Rise From The Ashes

by xLiving Dead Girlx

Shadow meets someone who changes his life forever. But what happens when Eggman hatches a new plan for world domination? Can he be stopped? Will there be a price to pay? What about Sonic? Could a hero fall? Only time can tell. I am terrible at summaries.

4. Run

Rise From The Ashes

Chapter Four-Run

It has been two months since that day. Marjarie and Arnold were back together. Today Shadow got to met Arnold. Shadow couldn't believe it; he had been there for two and a half months. He never spent that much time, not even at Rouge's. He could never be happier! Although, he still held Sonic's secret with him. Surprisingly, the two haven't spoken of it since that day. Sonic now had come over every day.

The second floor of the house constantly smelled of paint. On the second floor, there was a total of four rooms; Marjarie (and sometimes Arnold's) room, Emily's room, the "messed up" room (which was an empty room that had ugly gold, peeling wallpaper, the floor was unpolished wood), the bathroom, and Roxanne's room. 80's music was coming from the "messed up" room, and the door was locked. Roxanne smirked, "I guess mom's finally fixing up that room. I wanted that room when I was little, it is smaller than mine, but mine is too big, I think…" She just started to trail off, Shadow didn't like the smell of paint.

Dot-Dot grew a little bigger and her circle became more of an oval. Emily was playing a Kirby game on the Gamecube. She skipped dinner because Marjarie bought her that game earlier that day. Marjarie is so happy today. They were all sitting in the living room, Roxanne and Shadow are sitting on new bean bag chairs watching Emily play. Well, Roxanne was anyway, Shadow was waiting for Arnold to get here, he was anxious to meet him. Shadow poked the red bean bag chair he was sitting on. Roxanne was sitting on a black one. Marjarie was fidgeting, she kept looking in her compactor mirror to see if she looked okay. Then they all heard a soft knock at the door. Marjarie jumped up and skipped to the door, she look through the peep hole and she grinned. She opened the door and a tall, skinny man with brown hair and green eyes was standing there. He had two suitcases with him at his sides. He said in a deep, soft voice, "Hey there." He enveloped her in a hug. They stayed like that for a little bit. Emily hopped up and ran over to him too, "Daddy!" She hugged his waist. Roxanne looked at them, Shadow couldn't help but smile. Shadow turned to her and said softly, "I guess your family is back together." Roxanne smiled slightly on the left side of her mouth, "...yea."

Arnold hugged his girlfriend and his daughter again. Then he turned to Roxanne who was still sitting on the bean bag chair. He smiled at her and held his arms out, "Is that my other daughter?" She got up and hugged him. Shadow thought about what he said, he didn't think Arnold was around when Roxanne was born, he doesn't think. He must really care about Roxanne, well, she was his step daughter. After the hug Arnold looked at Shadow, "So this is Shadow?" Shadow stood up. Arnold smiled and held his hand for Shadow to shake. And he did.

Arnold seemed like a pretty good guy, Shadow wondered if he knew who Roxanne's father was. He doubted it; if Roxanne didn't know, he probably didn't. Shadow tried not to think about it. Marjarie seemed a lot happier now that Arnold was there. By seeing the suitcases, Shadow guessed he was moving in. Or moving back in. God only knows how many times this has happened. He also tried not to think about that too.

But there was one thing Shadow couldn't help but think about: How long did he plan on staying here? He has been here for two and a half months. He should leave, and he will. He decided he was going to leave tonight.

They all sat around the TV watching home movies. From when Roxanne was little, to when Emily was little, even up to of recent years. Emily taking her first steps was one they were currently watching. They have been watching these for a couple hours, and honestly, Shadow was getting really bored. He got up and went to the kitchen. He used his jet shoes to lift himself up to the cabinets and reach a glass. Floating to the sink, he turned on the faucet and filled the glass halfway.

