JUST AN ATTRACTION
"Dressed like a gaurd, better reconsider."
YANDERE PLATONIC KATZ (courage the cowardly dog) + CHILD READER
The sun dipped low over the flat, endless expanse of Nowhere, Kansas, painting the sky in streaks of orange and bruised purple. The old farmhouse stood as it always had—isolated, weathered, a stubborn anchor in a sea of dust and oddity. Muriel Bagges hummed softly in the kitchen, stirring a pot of something that smelled suspiciously like vinegar and comfort. Eustace grumbled from his rocking chair on the porch, newspaper crinkling as he pretended not to notice the extra presence in the house these days.
You, Muriel's granddaughter, had arrived two weeks earlier for the summer. At fourteen, you carried the quiet energy of someone used to city noise suddenly dropped into silence. Your backpack still held half-unpacked sketchbooks and a phone that barely got signal, but you'd already fallen into the rhythm: helping Muriel with chores, dodging Eustace's half-hearted complaints, and walking the fields with Courage trotting faithfully at your side.
Courage wasn't like other dogs. He didn't demand attention or bark for treats. He watched. Always watched. His big eyes tracked every shadow, every rustle in the tall grass. When you laughed at a silly joke Muriel told, he'd wag his tail so hard his whole body shook. When you wandered too far from the house, he'd nudge your leg gently, guiding you back. Protective, yes—but never smothering. He loved his family, and by extension, you were part of that circle now. Simple as that.
It began with the flyer.
You found it pinned to the barn door one afternoon, glossy and out of place amid the peeling paint and rusted nails. "Katz's Exclusive Resort & Spa – Tranquility Awaits in Nowhere. No Dogs Allowed. Special Introductory Offer for Locals."
Courage froze the moment he saw it. His fur bristled, ears flattening as a low, trembling whine escaped him. He pawed at the paper, trying to tear it down, but you plucked it free with a curious smile.
"A spa? That sounds relaxing. Maybe Grandma and Grandpa could use a day off." You scratched behind Courage's ears. "Don't worry, boy. We'll just check it out. You can wait outside."
Muriel was delighted when you showed her. "Och, a wee pamperin'! Eustace, ye grumpy auld thing, ye could use a massage for that stiff neck o' yers."
Eustace snorted. "I ain't payin' some fancy-pants cat to rub me down."
But Muriel insisted, and the next morning the three of you—plus a very reluctant Courage sneaking along—headed to the address on the flyer.
The building appeared like a mirage: sleek lines, velvet curtains visible through tall windows, completely alien in the barren landscape. A bell chimed as you entered, cool air washing over you scented with lavender and something metallic underneath.
"Hello. Welcome to my establishment. I'm Katz."
He emerged from behind a polished counter, tall and slender, red fur gleaming under soft lights, violet highlights catching the glow. His yellow eyes swept over the group, lingering briefly on Courage—who immediately ducked behind your legs with a whimper—before settling on Muriel with practiced charm.
"Mrs. Bagge, a pleasure as always. And this must be... your charming granddaughter." His voice was smooth, British-accented, calm as still water. He extended a paw. "Charmed, Miss...?"
"Y/N," you said, shaking it politely. His grip was cool, firm, lingering just a second too long.
"Delightful. Please, make yourselves comfortable. Muriel, Eustace—allow me to show you to the treatment rooms. No dogs allowed, of course." He glanced at Courage with faint disdain. "Rules are rules."
Courage growled softly, but you knelt to hug him. "Stay here, okay? I'll be right back."
What followed was predictable Nowhere chaos.
The "treatments" were traps. Muriel ended up strapped to a conveyor belt heading toward spinning blades disguised as massage rollers. Eustace was locked in a chamber filling with electrified steam. Katz watched it all with that same serene smile, murmuring, "Sad, isn't it?" as if commenting on the weather.
Courage, of course, broke in. Screaming, dodging lasers, chewing through restraints—he freed them all in a frenzy of pink fur and determination. The building shook as machines malfunctioned, and in the end, you all escaped in a cloud of smoke and sparks, Katz's elegant form silhouetted in the doorway, unharmed, watching you go.
Back at the farm, Muriel fussed over everyone with tea and blankets. Eustace muttered about "that no-good cat" while secretly relieved. Courage curled up at your feet, exhausted but vigilant, tail thumping weakly when you scratched his head.
You thought that was the end of it.
