(DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Sonic the Hedgehog or any of their characters and props. But I do own my OCs.)
Chapter 7: Taking Over
"Grandpa," Chris started to tear up. "What's going on?"
Everybody was in the lab and surrounding Carrie whom was lying on the metal table. Her eyes were still open with tears streaming down and she was still balling her fist. Chuck placed little 'sensors' on Carrie's forehead that connected to a machine that had a screen.
(AN: Let's just say this shit works… mm k? It's a cartoon, people… impossible things happen.)
"I'm not sure what's going on," Chuck answered honestly. "But it seems she's paralyzed and awake." Chuck watched the screen that seemed to measure Carrie's brain waves. "Wow, her brain waves are sky-rocketing! You see this line here," Chuck pointed to a yellow jumpy line. "That's her vision and I don't think she's staring at the ceiling… it wouldn't be so jumpy and out of whack."
"Then what is she seeing?" Ella asked.
"Not sure… but I think we can find out. Hold on." Chuck rolled his chair over to the closet desk and pulled out a helmet with wires sticking out of it. He rolled back to his trembling granddaughter and took off the sensors.
"What's that thing?" Amy asked worriedly.
"It's like the sensor she has now," Tails began to answer for Chuck. "But it's more intense. Not only it measures brain waves, but it can capture what she is seeing. It's like telepathy, but you can't read her thoughts… only see them."
"Yes, but the images are not perfect. It's going to be hard to tell what's going on but it will give us an idea what she is seeing." Chuck said as he delicately placed the helmet on Carrie's head. He took her hand and spoke to her, "Don't worry, Carrie… we're going to help you. Everything will be fixed, I promise." With that, he hooked the wires to the same machine. But the screen became blank for a second and then static showed. "Tails, I'm going to need you to direct."
"Got it!" Tails nodded as moved to see the screen fully. "I'm ready."
With that, Chuck started turning knobs on the complicated machine. When he started messing with the knobs and the switches, the picture on the screen began to change.
"The contrast is too high… all I see is sharp blotches." Tails stated.
"I'll fix that," Chuck turned another knob as the picture became less contrasting.
"I'm starting to see something, Chuck… lower the contrast some more."
Chuck nodded as he slowly altered the image.
"Ok, stop," Tails commanded softly. He looked at the screen with shock and fear. "Oh my God."
"What?" everyone piled behind to see the screen.
On the screen, there were 6 figures which appeared to be looking down and laughing insanely. Every few seconds, the image would flash into something else like running, but it would switch right back to 6 shadows. There was one flash where hands were nailed to something. There was another flash where barb-wires were dangling back and forth while dripping with blood.
Syringes, knives, drills… multiple tools or objects that scrape, cut, stab, etc. on Carrie's body would flash before their eyes. But the same 6 laughing shadows would appear again.
"What, what's going on?" Chris whimpered at the frightening images.
"What are these?" Amy questioned as tears rimmed her eyes. "They're horrible!"
"Did these things happen to Miss. Carrie?" Cream asked while she trembled.
"Cream, Cheese," Sonic turned to the small bunny and her Chao. "Why don't you and Ella make some cookies? You know, for when Carrie wakes up? I'm sure she would love that."
Ella, getting the idea, took Cream's hand softly and led her away. "Yes, Cream, let's come up with some ideas to make Carrie feel better."
After the three left, Sonic turned to Chris and spoke. "Chris, maybe you shouldn't watch this."
"No," Chris looked briefly away from the flashing horrors and looked at Sonic determinedly. "I wasn't able to help her when she was with those monsters, so I'm going to help her now."
"I'm with Chris on this one," Chuck stated sternly as he watched screen with anger. "I felt useless when my wife died… and the same people that murdered her have done this to my granddaughter. I'm sure of it. They may have not killed her body, but they are surely trying to kill her spirit. But her spirit is too strong…. I know Carrie is still fighting these demons mentally and I want to help her."
"She can't possibly do this alone," Amy stated softly. "We all have to help her."
Everyone nodded in agreement as they turned back to the screen to see something different. It was a man with a disfigured face, and he appeared to be hovering over Carrie's line of sight (meaning he is hovering over her in person). He started mouthing words and then began to choke her.
Everyone snapped their heads to Carrie when she started to make choking sounds. Her face started to turn red; her veins started popping up from the lack of circulation. More tears fall from her wide-eyes and she struggled to move.
"What the?" Knuckles questioned in shock. "It's like she is being straggled! Right in front of us!"
"But," Tails re-butted. "No one is here besides us!"
"Carrie!" Chris ran up to his big sister and whipped the helmet off. He began shaking her violently, hoping to snap her out of her horrid trance. "Snap out of it!" Chris started to panic when Carrie's face turned slightly blue. "Shit! I think she is choking!"
"Move!" Sonic jumped on the table and straddled Carrie. He cupped her face in his hands and started whispering. "Carrie, this isn't real. You're not with them, you're with us. I know you can hear me, follow my voice. You'll be safe if you follow my voice."
