Little Shadows

Mist, Memories, Mushrooms, and Rats

(A/n): I drew this cute rat :3

~(Y/n)'s P.O.V.~

Okay, first of all, this forest is strange. I've heard about it, but I've never VISITED it.

The trees whisper your name. The ground feels like it's constantly moving, even though it's not. There are glowing mushrooms(which is cool, not gonna lie). And the most cool part is: there's magical mist that if you touch it, it swirls into different shapes.

When I touched the mist, it turned into a little girl. A little girl that looked like me. That little girl was pushed by a taller girl, and fell on the cold hard ground.

I knew that little girl was me, and I found myself swirling to the realm called Memories.

"You little rat! Don't steal MY BOOKS, ya weirdo! Those are to make me look smart so I become popular like Jimmy!" Shouted Bailee Krum, glaring down at me.

Why did I steal some books? Because I was broke and didn't have friends--

Just kidding! I got them for Nightmare to read because nobody gets him gifts.

"Well, Jimmy's not so smart, is he? Just because he's good looking and popular, doesn't mean you have to as well," I explained a tad nervously. "You do you, and go save the world or something."

Bailee stared at me. "You really are just the weirdest girl ever," she scoffed and turned her back, stalking away.

I sighed and got to my feet, wiping the dirt off my pants.

I tried finding books someplace else, but had no luck.

The bookstore was closed, and I couldn't just break in and steal a book from there.

And then I saw it. A maroon-and gold book, its cover halfway sitting in mud. I immediately rushed over to it to pick it up.

The title of it read...

"Soulmates."

When I opened it to read a couple pages, the entire page that was supposed to be page 30 was ripped out.

Confused, I went back to the front to see if it belonged to anyone.

The name was scribbled out, and the only letters I could decipher were B and S.

I thought if I knew anyone with either of those letters in their names. I know Bailee. But she doesn't even truly like books. I know a kid named Santiago; he picks his nose and hates books as well.

Confuzzled, I cleared the mud off the cover and stuffed the book in my bag.

Maybe Nightmare knows the answer? He's a smart skeleton. He helped me with my very difficult homework before(advanced algebra and finding the perimeter, but with more advanced algebra involved as well. And it was third grade, too. They put me in a super advanced class because they thought my brain was super big or something). I ended up getting an A+ on it, plus understanding it better since Nightmare explained it to me better than Mr. Greyson did.

The memory ended just like that, leaving me in shock. That book...didn't Nightmare get that exact book at the library the other day...?

The sound of something shuffling in my bag snapped me out of my thoughts.

Curious and a bit afraid, I opened my bag. Something jumped at my face, and I flinched.

"What the what!" I tried to get whatever was on my face OFF. It didn't work. Whatever was on my face STAYED on my face.

Until it decided to jump off and land on it's back.

"Wh-who the flip are you, and wh-what do you want?!" I got out my frying pan, pointing at that creature.

The creature got up and walked to the nearest mushroom.

Against the eerie glow of the light, his fur was a shade of blue. The kind of blue you'd see in the Pacific Ocean.

This creature...was a legitimate rat.

This blue rat stared into my eyes so intensely, it felt like he was staring directly into my soul. Especially with those eerie golden eyes.

"Sup," he said. My eyes widened, and I was really wanting to squash this dude with my pan.

I backed away slowly, wanting to leave.

The rat sighed, "Listen, I know this is strange, but--"
I couldn't help it. I pointed my pan at his nose.

"Put... the pan... down," He said softly, pushing the pan with his little finger.

I slowly retrieved my pan, and the Rat sighed in relief.

He started talking again. "Okay. First things first. My name is Batfang. You may have named me (T/n), but that doesn't matter because I come from a world where you don't choose your name or anything."

I blinked. "Okay so...the stuffed-toy I've had since I was little was actually a magical rat that can speak to humans?"

Batfang's eyes widened. "Yes. However, you are the only person that can hear me. Others will hear squeaks. Well...your...soulmate will also be able to hear me," he explained.

I nodded. Wait a minute...soulmates? AGAIN? What is it with the term soulmate? I keep finding it everywhere I go! Will Batfang tell me who my soulmate is...?

"Yes, that's a problem too. I cannot tell you who your soulmate is," Batfang squeaked. "Yes, I read your mind. And though I know who it might be, I must be silent... afterall, one can truly never know unless discovered by their own heart."

Okay, then. Suddenly, the call of a bird was heard, and Batfang silently climbed up me and onto my shoulder.

"Birds. They are my great fear...." he whispered.

"Aw. Well I love birds, so--"

"Shh!" Batfang whispered, covering my mouth with his pink tail. "I hear someone coming!"

He wasn't wrong. I heard the snap of twigs trailing behind me, and I honestly didn't want to look.

The snaps became closer and closer to my location, until it just stopped.

"Don't 'cha know how to greet a new pal...?" An eerie, calm, horrifying(ish) voice said. "Turn around...and shake my hand...."