Disclaimer: Sonic and related material belongs to someone else.

I give up. If I actually update... well, don't go expecting anything.

Apathy Doesn't Really Exist

"I hate you!"

Those words had stopped him in his tracks. Confused and surprised, I came to a stop myself.

I hadn't said them with the fervor or iciness I would have to an enemy, when I knew it was true to the core of my being, just the anger I'd felt towards him for being ahead of me in the race at that time. It wasn't as though we'd never casually insulted each other before, or said that we disliked each other, but never before had he seemed to take it seriously.

When I halted, I could've slapped myself. I was curious about why he'd stopped, and stopping at an angle that I couldn't see his face from made reading his expression impossible. Since I lost the speed I'd need to jump to where he was, I had little choice but to wait, as moving to reach that speed would mean potentially missing things.

Oh, that's right, we were in a desert. At least I think so. Do these runways develop naturally? I doubt it. I was on "ground level" while he was on a path that was about ten feet above that, like an extended platform made of stone.

"Do you... really mean that?" he asked me. There was an odd sort of calm in the way he asked me, so I couldn't help but get the impression that he wasn't upset by the possibility.

After a moment or two, I said, "No."

He slowly turned towards me, looking as though his mind were only halfway there. "But you do not care for me either," he said. It was a statement looking for confirmation, not a question looking for an answer. It occurred to me that he was making a big choice. Is that truly how he makes all his significant decisions? Based on what a stray cat does when he pets it?

"Yeah," I answered. Very stupid of me. I should have immediately started questioning him. Or perhaps it wasn't stupid; maybe on some basic level I knew that he would get defensive. Unlikely.

He nodded contemplatively. "I guess... the others really don't either. It's a warm illusion."

Did I nod? If so, that was stupid. His friends love him, have gone through torture for him, and he busted them out. How could they not care?

"Then I guess I have no reason to stay. Holding onto fantasies only hurts you more in the end." He turned, and made as if to leave.

"Wait a moment."

He turned back towards me, cocking an eyebrow in question.

"Will I ever see you again?"

He smiled slightly. "Odd time to get sentimental. Oh, you'll see me again. The world's too small to keep us on separate battlefields."

And with that, he took off.

Shadow sighed, and averted his stare from the ceiling to the wall.

Sonic, where did you go?