Chapter 1: Beauty meets the Beast
Rouge made her way past the trees in the forest trying to avoid being snagged by the long, sharp branches of the trees. This is ridiculous. At this rate, I'll get lost in these woods before I find this thing. She thought to herself as she continued to walk.
A branch caught the sleeve of her right arm causing her catsuit to tear and leaving a small cut below her shoulder. "Damn it! The damn president is gonna owe me so much by the time this is over."
The bat sat on a large boulder and wiped the small droplets of blood from her cut. "Why didn't I think to bring bandages or something?" Rouge let out a heavy sigh. "I'm tired already. I should have just waited till the morning to look for this thing. It looks like Sonic. That's all I really have to go by."
Rouge stood up and stretched. "I'll do a little more walking and then I'll take a sky approach."
She continued on her way completely unaware of the creature watching her from the tree tops. Shadow glared at the bat as she pushed tree branches out of her way. Who is that? And why is she in the forest? He shook his head. Doesn't matter. If she gets in my way, I'll kill her too.
Rouge's communicator began vibrating. Ugh, what does he want now? "Hello, Mr. President. What can I do for you now?"
"Have you had any leads yet, Rouge?"
"I just started this afternoon. How much do you really want me to have found out on Project Shadow?"
There was silence on the other line. Rouge could tell the President was getting annoyed with her. She sighed, "I know who ever robbed the museum isn't Sonic and the fact that you guys really though so is pretty stupid. I'm in the forest in pursuit of the thief who I believe is the Ultimate Li-Ah!" Rouge shrieked as a shadow like creature snatched the communicator from her hand.
Shadow smashed it and stared at the startled bat. She pulled back and readied herself into a fighting stance. "Who the hell do you think you are!?" She screamed. He does look a little like Sonic. But much colder...She tightened her fist ready to strike if necessary, but she know if this was the Ultimate Life Form that killed so many people on his own, she wouldn't stand a chance. She had to find a way to get away.
Shadow tilted his head to the side as he observed her. He couldn't get much details about her look due to her hooded catsuit, but it didn't matter. It was clear from her conversation with the president that she was a threat. He wouldn't let her get in his way. "I think it is I who should be asking you that. Who do you work for?" Shadow questioned.
Instead of answering, Rouge swung her leg at Shadow, but he caught it in his hand. He spun her over causing her to fall face first on the ground. "I suggest you start answering my questions or I'll make this as painful for you as I possibly can." Shadow explained as he knelt down over her. He roughly grabbed her shoulder turning her over to face him. "I'll ask you one more time. Who do you work for?"
"I really don't think that's any of your concern. Get your hands off of me!" Rouge snapped back as she struggled to free herself from his grip.
Shadow continued to watch her struggle to free herself and smirked. "Well then, you are no used to me." He readied his Chaos Spear. Rouge shut her eyes realizing she was trapped. She shifted slightly causing the papers in her bag to be revealed slightly. Shadow turned his attention away from the bat to the big bold letters on the paper that read PROJECT SHADOW. "Hmph. I see you've been doing some research on me." He pulled the papers from her bag and skimmed over them. He noticed the G.U.N. Logo on the bottom of the paper and growled, "So you work for those bastards at G.U.N, huh?"
"You're the Ultimate Life Form? I gotta say I'm disappointed." Rouge asked as she struggled again in desperation to break free of his grip. He's too strong. How can I get out of this? Every time she struggled, Shadow tightened his grip and she winced in pain. "O-ow, your hurting me. You wouldn't hurt a pretty girl, would you?" Rouge asked seductively.
Shadow's eyes left the paper and were now staring into Rouge's blue ones. He smirked and replied, "A pretty girl wouldn't have to wear a mask to hide her face."
A deep red blush appeared on Rouge's face out of anger. Did he just call me ugly?! "Why you-"
"But now that I know you work for the government, it seems you could prove some use to me after all." Shadow said. He tore the strap off of her bag and used it to tie her hands up tight. "The more you struggle, the harder I will make this for you. Do you understand?"
Rouge growled and stuck her tongue out at him. "You don't scare me, you oversized rat!" She yelled. Shadow ignored her insult and slung her over his shoulder.
"Your bark is much stronger than your bite, Bat girl." Shadow carried her through the forest.
After about twenty minutes of walking, Rouge finally got bored. "So where are you taking me anyway?"
"You will see when we arrive." The hedgehog responded. He heard the bat sigh and smirked "You ask too many questions, Bat girl."
Rouge rolled her eyes. She looked around the forest area as Shadow continued to carry her. She had never been so deep into the forest before and she had no idea where she was now. She tried looking over her shoulder to see where Shadow was taking her, but his quills prevented her from seeing much. She grunted a little bit getting both annoyed and very bored. So I can't fight my way out of this. And I can't seduce him, but maybe I can annoy him enough to let me go. Wishful thinking, Rouge, but he'll probably kill you before he let's you go.
