(Nothing starts until you take action)
Chapter 3
On the Road
Ashley was in no hurry to leave her mentor waiting, that was why she was in the lobby at precisely eight o' clock sharp. The only problem was, Shadow wasn't there. After asking around, she realized no one had seen him since early the day before, and she couldn't help fretting over where he had gone.
"No. It's been at least a week since I last saw him," explained a tired-looking worker. She sighed. "Well, thanks anyway," and started back the way she had come.
"Good luck!" he hollered after her.
Ashley frowned. Where could he have gone? Why would he have wanted me to meet him at eight if he wasn't even going to be here? Is this some sort of test?
If it was, she was falling miserably.
The shouts of those training outside made her turn to stare gloomily out the glass walls. Maybe she shouldn't have done this. Maybe she should have stayed will all her friends back in her class. She had remained silent about her doubts before, but they kept nagging at her. Being paired with Shadow was just about one of the worst things that could have happened to her.
Shadow was strict, and caloric, and-worst of all-he preferred working alone. What did that make her? She was the complete opposite of that. She was carefree, and she tried to stay cheerful-even though her feisty temper sometimes got the better of her, but what made it the most unbearable for her was the fact that she had always dreamed of having a partner. Someone to fight alongside, look up to, and rely on. Shadow had already made it clear that he would not, under any circumstance, look out for her. If she didn't stay on her guard, she would die.
He probably wouldn't care, she thought bitterly before she could stop herself. He would only care about how my death would affect his reputation. But aside from that, Shadow probably wouldn't give a damn whether I'm dead or alive.
She pounded a fist on the window, jerking away when a stern-faced man reprimanded her for being childish. Scowling, Ashley stormed back to the waiting area. "Where is he?"
"If you don't learn to keep your emotions in check, you'll never make it on the field."
"Shadow!" He was standing right behind her, arms crossed and weight shifted mainly to one side. His sudden appearance made her jump.
Shadow didn't look amused. "You better be ready to head out. I don't want to have to wait for you."
"I am." In her efforts to appease him, Ashley kept her face unreadable.
He studied her for a moment before nodding. It was only when he tipped his head slightly did Ashley notice his left shoulder was sporting a thick trail of blood. "You're bleeding!"
The hedgehog frowned, but otherwise remained emotionless. "So?"
"But- but you're hurt!"
"It's nothing I can't deal with," he answered while walking away. Then he stopped to glance back in her direction. "Are you coming or not?"
"Oh! Yes, of course." Unwilling to be left behind, she jogged after him.
He was limping slightly, a small welling of blood oozing from below his knee. What had happened to him? She couldn't help the concern that was eating at her. If it was enough to damage Shadow of all people, it must have been terrible.
She followed him obediently out the door, taking a deep breath of fresh air. It was overcast today, the clouds thick and ominous. Not a good sign. "I hope it doesn't rain."
Shadow didn't answer. His head was bowed and his eyes were fixed on the asphalt beneath his feet. Something was bothering him. Surely her comment would have earned her some sort of unpleasant retort; but he didn't even raise his head.
Ashley looked back up at the sky, giving a sigh as the breeze snatched up her hair and tossed it. What on earth could be wrong enough to silence the spiteful hedgehog? Try as she might, she had no clue and she probably never would. Giving it up as a lost cause, Ashley stayed close to her mentor; while letting her eyes have free reign of the surroundings.
Shadow guided her to the outskirts of the facility, nodding at the guards that quickly jumped to attention the moment he passed. She didn't like the new brooding version of him. Please say something, she silently begged.
As if he had read her thoughts, Shadow put out an arm, halting her in her tracks. "This is where we leave."
"Here?" There was nothing in the forest-area. "How?" Ashley just had to question him after not seeing any signs of a transportation.
When she looked back at him, she realized Shadow was holding out a hand to her. The familiar look of annoyance had returned to his face. "We don't have all day," he muttered angrily.
"Oh!" Ashley took his hand, flinching as his fingers tightened around her thin wrist. Not realizing what was happening, she gave a cry as she was tugged towards him and the world vanished in a blinding flash of light. Everything seemed to disappear, replaced by a violent whirlwind that sucked the air out of her lungs. She couldn't see or breath, nor could she even feel Shadow's hand around hers. It felt like being sent tumbling into space; while the world slowly shrunk away beneath her feet. With as much haste as it began, the sensation vanished and Ashley felt her feet slam into solid ground.