"Umm, Shadow?" He turned around to see Marjarie standing there, fidgeting with her white dress. "Yea, what's wrong?" She looked behind her then sat down at the table, "Please, sit, I need to talk to you." Shadow sat down, he was a little worried. She folded her hands, "What do you think of everyone here?" Shadow answered quick and honestly, "Well, Roxanne is my best friends, she means everything to me—" a surge went through his stomach and back, Sonic said that too, he thought about Sonic for a second, then brushed it off. "—and Emily, I would protect her if anything ever happened…And you. This is hard to say because I am unsure…" Marjarie mouth opened slightly as if to say something, then she shut it. "… I mean, I never had a mother before, but…" He looked at his clear glass. "…you are like one to me." This wasn't the response she expected by what he first said, she smiled and stood up, "That's all I need to know. Will you come with me, please?" Shadow put his glass down and stood up. He had no idea what was going on. She walked through the living room past everyone and up the stairs. Shadow followed. The smell of the paint started to fade. She stopped, "Oh, can you get your bean bag chair?" He turned around, went downstairs and picked up his chair. Roxanne gave him a look of question, "What's up?" He shrugged his shoulders. She furrowed her brow slightly, she got up and was right behind Shadow. Her mother was standing in the hallway still. "Mom, what wrong?" Marjarie couldn't help but have a big smile on her face. She pointed her right thumb at the door to the 'messed up' bedroom. Roxanne scratched her head, "What? Is it stuck again?" Marjarie put her hand around the doorknob, "No, I fixed it." She opened the door. Shadow dropped his bean bag chair and his eyes widened.

The room was red, the same color as the kitchen. Directly across from the door was a bed. It was an old fashioned steel frame bed but that didn't matter to him. The bed had a red blanket on it was a white sheet and two white pillows. The bureau looked old too, it was made from dark wood. There also was a TV stand with a small TV on it, like Roxanne's TV. Roxanne didn't believe it either. Although it didn't seem to affect her as much as Shadow, she actually kind of expected it now that she thought about it; her mother always had a hospitable nature. Also, in the window next to the bureau, was a new air-conditioner. Shadow's eyes felt warm, he rubbed it and looked at his glove, and there was a small wet spot on his index finger tip. He took a deep breath, 'Am-am I crying?' The last time he cried was when Maria died. But this was a good feeling. He didn't understand it…

He turned around and hugged Marjarie, almost knocking her down. He buried his face into her stomach and cried. 'So that's why she wanted to know my favorite color.' She put her hand on his head and smiled, 'I always wanted a son…' The phone began to ring, Emily yelled up the stairs, "Anney! Its Sonic!" Roxanne hopped down the stairs to talk to her friend. Shadow stomach did another flip.

After everyone was in bed by three in the morning, but Shadow couldn't sleep. He was too excited and happy. He had his own room, not to mention a place to permanently live. But his own room! He always appreciated the little things, but this was something big. He couldn't wait till tomorrow to call Rouge and tell her.

He had to go and visit her sometime, he hadn't seen her in a couple weeks. A couple weeks ago, Shadow visited her apartment alone. Then there was Sonic. Shadow smirked at the thought, 'Faker is going to get so jealous.' "Ha ha." All these great thoughts were broken when Shadow heard someone running up the stairs.

Roxanne was sound asleep in her purple bed. She dreamt of Emily and her running through a blue forest. SLAM! "Anney! Wake up! Wake up! NOW!!!" She was being violently shaken, she rubbed her eyes to see her mother fully clothed with shoes on. "Get up, get dressed, pack your things, we have to leave!" Roxanne started to panic, "Mom, what's going on?!" "I'll tell you when we get in the car. What the hell are you waiting for? Quit staring at me?! PACK!!!"

Arnold opened Shadow's door, but not as harsh as Marjarie opened Roxanne's door. "Shadow, wake—oh, you are already awake. Okay, listen; we got to—" "I know, I heard Marjarie in the other room," Shadow said as he put his black trench coat on. He didn't have anything other than that, so he was ready to go. Shadow saw Roxanne running down the steps (almost falling) with four over-stuffed book bags with her. Shadow went into Emily's blue and purple room to see her half sleep, rubbing her eyes, and getting dressed while Arnold was filling up her big pink book bag with clothes and a couple stuffed animals. "Daddy, yawn can I play Kirby?" He sighed, "When we get home." "'kay."

