The Key (100 Word Story)

The firefighters stood, covered in grime and sweat, watching as the abandoned building burned to the ground.  It would be tomorrow before they could sift through the now smoldering debris for anything worth saving.

One fireman turned, saw something moving and watched in amazement as a cat crept through charred rubble, then sat, delicately licking its paws.

“Here, kitty, kitty,” he called softly, feeling foolish.  The cat crept closer until Brett scooped it up in his hands, stroking the soft gray fur.

“What the hell is this?” Brett muttered, feeling a small key dangling from the cat’s collar.

 

~Diane D.