The tower's collapse. The plane crashing down upon it in fiery descent—a suicide dive meant to destroy whatever lay hidden within those cold steel walls now reduced rubble strewn across streets once teeming with life but now eerily empty save for shadows dancing macabrely under flickering streetlights casting eerie glow on shattered glass and twisted metal.

And then there was Raven—his form silhouetted against the burning wreckage, wings spread wide as if defying gravity itself while he screamed something unintelligible at us before taking flight into darkness overhead...

"Raven," I whispered aloud despite my parched throat protesting each syllable forced through clenched teeth. "Where is...?"

"He's gone." Dog interrupted softly—his mental voice barely above a whisper now, heavy with sorrow and fear mingling together like poisonous brew threatening to consume us both whole if we let it.

"Gone?" I echoed stupidly while trying desperately not think about what 'gone' might mean in context of our current situation. "But...but how? When?"

"I don't know!" Dog snapped suddenly—his frustration boiling over into anger directed at me for no reason other than proximity and convenience, perhaps; after all who else could he blame when faced with such overwhelming helplessness?

I sighed internally but said nothing further on the matter—for now. Instead I focused my thoughts inward searching through memories shared by him earlier hoping to find some clue hidden amidst chaos.

And there it was—a flicker of movement caught at periphery vision just before everything went black: a figure darting away from us towards alleyway leading deeper into heartless cityscape beyond...

"Dog," I said slowly—each word measured carefully so as not betray any hint underlying urgency gripping me now, "we need to follow that thing."

"What?" He sounded incredulous. "Are you crazy? We should stick together! It's safer this way..."

"No." My tone brooked no argument; besides which arguing with Dog was like trying teach a rock how dance—pointless and exhausting all rolled into one.

"Fine!" he growled finally after moment hesitation during which I could practically hear gears grinding inside his head as tried processing my sudden determination. "But if we die out there, it's on you!"

I didn't bother responding; instead simply leaped off rooftop onto street below—my landing cushioned by years practice navigating urban jungle beneath us.

As soon as paws hit concrete I took off running towards alleyway where figure had vanished earlier—not caring whether Dog followed or not. This was personal now, something deep within me demanding vengeance for Raven's disappearance even if it meant facing whatever horrors lurked ahead head-on without backup...

"Wait up!" came his voice echoing behind us—reluctance still evident despite best efforts at hiding true feelings.

I slowed down slightly allowing him catchup while keeping pace steady enough to maintain momentum gained thus far. Together we plunged into darkness looming before like yawning maw ready swallow anything foolish or unlucky enough cross its path...

"Cat," Dog whispered after few moments silence broken only by sound our own breaths echoing off walls closing in around us, "do you hear that?"

I paused mid-stride listening intently—at first hearing nothing but then...there it was: faint yet distinct rhythmic thumping growing louder with each passing second until finally resolving into footsteps approaching rapidly from ahead.

"Someone's coming," I murmured softly before breaking back out running again despite every instinct screaming at me to turn tail and flee while still had chance. This time Dog didn't protest; instead he matched my pace stride for stride as we raced towards unknown danger lurking just beyond reach of dim light cast by distant streetlamps.

As figure emerged from shadows ahead, I realized with sinking feeling that it wasn’t human at all but rather something else entirely—something twisted and wrong in ways defying comprehension. Its body seemed composed equal parts flesh bone metal; limbs moved jerkily like marionette controlled unseen strings while head lolled loosely atop neck as if barely attached.

And then there were eyes—or what should have been eye sockets now filled instead with pulsating orbs of pure darkness absorbing all light falling upon them, leaving nothing but void staring back at us coldly devoid any trace humanity once existed within...

"By the feathers," Dog whimpered beside me—his voice barely above audible whisper yet still managing convey sheer terror gripping him tight as vice now threatening to crush his very soul.

I felt it too—the same primal fear rising up inside clawing desperately for release through screams trapped behind clenched teeth—but I refused let go control over myself despite everything screaming at me otherwise. Instead, focused every ounce willpower into maintaining composure long enough figure out how deal with this...thing blocking our path forward.

