Disclaimer: Shadow the Hedgehog and all related characters in the Sonic the Hedgehog games, shows, movies and etc. belong to Sega, the Sonic Team and all other affiliates.

Note to all readers: The horizontal line in-between paragraphs indicate a period of time that has passed. Just so you know, so you don't get confused. :)

Chapter 1

As Shadow lay in his bed he couldn't help but stare at the ceiling. It was almost 3 o'clock in the morning and he was restless, unable to sleep while he tossed and turned in-between the sheets. The night was quiet with the exception of cricket chirps and an occasional car that drove by his home. Aggravated with his lack of rest he sat up and turned on his night table lamp. He glanced at the clock and scoffed.

"There is no way I am going to be able to meet up with Sonic if I don't get some damn sleep!" he whispered to himself. "I don't even know what he wants with me anyways." With long, dragging steps he walked downstairs into his kitchen. After flipping the light switch on he grabbed a small glass and filled it with milk from his fridge and then took a gulp. He sat down on a barstool at his counter and leaned his head on his hand. He traced the circular pattern of the granite with his finger and took another drink of his beverage.

His head rose with drooping eyelids and as soon as he finished his milk he set the glass in the sink and turned the kitchen light back off. As he walked through the living room he noticed the streaks of moonlight on the hard wood floor. He stopped a moment and stared at the brilliant white light. Suddenly a darkened image passed across the light. Shadow became alert and eyed the window on the far wall. He stooped over to the window and lifted it open. Curiously he leaned out and his ear twitched when he heard a bush shake. He leaned out further and saw nothing.

"Hmph." he grunted. The hedgehog came back into the house and closed the window. He pulled the cord to shut the blinds and started walking away. Then he paused and looked behind him over his shoulder to the window again. Shaking his head he continued up the stairs and went back into his room. His clock now read 3:36.

"Damnit." he retorted. The lamp turned off with a click and Shadow laid back down under the black sheet. He turned on his side and laid his head on his thick feather pillow. He closed his eyes and after a little while fell into a light sleep.

"Oh Shadow.. Shadow.. Can you hear me, Shadow? Don't tell me you fell asleep, Shadow.."

Shadow's eyes opened to see the sun out. Morning. He slowly sat up and looked around. Turning to his clock he read 9:57. He had to meet up with Sonic in just over a half an hour at the park down in Juliani, a small town near Shadow's reserved mansion.

He left his room and entered his bathroom. He ran cold tap water, cupped it in his hands and splashed it over his face. He kept his hands over his eyes and slowly slid them down. He grabbed a towel on the rack, wiped his face and stared into the mirror. He blinked a few times and then brushed his teeth. He then walked to his wardrobe closet, put on his shoes and gloves and slid over to his bedroom window. He peeked through the side of the blinds and squinted because of the bright sunlight.

Outside Shadow could see a slight breeze rustle the trees' bushy tops. A few birds flew by in pairs and the road in front of the house was empty.

Hesitatingly, Shadow gathered himself and walked downstairs into his garage. He clicked the button and the garage door began to open. Slowly the sun's light lit up the space and revealed the shiny, metallic motorcycle that graced it. Shadow hopped onto the motorbike, turned the key and it roared to life. A few pumps of the gas and Shadow was out and on the road heading for Juliani.

As the black hedgehog raced through the ongoing forest he couldn't help but ponder to himself.

"Did I hear a voice last night? What was that thing outside?" he said to himself. "Ugh, whatever. Shadow, you just keep to your duties. There's no time to waste thinking about the past." He shook his head to bring himself back and noticed a shape quickly approaching him. He squinted to make out what it was and finally noticed that it was small and pink.

"Amy!?" Shadow yelled as he screeched to a halt, leaving a skid mark on the road. He came to a complete stop not even a foot away from her and was almost thrown off the bike.

"Shadow! Oh how great it is to see you! I knew it was you on that motorcycle! You're the only one around here that rides one of those anyways!" Amy seemed to not even realize that she almost got herself ran over and Shadow thrown into the ground. She jumped up and down gleefully, giggling. "It's so good to see you!"

