A/N - All OCs belong to me. Original Sonic characters belong to SEGA.
"Oh, my god", Tammy cried, "Are you okay, Celie? You look awful!"
"Gee, thanks", Lindsay remarked ironically whilst applying roll-on moisturiser on the bags underneath her eyes. That day had been a long day with serving customers and tourists so she barely had time to put her feet up. And now she had to work another couple of hours behind the bar, the fatigue around her eyes and mind getting worse as time went by. She never went back to sleep after the horrific dream the previous night, and she didn't intend to.
"No, I mean, you look exhausted", Tammy explained whilst peering at Lindsay, "You look as if you didn't sleep at all"
"That's not true!", a small voice piped up, "Mommy did sleep, but she had a very bad dream, but then I was like a big girl because I woke her up and helped her"
Lindsay closed her eyes and sighed heavily. There had been nobody available to look after Mei, so Lindsay had no choice but to bring her to work with her. The other colleagues were very helpful as they promised to keep an eye on her whilst Lindsay served drinks. She hated exposing Mei to such degrading work, so Mei was not allowed to leave the staffroom under any circumstances.
"Is that right, Mei?", Tammy asked in a light-hearted tone and turned back to Lindsay and mouthed, "She's so cute!". Lindsay smiled in an exhausted fashion.
"Yep, but now I have to stay in here and I have no idea why, but I can at least have one of the colourful drinks that they serve in here, right?", Mei hinted hopefully.
"Nuh-uh, young lady, not until you're at least sixteen", Lindsay said firmly whilst checking her make-up.
"Aw, buts that's ages away!", Mei complained. A sudden thought came to her mind, "Why is Tammy calling you Celie, Mommy? Your name's not Celie, it's-"
"Okay, that's enough, Mei!", Lindsay snapped before Mei could continue, "Now, we have to go. I'm gonna be back to check on you in about half an hour, so don't speak to anyone and stay here, do you understand me?"
Mei nodded. "Yes, Mommy", she answered. Lindsay smiled at her daughter and tugged Tammy out of the room with her.
"What was Mei going on about, you know, about your name?", Tammy enquired suspiciously, bustling towards the doorway.
"Kids today", Lindsay answered back in a care-free tone, "They'll do anything to wind you up!"
And with that, the two colleagues left together, leaving Mei to sit on one of the chairs in silence, wondering what to do next. She saw in a corner of the room a stack of dresses hanging on rails; their rich, vibrant colours teasing her curiosity. Mei peered fearfully around her in case she would be caught… and happily scuttled over to the dresses, eager to try them on.
So that was his plan. To go in and simply talk to her. Sonic fought through the continuous wave of citizens living their lives on the lively street. Sonic was envious, the fact that their lives had worked out and his hadn't, therefore he was determined to make it happen as he marched towards the club, dodging the security guard along the way.
All her had to do was talk to Lindsay. No violence, no swearing, no insults. Just a simple conversation, and to get out. He knew that it wasn't going to be easy at all, as though he was forced to sit an examination that he was sure to fail in. Yet, he needed answers, too. Lindsay couldn't simply tell him to go away, there was still a mystery behind all of this, and he needed to know.
The heavy atmosphere smothered Sonic's face like a wet sponge, the music too loud for him to think properly, crowds and dancers confusing his memory until he recognised the door to the staffroom in the distance. Suddenly full of energy, Sonic made his way casually to the door. He placed his right hand on it… until a male echidna security guard suddenly prevented him from going any further.
"What you doin'?", he asked in an African-American accent. Sonic pondered quickly.
"Delivering a telegram", he lied back.
"You got I.D.?"
"Naturally", he lied back.
"Where is it then, blue boy?", the guard enquired curiously.
"Don't worry, I've already let your other colleagues know who I am"
"Still", the guard explained, "How can I be sure that you've done so? I would have been notified"
"Are you insinuating that I'm a liar?", Sonic asked crossly, as he attempted to look intimidating. The guard took offence.