It wasn't.
Gifts started appearing. A single red rose on the porch railing one morning, thorns carefully removed. A small box of imported caramels left by the mailbox, no note. Then a handwritten card in looping script: "A token of appreciation for such delightful company. —K"
Courage sniffed each one suspiciously, growling until you set them aside. But you found them oddly thoughtful—polite, even. "Maybe he's just... lonely?" you wondered aloud. Courage whined, pressing close.
Katz began appearing more openly. A "chance" encounter on the dirt road as you walked Courage. "Fancy meeting you here, Miss Y/N. Enjoying the summer air?" His tone was always courteous, questions gentle: your favorite books, what you liked to draw, how the city compared to Nowhere. He never raised his voice, never threatened outright. But his eyes followed you with unnerving focus, as if cataloging every detail.
One evening he arrived at the farmhouse door, impeccably dressed, holding a small wrapped package. "A gift for the young lady of the house," he said smoothly when Muriel answered. "Nothing extravagant. Merely a sketchbook of fine paper. I noticed her talent from afar."
Muriel, ever hospitable, invited him in for tea. Eustace grumbled but stayed quiet. You thanked him politely, flipping through the pristine pages. Courage sat rigid beside you, hackles raised, refusing to blink.
As Katz sipped tea, he spoke casually. "Nowhere can be so... stifling for someone with potential. All these odd happenings. Dangerous, really. A bright girl like you deserves better guardianship. Stability. Refinement."
You shifted uncomfortably. "I like it here. With my grandparents. And Courage—he keeps us safe."
Katz's smile didn't waver, but something flickered in his gaze. "That mutt? How quaint. Though one does wonder how long his... enthusiasm will suffice against true threats."
Courage snarled.
Katz set down his cup. "I wish you hadn't done that." He rose gracefully. "Do think on my offer, Miss Y/N. Safety is such a fragile thing."
After he left, the incidents escalated subtly. The well water tasted strange one morning—Courage knocked over your glass before you drank, barking frantically until Muriel tested it and found a mild sedative. A "helpful" pamphlet appeared in the mailbox advertising a boarding school far away, with Katz's elegant signature scrawled in the margin: "For your consideration."
Then came the night he took it further.
Under a moon bloated and red, Muriel and Eustace vanished after receiving a mysterious invitation to a "private viewing" of rare antiques. You and Courage raced to the coordinates—an abandoned carnival on the edge of town, lights flickering unnaturally.
Inside the hall of mirrors, Katz waited, reflections multiplying his calm menace. Muriel and Eustace were suspended in glass cases, unharmed but trapped, staring blankly.
"Ah, Miss Y/N. You've come. How predictable." His voice echoed softly from every direction. "Your grandparents are quite comfortable. For now."
"Let them go," you said, voice steady despite the pounding in your chest. Courage pressed against your leg, trembling but ready.
Katz stepped forward, paws clasped behind his back. "Join me, and they walk free. I can offer you everything this dreary place cannot: protection, culture, a life without these constant... interruptions." He gestured vaguely toward Courage. "No more relying on a frightened animal to stumble through danger. With me, you'd never need fear again."
You shook your head. "That's not protection. That's control."
His eyes narrowed fractionally—the first crack in the composure. "Control? Merely good sense. The world is full of fools and monsters. I eliminate the former and outmatch the latter. You could thrive under such care."
Courage lunged then, a pink blur of fury. The fight spilled through mirrors—shattering glass, dodging mechanical traps Katz activated with lazy flicks of his paw. Spiders scuttled from the shadows (his "pets," always), but Courage barreled through, freeing Muriel and Eustace while you distracted Katz with words and quick movements.
In the end, a collapsing funhouse ride pinned Katz beneath twisted metal. He didn't struggle much—just watched you with that same serene expression as you helped your family escape.
"Sad, isn't it?" he murmured as the structure groaned around him. "We could have been... exceptional together."
You didn't look back.
Dawn broke over the farm like nothing had happened. Muriel baked extra pie. Eustace fixed the porch step without complaint. Courage slept at the foot of your bed, one paw draped protectively over your ankle.
You sketched the sunrise from the window, Courage's soft snores the only sound. Out in the distance, a sleek red shape watched from a distant hill—silent, patient.
He'd return. He always did.
But for now, the farmhouse held. Family held. And Courage—brave in his own terrified way—remained the truest guardian of all.