Chapter six: Strange world

Ever since she could remember, and for some time before that, Amy had been obsessed with two things: running, and finding her true love. Her mother had always laughed when talking about it, saying she'd always been sure about what he was like, having already made up her mind.

But Amy, looking back on it, had always thought that it was more like she already knew. Never once, during her childhood, had she ever changed her mind. She'd changed her mind about practically everything else, so why was he the exception? She had changed her favorite color at least six times and her favorite food at least twice that. So why, why had the image of her love always remained the same, always clear and vivid and unchanging?

Why had she been describing Reese to her mother ten years before she had met him?

It was a sobering thought.

Amy breathed out slowly, watching her breath turn to steam in the night air.

And, of course, she'd been having that dream more and more often. She'd been having it on and off for as long as she could remember. But ever since she'd first seen him, standing on those school steps, staring into the distance, she began to have it at least once a mouth. Now, since that conversation, it was once a week, at the very least.

Amy shuddered as she replayed it in her head.

Running running after that beloved back, always teasing, always appearing to vanish into the distance, and then reappearing still ahead of her. Always tantalizing, never touchable. Still though, she kept chasing him, believing that, one day, she'd catch him, one day.

She keeps running, even though now, she's getting tired, she's getting angry. Why won't you stop? Why won't you stay with me? I'm not ugly, right? You don't hate me, right?

She keeps running, if only to get to the end, to finally get to the end.

And then, finally, she's fed up and she stops, and she screams at him. She stands there, panting, crying. He stands there, still, for once not moving. A soft, slight touch. Not on her cheek, but on her shoulder.

She looks up. His face… she sees something there. Soft, unsure, hurt, scared, and guilty.

And then, they're running again, only this time it's different, running for a reason, running to something- or away from something. She's almost there, stops to breath, he stops to wait…

And then-

Amy shuddered and hugged her knees more tightly.

Why is this happening? Or maybe that's not the question.

What is happening? And what can I do? Last time… we were running, and he paused to wait for me. And then…that can't happen again... I won't let it. I…this time, I must find something I can do, something that can help him.

But… what?

She sighed, releasing her breath into the cold night air, watching turn to steam. And then it came to her.

Amy smiled again fiercely, proudly.

Just you wait and see Reese. This time, I'm going to save you! And then, one day, I'll make you realizes that you're meant to be mine!

OoOoOo

Shadow found himself tapping his foot. Irritated, he stopped.

Absurdly, he found himself wishing that the speed obsessed hedgehog was here. If nothing else, Sonic was more familiar with normal people. For example… okay, forget that, Shadow thought, realizing how little he knew about his former ally.

He breathed out, trying to calm down. Just sitting there, thinking is very different than waiting. Waiting is expecting, knowing it is coming, always expecting it, each second waiting with your eyes open. Waiting is wanting it to come, either because you want it or want to get it over with.

He glanced at the door, and listened. Maria was talking now, her voice only slightly distorted through the door. He couldn't tell what she was saying, but her voice was as calm as it had been before. Now an unfamiliar voice, a male voice, raised in a question. Shadow paused, muscles tensed, fingers gripped, ready to spring.

Now Maria's voice again. She sighed and then her footsteps, light tapping, came closer.

For a moment, Shadow entertained, toyed with even, the idea of striking a pose, dramatically turning from the window to face them and letting the light and the shadows play eerily across his face and body.

He stepped back as the door opened and let the gun hang at his side.

First, out came Maria, smiling at him. Her smile was a little bit strained with worry, but her eyes were focused only on him, and gentle. She didn't stop either, just kept walking until she stood behind him.

After her came several other people, all in space suits. They stared and goggled at him, but he stared right back, unflinchingly.

This world may be a new and strange one, but I don't care. Maria is behind me.