I was about to die. I knew it was coming, I braced myself for it, the blow that would surly end my life...
But it didn't come.
I looked at Scourge, and found he was laughing. He dropped me on the ground, "That was too easy!" He gasped through his laughter, "But it was also pretty fun! Thanks kiddo!"
I tried to speak, but all I could manage was a soft moan.
"Now I gotta go home and wash all this muck off me, see ya!" And then he took off.
I could not move. I didn't have any strength. I was sore and dizzy and sick...I felt awful...and I was still so terrified. I couldn't move at all and I was afraid that something would come for me or something.
I was still completely stationary all day. I noticed the sun set and then rose again, which meant it was now Sunday. I'd need to go to work the next day, but more than that I was afraid that my broken arm would heal wrong if I didn't set the bone. I could only see clearly out of one eye as my other eye was swollen shut. I prayed that something wouldn't smell the blood and come after me, but I was safe the whole time. I'm just glad I couldn't see myself 'cuz I'm sure I looked absolutely terrible.
Finally, after the sun set again, I forced myself to sit up. my body screamed in protest, but I knew I couldn't stay out here forever. I found my toolbox nearby and tried to pick it up, but it was just too heavy for my aching muscles. I wrapped one arm around my stomach as it growled again and felt hot tears slide down my cheeks, but I did my best to ignore that as I resorted to dragging my toolbox along the ground with my good arm.
It took hours, but I inched my way back home. I barely got the garage door open long enough for me to get inside. I'm home! I'm finally home!
I wiped the tears from my face and got to work on my broken arm. I set the bone and wrapped it securely with an old scrap of fabric I found. I used another piece of cloth to tie it to my body in a sling, then I ate the bread crusts and the good parts of the moldy cheese. I was still hungry, but at least it was a little better.
I lay down on my bed, feeling defeated and ashamed. Every part of me hurt, and I was weak and sore, but at least I was in my garage, safe and sound.
Or as safe and sound as it could be...
I didn't have any willpower left. I stared up at the ceiling and wondered if death would've been better. This last thought occurred to me before I drifted off into dreamland;
If this ever happens again, will I survive?
I woke up feeling the usual grogginess I'd feel in the morning, except this time my muscles were sore, as well as my broken arm and black eye. I slowly sat up and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, then I looked at the clock on my hand-held.
8:15! I was 15 minutes late!
I quickly packed my toolbox and ran through the streets as fast as I could. I was a little hasty in my stealth, so I ended up going slower than normal and getting to work at 9:00! And I have to say, My boss was upset;
"Prower! Where've you-" He paused when he saw me, "...been..."
"Sorry...I-I...uh, got in a fight..."
"You look terrible! Bah! Doesn't matter, I need to tell you something..."
"Hm?"
He smiled, a weird mischievous smile, "You're fired!"
"WHAT!?" I didn't see that coming...
"Yes! I've been looking for a mechanic to fix my airplane for years! And then I found you! Now I can get out of this horrid place!"
"You...you mean you used me?"
"Aw, don't cry kid!" he laughed, "Now get outta here!"
I could feel my heart beat slower and slower...my vision clouded up and my breathing was constricted. His smile just made me feel sick. I knew that I would never forget that horrible smile...
I ran all the way back to my garage and lay down on my bed. My stomach growled again and I noticed I was so thin now that I could see my ribs through my fur. That was not a good sign...I needed food!
I wanted to stay there forever, but I knew that I was too afraid to die, so I decided it was worth it to try and find something to eat. As I was leaving though, I caught sight of someone in the distance, he looked like Scourge, except he was blue. My heart lodged itself in my throat as I tried to hide behind a nearby garbage can, but it was too late. I listened to his footsteps get closer and my heart rate got faster as he approached. His footsteps stopped and I tried to steady my breathing.
"Hello? Someone there?" he paused a moment before he continued, "Look, I won't hurt you, I promise, ok?"
I don't know what made me do it, but I emerged from my hiding spot and turned to face him. He was a blue hedgehog with emerald-green eyes and bright red sneakers. He gasped in horror when he saw me.
