AP: Sup ya'll. This story is from Shadow's point of view. The name might change, it might not. I'll figure it out. Anyway, Sonic the Hedgehog is not mine. All characters, except the creatures and Mari my OC is copyright to SEGA. Enjoy my story my little darlings.
What will I do now? That was the question repeating in my mind as I stared down at the body. I was covered in, what was it, blood? The dead creature in front of me seemed too unreal to have blood around it, to have blood coming from it. Some sort of alien, an ugly thing too. What was I going to do?
The serpentine thing with ugly arms and claws that were some sort of cross between arms and squid tentacles still twitched. The creature's blood still poured out, pooling around it and at my feet. It had come down from the ceiling and attacked me when I came through my apartment door. It was smart enough to wait until I had shut and locked the door before it tried to grab me.
I shuddered as I stared at the horrendous thing, remembering the feel of its arms wrapping around me, seeing the teeth in its disfigured reptilian head come towards me while its hot, thick drool slimed its way onto my head and down my back. I couldn't even remember how I'd killed the thing; I was in such a panic. A knock on the door made me jump and I raced over to the door, looking through the hole. It was just Sonic, he always showed up at the most unorthodox times.
"What do you want Sonic?" I asked through the door, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Amy wouldn't leave me alone until I checked on you. I know it's like two in the morning, but she had a dream that you were in trouble so…." Sonic said, with slight annoyance in his voice.
I opened the door and his eyes went wide as he looked at me.
"She was right." I said.
Sonic examined the creature while I took a shower. The creature's blood was thick and sticky; I used an entire bottle of shampoo and had to finish my shower in ice-cold water before I was clean. I was feeling muddle-headed and was shivering by the time I was finished. I looked at the tub when I was finished showering and growled quietly at the amount of scrubbing that would be needed to clean it. I'd suffocate on bleach fumes before it was clean.
"Hey, Shadow. What did you do to this thing?" Sonic called from the other room.
I went into the living room, pulling on some pajama pants as I went.
"I don't know. What did I do? I panicked when it grabbed me. One moment that thing was about to bite my head off, the next it was at my feet like that." I said as I stood next to Sonic who was crouched by the thing.
I looked at the creature more closely and saw that it was torn apart. The main thing that was intact on it was its head, with the exception of a gash across its face, if you could call it that. It was like some wingless, hideous, deformed dragon that was colored like Chaos. Maybe it was some new form of Chaos, what with its ropey arms and coloring. It even had Chaos' eyes.
"What the hell is this?" Sonic said, poking the leg.
"How should I know? I really want to know how it got in here, that's what I'd love to know." I said, turning away from the creature.
I needed some coffee and that's what I was going to get. I went into the kitchen and turned the coffee maker on. My head itched where the thing's drool had landed on me and I was still feeling muddle-headed. I leaned against the counter and put my head on my arms, closing my eyes. That was a bad idea, because as soon as I closed my eyes I felt like my mind was being dragged by some weight into my feet.
"Shadow? Are you ok?" Sonic's voice sounded very far away.
"I'm fine." I said, or I thought I did. I was suddenly so tired; all I noticed was an arm beneath me holding me up, before I passed out.
I awoke to bright light—which I hate—and the feel of a cold washcloth on my face. I grunted in response to the light and reached up to cover my still-closed eyes.
"Oh, sorry Shadow, I forgot about your aversion to light." A voice said as the amount of light reduced at the sound of curtains being drawn. I would know the voice even if he didn't use a word like aversion.
"Oi Tails, who talks like that?" I said. My voice was low and gravelly as it always is when I wake up. I didn't bother to sit up; my brain was shrouded in fog, as if I had been woken up in the middle of a deep sleep.
"Umm, was I supposed to understand that?" Tails said.
I opened my eyes to see his large, round, blue chibi eyes close to my face. I growled low to myself and forced myself to sit up. I was sore, my head throbbed, and I obviously couldn't talk properly. I rubbed my temples and behind my ears as I glared at the blanket over my legs.
"What time is it?" I asked, speaking very carefully as to be understood.
"It would be two in the afternoon." Tails said, looking at his watch.
"Twelve hours? I slept for twelve hours?" I said incredulously.
Tails swallowed hard. He never liked answering my questions, but his aversion was justifiable, since I had exploded at him many times. I sighed, closing my eyes and thinking of whatever made me calm and/or happy. Maria, the mountains, the ocean, Amy strangling Sonic in a death grip, Knuckles finally figuring out that he'd been insulted, Eggman being blown up by his own invention…. My eyes snapped open when I felt someone scratching my ear. Tails was on the other side of the room while Rouge stood next to me, scratching my ear.
