For Dannymay 2021 Day 10: Shadows
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There were shadows, and then there were shadows. Also, shadows, shadows, and shadows.
Many shadows.
Living shadows. Dead shadows. Shadows that thought. Shadows with stories. Shadows that laid still. Shadows that moved on their own. Shadows that spoke.
These shadows had names. Echo, Fractal, Shade, Mirror, Mirage, Umbra.
They were waiting. For a number of things.
Primarily, though.
"Oh, good, he didn't die," said Mirror.
"Yet," said Mirage, more playfully than he really should have, considering that they were talking about the evil future version of the person on whose continued existence theirs partially depended kidnapping said person. And then said person seemingly vanishing completely. Time travel.
"Please don't tempt fate," said Fractal. "It has it out for him."
They returned their attention to the currently unnamed shadow forming in the cubby.
"What do you think she'll be like?" whispered Mirage.
Echo rolled his eyes. "Like us, of course," he said. "And him. And Ellie. It's not like our personality traits are a mystery."
"Yours are," said Mirage.
That actually got a snicker from Shade, who was nudged by Umbra.
"Actually, except for me and Mirror, all of you are weirdos. Let's be honest here."
"Eehh? What's weird about my personality?" asked Fractal.
"Do we really need to answer that?" asked Mirror.
"I can't believe you're bullying me. We are literally parts of the same person and you're bullying me."
"I think," said Shade, "that they would bully Danny, too, if he were here."
"They'd better not," growled Echo.
"Well," said Mirage. "We have things to do—"
"Refugees to sort out, you know the drill~"
"Hm," said Fractal, "me too."
One by one, the shadows melted into the dark, as shadows do.
Echo spared one last look for the cubby.
"See you soon, little sister."
Then, he vanished, too.