"So, Shadow, right? Why didn't you blindfold me? If I escape, I can see how to get back home."
Shadow chuckled and responded, "It's very cute that you think you can escape, Bat girl."
"My name is Rouge, so stop with this 'Bat girl' crap." Rouge snapped at him which caused Shadow to roughly bounce her on top of his shoulder. "Unf! There's no reason to be so rough with me you know."
The black hedgehog stopped walking. "We're here." He told her.
Shadow set her down, but continued to hold her wrist tight. He opened the door to a very small log cabin. He dragged the bat inside after him and forced her to sit on a stool beside a small bed. He shut the door behind them and locked it. Shadow walked over to a small fireplace and grabbed a set of matches from the top. He lit the fireplace and then headed back towards Rouge. He stared at her for a moment causing the bat to become annoyed. "What do you want?"
"Take off the hood."
"One, I'd prefer you didn't see who I was. And two," She said as she raised her tied wrists to his face, "a little hard to do when I'm all tied up."
Shadow stared into her eyes for a moment. So bright. Like gems. Almost like hers...Shadow shook his head. "Fine." He grabbed her arms and began to untie the strap from her wrists. He tossed it to the floor and walk toward the fireplace.
Rouge felt her wrists, trying to rub the soreness away. She stared at Shadow puzzlingly as he sat by the fireplace. "So that's it?"
The hedgehog sat silently. Rouge continued to sit on the stool staring at him. She began looking around the small little cabin. It contained just a small bed, a table with a couple of chairs, and the fireplace. She started to become uncomfortable with the silence and spoke, "So this is a nice little place. A little strange that you managed to build a place like this so quickly." She began to walk towards the fireplace. She sat down beside him waiting for his reply.
Shadow looked at her and then back to the fireplace. "It was abandoned when I found it. I cleaned it up a bit and it's become a temporary hideout from those fools you work for."
"They'll find you eventually, you know. They'll come looking for me." Rouge whispered.
Shadow narrowed his eyes as he continued to stare at the flames. "That's what you think. Why do you even work for those people anyway?"
Rouge pulled her knees to her chest and stared at the fire. "Well do you want the truth or do you want to hear that it was an honest application?"
He rolled his eyes and Rouge laughed. "Well if it makes you talk a bit more, I may not look like it but I am a treasure hunter that specializes in all kind of jewels." She held up a green chaos emerald as she finished her sentence.
Shadow's eyes widened. "H-how did you-?"
"World's greatest treasure hunter remember? Anyway, I had been caught stealing from a museum one day and the President was so impressed with my skills, he asked me to join G.U.N and I said yes. Plus I get paid very well, so I can't complain much."
Shadow snatched the Chaos Emerald back from her hand. "Well there will be no more 'treasure hunting' for you for a while. I want as much information from you as I can get."
Rouge sighed. She pulled her hood down revealing her white fur and large ears. "Well then, I guess you'll kill me when I'm no used to you then right? Then I minus well make the best of this."
Shadow raised an eyebrow to her and questioned, "What do you mean make the best of this? I kidnap you and plan on killing you and you aren't the least bit afraid of me?"
The bat giggled and answered, "Of course not. I'm a G.U.N agent and a great treasure hunter. I'm not about to get on my knees and beg for my life. Besides, you've already informed me that you still need me around, so I'll enjoy this for a bit. You know you could try revealing less of your plans to your prisoner. You aren't very good at this villain thing are you? Some monster you turned out to be."
"And you know you can try talking less. I suggest you shut your mouth before I tie you back up and gag you."
They sat silently for a while again before Rouge spoke again, "Hey Shadow?"
"Hm?"
"I think I'm having fun. I don't normally get to be the damsel in distress since I'm pretty good at protecting myself." She stood up to stretch and put her hands on her hips.
Shadow stared at her in disbelief. "You are serious?" He asked. She nodded. The dark hedgehog shook his head and stood up with her. "Something is seriously wrong with you, Ba-Rouge."
Rouge just smiled. She then let out a wide yawn. "Hm, long day. I should really get some sleep."
"You can have the bed."
"And where does that leave you? Are you just gonna stay up all night to make sure I don't run away?"
"I don't need sleep as much as normal people do." Shadow whispered almost sadly.
Rouge stared at the hedgehog. This can't be right. The Ultimate Life Form is suppose to be ruthless, a killer. He seems so...so sad. She climbed onto the uncomfortable bed with her back turned to Shadow. She began to close her eyes. Before drifting off to sleep she whispered, "Good night, Shadow."
Shadow sat at the edge of the table watching the bat drift of to sleep. She was unusual for sure, but something about her reminded him so much of a dear lost friend. She's dangerous. I can't lose focus on my purpose. I made a promise to her and I must fulfill it. He watched her turn in her sleep and sighed Maria, I promise you..revenge!
Author's notes:
Chapter 1 finished! Hope you liked it. I'm not too sure what I'm gonna make the next chapter about yet, but I will have it up ASAP. Thanks for reading!
