NeckBreak, Amefloza13, Lynkia, kimchi-tan, Deathclaw2010, IT'S NO USE I'M OUTTA USE, Blancis16, AceisBae, SirRubio: Thanks as always!

I'm so nervous about this chapter, it's a real game changer - hang on tight!


Chapter 8: Ace


SONIC

"Are you sure you want to go in there alone?"

I took a deep breath, still eyeing the large scary door that loomed in front of me. Amy was holding onto my elbow, gently caressing my arm. Her care and thoughtfulness was so touching, especially after I'd just admitted to her that I hadn't been able to break ties with my abusive ex. The fact that she wasn't angry with me was a miracle, but I had to admit telling her all this after I'd proposed was probably a good move on my part. While she had been upset and disappointed at first, Amy understood I was still broken. If anything, she seemed relieved that I was going to put all this behind me, permanently, and that Candy wouldn't still be out there threatening our relationship and my sanity. I knew, if I was going to make this work with Amy, if I was going to marry her, I would have to do just that. I was going to tell Candy that we were officially over and I was with Amy now.

I'd never been more terrified in my life.

I kept my eyes focused on the door. "Yeah. I have to do this myself."

"You really don't have to," Amy reassured. "I can beat her up for you."

It was a touching gesture, but this whole situation was emasculating enough. I'd tried too many times to leave her and failed over and over again; I hated myself more and more each time I came here to get her out of my life only to fall into the same pattern. I wasn't proud of the fact I had to bring my girlfriend - fiancee - with me to break up with my abusive ex. But maybe if I could break up with her on my own, tell her we were really over, I'd be able to get back some of the dignity I'd lost over the years. Maybe. I had to at least try. And if not, I had Amy here to bail me out.

"Just stay by the door. And if you hear me yell your name, by all means, break it down and come get me."

"I understand." Amy gave my arm a squeeze. "You can do this, Sonic."

"Okay." I took another deep breath and took a step forward. "Here we go."

My shoes came to rest on the welcome mat, this familiar spot that made my skin crawl. Anxiety made my mind race all over the place, telling me I couldn't be here, that as soon as I opened the door I would be a different person, that I should take off now while I had the chance. I could leave this strand loose, right? I could just never see Candy again. But if I did, I knew she would always haunt our nightmares, threatening to come back and reveal those old videos to the world. I wasn't going to let her control me anymore - I had to make sure she was put where she belonged.

I raised my hand to knock but hesitated, my whole body shaking. I knew what awaited me inside. All the pain I'd gone through, all the loss, all the guilt.

"I'm right here, Sonic," I heard Amy whisper, and she gave me a thumbs up.

It was all I needed.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

The door swung open, and my stomach turned in horrific knots. I immediately looked down at the ground, as I always did around her. She wore her lemon yellow sneakers with fishnets, and in the corner of my eye I could see the hem of her oversized hoodie. Such a cool style that had initially drawn me to her, now literally the stuff of my nightmares.

"Back so soon?"

Her voice - it hurt. I couldn't look up, I couldn't. She'd hurt me. The fresh marks on my back were still aching.

"Inside."

I couldn't move.

"Now."

I gulped. I couldn't do this. Oh, why was it so hard to simply look up and stare her in the eyes? I'd prepared exactly what I wanted to say, but this woman just erased every ounce of free will I had. I balled my fists, trying to work up the nerve to do anything, and they shook at my sides. The memories raced through my mind, drowning out my desire to just punch her in the face. Pain, leash, choking, chains, blood, iron, burns, whip, cuffs, humiliation, fear, razor, blue fur, floor, beatings, bruises - my curse of speed was making all those memories flood through my mind at hurricane force winds. I couldn't, I couldn't, I couldn't… my sanity was slipping away - I had to run away and not face this….

"Do I have to make you?"

I rushed inside, my senses on high alert. I heard the door close behind me, and swallowed down the bile that was rising in my throat. I heard her kick off her shoes and slip into her sharp stiletto heels - my mouth went dry as I knew that it meant. I was back, I was in hell - Amy was outside, I reminded myself. All I had to do was call her. All I had to do was open my mouth… and say her name...

"I saw you on TV earlier."

Oh shit. I'd completely forgotten about that. My eyes didn't leave the ground, genuinely terrified of moving an inch. But my whole form was shaking so much I may have already broken that rule.

