1. Lighting Strikes the Heart

AMY'S P.O.V.

As I stumbled along the cracked and worn road, I reflected on what had just happened.

MINUTES EARLIER…

"Amy, get out of here!" he bellowed at me.

"But what about you?" I shouted back over the loud humming of the machinery. "You're going to get hurt!"

"It doesn't matter! Just go!" Sonic glared at me as he dodged one of the robots.

"But I have to stay and help you!" I argued, summoning my Piko Piko Hammer.

"I don't need you, or your help!" he yelled, running forward and pushing me to the ground. He quickly turned and ran back before the robot could hit him.

I dropped my hammer and stared ahead, leaning on my arms and feeling the blood drip down my face. The whole world seemed to slow down. "You … You don't need me..?" I tried the words myself, just to make sure I'd heard right.

"No!" Sonic paused for a minute, looking slightly taken aback and hurt himself. Then he shook his head quickly and snarled at me angrily. He truly looked wild. "GO!"

Tears fell from my eyes as I clambered up and ran. My mind screamed at me. Run, run! It doesn't matter where you go, just run!

I ran. I focused on the path ahead. I didn't care about anything else apart from getting away from him. Each second my legs spent pumping seemed like an eternity, and I was getting tired.

NOW…

There were several bumps on the road. The concrete had cracked and made mounds. I tripped again and again. And I fell. But I didn't care – I pulled myself up and ran more and more. My breath was catching in my throat, I had a bad stitch, and it felt like my knees were becoming jelly. Still, I went on. On and on, though I wasn't sure where. I didn't care where. I could still hear the distant bangs and clashes of metal hitting the ground. Sonic must've been getting them pretty good. Sonic… I shivered and squeezed my eyes shut, mixed tears falling from my eyes… Angry and sorrowful tears. I suddenly lost the will to run any further. I was far enough from the battlefield… I was safe… I curled up on the side of the road, using my jean jacket as a blanket, and my bag as a pillow. It wasn't very comfortable, but it would do. I shivered as it started to rain. I was exhausted. Slowly, I closed my eyes. Slowly, I drifted off. Slowly, I was pulled into a deep, sound slumber.#

THE NEXT MORNING...

When I woke up, I was still on the side of the road. The bangs and clashes had stopped - the fight had probably ended long ago. Gingerly, I stood up and paced down the road steadily to the center of Station Square. It was just dawn - the streets weren't very active at this time of the morning. A few cars whizzed past here and there. No surprise. They needed to get to work. I sighed sleepily and wrapped my arms around myself, my head down. It was still cold and wet. Still, I walked on. My apartment was only a few streets away now, I had enough energy to make it. Suddenly, I was hit by a huge gust of wind. How... Abnormal. I paused and looked around me. Nothing there... So what was that? It didn't matter. I headed toward my apartment, faster now. Something was giving me the shivers, and I knew I had to get inside. As I stood on the outside the block, I sighed. I opened the door and walked inside. There was a long flight of stairs. Gradually, I made my way up the stairs. 1st floor, 2nd floor, 3rd floor, 4th floor, 5th floor, 6th floor, 7th floor... 8th floor. I was exhausted when I got to my door. Not because I was lazy, obviously. The events last night had just knocked it out of me. Clumsily, I fiddled in my pocket for my room key. I thrust it into the lock, and heard stirrings from inside. Ah, good old Blaze. She was always there to look after my apartment if I wasn't there. I peeped through the keyhole to see her already ignited hands.

"Who's there?" she hissed. It was just like her to be up and ready at this time in the morning.

"It's just me, Blaze.." I yawned.

She quickly put the fires out. "Amy! Where've you been, Baka?" she asked indignantly.

"Just... Out," I wasn't tired anymore. I should've known I'd be confronted with a quick game of 20 questions from her. Sometimes Blaze was too caring. That was her problem. Though, she was like me. It was probably why we were such good friends.

"You don't sound very happy Amy..." Blaze mused. "You don't look too good either. Come on, it's too early for you to be up like this. You should get to bed."

"I'm fine, Blaze. I just..." I stopped halfway through my sentence and swayed. Blaze shook her head and frowned at me.

"Come on, you. Go and lie down." She stepped over to the couch and fluffed up the cushions. Then she got the old Afghan blanket from the back of it and threw it over the seat. "Look, I just made this all nice and comfy for you. Make the most of it. Now."

I hesitated.

"NOW, AMY!" Blaze growled, furious.

"Okay, okay!" I knew it wasn't a good idea to object any longer so I tried to shush her down while I walked to the couch and lay down.

"You should sleep. I know what happened last night. It wasn't good of you to just stay like that. You should've gotten out of there as soon as you could," Blaze stated.

"Shut up, Blaze. I don't want to talk about it."

"But, really-"

I whirled on her. "I SAID, LEAVE IT ALONE!" I pulled the afghan blanket over me, hoping that somehow I could shut the world away. I peeped from underneath and saw that Blaze's ears were flattened and her eyes were wide.

"Oh... Okay... I guess I'll be off then..." she took her set of keys from off the coffee table, shaking a little. "Bye, Amy..."

I didn't answer, so she glanced at me and sighed, shaking her head. She tried once more, quieter this time. "Bye, Amy."

Still, I did not answer. I was too stubborn. I got back under the blanket and waited. I heard the front door shut quietly, and footsteps down the stairs.

"Hmf..." I huffed. Then, my eyes got heavier and heavier. I couldn't help but close them. And slowly, the world drifted away. When I started to dream, the picture of someone's face obscured my mind.

Sonic... I thought, hurt and angry. And then the rest was silence.

Me: Oh, by the way, all characters are older. Here's a list of ages (these ages will apply for all of my stories, by the way!):

Sonic: 23. Amy: 21. Tails: 19. Cream: 18. Blaze: 21. Rouge: 25. Shadow: (UNKNOWN). Knuckles: 25.

Anyway, R&R People! Send me your feedback, and I'll love you forever! *cough cough*

Shenzi: Or I'll hate you forever, and I'll hunt you down and kill you!

Me: o.O ... She actually will people... Listen to Shenzi! My fan character knows all!

Shenzi: Which reminds me, Anna, why am I not in this story?

Me: ^.^ ... Umm, well, you see Shenzi...

Shenzi: *Growls and turns demon form*

Me: READ AND REVIEW! *runs screaming*