Shadow grinded down the steps on the railing and hopped off and landed right in the kitchen. Marjarie was in there and when he landed she gasped and dropped a plate. Shadow saw and ran over to the broken dishes and started to pick them up quickly, "I'm sorry, I didn't—" "...thats okay." "Marjarie, what's going on?" He went to throw away the broken dish. "I'll explain in the car." She seemed very stressed, Shadow didn't want to push it. Marjarie was putting canned food and the can opener in the black messenger bag she usually brought to work every day. Then putting cookies in plastics baggies and sodas and bottled waters and juices in the bag until she could barely zip it. She was mumbling to herself, "…okay there's now five of us, we should all fit in the car. Now with the food……money along the way….but…" Arnold ran into the room, "Anney and Em are in the car, the bags are too, are you ready?" Marjarie turned around and slumped the bag over her shoulder, face red and stained with tears. Arnold went over to her and embraced her in a hug, "Don't cry, you didn't do this…"

Shadow decided to go to the car. He went outside in the pitch black night and opened the door to the burgundy Hyundai and sat in the back. Emily was on the left, Roxanne in the middle, and Shadow on the right. Emily was sleeping against the window. Roxanne was panicking, "Shadow! What did they say? What's going on?" "…I don't know." "It must be bad, they were panicking." "Mmm." Shadow didn't know what to say, but man, was it hot. Roxanne wiped her forehead, they better get in here, I'm gonna die from this heat." Just then Marjarie and Arnold came running out with the black bag and his suitcases, stuffing them in the trunk and getting in the car. Marjarie got in the drivers seat and Arnold got in the passenger seat. Roxanne said, "Mom! What's going on?! Tell us!" Arnold turned on the air-conditioning in the car. "Mom, where are we going?" Marjarie buckled her seat-belt and turned around to look at her eldest daughter, "Away."

Marjarie had no clue how to explain it to them, they were all probably scared, well, except Emily, for she was till sleeping. But they had to know what was going on. She turned on the radio and a man was talking, "…that the end of that. Now on to the weather. Chuck?" A different voice was speaking, "Yes, well, its only going to get hotter, this June Heat Wave is getting higher. Tomorrow afternoon, the temperature will reach a high of 107 degrees—" Roxanne mumbled, "Oh my god. That's hot." Shadow was helpless, if it was someone he didn't care too much about, he would have just threatened them to tell him what was going on, but in this situation, he couldn't, they were his family now. Marjarie groaned and turned off the radio. She spoke but didn't face them, "Okay, I just found out there is a reason why it's been real hot lately." Roxanne elbowed Emily to wake her up. "There is an….evil scientist who wants to take over the world—" Shadow furrowed his brow and frowned, "The doctor." "—and he threatened the president if he doesn't get control of the US, he will get it and take over in a way they can't fight back. That's what the heat is; he is making it really really hot until the president gives into his demands…" Shadow cracked his knuckles, 'Looks like another fight.' Roxanne had her hands over her mouth, "W-will he?" Arnold said, "It doesn't sound like it…"

They had been driving for a couple hours, the sun was starting to rise. Roxanne spoke, "Mom, where are we going?" "Away." "Yea, I know away, but to where." Pause. "To the hiding place."

They drove for a couple more hours, Shadow and Roxanne fell asleep an hour ago, Shadow leaning against the window and Roxanne cuddling with Emily. The car stopped and Shadow opened his eyes. They were in the middle of no where. In the middle of a grassy field, 'I really should have stayed awake.' He nudged Roxanne and she woke up, who shook Emily awake. No one said a word. They all got out of the car and stood in the field, Emily rubbing her eyes, Roxanne holding her hand. In front of the car was a steel dome-like door on the ground with a black screen on top of it. Roxanne broke the silence, "Where are we? What is this?" She pointed at the door. Her mother didn't answer.

She walked over to the door and kneeled down and put her left hand on the black screen. It started to flash yellow and green, and then stopped. A mechanical voice sounded, "IDENTITY CONFIRMED." The door opened up. Shadow walked closer and looked down. Pitch black. Roxanne peered over the doorway into the ground, "This looks promising." Then lights began to flicker inside and everything inside was lit. Marjarie softly said, "Well, let's go inside." Arnold picked up Emily and went down the ladder inside. The ladder went about 25 feet in the ground. Then Roxanne went inside, followed by Shadow. Marjarie looked around to see if anyone else was there, seeing there was no one she took a few steps down the ladder and pulled the handle on the inside heavy door to close it.

