Darkest Before Dawn
Chapter 1
Tails' POV
I tapped my pencil on my desk frustrated. I had spent most of my night studying for this and I was stuck on the 1st problem of the test. I looked around the math atmosphere to see if there was some miracle and the answers were tacked up on the wall or ceiling. Of course, there was none. I returned my attention to the paper when my math teacher, Ms. Eagle, gave me a dirty look. 'Great,' I muttered to myself, 'just great.'
I mumbled and continued talking to myself, 'Math. I hate math.'
Then don't do it, a chilled voice rang in my ear.
The voice was so deadly, so cold; I almost shot out of my chair. I wanted to run away from it, but the problem was it was in my head. So I said, 'Who're you?'
Just another random voice in your head. It said, but then quickly added, Or am I?
'Stop with the rhetorical questions,' I snapped.
I heard it chuckle at me. Its laugh…. actually scared me. Are consciences supposed to scare you?
Snappy as usual, it laughed. And straight to the point. Now, Miles, be a good boy and solve the math problem.
'I don't know how,' I told it.
The area of a circle is quite easy, it told me, the formula is Area pie r squared. You should know that. You were the one up studying last night.
I wanted to prove the voice – the girl voice actually – that it was wrong, but I realized the right formula was what she said for the problem. I grumbled and wrote it down and was soon to the next problem.
Do you need help with that one also?
'No,' I answered.
It was another problem for finding the area of a circle so it was a snap now that I actually got how to do it. Then I was to the 3rd.
Two more, it notified me.
'Two more?' I asked. 'That's bullshit. There are 33 problems. I got 30 to go and I only have a half a period left, so go away.'
But do you know how to find the area of a square?
I stared down at the paper. Finally I said, 'Blurt it.'
Area side squared.
I wrote it down and solved the problem.
One more.
'What are you talking about!' I cried. I began to write do the A for area. 'I have 29, 29! Can't you see that?' I began on my equal sign and s, 'Now go away!'
It laughed, this time chilling me to the bone, Oh no, Miles, you don't understand!
I wrote down a 2 by the r for squared and started on the next line. My hand was beginning to tremble slightly.
Now I'm in your HEAD, kitsune. Kitsune, kitsune, the cursed few, more interesting than Sonikku.
I began the A on the second line and my equal sign. My hand was wobbling more now…
I'm in your HEAD, and I will never go AWAY.
I put down 18 squared. My whole arm was shaking now…
I'll be in your DREAMS.
I slowly moved my hand over and wrote down 18 x 18. I could barely write…
You don't want to run AWAY.
I began to solve 18 x 18. It was almost impossible…. my feet were tied in a lock together now… 'I'm a kitsune!' I cried out. 'No one is going to do whatever they want with me! No one!'
It laughed at me and mocked me, Yes, but then you were STRONG! Now you don't know what to do…
18 x 18 324. I was sweating.
Don't be afraid, kitsune, MY Miles. I can think for you.
I moved my hand back over stressing to at least put down an A. I succeeded, but a drop of sweat hit the paper.
I can think for EVERYONE.
I put down the equal sign. I couldn't breath.
I will always be with you.
I put down 324 ft squared.
The voice went away.
"Miles?" A voice asked.
I jumped out of my chair and quickly glanced around the room. "Wh-What!"
I heard giggling across the class, but they quickly returned to their test. Ms. Eagle motioned me up. I gulped at the thought. Had I said any of the conversation with that cold voice aloud? I stood up, picking up my test, and began to walk up to her. I glanced around at people and few times and noticed something. Amy was giving me a worried face. I shot a confused one right back at her.
I reached Ms. Eagle's desk.
"Miles," she whispered gently, "you don't look so well."
I looked to her. "I'm fine," I lied. I felt horrible to tell the truth. I was freezing all over my body, but my face was burning. I could barely feel the paper at my fingertips. My gaze was hazy and my forehead roared in pain.
"Let me see your test," she said, motioning to it.
I slowly handed it to her – or at least tried to.
She took a look at it and then fixed her eyes on me. "You only have 4 problems done and only 15 minutes left in class. This is unlike you, hon." She reached over her oak desk and felt my forehead. "Oh my gosh, you're burning!"
"Come on, I'm taking you to the nurse!" She informed me. She threw down my test and grabbed my hand. "Come along now." And I was lead out of the room, but first I noticed Amy's bothered stare was following me all the way…
Sonic's POV
I opened one of my eyes when the phone began to ring. Damn. Just in the middle of my nap too. I pushed myself up from my laying position on the couch and retrieved my wireless phone. I pressed the talk button, "Hello?"
"Hello," A voice said to me in greeting, "is this Sonic?"
"Yes it is."
"Hi, this is the nurse from Knothole Elementary calling for Miles Prower."