"Care to explain what you meant, Amy Rose is your girlfriend?"

I opened my mouth, but it was too dry to form any words. The next thing I knew, she had a death grip on my ear, tugging it as if she would pull it off, as she forced my head up at a painful angle to stare into those sadistic black eyes.

"Kneel."

No, not this… please not this… not -

"Candy…" my voice was laced with pain. She wanted me to beg, I could feel it. I'd give her what she wanted, I always did. "Please… Stop, I don't want to do this…"

Her nails dug into my ear, and I felt the skin rip near my scalp. "Then why do you keep coming back to me, hmm? You were just here yesterday, now back for more. You know you can't get enough of this."

"No…"

"Kneel."

I fell to my knees, but her grip on my ear didn't change, causing a lightning strike of pain to rush through my skull. Some of my fur was already ripped out, and her fingernails were opening up old scars on my scalp, causing a few drops of blood to trickle out. As she kept the pressure on one ear, she leaned in and yelled into the other.

"Tell me who you love, Sonic! Yell my name, right now! Beg me to let you go!"

Tears were squeezing out of my eyes from the pain, waking up my self-preservation instinct. I had to do this now, or I knew all too well what was about to happen. Plus the the timing was all too right. She was staring at me, demanding I yell her name. It was time to oblige - but in my own way. I opened my mouth and yelled as loud as I could.

"AMY!"

A second later the door slammed open and in ran a pink and pissed off girl hedgehog. My girl. Relief had never felt better. She ran right at us, her hammer up and ready. I closed my eyes and hoped she had good aim.

"Get your hands off my Sonic!" she screamed before whacking Candy with the blunt end of her hammer, sending the girl flying, and setting me free.

I quickly stood up, rubbing my ear with relief, and felt an odd sense of satisfaction as I saw Candy crash into the wall, her small form crumpling from the impact. She looked so tiny and weak all of a sudden - I felt lower than dirt that I'd let that hurt me so much. Amy gave the woman a few more smacks, whacking her over and over again into the wall, and yelling obscenities I wasn't aware she even knew. Candy screamed from the pain, and I wasn't sure how to feel about it. Amy stopped after a few swings, but stood threateningly over Candy's collapsed and injured form, her hammer posed and ready to strike.

"If you touch him again I will kill you. The only reason you're not already dead is because he wants you alive."

Candy started laughing, and I knew I'd have to get out of there before she worked her magic on me again.

"Ames, I'll be right back." I raced through the house, trying not to let my skin crawl from the memories of what happened here. After gathering what I needed and getting it to a safe place, I returned to the girls.

"You'll never know him as intimately as I do - " Candy began before being interrupted by Amy's hammer. The woman screamed from the pain of Amy's wrath coming down on her legs.

"I said, be quiet, bitch. Next time will be on your head."

She didn't quit, of course not, she never let anyone tell her what to do - "You really are into strong girls, Sonic. But I bet she won't ever make you feel like I can - "

I shuddered, and looked away. All I heard was another crushing sound of hammer meeting flesh.

"I warned her. She's knocked out, Sonic. But she's still alive," Amy informed me, but I still couldn't look at her unconscious body.

There. She was out cold, and the worst was over. I could breathe a sigh of relief. So why was I still so jittery and anxious? I still felt humiliated I had to let a girl do this for me, but then again, part of me was way past that. Now for what might be even more difficult.

"Okay, Amy. I'll be back in a few. You do your thing, okay? Go crazy."

She brandished her hammer and smirked. "With pleasure."

Dreading the next step, I forced myself to walk over to my abuser's body and gathered her into my arms. I hated holding her like this, it made me feel nauseous. It certainly motivated me to run at my top speed to get where we were going - I knew if she woke up and started touching me I might be done for. I didn't even take the risk of looking down at her - I had to play it safe. I'd never run while carrying her before, but I had to be the one to do this. My dignity hadn't been restored yet.

Finally. We were here.

I ran into the G.U.N. HQ building, not caring who was in my way, all the while reading the names on the doors. There! I rushed into the room and shut the door behind me, quickly dropping Candy to the floor like a sack of potatoes. I made it.

Rouge and Knuckles just stared at me with wide eyes as I panted for my breath.

"Sonic, what are you doing here? I thought you didn't want to talk to us, or the government," Rouge finally said with a confused expression. "And who is this?"

"Hi. I need you guys' help. I'll be right back, okay? Do not let her get away."