Inside wasn't incredibly large. Just three small rooms: a place where there was bunks, shelves, and a radio. The other was a smaller room that had a cold storage and selves in it with a first aid kit on one of them. And last, was a toilet/shower room. Inside was very cold and everything was made of steel. Roxanne put her hand Marjarie's shoulder, "Mom, how did you come to own this?" Marjarie shivered, "Money, everything comes from money."

Everyone was sitting on their own bunk. Marjarie looked at the ground with a sad expression on her face. She was always sad when the Dr. Robotnik did things like this. But this wasn't all; Roxanne didn't speak for a while. She just kept looking at the palms of her hands, just looking at them, studying them. Shadow was unsure why, although he had an idea. Roxanne furrowed her brow and pursed her lips. She stood up and went to the ladder. Her mother looked up at her, "Anney, what are you doing?" She didn't answer, she climbed the ladder and Arnold spoke, "Anney, come back here." She continued to climb up until she reached the top, she saw the door, with the same black screen on the inside that was on the outside. She reached her right hand and it started to flash green and yellow lights for a while, longer then it did when scanning Marjarie's hand, then it glowed red, "IDENTITY UNCONFIRMED." Marjarie stood up and raised her voice, "Anney! Get back here! You are not leaving!" Roxanne put her left hand on the screen, once again, it flashed green and yellow, and once again, turned red, "IDENTITY UNCONFIRMED." Marjarie quickly stomped over to the ladder, "Roxanne! Get your ass down here right now!" Roxanne sighed, she reluctantly climbed down the ladder. Marjarie stood in front of her daughter, Roxanne an inch taller than her, both giving each other the same exact glare.

Roxanne sat down on Shadow's bunk next to him. He looked sorrowful at her, he knew she tried to open the hatch, if she did, he would speed out and try to stop Dr. Robotnik. But if her hand couldn't do it, his definitely couldn't. And he doubted Marjarie would open it. But it wouldn't hurt just to ask. Shadow spoke, "Marjarie?" She looked up sorrowfully at him. He continued, "I helped people before, I defeated those black aliens, I defeated a monster on the ARK, I can do it. If you just let me out, I—" "No, I will not lose anyone because of this." Shadow was getting annoyed, "You clearly don't understand; I have powers, I can stop it--!" "I said 'no.'" She sighed, "This isn't some alien. Or some robots. Or a monster. He somehow manipulated the forces of earth to make the temperature rise. You can't stop it with brute force—" Shadow shouted, "BUT I CAN DO IT!" Marjarie furrowed her brow, "This is a climate controlled hideaway we are in right now. It will make the air cooler or warmer depending on how it is outside…" Shadow was so angry, 'She's treating me like a fucking child! I can do it, I know it!'

Roxanne was deep in thought. She bit her thumb nail and spit out the bitten off part. She looked at her mother and spoke, "Mom, I'm hungry. Can me and Shadow have a couple cookies?" Shadow's ears perked up at the sound of his name, but he didn't look up. He didn't feel like eating , but he was hungry. Marjarie put on a fake smile and nodded three times. Roxanne got up and grabbed Shadow's arm and pulled up out in the other room. He yanked his arm away when they were in there, "How do you know I even want a—" Roxanne stuffed a oreo cookie in his mouth, she ate one quickly too, chewing with her mouth open she reprimanded him quietly, "Shut up, just eat it, hurry up!" He didn't like being bossed around, but chewed and swallowed the cookie. She grabbed his highest quill and moved him around slightly, almost losing his balance, he said, "What the fuck are you doing?" She put his quill against the middle of her upper arm and scratched it, purposely causing it to bleed, she let him go and he rubbed his quill, "What the hell was that about?" She looked at her inch long wound on her arm and squeezed it, causing it to bleed more. Before Shadow could even speak, Roxanne left the room. Shadow quickly followed her. She was clutching her wounded arm and lied, "Mom, I scratched my arm on the corner on the shelf." Marjarie rolled her eyes, "Jesus, Anney." She reached behind her and got the first aid kit. She opened it up, put on rubber gloves, got a bangage out, rubbing alcohol and cotton balls. Roxanne smirked. Her mother put rubbing alcohol on the cotton balls and dabbed the wound, Roxanne winced. Then she put a bandage over it. "Anney, please try not to hurt yourself again." She threw the cotton balls in a waste basket next to her, took of the gloves, making them inside out and throwing those away. Roxanne smirked again, "'kay mom."

