Here's the fourth chapter! As Shadow and Spookina continue their date, everything quickly goes to hell. Read on to find out!
"Jesus, where does this girl get her energy from?" A frustrated Shadow muttered to himself. He and the still-disguised Spookina continued on their date, exploring all the rides and attractions at the boardwalk carnival. Shadow had a hard time keeping up with Spookina, who seemed hellbent on trying out everything the boardwalk had to offer from small games to the big rides. Eventually Shadow stopped to get him something to drink while Spookina went and tried out one of the games.
But as she did, Shadow observed her and noticed something most peculiar. One of the prizes were a pair of jewel encrusted Faberge eggs, but instead of them, she picked out a stuffed animal shaped like Sonic. Now for someone as obsessed with jewels as Rouge was, seeing her pick a stuffed animal over jewelry was completely out of character for Shadow. Spookina returned to Shadow, presenting the stuffed Sonic doll. "Here you go, Shadow." she said.
"For me?" Shadow asked flatly.
"Yeah, I know it's kinda emasculating to be seen with a stuffed doll," Spookina began. "But think of it this way: If Sonic makes you mad, you could always use this as a punching bag."
"I'll keep that in mind." Shadow chuckled. "But I really was expecting you to go for the Faberge eggs."
"Oh, the jewelry wasn't important now." Spookina replied with a dismissive hand wave.
"Really?" Shadow asked, growing suspicious. "Given that you always refer to yourself as the World's Greatest Treasure Hunter, I thought you'd go for the jewels."
"I don't think about jewels all the time." Spookina replied.
"Alright, I'll take your word for it." Shadow shrugged.
"So, wanna get some cotton candy?" Spookina asked, eager to change the subject.
"I don't like sweets." Shadow replied.
"You don't like much of anything." Spookina replied.
"Not entirely true." Shadow said.
"Well, what do you like?" Spookina asked, growing frustrated with Shadow's apathy.
"Solitude." Shadow replied.
"That's too vague." Spookina said.
"Clear enough to me." Shadow replied. Spookina gave an annoyed huff, but before the two could continue their conversation, Sonic came by the table, accompanied by Amy. "Well, if it isn't my favorite little odd couple." Sonic greeted. "How's tricks?" Shadow tried to ignore him, but Spookina spoke up instead. "Hey Sonic! And uh..." She tried to think on Amy's name, but had never met her before so she had a bit of difficulty.
"Amy." Amy replied, annoyed. "I'd think you'd remember my name by now."
"Sorry, I tend to forget people's names at times." Spookina said. "Charge it to my head, not my heart."
"Hmm. Rouge, I am a bit hungry." Shadow said. "They have some popcorn over there. Could you get me some?" Spookina took one long look at Shadow before giving another annoyed huff. "Fine." she said as she got up and walked away. With her gone, Shadow turned to Amy and Sonic, but before he could say anything, Sonic was the first to speak. "Aw, isn't that cute? You've got a stuffed doll of me." Sonic mockingly cooed. "I always knew you cared."
"Can it, Sonic." Shadow said. "I wanna ask you something."
"What is it?" Amy asked.
"Have the two of you noticed anything... off about Rouge?" Shadow asked. Both Sonic and Amy paused to think. "Now that you mention it, she has been acting funny lately." Sonic replied. "Why, you've noticed something?"
"Try a couple of somethings." Shadow began. "First, Rouge is wearing a tattoo on her cheek. Rouge never wears a tattoo. Second, she's a little more peppier than normal and less flirtatious. Finally, she gave me this stuffed animal while passing up a pair of jeweled eggs. Doesn't that seem a little suspicious?"
"Not really." Sonic shrugged.
"Sonic's right." Amy said. "I really don't see what's so suspicious about that."
"Guys, this is Rouge we're talking about." Shadow replied. "This is the same Rouge who once put a girl in a hospital because she wanted a diamond necklace. I'm telling you, something's doesn't feel right."
"Like what?" Sonic asked. "What're you trying to say?"
"I'm saying... I don't think that's the real Rouge." Shadow replied.
"C'mon, Shadow. Do you know how crazy that sounds?" Amy asked.
"I know." Shadow replied. "I might be reading into this too much, but I can't shake this feeling that something's wrong."
