Perhaps it was the worst fear he had ever felt in his life.
The room was hot and muggy. Almost suffocating. The metal felt like ice, biting away at the poor dog's skin. His fingers were bound into place, his arms perpendicular to his body, as if he was being crucified. Perhaps he was. It was hard to tell.
In front of him was a metal sheet. The sheet had holes in it. Perfectly clean, it showed his reflection in the lighted room. The intimidating reflection of him was almost startling. In fact, there was nothing wrong with his body, far from it actually, but the knives in front of him looked pretty sharp…
All of a sudden, a figure was visible in the mirror. The dog turned towards the figure and demanded, "Who are you?! What is this?! Where am I?!"
The figure chuckled, taking a gasp from the gas mask upon its face. "Hello, Randy. You find yourself to be one of the purest beings alive, no? Taking from those who are needy and increasing your own riches."
The dog was paralyzed with fear. Cold sweat ran down the back of his neck. It almost sounded like the figure had a voice changer, for the shadowy person was a lot shorter than the bass voice that was sounding would indicate.
"Of course, no one has caught you. Not until now, am I right? All these lavish riches you own couldn't have come from being without a job, and you had no inheritance to speak of." He gasped again.
"Is stealing from the defenseless really the way to go? Perhaps you will learn. This machine in front of you will begin to spout out fire. You will be burned alive if you don't find a way to release yourself. Of course, you can get out rather easily. Just press one of the buttons located under your fingers to open one out of the ten locks. When you press a button, one of those knives will come down and slice you, each one hitting deeper than the last. Are you ready? Let the games begin."
And with that word, the machine ahead began to release fire. Already, the dog was being scorched to death by the raging inferno. Out of desperation, the victim pressed down upon one of the buttons. A knife sunk down and sliced a patch of skin on his leg off. The dog screamed in agony, and pressed another button. More of his skin was sliced off. It hurt, that much the figure could tell. Already, the dog's fur was catching on fire. It wouldn't be long.
He pressed another button. His arm was stabbed sharply. By now, the dog's clean fur was either blood-soaked or burning, and his torso was minutes away from being burned open.
The dog whimpered, and then pressed a fourth button. A mace dropped from the ceiling and made home into the left shoulder, just brushing past the neck. He screamed.
The fire had town open his torso now and blood would be gushing out if it weren't evaporating from the intense heat. That was it, the dog fell unconscious and the fire consumed him.
The figure turned around and removed his gasmask and spoke in a much higher voice. "This is what happens to you ignorant people in the world. Let this be an example that this is what will happen if you continue."
The figure began to walk away. "Of course, I doubt that my plea was heard. I will make it heard by myself."
"That's certainly an odd vision you had, milord."
"I'm parched."
It was midnight.
The fox child was curled up in a ball. It was raining and thundering; every citizen of the city could hear the beating of the hail on their windows. Of course, the fox child was the one outside. He did more than hear the hail. He felt it. Every striking blow on his youthful body drew blood, but; the fox was used to this. Sleeping outside happened all the time. The poor orphan shook quietly in his sleep.
It was common for the city to hail. It did infallibly so. No one knew exactly why the hail would come so often but it did. The size of the hailstones was much larger than the norm, as well. They ranged from pebbles to the rare tennis ball. No one was out and about in this weather.
The clock tower struck midnight. It made a traditional gonging sound and was rather noisy. As such, the fox boy woke up, and then attempted to seek shelter in one of the overhangs of the large building. He was cold, so much anyone could tell. His greasy coat was slick with water, and he was shivering like no tomorrow.
Perhaps it was pity that made the passing-by man look at the fox. It was certainly a quirky thing for him to do, for he normally paid no heed to his surroundings, but under this solid umbrella he couldn't help but feel a sliver of guilt for leaving the fox like that.
It was decided as soon as he blinked that this fox needed a home. He couldn't even fathom the idea of leaving the poor thing out like this.
"Hello, child." The man broached. The fox looked up at him. "Hello sir."
Painfully polite. The man noted. "What might your name be?"
"Miles, sir. Miles Prower." The fox looked away for a moment, as if nervous to give out his name. The man simple nodded. "I would like you to come with me, Miles."
"Where?" The fox was hopeful.
"The clock tower of course. That is my home." The man said. He offered a hand for the fox to take, which he gratefully did. As the man opened the locked door to the tower, the fox had a question. "What is your name, sir?"
