t know what he had gone through to save his sister, to make sure she stayed alive. 

“Your sister will be there too, right?” The cat grinned, “She adores you.” 

“Don’t mention her. You know I made this deal with you because of her. I want her to have the best life possible. I don’t give a shit about myself,” Jin grunted as he headed down the stairs to the subway.

“Do you think we could cook the raven? I’m sure it would be delicious,” the cat meowed and licked its mouth. 

Jin raised an eyebrow, “I thought you were terrified of the raven?”

“A cat is allowed to dream, no?” The cat pressed his claws lightly into Jin’s shoulder. 

“Ouch, what was that for?” Jin stopped, “It’s not like you’re actually a cat anyway.” He scowled at the feline on his shoulder. 

“I like to keep you on your toes… Better get going if you don’t wanna be late for work,” the cat meowed cheerfully. 

Jin gritted his teeth, what an annoying cat. Not even a cat. A demon. Whatever. He simply had to push through until he had taken all the lives the cat required, right? 

Jin hurried along the narrowing streets, his parents lived on a hill nearby. It was not too far, but the uphill walk was not always the easiest. Jin has spent countless years walking up and down the hill to get to and from school. 

He stopped again. Bushes full of fragrant flowers were in bloom along the road up to the hill. This would have been the most beautiful sight, except— it was not spring, or even summer. Jin stared at the flowers, bright red on this slightly cool fall day. How could it be? He felt a surge of disgust, seeing the person he had taken the life of earlier in his mind’s eye. He jolted to the side of the road, feeling his insides churning, the bun he had just eaten came right back out. 

“Not on the flowers…” The cat sighed.

“Ugh. Something feels strange, these flowers… They don’t usually bloom this time of the year…” Jin wiped his mouth as he slumped down on the side of the road. 

The cat leaped off his shoulder, “I suppose you’re right. Everything is upside down these days. It has already started stirring, and you’re feeling it so soon. The one that dwells beneath us.” 

“The one that dwells beneath us?” Jin stared at the cat. 

“To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering. Nietzsche.” The cat sat down next to Jin, “Suffering is everywhere. I help ease some of it, by normally doing what you do for me now; kill bad people, and then I consume their souls. The light of day reveals all which is hidden. You are a most excellent human, Jin. There is no doubt about it. But you will keep suffering, such is the existence of humans. According to Buddha we have to suffer to feel true joy, two sides of the same coin. You need darkness to see the light.” The cat licked his paw, gently rubbing the paw on his face.

Jin stared at the cat still, confused, “But what is the thing that dwells beneath us?” 

“You don’t wanna be late for work, do you?” The cat meowed as he started wandering down the street. 

Jin shook his head, this demon of a cat was impossible to understand. He glanced at the blooming flowers, were they suffering? He didn’t fully understand. He knew the cat was right, suffering was everywhere, he could feel it. Actually he had always felt it— the agony of others had often felt like a cacophony of laments to him. 

He swiftly got up on his feet, the cat was also right about another thing, he would be late for work if he didn’t hurry. As he placed one foot in front of the other he felt it, the earth began to tremble. Jin almost fell back as he tried to steady himself. The houses on the hill all swayed as everything trembled violently. Car alarms resounded throughout the streets, small cracks appeared in the asphalt. 

“Earthquake… I need to hurry and see if my sister and parents are alright,” Jin exclaimed and dashed further up the hill. 

Despite the trembling, he kept his cool and ran as fast as he could. The cat leaped onto his shoulder as if seeking refuge from the ground. 

“This is not any ordinary earthquake…” The cat hissed and glanced down at the cracks, “He wants to break free.”

“Who?” Jin asked as he ran. He still wanted to know what the cat was talking about. 

“He-AR M-e. Yo-U DEs-ir-E pEA-ce, n-O?” A strange voice resounded in Jin’s mind, he could barely make out what it was saying. 

The cat glanced at Jin as he sat perched on his shoulder, “He is ancient, trapped inside the earth itself he’s been slumbering peacefully. Until now. You can feel it trying to enter your mind, can’t you? He is powerful,” the cat meowed, “I- I was instructed to wait with this, but I fear there is no time. You have to find the others. The rest of the hand.” 

“Hand? What hand?” Jin stopped abruptly, a tree had fallen on the road ahead of them.

The trembling stopped and the cat leaped back down from Jin’s shoulder, “The Midnight Hand.”