The commercials had been everywhere: happy kittens batting at yarn, sleek cats preening themselves, and smiling actors promising a magical day of transformation.
“Step into Cat World! Experience life as a cat—playful, cute, and free!”
Eliza couldn’t resist the invitation, nor could her friends Danielle and Tara. The three arrived at the brightly painted building, its pastel pink walls adorned with oversized cat ears and a neon “Welcome to Cat World!” sign flashing above the entrance.
Inside, the lobby was just as inviting: beanbag chairs shaped like paw prints, murals of frolicking kittens, and cheerful staff members in plush cat costumes.
“Welcome to Cat World!” a bubbly attendant chirped, handing each guest a clipboard with a waiver. “Just a quick signature to join the fun!”
Eliza hesitated, scanning the dense text.
“It’s just for insurance,” Danielle said, already signing with a flourish. She tossed her long black hair over her shoulder. “Relax, Eliza. It’s supposed to be fun!”
Eliza reluctantly signed, following Danielle and Tara into a waiting area filled with other eager participants. Most of them were young women, chatting excitedly and taking selfies. Eliza couldn’t help but notice their hair—so many of them had gorgeous locks.
A blonde sat nearby, her waist-length hair cascading in glossy waves. Beside her, a redhead toyed with her fiery curls, her hair shimmering under the fluorescent lights. Even Danielle and Tara fit right in, with their sleek black and caramel-brown hair falling well past their shoulders.
“Okay, everyone!” an attendant called. “It’s time for your transformation! Follow us to the grooming room!”
The group giggled as they were led through pastel doors into a larger room. The walls were painted with whimsical cats, and soft music played in the background.
“Now,” said the lead attendant, still smiling, “every cat needs proper grooming. The first step: shedding your human fur!”
The room went silent.
“Wait…what?” Eliza whispered, glancing at Danielle.
Before anyone could respond, the doors behind them clicked shut and locked.
“Let’s get started!” the attendant chirped.
Staff wheeled in carts of electric clippers, their cheerful expressions never wavering. “To fully embrace your transformation, we’ll need to get rid of your long hair. You’ll all be groomed, just like real cats”
The first victim, the blonde with waist-length hair, was forcefully guided to a chair.
“No! This has to be a joke!” she cried, clutching her golden waves. “You can’t do this!”
“Oh, but you agreed!” an attendant said sweetly, holding up the signed waiver.
Her protests turned into screams as they strapped her into the chair. The clippers roared to life, and with one brutal swipe, a strip of her shimmering hair was gone.
“No! Please stop!” she sobbed, but the attendants were relentless. Thick, golden strands tumbled to the floor in heavy heaps as the clippers stripped her scalp bare.
“Next!”
A redhead with fiery curls was dragged to the next chair.
“Please! I didn’t know this was going to happen!” she pleaded, tears streaking her face.
The clippers buzzed to life, and the first pass sent curls cascading to the ground. She wailed as the attendants worked quickly, shaving her head down to pale, raw skin.
Eliza’s stomach churned as she watched the scene unfold. All around her, women were dragged to the chairs, their screams echoing off the walls. One by one, their stunning hair was stripped away, leaving them bald and sobbing.
Danielle was next.
“Don’t touch me!” she screamed, trying to fight them off, but the attendants were too strong.
Eliza watched in horror as Danielle’s sleek black hair was ruthlessly shaved away. The clippers roared over her scalp, sending shiny locks tumbling to the floor. By the time they were finished, Danielle was trembling, her bald head gleaming under the lights.
“Your turn!”
Eliza flinched as strong hands gripped her arms, dragging her to a chair.
“No, please,” she whimpered, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Not my hair. I’ve been growing it out for years!”
The attendants ignored her protests, snapping the cape around her neck and pressing the clippers to her forehead.
The first swipe was agonizing—not physically, but emotionally. Eliza felt the vibrations of the clippers as they carved a path through her thick, chestnut waves. She watched, horrified, as her hair fell in heavy clumps to the floor.
By the time they were done, she barely recognized herself. Her scalp was pale and exposed, her face burning with humiliation. She was shaved bald.
The room was now eerily quiet, except for the soft sobs of the newly bald participants. The floor was littered with piles of beautiful hair, a haunting reminder of what they’d lost.
“Fantastic!” the lead attendant said, clapping her hands. “You’re all ready for the next stage—vaccinations!”
The pastel doors slid open, revealing a stark, sterile room lined with medical chairs. The attendants herded the women inside, forcing them to sit as needles were prepared.
One by one, the participants were injected—quick, sharp jabs that left them wincing.
“Finally,” the attendant said, “it’s time to embrace your new life as cats!”
The women were led to another room, this one filled with cages.
“Wait, what are you doing?” Eliza cried as she was shoved into a small metal cage. The door slammed shut, and the lock clicked into place.
The attendants stepped back, surveying the row of caged, bald women with satisfied smiles.
“Congratulations,” the lead attendant said coldly. “You’ve just experienced what millions of animals endure every day. This was a demonstration—a lesson in compassion.”
The lights flickered, and a screen on the wall lit up.
Eliza’s blood ran cold as she saw the footage: the entire event had been live-streamed.
Every scream, every sob, every shaved head was now viral content, with thousands of comments scrolling across the screen.
“Animal cruelty is no joke!”
“Serves them right!”
“This is justice!”
The attendants unlocked the doors and gestured to the exit. “You’re free to go,” the lead said with a smile.
Eliza stumbled out into the daylight, her bald scalp burning under the sun. Around her, the other women wept as they realized their humiliation had been broadcast to the world.