"You needn't call me sir, Miles. My name is Ivo Robotnik. Or Dr. Robotnik."
Paranormal
Story written by Evershroud
Chapter 1
One would call the intensity of the situation frightening.
Dr. Ivo Robotnik grinned madly at his latest experiment. The new robot design was much more sophisticated than the last model. Who would have known that the addition of a SR-STAT System would have allowed for such changes?
The robot stood at over eight feet high. It was armed with several hydrogen-lift racket cannons and hidden scythes for close combat. Not only that, it could activate massive explosions and still remain unscathed. This is the reason why it was nicknamed, "Bomber". Although, the aforementioned model was obsolete with this new addition.
Robotnik clapped his hands together with glee, and his assistant smirked, proud of his master's creation.
Robotnik's assistant was a quirky one. He was tall for his eight years of age, but he was very small compared to his master. Often, he would be unnoticed by his lord and almost stood on. It irked the boy that Robotnik would sometimes be blatantly oblivious.
He was a squat figure, sure, but that wasn't to say that he had his own fair share of unique traits. Although Robotnik preferred robotics, his assistant (and often parallel) preferred biological engineering. As a result, his form was a bit out of the ordinary. He had somewhat long shoulder length hair, his fur cut short. A pair of fangs protruded from his lips, under a set of icy blue eyes. The oddest parts were the fact that he had a pair of tails protruding from under his cloak and a rather prominent frame. Of course, this wasn't to say that it was natural. His muscles were somewhat swollen due to the unnatural amount of cells packed into them, about ten times as much as the regular organism; each cell was fitted with several hundred times the amount of mitochondria. Overall, he could lift the forty-ton robot in front of him and barely feel the strain.
Not to say that Robotnik was all natural. Oh no, he was a cyborg at heart. His arms were fitted with missile launchers and the same hydrogen-lift racket cannons as his creation. Not only that, the invention of the gamma ray cannon helped Robotnik out a lot. Risky to use, it caused some self destructive effects to its user, but that was nothing compared to the caliber it had. The strongest of its kind, it could melt through a sheet of lead a foot thick. A tank was nothing compared to this.
"This has to be the best invention you have come up with yet, Doctor." Miles said.
"Incorrect, Miles." Robotnik stated. "You are still my greatest project. Who knew that biological engineering could have such effects? Your cooperation with me has been imperative to most of my projects. Especially the SR-STAT System."
"You flatter me, Doctor." Miles said embarrassedly, turning his head away. For an eight year old he was more than a prodigy. Having been taught by one of the smartest men in the world, it was obvious as to how information was absorbed by his curious mind so easily. That, and after Robotnik's teachings to him had ceased, he had studied more in the field of microbiology and genetic engineering. Perhaps this was one of Miles' greatest achievements yet, with the HIM (Human Imitation Micro-technology) chip containing a replica of a human brain, along with several ports to connect to other important components. In other words, he had created the first artificial nervous System, dubbed SR-STAT System, for Super Response Statistics and Tetra-Architectural Terminology System.
"Of course, Miles. There is something that I want to tell you… This world is impure." Robotnik began. He snapped and some chairs and coffees for each person appeared.
Miles sat down. "I know that already. Westopolis' foolish ideals of remaining 'perfect'. In actuality, leaving a poor orphan out on the streets just because he has two tails is far from perfect in my opinion."
Robotnik nodded. "This is happening all over the world. It is a thing called Ego. I'm sure you recognize it, being the psychology expert you are, but I'll just say that the United Federation's head has figuratively grown too big. Not only that, the Allied Forces of the West is trying to come up with a plan to conquer the world. There is simply no room left for those like us, those who want to help the world… So I have come up with a plan."
Miles eyebrow quirked, "A plan, you say? Care to elaborate?"
Robotnik smiled under his thick auburn mustache, "We will conquer the world. That way, we will stop wars and conflicts with an iron fist. We will cause the beginnings of a new peace. But, the only way for people to see peace is for them to know our pain."
"I see what you're saying."
"We are the Dark Dawn. An organization dedicated to creating peace across the world. Our ways may be unethical, but our ways are the only ways."
"I haven't a problem with your plans, Doctor. When shall our plans start?"