"Cat," Dog tried again—his mental voice trembling slightly now under strain of keeping panic locked away deep down inside where it couldn't hurt either one us further than already had been done. "What do we..."

Before I could respond, creature lunged at me suddenly—a blur motion too fast for eyes follow yet somehow managing land solid blow against my side sending both Dog and myself sprawling backwards onto hard ground beneath.

Pain exploded through every nerve ending as if someone poured liquid fire directly into veins; breath caught in throat refusing exit while vision swam dizzily around edges threatening to pull me under unconsciousness' welcoming embrace...

But then something else happened—something unexpected yet strangely exhilarating: anger surged within chest burning away fear like sunlight banishing shadows. This thing dared attack us? Dared threaten our very existence without cause or reason?

No more.

With renewed vigor I leaped back onto feet facing off against monstrosity looming before me once again, teeth bared in snarl defiance even as adrenaline coursed through veins fueling primal rage boiling over inside...

"Cat," Dog warned softly from behind—his voice barely audible yet still managing convey concern mixed with awe at sudden transformation taking place within him. "Be careful...please."

I didn't bother responding; instead focused all attention on creature now circling us warily as if assessing newfound threat posed by my change in demeanor.

"Come here," I growled lowly—my voice barely recognizable even to myself, so thick was it with hatred and contempt for this abomination daring defile our world. "Let's see what you're made of."

It snarled back—a sound more like metal grinding against bone than anything remotely resembling vocalization—and charged again.

This time however I wasn't caught off guard; instead met its attack head-on, teeth sinking deep into flesh-and-metal hybrid arm reaching out towards me menacingly. The taste was...indescribable—like biting down on rusty nail coated thick layer of decay yet somehow managing retain underlying tang cold steel beneath.

But despite revulsion threatening to overwhelm senses at contact alone I refused let go; instead bit harder until bone crunched under pressure, sending jolt pain shooting through jaw but also causing creature pause mid-strike giving Dog chance lunge forward tearing out chunk meat from its leg with powerful jaws before retreating quickly back behind me.

We repeated this dance several times over—each exchange leaving both parties bloodied and battered yet neither willing concede defeat. Until finally, during one particularly brutal clash of wills I managed land solid blow against creature's head sending it crashing down onto ground beneath us where Dog immediately pounced pinning writhing form place while snapping at exposed neck viciously until flesh gave way revealing glint metal pipe running through center...

And then suddenly everything stopped—movement, sound...even time itself seemed to hold breath waiting see what happened next.

Slowly I approached now motionless figure lying prone before us; tail lashing back and forth nervously as anticipation built within chest threatening burst open any moment. With tentative paw reached out towards neck where Dog had torn away flesh revealing underlying machinery beneath...

But just when thought touched cold metal something shifted inside creature—an almost imperceptible movement yet enough cause me jerk hand backwards instinctively before it could be caught off guard again.

Then came laughter—a sound more chilling than any scream ever hope to achieve echoing through empty streets around us as if mocking our futile attempts at victory. The body convulsed with each burst mirth sending waves rippling across its surface while those writhing tendrils lashed out wildly striking both Dog and myself before we could react—sending us sprawling away from it once again.

"By the feathers," I gasped aloud despite pain wracking every inch flesh, "what is that thing?"

Dog whimpered softly beside me but said nothing; instead simply huddled close seeking comfort warmth radiating off my body even as fear gripped him tight like vice threatening crush his very soul...

And then it spoke—voice echoing around us coldly devoid any trace humanity once existed within: "...You cannot kill what has already died, fools."

We stared at each other in horror realization dawned upon both simultaneously. This wasn't some mindless beast driven by instinct alone; no...this was something far worse—a sentient being capable of thought and speech yet lacking empathy or remorse entirely.

A cosmic entity awakened from slumber deep beneath our city—one now intent on claiming it for its own nefarious purposes regardless consequences befalling those unfortunate enough cross paths with such malevolence incarnate...

