The crowds at the local arboretum were heavier than usual.

Unsurprising, as many of the plants on display were just recently engineered by plant scientists from across the world. New and exciting plants, made from strange seeds dug up from old ruins deep underground. There was quite a bit of buzz about these plants, with a few of the exhibits showcasing their uses and qualities...

Ellie was excited, more than happy to have scored a ticket on her day off. She’d entered her ticket into a raffle for some behind the scenes looks at the growing process… and she had won! Her and a few other guests were being escorted back into the labs, where the tour guide would talk about the places these plants were found in.

The plants seemed to originate deep underground, and as such were capable of glowing when under low light. They also seemed to not need too much in terms of nutrients, often preying on small life forms such as cave fish and bats… the cat couldn’t help but watch in awe, eyes sparkling as the scientists demonstrated how some yellow flowers sprayed a fine, sparkling mist of pollen and some unknown substance into the testing chamber… the ultraviolet light they switched on made it sparkle and shimmer even more… 

Finally, they would do a walkthrough of a huge greenhouse under the lab, with dim lights illuminating the path they needed to take. Huge pitcher plants sat off to the side, lined up so neatly as a canopy of flowers hung overhead and around them all…

Ellie was told twice to keep pace with the group. And for good reason.

The cat lingered on a column of pink vines, watching the way it all swayed and shifted without so much as a breeze…she couldn’t help but snap a few photos, posing with the twinkling vines… only to have one of them grab at her wrist.

The flash of her cellphone camera had roused the sensitive plants, causing them to reach out and grab her. The strange pink plants were sort of…gooey? And sticky? The shimmer was caused by a faint secretion of slime on the surface of the vines, which only made it harder for Ellie to get away. In fact, her attempts to try and loosen the vines holding her wrist only made them ooze more… with a sudden jerk, the vines would yank her off the path, making her stumble face first into a tangle of more of these gooey tendrils…

There was no way she’d be able to cry out, as quite a few had clung to her face upon impact. The most she could manage was a squeal and a shake of her head as more grabbed onto her flailing limbs.

“NNNGH! HHLPH!” She managed to yank her head upwards, but the tour group was already moving off to the end of the green house. And to add to her horror, she spotted their tour guide, looking straight at her… and shaking his head before shutting the door behind him.

Ellie was left to the mercy of the vines, which were already making moves to secure her. Despite her wriggling and her protests, the pink, sticky vines would wrap around her legs and chest, while more of that shimmering pollen rained down onto her… her frantic cries would only make her pant and whine, forcing her to inhale the glittering substance. And the more she wheezed and begged for someone to let her out, the more she felt… dizzy. Sleepy even… she shook her head, moaning as wriggling as the plants started to lift her up off the ground. One of the vines dipped down, the yellow flower shaking and spreading more glittering pollen into the air… her muffled cries only made her inhale more of it, making it harder to resist…

Would it be so bad if she just relaxed, let the vines take her away? Surely… but… her wriggling slowed, eyes slipping out of focus…

Her struggles and wriggles grew weaker and weaker, as she was hoisted up over the rim of a pitcher plant’s bulb… slowly, the vines slid her feet first into the plant, the feline letting out muffled cries as the vines held her still during the whole process. The sticky goo slicked down her fur as she was slid into the waiting bottom of the pitcher. Only when the plant started to compress itself and squeeze itself around her, did the vines finally let go. 

Her freedom would be shortlived, as her body was compressed at all sides by the leathery pitcher plant’s form… the slimy goo would wash over her, as she was encased in the plant. It provided just enough of a barrier between herself and the actual plant but… soon the leaf on top would snap shut, sealing her in.

Of course, the next tour group would only be allowed inside once the security guards watching this occur deemed it safe. The pollen would be filtered from the air, and the next group would be granted access.

The barely aware kitty in the pitcher plant would serve as an excellent reminder to be mindful of your surroundings, as these plants could be grabby… she was barely aware of the photos being taken of her helpless, squirming body…