CHAPTER 7

AN OLD FRIEND?

Later, it had gotten dark and Espio had checked all over the city since dawn. He had started to run towards Green Forest, the only outskirt of the city that was the closest. 'Please', he had thought. 'Please be okay.'

Back in Green Forest, Shadow and Kayla were walking through the dark forest with nothing but the moonlight as their guide.

Shadow had sighed heavily, "We'll never get out of this mess."

Kayla had gripped her father's hand, "Don't say that, daddy. Of course we will. Commander Itsuki and GUN won't get us ever again."

He looked down at her with a small smile, "You're awfully confident aren't you?"

She made a nod, "Of course. Aren't you?"

His small smile had faded. He wanted to tell her so badly that everything would be okay just as she thought but he knew in reality it wouldn't. 'If I lose Kayla to GUN, then there will be no purpose for me to live on anymore.' He looked down at the child, 'Kayla...you're the reason why I still live on...to protect you. If you died, it would be all my fault...' His thoughts were then interrupted when he saw Kayla stop walking. He turned to her in confusion, "Why did you stop?"

She started to look around the forest nervously. "I...I thought I heard something."

He walked over to her and took her hand, "It's probably just a squirrel or something. Lets go." He had then froze when he saw something huge move near them in the corner of his eye. 'What?'

She saw the expression on his face and knew that he had heard something as well. "You heard it too didn't you, Daddy?" She whispered.

His whole body started to tremble in fear. 'I can't be frightened in front of Kayla or else she'll be sent into panic as well. But...I didn't just hear it. I saw something too...I just know I did.' His eyes widened as he heard a deep hissing sound behind him.

Kayla quickly pointed behind him, "Daddy!"

When he had turned around, he was struck into a tree by a powerful force.

It all happened so quickly, Kayla could barely see what it was. All that she saw was a huge black blur.

Shadow fell to the ground full of confusion,'What the hell was that?' As he looked up, he saw the black blur wrap around his body. As he tried to get free, he noticed the face of a huge black snake staring at him menacingly with pitch black eyes. 'What? A...snake?' He then started to shout out in agony as the snake tightened its grip around his body.

Kayla stood there, not knowing what to do. She wanted to help her father but she didn't know how. She watched in horror as the snake continued to crush Shadow's body.

He was struggling to get free before it was too late for him. 'No...I can't die yet. I have to protect Kayla.' He eagerly reached for the small pocket knife that was hidden behind the sleeves of his shirt and pulled it out of its sheath. He then quickly shoved the point of the knife into the snake's skin, making it drop Shadow to the ground. He looked up at the snake cry out in agony as it bled from the side where he had stabbed him. He knew even that wasn't enough to bring the snake down. He clenched his fists tightly, 'What is this weird reaction I'm getting? Is that thing a...demon?'

"Daddy!" Kayla shouted as it came back at him.

The snake came at Shadow with its fangs parted for its attack. The demon was too late as Shadow quickly got up and dodged its attack. It then watched as the hedgehog started to run around him.

The hedgehog formed a smirk, "Bring it on, demon."

The snake had hissed once more and tried to attack him again but Shadow had jumped off the ground and struck his fist at the snake's face, knocking it down to the ground. However, it didn't take long for the snake to get back off the ground.

'Damn! What kind of demon is this? Everything I do isn't able to even slow it down.'

The snake took its attention away from Shadow and directed its attention towards Kayla who was trembling on the other side. It then started to slither over to her in a quick pace.

Shadow's eyes were filled in panic, thinking he couldn't get over to her fast enough to save her. "Kayla, no!"

The snake opened its mouth ready to bite into her until its head was suddenly cut off.

Shadow and Kayla stood there, wondering what had just happened.

The child stared at the headless snake then back to her father, "Daddy?"

"Kayla!" He called. "Don't move!" He looked around until he spotted a huge shuriken flying towards a branch of a tree near him. His eyes widened when he saw a hand catch the shuriken by one of its blades. He looked up and saw a purple chameleon smiling down at him. 'What the...?'

