Hunger

"Here you go, Cream." The rabbit looked up at Tails who was offering her a plate of chocolate chip cookies. She grabbed one, thanking the yellow kitsune before taking a small bite. The sweet flavor spread in her mouth. Tails sat on the bench next to her, taking a piece of the baked goods.

Cream had come earlier that morning, saying if she could stay for a bit because her mother went to the supermarket, taking Cheese with her and leaving her alone in the house. Of course, Tails wouldn't refuse company, it was just a rare occurrence where he and Cream were the ones spending time together, alone. Usually it was him and Sonic and Cream with Amy. Even during missions, Cream was usually left behind because she was far too young for the challenges they, the older ones, were facing so they hardly ever had any time to bond.

"How are things with Amy, Cream?" he asked remembering the last time she went to him was because she and Amy were having a bit of an issue.

Cream paused, the half-eaten cookie hovering by her mouth. "She...she still won't talk to me," she admitted.

"Did you have a fight?" His tone sounded surprised rather than questioning. Mostly because he didn't think the two would ever fight, they were very close to each other, best friends—sisters even—and Tails hadn't heard that the two had been upset with each other once before.

"No, we didn't...it's Amy, she..." Cream lowered her hands to her lap, stared at the cookie between her fingers.

Tails looked worriedly at her. For sure Amy was having one of those times where she was being difficult and was too indulged with her own concerns that she forgot about those that truly cared about her. Like Cream, who, like in this situation, was left to understand on her own the issues the pink hedgehog was going through. To think that the pink hedgehog could have at least told her best friend what she's going through so Cream would not worry so much. If Cream wasn't a good friend, she would have left Amy the moment she closed her doors on her, but the young bunny remained loyal as ever.

He couldn't help admire her for that. He would do exactly the same with his big bro if he were in the same situation. Tails knew very well that if there was something bothering Sonic, the blue hedgehog wouldn't admit it often assuring him that everything was 'A-Okay' when in truth it wasn't, and the fox wouldn't press on the matter for he knew that his big bro was as stubborn as Amy is acting recently. Tails would just wait for Sonic to admit his troubles and he would offer some advice. During the wait, he would find some activities to keep him from worrying. If Amy was anything like Sonic when it comes to matters like this, it would take a while for the female hedgehog to confess her worries.

Perhaps he could help Cream cheer up, even a little bit.

"Hey," Tails set the plate beside him, "why don't we go for a couple of rounds on the Tornado? That always cheers me up," he offered with a smile.

Cream thought about it for a moment, then turned and smiled at Tails.

"Okay."

Tails double-checked the controls of the plane and inspected all other concerns so as not to cause them problems later. He turned back towards Cream who was strapped at the spare compartment at the back of the Tornado.

"You ready?" he asked at the same time started the engine.

"Ready!" Cream replied.

He turned his attention to the front once again as the engine fired up when he set everything in place, and immediately began racing through the make-shift runway. As they reached the required speed, Tails launched the plane to the sky, the ascent taking a few seconds before finally fully soaring across the sky.

Cream scooted closer to the transparent cover engulfing the X-Tornado, looked down at the earth and marveled at the spectacular view below. Everything looked like an expertly painted picture. Tails was flying at just the right speed to let her take in the breath-taking sceneries that she'd never seen when standing on the physical plain. She could see her house, Windy Valley, Mystics Ruins and Angel Island sweeping by her sight as they passed by them.

"This is so amazing, Tails!" she exclaimed in awe. "I don't think I'd get tired seeing this every day. You're so lucky."

The fox chuckled feeling his cheeks heat up. "If you think this is amazing, wait until we get to other places."

I hugged my legs tighter, sinking my head atop my knees as I sat at the space between my bed, and the nightstand that stood beside it. It was a perfect fit, like I was the missing puzzle piece to complete the entire set. My room was entirely silent save for the faint ticking of the clock, but the sound entered my ears like I was merely centimeters away from the device.

Sonic had already left hours ago. He wouldn't have if I hadn't forced him to leave. He promised to come again though I told him not to. He said he wanted to make sure I was okay. I reminded him of the little incident we had earlier, but the hero was convinced that it won't happen again so long as he was constantly monitoring the status of my sanity. He wasn't fooling anyone. I knew he had only said that so as not to offend me. He always has been too kind for his own good...and I suppose I'm not much better either.

Besides, being 'kind' landed me in this situation in the first place.

Outside, I heard the sound of a plane at flight, passing by then quickly faded. It must have been Tails taking a short round around the area. This time around it's around ten in the morning. It was out of schedule. His occasional flights usually happen during the afternoon around 3:00 o'clock where the sun wasn't as intense as it is in the earlier time of noon. I've memorized this routine long ago during my normal days, where I was looking for Sonic throughout the entire day.

I wish I could have seen it, Tails' plane soaring in the sky. Though it may seem that I don't care, I enjoy watching the fox's biplane being part of the wide panorama in the heavens. In one of my quests to find my hero, whenever I happen to spot Tails' plane passing by, I would stop for a moment and observe its motion.

You see, in my childhood I have always dreamt of flying to reach the clouds, to see if they were as fluffy and soft as the old children stories described them to be. I remembered before I was orphaned how my mother would read me stories in the late afternoons, or at night, short stories about mystical creatures and invented tales about powerful beings living in the clouds. And even after the loss of my parents when I was five, Ms. Vanilla, who was pregnant with Cream, took me in as her foster daughter and she assumed the role of my departed mother. She read me stories as well. It was so enchanting and beautiful it made me desire to touch these cotton candy-shaped masses.

But I digress. I suppose that I feel sorry for myself because I will never see the sky again. Ever. Although growing up made me know better than pursue those childhood dreams, I had already achieved them to a degree. Going along various missions had taken me further than just the clouds, felt more, seen more. Much, much more than I could have dreamed of when I was a kid.