"Naw, man", he hissed back, equally as intimidating, "All I'm sayin' is if you don't have I.D., you ain't getting in. So do us a favour an' get your blue ass out of here. No I.D. - no access. Comprendre?"
Sonic glared back at him.
"Y'all understand?", the guard persisted, and with that Sonic crossly left his position and hovered within the background, watching the guard closely. Time went by. He grew irritated as he stared at the guard who stood at the door defensively… and eventually glanced at his watch and left his position, pulling out his cell phone and dialled a number and began immediately talking as he marched past Sonic without so much as a glance:
"Clarisse, I know that it's my turn to pick up the children on Thursday… Yeah, I know your mother's comin' to town that day, but I can't make it to pick up the kids-"
That was his cue. Sonic immediately made his way to the forbidden room. His system pumped with adrenaline as he opened the door… only to find the room empty from his point of view. Disappointed, he peered around the room sadly… and almost jumped out of his skin when he noticed a small bundle tottering about in high heels, wearing a dress that drowned around the bundle, a hat flopping on their head. The bundle scuffled slightly, and their eyes immediately met his. Stunned, the bundle gasped, tripped and fell.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!", the bundle cried, "I know I wasn't suppose to touch anything, but I couldn't help it"
"Never mind that", Sonic answered and help the bundle onto their own two feet, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine", the bundle removed the hat and out came a small violet hedgehog with emerald eyes, "Thanks, Mister"
"No problem", Sonic smiled, "So, are you lost or something?"
"Nah", Mei answered, "I'm not lost"
"Well, I wouldn't think that you'd work here", Sonic laughed. Mei laughed fondly.
"Don't be silly! I don't work here! But my mommy does", she answered.
"Really?", he asked politely, "Shouldn't she be here looking after you?"
"Yeah… but my mommy really needs money. I heard her complain about it last night on the phone, 'cause she said something about how she couldn't pay this rent thingy. So I don't really mind waiting on her when she's working", she said in a light-heartened tone. Mei suddenly narrowed her eyes on Sonic, "What are you doing in here?"
"Me?", Sonic asked, taken aback slightly, "Oh, I'm just waiting on a friend"
"Who?"
"Well… do you know anyone called Lindsay here?"
Mei perked up suddenly, her piercing eyes sparkling.
"'Course I do!", she exclaimed happily, "She's my mom!"
Sonic was completely shocked. He really didn't expect this to happen at all! Lindsay actually had a child? Talk about being such a hypocrite! It wasn't possible. No, it couldn't be. Sonic paused dramatically and then glanced back at Mei. She stared innocently back with her huge green eyes. Green. Emerald green. Just the same shade of green as his eyes. Her smile, innocent and polite, just like Lindsay's smile. She also had Lindsay's slightly pointed chin, but she had an enthusiastic attitude, eager and positive… just like he did. Was it possible that this little girl who carried eight pints of blood in her body could possibly be related to himself…?
"Are you okay?", she asked nervously, bursting Sonic's line of thought. Sonic jumped slightly and smiled.
"Sure", he breathed out, "What's your name, by the way?"
"Lisa", Rouge called from one of the tables, "Lisa!"
Lisa jumped slightly and focussed on Rouge.
"Yeah?", she asked.
"Can you check on Mei? I'm a bit busy just now", she shouted over the music, piling glasses onto her tray to prove her point. Lisa shrugged and sloped off to the staffroom. Life was tough for her. When she had immigrated to the country, she and her father dreamed of owning their own culinary business. However, they had not expected to receive such a cold welcome to the 'land of hope'. They lived in poverty, therefore branded as the disadvantaged in the society, barely earning enough to feed themselves. Hence, she dropped out of school to work in a club as she did at that time. She felt cheap and sleazy, but, Hell, the money was good.
Lisa slumped into the staffroom exhaustingly, and very nearly cried out when she saw a male hedgehog and Mei sitting on the floor, happily chatting whilst playing a game of cards. It seemed innocent enough, but Lisa felt uncertain nonetheless.
"What are you doing in here?", she demanded in her heavy foreign accent. Sonic smiled at her innocently.
