A/N: Well, I've gotten plenty of coaxing from my reviewers…and I would like to thank and apologize to you all. I don't what more I can possibly say than thank you, for getting me back into my groove and sorry for, ya know…updating three years later…xD
So I went to check my old, old, old, old documents and Chapter Three has actually been sitting here for the past 2 years…I'm not sure why I didn't put it up…but here it is! And once again, I'm sorry for the wait.
Read and Review please!
Disclaimer: Evanescence owns "Whisper" and big important guys like Yuji Naka own Sonic.
I know I can stop the pain
If I will it all away
Tails rummaged throw his cluttered toolbox, checking to make sure he had everything he needed to begin his work. Satisfied, he picked it up by its handle and swiveled around before grabbing a box of nails, screws and the blueprints for the machine he was about to create. His twin tails swirled eagerly as he strode into his lab and slammed the door shut. If he wanted to complete this project he need absolute silence to think.
Immediately after his entrance into the lab the sound of clashing metal and roaring machinery filled the house. Sonic sighed as he gazed at the blank screen of the TV. He quietly lay on his backside, a hand resting idly over his stomach as another rough sigh filtered through his lips. He could watch something, maybe he should but he didn't feel like he had the stamina needed to grab the remote.
Groaning, Sonic turned onto his abdomen, his face submerged deep into the throw pillow.
Amy…
He had failed her, failed to protect her, to help her. It hurt to even think that she was dead simply because of him and his lack of ability to protect her; it only added to the guilt and grief that weighed down on his heart.
He lifted his face and returned to gazing absently at the black oblivion that was the television screen. He could almost picture himself drowning in the dark umbra, suffocating from the loss, the grief, the guilt…
But he couldn't understand…it was Amy! Of course he considered her a friend, that's why he rescued her the number of times he had but…didn't he think of her as a brat? To him, wasn't she just a simple fan-crazed teen who decided to hang around and accompany him in his many adventures in hopes of someday persuading him to marry her? Wasn't it good that she was gone? No more of those tight, air restricting bear hugs. No more of her lurking and her obsessions. No more Amy.
No more Amy…
He was free from her, like a fugitive set from the binds of prison, set out to face the day as a free man. So why, why, why did he feel so…empty…?
He raked into the depths of his mind in hopes of uncovering the answer to his questions. What was it, the reason for his anguish? The reason why Amy's death left such a deep, gaping scar in his heart?
His hands clenched tightly around the soft materiel of the throw pillow as his heart thundered painfully in his chest.
He had never felt this way before, at least not with Amy. It was foreign and new to him, whatever it was. The feeling was so clear…yet so obscure.
Maybe he just missed her. The prospect was understandable considering how she was his friend. Sonic's emerald green eyes glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.
2:45 PM
Sighing, Sonic closed his eyes.
It was going to be a while.
Nami hefted a backpack on her shoulder, grinning serenely. "Alright!" She chirped, bending over to secure the ties of her boots before straightening herself and looking from both Amy and Shadow, "let's get going!"
Shadow frowned.
"What are you doing?" He asked slowly; not too fond about what was going on before him.
Amy smiled happily, throwing on her own pack, "we're taking Nami with us! Personally, I think it's a good idea. That only makes the trip much more exciting!"
"We're just heading for Station Square…" Shadow answered.
Obaasan frowned, waving her hand dismissively, "you two go where you're going. Nami has her own agenda and will leave you along the way."
Nami looked back at her grandmother, an anxious look settling on her youthful face, "will you be all right, Obaasan?"
"I'll be just fine," Obaasan responded, ushering the three out the door, "now get on your way."
Smiling, Nami waved back while Shadow and Amy merely glanced back before setting forward.
Earlier in the morning, Shadow had woken up only to bombarded by ideas from all three women. Amy had wished that they both head for Station Square and that Shadow would stay with her. Shadow agreed but secretly decided to help her reach her destination and leave the moment they set foot in the city. He didn't have much else to do with his life but he had to find out what it was that had denied his entrance into the afterlife.