Shadow just stared at her with an intense look. "You're definitely an unpredictable one." he started. "Did you not notice I was going fast enough to flatten you?"

"Oh, well sorry Mr. Serious Pants!" Amy squeaked. "I figured you would be happy to see me, Shadow. You left so suddenly without even saying goodbye to anyone." She frowned.

"I had my reasons, Amy, and I'd rather not talk about them right now." Shadow scoffed. "What are you doing out here anyways? You don't live near here."

"Well, uhm, it's a funny story-"

"Let me guess." interrupted Shadow. "You were chasing Sonic again and happened to get lost in the process. You couldn't keep up..again." Amy put her arms behind her and looked at the ground. She tapped her toe to the ground and rolled her ankle.

"Maybe I'm not as unpredictable as you say I am." she pouted. Shadow rolled his eyes.

"Well we all know you're in love with him. I don't know what you see in the guy anyways." Amy looked at Shadow as he turned away from her.

"I..I..I don't know.." Amy stuttered. "Give me a break, Shadow! I'm just a girl. Sometimes I just feel so..lonely. You should be the expert about that feeling." Shadow looked at Amy. He was surprised that she said such a thing but knew that what she said was true.

"Hmph, great, now I feel bad. Wait, what am I saying? I'm not lonely. She's just a girl. Whatever." They stood in silence for a few moments until Amy finally spoke up.

"Well since you aren't going to say anything nice to me today could you at least do me the favor of taking me to Juliani? I'm sure it's on your way to wherever you're going. There I can call Cream and she can come pick me up or something."

Reluctantly, Shadow decided to help her. He motioned her to get on his vehicle and surprised by his compliance she excitedly hopped onto the back.

"So you are happy to see me!" Amy said happily.

"And what makes you think so?" asked Shadow in a low voice.

"Because you would have said no if you thought I wasn't that important." answered Amy. Shadow drew a blank face and brought himself back to the situation at hand. "Where are you going anyways?" she continued.

"I just happen to be on course for Juliani. I'm meeting your boyfriend."

"Oh." Amy whispered as she grabbed onto Shadow. He started the motorcycle again and sped off towards the town.

Shadow and Amy arrived in Juliani in no more that 15 minutes. Once Shadow reached the park he parked next to the sidewalk and waited for Amy to get off. She still held onto him and Shadow turned around to look at her. She had a smile on her face as she leaned against Shadow's back.

"Ahem." Shadow coughed. Amy opened her eyes and quickly let go and got off of the motorcycle.

"Oh, sorry about that." she said. "I lost track for a second there." Shadow smiled slightly and then began walking away. Amy yelled after him.

"Well aren't you going to say bye to me?" Shadow stopped.

"Well aren't you going to say thank you?" He retorted.

"I was just about to get there. But you aren't being nice either." Shadow turned around and stood with his feet apart and his hands in fists. Amy looked him in the eyes. His look was intimidating but she kept her composure. "Thank you, Shadow. It was better than having to walk all that way."

"You're welcome, Amy Rose." Shadow said. He just stood there.

"So, maybe, I'll see you later?" Amy said. "I do kinda miss you being around. You're quiet but you're still my friend."

Shadow shrugged. "Yeah..later." He looked at the ground. He then faced opposite of Amy and walked away towards his meeting place.

Amy sadly walked over to a nearby phone booth next to Shadow's motorcycle. She opened the door, stepped in and put in 25 cents into the slot. She dialed the number to Cream's home phone and was greeted with a high, squeaky voice.

"Amy! What are you doing all the way over there?" Cream asked.

"I was trying to find Sonic." answered Amy. "Then I got lost and Shadow brought me here on his way to wherever he was going. But I need you to come and get me."

"Of course! Anything for you Amy Rose! But how do I get there?"

"I could probably ask somebody for directions." Amy said. "Then I could call you back. Is that alright?"

"Yep! Sounds like a plan." Cream concluded. "But wait.. Shadow? You saw Shadow? He has been gone an awful long time! Is he with you? Can't you ask him?"