Unprepared for such a jolt, she was sent sprawling on the concrete. Ashley lay there for a moment, just letting herself breath after nearly suffocating. But when she finally did opened her eyes, she wasn't thrilled to discover that Shadow was staring at her. "What can't help me up?"
The hedgehog gave a snort of laughter. "You still have feet. I think you can manage."
She was quite surprised by her sudden impulse to throttle him, however, she instead gingerly rose to her feet. Upon returning to his side, Ashley gawked in amazement at the buildings around her. They were in a city! surrounded on all sides by the looming structures of warehouses and brick buildings. The alley they were currently standing in was filthy and lined with dumpsters, but it was as authentic as anything. Her jaw dropped. "How..."
Ignoring her, Shadow wrapped a firm hand around her arm and pulled her towards the exit. "You might want to get that dirt off your face." His tone couldn't have been more indifferent.
"What!?" She tugged lose from his grasp, running her hands quickly over her face and brushing off her clothing.
Meanwhile, Shadow was busy peering around the corner, part of his body bathed in the hazy light, the other in darkness. It gave him a frightening appearance.
"What are you doing?" She had finished dusting herself off, now examining her attire with a critic's eye. Why does this dirt have to be so grimy?
"Scanning. Stay close to me." He had vanished around the building before she had even finished registering what he had said.
By the time Ashley had finally caught up to him, Shadow was already a great distance from the alleyway, preoccupied with something-as always. The com-link on his arm was beeping faintly. He glanced in her direction, before returning his attention to the screen.
"What are you tracking? Is it the creature?" She tried peering over his shoulder, but he only shifted out of her reach.
Abruptly the beeping stopped, and Shadow whirled to face her. But he wasn't facing her, he was staring past her.
Startled by his actions, Ashley stumbled backwards, only to start fighting furiously as metal tightened around her stomach, pinioning her arms to her sides.
"UNIDENTIFIED LIFEFORM. PREPARING FOR IMMEDIATE ERADICATION."
"Rrgh! Shadow!" She couldn't get free no matter how hard she tried, and she could do nothing as the creature forced her to her knees. Within seconds she felt the barrel of a gun shoved against the back of her head.
However, Shadow didn't seem particularly concerned. "Let her go, Omega. I might still need her."
The instant the metal vanished from around her, she rolled sideways; on her feet in mere seconds while aiming a gun at the robot. Ashley couldn't help feeling a prick of embarrassment to realize that her hands were shaking.
The robot was black and red, with metal claw-like hands and dull grey and crimson feet. Its structure was cubed with sharp edges and its block-like shoulders were wide, very similar to a football player's shoulder guards. There was a silver ridge rising from its chest until it came to rest between its round, scarlet eyes; almost at what a human would consider nose level. Also, on top it's head, she noticed yellow metal projecting over the robot's face. As a finishing touch, an omega symbol was painted in clear view on the robot's left shoulder.
"I'm guessing since you're here, that you found something?"
Omega rotated its upper body so it could face Shadow. "AFFIRMATIVE. I HAVE DETECTED THE PRESENCE OF UNKNOWN LIFEFORMS AT THE RUINS."
"Do you mean the creatures?" Ashley flinched as it turned its glowing red lights on her. She couldn't call the lights "eyes" could she?
"THAT IS CORRECT. THEY FLED FROM MY ASSAULT. REQUESTING CLEARANCE TO PURSUE."
The trainee raised a skeptic eyebrow. Omega was almost unbelievably blunt.
"You can lower your gun, Ashley."- She winced at Shadow's words before giving a weak nod- "Omega, you said they were headed for the ruins? When was this?"
"MY RECORDS SHOW THIS WAS ONE HOUR, TWENTY-SEVEN MINUTES, AND THIRTY-THREE SECONDS AGO. I RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE."
Shadow nodded after walking past him. "Then I don't see any reason to stay here. Omega, Ashley is coming with us. Keep an eye on her."
Omega raised an arm as if in salute. "UNDERSTOOD. COMMANDING PRIORITY CHANGE. NEW MISSION: AGENT ASSIST." He didn't notice that Ashley was scowling behind him.
