The Pretender

Chapter 1

(Story takes after Sonic the Comic #83, "Mystery Villain")

(Story takes after STC: A Whole New World fan fiction)

An eternal abyss. No matter how far she could stretch herself out, all she could see was darkness. As she pulled out her hand, she felt the withering shades of black, dancing across her fingers. This sudden motion, made her pull back in panic. The shadow felt alive. She wanted to cry out, but fear kept her lips sealed; afraid of what was lurking nearby. She didn't want to move either; for the dark clouds below her feet, slithered around her presence. Like a predator, it was waiting patiently for her next move. The black form was growing in height, alternating its shape, bringing itself life from the shadows.

Fear froze her as she heard the screeching sound of nails being dragged through the ground. Her instinct was to place her hands over her small furred ears, trying to deafen the terrifying sound. But it was coming closer, as the abyss bellowed and withered; starting to form into something new.

Suddenly from underneath her, two large shadowed tentacles bolted towards her. It happened so fast, that she was completely off guard as they caught her ankles and dragged her down. Falling backwards, she desperately tried to twist her body and claw for anything to resist.

She wanted to scream, but her voice felt small and helpless. The tentacles pulled her upwards, throwing her upside down in mid-air as she waved her arms around. Then as she looked down, more of them appeared out of the shadows. But where were they coming from?

She witnessed the shadow forming shape, a figure approached her, snarling and laughing at her predicament, as it continued to deafen her ears, with the deafening sound of shrieking nails. A large being appeared before her, surrounded by its large tentacles. It's purple body, shone in what little light that was surrounding her. But it's snarling face she witnessed, stopped her crying.

Her heart beat racing frantically, the monster below revealed its long pointing teeth, laughing at her demise. Its small white pupils, were surrounded by a deepening hallow black. Their eyes connected and a huge wave of sorrow, guilt and terror brought tears in her eyes, as she closed them from the terrifying multiple voices that circled in her head.

"WHO ARE YOU?"

She carefully opened her eyes, to find herself standing straight at the monster, her feet back on the ground. The being withered, transformed to something more familiar. But this time, the being only rose to an extra person then herself. She looked up at the figure and shock overwhelmed her.

A face appeared. A full purple battle suit, with matching brown fur only emitting from their face. The large sharp teeth still hovering close to her face. And those same hallow eyes beamed down at her. Then a large clawed hand reached out for her neck. Being dragged up, her small tiny feet danced in mid-air, as her arms tried to break free.

She tried to scream out, but the grip became tightened. She was losing consciousness as the air in her lungs felt depleting. Then it reached towards her, feeling the pincer teeth near to her ear.

"WHO ARE YOU?"

The darkness was choking her as it evaporated around her. The claw had disappeared in the heavy mist but the pain, made her clasp her throat as she collapsed to the ground. The swirls of repeated questions, the heavy fog kept spinning her around, making her dizzy.

Till one final image of a large axe from above her, swished straight for her head…

Eyes bolted open; the small bear forced herself to not cry out. She wiped her tears away, while her other hand was still clutched to her bed cover as the fear still grasped her. Taking quick breaths, it still felt something was clutching her neck. But as she carefully touched it, there was no cuts, no marks.

The vision and that one question, was still spinning around her head as she got up to switch on the bedroom light.

It was still dark outside, as she could see the streetlights still lit up through the thin curtains. The noise of the city nightlife was still alive with echoes of sirens from a distance. She turned to see the bedside clock, which revealed it was 2 o'clock in the morning. Sighing from her disturbed sleep, the bear crawled herself out of bed, and strolled towards the small En-suite bathroom.

With the sound of the running water from the sink tap, the bear rubbed her eyes from her disturbed sleep. As the sink started to fill up, she placed her hands into the cool water and splashed her fur with the refreshing soak. As she stopped the tap, she had the nerve to look at herself, in the bathroom mirror.

There, she looked at herself. Tired and worn out. Her hair was frazzled from her sleep, her eyes looked droopy. She stroked her small ears backwards as she stared into her reflection. As she stared into her reflection, her nerves started to calm down. There was hideous monster looking at her.

She was Phia the Bear. Student at Metropolis College.

But why? Why as she thought about it out loud, did it feel so…fake?

Then she took one more look at herself once more and sighed. No, not even her green eyes could hide away the darkness that buried deep down within her.

Memories started to form in her head; terrible and cruel. A stab of guilt overcame her as she clutched her stomach. More tears shone on her face from her pain; but the pain she inflicted, to so many.

Desperately, she continued to wash her face, until sleep finally called her back to bed. But as she rested her head on the soft pillow, the same image of herself, the dream and the burning question, couldn't help to rest her eyes.

"Who am I?"

TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT PART "Rush Hour!"