"He went to go meet Sonic in the park before I could really say anything." Amy replied. "And I'll talk to you about it when you come and get me. Just give me a few minutes. I think there is a kiosk somewhere around here that I can go to."

"Ok, Amy. Just be careful!"

"I will. Bye bye for now!" Amy hung up the receiver and walked out of the booth. After looking around she saw an information kiosk on the northwest corner of the street.

"I would have followed Shadow, but I think I have learned my place right now." Amy thought as she started for the kiosk.

Shadow continued to walk towards the central part of the park. He was right on time. 10:30 AM. He reached a park bench next to the biggest and leafiest tree in the entire park. This was where he was supposed to meet Sonic.

"He better show up." Shadow thought to himself. "I didn't drag myself out here for my health." Crossing his arms, he leaned against the tree and waited.

Shortly, Sonic appeared from the opposite side of the park. He was running pretty fast and Shadow could hear Sonic's shoes hit the concrete walkway. He stood up and centered himself in the walkway. Sonic stopped in front of him, breathing fast.

"Sorry about the wait, Shadow." breathed Sonic. "Ran into some rush hour traffic. Not pretty."

"So what is it that you need, Sonic?" demanded Shadow. "I don't normally do favors."

"Alright, well, something is happening to people." Sonic said. "There have been reports about people hearing voices, they wake up to noises in their homes, and they say that the feel like there are people watching them in their homes but no one is ever there." Shadow looked annoyed.

"So you called me here..to help humans?" asked Shadow. "I thought we already went over this part about my life."

"Shadow, you don't understand." Sonic stated. "People aren't the only ones. Tails called me the other night and told me he had a dream. A bad one at that! And it was about Amy." Shadow rolled his eyes. Sonic continued. "She is in trouble."

"Dreams are pigments of the imagination." Shadow scolded. "I can't help if Tails is too overprotective of his friend." Shadow turned around and crossed his arms as if he was ignoring the blue hedgehog.

"She's in trouble because of you!" exclaimed Sonic. Shadow's eyes opened wide and he slowly turned around towards Shadow.

"What do you mean?" questioned Shadow.

"I was trying to go to sleep the other night." Sonic started. "I couldn't sleep because I thought I was hearing things in my backyard. Once I got over the noise I got really tired and when I was about to fall asleep it was like there was someone right next to me talking right into my ear. I was too tired to turn around so I just listened. The voice said that you, Shadow, are the one responsible for what happens not only to the world, but to each and every single person. That was including the young, pink hedgehog, Amy Rose."

"What?" wondered Shadow. He looked at the ground and contemplated everything Sonic had said.

"Shadow, I'm starting to think that we are about to deal with something way over our heads." Sonic mentioned. "I know I'm not crazy. I heard that voice just like the people of this city have complained about. And I think you are going to be led into a trap."

"Ok.." Shadow muttered. He seemed unconvinced. "I'm sorry Sonic but this all seems like a bunch of childsplay. Am I really supposed to believe that after all this time I was away and the world was at peace that some voice inside your head is an all seeing know-it-all that decided to become the new enemy? It seems too irrational. And why would anyone concern Amy Rose with me? I'm not her nanny."

Sonic lowered his head as if his spirit had been broken. "I asked you here for help." Sonic whispered. "Please, Shadow, please. If all of this IS true, Amy is in trouble, and so are you. Amy is my friend, no matter how..girly..she can be. And so are you. I care, even if you don't."

There was a moment of silence and after a few minutes Shadow spoke. "If it makes you feel any better I dropped Amy off by the south entrance to the park before I met you. She seemed fine to me."

"Wait, Amy was here?" asked Sonic. "Where is she now?"

"She went to call Dream or Beam or one of her little friends." answered Shadow. "I'm not going to look for her, if that is what you are implying."

"No, it's fine. I'll go find her. I'm going to need to tell her what's going on. Shadow, just let me know if you hear anything."

"Uhm..whatever. At least I know who to call if I start to go crazy." Shadow started walking back to his motorcycle. Sonic nodded, unsatisfied, and headed for the south entrance into the park.