Chapter 4

Shadow stood at the edge of a rocky cliff. The breeze blew through his quills and shook them gently. He looked over the city on the grounds below him.

"You went in there," Shadow said. "Most likely to go to the Mystic Ruins. But… when I look there…" He closed his eyes. "No trail. Nothing." He breathed in through his nose. "No sign of you at the edges of the city." He opened his eyes and looked out angrily. His fists tightened at his sides. "It's not like you to hide. You like a challenge. I know that. It's what I admire about you. I outmatch you in skill and ability, yet you'll take me on any day." Shadow frowned and his shoulders dropped. "So where did you go, Faker." He sounded desperate. "I need you. Before it's too late."

The breeze around him turned to a stronger wind. Shadow covered his eye as dust began spraying in his direction. He squinted and looked up as he heard the sound of a helicopter.

"Agent Shadow. Surrender now and we will not hurt you," a voice boomed down through a mega-phone. Shadow grit his teeth. He formed a Chaos Spear in his hand and swiped at the helicopter above him. It scratched the metal casing. "You were warned." Shadow jumped back to avoid the wave of darts that shot at him. They all stuck into the ground. Shadow braced himself; it was time to retreat.

"Chaos-" Several darts hit him in the chest. "GAH!" His eye sight became blurry. "Chaos control," he rasped and teleported to Eggman's control room. Eggman saw the flash behind him and immediately turned in his seat.

"Shadow! You failed agai-" He was cut off when Shadow collapsed without a word, then lay face to the floor unconscious. Eggman sighed. "Not again."

Sonic's stomach rumbled. He sat, looking up at the ceiling, longing for an escape. His mouth was dry and his lips dryer. He took in a deep breath, then yelled out at the top of his voice.

"HEY!"

No response. Sonic called out again.

"HEEEEY!"

Still no response. Sonic rattled at his chains and stomped his feet, it made a loud racket, against the metal floor.

"HEEEEEEEEEEY! LISTEN TO ME!"

The upper flap on the door slid open with a sudden clack.

"What is it!?" the man's voice snapped. Sonic stopped his racket and inhaled shaprly.

"I'm thirsty, I'm hungry, I have to use the bathroom, I have an itch I can't reach, this crouching is really hurting my back-" Sonic ranted quickly but he was interrupted.

"My intentions exactly," the man said firmly. "Look at the position you're in. Do you think I intend to tend to your comfort?" Sonic looked down at his chains that rattled as he shuffled.

"Umm… it could have been worse. You could have left me on that table."

"I need to work in there. You'd distract me," he remarked.

"You're a Robotnik," Sonic suddenly remembered. "Yeah?" The man sighed outside the door.

"Yes… Edward Robotnik. What of it?"

"Just wonderin," Sonic said rather innocently.

"Wondering if this is anything to do with Ivo… aren't you?" Edward asked.

"Kinda."

"No. I offered, he denied," Edward said. "Why am I telling you this!? You'll pay for your insolence. No food for two days." Sonic's mouth gaped and he looked to the eyes staring down at him, pleading silently.

"Y-you can't-"

"Don't worry, you'll get water," Edward scolded. "I don't wantyou die. I need you alive after all." The hole slid shut with a snap. He was gone.

The days melded together. Sonic lost all sense of time. If he were to judge how hungry he was, he would guess he'd been trapped for weeks. He felt famished.

"What I wouldn't give for a dozen of chilidogs right now," he groaned. He was tired. So… so tired.

Then, Sonic squinted as the door flung open and light flooded the room. Edward stepped in and bent down. He began unlocking Sonic's chains. He was still in his shackles, but no longer tied to the wall.

"Don't attempt to run. There's nowhere to escape to. We're surrounded by ocean for miles." Sonic stood up slowly and stretched. His joints clicked and his eyes rolled back in relief.

"Oh man. I've been waiting to do that for…"

"3 and a half days."

"I am definitely overdue for a bathroom break," Sonic said, suddenly fidgety; he marched on the spot. Edward left the room and beckoned for Sonic to follow. Sonic was led down the corridor towards a set of doors at the end. Sonic looked to his side to notice a girl standing there. She had long brown hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a dark, slim uniform like he fathers, all black shirt and trousers. Sonic's ears fell back slightly when he noticed the expression on the girl's face… upset… sympathetic, even. Sonic looked forward again as they reached the door and walked through it. Edward closed the door behind him. "Who was that?" Sonic asked.

"None of your business. She shouldn't have been there. I told her to stay away."

"Julie?"

Edward hissed and looked to the door angrily.

"I told her not to speak to you," he said.

"Who is she?"

"None of your business," Edward said again, more firm this time.

"Neice?"

"NO! Daughter!" he snapped. Then he hissed and looked away in regret. "Daughter."

"Huh," Sonic said and looked up in thought. "If that's your daughter… where's her mom-"

"Shut up if you know what is good for you!" Edward yelled. Sonic looked up at him, mouth shut, eyes innocent. "It's time. Get on the table."

"Uh… first…" Sonic spoke up. Edward looked down at Sonic with disdain. The hedgehog was marching on the spot again, hands between his legs.

