Before the Vision
Chapter 17: And So It Begins…
…50 years later.
Thick layers of dust had collected all over the old useless furniture in the cold basement of the house. Its stone walls and floor provided the room with a constant icy cold air even on the most hottest days of summer. Old pipes could be seen above running across the uncovered ceiling dripping water onto the floor. Against a wall was an old, wooden wine stock holding several bottles of wine that had gone rancid over the years. An unused desk with a broken leg sat adjacent to another wall and right in front of the desk lay Shadow sound asleep.
His tan skin had gone horribly pale and the hedgehog lost a few pounds over the years in his deep sleep. A translucent drop of water formed on a pipe above Shadow and gained more weight. Soon gravity had its way pulling the droplet towards the earth and splashing onto Shadow's eye. He stirred gradually opening his eye up and took in the darkness that surrounded him. The red eye quickly darted back and forth looking all around the dark basement and could depict every little detail that hid in the shadows. He breathed in and could smell the moldy air the rusty pipes had created and scrunched up his nose in disgust.
Shadow was ready to get up and explore the new and strange world he had found himself in… but his muscles wouldn't move. They were weak and stiff from his prolonged slumber. He tried lifting his left arm… but it wouldn't budge. Maybe his right arm… no, nothing from that one either. Shadow knew he could move; Shadow wanted to move… so he tried again with his arms.
He had to force some effort into the movements but the creature's arms finally moved off of the cold floor. Tensed and stiff, Shadow's arm arched themselves and his hands laid on the floor open. Then his upper body was lifted up off of the ground and the hedgehog was able to bring his knees in for support. His eyes now stared at the floor wide open as another drop of water fell onto his head. Slowly, but carefully, Shadow got to his feet and stumbled to his side onto the old desk. It creaked loudly from the support of his weight and the hedgehog's legs almost gave out on him. Taking in a few deep breaths, Shadow pushed himself away from the desk and stood on his own. He began to slide his right foot forward a bit, then his left foot. Then his right again and his left. Right, left, right, left and his pace increased.
Eventually Shadow made his way to the foot of the old wooden stairs and gazed up at the closed door at the top. Curiously, his head tilted before his right foot was lifted up towards the first step. His left foot followed sending the lost creature up the steps. The rusting door handle was turned and the basement door opened up with its hinges crying out an eerie sound. The house was dark and wooden boards covered up the windows. As Shadow moved out into the foyer, he could see into the living room and noticed that some of the furniture was gone while larger pieces, like the couch and armchair, were covered up with dirty white sheets. The doors the game room had been locked leaving the hedgehog to explore the narrow hallway leading to the kitchen.
On his way he peered into the dining room where the table had become dirty and was undecorated. In the kitchen, the small window looking out over the backyard was boarded up engulfing the room in darkness with its useless appliances. Shadow continued on down the hallway looking at the walls which were now bare. No small portraits of Gerald's ancestors were to be found anywhere… but the hedgehog didn't notice. His hands eventually pushed open the dust covered glass doors at the end of the hallway and Shadow found himself in what was once the greenroom. The glass windows that served as wall to the room were completely boarded up but in a messy manner. All of the plants had been removed making it seem much larger than it was years ago. With nothing to observe in this room, Shadow left and went back out into the foyer.
This time he journeyed up the wide staircase and stood in the second floor hallway. Maria's bedroom door was cracked open but had nothing of importance in it besides an empty dresser and an unused bed. So the hedgehog looked towards the narrow and dark staircase that led to the attic. But as he neared it, a strange and frightening voice whispered to him harshly accompanied by a bitter breeze across his fur. Shadow's ears folded back fearing what was near the eerie staircase and he walked to his left towards an open door at the end of the hallway. It was Prof. Gerald's office and from the damage marks around the doorknob, someone had broken in. But whoever broke into the office had done so some time ago for nothing seemed to be missing.
Shadow explored the small office looking through the cabinets, opening up drawers, and looking into the closet as well. Upon opening up a drawer where its lock had been broken off, Shadow found a large eyeglasses case inside of it. The hedgehog removed the case and opened it up to find an extra pair of shades for Shadow that Gerald must have held onto. But not knowing this, the hedgehog placed the shades on his face and looked at himself in the mirror. He was frightened by his reflection but relaxed after realizing that it was himself. The shades were a perfect fit for the hedgehog although he had no idea as to what good they were for, but he kept them on anyways.
After finishing his exploration of Gerald's office, Shadow left the room and was back in the foyer on the first floor. He was pleased with the house and its size. Although it was dirty and almost falling apart, Shadow felt… comfortable. He was ice cold, starving, and yet… cozy in his quiet domain. But what laid outside the front door that stood before the hedgehog? What was out there that hooted silently and chirped a small and sorrowful tune? The hedgehog could only assume that whatever was on the other side of the large door was apart of his domain as well. Boldly he stepped up to the front door, turned the doorknob, and swung the door wide open.
…
A breeze blew into the house as Shadow stood staring out into the new nightly world that would become his territory. The tree in the front of the house had died over the years and struggled to keep itself rooted even though it stood at a slanted angle. The grass all around the house had died as well giving Shadow's new domain a bleak look. The front gates that once stood strong to hold out intruders were gone leaving only the brick pillars and the remaining bar fence that ran along the front side of the house. As the hedgehog stepped out onto the veranda, he noticed dark puffs of clouds floating by in the sky. The bright full moon was obscured in the mess of clouds and stars could barely peek through and show off their shining colors.
The cold cutting autumn air was welcomed by the hedgehog as he stepped down onto the dead grass. The moon shone its desolate rays onto the house and Shadow observed the lifeless forest that surrounded his home. It was a world that he knew he would enjoy for it accepted him gracefully without a single word. The house would provide him with everything he would need. Shelter, warmth, emotional comfort… but what about food? Shadow felt his stomach growl… and he acquired a distinct craving for and odd meal.
Suddenly the hedgehog's ears shot up and he sensed a strong force pulling him towards the forest ahead. He didn't know what lay beyond the dark trees ahead of him… but whatever it was would satisfy his hunger. Unknowingly, Shadow's fangs crawled out of his mouth and the hedgehog shot off down the dirt driveway and disappeared into the bushes.
The End
That's it for Before the Vision. Keep an eye out for my next series, Phantom Girls, coming soon to Fanfiction.net.