DISCLAIMER - I DON'T ANY CHARACTERS
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The thin fog rolled in over the damp ground, glistening with the dew drops of early morning. The suns rays were just beginning to peer over the edge of the horizon, giving everything an eerie greyish glow, I wonder what it is people see in a sunrise, I find it downright disturbing. It wasn't cold, neither was it warm, now that I think of it, I couldn't feel much of anything. I look around from my place in the wet grass, I can't feel it, nor do I notice it until I look down.
You can imagine it came as a slight shock to me that there was absoloutely no feeling in my body whatsoever.
So of course you can imagine it was a substancially larger shock when I saw I didn't have much of a body to have feeling in.
I looked down at myself, my whole form gave off a soft bluish glow, though what kind of form it was I wasn't so sure, in fact, I wasn't so sure of anything. It hit me that I didn't remember anything. Not a single thing. My whole body just seemed to be a strange clear-blue film, I could move, but everytime I did, it was like a wave rippled through my body.
But of course, I couldn't feel it, I couldn't feel anything remember?
I looked round, I was surrounded by slabs of dark gray stone. Upon further inspection, I saw they were tombstones. Some lay desolate and decrepit, covering in dark moss and fungi, obviously in need of some serious TLC. Others were completely different, polished and clean, with pretty flowers of mourning set before them in the soil, said tombstones obviously belonged to someone who was much cared about.
The sun had risen slightly more in the distance, making it easier to see through the growing fog. I got up carefully, it was a weird feeling, as though it wasn't quite how I would've done such a thing before. It was difficult, but I managed to get to my feet, or rather, what you could call the equivelent of my feet, just more shapeless form really. I was suprised to find I didn't quite touch the ground when I stood, and I experimented trying to stand on the floor.
It was pleasantly easy to lower myself down, the not-so-pleasant thing was that instead of touching the floor, it was more of going straight through it, until only my head was poking out through the soil. It was an interesting sensation to say the least, you know, being in the ground. Makes me wonder how I managed to lay down in the first place. I raised myself again and hovered over the ground with a gentle hum. Maybe there was a certain knack to this.
I didn't have time to ponder on it though as I heard footsteps to my right. I looked down at myself again. Maybe this wasn't the best way to be seen, I don't know why, there was just a nagging feeling that told me I shouldn't let myself be seen. Obeying said nagging feeling I lowered myself behind a tombstone, strange as it was, this ability was proving to be useful.
I watched intently as a black form came, silohoeutted against the mist, he came closer until turning off slightly to approach a tombstone not too far away from the one I was hiding behind. A warm feeling filled me up (thank the lord, feeling!) when I saw it was one of the more looked after graves, nice to see someone who cares. A strange thought to be thinking while buried in the ground, but a nice thought none the less.
The warm feeling was suddenly approached by overwhelming waves of angst, I was getting sad vibes from the black form in the fog, I came to the conclusion that for whatever reason, these were his feelings. I mean, he must've been sad, no-one can be happy in a graveyard. To me, the feelings almost had a taste to them, the angst tasted salty, like tears that someone feeling such things might shed, but there was also a tint of anger there, that tasted bitter, a horrible taste. Not the sadness tasted all that good of course.
A few moments later and it had lightened up considerably, just enough for the dark shadow to be seen. It seemed to have spikes protuding from its back, they stuck out with little flicks at the end, like points. It was almost completely black, but there were streaks of blood red colour on its head, arms and legs. The eyes, full of pain and sorrow, were the same crimson, and they stood out from the rest of him, I felt compelled to go closer to him.
It seemed that the rest of me was several steps ahead of my mind though, as apparently I'd already moved closer to him, only feet away, but still in hiding. Those eyes, they were hypnotising in the way that they were like gateways into the very heart and soul of this being. Something inside me told me I had to open these gateways, get a closer look, feel as he did.
Yes, I was sure he was male, and as it would seem, a hedgehog. Many would think this would shock me, but it seemed normal to me, nothing entirely different. Yes, defintely a guy. Now that I could see him clearly, there was a pang in my chest, one that seemed to send shockwaves through me entire body, one that seemed to scream out to me, 'You know him! You know him!'
Indeed there was a strong feeling of familiarity present, an itching feeling that wouldn't desist, to be honest, it was really annoying, but it didn't seem ready to leave anytime soon. I gazed deeper into those rubies of his, so broken, the total feeling of depression and complete hopelessness that followed that intent stare was almost enough to make me burst into tears.
I managed to control myself though, as that salty taste grew stronger, followed by a tasteless taste. A tasteless taste you say? That was what in tasted like, it tasted like nothing, devoid, empty, just like those feelings that rippled over my form. A few more moments passed where I didn't dare look into those eyes again for fear of those emotions driving me completely mad, but when I managed to regain myself, I lifted my head to see the hedgehog gone.
I swung my head around, desperately looking for him. Out of the corner of my eye, I swear I saw him disappearing into the thin mist and out of sight. I was disappointed to find the emotionless lack of feeling return, it was almost unbearable, I hated that feeling of, having no feeling.
It was all very frustrating.
I rose back up from my hiding place and took a dejected look at the tombstone the black hedgehog had seemed to miserable about. In clear letters, engraved into the stone, was the name 'Sonic the Hedgehog'. Sonic THE Hedgehog? I figured he must've been pretty special. Another pang of rememberance hit me, but, amazingly enough, I didn't remember, suprise suprise. Life just hated me that day.
I didn't realise how ironic that thought was until later.