"A-a-air," she barely choked out.
Sonic didn't need think twice when he crashed his mouth onto Carrie's and blew air into her. He kept repeating the process until she started coughing violently. He moved away and guided her to lie on her side as she coughed. Her body racked as tears dripped onto the metal table. While she attempted to calm her panicky body, Sonic rubbed her back.
After a few moments of settling down, Carrie sat up while still trembling.
"Are you ok?" Sonic asked as he moved a strand of hair from her face. All she could do was nod and she continued to shake.
"Carrie," Chuck took a cold, wet cloth to her forehead and padded the sweat off her. "What happened?"
"T-th-th," Carrie tried to respond but she kept stuttering. She couldn't get anything out.
"Guys, look!" Knuckles as he pushed through everyone.
"What is it, Knuckles?" Amy asked.
"Her neck," he responded as he pointed at her neck. "Her neck is bruised!"
He was right; Carrie's neck had two purple hand-prints embedded on her flesh.
"It's like it was really happening," Chris stated in awe.
"I believe," a voice from behind everybody started. They turned their heads to Mr. Tanaka who was holding a newspaper. "I believe we have a bad situation on our hands."
"Well, obviously," Knuckles crossed his arms.
"Carrie," Tanaka walked up to Carrie as everyone back away to give some room. "Are these the monsters that did this to you?" He held up the newspaper to show Carrie.
Carrie's eyes widened when she saw the front page.
"I'll take that as a 'yes.'"
"What's going on, Mr. Tanaka?" Chris asked worriedly.
Tanaka looked at the page and started to read. "Two days ago, a warehouse has been discovered along with 6 dead males. 5 of the males were shot in the chest, while last one appeared to have committed suicide. After finding identification in the warehouse, the suicidal victim was discovered to be Justin Honeybush. Justin Honeybush was a part of the kidnapping of Carrie Thorndyke and the murder of her Grandmother 5 years ago. The other males remain nameless for there are no signs of any identification. The police are baffled about a certain bedroom found in the back of the warehouse. It was a small 10x10 room that contained a twin mattress. Tattered articles of clothing, which were hidden under the mattress, appeared to belong to a female. Police suspect that these articles of clothing belong to Carrie Thorndyke, which appear to be alive. On the wall of her room, 'You will join us, Carrie' was written on the wall in blood. Police have decided to set a warrant out for Carrie's arrest for questioning and possible murder."
"W-what? Murder?!" Chris was appalled.
Everyone turned their heads to Carrie who was in complete shock.
"Carrie," Sonic started softly. "Did you murder them?"
"N-n-no," Carrie shook her head nervously.
"It's ok, Carrie," Chuck place his hand on Carrie's shoulder (who slightly flinched). "We won't turn you in, but we need to know if you killed them or not."
"I d-d-didn't k-kill anyo-one!" Carrie stood up and glared. "I e-e-scaped!"
"It's ok, Carrie," Chris stepped up. "We believe you. But we should talk to the police to straighten this out."
"N-n-no!" Carrie stuttered. "T-t-there were s-six men w-with J-justin."
"So," Amy questioned. "So not all of them are dead?"
"O-o-one is a c-cop." Carrie looked down defeated.
FLASHBACK
A young Carrie's head snapped to the side after a harsh slap.
"Don't bother going to the law, dear," the crooked cop warned. "Because, I am the law."
END FLASHBACK
"Whoa," Sonic eyes widened. "So you think he's going to try to pin this on you?"
Carrie nodded numbly.
"They don't have proof!" Amy yelled. "And they kidnapped her! Even if they did make it look like she killed them, people would have to look at it as self defense! And the Justin guy killed himself! Nothing adds up to Carrie killing, nothing makes sense!"
"With a police officer involved," Chuck said grimly. "He can warp anything."
"Well," Tails started while rubbing his chin. "We can't go to the police; they'll take her for sure."
"And that crooked cop is with them," Knuckles mentioned. "He could hurt Carrie."
"But she can't stay here," Chris pointed out. "The cops would be stopping by here for sure. With a warrant, they can walk in without even asking."
"Then we have no other choice," Sonic stepped forward. Everyone looked at him, waiting for his plan. "We run."
"I-I don't w-want to i-involve you g-guys anymore," Carrie said sternly.
"You have no choice, Carrie," Sonic winked. "We're like super glue… you're stuck with us."
"But where will we go?" Tails asked.
"We look for the emeralds," Knuckles answered. All heads turned to him in confusion.
"What happened to the emeralds this time?" Amy asked in annoyance. "I thought you were watching them! You ARE the guardian, you know. Can't you hold onto them for more than FIVE minutes?"
"Shut up!" Knuckles growled. "They were stolen while I was sleeping. That's why I came here in the first place. But something else is wrong…."
"Oh great, what now?" Sonic asked he crossed his arms.
"The Chaos Emerald… it grew dark."