"Sorry!", he exclaimed, "I know I shouldn't be in here, but I was just waiting on a friend and-"
"Very unlikely!", Lisa cried as she recalled her unpleasant encounter with the blue hedgehog the night before. She dreaded what he would do. She had heard of stories about girls who were attacked and raped in unexpected places. She looked at Mei, "And get away from that girl! You're old enough to be her father!"
Sonic chuckled at this statement as he got up from the floor.
"Well, I-", he began before the door to the staffroom suddenly opened, and in came the security guard.
"Lisa, you okay, kid?", he asked, "I heard…", he noticed Sonic and immediately snapped, "You!", he roared, "Do you not understand English?"
"What do you mean?", Sonic asked innocently back.
"Do you speak English, motherfucker?", the security guard roared with frustration.
"Obviously"
"Then you knew what I meant when I said you couldn't come in here, right?"
"Your point being…?"
The security guard had had enough. He grabbed Sonic by his right arm and hauled him out of the room. He dragged the blue hedgehog across main area of the club, many people staring at them as they went by. Sonic allowed him to take control at first, but soon grew frustrated. He wriggled relentlessly.
"Hey, hey!", he remarked, "Watch the jacket, for Fuck's sake!"
"Who do you think you is", the security guard asked sarcastically, "Fonzie?"
"Oh, smart guy, eh?", Sonic answered back and stood defensively.
"That's it motherfucker-", the guard began but was suddenly cut off.
"Lawrence", a voice piped up, "What's going on?"
Shadow marched towards the duo, his faced creased with confusion and disbelief. He stopped on his tracks and his face creased even more with disgust when he saw Sonic, "God, I might have known…," he began.
"Hey, Shadow, how's it going?", Sonic asked politely. Suddenly, Lindsay appeared out nowhere, curious by the action, and very nearly had a heart attack when she saw Sonic.
"Jesus Christ", she remarked angrily but fearfully at the same time. Shadow noticed this and turned back to Sonic.
"What do you want, Faker?", he asked suspiciously.
"Just a word with Lindsay", he answered simply. Shadow's brow creased slightly. Lindsay badly wanted to run but it felt as though her feet were firmly planted to the floorboards.
"Who?", Shadow asked. Lindsay could feel the blood draining from her face. She knew exactly where this was going.
"Lindsay", Sonic nodded towards her, "Her"
"Her name is not Lindsay", Shadow answered defensively, "So leave her alone. I've also been told that you've been caught in the staffroom. Well, aren't we the curious type? You just couldn't help yourself, could you? Well, peep show's over, Faker. Go home"
"But, Shadow, aren't you curious about what's going on with your dancer, Lindsay, here?", he asked dangerously.
"Shut the fuck up!", Lindsay hissed. Sonic pretended not to notice.
"Sorry, or is her name Celie?", he continued, folding his arms triumphantly. After all, why couldn't he ruin her life when she destroyed his own?
"Damn it, fuck off!", Lindsay roared, feeling everybody staring at her.
"Just what is this about?", Shadow questioned. Sonic rolled his eyes.
"This girl is the faker around here", Sonic explained, "Not only has she got her daughter hidden in the staffroom, but she's also lying about her identity, too"
"… What?", Shadow demanded.
"Oh, and by the way, do you know she's only 17?", Sonic persisted, deliberately ignoring Lindsay's cries of dismay and anger. Shadow slowly turned around to look at the sobbing female.
"I had my doubts, but…", he muttered and shook his head, "However, Sonic, I know that you've been causing trouble here, tonight, so get out of my sight before I give you something to cry about"
Sonic raised his arms slightly in mock-defence.
"Hey, no problem there", he concluded. He paused at Lindsay and softly said, "Linds, liars always get caught in the act, am I right?"
"You sneaky, son of a-", she hissed.
"You heard the man", the security guard announced fiercely and began to drag Sonic to the main entrance, "Get your blue ass out of here, Fonzie"
Lindsay glared at the two men who gradually made their way towards the exit. Once Sonic was out of sight, she slowly gathered herself together, readying herself to serve more drinks until Shadow suddenly looked at her.
