Hide and Seek: The Mad Girl Sees All novel Chapter 71

Chapter 71

As soon as the cats realized Albert was dead, the atmosphere among the ten of them shifted instantly.

Ambercat’s fur bristled as it glared at Maine Titan, hissing. “Meow!! This is all on you! You went way too hard with that swipe and got him killed!”

Maine Titan took a step back, slapping its front paws on the ground and snapping back with three sharp meows.

“Meow meow meow!” Maine Titan shot back. “How is that my fault? I say it was that toxic claw that finished him off”

“Meow,” Tigerstripe meowed, flicking its tail. “I was just finishing the job! It’s not my fault! It must’ve been that one who sat on him and crushed him to death!”

Tigerstripe spun around twice, tail lashing, and let out a sharp meow at Ambercat.

Ambercat jumped aside, back arched, ears flattened.

“Meow meow meow! Meow-ow!” Ambercat yowled. “Oh my god! I’m so innocent!”

The ten cats were in absolute chaos, their meows clashing and rising in volume like a storm. Some smacked the floor with their paws, others had their tails puffed up in anger, and a few were circling restlessly.

Lily pressed her ear to the gap in the roller shutter, listening for a while before turning to Lyra and whispering, “Goddess Lyra, what’s going on out there? What are they doing? Why are they suddenly yowling like that?”

“Sounds like they’re fighting,” Lyra replied.

“Seriously? Cats actually fight?” Lily asked, surprised.

“I think so?” Lyra said, a bit uncertain. “I’ve never been a cat, so I can’t say for sure. Maybe they’re just having some kind of meeting?”

“Trust me, they’re fighting.” Lydia said, her face a mix of amusement and exasperation. “I’ve had cats before. That kind of meowing is pure annoyance-and there’s definitely some aggression in it.”

Lina leaned in, keeping her voice low. “What are they even arguing about? Are they fighting over who gets the prey?”

“That’s just how cats roll,” Lydia said, crossing her arms. “They catch something, can’t bring themselves to finish it off, play with it until it’s dead, and then start pointing fingers at each other.”

Lydia leaned against the shelf, arms folded. “My cats are exactly the same. Two of them will play a mouse to death, then start smacking each other over the poor thing’s body.”

Sergei muttered from the back, “Are these even Wraiths anymore? Honestly, they’re acting just like real cats-just with some superpowers thrown in.”

The cats’ argument went on for about two minutes before their meows finally started to fade. Lyra watched as their formation fell apart and the cats drifted off in different directions.

Shadowcat flicked its tail and slipped into the shadows of the corridor, heading east without looking back.

Cowcat, seeing this, sprang up and landed on the second floor, right across from where Lyra and the others were hiding.

Silver Whisper and Maine Titan walked side by side, hugging the wall as they headed toward the shops on the west side.

Ambercat. Ragdoll Healer, and Tricolor Mimic also chose the east side, but they weren’t as fast as Shadowcat.

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Chapter 71

PLEA

Tabby Mirage, Tigerstripe, and Golden Veil stuck together, not leaving at all. Instead, they zeroed in on the shop next door and started searching for people.

Lyra pulled her gaze away from the gap in the door. “They’ve split up.”

“Ten cats, split into five groups, Lyra said. “Just like the previous Wraiths, they’re splitting up to search wider during the

hunt.”

Lily tilted her head, thinking. “Does that mean we’re safer now? If they’re split up, they won’t all come after us at once, fight?

“Now that they’re split up, a single cat isn’t as dangerous,” Lyra said, standing up. “But don’t let your guard down. So far. only Cowcat has made it to the second floor, and it’s just across from us. Stay alert.”

She looked at the four of them. “From now on, don’t open the door, no matter what you hear outside-game announcements, someone screaming for help, or even knocking. Don’t open it.”

“And don’t be scared or freak out. Silver Whisper can sense emotions. If you panic, it’ll lock onto you,” Lyra added. /

“And the perfume,” Lyra said, picking up a bottle of citrus perfume. “Every fifteen minutes, spray it out through the gap at the bottom of the roller shutter. Three sprays each time.”

Lydia took the perfume, gave it a little shake, and said, “I’ll handle the spraying.”

“For now, unless Tabby Mirage’s illusions or Maine Titan’s strength can bust open the roller shutter, the other cats shouldn’t really be a threat to you,” Lyra said.

Lina stared at Lyra. “Lyra.”

“Yeah?” Lyra replied.

“You’re giving us all these tasks,” Lina said, her voice slowing down. “Are you planning to go out?”

Lydia looked over at Lyra too.

Lyra’s fingers were already brushing the Transform Card in her pocket, her thumb tracing the edge of the card.

“While they’re split up, I’m going to go out and check things out,” Lyra said.

Lina opened her mouth, then closed it again.

“These cats seem to be able to communicate,” Lyra said, spinning the card between her fingers. “If I turn into a cat, maybe I can blend in and eavesdrop. Maybe I’ll catch some info about the game or the Wraiths.”

Lily was the first to speak up, thumping her chest with a determined look. Her voice was low but full of energy “Go for it, Goddess Lyra! We’ve got your back!”

She waved the perfume and whistle in her hands. “Lily’s on guard duty! I won’t let anything mess up your plan!”

Lyra smiled, her eyes crinkling. She walked over to the corner of the shop and looked up at the vent. “Sergei, take down the backpack.”

Sergei paused for a second, then realized what she meant and stepped forward to pull down the backpack blocking the vent, revealing the dark, square opening.

“Once I’m inside, block it up again. Add some extra orange peel around it and give it another spray of perfume,” Lyra said.

“Got it,” Sergei replied.

Lyra pulled out all the cat food cans, catnip, and extra orange peels from her pockets and handed them out to the four of

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Chapter 71

them.

‘Keep these with you. They might save your life when things get rough, Lyra said.

She pulled out the Transform Card, and a flash of white light filled the room.

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