I read on down the grave, the years inscribed onto it were 3486 - 3501. That was upsetting, the poor guy was only 15. I wondered what he had to do with the mysterious black and red hedgehog. I resumed reading, there wasn't much more, just the words, 'loved by all, a hero, a friend, and someone we'll never forget.' It stopped there. I hung what I suppose was my head, when I noticed a little note under the stone.
I checked round, I shouldn't really have looked, but, curiousity got the better of me, and something told me it was important. I picked it up, it was only a short message.
'I love you Sonic, I know I'll never forget you.' It was signed Shadow the hedgehog. I paused. Was that hedgehog Shadow? If so, the name was very fitting, given his dark appearance and sullen personality. Everything seemed suprisingly ironic that day, Shadow seemingly fitting his given name, providing of course that that hedgehog WAS Shadow, that hated feeling of no feeling, not to mention that terrible taste of tastelessness.
Yes, very contradictory.
I slumped a little and put the note back, it only seemed right, I mean, you hardly go around stealing love notes for the deceased now do you? Or if you do, I should think you should seek professional help. I took another quick look round the graveyard, it was all very depressing, so I decided to take my leave.
It was fully morning now, there were hardly any clouds in the sky, and the only ones that did hang around were cute little fluffy white ones, they lifted that feeling of nothingness, if only slightly. It still didn't feel though. I, uhm, floated? My way down the road, no-one was out yet, it was probably still quite early. I carried on alone down the quiet street, taking my time to observe the scenery.
There were pretty houses on both sides of the street, not overly big, but still as I said, pretty, with white picket fences around their gardens like you'd see in the movies, showing you that this was someone else's home, was still, warmly welcoming. Just foward of these dainty little homes, where lines of trees, covered in what seemed like a finely made quilt of baby pink and white blossoms, some which had fallen to the ground and dotted it in a rather cheery polka dot pattern.
All in all, it was a very, street-like-street, totally stereotypical. The overall perfectness of it, unsettled me. I decided I didn't like this street and turned off the first chance I could. I found this, I checked the sign, avenue, much more bearable. It had the similar houses lined up either side of the road, but unlike the others, they all had their own little specialty about them, like personalities. That was certainly what it felt like to me, it was almost as though I could talk to any house I wanted, and each one was different.
There was one with a front garden which had been very laborously decorated, lots of marble statues and fancy decorations, the house gave off a rich lifestyle, but yet, still welcoming. Each house seemingly reflected the people inside it, I decided I should try visit these people and make friends if I ever moved onto that street.
There was another house further down, it looked slightly run-down, the lawn looked as though no-one had mowed it for many a year, overgrown with weeds and grasses, and one of the windows was boarded up. I didn't like the vibes this home gave me, unfriendly ones, ones that told you you should keep your nose of it or you'd end up with a couple of broken legs. I hurried on, I don't think I wanted to meet the people in that house.
Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of black. I turned just in time to see the ebony and crimson hedgehog enter one of the houses. I followed him catiously, stopping in front of the house.
This house wasn't run-down, nor was it fancily decorated, it just looked like an average home, not the world's best house, but somewhere where you could comfortably live your life. But there was still that distinct depression looming over it, it made it seem a bit dark. I reluctantly went on, there was something disturbing about the place, but I wanted to see that hedgehog again.
The door was locked, but I found I had no problem getting in, there was a slightly open window. I sort of compressed myself and squeezed through, it was a very strange sensation, like being squashed by a huge boot than pulled apart again, it gave off the impression of being a very flexible piece of blue tac. Speaking of blue, when I entered the home, I found myself face to face with a full-length mirror. What it was doing there I wasn't sure, but I was more concerned with finally seeing myself.
I was about three feet high, and my form suggested that I completely consisted of water, a rippling shapeless form, and the azure glow emmiting from me. My eyes, unlike the rest of me, were an olive green. There was a strong feeling of pain coming from them, but it was hard to tell much else, it was like trying to read your own mind, easy at first, but when you start thinking about it, it becomes amazingly difficult.
I managed to avert my gaze long enough for the black and red hedgehog to catch my attention. He was stalking miserably towards me, head slightly hung foward, entire posture screaming out 'ohmygodIamsodepressedjustkillme.' I pitied the poor creature, he obviously missed this Sonic character a great deal. It showed in his home. The place wasn't in total disrepair, but there were those little signs, you know, like unwashed dishes hanging around the place, closed curtains, a certain musky scent lingering around.
He advanced on, he didn't seem to notice me at all, for the first time since I woke up I felt compelled to say something to this poor being. I found it diificult, but I managed to whisper out a single word, it was as though I'd never spoken before in my life, now I think of it, I didn't remember talking before that.
"Hello?" The sound was weak and defenceless, but it was there, travelling through the air towards the black and red hedgehog, who upon hearing it stopped in his tracks and widened his eyes. There was a moment of silence as I awaited a reply. He looked round as he spoke himself. His voice was melodious, hauntingly beautiful, a wonderful sound but dripping in the misery that was him.
"Who's there?" I looked at him quizically. Hello, I was right there, but still he didn't notice me. He sounded worried, could he well and truly not see me? I looked down at myself and began to worry, why couldn't he see me? He seemed to calm a little at the silence. "I guess there's no-one here," he flattened his ears to his head, "I must be hearing things." Then he resumed his way towards me, who, I might point out, had still not been noticed and was beginning to get quite a bit distressed about it.
It didn't help at all when he walked straight through me.
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Well, I tried hard on this, please review.
I will continue with my other story when inspiration comes.