"Just a minute…", he struggled to decide which name to use for her and eventually decided with, "… you"
Lindsay swallowed fearfully. She cleared her throat.
"Yes?", she whispered in a tiny voice, hating the way his red eyes intimidated her.
"When you agreed to work here", he explained, "You told me that you were 18 years old, and as much as I hate to admit it, Sonic isn't a compulsive liar at the worst of times"
"But he-", she began.
"Now, I made it painfully clear that should you ever lie about your age, I am inclined to take actions further. You know as well as I do that we can't have children working here-"
"I am very nearly eighteen!", she argued. Shadow glared back at her.
"By law you are still classified as a child, and I can't have scandal here", he continued, "And, what exactly is this about a child in the staffroom?"
"I can explain, I-"
"It's true", Lisa piped in nearby, thinking that she was being helpful, "Her daughter is in here. That's where I caught that blue hedgehog in the first place"
Shadow stared coldly at Lisa for a couple of minutes, and then back at Lindsay. She was shaking with shock, knowing that it was all leading to trouble no matter how hard she would try to defend herself and Mei.
"Allow me to understand the situation", he questioned, "You mean to tell me there is an underage girl in the staffroom right now?"
There was a deafening pause. Lindsay eventually broke it.
"…Yes", she whispered. Shadow stood on the spot, head down as he pondered on how to handle the situation. Lindsay hugged herself, praying for a miracle.
The miracle didn't appear for her.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to let you go", he concluded, "I can't have any trouble here. You knew the rules, I warned you of the consequences… but you deliberately disobeyed them. You made idiots out of all of us…", he paused, "Please hand in any possessions you have that belong to the club, and I'll have to confiscate any earnings you received tonight"
"Be reasonable, Shadow!", she complained, "You have no idea how much I need this money!"
"Be that as it may, you've violated the regulations in your contract", Shadow argued, "I have no choice but to take action… I'm sorry"
It was humiliating to have every staff member watch her from afar as Lindsay slowly handed over her earnings, put on her coat, and silently leave the building with her four-year-old daughter in her hands. Lindsay fought back tears as she passed the staring eyes, the shared whispers of how much citizens have degraded themselves nowadays and how the mothers should be to blame… and Lindsay suddenly remembered how lost and lonely she was without her mother. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Not only was she haunted and terrorised by Sonic, but she still didn't have enough to pay off her debts to Frank. It was Thursday evening; it seemed impossible to earn another $30 within a short period of time. Then again, it was only $30, surely Frank will be sympathetic at least and accept the amount she already had…?
She slowly reached the exit. Rouge watched, tears in her eyes. As Lindsay put her free hand on the door, Rouge whispered, "Lindsay, if only you'd told us…"
It was too much for her. She rapidly left the club, heaving her work bag and her daughter in her arms and stumbled to a taxi. It was time for her to return to the Hell she called home, afraid to face the one person who promised to evict her.
He watched from afar. The taxi slowly left the street and drove off into the busy road. He decided to keep a safe distance, as not to be caught.
He ran.
Ran through unknown streets, avoiding traffic, dodging people, taking shortcuts through small alleyways, curious of where his speed would take him… until he came to a halt. As did the taxi. He watched with curiosity as the young woman and her child climbed out of the vehicle and headed towards the poorly kept apartments across the street. One sniffed at the sight of the conditions in which the young woman and the child lived in. Surely they deserved a better lifestyle…?
She suddenly looked in his direction with fear and confusion. He ducked ridiculously, but then dared to peek back at her. She was gone, through the vandalised doors and up the filthy set of stairs.
His conscience warned him to stop. Yet, the mystery behind all of this was beginning to unravel. A daughter! A daughter who was beautiful and innocent and easy to love. Yet, he was not allowed to see her, he could tell. He wanted to offer her more in her life.
He planned to. He reached for his cell phone and punched a few keys.
There was an answer.
"Stanford, here", the voice replied.
