The bearded man suddenly lunges at me, his thick hand swiping toward my face like a claw.
Fuck! I'm so done for!!!
But just then...
Something inside me snaps.
Before I can even think, my body moves on instinct. I twist away with startling speed, ducking low and slipping to the side far faster than I expect. His filthy fingers brush through my hair, missing my head by mere inches.
I hear the sharp rush of air.
Then comes his frustrated snarl.
His hand grabs nothing but empty space.
My heart slams against my ribs.
Run.
JUST RUN!
I bolt down the hallway as fast as my legs can carry me.
"HEY! GET BACK HERE!"
The roar behind me makes me flinch.
"GRAB HER!"
Heavy boots thunder after me almost immediately, pounding against the wooden floorboards. Their ragged breathing echoes through the narrow corridor, growing louder with every passing second. I can practically smell the alcohol and sweat following close behind.
Don't look back.
Don't you dare look back!
I sprint toward my room and practically throw myself through the doorway. The moment I'm inside, I slam the door shut and fumble desperately with the lock. My hands are shaking so badly that I almost miss it.
Click.
BAM!
The entire door jolts beneath a massive hit.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The pounding grows louder and more frantic, rattling the hinges and making the walls tremble around me.
"OPEN UP, YOU LITTLE BITCH!" one of them bellows from outside.
"COME ON! WE JUST WANNA HAVE SOME FUN!"
BAM! BAM! BAM!
I press my back against the door, struggling to breathe as panic squeezes my chest. My heartbeat feels like a trapped bird battering itself against my ribs, and tears blur my vision despite my desperate attempts to stay calm.
I can't let them in.
I absolutely cannot let them in.
If this door breaks, I'm so fucking finished.
Then suddenly...
"HEY! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"
A new voice cuts through the chaos. It's a man's voice, loud and angry, and it sounds like he's had just about enough of whatever is happening out here.
The pounding stops.
Just like that.
Silence falls over the hallway so abruptly that it almost feels unreal. For a moment, I can hear nothing but my own ragged breathing and the frantic thumping of my heart.
"Tsk..." one of the men mutters bitterly. "Fucking old man..."
"We weren't doin' nothin'," the other slurs, suddenly attempting to sound innocent. "Just wanted to introduce ourselves to our new Furren neighbor, that's all..."
"She doesn't want to meet you," the older man growls.
His voice is relatively calm, but there's something firm beneath it. The sort of tone that makes it clear he's not interested in hearing any excuses.
"And you sure as hell aren't bothering her again."
A tense silence follows.
I barely dare to breathe.
"Now get the hell out of my inn before I throw both of you out myself!" the old man shouts.
Another pause.
Then, finally...
"Relax, old man! No need to get worked up!" one of the men replies.
A few seconds later, I hear their heavy footsteps retreat down the hallway. The sounds gradually fade into the distance until I can no longer hear them.
Meanwhile, I remain frozen on the other side of the door.
I can't move.
My back stays pressed against the wood as I struggle to catch my breath. My entire body is trembling, and my legs feel so weak that I'm half convinced they'll give out if I try to stand. Even my muscles ache from how tightly I've been holding myself together.
Then...
Knock. Knock.
I nearly jump out of my skin.
My heart practically leaps into my throat, and for one horrible second, I think the men have come back.
But then I hear the old man's voice.
"Hey, girl. You alright in there?"
His tone is still rough, though much calmer now.
"Sorry about that. Those bastards are gone."
I swallow hard. My throat feels painfully dry.
"I-I'm okay," I manage to reply, though my voice comes out weak and shaky.
"Good." He lets out a tired grunt. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on them. You're safe now."
Safe.
I want to believe him.
God, I really want to.
"Th-thank you," I whisper.
"Get some rest, kid."
A moment later, I hear his footsteps slowly retreat down the hallway.
And yet, even after he's gone, I still can't bring myself to move.