I rushed off to gather the evidence I'd kept safe and returned mere seconds later. The two of them were still staring at each other in disbelief.

"Here. This should be all the evidence you need to lock her up for the rest of her life."

I dumped my handful of tapes, DVD's, and flash drives onto Rouge's desk. "Keep in mind this was made 10 years ago, and I was a teenager at the time."

"Sonic, what is all this?" Knuckles asked.

"Just… watch it."

Knuckles and Rouge exchanged wide-eyed glances at each other, and then Rouge popped the flash drive into her computer. I closed my eyes and covered my ears as they started it, not wanting to experience any of those memories. The ones in my head were haunting enough.

After watching just a few seconds, Rouge immediately stopped the video and stood up.

"Okay, that's quite enough of that…" She turned away from her monitor, clearly disgusted. Both of them sat in shocked silence for what seemed like forever to me, avoiding eye contact and obviously feeling awkward. I could feel the pity in the air, like it was heavy perfume.

Rouge finally spoke. "So this is why you were gone."

"Sonic - " Knuckles began, approaching me.

I held up a hand. "Don't. I don't want your pity. I just want her to rot in prison."

"Oh, she will. Don't you worry." Rouge said, turning to stare at the passed-out girl with anger.

"Is this all the evidence you have?" Knuckles asked, looking over the pile I'd delivered.

"There was more, but it's being disposed of as we speak."

"Should be more than enough," Rouge said, and turned to Knuckles. "Sweetie, will you kindly bring this piece of hot garbage to holding?"

"With pleasure," Knuckles growled, grabbing her limp form and throwing her over his shoulder. He looked me right in the eye.

"Sonic, I just wanna say - damn. I don't have much. Just that I'm sorry. I'm gonna do what I do best to help you get through this. Starting with putting this bitch away. And keeping my eye on her."

"Thanks," I nodded at him as he left the room. Watching Candy leave with him was a huge weight off my shoulders. I sat down, exhaling heavily as I leaned my head back and quickly counted all the ceiling tiles to try and calm myself.

"You okay Big Blue?" Rouge asked me.

"I'm getting there," I admitted, still staring at the ceiling. "Damn that was hard. I'm just glad it's done."

"We'll do the rest. Don't you worry."

I sat up quickly, but instantly regretting the head rush that followed. It surprised me, though, as speed usually didn't make me this dizzy. I blinked and focused on the agent in front of me.

"Rouge, I came to you and Knuckles because you're my friends. And I trust that you can keep this quiet and make sure it doesn't get out. You understand, right?"

"Of course. Discrete is my middle name, hon. I'll call in some favors to get her processed as quick as possible. The only hiccup will be the charges and sentencing, as that won't be able to be rushed - but since you were a minor we can protect you and erase your name from the record. You don't have anything from when you were an adult, right? Because that could complicate things."

"Nope. Like I said, it's being destroyed now. Ya know, Rouge, you make a pretty good agent. Much better than I remember."

She smirked. "Well, you're not the only one who's changed over the years - this job can really take over your life, if you let it. I did for a while. I've seen some shit, Sonic. And so has Knuckie."

Okay, I had to say something now. Plus a change of subject would be good for me. "Knuckie? Sweetie? Seriously. What's the deal with you guys?"

The bat smiled at me. "What do you mean?"

Everyone was trolling me. "Just tell me this. Did Knux really buy you that ring?"

She looked down at her wedding band. "Of course. He doesn't let other men buy me jewelry. At least not without kicking their ass - and then he lets me keep the gifts. I couldn't ask for a better husband."

"So, you guys really are married?"

"Yes. We got hitched about 3 years ago. Small wedding, no big deal." She shrugged.

Damn, so it was true. Good thing, too - because hearing Tails talk about them had given me the idea to pop the question to Amy herself. The solution had hit me in the face earlier, and I knew what I had to do, rushing off to buy the ring while Tails was at work. And she'd said yes.

"Anyway, so you'll handle this?"

Rouge re-crossed her legs. "Yeah, I will. But the only thing is the press is literally all over my ass about you. I can give my boss an update on this, and he'll keep it quiet, the media is a whole 'nother animal. The world wants to know something about why you were gone, and everything Knuckie and I do is scrutinized by them because they know we're on the case to find you. I'm pretty sure they know you're here now, since you're so hard to miss. Once they catch wind we've arrested someone, they'll dig into the whole story. And I'm not sure if crazy abusive ex-girlfriend is the message you want to send out as your coming-back story."