"Stanford, it's me. I need you to do an errand for me"
"At this time of night? With all due respect, Sire, shouldn't this wait until morning?"
"No, it can't. Listen, I need you to get a hold of a vehicle. Preferably one that looks like a taxi, and then I need you to drive to…", he paused and peered at the street sign nearby, "… North Wynde Street. You'll see a young woman and a small child standing about"
"How are we to know that they'll be there?"
"They will be, trust me"
"Do you require any more troops or anything?"
"No, just you. Make sure your vehicle is available for them only. Be there in about an hour's time"
"Yes, Sire"
A knock at the door. Lindsay had only just returned home within the hour, and she wasn't in the mood to socialise with anybody. Heaving herself off of the sofa and slouched to the front door. To her surprise, and horror, Lindsay found that it was Frank at the door, looking furious.
"Oh… Frank", she said whilst rubbing her forehead, "What's up?"
"Your rent", he simply stated, "Where is it?"
"Ah", she answered and attempted to look sympathetic, "Frank, I'm really sorry. I only have around $260, and I was wondering if that would be adequate for just now…?"
Frank's face darkened. She knew this was only leading to trouble.
"I've lost patience with you, Miss Taylor", he thundered, "I gave you one last chance and you failed to meet your deadline! I knew right from the start that you were trouble and tonight you have proven my point. I've also had complaints about somebody screaming during the night-"
Lindsay blushed furiously as she recalled her dream from the previous night.
"- and not to mention having friends around here at all hours with your drinking and your laughing. It's disgusting, disgraceful actually! It's not appropriate for a girl your age to be living such a lifestyle"
"Excuse me?", Lindsay cried, "Who are you to judge the lifestyle I lead?"
"Well, from the years I have known you and your daughter I can easily conclude that you and your daughter are rather highly-opinionated, arrogant people. I know about you vandalising the walls downstairs"
"Well, you aren't exactly a picnic in the park either", Lindsay argued back bravely but unwisely, "And what do you mean about the graffiti downstairs? I had absolutely nothing to do with that!"
"And you are proving my point again!", Frank declared. He folded his arms, "Not only are you so rude and aggressive, but you're also a compulsive liar! I was informed by somebody that they saw you vandalising the walls. This is completely unacceptable! Criminals - that's what you and your daughter are! No, I've decided - I want you out of here within the next hour. No exceptions"
"And where exactly am I suppose to go?", Lindsay asked ironically.
"Miss Taylor, what you do with your life after you leave here is your own business", Frank paused and saw Mei hovering in the background, "But just now: be a good mother and do what's best for your child"
With one fierce glance, Frank left the doorway and downstairs, leaving Lindsay shaking with fear.
Sonic watched as she closed the door slowly and faced her daughter, her facial expression solemn and filled with dread. The cold wind around him sliced his skin in a merciless manner, as though it were attempting to punish him for what he had done. He smirked. True, one small, white lie had gotten Lindsay into trouble, but he knew that the obvious vandalism on the ground floor in the building would convince the landlord to take action if they found out who had done it. Besides, he was paying Lindsay back for lying to him for four years, for not telling him about Mei. Part one of his plan had worked successfully. Now all he had to do was wait for Stanford to play his part and observe with interest…
"Meg here", the voicemail announced, "I'm not available just now, so leave a message"
Lindsay cursed. She had tried to contact Meg for the past twenty minutes without success. Now that she was standing outside the apartments with a couple of suitcases and Mei beside her, she was desperate to get to a place that was safe and warm. Dixie, Seth and Chris were at a concert so she was unable to contact them, and it was obvious that both Meg and Stan were on a mission if they weren't answering their phones.
"Hi, Meg, it's me again", she announced, "Listen, something's happened. When you get this message can you come and collect me from my apartment? Thanks"
"I'm hungry", Mei announced.
"Ssh", Lindsay hushed her, "I know, honey, but we have to wait here for just now so that Meg can pick us up"
"I like Auntie Meg; she's awesome", Mei exclaimed, "But why did we have to leave home?"
