Violet embers burned in front of him, the only light in the black void; yet they illuminated nothing. They glared him down unblinking, the eyes of some unknown and ancient being. His soul was tugged forward as the vantablack enveloped him, the scream that died on his lips was ripped away as he choked on the dark.

Ember's eyes shot open as he sat up, inhaling deep as tears welled up in the corners of his vision. After a few huffs he looked up at the window, wiping his eyes as he calmed himself. Well that was freaky, I gotta stop watching horror movies at 4am. He flopped back onto his bed and shut his eyes tight, hoping to fall into a peaceful slumber. After maybe ten minutes the hedgehog sighed and reluctantly rolled out of bed, he swiped his phone from the nightstand and started scrolling through new messages. One was from Pearl: I've got some cool new information about the possible agruhmobian artifacts, come over after college today and we can discuss! That one made him smile. Another was from his uncle: Ember, I am sorry to be a burden but something has come up. I won't be home for another two days, can you please watch the museum until then? Well that was unexpected, but the orange hog' had no problem doing such, since he knew the place would be looked after during the day.

After he got bored with his phone he started getting ready for school. It was tuesday so he still had a whole week until he could really relax, though he didn't have any plans. Maybe Pearl will want to spend the weekend with me... After Ember showered and brushed his teeth he jogged into the kitchen for breakfast, he noticed the time and gasped when he realized he only had 30 minutes before classes began. "Shit!" He tore open the fridge and his eyes desperatly darted around, they landed on an old sandwich. Hopefully this isn't... too old. He grabbed it and was out the door before he could finish the first bite.

Spikes sucked on his teeth as he nodded and repeated "Uh-huh." to a rambling Pear, he had one hand in his pocket and his eyes were glued on his phone as he rocked back and forth on his heels. Soon he rolled his eyes and glared at the sky. "Oi Pearl, why don't'cha call Ember and ask him where he's at?"

"Huh?" She blinked. "Why can't you do that, you're already on your phone!"

Because if you do it you'll finally shut up for a minute. "Dude's don't call each other, that's weird."

Pearl huffed, she crossed her arms and flicked her tail. "You're an anomaly."

The two's attention was grabbed by Ember rushing over to them, he skidded to a stop and immediatly started choking on the last bite of his sandwich.

"Ember, you're late!" Pear hurried over to him to help, though by the time she got there the hedgehog was already breathing.

"Huh yeah, sorry, I overslept." He smiled weakly at her, he was still cringing from what'd just happened. Rosey eyes trailed over to the black dog and Ember caughed. "Uh..."

Spikes sighed. "Fine, let's go."

"Yay!" Occasionally when Ember would either forget his food money or would be too late to get food, he'd ask Spikes to buy him something from the snack bar -which was always open- The dog had offered once, and now this was a pretty normal thing. Pearl thought it was sweet, Ember was ecstatic at the prospect of free, not moldy, food.

..."You could set an alarm, or go shopping, or have food delivered to class." Spikes complained as he and Ember were headed to the days first lessons. "Or you could, I dunno, wait until lunch?"

"If I don't have money it won't matter if I wait until the sun explodes, I won't be able to buy food!" Ember said whilst scarfing down a foot-long turkey sandwich. "You know you can say no, you know!" He had a point, kind've, but Spikes didn't feel like arguing anymore.

"You two are cute." Pear said as she followed them.

Ember blushed at that, and Spike's snapped "Fuck off, go to class!"

"I-" She stopped to blow a raspberry at him as they reached the fork in the hallway where she had to split off. "Uhg, I'll see you guys later, okay?"

"Yeah!" Ember turned and saluted her, Spikes just kept walking ahead. "Oh and by the way, my uncle wants me to watch the museum for another two days. Do you, um, think you would wanna join me again?" He nearly hid behind his sandwich as his cheeks tinted pink.

"Sure." Pearl smiled sweetly. "So much new stuff has been dug up, one night wasn't enough time to document it all!" Her eyes locked on their dog friend who was nearing the end of the hall. "Um, is Spike's going to join us again?" The girl squinted.

"I dunno, I'll ask him later."

That was where the conversation ended and the two went their separate ways, Ember had to jog after his friend since he really didn't wanna be late for class.

"...So do you think you can come?" Ember asked in a hushed tone, he and Spike's had just exited the school building since the end of the day bell had rang.

"I ain't your babysitter." Spike's growled, not looking at his friend.

"Pearl's coming! You kinda like to bug her, right?" Ember tried his best to ignore the dog's harsh tone, hoping enough prying would get him to break. "She might want more help on her agruhmobian stuff!"

"Then you help her, she's your girlfriend."

The hedgehog's ears pulled back as his face heated up, he took a shaky breath and responded. "I already told you it's not like that!" His voice cracked and he quickly looked around, but luckily no one was paying attention to them. "She's just... A friend. You two seriously have gotta get along, or I'm afraid this friend group won't last..."

Spike's rolled his eyes. "We don't have to hang out everyday to know we're friends, you don't need validation that I'm your bro." Ruby eyes met the blue sky above.

Ember was taken aback by the deepness of that statement. "Oh. Erm..." He began fidgeting with his gloves.

Suddenly Spike's turned, their eyes locking. "I've got plans, don't you wanna be alone with Pearl for once? So you can tell her ya pine for her?"

"I- I um..." He didn't have a good response to that, Ember desperatly wanted their mutual friend to notice him, but he was just so shy! "Alrighty, okay." The two came to a halt at a bus stop, the hedgehog thought it was strange that they hadn't yet run into Pearl. "Maybe next time?"

Spike's blew a raspberry. "Knock that shit off, you'll regret it if someone see's you being sappy at me." The smirk that followed was sharp enough to cut through bone. After maybe three seconds of silence both boys couldn't help but smile and laugh, until the bus arrived and Spike's bid his farewell.

"Just don't be weird about it, be direct. Chicks dig it when a guy isn't subtle!" The coal black dog said before the doors hissed shut, Ember waved at the bus as it slowly drove away toward the bad part of town.

Be direct, huh? I guess that sounds easy enough-Suddenly the world was black and a violet whisper clutched his mind -Ember blinked, he stood on the sidewalk dazed and confused as he tried to remember what he'd just been doing. His phone dinged, snapping him out of the trance. The hedgehog pulled the device out and clicked on the new text, it was from Pearl: Hey sorry not meeting you guys, I was busy helping set up the talent show and lost track of time! I'm just so excited, anyways I'll meet you at the museum at sunset, okay? Ember hurriedly texted her back, suddenly very thankful it'd just be him and his crush.
After confirming their plans the orange hedgehog jogged home to eat dinner and take a shower. He only had two hours before sunset since it was summer, then he and Pearl could spend the night together geeking out over ancient mythology and theoretical history.

All the while, unbeknownst to him; something older than destiny and blacker than night lingered in the depths of his mind, waiting for it's chance to strike...