That's exactly what I was afraid of. "It's not. At all. But how can I get the media off my back, on my own terms?'

Rouge pulled up some news sites. "Right now everyone is talking about you and Amy, since you said you were dating her. Maybe if we could get them to focus on that - "

I interrupted. "Well… uh, I did kinda just propose to her. And she said yes. So we're more than just dating."

Her eyes got huge. "Get out! Sonic, you didn't!"

"Yep. We're engaged."

"Oh my god, this is actually perfect." She snapped her fingers. "A press conference, where you announce your engagement. That'll create a big enough distraction that Knuckie and I can put her away."

"A press conference? I don't know, wouldn't that just make all their attention on me even more? Sounds like a lot of pressure, I'm not sure I'm good at talking. Especially now." Anxiety was kicking in again, and I felt another sudden dizzy spell. What was wrong with me…?

"Bring Amy with you. She loves to talk, and will want to go on and on about all about the wedding planning stuff. And all you'll have to do is make up some bullshit about why you were gone, which I know you can do. Congrats by the way. Marriage isn't easy but it's worth it."

"Thanks. Guess I'll do it then, if you think it'll help."

We paused for a moment, and I was about to get back to Amy, but Rouge stopped me. "Sonic, does Amy know about all this?" She gestured to the evidence on her desk.

I nodded. "Yeah. She's the one destroying everything else Candy owns. But Tails doesn't, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell him. I will, when the time is right."

"Damn. She's gonna help you get through this I guess. I'm sorry this happened to you. I really am. But, enough of that. I'll get that press conference set up for you. One hour enough time?"

I laughed as I headed out the door. I had to fake my confidence, otherwise I had absolutely nothing. "Puh-lease, don't forget who you're talkin' to."

It was time to pick up my fiancee.


CANDY

Amusing. Very, very amusing. So this was his plan, was it? My pet was a lot of things, but smart was obviously not one of them. He thought he could bring me here, the center of his storm, G.U.N HQ, surrounded by media and powerful men, with all the videos right in front of me, and somehow this was him winning? He was even more of an idiot than I thought he was - and somehow that turned me on even more. Unless - this was part of the game, wasn't it? He was putting me even more in control of him this way. I held the cards now, and I could decide his future, and my own. He just wanted me to be in control of every little thing he did. Delicious.

I was right where I wanted to be - sitting at large, important-looking table with several powerful men (and one woman with obviously fake boobs). He was serving me up my best fantasy. Good pet. I'd have to "reward" him so much for this later.

"I don't know why you're smiling," Fake Boobs snarled at me. I just smiled sweetly at her as we waited for the media types to rush into the room. Yes. Let them all come and witness me.

"Maybe I shouldn't be - after all, I am the victim here," I offered her a fake pout.

Red Rat snorted. "We have everything on you - you're going away for a long time, you sick freak. You're not seeing daylight ever again."

I snapped my neck back and forth. "Um, hello? I was just having a good time with my boyfriend, if you know what I mean, and then I was brutally attacked by a pink hedgehog with a hammer. Then I wake up and I'm here. She's the one you should be arresting, not me." I looked down at my magenta nails, pretending to brush dirt off them.

"Don't try to play the fucking victim," Red Rat growled at me. Oh, he sure was a strong one… I hadn't realized it until just now - but his face, ugh. Left something to be desired.

"I am the victim. Can't you see that? My legs are basically broken, you had to carry me here, and I have this huge hammer-shaped bruise on my head, and more all over me. But somehow I'm the bad girl. And I'm never the bad girl. I'll make all of you pay for this," I licked my lips.

Bat and Rat ignored me.

"Okay, let's get this over with," Mr. Prosecutor Man said, calling the room to order, turning to me. "Miss Candy, we have several pieces of very damning evidence against you. You're looking at 20 years for each count of indecent images of minors, and you have… phew, several dozen counts just on this one drive. I have not personally checked them, but my best agents are saying the evidence is quite conclusive."

"Hold on," my lawyer said. "Before we even get to all that - my client shouldn't even be here. Her 'arrest' was hardly legal. She was attacked in her own home, knocked unconscious, and brought here by an individual who is not a member of G.U.N., and is actually a known fugitive of the law. By all means, she isn't under arrest at all. My client should walk free, as she was brought here against her will, with no warrant in place beforehand."