(I don't know if that is his real school…. If you know the name of his school, send it in a review. Thanks)
"Miles?" I asked. "What's wrong?"
"Sir, he is running a serious temperature of 104. I need you to come here immediately. We might have to send him to the hospital."
My breathing got heavier, "Is – is anything else wrong?"
"I will go over details when you come, sir."
"Be there. Bye." I hung up the phone. I threw it down on the couch and grabbed my coat. I slipped on my shoes and grabbed my car keys off of the shelf. I flung open the door and didn't bother to shut it – like anyone would want to break into my house.
I moved over to the car and wondered if I should even bother taking it. I could just run. Yes, it would be faster, but what if we need a car to take Tails to the hospital with? I decided to forget the idea of a car and sped off down the road.
'Tails,' I thought to myself. I had to always remember that if he was sick, he was sick. But it is hard to when his kind of "regular" sick is life-threatening every time. Why couldn't it ever been a simple cold or a one day flu. I wouldn't mind that. 'Every time he gets sick it scares the shit outta me.'
You care a lot for the kitsune, don't you? a cold voice asked.
It was so cold that it slowed me down a bit. I have never heard something that…. bitter. 'What do you want?' I asked it.
It ignored my question and continued, What an interesting kitsune he is, this Miles… He looks just like him…
'Just like who!' I screamed at it.
It chuckled, Nothing you should worry about, Sonikku. Don't you have a school to get to?
'STOP TALKING TO ME!'
There was no response.
I smirked. Taught that voice who's the boss.
I skidded to a halt at the front of Tails' school and walked in. I glanced around. Now where's the nurse's office?
"Are you Sonic?" A voice asked me.
I looked over to a person behind a desk. "Yah."
She stood up, "Follow me."
We rushed down a hallway and turned into the nurse's agency. I found that there was no one else in there except for the nurse and…. Tails! He was lying on the bed asleep. I smiled. At least he was peaceful…
"Oh thank god," the nurse cried, standing up from her chair, "I have some good news for you, sir. Tails' temperature has gone down. It's no longer life-threatening."
I sighed in relief. Oh thank god… thank god…
"The ice really helped," she continued, "brought it down to 103. It should be able to heal on its own if he gets plenty of rest."
I nodded. "Want me to take him?"
"Would you?" she asked.
"Sure. Does he need any of his homework or anything?"
She shook her head, "Don't worry about it."
"Ok." I walked over to the sleeping kitsune and picked him up. "Thank you."
"Anytime," she answered.
I took him and left.
Knuckles' POV
I took a bite into my sandwich and chewed it vigilantly. I sat on the grassy plains of Angel Island. I smiled at the taste of the food in my mouth. Rouge actually made something worth eating…
I shoved the small half into my mouth and soon had devoured it. I hope she believes I actually ate it… I stood up and continued down the road I was traveling on before. I was a bit disturbed about leaving the Master Emerald and coming home for a bit, but if I didn't Rouge would kill me – and I didn't feel like being killed.
The wind stopped blowing across the grasslands and I stopped also. It was quiet. Too quiet. I continued on at a slower pace, hoping that the gentle breeze would pick up again.
It didn't. I sighed. It felt different here without the coil…
What a pretty place, A voice said in my mind.
I stopped. The voice was too bitter for me to handle. I said nothing.
I would continue on if I were you, Knuckles, it told me harshly.
I began my journey once more, but with more caution than before.
The voice laughed at me, How pitiful you are!
'Take that back!' I yelled in my mind.
Whatever you say…
There was silence.
Faster, it commanded.
I didn't know why, but my legs obey it.
It chuckled once more, The kitsune withstood me longer.
'Tails?' I asked.
It continued, And I didn't try with Sonikku. But he will be easier when the time comes…
'What are you talking about!'
… Just keep going, Knuckles.
I groaned and continued on. Whatever or whoever this is was getting weird on me. I noticed that the breeze was back… I closed my eyes. All I could see was darkness behind them. And then suddenly a saw in the abyss a hedgehog sort thing. But it had two tails like a kitsune. It turned to me and flashed its red eyes. I opened mine immediately.
The voice inside laughed.
I found myself in front of my house.
Go in, it commanded me.
I walked inside.
There I saw Rouge on the couch. She looked to me, "Finally. I thought you were never coming." She stopped and blinked, "Hey, you don't look to well, you look wan. You all right?"
"No," I answered, "there's this –"
Forget about me, but instead turn on the TV to channel 6.
"This what?" Rouge asked me.
"This…. this…." I stammered. "I can remember. Something about some voice. Probably not important." I tried to remember what was going to say, but it didn't work. I sat down next to her. "Hey, let's turn on the Channel 6 News."
"Why?" She asked.
"Dunno." I answered. I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. Once it was on we stared in disbelief at the screen.
The Headline?
"EGGMAN FOUND DEAD"