The moment Shadow started running, Omega shot off propelled by rockets; both leaving Ashley desperately trying to catch up. "Hey! I can't run that fast!" She panted. Again she felt the overwhelming fury of being forced to be Shadow's apprentice.
Fueled by anger, Ashley couldn't tell if they had slowed down or if she had speed up to inhuman speed as she managed to run alongside Shadow. He shot her a calculating glance, but she had no idea why.
The wave of buildings slowly receded behind them as the road steadily widened out, sprigs of grass sprouting on either side. A large mountain chain towered before them, but what made Ashley gasp was the crumbling castle perched on the face of the sheer rock wall, like an ancient gargoyle. It seemed to be from a long-forgotten era, beautiful spiraling torrents and gleaming stone rising from its somber features. Even from their distance, she could see the massive Rosetta windows shimmering in the fickle light of the sun. Both ominous as well as majestic, the castle had her at a loss of words.
"SENSORS LOCKED ON TARGET. I CAN DETECT THEIR PRESENCE UP AHEAD." Omega dropped to their speed, his rockets flaring brightly behind him.
Shadow appeared unsurprised. "So it appears they have made the White Pine Forest their home. I'm certain that castle can give us a lot of answers," the hedgehog stated while using his watch-gadget to scan the area.
Ashley watched him. "You mean we should go in there?" The castle seemed to grow even darker the moment she said that.
"Well staring at it won't get us anywhere." Shadow's irritated tone seem to be returning for good. Like he hadn't been mean enough before, she groaned.
Shadow had slowed their pace as the mansion grew before them; the mountains creeping threateningly towards the clouds.
Ashley noticed that the open grass field had been replaced with rocky slopes. The road promptly descended as rock walls framed the path. Walking beneath them, the group was bombarded with showers of dirt that rained off the crumbling walls, and Ashley made a noise of disgust as it poured down the back of her shirt. "Does it go on like this the whole way?"
She frowned when Shadow gave a low, mocking laugh. "No. You'll be back in the open in a few paces; but you'll also be an easy target."
Ashley decided it be best just to ignore him and instead let her attention rove once more across the trail. Accurate as always, Shadow led them out of the cavern, holding up a hand while cautiously regarding their surroundings.
Clusters of stones and pillars lay strewn across the area, scattered and smashed so brutality they resembled the broken remains of a Giant's plaything; now left forgot for all eternity. Oblong shapes teetered precariously atop rounded spheres; while what could have once been walls and doorways of ornate buildings, stood ghostly vacant archways leading to nothingness.
Ashley studied all with both awe and fear, ducking under a disembodied arm that must have once belonged to an unbelievably tall statue. "What happened here?"
"ALL INHABITANTS WERE DESTROYED IN A TRAGEDY. THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN." Omega's monotone only made it harder to imagine.
"Apparently," Shadow explained further, "the Zarics were phenomenal builders. Their superiority in their ability to create advanced technology and weaponry, was second to none. But it seems that skill alone is not enough to stay alive," he said with unvoiced conviction. His gaze was fixed on something unseen.
Ashley glanced between the two before trotting ahead of the group. The sky had continued to deepen to a darker violet, made more ominous by the thunder rumbling dangerously in the distance. Lightening flickered between the clouds but luckily it had not yet began to rain. She didn't fancy the idea of trudging through a dusty castle while skirting around buckets of rain pouring through the crumbling ceiling.
Oddly, a strange feeling overcame her, a sort of pricking along the back of her neck; and before she even had the time to yank out her gun, she gave a startled scream as she was slammed into the ground.
Similar cries echoed around her while she thrashed against a crushing weight. That must meant that Shadow and Omega were being attacked too. "Ahh!" Tears sprang into her eyes as searing pain flamed across her leg. She could literarily hear teeth scrapping against bone, but she kicked hard against the body, earning an otherworldly hiss from her attacker. Taking advantage of the momentary reprieve, Ashley leapt clumsily to her feet, watching in slow motion as the creature form Rouge's photo whirled to face her. Her leg burned without relief, setting all of her senses aflame; nevertheless she tugged her gun free, firing at the monstrosity in front of her. To her absolute horror, all it did was snarl in fury. The bullet had barely even scratched it.
Her body felt distant and unreal as if it belonged to someone else, yet she still groped down her leg for the hilt of her dagger, sheathed on the inside of her boot.
