Crack…that was the only noise he could hear, he heard it above all the people yelling and the cage around him and another, bigger guy, rattling. He winced knowing his jaw was broken, that and a few of his ribs. His ear flicked when the guy came charging toward him in a matter of seconds he dodged and had the other on his back.

"finish him off!!!"

He heard these words loud and clear, as it that was the command he was triggered. He looked down into the guys watering pleading eyes, he didn't want to die.

"FINISH HIM NOW!!"

Crack…again though it was only heard by the two of them.

"Come here Shadow" a man wearing a tattered faded suit called. Shadow walked over to the cage where the man was.

"yes?"

"broken neck, again? I though I told you to draw out his death" the man said as the cage was raised. Shadow hung his head as he came out of the makeshift ring and stood in front of the taller man. "well?" he pressed becoming agitated

"yes…I am sorry" he said with an empty voice.

"thought so" he growled as he grabbed Shadow by the collar around his neck and pulled him past the people and to a small booth to the back of the large room.

"stay" he ordered as he stepped up to a guard. The guard opened the door and they man walked in. In a while the man walked out with a brief case, Shadow knew there was a large amount of money in there, he also knew he only got that money because Shadow killed the other fighter.

"we're going Shadow" the man said as he walked out with Shadow. As another fight broke out behind them over a girl most likely someone shouted that the cops were there. Shadow's ears flicked

'cops?' he thought slightly confused wondering why that was a bad thing but he didn't have time to figure it out because the man jerked him out of the building. They never made it out because men in black with guns stopped him.

"down on the floor all of you now!!" the cops yelled. Some of the people got on the floor and some of the people ran for it, the cops chasing after them. Shadow and the man he was following were on of the few that ran. They made it to an alley and the man looked around furious.

"what's going on master?" Shadow asked. He didn't get an answer just a frustrated sigh from the man.

"maste-"

"they want you Shadow…." The man sighed. He knew that the police were trying to track the under ground fights that were going on, but because Shadow was the youngest fighter and also the undefeated champion. Underground fighting was illegal, involvement in it could be punishable by up to 15 years in jail depending on what you did. For Shadow's master…he could be in for life because he was involved in the fights and had a child as a fighter. "…I knew this was going to happen" he said to himself. Shadow was still confused and his ears flicked when he heard sirens.

"Master….someone's approaching" he said as he turned to the opening of the alley knowing what was going to happen. A black and white car drove up blocking the alley the car opened and a cop with red hair came out aiming a gun at the two

"drop the brief case!" the cop shouted, just to make sure there wasn't a weapon in it. The brief case dropped to the floor with a clunk, when it did the cop approached with caution knowing Shadow was more than capable of killing him. When he was in arms length he quickly cuffed the man next to Shadow.

"master?" Shadow asked waiting for an order to attack the cop

"it's fine Shadow"

"keep your mouth shut" the cop said as he gave the guy his Miranda Rights as he walked him back to his car with Shadow following behind him and put him in the backseat. He looked to Shadow and opened the other door for him, only when his master nodded that it was ok, did Shadow get into the car. The officer shut the door, got into the car and drove off to the station. When they arrived three cops came out and took the man into the building Shadow jumped out of the car but the red headed officer got out of the car and grabbed Shadow before he could get to his master.

"let go of me!" he yelled struggling in the mans grasp. Shadow could have killed the man, but the order wasn't given so he just stood still.

"are you done?" the officer asked. When he didn't get a response he took Shadow into the build and sat him in a empty room, it hand a chair a table and a mirror. He sat Shadow down and walked out of the room. The officer stood behind the mirror along with two women and the head chief of the station. They all watched as the top interrogator walked in the room and greeted the teen. Shadow didn't respond. The man asked him what day it was. No response. He asked him when his birthday was. No response. The time. Nothing. The weather. Nothing. Shadow was unresponsive.

"Knuckles"

"yes sir?"

"how old would you say this boy is?" the chief asked as he continued watching the unresponsive teen

"um…18 sir?" he guessed. The chief nodded

"your nephew, Sonic…he's around that age right?" he asked

"um…yes sir he is…what are you planning?" he asked, wanting to know why Sonic's involvement would be necessary.

"mm…just a more…comfortable interrogation" the chief said as they all filed out of the room. Shadow's ear's flicked and the corners of his lips turned up,