Josh, Manik, Sonia, Shade, Dominic, and Lara were all looking for clues to the recent disappearances. They had decided to split up into three teams of two so they could cover more ground. Josh teamed up with Sonia, Dominic teamed up with Shade, and Lara reluctantly teamed up with Manik. They all went their separate ways in order to find something that could help them.
"Shade, see anything up there," Dominic asked. Dominic was on the ground while Shade was doing an aerial search of the area.
"Nothing, but I'll tell you when I see something," Shade answered.
"Cool." Dominic was looking everywhere on the ground for a trace of someone or a footprint.
"I wonder how the others are doin'," Dominic said to himself.
"Lara, see anything yet," Manik asked.
"Not yet. There just isn't anything here," Lara answered.
"Well, we should keep looking."
"For what? There's nothing here, Manik."
"There has to be...," Manik started before a groan was heard.
"You heard that too, right?"
"Yeah. Sounded like it came from over there," Lara said pointing to a bush. Manik and Lara made their way over to the bush and looked behind it.
"Well, we found someone. That's good news. We should get him back to NM fast," Manik said before Lara hauled the unconscious form of Sonic out of the bush.
"Do you think Josh and Sonia found something yet?"
"Doubt it. I bet they're just having some alone time."
In fact, Manik was right. Josh and Sonia weren't looking for anything or anyone. Instead, they were just spending time with each other behind one of the bushes in the forest.
"You still know how to kiss good, Joshie," Sonia complimented.
"I know. It's just one of the good qualities I possess," Josh said before turning to the audience.
"You mind? This is a private moment." Josh then pulled down a black screen for privacy. Josh and Sonia enjoyed their private moment until they heard groaning.
"Sonia, you heard that," Josh asked.
"Yeah. Sounded like it came from behind us." Josh and Sonia got up from the ground, looked behind them, and found Sally unconscious.
"It's Sally."
"It is. What should we do, Josh," Sonia asked.
"Easy. We haul her back to New Mobotropolis and there," Josh answered.
"You always were one to come up with a simple plan."
"I pride myself on the length of my plans. Come on. You grab her by the legs and I grab her by the arms." Sonia did as Josh said and both of them hauled Sally back to New Mobotropolis.
"We found Sonic, Rocket. I'm sure we're the ones who found the one person who mattered," Manik said.
"Nope. That would be us," Josh said as he and Sonia carried Sally's unconscious body into the safety of New Mobotropolis.
"Definitely them. Sonic may be the Hero of Mobius, but Elias was looking for his sister. Josh and Sonia found her and brought her back," Rocket said.
"That we did, dad."
"Maybe I was wrong about you, Josh. You brought Sally back alive."
"Yeah, but I can't shake the feeling something's off here," Josh said.
"What do you mean," Lara asked.
"I just don't think this is the Sally you're looking for. I just feel like this Sally ain't the real deal."
"Josh, don't be ridiculous. Of course this is Sally," Rocket said.
"I don't know. Something feels wrong. I just feel it," Josh said.
"It's probably nothing." Rocket then lifted Sally off the ground and carried her back to Castle Acorn.
"What was that all about," Shade asked as he and Dominic walked up to Sonia, Manik, Lara, and Josh.
"Just Josh saying that Sally wasn't the real thing," Sonia answered.
"Josh, you're obviously not thinking straight," Dominic said, coming up with a theory about Josh's doubt.
"I'm telling you, Dom. There's something off here. I just feel it."
"You're off your rocker, Josh. There's nothing wrong with Sally. Just drop it."
"Fine. But when Sally turns into a face-eating alien, don't come crying to me," Josh said before walking off.
"Guys, I think Josh's telling the truth. He may not be a dragon, but Josh could never tell a lie even when he needs to."
"Sonia, now you're being ridiculous just like your boyfriend was a few seconds ago. There is nothing wrong with this picture. Josh was just being Josh and you all know it," Dominic said. Little did Dominic know that he was wrong and Josh was right.
Is Josh telling the truth or is he just crying wolf? Find out in the next chapter of Seeing Double.
