PROLOGUE
The last time Sonic saw his mother, she was screeching hysterically. Her hands were tied tightly behind her back as the officers ushered her out of the house.
Her hoarse, frenzied screams rung through the neibourghood. Sonic could never forget them.
He had watched it all take place from the comfort of the staircase. He wanted to move, say something, ask what they were doing with his mom— but it was as if he was glued to the spot. His clammy hands trembled as he observed the men, dragging away his wailing mother.
The deadpan officers spoke in hushed voices, occasionally looking back on him.
He heard only fragments of their conversations, and majority of the words he could barely understand. "...have any living relatives...No one would be looking...victimless crime..."
The uniformed men examined his home. They dusted the furniture with what looked like a mini-broom and examined every corner with magnifying glasses. One ventured into the kitchen and came out with bag full of a white powdery substance.
He'd seen his mom use that dusty stuff before, hadn't he? Yes. After she shouted at him. The man placed scrutinized the bag, before turning his attention to the baffled little hedgehog.
The cop furrowed a brow. "What're we doing with him?"
Another officer, who was fumbling with a flower vase, scoffed and shook his head. "Kurt's saying we should take him back to..." He mouthed the remainder of the sentence. Sonic attempted to follow, but all he could make out was X pear mint.
The cop with the bag of white stuff sighed. He pocketed the bag and approached Sonic.
"Hey, little guy. My name is Officer Gruel." He forced a smile onto his stoic face.
Sonic frowned. He'd seen that same smile many times before. It wasn't a genuine one. He distanced himself from "Officer Gruel" by scooting backwards. "Where...Where is my mom?"
Gruel abandoned his sad attempt at a smile. "That doesn't matter right now. Listen kiddo," he cringed, as if the word kiddo was poisonous. "if you cooperate, I bet you will see your mommy soon, okay?" The impatient undertones of his voice were more recognizable now.
"Where did you take her?" As Sonic's doubt grew, so did his confidence. Adults often assumed that children were deaf to sarcasm and condescendence. He stood up, albeit nervously. "Why did you take her?"
The officer rolled his eyes. He grabbed Sonic's arm and pulled him forward. Turning to one if his comrades, he growled, "Can't we just knock 'im out or something?"
"That's against the G.U.N moral code, Gruel. Just put bring him to the truck."
And brought him to the truck they did.