FSE

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Chapter 3

"You said you were sixteen when this happened," asked the raven curiously sitting back in a leather chair. He wore thin rimmed glasses as he wrote in his pad with a pen that probably cost as much as the suit he wore.

Ridley lay looking up at the imprinted ceiling quietly for some time before speaking, "Yes... I was young... stupid."

The Raven nodded slowly as he started to write while asking another question, "What else can you tell me about those years Ridley? Friends, memorable interactions maybe?"

Ridley laid back trying to remember but every time he went back, everything was dark. The shapes he did see were foggy and disconnected. He heard mumbling instead of talking and screaming. He could never forget the screaming he heard. It was the sound of true terror at its very essence. The sound no creature could fake. Real horror was in that sound as it played over in his head.

"That's the problem doc... I can't remember," replied Ridley lying only slightly in his statement.

The black bird tilted his glasses down slightly before nodding, "I need you to try Ridley. I need you to see."

Ridley closed his eyes and found himself standing in a dark desert. He kept his eyes closed, "I'm standing in a desert. I'm alone. I feel... I feel hot, uncomfortable. I don't like this place."

"What is in the desert? Is there anything of note?"

The black fennec looked around slowly seeing what looked like a sort of anti-light on the horizon. It bubbled and boiled but didn't seem to have the power to spread from where it was.

"Darkness... A mass of darkness on the horizon."

"Good. I want you to get a closer look Ridley. Walk to the darkness. See if it is palpable."

Ridley slowly began to walk through the desert feeling the heat get more and more oppressive the closer her got. Reaching out slowly to try to touch the inky black he felt something stop his hand. Looking to his wrist he saw a black paw holding it.

"There is someone here... stopping me."

"Who is it Ridley?"

Turning to face the person holding him back he saw a woman shaking her head. She reached out and touched Ridley's cheek softly. It was then that Ridley saw she was without clothing and red marks glowed through her fur as her mouth moved but he couldn't hear her speak.

"I... I don't know... She's trying to talk to me but I can't hear her. She looks worried."

"Listen to her Ridley. Why doesn't she want you to touch the darkness?"

Ridley tried to open his mouth to speak but found himself unable to. His heart began to race as the woman looked afraid. She held Ridley's arm tightly and ran dragging him along as the darkness started to boil faster, something was stirring inside. The scream, he heard it this time loud and clear as the shadow began to overtake them.

The canine fell in front of the male and took him down with her only to see the wave of black liquid about to overtake them he cried out and sat strait up on the leather couch. He could feel sweat dripping from his brow as he panted hard. Looking around Ridley quickly realized he wasn't in the doctor's office at all.

He turned to his nightstand and frowned seeing the hour of three AM on his clock. Standing up he walked to the bathroom and snagged the empty glass next to the sink filling it with water as his mouth was dry. Taking a long drink he held himself up on the sink and looked into the mirror, another rough night.

"Pull it together... You've got class tomorrow," Said Ridley to himself with a sigh.

It was true that he couldn't remember two years of his life after the car accident. He was on his own at the time away from his parents who were looking for him. All of this of course he had heard from a third party. He was found two years later in a hospital for the mentally disabled.

Recovery took a long time and eventually Ridley was back to himself but the nagging feeling like he was missing something important never went away. It was his life after all, what could be more important than that?

Ridley opened his eyes and looked into the mirror to see the mark on his chest. He'd tried everything once he was out to hide it. Dyes, he even tried to shave that patch away but sure enough nothing would keep it away. He put a paw over it and sighed out a soft, "Damnit..."

He turned the light out and walked back to his bed sitting on it with his legs hanging off the edge as he held his head with a sigh, "Doc said it would come back when you were ready Ridley... Don't go poking around or you'll get hurt..."

His tails waved idly behind him as he sat in the silence of the early morning just thinking. He never knew what it was about the darkness that made him think about the important things in life. His past, mistakes and triumphs of his youth, sometimes the meaning of his life and why fate had put upon him such a burden, all of these things came to the surface.

A soft red glow caught his eyes as he turned his gaze to his shoulder and saw a twisting red mark in his fur. His eyes went wide as he stood up and got a closer look at his right shoulder. The mark was new and last he knew kitsune and fennecs were known for their abilities with bioluminescence.

Running back to the bathroom he got an even better look as the tribal symbol snaked its way down his arm right before his eyes. He found himself turning as it slipped along his back stopping when the pattern of bat wings was complete. The red stopped glowing but the color remained. His eyes remained wide as his heart raced and he panted. What he just saw should be impossible after all.