"Four years… Your mission is to begin blueprinting seven biological specimens of the Mobian type. Make them as powerful in combat as you can, and emphasize teamwork. You shall see why soon. All I have to say is this." He reached into his pocket and pulled out seven silver earrings. "Wear these on your left ear."
"I won't fail you, Doctor." Miles said as he pierced the first ring through his ear. He felt a sharp bite of pain, but it wasn't too horrible. He could take six more.
"Peace will come soon."
"I can see it…"
"See what, milord?"
"A revolution is coming upon us…"
"I beg your pardon?"
"The Chosen are all in place…"
"Chosen? Does this have to with the Renewal legend, milord?"
"Yes and no. I'll just say that what this vision that the gods have delivered to me has several discrepancies."
"I have heard about some prophets being total and utter crap. Who are the Chosen, anyways?"
"The gods have told me this. One is a demon of pure heart. Another is the one who lives alongside a fallacy. Then there is the sorcerer of peace. Finally there is the… least desirable one."
"I beg your pardon? Least desirable? Who is this?"
"The cat that attracts no mates."
"A whore?"
"Perhaps. The gods often speak in riddles. I often have turmoil in deciphering them."
"I see. What are we supposed to do about this?"
"Simple. Nothing. Nothing until we are needed."
"When will we be needed? What is there to do in this life anyways? What is so desirable about this life?"
"…"
"Well?"
"Cats."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Cats are nice."
"… Cats. Milord, for an honorable one such as yourself, you have no way with humor. With all due respect of course."
"As they say, practice makes perfect."
"If I may ask, please practice elsewhere, milord…"
"Pity…"
"About these Chosen… There are no such thing as demons, let alone one that is of a pure heart. Who is that?"
"Perhaps something metaphorical."
"Maybe so. What sort of fallacy can anyone live by, though?"
"Perhaps an incorrect religion. Like every religion that isn't the one we practice."
"What about a sorcerer. What is that?"
"…"
"Milord?"
"A wizard is born when he is the eighth son of an eighth son. Wizards control magical powers and such. A sorcerer is born when he is the eighth son of a wizard. These men practically overflow with power, untapped and they don't realize it. I can't imagine what the eighth son of a sorcerer would be."
"A philosopher?"
"A good name as any. I was thinking more of like… a god."
"I beg your pardon?"
"That is how much power the eighth son of an eighth son of an eighth son of an eighth son would have. Almost limitless."
"I suppose so."
"If this sorcerer learns how to control his powers to the fullest extent, the results will change the world. They will be cataclysmic."
"I see."
"You do see."
"What?"
"Care to fetch me a coffee?"
"Milord?"
"A coffee, please. Appease these old bones, eh?"
Sonic the Hedgehog woke up to a fantastic morning. It was somewhat cold outside, but nothing that the hedgehog couldn't run in.
He had some sort of an obsession with running around since he was little. The movements of his legs, seeing the sights, and letting the wind run through his quills. It was a pleasant experience. Not to mention that he could run fast. Like, he could run FAST.
Most people were astounded by the hedgehog's sheer speed. After all, hedgehogs were some of the most lethargic creatures around. Wasn't he supposed to be slow? Sonic always was a strange person.
It was one morning in station square that he spotted an odd sight. There was a large human walking about, wearing a red top and black pants. The sleeves of his shirt were oddly slack compared to the rest of his outfit, but that might not have been so surprising seeing as his body was like that of an egg.
Next to him was a fox child. The kid was wearing a long cloak that fell to the floor. A pair of tails poked out from underneath it. His hood was off, and he could see seven ear piercings in the kid's ear. Ouch.
Unlike the man's cheerful expression as he was talking away to his accomplice, the kid had a lethargic... almost a scowl upon his dull features. He eavesdropped in spite of himself.
"Miles, the hospital is an ideal location to obtain genetic materials. You head there and study as much of it as you can, perhaps 'borrow' a few copies of gene maps. Use these to aid your blueprinting. I will head to the laboratory to obtain any samples of liquid A to use for my cybernetics construction. Understood."
"Yes, Doctor."
"Okay then. Have at it."
Miles separated from the doctor and put his hood up. He raised a face mask over his mouth and nose, and put on an eye mask in order to conceal his identity. Sonic wondered why this was, and he wondered what on Mobius liquid A was. After debating it in his head, he went to follow the kid. Something about this felt fishy.
