The two slid down the long and dark pipes, Rae screaming the entire way. Nelle grinned and screamed as well, but with more fun "Whoo Hooo!" she placed her hands in the air and slid. She looked ahead of the slide and started to rise on her feet. The opening to the outside was clear. Rae was ahead, she flew out of the opening of the sewer and crashed, luckily into a bag of sand outside. She was breathing heavy. Nelle jumped out of the opening and landed perfectly on her feet "And she sticks the landing! Ha HA!" she posed and cupped her hands "Go Nelle! Go Nelle!" she laughed and dusted off her mask, to reveal one of the lenses that were cracked "Damn. Cracked." She used her elbow to dust off the lense. She muttered "I guess I can get Fenton to fix it." She looked to her side, and saw Rae, with wide hazel eyes staring right at her. Nelle grinned awkwardly, her smile too wide "So.. how are you doing?"

Rae simply stayed quiet.

Nelle slowly walked towards her, she pulled a hand into her pocket, pulling out a piece of cheese. She waved it in front of Rae's eyes "Hey.. you um… want some cheese?" she said with a smile "I'll share it with you…" Rae continued to stare, Nelle nervously grinned. She placed the cheese back in her pocket "Maybe not."

Nelle nervously fidgeted and eventually sat across from her "My name is-"

Rae spoke, her voice withering "I know who you are."

"Huh! She speaks!" Nelle jumped up, her brown locks flowing behind her "Oh good." She dusted herself off "Well, we better get going before those goons get down here?"

Rae took a breath in "I'm going to scream."

Nelle was taken aback, she stifled a laugh "Pardon?"

"I am going to scream."

"Wait, Wait-" Nelle pleaded. Rae screamed loud and shrill, scaring the birds from the trees, and even alerting some mice in the market place. Nelle covered her ears from the sharp scream. She jumped to Rae, quickly closing her mouth with her paw. The screaming ceased for the moment, but Rae was far from over "WILL YOU SHUT UP!" she screeched.

Rae looked right into her eyes, feeling in a surreal moment. Staring right into her own creation. What she had written, what she had created, was taking control of her life. Rae could not breathe, she couldn't move, she felt frozen. Nelle smiled gently "Okay, now.. I'm going to take my hand away from your mouth.. and you're gonna be quiet right?" the girl nodded. Nelle slowly moved her hand away. Rae continued to stay silent, her lip quivering from the touch. Nelle handed her a piece of cheese, Rae's hand slivered out of her dark cloak, touching Nelle's own hand. Rae grasped her hand "Wow… You're real. You're really here."

"As are you!" Nelle said, she attempted to pull away from her grip. Rae pulled Nelle in closer "Do you know who I am?"

Nelle jerked her hand away "A girl with quite a grip…" she shook her hand from the pain. Rae took a breath "Why are you here?"

"Listen, if you haven't noticed, Rat boy and his thugs are hot on our tail. So as much as I'd like to do a full fledged interview.. we've got to go."

Rae kneeled on her knees, pleading with her hands "Please! You know I'm not crazy, right? I don't know where I am, I'm cold, I'm hungry and…. I'm scared.. Please answer me.." She scooted closer to her "Come on Nelle, you have to at least know who I am?"

"No…" she shook her head slowly "Doesn't ring a bell."

Rae pleaded "OH COME ON. I created you!"

Nelle stopped right where she was. She slowed her pace and held her arms up in defense, "Okay.."

"You have to believe me." Rae stood "I am your creator."

Nelle slowly smiled, walking towards her, careful not to shock her "You're very sweet, and I don't think you're crazy… in fact, you're the most important person in my life right now." She slowly approached her.

Rae grinned with her "Oh, Nelle, I knew you'd understand… you're important to me too.."

The mouse knelt down, and suddenly clicked a small pair of handcuffs on her hands. Rae gasped "What are you doing?!" Nelle continued to grin, pulling on a long iron chain "I'm just collecting my bounty… so come along."

"Wait.. WHAT?!" Rae screeched, feeling Nelle pull her up with a great force "I'm a bounty?!"

"Of course! All you humans are!" Nelle laughed "Now come on human, you're gonna make me rich!" she yanked the iron chain, pulling her along. Rae gasped "Wait! What do you mean 'all you humans'? Y-you mean there are others?"

