Rule Horror: Kill Your Pets Immediately After Dark

I bent down and set half a can of fish beside the trash bin. The streetlight flickered twice with a crackle, growing dimmer. A rustling sound came from deep in the alley, and a black cat, thin as a skeleton, crept out. It watched me warily for several seconds before approaching the can.

I crouched without moving. Starving, it buried its head and ate greedily. A dark red band around its neck rose and fell as it swallowed. It wasn't fur.

I reached out. The moment my fingertips touched the hard band, the black cat arched its back and let out a threatening growl. But I was quicker. I pinched it between two fingers and yanked hard.

Click.

A faded, dark red leather collar fell into my palm. It was very