"Great... just what I need... more things to call attention to me," Said Ridley as he turned back to the mirror only to see the familiar woman looking back. Ridley yipped and jumped back as he saw the marks on him were matching her own.

Her muzzle began to move like she was speaking her eyes filled with fear but still Ridley couldn't hear her. She tried shouting and almost like a whisper on the wind he heard, "Remember... me..."

He shook his head slowly as he got closer to the mirror only to have her image disappear as a black sort of smoke replaced it. Ridley reached forward to touch the mirror only to have the smoke lash out and grab his wrist with a tight grip. It was almost like fluid oil was running along his skin gripping him tightly and trying to drag him into the mirror.

The panicked fennec pulled back using all his strength to tear away from the mirror and fall to the tile as the smoke retreated leaving no trace of its presence. Ridley sat there with his back to the shower door with his heart racing faster than he'd ever felt before. He slowly stood up and looked into the mirror and only seeing himself there was a comforting feeling.

He walked back into the bedroom still shaking from the event that he wasn't even sure was real. He kept thinking it was a dream over and over in his mind. Reaching for the drawer on his nightstand Ridley pulled his cell phone free and cycled through names until he reached one labeled Raine. He pushed the call button putting the phone to his ear as he listened to the ringing.

"What's happened," said the familiar voice from the earpiece.

"I... I don't know. Red marks... they are spreading all over me. They have claimed my right arm and back," Replied Ridley

Raine was silent for a few moments before speaking, "Genetic mutation... nothing to worry about."

"I saw her again..."

"The woman in the dark place?"

"She was in the mirror..."

The two were quiet for some time as Ridley was trying to wrap his mind around what had happened. It was Raine that broke the silence as he spoke, "Are you sure it wasn't a dream Ridley?"

The fennec looked around the room and nodded slowly, "Yeah I'm sure."

"Well... best get some rest son... There isn't anything we can do about it at the moment. Try and calm yourself down and get some sleep. If anything else happens keep in touch with me. I'll see if some of my old associates can help you. You know I can't go to the campus though," Replied Raine softly.

"Why?"

"It's in the free territories... They still want my head there," Replied Raine softly.

Ridley nodded almost face palming at forgetting this, "right... I'm sorry... I'll keep you up to date."

"Sleep well son... We'll figure it out I promise..."

Ridley had trouble sleeping the rest of the night so when the alarm went off at seven he felt exhausted. The day went poorly as he nearly fell asleep in his literature class and it only steadily declined though biology. When it came time for a break between classes he found his way under a tree in the shade to eat his lunch consisting of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some orange juice.

Sitting alone he closed his eyes only to be woken up by a tap on the shoulder. It was his biology teacher Professor Ashe Scribe. She was a small woman looking to be on her last legs as she sat down next to the fennec with a friendly smile. Her rainbow colored tail waved a few times behind her as the blandford's fox smiled sweetly, "Mind if I join you?"

Ridley nodded as he scooted slightly finishing the food in his mouth before speaking, "Professor Scribe? I uhh... sure. What did you want?"

"Your grandfather called me this morning. Said you had an incident last night," Replied Ashe with a sweet smile brushing her pink and teal bangs out from in front of her brown eyes, her almost fennec like ears twitching, "He's worried about you. Do you want to tell me about it?"

The fennec looked confused as he spoke softly, "You know Raine?"

The professor laughed softly and nodded, "You better believe it. I'm the sign of the light my mark being the rainbow on my tail. I helped him along the whole way in his dark journey. He's a sweet man given a terrible hand to play in life."

Ridley nodded slowly looking down at his paws as he spoke, "you're one of few who know the truth then... It's good to know that you at least understand."

The professor put a hand softly on Ridley's shoulder softly and nodded, "I understand Ridley... Now you have marks other than the stamp of the undying?"

Ridley nodded as he reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it up over his head so she could see his chest and arms. The markings hadn't creped any farther than it had the night before but still it bothered Ridley seeing them as it assured him it wasn't all a dream.

"I see... this is curious... Your mark, It's different from Raine's. Similar but different," Said Ashe as she looked it over with a sort of childlike curiosity. Reaching into her lab coat she pulled free a picture and nodded showing it to Ridley as she spoke, "This is your grandfather's mark. You can see that it mostly looked like a skull while yours is more smooth... it looks like a fox."

Ridley nodded looking at the picture before speaking, "So what's that supposed to mean?"

Ashe quirked a brow and chuckled, "Only one who knew what the marks really meant is dead."

"Who?"

"Raiden Oginawa..."