Nelle rolled her eyes "If you're going to keep asking questions.. this is going to be one long walk."

"Boss!" one thug ran down the pipe, sliding down the wet and mucky floor. He breathed deeply, he coughed and breathed deeply again "Boss, the girl is gone."

Ratigan sat at his throne, Fidget carefully fanning him. Another thug stood on a small stool, rubbing a cold press on his head. Ratigan rolled his eyes "You ran all that way to let me know she's gone?"

The thug nodded. Ratigan pulled out his bell and in result, the mouse ran away. Ratigan sighed, feeling the coolness of the cold rag on his forehead. He rubbed his tired eyes "How could this have happened… All those weeks of planning and preparing.. losing that chubby little key to my plan.." he huffed "I was SO CLOSE!" he waved his hand, knocking the mouse off of his ladder. Ratigan clapped his hands, a small mouse appeared with a mirror, he held it up and looked at his face, striking a pose. "This is nothing to worry about Padraic.. if you were able to send her here… you can get her right back…" he said slicking back his hair. he growled "That Nelle.." he rubbed his neck "She's worse than her no good father and that pipsqueak pain in the neck Bas-"

"Sir! Sir! Sir!" Fidget hobbled to his boss, holding the long gold pole with a fan attached, he smiled gently "Please don't get yourself worked up… we will get her right back here." Ratigan turned around, grabbing fidget by the collar of his shirt "Oh I know you will, because if you don't…" he laughed, his voice reaching a lower register. "I'll make sure your existence is completely smeared of the face of this universe."

Fidget retracted in his shirt, his head pulled in like a small turtle. He stuttered "S-Sure boss.. I'll find her and get 'er back.." he muttered under his breath "Gonna need a big bag." He chuckled to himself. Ratigan dropped him to the ground with a thud "Don't think I'm letting you deal with this alone. I'm sending the only person I know who would get the job done and fast." He looked to Fidget, looking down at the little bat "When you get the girl back… make sure you grab the book, everything will go completely wrong if we don't have that book." He looked to the pillar that Rae had created, he gently stroked the stone "That girl is the key to my success… without her, all of our planning would be for not." He thought for a moment "To think, I was some lowly rat with no future.. now it's here.. and all I need is the girl." He turned, watching his men stare at him "What are you all staring at? GO GET HER BACK!"

The boys began to scatter, gathering supplies and such. Ratigan reached behind and grabbed Fidget once more "Go get him…"

Fidget groaned "Oh do I have to boss?" he crossed his arms "He always makes me feel like an idiot."

"I wonder why.. now you and him get out of here and alert me the minute you find her!"

Fidget started to hobble away, stubborn like a child "I don't see why I just can't nab her myself.." Ratigan screeched "NOW FIDGET!"

"I'M GOING!" he yelled back, running to the back of the barrel, he hobbled up to what looked like an abandoned barrel, with a dark lingering feeling around the area. No light source available but one sliver of light from the entrance to the sewers. Fidget nervously knocked on the door of the barrel, suddenly feeling it open. The door creaked, and a voice echoed "What is it?"

"T-the b-boss wants us.." he stuttered. He was afraid of the voice… it was more than annoyance that had bugged the little bat "You and I need to get the g-girl back… she escaped."

The voice chuckled "Great.. well.. not that bringing her here was my only job." Fidget heard the deep voiced person rise from his seat and walk towards him "Well.. where is she?"

"So let me get this straight, there are more people like me, I mean with the same thing I have? Where are they? What do they look like? Where are they from?" Rae asked. They continued to walk through the vast amount of back streets of London, the backstreets of course to avoid attention. Rae gasped at how small she felt, surrounded by tall city spaces and trash and people.

Nelle rolled her eyes in annoyance "I don't know I was just asked to collect you-"

"Collect me?" Rae's eyes widened, the force of Nelle pulling her pushed her forward "Collect me like I'm some kind of treasure?" Nelle scoffed "You're a bounty..um…"

"You don't even know my name do you?" Rae asked, in disbelief. Nelle slowed her pace, as Rae answered "It's Raeven… did you know that?"

Nelle disregarded her notion and continued "The people who wanted me to get you.. they made you sound like some kind of… well… something grand. I was given word that Ratigan had nabbed something special." She looked behind her, stopping in her tracks. She rubbed her head "They never said it was someone." She continued to stare at her, then suddenly shaking her head out of her thoughts. Rae raised a brow "They?" she asked to no answer "And the cuffs are for?"