Shadow's warning shout rang out from behind her as another monster leapt at them, barreling into the nearby debris and sending Ashley crashing to the ground. The creature she was fighting was on her in an instant, trying to snag a hold of her as she slid away; but to her dismay, a vine caught around her neck, while the creatures feet happened to be planted on the other end. She couldn't breath as it yanked the tendril towards itself. The vine was tightening mercilessly around her throat! Slashing madly, she struggled to hold the creature at bay with her dagger as her fingers worked furiously against the cord. The monster yanked harder, and the vine cut through her neck like a knife. Panicked, she felt the blood ooze slowly down her throat and she knew she couldn't hold the creature off for much longer.
Taking more of a risk than she ever would have dared under normal circumstances, Ashley brought the dagger to her neck, leaving the monster an opening while she hacked furiously at the tendril slicing through her flesh.
It sprang almost instantly, knocking the wind out of her as it crashed onto her chest. The face was inches from hers, even as her fingers strove to hold the monster's mouth open. She could feel the hot breath on her skin as it pushed closer. It was... to strong! She couldn't hold it!
For one brief instant, she saw a mutilated face past the glare of the violet flames engulfing it, met the malicious, hungry eyes with her own fearful gaze. Then the sound of a canon firing sent the monster smashing into a nearby boulder, its body going limp simultaneous with the neon green blood splattering across the stone. She gagged as the gore splattered over her face, but she fought against the urge to vomit enough to face her rescuer. It was Omega, frozen with one hand replaced by a large canon. He stayed that way a moment before swiveling the canon away and returning his hand from the hollow inside his arm. The robot took a jerky step forward. "ALL TARGETS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED."
His words were punctuated by the dying screech of the last monster, its cries cut short when Shadow smashed it into the ground.
The hedgehog rose gingerly, favoring a leg and keeping his face drawn in concentration. "Is everyone all right?"
"AFFIRMATIVE." Omega agreed. Of course he was alright; he was coated in the eerie-green creature-blood. The monsters hadn't stood a chance.
"I-I think so." To be honest, Ashley wasn't sure. Her leg felt like Hell's fire and her neck stung, but her heart was still beating. So technically, she was okay.
Shadow nodded. "Good." His eyes raked over her, lingering on her bloodied throat, but he didn't say anything about it. Instead, he stared at his wrist. "We should take a sample of these damn things since we went through all the trouble of killing them all." His sentence was cut short by a string of curses. "What the hell!?"
Ashley stared at the dead body of the monster. It was seething, the flames intensifying as the body itself seemed to vaporize. Within a few heartbeats, the corpses were gone; even the splattered blood that had coated the stone, Omega and herself. No evidence of their existence remained apart from the numerous cuts and gashes that patterned her body. It was almost as if she had dreamed the entire thing.
"Damn!" Shadow cursed again. "That was our best chance of understanding them." She had never seen him look so upset.
Another sharp burning in her leg, made her knees buckle. Wincing, Ashley peeled back the torn fabric of her jeans, gasping at the mess she saw underneath. She hadn't realized how much of her leg had been mauled. "Well we still have one sample left," said Ashley in a detached tone.
Shadow turned. "What's that?"
Moving her leg to where he could see, Ashley gave a weak smile. "This." And she lifted her hand to reveal a six-inch fang protruding from her flesh.
She took back her earlier statement. She had never seen Shadow look so surprised.
Now for my favorite part, THE THANK YOU'S!
First Thanks goes to my first known reader and closest friend: Raeweis. As always, you're awesome, and I'd be so so sad without you.
Next my thanks goes to all my new friends on this site: NeverEndingWriters, Dragon Eye Girl, SerenaTheHedgehog, The High School Hero, Dragonlord1157, and last-but not least- Bubblenuggets! Thank you all for your continued support. You help me figure out what to fix, and give me encouragement. You guys are AMAZING and I hope you know that.
I'd also like to thank my faithful and friendly reviewers: ShadowEmpress76 and MaverickKayPrime. Both of you might not pm me, but I still think you guys rock. Thanks. ^^
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING SO SUPPORTIVE. AND TO ALL READERS, PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE AMAZING AUTHORS. THEIR STORIES ARE SPECTACULAR!