"Just because I don't want you to explode on me," Edward sighed and pointed to the door. "Ask Julie. She can take you. And be straight back. I can't imagine how hungry you must feel. You'll feel that way for a lot longer if you misbehave."

Sonic nodded and rushed out with small quick steps. Sonic couldn't see her in the corridor anymore. He grit his teeth and continued, looking around him.

"Julie!?" Sonic called out as he rushed around the corner. "Ju-" He bumped into something. Sonic pulled back to see Julie, almost stumbling over. The girl caught her balance and looked at Sonic in surprise.

"What are you doing? My dad will punish you if you run!" Julie whispered loudly.

"Oh. He sent me," Sonic said and looked up at her. He blinked a couple of times.

"Uh… why?" Julie asked. Sonic blushed a little.

"Uh. Do you know where the bathroom is?" he asked with a nervous chuckle.

"Oh. Of… of course," Julie said. She turned around slowly and began walking down the corridor.

"Maaaaaaan… is it hours away or what?" Sonic asked impatiently. Julie put her hands up to her mouth and giggled quietly.

"It's just here," she said, trying to hide her smile. She stopped by a door.

"Fiiiinally!" Sonic gasped and stumbled inside, slamming the door behind him.

Sonic came out again with a smile on his face, his eyes looked more relaxed. "Thanks," he said. "You couldn't do me another favour, could you?" he asked quietly. Julie frowned down at him. "Got any Chilidogs. I'm staaaarving."

"Yes. Uh. No. Yes, we do but you can't have any," Julie whispered. "My dad… he'll… he'll be angry."

"You're a teenager, right? Rebel a little," Sonic encouraged. Julie looked like she was considering it. "Well?" Sonic grinned up at her.

"No. I'm sorry. He'll be expecting you back any minute now. We'll never get away with it." Sonic sighed.

"Fine. Let's go." He walked back towards the laboratory. "It was nice meeting ya'." Julie smiled.

"Yeah…" she agreed quietly.

Sonic's nerves increased with every second he grew closer to the lab. Edward was standing outside of the door with arms crossed.

"You'd better not have influenced my daughter negatively in anyway," he threatened. Sonic hid his smirk.

"Nah. Don't worry." He lifted his arms a bit, wanting to wave his arms about nonchalantly. "So. Another blood test?"

"No, hedgehog. Not quite that simple this time." Edward bent down and grabbed Sonic by the scruff of his neck. He threw Sonic inside the room and shut the door behind him. Sonic hid the floor with a thud. He rolled onto his back and looked up at Edward worriedly. "Get onto the table. Or do you wish to itch that scratch or stretch a little more?" he remarked. "Come on. Or you will starve for another week."

"As if! You want me alive! I'd die!" Sonic exclaimed.

"Maybe you won't, and I'm willing to push those boundaries," Edward said sinisterly. Sonic gulped. "Get on the table and I'll feed you a Chilidog." Sonic looked up at him with wide, begging eyes.

"What?"

"You heard me." Sonic smirked mischievously.

"Make it two."

"Don't push it, hedgehog. Get on the table," Edward commanded and pointed to it. Sonic took a few steps back and jumped up on the table. He sat there, with his shackled legs dangling a whole meter above the ground. His arms dangled between them. Sonic watched Edward prepare something at the counter. Then he walked over with a syringe and needle. Sonic inhaled sharply and keeled back when he noticed that this one wasn't empty.

"Okay, pal! That's definitely worth at least 10 chilidogs!" Sonic exclaimed.

"Do you want me to strap you down? Or will you sit still?" Edward asked impatiently.

"Hmm…" Sonic looked up in thought. "I think I'll-" He suddenly leapt off of the table and ran towards the door, but he was too hasty and tripped in his tight shackles. Edward bent down and dragged Sonic up by the scruff off his neck with one hand, and held up the needle in the other. Sonic kicked out at him. Edward roared in pain and dropped him. Sonic crawled over to the door and reached for the handle. It wouldn't budge.

"Locked!" Edward called out. Sonic attempted to kick the door, but his legs were too close together. He hit the door with his hands, and frantically cried out. His yells stopped with a choke of pain; he felt a sharp, deep pain in his side. He turned his head to see the syringe, needle deeply planted in his side. The contents were pushed out… emptied. Sonic's breath was caught in his throat. He looked at Edward, he lashed out and hit him in the face. Edward was sent flying backwards, and then fell onto his back with a thud. Sonic ran to the other side of the room, breathing heavily and shallowly. He sat down, seeking refuge in the corner. He looked at the syringe. He tried pulling the vial back.

"Nononononono," he panicked. What had this mad scientist injected into him. "AH!" he cried out in pain as he felt a sucking feeling. He gave up and began pulling it out of his side. He winced and grit his teeth in pain. Edward walked to Sonic's corner, and stood over him. Sonic was overshadowed by the tall human's presence. Sonic looked up at him with wide, terrified eyes. Edward bent down and reached for the syringe. Sonic attempted to slap his hands away, but Edward pushed back with no effort. Sonic's eyes lids began to drop, he was feeling woozy. "What was that stuff?" he rasped. Edward grabbed the syringe and pulled the needle out of Sonic's side slowly whilst whispering…

"Your… improvement…"

Sonic blacked out.