"In case you run away!" she shook her head "Geez you may be special but you're not that smart." Rae stopped, looking at Nelle jerk forward and fall. Rae laughed "You were saying?" Nelle rose off the floor, dusting herself off, she laughed bitterly "Touche."

Nelle took a hold of the chain and pulled her forward "Come on, we're almost there."

"Where?"

"The human sanctuary." Nelle said casually. Rae gasped "Human sanctuary?! L-Like it's a zoo?"

Nelle scoffed "Naïve and not so smart…" she said muttering under her breath. Both girls wandered down a long alleyway, until they made it to an abandoned building. The vines began to grow around a small opening. With small blooming flowers around the brick. A trail of water wandered down the trail, feeding the plants. Nelle stopped in front of the vines, and started to feel around for a small opening. Her eyes narrowed as she continued to feel through the many plants and vines entangling around her. She suddenly smiled and found a small rope, tugging at it rather roughly. The brick wall began to expand. Rae had to widen her eyes, taken by surprise at the way the wall opened. The small dark opening was finally ceasing its loud clanging, and the girls walked through. As soon as they walked through, the entrance closed. A voice echoed "Who goes there?"

"The eagle and it's dove." Nelle said to the darkness. They had waited a moment and the voice answered back "Fly."

They continued to walk, the lights of small lanterns beginning to light. After a few moments, they made it to another gate. This time a huge gate with gears; large and small, rusty and golden all combined into one combination. Rae saw Nelle place her hand on a small handprint engraved on a brick. The brick lit up and sunk into the brick, and started a chain reaction of bricks and gears moving. Both stood in shock as the gate slowly began to open to an almost blinding light. The two nervously walked through and Rae gasped "Wow…"

Inside was a literal glittering sanctuary, caravans and large decorated tents surrounded the entire small underground city. Lanterns filled with candles of all sizes and surrounded the city, providing vast amounts of light. And around the city were humans… her size, just like her of different races and sizes. The residents of the city watched as the new visitors entered. Pushing through the crowd was a tall statuesque rat, with silver grey fur and bright yellow eyes. She had beautiful features, with profound cheekbones and a prominent chin, and dark black hair down to her waist in beautiful curls that was held back by a magenta head wrap. The rat wore a white peasant blouse with a brown corset. Her dark turquoise skirts flowed behind her, showing her barefoot feet. She touched Rae's shoulder "Are you alright?"

Rae nodded softly. The rat smiled "You don't need to be afraid.. you're safe now." She moved her hand above the chains and they released like magic. Rae rubbed her hands, sore from the chains holding her. The rat touched her face gently, Rae's eyes just continued to stare, no answer leaving her lips "Did he hurt you?" she looked up at Nelle "Miss Nelle? Was she hurt?"

"No, but… Dalia.." Nelle stopped. She bit her lip nervously and avoided eye contact. Dalia, the rat's breath became shorter as Nelle's eyes finally looked into her own "She can do it." She said with a light whisper

The rat gasped, along with the other humans in the sanctuary. Dalia continued to stare at the girl, with an unknown reading. Rae spoke "Is something wrong?"

The humans began to murmur among each other, words began to scatter around, able for Rae to hear the reader and flash drive and doom began to wave around the crowd, making her nerves fly. Dalia noticed this and looked to the crowd "Everyone… please do not panic!"

One mouse shouted through the crowd "How are we supposed to remain calm when this stranger is among us?" one human nodded "Yes! You don't know if she is working for that rat!"

Rae shouted, but her voice did not echo through the crowd "I-I'm not! I swear!"

A human with thick black glasses scoffed "She could be disguising herself! Our entire operation could falter because of her!" the crowd began to argue among themselves, some convinced she was a prophesy, some convinced she brought doom to the entire sanctuary.

"I'm not what you think I am, I am not dooming you all… I don't mean any harm! He wanted this!" she showed off her neck, the gold necklace shining in the light of the sanctuary, everyone gasped to complete silence, no knew what to do or what to say. Dalia gasped"You have the necklace.."Dalia quickly grabbed Rae's hands "You're protected.. my name is Dalia and this is the human sanctuary..." the other humans and mice continued to stare at her in shock. Dalia grabbed her hand and led her around.

