The Black Cat

The story is narrated by a man condemned to die, who recounts the horrifying events that led to his downfall. Once a kind and animal-loving individual, he succumbs to alcoholism, which transforms him into a violent and abusive person. His escalating cruelty culminates in the mutilation and eventual murder of his beloved black cat, Pluto. A second, similar black cat appears, seemingly embodying his guilt and driving him further into madness. This new cat, with a white patch on its chest that eerily resembles a gallows, becomes a constant tormentor, leading the narrator to commit an even more heinous act: the murder of his wife. Ultimately, the presence of the second cat leads to the discovery of his crime and his impending execution.

Keywords: alcoholism, guilt, psychological horror, domestic violence, supernatural, madness, perverseness, animals, revenge, crime