The sun went down a few hours ago, it was 12:23am. Everyone went to bed early that night. Well, everyone except Roxanne and Shadow. Shadow and Roxanne's bunks were across from each other, so as they pretended to sleep they began to plot. All the lights were out, the only source of light came from Roxanne's black Samsung cell phone so they could still see each other when they talked.

Shadow whispered, "I am going to try to break the hatch open."

Roxanne whispered back, "You can't."

"I'm a lot stronger than you think."

"I don't doubt your strength, but use common sense!"

"Oh yea? What was your grand-master-minded scheme? Cut yourself again?"

She ignored him, "You think they are all really asleep?"

Shadow took off his gold bracelet and held it over the side of his bed, he dropped it on the cold steel floor. It clinged as it collided with the floor. Emily stirred a little bit in her sleep but no one else seemed to be disturbed. She smiled, "I'll be back."

She grabbed one of her bags and went into the bathroom. In a minute, she came out dressed in black jeans and a black t-shirt with a dark purple star on it. She reached in the front on the bag and put a spiked bracelet on each arm. She walked over to her black sneakers, slipped them on and bit her lip ring.

Shadow frowned, "Where do you think you're going?"

She smirked, "With you."

"No, you're not."

"Yes, I am."

"You don't understand; it will be dangerous."

"I can handle it."

"You aren't fast."

"So?"

"You can't fly."

"So?"

"Then what could you do?"

She bit her index finger nail and spit it out, "I'm smart."

"Oh yea? If you're so smart, how are we going to get out of here?"

She smirked, "Like this."

Roxanne walked over to her mother's bunk and carefully reached behind it. She carefully picked up the small waste basket and carried it over to her bed. She pulled out the balled inside-out rubber gloves. She carefully turned them out-side in so they would be normal. She took the one that was on her mothers left hand and quietly went over to the ladder, she quickly climbed up it pulling herself up with her right hand. When she reached the top, she cautiously slid the glove on her left hand. She reached her let hand up and put it on the black screen. 'God, I hope this works…'

It started to flash yellow and green, and it did this for a while. With the only source of light came from a small cell phone, the green and yellow lights made the room flash and glow. Shadow saw the two adults slightly stir in their sleep. The lights kept flashing, and he was starting to think they would wake up.

Roxanne's eyes started to hurt from the bright lights flashing in her face. Suddenly they stopped, "IDENTITY CONFIRMED." She let out a sigh of relief, 'Thank fucking God.' She climbed down the ladder, and said quietly, "C'mon Shadow, we can get outta here now." Shadow smirked, "That was a pretty good idea you had, I apologize." She smiled.

They went to the ladder, with Shadow ahead of her, he climbed up three pegs when they heard a small voice; "Anney?" Roxanne wiped around and shined her cell phone's glow on the face of Emily. Roxanne breathes, "Emily! Whadder you—Go back to bed!" Emily sat up in bed, "Are you leaving?" Her plan had failed; Emily woke up, and she was about to wake up her parents.

Shadow jumped off the ladder and stood next to Roxanne, "No Emily, I am leaving. Roxanne is staying here."

Roxanne quickly looked down at her smaller friend, "Uh, no. I am going with you."

"No, you are going to stay here: it's safe."

"I proved you wrong; I got us a way out of here, I want to help!"

Shadow groaned and rubbed his temples, "Fine, but you better not get in the way."

