When In the Shadows

Chapter 1: Cops and Robbers

A white hedgehog with long quills was leaning up against the edge of the rooftop building. She looked below to see many Mobians on the streets of New Station Square. Upon the side of a wall, there leaned a gray raccoon with black stripes who wore tattered clothing. He would look around the corners and other alleys to make sure no one was watching him. He then snuck into a crowd of Mobians. He then snuck out of the crowd and walked near a fruit stand. He quickly shoved some apples into a brown beat up bag.

A green elderly cat turned around to see the raccoon in mid-action,"Hey, what are you- Thief!" The raccoon just smiled at her and fled. "Someone get that raccoon!"

The white hedgehog hopped off the two story building and began to chase after him.

"Willow! Nice to see you... again."

"You have to stop doing this Zeke. Stealing is against the law. By stealing, I have to throw you in jail... again."

"I know, I know." Trying to not run into people, Zeke and Willow brushed past many Mobians. "Come on, can't you let me go just this once?"

"I can't just do that. That's going against the rules."

"It's always about the stupid rules."

"Wouldn't you want to be in a nice, warm jail cell?" She asked.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"It brings me joy to see you behind bars." She said jokingly. Zeke then turned down an alley way, which had a dead end. As Zeke approached the wall, he turned around to feel something clutch his wrists. "Gotcha."

"Isn't my 'get out of jail punch card' all ready filled out?"

Willow shook her head and ignored him. She pressed a button on her shoes and a red transparent hover board appeared underneath her feet. She plopped him up on the board and they were off to Cosmic Falls Academy; A place where only the top officers go to learn and protect their fellow Mobians.

"Do you need anything?" Willow asked as she pushed him off into jail cell.

"I'm not your kid." Zeke said as he shuffled his feet across the ground. "And why am I always in the same jail cell. And why do I have you as my 'personal guard'."

Willow sat down on a wooden chair that was across from Zeke's cell. She bent over and rested her elbow up against her legs. "No need to give sass."

Down the hall a metallic door opened. A blue hedgehog walked over to Willow. "Got you some hot chocolate."

"Thanks." Willow said as she blindly grabbed one of the mugs that was on the tray.

He awkwardly stood next to her as she didn't make eye contact with him. "I'm just- going to go give out the rest of these hot chocolates. See you later."

"Bye Dash."

Willow watched Dash as he walked away. As the door slammed behind him, Willow looked down and swished the hot chocolate around in her mug.

Zeke stood up and sat Indian style in front of Willow, behind bars. "You like him, don't you?"

"Hmm?" Willow looked up.

"You like him."

"He and I use to date. I came into the academy when it was first built and he arrived last year. We thought it was the great that him and I would be able to fight crime together, but several months ago he broke up with me. He said that over time, I've changed."

"All people change throughout life Willow." Zeke said.

"Not the way that I've changed..."

"Well, it's his loss."

Willow giggled. "If you say so."

"What the hell is that?"

"What was what?"

"Was that an emotion?"

Willow cleared her throat. "I try to keep it professional."

"Whatever." Zeke said as he rolled his eyes.

Willow held out her mug to Zeke. "Want some?"

He reached his arms through the bars and grabbed the mug. "Sure." Willow sat back and watched him drink the hot chocolate. She felt bad for the kid. Well, he wasn't really a kid, seeing that he looked as old as herself.

Little did he know, she had actually let him get away with a lot more then he thinks. For the past months, Willow was assigned to watch a street because of burglaries. At first Willow would be harsh on the raccoon, but as time grew on, she began to understand why he stole.

Willow would only give him leeway when he was actually caught. He was braking the law, but the only thing he stole was food.

One day, Willow followed him back to a cardboard box, which he would crawl into every night. As he closed the "doors" a small blue light would shine though some of the crevices of the box.

Every time she caught him, she threw him in jail, like everyone who breaks the law. Just for him, she would make sure that he would get the hottest foods and made sure she was the one who was on guard when he was in jail, so he wouldn't be mistreated. As time grew on, so did their odd friendship between a cop and a robber.

"You ready for tomorrow?"

Willow broke out of her gaze and looked up at Zeke. "Hmm?"

"The exams."

"Yea, I'm curious to see who shows up tomorrow."

"Too bad I wont be able to watch..."

"Don't worry, I''ll get you in somehow."

"Really?" he questioned as he took another sip of hot chocolate.

"Mmhmm. How is it?"

"Oh, the hot chocolate? It's amazing!"

Suddenly the lights went out. From Zeke's cell, a small blue ball began to glow, lighting up the entire hall.

Zeke looked over to Willow who was scrunched up into a ball. As soon as she saw the lights turned on, she slowly uncurled. Zeke stood and gripped the jail's bars. "You okay Willow?"

"Yea... I'm just not a big fan of the dark."

"AHA! So you do have a weakness!"

"My 'weakness' is very hypocritical."

"What do you mean?"

Willow wrapped her arms around her knees. "It's hard to explain. It's a long story."

"Oh, alright."

"So you can control light?"

"Electricity. It's so cool, but I can only use this it when there's an available energy source."

That's what the blue light must of been when he was in his cardboard box. Willow thought. "How do you know when you'll run out?" She asked

The light from his hand began to fade. "It's a feeling that I get. Usually I can tell from how much I take."

"I see." Willow stood and stretched out her arms and legs. "Well, off to bed. I'll see you tomorrow in thestands."

" Night."

"Night." Willow said as she left.

When she locked the door behind her, she turned around to see Dash with his arms crossed. "It's past curfew you know. I should go and report you."

"For what?"

"For putting your life in danger. You shouldn't be around anyone like him this late at night.

"It's not like he would hurt me."

"What if he did? Who's going to protect you?"

"I don't need protection!"

"I don't want you to see him anymore."

Willow crossed her arms. "Is somebody jealous?"

"What? Of him? He's pathetic."

"Wow... Really? And you've said that I've changed? Look at yourself."

"Don't you turn this one me! You know it's you're fault for-."

"For what? Being who I am today? It was a life and death decision. I still wanted to be with you guys because I wasn't ready to die." Willow walked closer to him and began to jab her finger into his chest. "You're so inconsiderate. Grow up. We aren't who we used to be." Willow turned around and started to walk away. She suddenly stopped and turned her head slightly to the right. "Be glad I don't report you for harassment."

~~~Okay, so, that was Chapter 1 of When in the Shadow, Book 2 in The Aftermath Series. Follow me and see what happens Next in Chapter 2: That's a Stupid Rule.

P.S. Book 2 will not be posted here. It will be its own separate book, THis was just an epilogue for people who have read my story and would like to know what happens next. Questions such as. "What's the point of Willow's book?", "How has Willow changed?", and "Is Hallow still alive?" Will all be answered in When in the Shadows Book 2 of The AfterMath Series.