"Oops, I'm sorry, were you in your happy place?" Rouge said cheerfully.
I sighed, because Rouge meant Knuckles and Knuckles meant noise. Noise that would doubtlessly make my headache become a migraine. I flattened my ears in annoyance and she stopped scratching them. She left the room laughing. I took my time leaving the room, lying on the bed for a while before I stood up to stretch and walk around. Tails waited for me, he just watched me walk around the room as I absently picked up things. I stopped to look out the too-bright window and I turned and stared at the bed for no reason for a few moments.
"Do you do this every morning?" Tails asked.
"Yeah probably, except I walk around my whole apartment. Usually I'm waiting for a cup of coffee."
Tails screwed up his nose at the mention of coffee. I chuckled at his expression because I was the one who made him hate coffee. I drink very strong, very black coffee and he drinks this flavored weak stuff that's more sugar and cream than coffee. Once he had spent the night over my house because Amy and Sonic had a huge fight and I gave him some coffee. He coughed, choked, and sputtered upon tasting the coffee and has never drunk any since.
"What about that creature?" I asked suddenly. The question had been said before I even thought about talking, much less the weird thing in my apartment.
"Yeah, Sonic brought it after he brought you. It's in my lab. I'm still analyzing it. I think its spit is some sort of tranquilizer and that's why you passed out." Tails said thoughtfully.
"How'd you know he drooled on me? I didn't tell Sonic about that." I said, rubbing behind my ear on my head where I'd been drooled on.
"Umm, you talk in your sleep. A lot." Tails said, poking his fingers together nervously.
I rolled my eyes, grunting in annoyance. This was no time to be worrying about my sleeptalking. I needed coffee. And some eggs, eggs would be good. The two of us went downstairs and I smelled eggs. My stomach growled ferociously and I heard Tails' stomach growl pitifully, more like a plaintive gurgle. We went into the kitchen; Sonic, Knuckles, Rouge, and Amy were in there.
"Hey you're awake! Finally, I thought I might have to consider possibly thinking about being concerned about you." Sonic said with a grin.
My ear twitched in annoyance, but I smirked nonetheless.
"I'm glad you thought about maybe possibly considering thinking about being concerned about me." I said sarcastically.
A plate of scrambled eggs was shoved in my hands by an abnormally quiet Amy and I ate quickly. Well, if I'm honest I shoveled the eggs down my throat as though someone was trying to steal them from me and I didn't care that everyone was staring at me in surprise. I hadn't realized how ravenously hungry I was. I don't normally eat breakfast and I often skip meals if I'm not thinking about it.
I held out my plate for more and Amy filled the plate with eggs while everyone just watched me. I tapped my foot impatiently as Amy added toast, bacon, and some ketchup to the eggs. My ears twitched in annoyance, both from wanting Amy to hurry up and from wanting everyone to mind their own business. Amy finally gave me the plate and I thoroughly wolfed it down, burning my mouth on the fresh eggs and bacon. I didn't really like toast so I chewed it thoughtfully as the others were served their food.
"Well, besides being hungry, how are you feeling?" Amy asked.
"Hmm? What?" I hadn't realized she was talking to me; I was just absentmindedly chewing my toast.
"How are you feeling Shadow?" She asked again, slight exasperation in her voice.
"I have a headache, I need coffee. Where's the monster thing?" I asked, again not thinking about what I was saying until after I had said it. My morbid curiosity about the thing that had almost killed me was getting the better of me without my caffeine.
"No smart stuff until after breakfast." Amy said matter-of-factly.
I flattened one ear and raised an eyebrow in question, but I said nothing. Amy's rules seemed somewhat silly sometimes, but they were more for Tails who could easily get so absorbed in his work that someone could forget he was even home. That train of thought then made me wonder why I was his babysitter rather than Knuckles and Rouge. Wouldn't it make more sense for Rouge to take care of him especially since she and Knuckles stayed in one place for more than just an hour or two? The little fox would certainly have more to do on Angel Island. I felt a poke on my belly and I looked down to see Rouge's finger poking it.
"What are you in such deep thought about?" Rouge asked.
"How would you know if I was thinking or daydreaming?" I asked, my ears sweeping back in suspicion. Rouge laughed.
"Your ears tell everything. If I couldn't see anything but your ears I'd still know exactly what you were feeling and even what you're thinking to some degree. For instance, your ears swept back that way signals suspicion to me. If I were trying to find out if Knuckles was suspicious about something I'd observe the way he's standing or sitting. Sonic shows his emotions on his face. You're harder to read because you're extremely self-controlled. For someone to read you they'd have to observe your ears and eyes and even then you're difficult." She said, observing me calmly.