Emily piped up, "I don't want you two to go…" Roxanne kneeled down and hugged her sister, while hugging her, she said, "Em, I promise we'll come back. We'll be fine." Emily whispered, "Are you going to Dr. Rubootnick's?" Roxanne pulled away and held her sister shoulder in her hands, more so she won't leave and wake them up, than so she can look at her sister. Roxanne smiled warmly, "Yep Emmy, we are." She put her index finger to her lips, "But don't tell them, it can be our secret." Emily got a hugged smile on her face and pointed at herself, "Can I go too?" Shadow put his head in his right hand, "Oh god. No, Emily, you can't." Emily pouted, then looked up at them with a small smile, "If you two go, I promise I won't tell them were you two went, I wom't even tell them you left unless they ask." She held up her pinky and Roxanne wrapped her pinky around Emily's making a pinky promise.

Roxanne smiled, her sister was always very loyal to her, at times she was annoying, but whose younger siblings aren't? She also smile at them innocence of her sisters remark, of course they won't ask, if they are not in their bunks, they'll know they left.

Roxanne hugged her sister one last time, and gave her a kiss on the cheek, "I love you, Em." "Love you, too." Roxanne stood up and Shadow climbed up the ladder, with Roxanne following. Emily watched them go up, slightly sad she couldn't go too, but now she knew everything was going to be okay.

Shadow pushed the hatch open and climbed out of the hole. Roxanne did the same. He stood on the grass looking around. Grass. And trees. And dark. Lots and lots of dark. That was all he saw. Roxanne stood up and looked around. She was actually very excited. She knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and she knew she must take it. Hey, if Sonic can do it, she can do it! Right?

Shadow clicked his heels and activated his jet shoes. Then he just remembered something; she can't run as fast as him, 'God, this is really going to slow us down.' He turned around, she was biting her pinky nails, after she spit it out, she spoke, "We need to get Sonic." Shadow accidentally deactivated his jet shoes and he stumbled, "Wha—Why?!" "Because, he's a hero, and just as fast as you, we can use his help." "I don't need help." She furrowed her brow, "There's safety in numbers." Shadow hated working with Sonic, he always tried to out-do everyone. But he knew deep down she was right. "Fine, we'll go back and get him. Come here." She did. "Sit down." She raised her right eyebrow, but did as he said. He picked her up bridal style, he clicked his heels, and began to run.

It was 7:10am, Marjarie woke up. She yawned and stretched. She looked over at Arnold, than Emily sleeping, than at the two empty bunks. "Wha--? No!" She got up and stumbled to the area with the food, they weren't in there. She yelled, "Son of a bitch! I fucking knew it!" She shook Arnold awake, "Arn, wake up! Wake up! Anney and Shadow are gone!" Arnold woke up and his green eyes widened in horror, "Oh my god. Marge, call the police!" Emily woke up from all the yelling her mother did, "Mommy, I—" Marjarie shook her daughter, "Did you see them? Do you know where they went?" Emily paused then shook her head frantically. Marjarie's stomach did a back flip, 'Oh my god, Jesus, they better not go where I think they are going. Please god, don't let them…' She picked up her silver RAZR phone and dialed 911. A woman's voice was on the other end.

"Hello, 911, what's your emergency?"

"Please! My daughter, she's gone, she's not here!"

"Ma'am, did you check every room in your house."

"I am not in my house, I am somewhere else…"

"Ma'am, where are you?"

She paused, "Please, my daughter…"

The woman sighed, "What does she look like?"

"She is 5'6, normal weight, she has black hair with green in front of her face, mid back. She has a lip ring in the middle of her lip, she has light blue eyes….She might be with a black hedgehog."

"Ma'am, what is her name?"

"Roxanne Marie Addley."

"Okay, if we find her, we will hold her in the station, we will call you back from the number you called from, where are you calling from?"

"My cell."

"Okay, we'll all you back, but you have to come down here. What's your home address?"

"1615 Corredero Ave."

"Ma'am, we'll do our best to find her."

"…thank you."

Click.

Emily shouted/squeeked, "MOMMY! You shouldn't have done that! They are doing good! They are doing good!" Arnold grabbed Emily's arms, "What? You know where they went don't you? DON'T YOU?!" Emily arrogantly said, "Yes, I do! But I pinky-promised not to tell!"

As Shadow ran through the forest carrying Roxanne on their way to Sonic's little did they know, there were cop's all over the city looking for them.