Chapter 13

Naturally, Gunner didn't want to leave Freyja alone with Odin, but she assured him that if the would-be invader tried anything she was more than capable of defending herself. After her family left, she locked up the house and cleaned up a bit around the yard before grabbing her bag with clean clothes in it, and heading to her car.

"Where are you going?" Odin asked as he followed her through the tall grass of the front yard.

"To take a shower. Even if we can't go see it tonight I don't want to stink up my bed," she replied, careful not to say what 'it' was in this context. The last thing she needed was someone asking why she was talking about viewing a corpse, much less feeding it to her not-cat.

"Hmmm," Odin purred. "I should go with you."

She stopped walking and asked in a cutesy voice, "You want a bath, little guy?"

"Blegh, no. But I have never seen a gym."

"You had a gym in your old place," Freyja countered.

"I..."

She opened the driver's side door to her car and tossed her bag in the passenger side floorboard. "Get in."

"What?"

"I said 'get in.' Don't make me change my mind, Odin."

"Are you talking to your cat?" A voice asked loudly from across the street.

Freyja looked up to find Sam, the neighbor who she had spoken to the first day she was at the shithole, standing on his porch in the twilight. Smoke from a vape circled his messy dark hair. His tan shoulders bare thanks to the old tank top he was wearing. She thought it was the same one he had been wearing the last time she saw him.

"Uh..."

Odin didn’t speak, opting to instead hop in the car and curl up in the passenger seat as if he owned the thing. Freyja was surprised at how cat-like the little worm could act.

Sam put his hands up and shook his head. "It’s just, Elmer used to talk to the cat too."

Freyja felt like throwing up. "It's not like that," she said loudly before getting in the car and backing out of the driveway.

"I do not like being in this vehicle," Odin said after a few minutes on the road. “It is making me nauseous.”

"Don’t you dare puke in my car.”

“I can control my body well enough not to waste food,” Odin replied with his eyes shut.

“You better, we’re almost there.”

A few minutes later Freyja pulled into the parking lot of the Temple of Fitness. It was more busy than when she had visited it late at night, which made sense. She grabbed her bag and got out of the car. Odin hot on her heels.

“You stay in the car.”

“No,” he replied as he hopped onto the asphalt.

She rolled her eyes. “Fine. But you can’t go in with me. People will ask questions.”

“You’ve had no problem answering questions today,” Odin said.

Freyja pursed her lips then shut the door to her car and locked it. “I'm telling you they will throw you out of the building. You’re a cat. This isn’t the sort of gym that has a cat in it.”

He tilted his head. “There are gyms with cats?”

“A few, yeah, but this one's part of a big chain.”

“Perhaps this one will be a gym with cats after I visit?”

“You look like shit, dude.”

Someone leaving the gym paused to stare at the pair. Freyja gave a tired wave with her free hand, which the stranger returned before quickly moving to their own car.

Odin let out a little huff. “I want to see the inside.”

“The place has a huge bank of windows. You can see in using those. Just stay out here while I take a damn shower.”

Odin blinked both of his eyes slowly, one after another. Freyja wasn’t sure if him having regrown the right one caused the delay or if it was just another habit he had picked up from riding in a cat. When he didn’t reply she made for the door. He quickly slipped between her legs and started walking around.

This better not bite me in the ass, Freyja thought, intentionally re-establishing the Link so she knew Odin could hear her.

I do not deserve to use the Link, Odin replied before shutting down the connection.

She rolled her eyes again and found a treadmill to set up on. After walking on it for a few minutes she felt the Link again as Odin padded up to her.

Why are you on that? You were going to bathe.

I need to use the equipment for a bit first, so they don’t think I’m just here for the showers, she replied.

Hmm, Odin replied before cutting the Link.

“Is that your cat?” The evening manager asked while walking over to her. She had met him the day she signed up for the gym and was trying to remember his name until she saw his name tag.

“Sorry, Mark. He got in my car and followed me here. I can put him outside if you want,” Freyja said.