Though still swept back, one ear went up and the other went down. At the same time, I could feel my eyes close slightly as I looked at her incredulously. Of course, noticing the very movements proved her right. If someone knew what each ear position meant they could know everything I was feeling and what I was thinking—to a degree. I shifted my gaze to the floor and my ears flattened as I thought about this new bit of information. Rouge was giggling as I rubbed one of my ears and Sonic was snickering.
"All right, what do you think I was thinking about just a moment ago?" I asked Rouge. She thought for a moment before answering.
"Something about me and Knuckles. Your ears always sweep forward and flatten when you're thinking of both of us together. And they twitch, they're always twitching. Your eyes were very focused as though you were pondering something and I'm guessing you were thinking about Tails too because one ear flicks back and forth while the other stays still. From your face I can tell that I'm right." Rouge said calmly as she traced patterns on Knuckles' arm, making his muscles twitch.
I thought about what she said and how accurate she was. I was keenly aware of my ears flattening and twitching as I thought. I decided that I wasn't going to worry about it and I just relaxed and munched my toast. Just then, Tails let out the most pitiful burp that was hilarious for some reason and we all laughed as he tried to make a bigger burp.
Later in the day, I went for a run to try to clear my head because I still felt muddle-headed, besides I needed some caffeine. I knew I was addicted to it and I didn't intend to try to stop, but I was starting to get restless and jumpy. Irritation would set in, followed by a worse headache than I already had and finally either a crash and burn or a frustrated explosion. I only went without coffee twice since I became addicted to caffeine and everyone commanded that I never do it again.
I passed a Starbucks and pondered going inside. Was I in such desperate need for coffee that I really was willing to spend four bucks for one? I decided yes and bought a nice hot cup of coffee with a shot of espresso. I felt rejuvenated at the first sip. My headache was already starting to dissipate. I sat in the Starbucks, sipping my coffee and letting my mind wander. It was definitely worth four bucks.
My mind wandered from topic to topic. The topics included Rouge's ability to read my mind by looking at my ears, Tails' revelation to me about my sleeptalking, what Amy might be making for dinner, what idiotic plan Eggman might be conniving, what movie I would watch before I went to bed, and the creature that attacked me. What was it and how did it get in my apartment? Why the hell did it attack me anyway? Was it some new creation of Eggman's? I could believe it if Eggman were more like Dr. Gerald or if he had stolen the technology from the ARK.
"Shadow? You sleep anywhere don't you?" A voice said.
I opened my eyes, I didn't even realize I'd closed them, and saw some girl there. She was a white hedgehog; her quills were like Amy's except they were as fine as hair and far more elegant. Except she also had a ponytail of quills down her back. Her bright green eyes were beautiful as emeralds and flattered her pretty face. Her outfit, a tight shirt that accentuated her curves and a green plaid skirt, flattered her as well. There was just one thing: I didn't know this girl.
"Do I know you?" I said plainly. I was slightly annoyed and suspicious because she knew my name.
"I'm Mari. I know your friend Tails, I tutor the cute bottle of smartness in music." The girl said, as she looked me up and down. I kept my eyes firmly on her face.
"Yes, well I think you need to be careful what you say to people, especially ones you don't know well." I said, a little more vehemently than I had meant.
"Uh huh, is that a threat big shot?" She said with a smirk. This girl knew I had a temper and was trying to irk me. An absent thought went through my mind wondering why this girl couldn't be Tails' normal babysitter; after all, she was his tutor.
"Hey Blackie don't ignore me. So, why aren't you with Tails? I thought you were his babysitter. You seem too much of a drag to be a fun babysitter." She said as she sat in the only other chair at my table.
"What you think I babysit all day long? I have better things to do than sit around all day. He amuses himself as far as me being a 'drag' goes. What's it to you anyway?" I said to her, my voice dripping with dangerous annoyance and smoldering anger. What was I getting so riled up for?
"Well, I went to go pick Tails up for tutoring. He's currently doing experiments on something. He said it was important to his babysitter, which he's told me before was you. I've seen you around town before, but I never made the connection until I saw a picture of you. I figured I wanted to meet the person who's babysitting my chibi." Mari said matter-of-factly.
I wondered what Tails had been telling this girl about me, if anything. For some reason her claiming Tails as "her" chibi pissed me off. That completely unorthodox family, from annoying Sonic to brazen and stupid Knuckles, Rouge, Amy, Tails, and even Cream and that annoying Chao, they were mine. They were all my family and all chibis belonged to big brother Shadow as Cream had deemed me the last time I saw her.
Mari must have noticed me getting pissed off because she sat back and took on a slightly submissive posture, though I doubt she knew it was one. I got up and tossed my empty cup into the trash. I glared at Mari, ruby flames meeting emerald water, before I sped off.