Ridley looked down hearing that name and sighed softly, "Yeah... He made the virus. I guess he would know better than anyone."

Ashe nodded slowly as she started to inspect the other markings, "So he tells me you see a woman in the dark desert. Her marks were the same as this?"

Ridley nodded slowly as he took a sip from the orange juice before speaking, "Yeah... She's there. She was in my mirror last night as well... but I don't think she's alone."

Ashe nodded as she traced the wings on his back curiously, "Does she ever talk to you?"

"No... She tries but I can't ever hear her."

Ashe nodded again before sitting down next to the fennec and smiling, "You can put your shirt back on. This is a very curious situation. You should know that Raine saw Raiden in the same place you see this woman. The dark desert is what we came to call it. When he took hits that should have killed him he would go to that place and have to fight against Raiden for control."

Ridley's heart sank as he felt sick to his stomach. He put his food down and frowned putting his shirt back on, "That doesn't mean that... she uhh..."

"I don't know what it means Ridley. These things don't follow our understanding of science at this time so for all intents and purposes it's magic. Science we don't yet understand," Replied Prof. Scribe softly with a slight frown.

"So if it's happening the same way it happened to Raine... then... I might have this girl try and get out? Try and take over," Asked Ridley a little afraid at the answer.

"who knows... Have you experienced lost time before? Hours just gone... maybe even more," asked Ashe.

"Hey Ridley," shouted the familiar voice of Que before Ridley could answer. The yellow fennec was walking to the tree and sat down next to the black fennec with a big grin, "What's up?"

Ridley was still shaken as he looked to the newcomer with a look of surprise. Of all the times for him to show up thought the black canine. He leaned back against the tree with a soft sigh, "Too much? School is a bit hard to just jump back into it seems."

Que nodded with a bit of a cheerful chuckle as he spoke, "Yeah I guess it is kinda hard when you start up again. Hey professor Ashe! Helpin Ridley out?"

Ashe nodded slowly as she stood herself brushing off her lab coat with a smile, "Of course Mr. Drake. You know I hate having to fail students and Ridley is very talented. I want to make sure he does good things with his life. I'll excuse myself now and let you boys catch up then."

Ridley looked up at Ashe with a pleading look practically screaming don't leave me alone with him! All he got in return was a sweet smile and a wave as she walked away leaving the two fennecs alone.

"So umm... sorry about last night. I guess that was kinda awkward," Said Que rubbing the back of his head a little sheepishly.

Ridley picked a dandelion and blew the seeds free from the stalk with a nod, "yeah... just a bit. Thank you for helping me though. With clayton and the trunk I mean. Hey did you know that Professor Ashe is one of the seven." Ridley was trying to be clever in changing the subject.

Que nodded slowly and chuckled, "She's the reason all the biology and medical students come here silly. You didn't know?"

Ridley looked a little embarrassed as he looked down at his unfinished lunch and nodded, "Yeah I guess... I just came here because it was recommended to me..."

"Hey... you got something on your mind," Asked Que a little concerned as he reached out and put a hand on Ridley's shoulder. Ridley shrugged it off a bit like a knee jerk reaction which he was already regretting.

The black fennec bit his lip and looked to Que shaking his head, "Hey umm... I kind of have some problems right now. I'm sorry I'm so jumpy I don't mean to upset you or anything."

"Tell me about them... You don't have to hide things Ridley. We're friends aren't we," Asked Que curiously.

Ridley looked up at the mention of them being friends. He lifted his brow and tilted his head slightly, "I... I guess... I'm having lucid hallucinations or something... I see things happen that should be impossible but... they do happen."

The black fennec lifted the sleeve on his shirt so Que could see the new marks, "They grew on me last night... I don't know how to deal with it."

Que nodded slowly inspecting the marks before tilting his head with a grin, "They do make a kind of kickass tattoo I guess... but yeah I can see how seein stuff would bother you."

Ridley nodded as he packed the rest of his food away with a frown, "And now I learn that things happened the same way with Raine..."

"You don't think you'll turn into some kinda monster do you," Asked Que as Ridley stood himself up.

"I don't know... there's darkness inside me somewhere. Someone keeps me away from it... protects me from it... but I can't hear her when she tries to warn me. I don't know who she is but she's importaint," said the black fennec softly.

Que whistled softly while shaking his head, "School and something bigger going on inside at the same time. And I thought keeping up with the track team and my studies was hard. I'm sorry you're going through so much Ridley. I really wish there was something I could do to help you."

Ridley was about to walk away before he turned and nodded, "come on lets head back to the dorm. My classes are done for the day and I have some study to do but it's always nice to have someone else around. It keeps my mind off things..."

