Nightlight in the Dark (An OC x Catnap Story)

Chapter 5: In My Mind, We Never Said Goodbye

Song Credits: Illenium - In My Mind (feat. HALIENE)

Italic - Importance/Text //// Bold - Emphasis/Phone Call //// ' ' - Thoughts //// ( ) - Memory

"In my mind. It's still you and I, you and I. In my mind. 'Cause we never said goodbye..."

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"Happy birthday to you!" My family claps as I blow out the candles on my cake. Today was my seventh birthday. 

My little sister, Skyla hugs me and I hug her back. Mom and dad also join in. "Happy seventh Skyelle." I smile. "Thanks mom..."

Soon it was time to open gifts, and I open a pink one first. I gasp when I see what it was. It was my Catnap plush, that was sewn up.

It had a hole in it for awhile, and when I saw it missing I panicked. But knowing my mom must've taken it to fix it, I hug her again.

"You're welcome hon. I know how much it mattered to you. So I fixed it up for you!" 

I split from the hug. My smile was obvious when I kept opening gifts. The last one I opened had stripes on it. Tearing the paper I see a photo frame of me and my old friend.

My eyes tear up. It's been 4 years since I've last seen Theo. Four years since I left the orphanage and came home to my new family.

I walk upstairs, placing it on my nightstand. I sit on my bed, sighing and looking at it. Whatever memories I had of that place were fuzzy now.

But one popped up with looking at the picture. What had happened to my best friend? 

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The voices wake me up. Looking around in the dark room, I look at the time on my alarm. 3 in the morning. I felt an ominous presence above me.

I dart my eyes to the door. It was feeling like someone was in the doorway, watching me. I get up on my feet, and walk over to it carefully.

I tilt it open, only to see nothing there. Blinking and rubbing my eyes. 'I was sure that someone was here...'  Hopping back in my bed, I try to close my eyes.

Feeling the tingly sensation of being touched, I flinch and cover myself more in the blanket. My eyes were shut tight. 

Finally fed up with my fear, I whip the blanket off. I see nothing. Nobody was here. Nobody was even touching me. Yet it was like something was messing with me.

My eyes look over to the vent. No red smoke. Which meant no nightmares. But this was feeling like a nightmare that I can't wake up from.

Breathing in slowly, my eyes manage to close. Maybe it wouldn't matter in the morning...

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It's been four years. Four miserable years spent in this horrible body. My claws tense and untense on the metal floor.

Catnap.

That was the name that they gave me. A giant purple cat made to 'protect'. The very same cat that she had a plush of.

My now nonexistent heart aches just thinking of her. Her soft hair. Her beautiful laugh. My new body made me feel something... unknown for her.

The last time we've seen each other, she got unhappy with my question. But I knew that she didn't mean to snap at me.

Her face was hiding it very well. The pain of her past, right? Those blue eyes that always looked into mine. 

My stomach growls for something. Murder. Ever since I've been in tuned to my body, I've wanted to kill those who stole my life away, and find her again.

Closing my eyes, I can hear that voice again,

"I-I'm Skyelle. I d-don't have any f-friends." Those blue eyes look sad as she talks to me. I had left her food by her hiding spot, going off to read my book.

At some point I felt eyes on me, and for the first time can I get a clear view of her face. It had mud on it, like she hasn't been living well.

Then she's saying that she recognizes my book, and she turns red as I stare back with brown eyes. I never knew why she did that, and only around me too.

I was purring contently the whole time I was having the memory play in my head. A scientist comes in, making my ears perk up, listening to their pitiful heart beat.

If only I could get out of here, and end it. But I can't. Not when I was commanded to stay only in here. I'd only get tazed in return.

They were probably only here to check in on me, writing notes down. My white pupils stare into their soul. Making them successfully shiver.

In fear.

Smiling widely, they back up nervously. The door swings close behind them. I sit back down again, my tail swishing in dismiss.

That'll show the pesky humans. 

Wondering whatever came of my dear friend, I stare through the window. Waiting for a chance for freedom to come.

And see her again...

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Morning came. That was definitely a weird dream experience I had last night. I still felt something running down my leg.

Mom was up, packing me school lunch. I had been homeschooled for years, just afraid of whatever happened there, would happen again.

Finally with some encouragement, I start today in public school. And I was in elementary, so kids my age would be around me.

Patting my head, dad went to make coffee. My nose rolls up from the smell of coffee being brewed. 

Skyla also runs down the stairs, and goes over to me. I hug her back, and watch her run to her spot at the table. She was starting kindergarten today as well.

'At least our schools are by each other...' 

Meanwhile waiting for the bus, I eat my oatmeal, thinking about how it might go. Would other kids even want to befriend me?

Knowing that my old friend wouldn't be there by my side made me sigh. Mom catches it. "What is it dear?" I shake my head. "I'm afraid that nobody would like me."

She comes over to hug me. "Don't worry, I'm sure that you'll be fine. It's just first day nerves, don't worry. They'll pass eventually."

Nodding slowly, I get up to wash my bowl out. Grabbing my backpack and lunch, mom kisses my head. "Have a great day in first grade hon."