"Well I say when she comes back, just ask her." Sonic said.
"Maybe I will." Shadow replied.
Meanwhile, at the popcorn stand, Spookina was busy getting popcorn for her and Shadow. "Stupid, lazy, insensitive jerk." Spookina grumbled to herself. The young ghost had been on many a date before, but her date with Shadow was bar none her most boring yet. She's seen zombies with more life than him. Shadow didn't seem to care about anything. No matter how nice she was to him, he'd always respond with the same infuriating apathy.
It then made her think on the guys's warning. Maybe they were right. Maybe this was the one time her feminine charms would fail her this time. Maybe this was the one guy she couldn't charm. Maybe this was the one time where she was genuinely in over her head. Part of her thought that she should call this whole scheme off and tell the guys to let Rouge go. As she got her and Shadow's popcorn, her thoughts were interrupted by her cell phone vibrating. She got to a safe distance, put the popcorn down and answered the phone. "Hello?" She said in her real voice.
'Hey, Spookina." Hugo said.
"Hugo? Zack? What is it?" she asked.
"We've got a bit of a situation on our hands." Hugo replied.
"Well it's not so much a situation as it's a minor inconvenience." Zack said.
"Oh yeah, it's nothing we can't handle." Hugo said.
"But we'd thought we'd give you a heads-up." Zack said.
"Yeah, this just a courtesy call." Hugo said. "Just don't be mad when we tell you-"
"Spit. It. Out!" Spookina snapped, reaching the end of her patience.
"Rouge is gone and she's heading your way!" The duo said in unison.
"WHAT?!" Spookina exclaimed. "You idiots! I can't trust you two with anything these days!" She gave an annoyed huff. "Can anything else go wrong?!" Her ears were then assailed with the chorus of a hundred frightened voices screaming in unison. She ran to see a frightened crowd running from what appeared to be a giant red robot armed to the teeth with all manner of weaponry. "I AM HERE TO HELP!" the robot said in a monotonous tone. "DO NOT BE ALARMED!"
"Omega!" Shadow shouted as he, Sonic, and Amy ran to Omega. "I like mindless violence as much as the next guy, but do try to remember that their are children here. Stand down." Omega complied and put away his weapons. "Now, can I ask what the hell are you doing?!" Shadow asked. "What's gotten into you?"
"Rouge informed me you were in danger." Omega replied. "She asked me to... support... you." Omega and the others turned to see Rouge walking towards them. "Rouge? What is this?" Omega asked. "How did you get here so quickly?"
"What are you talking about?" Spookina asked, feigning innocence. "I've been with Shadow the whole time, Omega."
"But you called me." Omega protested. "You said you were on your way to the boardwalk."
"But I never called you." Spookina said.
"Yes you did." Omega said. "You told me it was urgent."
"Rouge's right, Omega." Shadow said. "She's been with me this whole time." Omega stopped to think. "If that's what you say." he said. He then took one long look at Rouge, his scanners noticing something off. "Query, Rouge." Omega began. "There is a large amount of ectoplasmic energy emanating from you. Is this normal?"
"Ectoplasmic energy?" Spookina asked in a panic. "Oh! W-Well, I-I was on a treasure hunt recently a-and the place was haunted. It seems some of the ectoplasm got on me." Sweat began to form on Spookina's brow; she was growing increasingly nervous.
"You're sweating and your pulse has shot up. A tell tale sign that someone is hiding something." Omega noted.
"Well Rouge? Are you hiding something?" Shadow asked. "You have been acting strange."
"Uh... Well..." Spookina stumbled to say.
"I'll tell you what she's hiding!" A voice came out of nowhere. The group turned to see what appeared to be... Rouge! They watched as Rouge dived in and delivered a punishing kick that sent Spookina flying backwards into a nearby stand. "That's not the real Rouge!" Rouge declared as the others looked on in shock. "What is the meaning of this?" Omega asked.
"Okay, there are two Rouges?" Sonic asked.
"Shadow, what's going on?" Amy asked.
"Good question." Shadow replied. "You got an answer? Cause I'm fresh out."
"Oh shit." Spookina mentally cursed.
This is just not Spookina's day. It's about to get real on the final chapter. Stay tuned for the epic conclusion.