The phone beside Rae began to ring, a bright and loud tone of an alarm began to sound. Rae began to stir, feeling her head spin fast. Her hazel eyes slowly fluttering open. She cringed, feeling her head throb "Oy…. What…W-what did I drink last night?" she rose up, her eyes still shut. She rubbed her temples hard. Her hand glanced to her left, grazing for her phone. Her hand reached for the plastic case. Holding it in her hand, she turned off the alarm. Rae cracked her back, sighing in delight at the sound. "Jeez I feel like I slept on the floor." She rose up and immedietly hit her head with a clang "OW!" She plopped back on the floor "What the-" She looked around her, she was in a dark metal tunnel, with splotches of water scattered on the floor. She quickly rose up, Holding her head in pain and protection. She gasped "W-Where am I?"
She shouted down the tunnel "Hello?" she then shouted the other way "Helloo?!" her voice echoed in the tunnel "Is there anyone there?!"
Checking her phone, she saw no signal whatsoever. She desperately tried to make a phone call, dialing the first number that could be reached; 911. The ring filled her ear with a sense of hope and optimism, but to no avail, the phone disconnected. She muttered under her breath "Damnit." She looked around, not hearing a single sound, only the water dripping in the opposite direction. She began to breathe heavily, feeling her chest close in.
Her eyes darted into both directions "Oh no…" She picked a direction; the left and decided to start treading down the wet tunnel. Taking a huge whiff, she winced at the smell "Geez.." She covered her nose "Smells like crap." She wandered and wandered down through the darkness. Taking out her phone, she attempted another call: still nothing. Rae opened the flashlight on her phone, helping her see through whatever impending danger she will face. Rae glanced at the battery, watching it drain. She noticed it was at a pure 85%, hopefully she would make it out with power on her phone to call someone, anyone.
Suddenly, a light appeared in the tunnel. It was a small light, like from a flashlight from a phone. She breathed a sigh of relief "Thank god." She began to quicken her pace "Hello? Is anyone there?! I woke up and ended up here! I don't know what's going on!" but the light didn't answer "Hello? Please answer me!" The light came closer and closer, and she could see the source of the light; a small lantern. She stopped for a moment "Hmm okay.. little old school but alright." She continued to walk "Do you have signal? I tried looking at my phone but—" she stopped in her tracks. Her breath came shorter.
"I-I… I can't believe this.."
"Believe it toots." A devilish smile of the bat Fidget appeared in the light of the lantern, he cackled along with three other thugs, full grown mice smiling evilly at her. She began to stumble, and eventually fell over with a thud. She had fainted, and all the mice looked around each other. One gruff looking one scratched his head "Looks like you scared 'er half to death! Look at 'er! She fainted!"
Fidget groaned "Now we have to carry her back." He began to lift her "She weighs a ton.. Help me out fellas." They began to lift her back, grudging along the pipe. They finally made it to a small opening, flipping open the metal gate. One thug shouted "Oy Boys! Bring her in here!"
The thug holding Rae's leg wiped his brow "Great… another million steps. How much does this broad weigh?"
"Apparently enough to get ye winded." One mouse said with a chuckle.
Tired but determined, they began to drag the girl up the small steps of a barrel. Resting her on the floor, they breathed heavily with relief.
A voice echoed through the barrel, strong and commanding "Any troubles with our special guest lads?"
"N-no sir!" one thug said, he wiped his brow "She's just a bit hefty that's all!"
The voice laughed, walking into the light, he was a tall and husky grey rat, with a long cape billowing behind him. He wore a fine black suit of silk, with a pink and purple cravat gracing his neck. His eyes were full of determination, and something mysterious in them, like a safe with no possible entry. His eyes… one feature you could see that stands out the most, his yellow and bright eyes. He walked around Rae, still passed out on the floor. The rat grinned "At least we know she's healthy.." the boys laughed with him, feeling afraid and threatened of their colleague "But I will hear no complaints when she awakes."
The grey rat blew a puff of smoke out of his long cigarette pole. Rae began to stir, groaning from her pulsing headache. The rat smiled "Oh she is stirring! Places everyone!" he clapped his hands and with giddy in his step, he stepped in front of the woman sleeping on the floor. Rae rose up and rubbed her eyes "I need an ibuprofen.." she muttered to herself. Looking around, she gasped "Oh BRILLIANT! Where am I now!" her head slowly turned, facing all the mice and the rat in the middle. She slowly rose from the floor, her eyes growing wide with a mixture of fear and excitement. She felt her heart beat a thousand beats per minute.
"I-I can't… this can't be… I- but you're—"
The rat gently walked up to her, taking her hand in his, he gently kissed it "Professor Ratigan at your devoted service my dear.." he released her hand, watching it flop to her side. She was about to stumble, until Ratigan appeared at her side and held her up gently "Now, now, enough womanly hysterics for one day!" he said with a laugh. Rae looked over at him, and finally faced him "This… is… unreal.. you can't be real, I'm dreaming… that's it." She tried convincing herself, not understanding her own circumstances.
"Oh no Raeven my dear, I am saddened to tell you this is no dream." He said, a smile gracing his face.
Rae gulped "How did you know my name?"
Ratigan snapped his fingers, a banner unfurled from the top of the barrel. It was a long yellow banner with pink lettering Welcome Home, Rae! Written in cursive. The thugs began to cheer, along with Ratigan himself "Welcome home my dear!" Her hazel eyes darted from the banner to Ratigan "Welcome home?" she thought to herself "I'm dreaming… I have to be dreaming. Please let me be dreaming."
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