Que smiled and hopped to his feet with a nod as he took Ridley's side as they began to walk and talk, "So what are you majoring in anyway?"

The black fennec smiled slightly, "Microbiology... I want to study the familiaris virus and find out how it operates. It's unlike anything ever seen before."

"I see... I'm a comp sci major myself. Most of the track team is actually," Replied Que with a smile.

They reached the dorm and Ridley unlocked the door stepping inside as he spoke, "I was never really good with computers. Family didn't have much money as Dad had trouble finding a job and mom's family disowned her for marrying him."

"That's not entirely true Ridley," Said a feminine voice from inside the dorm room making both fennecs turn to the sitting area.

There sat a white fennec vixen in a simple oriental dress covered in Japanese symbols. She stood up slowly waving her nine tails behind her as her pink eyes always seemed to have a sparkle in them. She walked to Ridley and gave him a little kiss on the cheek as he spoke, "Rukan? What are you doing here?"

"Someone you know," Asked Que as it looked like he was about to fight the woman but seeing the closeness he backed down.

"Yeah... she's my great gran," said Ridley as he was cut off as she put a finger to his lips and shook her head replying softly, "I'm a relative... We don't use the GG word. Raine sent me here to keep an eye on things."

"Here," asked Ridley a bit worried that he may end up with a roommate after all.

She chuckled and shook her head walking back to the sitting area so the three could talk. Ridley looked to Que and nodded as they joined the woman around the coffee table before she spoke, "I have a room in town. We are all very worried about you Ridley. We don't want you to have to do anything you don't want to. Please understand as you are the first generation in the family to really have freedom, the first not bound by honor or fate to do something."

Ridley nodded slowly before replying, "I appreciate your concerned but I think I can take care of myself..."

"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Hisashi! I read all about your covert work with the Familaris! Is it true he's still alive," Said Que all at once making the white and black canine look to the yellow curiously. Ridley wanted to face palm but he held it in for the time being. Talking about important things didn't seem to be high on Que's priority list.

Rukan sat back with a chuckle as she tossed her white braided hair to the side and spoke, "Yes Masatoshi is still alive. We Kitsune live for a very very long time. Ridley would have lived long even without the mark he bears. I'm flattered though that you would look into those things... Not many would care to look those things up. I was only a minor player in the cataclysm..."

Ridley nodded slightly sitting back for now happy he didn't have to talk about his problems for the time being. He looked to Que and smiled as the yellow fennec spoke again, "Oh I don't know about that ma'am! You uncovered the Angeltech connection and were able to remove the chance of the new mobile armor reaching the deadlands! That's really impressive! Weren't you also the one that discovered the fox hunt connection to the yamitsu scourge as well?"

The white fennec laughed slightly and nodded, "Yes... that was me. You really know your stiff kiddo. It's good to see Ridley picked one with good taste!"

Ridley sat up quickly all his fur on end as he shook his head, "We're just friends!"

Que got quite as he hid his face and Rukan looked between the two with a chuckle, "I never saw you as the strait type Ridley... 'specially with those hips you have... I thought the boys woulda been all over you by now but... well your name and all."

"Yeah we can stop this conversation before it ever gets started kay," Said Ridley with his arms folded across his chest with a frown.

Rukan and Que seemed a little surprised at the outburst as they looked to Ridley curious as to what he was so protective of. They sat in awkward silence for some time before Rukan cleared her throat and spoke, "So... let's see em."

The black fennec nodded slowly and stood himself up as he took his shirt off to show the marks on his right arm and back to Rukan. She stood up quickly inspecting them before shaking her head slowly, "Oh... Well I'll be around Ridley. Oh and stay away from Clayton and Semling... I don't like them."

"You met," started Ridley only to see the albino woman disappear in a puff of smoke. He blinked a few times before looking to Que confused.

"Yes she was here... She's talented in that she has abilities. She's a real living Kitsune from the legends after all. The new ones like you and Raine are different. You're not like Masatoshi and Rukan," Replied Que with a nod.

"Yeah but... Never mind," Said Ridley as he put his shirt back on with a frown.

Que nodded slowly as he sat back into the couch and sighed, "Hey... you now if you ever have problems you can talk to me about them. I'll understand... anyway... the sports division is throwing a party tonight and I want you to come along. It'd be good to you to get out and be social I think."

Ridley smiled slightly and nodded, "Alright... but if something happens it's gonna make you feel bad."

"Nothing will happen. I'll be there won't I," Replied Que with a smile.