Empty Shells (reader insert)

Chapter 2

You knock on the door of your friend Emily's apartment. Today's classes were finished earlier then on your normal days so you decided to check if Emily wanted to get coffee. Since she takes a different course then you she has no classes today so you knew she would be home trying to catch up on a book or something. When the door opens you're greeted by the bright smile of Emily. "(Fn)! It's so good to see you! I thought you would be working on your dissertation since your classes are done early?"

You give a small smile and wave. "Hey Emily. Want to hang out? I've got plenty of time later to finish that paper. It's just the final paper in my course."

"Your (favourite subject) course, which is one of the hardest courses in the university!" Emily almost yells as she laughs. She waves you inside and heads for the kitchen to get you a drink.

As Emily leaves the living room you see two brown ears poke out from behind one of her side tables. Soon two dark black eyes peer out and stare at you. You give a smile and a small wave making sure that Emily can't see it and motion for the spirit to come closer. As the spirit slowly walks out from behind the table you see the little bear walk cautiously with its nose sniffing the air.

After walking to the edge of the couch it stands up on its back legs. After tilting its head to the side and twitching its ears the brown bear finally speaks. "(Fn)? It's good to see you. How's Vulpes doing?"

"That's why I'm here." You say quietly so Emily doesn't hear you and thinks your talking to an empty room. "She wanted me to say be careful. There's been some white spirit huntings lately. She's a little concern so be careful please?"

The bear starts shaking at the words. "Vulpes is worried about this? That's scary. I'm not that strong. If one of them
attacks Emily I might not be able to stop them."

You kneel down in front of the small frightened bear. Ursa had started covering her snout with her clawed paws. You gently pull off her paws and look her in the face. "It's ok Ursa. This stuff has happened before. You'll be fine. Besides, since you don't have as much strength as Vulpes you won't be noticed that easily. Just be smart. Don't do anything to draw attention to yourself or Emily."

After sniffling a little Ursa nods and gives the closest a bear can to a smile. "(Fn)? Why are you on the floor?" Emily asks walking back into the living room. She hands you the cup with a puzzled look on her face.

You smile and take the cup sitting back on the couch. "I thought I heard something drop and looked around. I was wrong." You say as Ursa runs and hides behind a sitting chair. "So, how's it been going?"
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As you wait in the elevator you sigh gently to yourself. The whole afternoon you spent doing nothing but girl talk. It was a nice change to the usual pace of school work, studying and getting lectures from Vulpes. As the elevator doors swing open you see two men shuffling down one of the hallways. They don't look like anyone from the building an even look a little drunk.

You quietly leave the elevator and walk down the opposite hallway away from the men. It's a good thing your apartment isn't in that direction. As you turn a corner you see out of the corner of your eye that the two men are following you. Are they the hunters Vulpes was talking about?

You run to your apartment grabbing your keys. As you reach your door you unlock it and look back. The two men are still walking calmly down the hallway towards you. Both of them are looking directly at you. You quickly run inside and lock the door. You turn around and almost jump.

"What's wrong?" Vulpes asks tilting her head confused.

"There's two men in the hallway. I don't know if they're those hunters or what but they're following me." You say trying to keep from shaking.