Press Start [Under Rework]

Chapter Three: A Little Bit of Virtual Reality

I woke up in a panic, trying to catch my breath. I looked around the room and sighed, "Just a dream.." I was going to get out of the bed I was in and walk into the kitchen, that is, until I heard two voices, both were having a conversation.

"What the hell are we suppose to do with her?! We have an alive human-being in our home!" the first voice barked. The second replied, "I don't know. Maybe she can hel-"

"She's a human, Atlas!" the first voice interrupted, "What is she going to do to help us stop him?" I heard footsteps coming up, I tried to find somewhere to hid, but it was no use.

"Look, all I'm saying is that I don't want her to get caught up in our-" the voice stopped and looked at me. "Oh... You're uh.. awake." It was at that point I fainted...

***
I felt something hit my face and I perked up. "You alright kid?" one of them said. I groaned as I sat up, my face stinging with pain. "Maybe we should introduce ourselves..."

The woman stood up to help get get to my feet. "My name is Claws Evermoon Eclipse, and this rat over here is my brother, Atlas." she said, pointing to the person next to her.

"I'm not a rat, I'm a mouse!" Atlas whined, crossing his arms. Claws dusted off her dress and turned to me, "So, what's your name, kid?" I backed up a bit, "Tell me where I am first, then I'll tell you."

She sighed, "Well, Atlas and I were walking around in Sandbrigade until we saw you just.. laying there. So Atlas thought it would've been a good idea to take you here, and well, here we are.."

It wasn't the answer I was looking for, but I didn't have the time. "Look, I need to get out of here," I began, "I have a family waiting for me back home and they must be so worried about me. So, where's the exit?"

Claws and Atlas both looked at each other. "There is no exit..." Atlas began half-heartedly. "You're stuck here until we find one," Claws finished, hanging her head down.

"Stuck? Here?" I repeated, sitting on the bed. "D-don't worry! We'll find a way to get you out. I promise!" Claws reassured, sitting down with me. "How do I know I can trust you?" I asked, my voice cracking. "You're going to have to figure that out," Claws sighed.

"Get some rest, tomorrow we're going to get you a Data Transfer." "And I'm taking the Sky Hornet~!" Atlas sang. "And no you are not~!" Claws sang along, pushing Atlas along the stairs. "Aw c'mon!"

I slipped off my shoes and pulled the covers over me, trying to go to sleep. I reached into my pocket for my phone, luckily I still had it. I looked in my messages, all of them from Opal. I cursed under my breath.

I tried to text her back but it wouldn't send. I sighed and turned it off, looking up at the ceiling. I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes.

***
I opened up my eyes slowly, the rays from the window blinding me. I turned onto my back, away from the sun, facing Atlas, who was on top of me. I screamed and kicked him off the bed, causing a loud thud.

"Ce qui ne va pas avec vous?!" I screamed in my second language. Atlas got up from the floor and smiled, "Back at 'cha!" he replied. It was clear that either he didn't understand French or he is hard-headed.

I groaned, getting up from the bed, "Why did you wake me up like that?" Atlas shrugged, "I don't know, but it seemed pretty effective." I grabbed my shoes and started walking downstairs, meeting up with Claws.

"So, how'd ya sleep, kiddo?" she asked, her ears twitching. "Fine, I guess," I lied, "and stop calling me kiddo. My name is Ruby."

"Oh! Like the gem?" Atlas gasped. "Yes Atlas. Like the gem." Claws walked to the door and turned to us. I slipped on my shoes and followed her, Atlas following suit. I tried to stay quiet so I could atleast think of a way to get out.

***
We all stepped onto a subway train, other characters standing/sitting together, but not interacting much. Claws kept me behind herself, as if someone was going to harm a mother's child.

A fellow, just about my height, came up to us, starting off with some small banter, then he glimpsed at me. "Hey uh... who's this kid behind you?" He asked, pointing his hoof at me.

Claws tilted her head, "I don't know what you're talking about, Dirky," she lied, glancing at me, "It's nothing!" "Well looks like that 'nothing' is a-" Claws covered his mouth quickly, causing other people to turn to the commotion.

Claws whispered something and let him go, just as the door opened. The, now, four of us rushed out of the subway and into a utopian-like city. "Welcome to the Main Hub," an intercom greeted. I couldn't believe how pretty the place was.

"Alright, Dirk. This is Ruby and she's uh.. she a human-" "A human!?" Dirk shouted, causing Claws to cover his mouth. "Are you insane?! Are you trying you kill us?!" Claws scream/whispered. "AGH!" Claws pulled back, flicking her hand. "What did he do? Bite you?!"

"The fucker licked my goddamn hand! He's lucky that I can't kill him right here right now." Dirk shrugged with a smile. "Okay, enough dicking around. I need to get my Data Trans-whatever you call that thing," I said with an sigh.

"She's right. Look, we need to hurry so why don't you get your deer ass outta her before I do it for you." Dirk growled, "I'm not a deer! I'm a dik-dik!" "Man, I love doing that," Claws admitted stifling a laugh and continuing on to the store.

The bell rung as we opened the door to the shop. "Pick out a charm, Ruby," Claws instructed, "Then the shopkeeper can make the necklace for you." I looked at all the charms, stumbling across one in the formate of a joystick, the handle being a red ruby.

"Can you get me this one?" The shopkeeper nodded, opening the cabinet to get the charm. Atlas was looking out the window, daydreaming about somthing, while Claws was sitting in one of the chairs. The shopkeeper came back with a box, and Claws got up to pay her.

***
As we were walking back, I heard growling in the distance. I just shook it off, it was getting dark so there could've been stray cats or dogs out. That is, until it got louder. Claws might've heard it too, because she just stopped walking.

Atlas and I stopped as well, listening to the low growl. Claws started walking again, but just a bit faster, Atlas and I followed suit. A sudden loud roar echoed, and all of us instinctively ran to the subway.

I took a glace behind myself before I entered the subway, a round-like figure with three illuminating eyes, and sharp, glowing teeth, that was what was out to get us.

Claws pulled me in and the locomotive started up. I took in a deep breath, "What... What was that thing?" Claws looked at Atlas and sighed, "We weren't going to tell you this until later but..." she paused.

"But I think now is more important."