"It's… it's just that…", Lindsay struggled, "… Frank was really mean. That's what life's like, Mei. The world is full of cruel people, so don't let anybody push you about, you got that?"
"I never liked him anyway", Mei declared, "But I'm cold!"
"Uh-huh", Lindsay replied, "Just cuddle up in your jacket and…", and she stopped talking when she saw a taxi cab at the end of the street. It was a possibility. Even if she couldn't reach Meg on her phone, she could easily get a taxi to her place. Meg had a spare key underneath a flower pot near the front door. The streetlight reflected the windows of the cab, the flashes of lights on the vehicle winking at Lindsay, promising warmth and opportunities.
She couldn't resist.
"Mei, come on. Get up", she announced and picked up several suitcases and the two hedgehogs made their way towards the taxi. As they climbed in, Lindsay noticed that the taxi driver didn't look at them at all, but that was the least of her concerns.
"Mathieson Road, please", she asked and sat back.
And that's when the realisation hit her.
Her eyes met the eyes of the taxi driver in the rear-view mirror. She had seen him before, she definitely knew that.
"Who are you?", she enquired. The taxi driver shook his head sadly.
"I'm sorry that I'm doing this", he sighed, and suddenly gas hissed at both sides of the taxi. The taxi driver rapidly closed the small window behind him, so that he would not inhale the substance. Mei coughed endlessly, retching at the taste of the substance in her mouth. The world began to spin in front of her very own eyes.
"Mommy?", she remarked in a weary voice, "I don't feel well…"
"Mei… Mei… S'okay…", Lindsay wheezed as she saw the entire world spin in front of her own eyes. She couldn't tell what was hissing into the air in the back of the taxi, only that it was dangerous and powerful enough to sedate the mother and child.
Then they collapsed.
Darkness.
Tikal sighed. She had been working at the Palace for at least a year now, and ever since her passion and commitment to her job had vanished. She didn't mind the pay or her colleagues; she was just dying for a bit of excitement compared to the repetitive chores and work she did every single day.
She looked up. There was her boss who she secretly feared standing near her, watching the rain pelting against the large window panes, lost in his thoughts. Tikal glanced at the floor she had just cleansed and stood up from her position, knowing her shift had ended. She cleared her throat nervously.
"Sir?", she whispered. Sonic jumped slightly and blinked at her.
"Yes?", he asked.
"I've finished polishing the floor. May I go?"
"Sure, that's… sure… on you go"
"Sir?"
"Yes?"
"Are you okay?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well… nothing", Tikal concluded, "Nothing"
Tikal scuttled out of the large hallway, despairing over how she would be able to cope the merciless weather on the way home… until she saw a light in the distance in the front garden. Two small circular lights. Coming closer.
Tikal shook her head when she learned that it was a car, and turned towards the nearest staffroom when she heard Sonic calling her suddenly within the previous room.
"Tikal! Tikal, get in here! I need your help", he yelled. Tikal sped through the large doors into the main hallway, and found the main front doors opened wide, allowing the blustering winds and the torturous winds to break loose into the room. Outside, she could see a familiar National Guard getting out of a vehicle and speaking to Sonic through the rain, and then both men opened the back doors of the vehicle. Tikal followed them, curious.
"What's going on?", she yelled through the wind. Sonic knelt into the car and carried out a small bundle in his arms.
"Tikal", he called, "Here, take her to a guest bedroom just now and stay with her until further notice"
"But-but", Tikal stuttered. She took the bundle reluctantly and peered at the small infant's face in her arms. She stared at the tiny hedgehog, bewildered. Tikal then peered with shock as the National Guard pulled another body out of the car, and hung the limp body over her shoulder.
"Here", Sonic announced, "Give her to me"
The body was exchanged between the two men.
"Sir", Tikal dared ask, "Who are they?"
Sonic paused. He then managed to look Tikal straight in the eyes whilst balancing body over his right shoulder.
"This is my family", he declared and then went straight into the building without a second glance. Tikal stood in the rain for a few moments, stunned, before she joined him, taking the small, frozen body into a guest room.
Wondering what to do next.