Miles stopped in front of the hospital. He glanced up at it impassively. "Station Square Medical Center and Hospital. This is it."
He hopped off of his perch, the lamppost, and walked calmly to the door. Of course, he didn't open it. Sonic was appalled to see him dig his fingers into the wall and begin to climb. The kid was like, eight, and he could shove his fingers through brick. What kind of strength was this?
Miles climbed up the wall and then revealed a very sharp claw. He traced a neat, perfect circle on the window and scrambled inside. Sonic climbed up a nearby tree and leapt into the window soundlessly.
When the hedgehog landed, there was silence as there was no sign of the fox. Sonic quirked an eyebrow before he walked on forwards. In the hallway, he caught the kid walking into another corridor. Sonic quickly followed. For a while, Sonic pursued Miles around corners and up and down staircases, until the fox entered a room labeled, "340-C".
Sonic waited outside. He entered the room after ten minutes of waiting and found that it led to series of more halls. Sonic swore silently to himself. He picked a random hallway and found that Miles was walking towards him. In his left hand were several papers. Miles was halfway past him when he spoke quietly. "Sonic the Hedgehog."
The kid's voice had an edge to it like a sawblade. It was high and childish, but it had a boatload of sinister intentions underneath. It had a thing to it, however, that made Sonic sweat. It was like a tone of maturity and coldness. For one so young, he couldn't possibly have such an undertone to his speech unless he had lived a life of pain.
The kid's mouth bent into a smirk. "You think you weren't caught. Aiming to be simply a passerby heading in the same direction as I. We all know otherwise. I knew it from the moment you began to eavesdrop on me. Tsk tsk. Couldn't be more shameful. I'll have you know that there is nothing to save by acting the hero, for that's what I'm doing…
"Saving this world from a collection of fools."
Sonic's eyes widened.
"Human desire." Miles continued, "A dangerous thing. It is the start of wars, it is the start of death, and it is the start of the planet's decay. There is nothing worse that the control that the world has given to the people. Shameful, how we couldn't make more use of it. The world's dying, Sonic. There is almost no time left. If we continue at the rate we're going, the planet will become one empty barren rock like it was billions of years before. Before the gift of life was granted to it.
"The Dark Dawn plans to change this. We will give the world its own metamorphosis. We will give that planet and its people their salvation from the unholy desire that has cloaked this population so. Why am I telling you this? Simple. I believe that you are the one that will oppose the Dark Dawn. I believe you will continue to show us why our goal exists. Proving the necessity of our goal is imperative for the plan to function, and you will make a good guinea pig. Willfully or not, you will forward my plans.
"But, let me tell you this. Imagine a world in which there is no such thing as wars, no conflict, and no hate. All just peace. That is what I imagine the world's potential to be. Just like billions of years ago, when our less intelligent ancestors walked this world. When desire was not prioritized. When survival was the key. I plan to recreate that world. I plan to rid the world of this desire that engulfs it. And this is simple step one of my plan.
"Think about it, Sonic. This is our destiny. This is our destiny to right the wrongs that we have caused, and perfect the gift of life upon this soil. And I believe that these people need a kick in the right direction." He adjusted his facemask a bit. "Of course, who knows how monumentally large that kick will need to be? I will find that out.
"My name is Miles Prower. Pleasure to meet you, Sonic the Hedgehog. I must be going now."
He walked away. Sonic stood there, appalled by what the kid just said. How could an eight year old kid plan this?
It was a few hours later, back in the clock tower, when Miles spoke to Robotnik.
"I believe that we have opposition to our plan."
A/N: Well, for starters, I think that that turned out very well. Of course, it's almost ten so I should be getting some sleep now. Maybe, maybe not. So what do you think? Do you think my plot is chilling enough for you? Just wait 'til later. You won't be able to sleep then… I guarantee it. Okay, maybe not, considering that this is the first horror I've written. It prob'ly isn't scary at all knowing me. ; )
So, what do you think about the scene in italics? The Milord/Student scene? Was that good comic relief? How about the scene at the beginning? Was that gruesome enough to convey its point? Think you can guess where it came from? Might be easy, but whatever.
What about characterization? Do you think that I conveyed my characters well? The three main characters: Sonic, Miles, and Robotnik, then the mystery character at the beginning. Who is that character and how will he/she affect the plot? Wait and see! Be sure to review!
Bis zum nächsten Kapitel!
-Evershroud