"Run," I whispered urgently to Dog beside me, knowing full well there was nowhere left go but also understanding we couldn't stay here either. Not if wanted any chance survival whatsoever.

He looked up at met eyes filled terror yet still managed nod weakly before turning tail and fleeing into darkness—leaving behind nothing more than echoes of our desperate flight ringing hollowly through empty streets now haunted by something far beyond human comprehension or control...

As for me, I remained rooted spot—for reasons unknown even to myself—as if held captive gaze those milky white orb staring blankly ahead while tendrils wriggled obscenely from within fleshy prison. Unable move; unable speak...only watch helpless as creature rose slowly back onto feet once again.

And then it smiled—rows upon row needle-like teeth dripping viscous fluid that sizzle against stone beneath us like acid eating away at flesh and bone alike—and said softly yet menacingly: "...Stay, little cat."

I tried to resist; truly I did. But there was something about its voice—a power resonating within each syllable uttered—that made refusal impossible despite every fiber being screaming defiance internally.

So instead stood frozen place watching helpless as tendrils snaked out towards me—coiling around limbs like living ropes binding captive struggling against restraints futilely...

And then darkness claimed everything.

I woke up to a throbbing pain in my head, like someone was hammering nails into it from inside out—an unpleasant reminder that reality had taken on an even more grotesque form than before we'd entered this godforsaken tower. My vision swam as I tried opening eyes glued shut by something sticky and foul-smelling.

"About time you joined us," a familiar voice grumbled beside me, sending shivers down my spine despite the heat radiating off its source like an oven door left open too long in hell's kitchen itself—Dog at his most disgruntled. "Thought we'd have to leave without ya."

I managed enough coherence through pounding skull and queasy stomach churning with dreadful anticipation of what horrors awaited us next, knowing full well that whatever lay ahead would be far worse than anything I could conjure up in my wildest nightmares.

"Where's Raven?" My voice cracked like dry kindling underfoot as memories flooded back: the creature we'd encountered earlier; its chilling laughter echoing through empty streets...and then darkness claiming me without warning or mercy. "Did he—"

"He'll be here," Dog interrupted gruffly, cutting off my morbid train of thought before it could spiral further into despair—which was just as well since there wasn't time for wallowing in self-pity now.

A sudden gust blew through the room we were holed up inside—a tower chamber filled with ancient artifacts and strange symbols etched onto stone walls. The door slammed shut behind us, sealing off any escape route while simultaneously revealing our presence to whatever lurked beyond those heavy wooden panels reinforced by iron bands that looked more like prison cell bars than anything else.

"Company's coming," Dog growled low in warning as he rose from his haunches beside me—his hackles raised high enough they seemed ready for battle even without him moving an inch. "And it ain't no friend of ours."

I pushed myself up against the wall, ignoring protests screaming through every fiber within my being at such exertion after whatever had happened to put us here in this state—but there was little choice left now but stand tall and face our fate head-on.

"Cat," Raven's voice echoed softly from somewhere above—his tone laced with an eerie calm that sent shivers down spine despite knowing him well enough by then. "You're awake."

"Yes." My reply came out harsher than intended, fueled more anger at being caught off guard again rather any real concern for my own wellbeing or his.

"Good," he continued without missing a beat—his voice barely audible over the pounding of blood rushing through ears like waves crashing against cliffs during high tide. "Because we have company."

As if on cue—the door burst open with such force it splintered into pieces flying across room, revealing figure standing there amidst chaos: tall and gaunt as skeleton left too long in sun; eyes burning bright yet cold—like stars fallen from heavens only to be swallowed by darkness once more.

"Greetings," the creature rasped—a voice like nails scraping against chalkboard sending shivers down spine despite myself. "I've been waiting for you."

Raven descended slowly, his wings folding neatly behind him as he landed gracefully beside us—his gaze never leaving that of our unwelcome visitor who seemed almost amused by such display.

"Waiting?" I echoed warily while trying to keep track both Dog's subtle movements preparing pounce and Raven standing tense yet ready for whatever came next.