The End?

“Hahahahahhah HA!!”

The manic laughter rang out through the empty house.

Rue, an off-white lucky lop, clutched her face in her paws. “AAAARRGGGH!” She threw her frustrations to the ceiling, claws grasping nothing.

“HOW DARE HE!?!?”

Rue breath came out in huffs, all at once feeling too much and having no outlet. Not thirty minutes had Nepo torn into her. Nagging and complaining about how terrible of a mother she’d been. What was he even talking about!?!

Alexander was fed every day. Got free time outside and she made sure to socialize him. If anything, Nepo was the one neglecting their child. Which he admitted to. BUT! That’s especially why he had no right to complain about how she lovingly cared for Alexander.

And now the both of them were staying at one of the main four houses. Idiots.

Rue paced across the rooms, stopping in the kitchen. She ran her claws against a counter, slammed her palm down before walking away.

This was no where near over. It had been the first time that Nepo actually stood against her and didn’t back down.

She tapped her chin with a claw. Had something changed recently? Her eyes glanced around the room, noting the darkening night sky out the window.

She froze, having forgotten about night time. And no sooner had the thought came to mind, it started.

The whispering that pulled at her fur. Rue suddenly felt cold. She could never really hear it, but tonight felt different. She shook her head, deciding to go to bed instead. Nepo could be handled another time.

She got into bed, pulling pillows over her ears. Waiting for darkness to reign so she didn’t have to hear the voices. But it never came. No peace.

And the voices only got louder, clearer, more insistent.

I can help. Let me help you. No one understands. You gave them everything and he steals your child from you. Release me. I can help. Come. Release me.

Release me.

Release me.

Release me.

The words throbbed in her skull no matter how much she tried plugging her ears. Would it really be so bad to do this one thing?

Everyone always complained how rude and cruel she was. Yet they never appreciated what she did for them.

They don’t understand. Come to me.

Release me.

Release me.

Rue found herself sitting on the bed. Wait, no. She was standing at the window, gazing into the distance. The vast night sky seemed oddly empty of stars. Dark gray clouds lazily floating by.

And suddenly the sky was gone. Ah. Wait. She just had to open the door. Of course.

The cold breeze bit at her, seeming gentle and harsh all at once. A friend and an enemy. She padded outside, a single destination in mind. Not that she knew where that was.

Rue took in the icy air, letting her breath swirl across her face.

Why was everything so silent? She blinked again, feeling like she couldn’t really see anything else.

But all the while, that clear voice rang through her mind. She wanted to answer it, to… help. Maybe then finley would stop calling her cruel. They didn’t understand her. No. Not once.

Rue nodded, agreeing with the voice… Or was that her thoughts?

Her limbs felt heavy from the cold. She blinked again, suddenly tired. How long was she to walk? It felt like she’d been walking the entire night. One glance at the sky told her it’s barely been an hour.

The next time Rue blinked, she found herself in front of the museum. Strange. She’d never visited here before.

Another blink. Huh… The storage room? How?

Come. I can feel you there.

Ah, they were inside? Rue scrunched her eyebrows. Did Tobias really call her out into the middle of the night? Or… Was it Tobias?

Regardless, Rue pressed forward. The door slid open easily. Revealing a glass case at the back of the room. It held a black orb.

Rue approached the case and found it open. Odd. But that made things easier, she thought.

Welcome.

She absent-mindedly waved at the orb. “Hello. Can you help me?”

Yeeess..

Rue reached out and touched the black orb. She felt…

Nothing.

And then she saw nothing.

But the darkness she sore wished for earlier. She went with a smile.