“No, no, it’s fine. It’s just unusual to see a cat in the gym. If anyone has any problems then he’ll have to go outside, but for now he’s welcome to stay. Probably better than the possibility of him wandering off in a new neighborhood,” Mark replied.

“Oh, wow. Thanks.”

“It’s no problem.” Mark squatted down to get a better look. “What’s his name, anyway?”

“Uh, it’s Odin.”

He reached out then stopped his hand. “He okay with pets?”

Freyja looked down at Odin who sat down then leaned his head forward expectantly. “I guess?”

“You guess?”

“He’s pretty feral, but was sweet when I first met him, anyway. Sorry he’s so dirty and all.”

Mark started petting Odin, who purred loudly. “It’s okay. Hard to wash an outside cat and all.”

“You know it.”

After a few minutes Mark got back up and Odin followed him as he made his rounds checking the equipment. Freyja stayed on the treadmill for a little longer then grabbed her bag and made for the showers. She stopped when she felt a twinge in her head.

Tell this man to continue petting me. He was not done, Odin demanded after re-establishing the Link.

He’ll pet you when he can. He has work to do. Be patient.

He needs to pet me NOW, Odin shot back.

“I’m gonna hit the showers. Can you keep an eye on Odin for me, Mark?” Freyja asked.

“Sure, I love cats. Come here, little guy. I’m gonna give you more lovins,” Mark cooed.

LOVINS! Odin cheered with pure joy Freyja could feel through the Link.

Freyja disconnected it before going to take her shower.

The water was warm and soothing, and the soap she brought refreshing. As busy as the gym had been when she arrived it had cleared out while she was on the treadmill so now she had the showers to herself. She was thankful for a quiet moment to think but not knowing what to do about the alien invasion weighed on her.

I can’t believe there’s a fucking alien invasion about to happen and the only ones who can do shit about it are me and a brainworm in my cat, she thought to herself.

There had to be something else they could do. Some way to warn people? Sure, she used to work for an online gun store, but she did stocking and maintenance. Not to mention, she’d been fired from the job, for no good reason.

No way I can use any contacts from Prime Loads after they fired me for being queer, she thought.

Officially, her boss had put down he was letting her go because they were downsizing. But the timing was too close to when a coworker just wouldn’t stop hitting on her and she had told him, point blank, that she was asexual. The guy had said he could ‘change that’ and ‘make a good woman’ out of her. To which she had countered with ‘well, I’m also agender,’ which had just confused the coworker. Frankly, she was surprised her boss hadn't fired her for telling the guy he could just fuck one of his guns and leave her alone. But, firing her for a 'threat' like that would have gotten the police involved and she was sure Prime Loads didn't want to have to deal with cops sniffing around their operation. Not that it wasn't legal.

That boss and the creep from her old job could get eaten by aliens for all she cared. Might do them good, honestly.

Why are you taking so long? Odin asked through the Link she didn’t realize he had turned back on.

Sorry, was just thinking about what to do next.

While bathing?

Humans have their best thoughts in the shower, she replied.

Hurry up, Odin ordered.

I’ll take as much time as I want, thank you, she said before cutting the Link again.

“Dude’s just as bossy as a real cat, my gods,” she said out loud while she scrubbed the rest of the soap from her hair.

When she finished getting dressed after toweling off Freyja discovered a missed call from her brother and four missed texts.

G - You at the gym?

G - Good news!

G - They can see us tonight

G - be at the hospital in an hour!!!!

Freyja checked the clock. It would be tight but she thought she could make it in time if she didn't stop by the house. She was actually thankful Odin had tagged along to the gym. She re-established the Link with Odin as she stepped back into the gym.

"Heading out, Freyja?" Mark asked from an unused treadmill where he sat while petting Odin.

"Yeah. Had to call it an early day today. Have a great night, Mark," she replied. "Come on, Odin."

"You too!" Mark said.

Hope you’re ready for a longer car ride, she thought.

Why? He asked as he scampered over to her.

Because they’re letting us view the body tonight.