Cheese Heist

“I’m going for it,” I squeak staring longingly at the taunting morsel. It was so close I could almost reach the crumbly, buttery lump.

“Don’t,” Cindy chitters, fear vibrating along her silver fur in waves.

I didn’t answer her. Instead, I continue to stare at the cheese. We all understood what it rested on. A death trap. My older sister was not fast enough. Could I...?

Hunger rumbles through my stomach. It’s been slim pickings since the metal sucker started gliding through the room every day after the humans left. Why do machines have to be so greedy?

I inch closer, leaving only my tail left in the hole. My whiskers sweep along. Left, right, left, right. I'm almost there, heart pulsing in my ears.

“Fast as the wind, fast as lightning.” I take a deep breath. “I can do this.”

I grab for the cheese as the metal bar breaks my spine. I black out for a few seconds and wake to Cindy climbing over me. Several others crowd around, and I find myself unable to speak. Curiously, I feel no pain.

“Thank you for your sacrifice,” they chant.

I shrug inwardly. It was my turn.