"Are you ok!? You look horrible!" he exclaimed, "What on Earth happened to you!?"
"I...um..." I wasn't sure how to react. He almost sounded like he...cared, somehow...
"Can you tell me your name?" He said.
"Um...M-Miles P-Prower..." I stammered.
"Hmmm..." He cocked his head, "It alright if I call you Tails?"
Tails...that's right...that was my name...right?
"S-sure..." I manged a small smile.
He looked concerned, "Here..." He reached behind his back and pulled out a plastic bag with an uneaten chili-dog in it, "You can have this."
My eyes widened at the feast he was offering, "Th-That much food!? Are you sure!?"
He smiled and his eyes sparkled, "It was my lunch...but I think you need it more than me! Just take it!" He took the food out from the plastic bag and offered it to me.
I cautiously took the chili-covered hot dog from him and took a big bite. It was a little spicy for my tastes, but I didn't care one bit. I finished it off and looked back at the hedgehog.
"Thank you..." I said.
He nodded, "Any time! So, where d'you live Tails?"
"Follow me." I walked back to the garage door and slipped inside. A moment later, the blue hedgehog joined me in the small room.
He stared, open-mouthed, "This is where you live?"
I nodded, "It's not much, but it's all I've got."
He looked at me but didn't say anything.
I decided he wouldn't bother me, so I took out my hand-held and began fiddling with it. (it was hard with only one arm, but I did it somehow...) I was just incorporating the cell phone from the dumpster into it to boost it's signal strength when the hedgehog spoke again, "I just realized I never told you my name!" He laughed and gave a thumbs-up, "I'm Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog!"
I thought a moment before I spoke again, "I haven't seen you around here before Sonic...what brought you to this terrible place?"
He sighed and sat down on the floor across from me, "I didn't mean to. My airplane crashed. I got it to a mechanic, but apparently, I'm not the only one here who wants to leave!"
I froze.
"An airplane?"
"Y...yeah...?"
I looked right at him, "Was it a red biplane?"
His eyes grew wide, "Yeah, how d'you know?"
"I'm the mechanic who fixed it!" I face-palmed, "Ugh! I'm so stupid!"
"What?"
"My boss had a job for me! I fixed the plane and today I lost my job! He's left in it by now!"
"Are you kidding me!?"
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to strand you here!"
"I'm not mad at you, it wasn't your fault! You had no idea!"
I heard voices outside and put my hand over Sonic's mouth to silence him. I carefully put a finger to my lips to show that he should be quiet. I blushed a little when he wiped the grime from my hand off his face.
When the voices had passed, I whispered, "That was probably a street gang, we need to be quiet so they don't catch us."
"But I'm not afraid of street gangs." He whispered back.
"Trust me, they will mess you up no matter how strong you are."
"Is that what happened to you?"
I nodded.
"I'm sorry..."
I got back to my project, but I found it hard to concentrate with Sonic getting up and pacing around the cluttered room. He looked like he was lost in thought. When he spoke again, he sounded sad and defeated, "Can I stay here for the night?"
His question caught me off-guard, "Sure...do you not have a place to stay?"
He shook his head.
"Well, I don't mind. How long are you going to stay?"
"As long as it takes to get the heck outta here!"
I found a spark of hope and asked, "W-when you leave...is...is it alright if I come with you?"
He looked at me, his gaze full of compassion. A genuine smile crept onto his face, "Absolutely!"
I beamed. Not only had I found a friend, but I had also found a way to escape! It felt so good to smile! I hadn't done it in so long!
"Thank you!" I said through misty eyes, "I can finally get out of here!" Before I knew what I was doing, I had my good arm around him in a sort of half-hug.
He was stiff for a moment, but then he relaxed and hugged me back. He was somewhat hurting my broken arm, but I didn't care. I now had a friend, the only friend I ever had.
I didn't quite know it at the time, but the deep abyss in my heart was slowly beginning to heal.
