Ba-dum. Ba-dum.
All that the raccoon heard was the blood pounding in his ears. He continued to stare blankly into the darkness that was blinding him...it was like someone had bound a bandanna over his eyes, awning his eyesight.
Rigby took an experimental step forward, unsure if before him was a never-ending abyss, or just a floor that he failed to see. As his paw brushed the ground, he was certain that it was merely a floor that he could not see.
He crouched down, slowly landing his forepaws on the ground as well. He flexed them, and the cool tile began to send relief tingling upon his stinging, damaged pads.
And suddenly, a light flickered in the distance, catching the weary coon's attention. Actual light.
Rigby's claws clicked against the floor as he scrambled towards the light, eager to see it's source, and eager to get the hell out of this place. As he slowly advanced towards the light, it seemed to flicker even brighter, as if greeting him.
The coon slowed down as he advanced closer to the orb, and once finally there, he just stared in awe at the light…and he unconsciously reached out to grab it.
To Rigby's surprise, the orb of light actually stayed in his forepaw-he was actually holding, touching, feeling…light.
It was beautiful…it was amazing…it was—
"Rigby!"
The raccoon's ears perked in recognition, and he rotated his head slowly behind him where the loud, booming voice was coming from.
"…M-Mordecai…?"
"Rigby!" Mordecai cried, even louder this time, to his friend was staggering forward towards the ever-so-busy street. The traffic-light was glowing ruby, and no cars were zooming past…but still, it was a dangerous thing to be randomly walking towards one of the busiest streets in town.
Mordecai stayed put, not reaching out towards his friend for the various reasons that were listed in the yellowed paper that was crumbing in his grip.
He watched as Rigby reached forward, as if he was touching something. He started to stare at his empty paws as if they were full of the most precious diamonds the world has ever known…
That's when the traffic light flickered emerald. No…
"RIGBY!"
The raccoon who he has been looking after slowly turned his head, his ears perked slightly. And in a flash, his eyes lost their far-away-look…all in the same amount of time it took for a car to be zooming towards him.
"…M-Mordecai…?
If we continued this story from here, then our friend Mordecai would stare long and hard at the piece of paper crumbled in his hand. But why would he be so angry at a mere piece of paper? Why wouldn't he be able to touch Rigby? And why is Rigby so clueless?
Well, dear reader, if you would really want to know, then I have to start this story at the very beginning…that very hot afternoon in August that changed everyone's lives…forever.