But then the two human females had suggested that they take Nami with them. She had her own dreams of becoming a doctor and would not be able to accomplish them if she stayed. So, after making sure her grandmother was as safe and secure as possible, Nami packed and was ready to go.
All of this had happened so fast that Shadow had no time to actually argue and now was stuck with two women for an unknown amount of time.
Why fate was so hell bent on punishing him, he didn't know.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Amy squealed happily as they hit the road, glancing back at the mansion disappearing from her line of sight.
Shadow grunted.
Nami smiled.
"You're going to have to meet all my friends, Nami," Amy continued, ignoring Shadow, "you'll love Tails, he's not a doctor, but he's great with machines and all that. Knuckles is nice to be around…most of the time. And then, you'll especially love to meet my boyfriend," she clasped her hands together as a dreamy sigh fell from her lips, "Sonic…"
"I can't imagine anyone falling for that faker," Shadow murmured before crossing his arms at Amy's steely glare.
"I-I'm sure they're all very nice people," Nami interjected nervously, waving her hands between the two, "but maybe we should try to get through this journey…before we get too worked up."
Shadow scoffed, lowering his hands.
"I'm fine," he answered curtly, turning his gaze to Amy.
"Well, I'm perfectly fine!" Amy huffed, crossing her arms over her chest as she turned to look away from Shadow.
"Now, now," Nami stammered in vain, "let's all calm down…"
"I'm calm!" Amy exclaimed, her face turning bright red. Her casual stride had turned into angry stamping, her red boots leaving nasty imprints in the dirt.
"Funny," Shadow challenged, smirking, "you don't look calm."
"I said, I'm CALM!"
Nami clamped her hands to her ears as both Amy and Shadow began exchanging remarks. Shadow maintained his cool and cocky air while Amy was close to bashing her Piko Piko Hammer in his face.
"S-stop," Nami stuttered softly, squeezing her eyes, "please…s-stop……..I SAID STOP!"
The two hedgehogs froze in their tracks at the shrill voice, both turning to look at the flustered Nami. Gasping, Nami lowered her hands and straightened herself before pushing her hair back into place.
"Thank you," she murmured, proceeding past the silent hedgehogs, "maybe now we can continue on with a little bit of pea---!"
Nami froze as she realized that her foot had landed on pure air and that she was looking down at a steep fall into black nothingness. Her heart pounded in her chest as she lurched forward, her hands aimlessly grappling for something to hold onto.
"NAMI!" Amy cried, racing forward as she heaved her arm over the ledge, "GRAB ON!"
The wind whistled through her hair and Nami couldn't her anything except the sound of the fear pulsating through her veins. She was paralyzed, shocked beyond her senses and she could only manage a brief, blank glance at Amy's outstretched hand.
"NAMI!"
Human instinct took over and she immediately thrust her arm forward, her hand landing on Amy's. Amy tightened her grasp and nodded encouragingly, bringing her other hand to grab Nami's but froze as the ground dropped from beneath her, sending her flying in the air.
"DAMMIT!" Shadow cursed as the two girls disappeared from his sight. Without a single thought, he raced forward and dived off the crumbling ledge; free falling before wrapping one arm around Amy's tiny waist.
"HOLD ON!" He cried over the roaring wind, pulling out his Chaos Emerald before thrusting it into the air. Amy nodded breathlessly, tightening her hold on Nami as the trio plummeted into oblivion.
"CHAOS," Shadow began as a the emerald began illuminating, "CONTROL!"
The glow swallowed them up and in one instance they were the there…the next…
They were gone.
A/N: So aside from, the last couple parts, some revisions and the Author's notes from above most of this was written in 2005. So…there might be a change in my style of writing, I dunno. I hope I depicted the characters correctly and that you guys will be able to enjoy and again, I am so, so, so, so, so, so sorry for the wait. So there you have it. Read & Review please; all comments will be appreciated! By the way, does anyone know if author's are still not allowed to respond to their reviewers? Well, anyway…
R & R!!!