The chameleon placed the shuriken behind his back, "About time I found you, Shad." He then jumped down from the branch and stood in front of him with a friendly smile as he studied his new appearance. "Whoa, what did you do to yourself, man? Looking Goth as ever huh?"

The hedgehog had a blank expression on his face. 'Who is this man and what is he talking about? Most of all, how does he know me?'

He started to walk closer to him, "I was worried about you, Shadow."

As he stepped closer, Shadow had slowly stepped back. He had no idea what was going on and the way he had defeated the snake, had frightened him. It was clear that he was very strong.

The chameleon wondered why he was feeling so nervous around him until he had remembered that he had amnesia and couldn't remember a thing. "Shadow..." Before he could say anything else, they heard Kayla screaming.

"Kayla!" Shadow had then saw the snake start to form another head. "What the hell?" He murmured.

The chameleon took out his shuriken once again. "Uh Shad, I think your snake friend grew another head."

The ebony hedgehog turned to the chameleon in annoyance yet he was still intrigued about him. "Chameleon, I want to know...Who are you?"

The chameleon smirked, "My name...is Espio The Chameleon."

He made a nod, "Shadow...The Hedgehog."

"Okay, Shad man", he stood in a fighting stance. "Let me do the honor of kicking this serpent's ass!"

The snake got off the ground and stared at Kayla, ready to bite her once more. It opened its mouth and exposed its fangs while slithering over to her.

Espio ran over to the child quickly with his shuriken ready. "No you don't!" He jumped in front of Kayla with his shuriken pushing its mouth away from them. His eyes widened as he saw some kind of purple looking liquid dripping from its fangs. 'This snake is poisonous!' He turned to the frightened child behind him. "Kayla, get away!"

The child nodded and ran over to Shadow in tears. "Daddy!"

He embraced the child tightly, "Kayla, are you all right?"

She made a nod with tears running down her face. "That man...that man saved me!" She sobbed.

The hedgehog looked back up at the chameleon and saw him trying his hardest to defeat the snake.

Espio was losing his grip as the snake tried to break away. 'Damn! I can't keep this up for long!' He took his free hand and reached into his belt pocket. 'I have one shot at this...' He smirked and took the shuriken from the snake's mouth, making it bite into his shoulder. He yelled in agony as he felt its fangs sink deeper into his body. He quickly took out a kunai with a piece of paper attached to it and stabbed it into the snake's eye. "Sayonara, asshole..."

Shadow and Kayla watched in amazement as a sudden explosion had appeared between Espio and the snake.

Shadow had no idea what had happened but even though he had just met the chameleon, he had hoped that he was okay.

When the smoke from the explosion cleared, they both saw Espio standing there with the snake's body parts falling from the sky.

Espio weakly gave them a thumbs up with a smirk, "Never mess with a crazy ass ninja like me."

Kayla formed a small smile and ran over to the chameleon in happiness. "You're okay!"

The chameleon smiled down at the child and stroked his fingers through her hair. "Of course I'm okay. I'm just happy you and Shadow are too." He then looked away from Kayla as he heard Shadow making a fake cough as he approached him.

The hedgehog crossed his arms and glared at the chameleon. "Idiot..."

Espio hung his mouth open in confusion, "Huh?"

"Your arm. You're a fool for letting that serpent bite you. Now you're poisoned and you're going to die."

Espio gently touched his wounded shoulder and faced Shadow with a small smile. "Yeah I guess I am one huh? Well, I'm sure the guys can think of something to get rid of the poison."

"You have friends?" Kayla asked.

"Of course I do and plenty too." He looked up at Shadow, "You want to meet them? I mean it's better than staying in this hellhole of a forest am I right?"

Shadow still didn't completely trust the chameleon but he was even more concerned for Kayla. The forest was dangerous and he wasn't able to protect her from the snake demon. He turned to the chameleon coldly, "Fine, lead the way."