I've had a lot of cats over the years. A few years ago one got out somehow and was never seen again.
Tonight my dog was outside losing her mind and barking furiously at something for a solid five minutes straight. I finally grabbed a flashlight and went to see what the hell she was going after. Right as I stepped out, I saw an orange cat with white paws bolt past about 20 feet away, running fast. My dog tore off after it, but the cat was way too quick.. probably shot straight up a tree.
In that split second, I was dead certain it was Alister. My long-lost boy, back after all this time.
I dragged the dog inside, threw on some warm clothes and shoes, and headed into the woods with the flashlight.
I spent a full hour out there, through the woods, calling his name over and over, cracking open a couple cans of cat food hoping the sound would pull him in. But my dog must have scared the life out of him..he wasn't coming anywhere near me.
I finally gave up and came back inside. I woke my wife and told her, half-breathless, "Alister's out there. I saw him.. Ive been outside looking for him and I think I can get him to come in."
She blinked at me in the dim light and said quietly, "Honey… Alister is dead."
I said "No! I saw him right infront of me!!!"
She responded " No, you found him dead in the house, thats was a different cat of ours that had gotten out"
And just like that, the fog cleared. She was right. Alisterdid die.
I found him one morning inside the house, already gone.
I carried him out and buried him myself.
The cat that disappeared years ago wasn't even orange.
Now It's 5:30 a.m., and I'm just sitting here staring out into the darkness, something feels... off...
Part of me is seriously wondering if this is some twisted, real-life Stephen King/Pet Sematary scenario and Alister actually clawed his way out of the grave I dug for him years ago, he is back but... not quite right anymore. Fur ragged, eyes wrong, something off in the way he moves, but he wants to come back inside..
This post was edited by KillerAngel on Mar 20 2026 03:52am