Later that night, Tails, Amy, and Sonic went on a "snipe hunt". Amy looked at Sonic's gorgeous eyes, and wondered why he didn't have a heart as beautiful as his face. As they approached the entrance of the forest, a spooky feeling shot into the souls of two younger animals, and their imaginations went wild about what could happen. "We have to be quiet," Sonic warned, "if we want to catch any snipes."

Tails and Amy didn't think about the snipes. They thought about the darkness and demons that hid just a few feet away. "Can you turn your flashlight on now?" Tails asked.

"The snipes might see the light and take off," Sonic didn't notice the terror felt by the others. He knew the forest well, and the blackness changed nothing.

Tails wondered if he could get his plan to work. He knew the forest well also, but it became a different dimension with the swallowing darkness. Like a huge black hole.

They came upon a clearing and saw the radiant and dazzling stars that lit the sky.

"Wow, they look so pretty," said Amy.

"I think that's the north star," Tails pointed.

"Oh, cool, is that a planet?"

"Umm..." Tails blanked out as he looked at Amy's graceful face. She was too caught up in the stars' majestic alignment to notice.

"Hey, Sonic, look at all the beautiful stars!"

No answer.

"Sonic?"

Immediately Amy stopped looking at the celestial lights and spun around to see where Sonic was. But he deserted them, all according to the plan. "Oh no! Tails, help me!" she cried.

Tails tried to create an aura of confidence. "Don't worry, Amy, I uh... can get you out of this forest!"

Everywhere they looked acres of trees stared back at them. Even if he memorized all the paths, it still would have been terrifying.

"Well, I know a way out, Amy. If you would like to, I mean... you know, follow me, we could both get out and uh..."

"It's so spooky in there!"

"Uh..."

As they decided what to do, bright lights flashed in their eyes.

"Aggh!" they covered their faces and turned around. But the beams shown from all directions.

"What is this?" Amy cried.

The effulgence ceased and they found themselves wrapped up in rope and chains.

"Hey!" Tails yelled, "What's going on?"

"You remember me..." a mysterious voice said.

Tails and Amy were bound too tightly to turn and see who their enemy was.

With one scoop, a giant machine picked up our two friends and shoved them inside a tiny compartment. "SONIC!" they screamed, but to no avail. To ensure Sonic wouldn't save them, our mystery person locked all the doors. Amy and Tails were tied back to back in a soundproof, completely dark, and uncomfortable place, like a locker room in an enormous spaceship.

I hope my hair looks good, Amy thought.

The engine turned on, and our friends felt a lift.

"Oh, I bet we're flying," she said, excited.

"Amy, Uh... I guess I'm the one responsible for this mess. I'm sorry."

"What do you mean, Tails?"

"Well, uh... I was the one who convinced Sonic to go on a snipe hunt."

"I'm listening."

"Well, my plan was for Sonic to run away, and I would help you out of the forest and be the hero..."

"I don't understand. Why would you want to be the hero?"

"Because I want to show you that I... I... Oh, I can't say it!" he cried.

"Say what?"

Just then, a loud speaker opened up from the inside of the wall.

"This is your captain speaking."

That voices sounds familiar, Tails thought.

"I simply wanted to say that you will be cast into a dungeon and left for dead until Sonic gives himself up."

"Doctor Robotnik! You egghead!" He shouted. The walls were all sound proof, so his screams accomplished nothing.

"Have a nice day...MYHAWWHAWHAWHAWWW!"

As the sound speaker clicked off, the machine landed. Our friends felt the rumbling of the engines for a while. Finally, as the vibration died down, Dr. Robotnik unlocked the doors and showed his face to his fettered enemies.

"Welcome to one of my hidden castles in this forest! Sonic will never find you!" he laughed as he dragged them inside his palace by the chains. It was a magnificent mansion with gold everywhere. But the view was interrupted when Robotnik swiftly tossed them in the dungeon and locked the door.

"AAAHHH! SONIC HELP!" Amy shrieked. "MY HAIR IS COMPLETELY MESSED UP!"

Tails looked at all the locks and chords. "Amy, do you see anything long and skinny?"

"Well, there's a pencil, over there..."

"Too thick. Wait- do you see that paper clip?"

"Where?"

"Right in front of you!"

"Oh," she said as she handed it over.

With some magic lock picking, they freed themselves in seconds and finally paid attention to their surroundings. It was a regular dungeon, your simple bed attached to the wall with chains, a welcome mat, and windows with bars to avoid escape. The only differences from your typical you're-going-to-die-in-here prison were the security cameras spread across the walls. Tails and Amy shrieked, until they realized the cameras weren't turned on.

"I wonder why Robotnik would want all these cameras?" she asked.

"Wow cool!" said Tails, "Some guy wrote their last will and testament in here! And here's a skeleton!"

"That's not cool, Tails!" Amy cried, "That's horrifying!"

"Oh- I'm sorry," he hung his head low.

Amy picked up the parchment. It was very hard to read from the poor handwriting and lack of light.

"My last will and testament.

I'm not sure if I'm insane or just everyone else is. I really have no idea of time. I get my food from eating the occasion rats-"

"That's disgusting!" Amy shrieked, "How will we get out of here?"

"Well, I could pick the lock for the dungeon door..."

"Can you do that now?" she asked, desperate.

"Not if Robotnik's still awake."

Meanwhile...

End of Chapter 2