Nelle shook her head "Thank you Nelle! You did a splendid job!" dripping with sarcasm, she scoffed and followed behind.

"This is where many humans stay for refuge from Ratigan and his forces.. many you see here.. were taken from their own world by Ratigan..." Many other humans continued to stare at her, in curiosity and fear.

Dalia continued to speak "Come, let us go to my tent, we have much to speak about." She touched her hand "And your freezing.. let's get you warm." They started towards their tent, Nelle following behind. Dalias tent was decorated with nice silks and fine pillows, a warm furnace was in the middle of the tent, that dimly lit the space. Candles adorned and dripped its hot wax, sealing the many papers that sat on the wood tables. Rae was led to a small stool, Dalia gently took off Rae's thick wool coat to reveal her red tank top and dark blue jeans, still soaked from the cold water. It was soaked in certain areas, making her shiver. Dalia then placed a warm thick blanket over her, warming her bare shoulders. Dalia gently smiled "We will get you in some new clothes."

"Thank you." Rae said.

Dalia sat across from her "Please, don't be afraid. I know this has all come so suddenly.. a new place and new people. But I assure you.. we're going to get everyone back where they belong."

"What exactly am I doing here?"

Dalia took a long sigh "A long time ago, there were a group of… well…. A society." She paused and collected her words "A society of individuals who treasured knowledge and learning… the art of reading and creation through words.. Does that make sense?"

Dalia saw her nod in approval and continue "This society, somehow… well… they had very special gifts. These gifts came with only certain individuals. It was the power of creation. These people treasured books you see.. and writing.. so whatever they could imagine… and read aloud-"

"Would come to life.." she answered.. She folded her hands in her lap and looked down at them. Like her hands were some kind of curse "Ratigan made me do it." She brought her hands to her face, starting to softly sob "I just want to go home."

Dalia touched her face softly "You have a gift. It is not a curse." Dalia said "Ratigan used your power for his advantage.." she heard her continue to sob "You will return home, just not right now." Dalia moved her hands "May I see your neck?"

The girl nodded and moved her neck up. Dalia examined the necklace. Rae stopped and looked her in the eyes "Please don't touch it… it will electrocute you. A-and it doesn't come off, so don't ask." Rae mentioned. Dalia laughed gently "I know… I've done my research." She examined the chain around her neck and rubbed her chin "It seems that the necklace has grown attached to you.."

"You mean it has a mind of it's own?"

Dalia smirked "Something like that. It grows attached to a next living reader." Rae nodded, still confused but nodding like she understood. Dalia laughed gently "I can see that you're still confused… why don't I get you somewhere to sleep tonight and some new clothes?"

Rae nodded. Dalia began to leave as Rae stopped her "Miss?"

"Dalia is just fine."

"Dalia, what are all these humans doing here?"

The rat stopped and turned slowly "They were saved from Ratigan.. he collected them to…" Dalia began to breathe a little lighter, tugging on the curtain of her tent. Nelle touched her shoulder gently and finished, being honest and blunt with the girl "He kidnapped all these people.. So he could find the one true reader. He took all these innocent people from their homes, their families only for his own personal gain. Some people were not so lucky-"

"Nelle-"

"They were killed-"

"Nelle!" Dalia stopped her, staring at Nelle with disbelief. Rae's eyes widened and Dalia noticed this, she sighed "We have all had a long day.. let us rest and we will speak in the morning."

Moments later, Rae was dressed in a long white and sleeved nightgown, soft and cottony on her skin. She had felt warm and secure. Dalia had set up a cot with fine satin pillows and a thick red blanket. Rae fell asleep fast, her eyes shutting quickly. Dalia pulled the blanket further up, to keep her guest warm. Dalia smiled gently, and stroked the girls head "You're going to save us all.." she said quietly.

Nelle leaned on a post inside the tent "I don't know what's worse, that you believe in all this or that I probably wasted one smoke bomb on another human."

Dalia stood and slowly walked to Nelle. "I believe… She has to be the one. To end all of this." The women both stood staring right at the sleeping Rae on the cot.

Nelle rolled her eyes "I don't get all of this… but I'd love to see how it unfolds… What if she isn't? The one?"

She sighed "I don't know.." feeling saddened by the words.

Rae opened one eye slowly… she had heard the whole thing.

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