Chapter 4

Shadow was led to a higher security area.

"We separated males and females due to overpopulation," Hightail explained as they walked. "But, some lucky inmates get the privilege to… interact with the opposite sex." Shadow frowned at this.

"That's barbaric."

"It's our only choice. And we might as well let the best genes get through," Hightail said.

"You're breeding yourselves!" Shadow exclaimed. Hightail nodded.

"And as we understand, you are quite the impeccable specimen." Shadow stopped and looked at Hightail in disgust.

"Don't you dare ask this of me."

"There are 10 beautiful females waiting for you, Ultimate Life Form."

"You DISGUST me!" Shadow yelled and threw a punch at Hightail, but the same thing happened as before and Shadow ended up on the floor. "I refuse," he grumbled.

"Come on. You'll easily charm them, pretty boy."

"No."

"What if I told you they want it?" Hightail asked. "Only people who wanted to go through this programme are waiting for you."

"Then I would say that I don't believe you," Shadow snarled and pushed himself up to his feet.

"It's true. Take a look for yourself. They're right through here."

"NO!" Shadow yelled. He stood, breathing heavily and shaking in anger. "You're sick."

"This the reality, Shadow. Take it or leave it," the Falcon said boredly. "Do you want to save us or not?" Shadow looked away, feeling his cheeks burn up. "What's your issue? Something's not right here."

Shadow turned around fully, to get away from the falcon, who began smirking. "Oh, don't tell me the ultimate life form has never done the deed?"

Shadow stiffened. "Okay, okay. If you really don't wish to do this, then that's fine. We came prepared. Hightail spoke into a walkie talkie. "Plan B." A couple of sapients in white coats walked out into the corridor and passed Shadow a cup and a magazine. Then they stood and waited behind Hightail. Shadow looked down at the plastic cup and the magazine in confusion. He was clueless. He held the magazine by cover and let it fall open at a random page. On it were photographs of… naked sapient women. Shadow dropped the magazine and covered his mouth. His cheeks burned red.

"I don't understand."

Hightail looked at Shadow in disdain.

"Surely the Ultimate Life Form knows how to…" Hightail suddenly broke out into laughter. Shadow threw the cup onto the floor and stomped his foot.

"What is it!?" Shadow roared. His cheeks burned a hotter red, this time in anger. Hightail just laughed harder. Even the the scientists behind him began sniggering. Hightail slowly calmed his laughing.

"What do you do think? Plan C?" he asked whilst wiping a tear of laughter from his face. The scientists nodded. Hightail's expression grew dark and he spoke into his walkie talkie. "Subdue him."

Shadow looked around him when he could hear footsteps. Several sapients in orange uniform came storming into the corridor. Shadow attempted to run, but they can from all directions. He was grabbed and dragged towards one of the door and shoved inside. Then, he was strapped onto a cold metal table. Shadow looked around him in fear. Hightail entered the room with the scientists.

"I'm sorry, Shadow, but we're going to have to extract what we need from you by force," Hightail said. Shadow's eyes widened in terror. His spine tingled and his throat closed up when he saw one of the scientists approach him with a needle.

The corridor was filled with Shadow's screams.

Shadow curled up in the corner of the main hall, shivering all over.

"G-Gerald never told me about th-that," he muttered to himself deliriously. His crotch burned with pain. "Just what were they expecting me to do?"

His corner was shaded when a tall figure loomed over him. Shadow looked up.

"My corner. Get out."

"No one owns corners. Wait your turn," Shadow snapped. He sat upright. The fellow sapient didn't seem as tall now that Shadow's face wasn't level with the floor.

"You're one to talk mr shaky," the inmate taunted. "Where's your uniform, shaky? What makes you so special? Too shaky to get into it?"

"Schoolboy insults," Shadow spat and rose to his feet. He pushed the inmate, and they stumbled backwards. This grabbed the attention of others. An open circle was made for the two of them, people were ready to watch a fight. Shadow looked around to see that he was surrounded. Then he glared at his adversary. "I suggest you step down, before you get hurt!" Shadow said firmly whilst pointing at him.

"You don't wanna fight because you can't handle it!"

"What? I'll show you-"

BANG

The sound pierced the air, and Shadow's skull. There was silence. Shadow stumbled as he put his hand up to the side of his head. He looked down at his fingertips to see his gloves were soaked with green blood. He turned to his side to see Hightail still pointing a gun at him. Shadow couldn't comprehend what had just happened. He darted for Hightail.

BANG

Another bullet, straight through the centre of the skull. Shadow fell back and hit the floor with a thud. Blood pooled around his head. The world turned fuzzy. The crowd began yelling and falling back in terror. Shadow blacked out.

Shadow was picked up by a couple of the inmates and dragged towards the main door. At that, Shadow gave out a large gasp that echoed through the room. This set the crowd off, many of them darted off, as far as they could away from Shadow. The two sapients carrying Shadow looked at him in terror, took a while to process what had happened, then dropped him and ran in terror. His skull had closed up. The dry blood remained sprayed down his body like imprinted waterfalls. The falcon stood in front of Shadow and looked down at him, admiring the hedgehog.

"Okay… I wasn't expecting that quick a recovery. I'm glad we did this," Hightail said. Shadow looked up at Hightail was a fuzzy gaze.

"What the hell is going on?" he rasped.

"You're going back to your cell, Shadow," Hightail said gravely. Then, the two sapients came back and picked Shadow up again. As they walked through the door, Shadow said,

"Ugh… I have a splitting headache."