"Against her will, that's rich," Fake Boobs scoffed.

Mr. Prosecutor Man shrugged. "Considering the severity of her charges, that hardly matters. But fine, we let her walk out of here, and my agents will arrest her as soon as she hits fresh air. So let's just save us all some time. My agents don't need to go through all of this footage - from what they've seen, she will be charged with an Class A Felony and will spend the rest of her life in prison."

I leaned across the table, making eyes at him. "Does saying all those words make you feel strong and powerful? Because I can make you feel something else…" I would have reached under the table but my handcuffs prevented me. I was used to being the one cuffing and not the other way around.

A sharp pain slammed into the back of my head, and Red Rat growled right in my ear. "Shut up, we're not falling for your manipulation."

"Um, hello? Police brutality anyone?"

"We got you, hon, so shut your ugly whore mouth," Fake Boobs said. "We know exactly what you did, it's all in those disgusting little videos."

I perked up. "Oh, so you have the videos, great! But did you really find them all? Or did that psycho pink hedgehog destroy everything I owned? And you all still say I'm not the victim here. Still, my pet was nice enough to bring those to you, so wow - he really is dreamy."

"You've got nothing, hon. You're going to jail for a long, long time."

I smirked. "Oh, I got nothing, do I? I have all the information. All the cards. I want a deal."

Mr. Prosecutor Man slammed the desk. "You can't be serious. You have no bargaining power. We know what you did - you're sick. As soon as we share these - "

"Go ahead! Share those videos with everyone. You'll save me some trouble, because I was going to do that anyway. I want the whole world to know what I did. And who I did it with."

My lawyer glanced at me, and I stopped and smirked, crossing my arms against my chest as if I was hiding my ace.

The prosecutor sighed. "What could you possibly have to offer to get you out of multiple, and I do mean multiple felony charges?"

I leaned forward. He looked so delicious in his suit, I wanted to cut it to pieces and let it fall off of him, and then cut his skin underneath, the blood running everywhere as he begged me to keep doing it.

"She has information, as she said," My lawyer spoke for me.

"What kind of information?"

I shrugged, wanting him to beg me some more for it. "Turn on the news. What does everyone want to know right now?"

"No!" the bat suddenly shrieked. "You can't do this!"

I calmly smiled at her, feeding on the desperation in her eyes. "Oh? Whyever not?"

"Rouge, step down, I want to hear this."

"No, you really don't," she continued. "Trust me, no one wants to hear this. No one. We can't let her talk. Please, for everyone's sake, let's just get her outta here, away from the media."

Her begging was delicious - I totally wasn't into girls, but Fake Boobs here might just change my mind.

"My client deserves to be heard out," my lawyer said.

"She doesn't deserve to be breathing anymore," Red Rat growled, punching his palm. "These aren't your standard indecent acts with a minor, we're talking torture. If you'd seen what she was doing in those videos, you wouldn't give her the time of day!"

"Then why don't you share the videos with them?" I batted my eyes at him, and I gestured to the media. "All of them…?"

I fully enjoyed the look of desperation between Bat and Rat.

Mr. Prosecutor glanced at his watch. "I'm losing my patience, this is an open and shut case. Either share your information or get out of my building."

I stomped my feet. "Calm down there mister. I'm speaking. You wait your turn."

He stood up. "Okay -"

I stood too, and dropped the bomb. "I know where Sonic the Hedgehog has been for the past 10 years."

Bat and Rat gasped, and the former held the latter back as he tried to swing at me. "You little motherfucker bitch - "

The media in the room were all suddenly on their cell phones, texting, calling, all in shock. My smirk grew as I saw their chaos and yet focus on my words. Hell yes, I was gonna brag.

"Everything everyone wants to know about him is in those videos. He was with me. And we had sex every single day. And you can watch him beg and plead and grovel to his queen to keep hurting him just like he wants me to. So go ahead. Share those videos. Maybe I'll go to jail, but the whole world will know just what I did to him. So be it. I know he's gonna wanna visit me anyway."

I don't remember much of what happened after that - but none of it mattered, I had my moment. And now, everyone knew. It was too bad, as it had been our little secret for too long, but he obviously wanted to turn the game up a notch. He'd forced my hand, and I played my ace.

Checkmate, pet.