A Rat Called Romulus

[Redfern]

I was bored and wrote a snippet.
Nuff said.

“You’re….not exactly what I expected.” Sharni said, a slight queasy look on her face as she examined the rat in front of her. She’d never been much of a fan of rodents.

“Expected or not, you asked for Romulus and Romulus is me.” The rat quipped, as if he had to deal with the same thing on a regular basis. Perhaps he had, after all, a talking rat wasn’t exactly common nowadays. “You’re disappointed?” He queried, beady eyes narrowing to a leer.

“Well, you’re smaller than I expected.” That, and she hadn’t expected her guide to be a white rat wearing a suit and top hat. Leaning down, she peered at the small rodent, stretching out a hesitant finger as she got the compulsive urge to poke him and see if he squeaked.

As if guessing her thoughts, Romulus narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t even think about it, missy. I’m being paid a lot to be here, if I wasn’t you can bet there are a great many other places I’d rather be. Now, do you have the gem or not?” Romulus got right down to business, twirling his matchstick walking cane absently in his hands. His apparently hand-tailored suit had not a wrinkle, his top hat lined with velvet from an old bag.

Biting back a sarcastic comment, Sharni reached into the pocket of her faded jeans, feeling the familiar material rub comfortingly against her fingers. In front of her, Romulus hopped onto a collection of old phone books, as if being situated lower than a seven year old girl was somehow demeaning for him. Sharni didn’t know whether to be insulted or just ignore it, Romulus didn’t seem like the type of rat that would care how his actions affected others. Giving him a reaction would only increase his contempt.

Her fingers closed around the gemstone, jerking her hand out with a cry of triumph, she examined the stone with new eyes. The stone was as black as ever, but now there were white stars twinkling in its depths, illuminating the stone with a cold light. It seemed that it was only in darkness, that she could see the light of the gem.

“Ah, you have it indeed. Well done, girl. Now bring it! Quickly now!” His grating voice changed from soft to squawking in a manner of seconds, lifting at least another octave higher. Hurrying to his bidding, Sharni knelt down in the filth of the tunnel, shifting uncomfortably as the damp from the mouldy rubbish soaked into her pants. Placing the gem reverently in the palm of her hand, she held it out to the rat.

“I almost forgot!” she interjected suddenly, shocking a slight jump out of Romulus. When he glanced up at her with an accusing face, she smiled impishly. “It’s nice to meet you, Romulus. I’m Sharni, it's-.”

“And I’m impatient. Hand it over.” He snapped and cut her off, furry facial features not shifting an inch.

Sharni merely laughed again and placed the stone next to his feet. This would prove an interesting adventure indeed.

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