My palms remain pressed against the door while my chest rises and falls in uneven breaths. I try to calm down, but my thoughts refuse to settle. Every little noise from outside makes me tense up again, and I keep expecting to hear those heavy footsteps coming back.
The fear just won't go away.
It clings to me stubbornly, wrapping around my body like a second skin.
Still...
At least I'm safe for now.
I think.
****
Haiz...
That was absolutely terrifying.
Now curled up on the floor with my knees pulled tightly against my chest, I squeeze my eyes shut and try desperately to calm myself down.
But I can't.
My mind keeps circling back to the same horrible thought.
What if I'd been just a little slower?
What if they'd actually caught me?
Then what would be happening to me right now?
I don't even want to imagine it.
The thought digs into my mind like a thorn, and no matter how hard I try to push it away, it keeps coming back. My body trembles uncontrollably, and before I even realize what's happening, tears are already rolling down my cheeks.
"Ugh!"
SLAP! SLAP!
I smack my own cheeks, hard enough to sting, hoping the pain will snap me out of it.
Man...
Why couldn't I have reincarnated into some luxurious mansion instead?
You know, one of those fancy fantasy mansions with elegant catgirl maids serving me tea and calling me "Master." Maybe a personal chef, too. A comfortable bed, decent food, and absolutely no creepy drunks trying to corner me in the hallway.
Wouldn't that have been nice?
Instead, I'm stuck in this crooked, filthy inn with no idea what I'm supposed to do next. And I've nearly been assaulted by a pair of disgusting creeps within the first hour of arriving in this world.
The first hour!
Seriously, what kind of terrible luck is this?
A shiver runs down my spine, and I wrap my arms tighter around myself.
God... I need something.
A sign. A tutorial message. A magical cheat ability, maybe?
Hell, I'd even settle for a rusty sword at this point.
Anything to make this feel a little less like a nightmare and a little more like the fantasy adventure it's supposed to be.
Because right now, I'm not feeling very adventurous.
I'm feeling like a frightened kitten hiding in a corner.
...Which, I suppose, is technically accurate.
Then suddenly, I pause.
Oh.
Right.
That reminds me.
"STATUS!" I shout, sitting up straight.
"STATUS WINDOW, OPEN!"
Nothing.
"SYSTEM, ACTIVATE!"
I wait.
Still nothing.
Come on. Every isekai protagonist gets a system, right? There's always some floating screen, magical interface, or mysterious voice explaining their abilities. Sometimes they even get a convenient little tutorial! Right?
So where's mine?
I try again, just in case.
"STATUS!"
...
Absolutely nothing happens.
The room remains silent, and I'm left staring at the empty air like an idiot.
"...Nyaaahhh, I'm so screwed..."
I slump back against the wall and bury my face in my hands.
Great. Just great.
No system, no cheat abilities, and no idea how magic even works in this world.
What am I supposed to do now?
I let out a long, miserable groan.
Then...
Click.
I freeze.
The sound comes from the door.
Someone is unlocking it from the outside.
For a moment, I can't even process what I'm hearing. Then the realization hits me, and panic rushes back so quickly that my entire body stiffens.
Fuck.
Did those bastards come back with another key?!
My heart pounds wildly against my ribs. All the relief I'd felt after hearing the old man chase them away vanishes in an instant.
I don't stop to think.
I scramble to my feet, snatch up the nearest object I can find, and discover that it's the wooden chair beside the table. I grip it with both hands and retreat into the farthest corner of the room.
The chair isn't exactly a weapon I'd trust my life with, but it's better than nothing.
My knuckles turn white around the wooden frame, and my tail puffs up behind me like an angry cat's.
Please don't let it be them.
Please, please, please!!!!
...
Slowly, the door creaks open.
A figure steps inside.
And...
I freeze completely.
****
Catgirls Fun Fact #2:
Catgirls have incredible reflexes! They can react to incoming arrows and dodge them with ease.
...Usually. Depends on the catgirl, I guess.