That's the last of those experiences, though. Everything has changed.

Hours passed, all I ever heard was the ticking of the clock that hung in the wall a ways away from the door. It told 1:47 past noon. I was too occupied with feeling sorry for myself and being depressed that I haven't noticed time pass by so quickly. I don't mind, though, that I will spend my life like this. Alone and drowned in despair. As long as I'm not endangering the lives of anyone, especially my friends, I'll suffer anything, endure everything. For them. For my friends.

For my family.

Besides, if it were true that those...creatures like me never age, I had nothing to lose. My sanity, maybe, but if that does happen I'll end everything myself.

I'd rather kill myself than kill anyone.

The hatch popped open and Cream jumped off her seat when Tails signaled it was safe to do so. The kitsune then followed after.

"Thanks again, Tails," Cream said as she clasped her hands together, smiling brightly at her friend.

"T'was nothing," Tails replied bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck as he blushed. "Glad I could help."

They exited the garage, so Tails could lower the large metal door that concealed his planes and kept them safe from thieves. He offered Cream to stay for snacks. The rabbit politely declined.

"I think...I'm going to see Amy," she bit her lower lip hesitantly, fiddling her thumbs against each other when she spoke.

He looked at her in surprise. Why would she want to do that? Amy might just ignore her again and Cream would only look stupid going back to someone who apparently wanted to be left alone.

"I know it's idiotic of me to be persisting," she confessed as if she had heard Tails thoughts, "but Amy's my sister. I want to make sure she's okay...even if she's obviously shutting me out." Large brown eyes locked with sky-blue ones.

"You understand, don't you, Tails?"

He does, completely. He would do the exact same with his big bro.

Tails nodded, smiling with admiration. "Alright. But this time, you're not going alone."

Two small fists simultaneously knocked thrice on my door.

No.

Cream and Tails' voices reached my ears, calling my name. I gritted my teeth, digging my fingers into my knees in frustration as the two youngest members of our group continuously tapped on the door and called for me. Didn't Cream learn her lesson when I deliberately ignored her cries the other day? Didn't she already get the message that I didn't want to be disturbed? Didn't she take the hint that I don't want her near me?! And now she had to bring Tails with her who, if he so dares, can easily find a way to break into my house with that high intellect of his!

Damn it. Damn it all!

"Hey, doesn't Amy keep a spare key under the floor-mat?"

I uttered a string of profanities, not meant to be heard by those two.

"Ha! Here it is!" the young kitsune exclaimed as he found the key beneath the floor mat that had the words WELCOME, when he reached for it. He waved it in the air as if to show off, Cream beamed at him.

The rabbit mentally kicked herself for not thinking of this before. Perhaps it was because Cream was too worried about Amy, everything else was blocked out. Even common sense.

Tails inserted the key into the keyhole, successfully unlocking the door then after. He swung the door open, and it creaked rather creepily. Both young ones stepped in the house, finding the inside dark and cold. The windows were locked firmly, curtains drawn together to prevent the entrance of light, the place looked deserted; as if Amy hadn't been living in her own house for years. Tails and Cream felt like they both entered a haunted house because the aura that seemed to swirl inside the building was dark and ominous, sending a cold chill down their spines.

Cream hooked her arms around Tails' right arm, staying close to him as possible as they strode across the living room, and proceeded towards the base of the stairs that lead to the second floor.

"Dang...it feels like no one's living here," Tails commented, whispering.

Cream gulped, tightening her hold on her companion.

"Are you sure you want to do this Cream?" He asked, turning to her. "Amy might not be home or if she is, she might be resting."

She put on the bravest face she could muster, but Cream didn't succeed much because fear was clearly carved on her featured. And the shaking of her hand as she held Tails gave away her emotional state.

"I want to make sure she's okay." She answered firmly.

They climbed up the stairs, their pace slow. Each step was carefully placed on floorboard after floorboard. When they reached the top, both of them paused, double-thinking whether to continue or not.

"Let's go." Tails pulled Cream towards Amy's room.

They stood by the door, tapping gently on its surface and waited for a response inside. Nothing came. Tails reached for the knob...

My mental state was in such frenzy. I wanted to scream, shout, drive those two away because Chaos knows what I will do to them if they came near me. I can't control it anymore. I've withheld the beast within me for far too long and it was demanding satisfaction. It was craving—I was craving. Yearning for the taste of blood...

Something kept fighting against my will. I was forcing myself to be still, to stay in my position. But this invisible force was strong, rushing through my system in torrents, scratching at the walls I tried to encase it in. I could hear the beating of a pair of hearts and the flow of their blood through their veins, their breaths and their every move. It was tempting me, enticing me. My hunger was unbearably intense.

I snapped.

...

I numbed, and felt myself stand up. I was already standing before the door where I could hear the thumping hearts at its loudest now. My hand unconsciously reached for the doorknob and subtly unlocked the door...

...before Tails on the other side made a grab at the knob and twisted it.

"It's unlock." Tails announced, yellow eye-ridges jerking upwards incredulously, but when he turned towards his companion his eyes sparkled with glee.

Cream smiled happily as she let go of him. "Maybe Amy's inside and just forgot to lock it!" She exclaimed in excitement. Tails was already pushing the door open...

I grinned ear to ear, fangs extending, ready to pounce towards my first victim...

I have the next chapter typed already so I'll be able to post it much earlier. Yippee! Actually...I have already finished typing chapter 10 and am halfway finished with chapter 11. Hehe. I typed seven chapters in advance before posting this story to avoid writer's block and to keep recent updates.

Hope you liked this chapter. Review? :D