CHAPTER 8

TAKING CONTROL

November 10, 2010

It's been years now since I've been training with Dark and every inch of the effort I had is finally paying off. I never felt so strong before in my life. All of this new power I gained in the process of training with Dark, just makes me feel so damn good every time I unleash it. It's like I become a completely different person and I love it. I don't feel so sad anymore because my mind has been filled with new ideas. New hopes and dreams about my future. The memories that I once held dearly are no more. Friends...family...why the hell do I need to mourn over them? The only thing I need to treasure now is my cursed gift of having Darkness inside of me. Besides, I have a feeling that today is the day. The day that Dark and I return to Tech City to wreck havoc. If I'm lucky, maybe I'll run into my old friends...

Shadow and Dark were just finishing up their training for the morning in the underground training area.

Dark approached Shadow while staring at him killing the last Almas with his tentacles without struggle.

With a tentacle stabbed through its body, Shadow quickly jerked the bloody black tentacle out of its body and dropped the Almas' dead corpse on the floor. He stared at the lifeless creature and licked his lips full of bloodlust until he snapped out of it from the clapping from Dark's hands. He looked up at him in annoyance.

The demon watched the tentacle ease back inside of his body and tried to focus his attention on the hedgehog. "You've done well, Shadow. I can remember like it was yesterday. At first you were struggling so much with defeating the Almas but now, you're killing them with ease and without hesitation. This shows me that you have improved."

The hedgehog crossed his arms and waited impatiently for him to get to what he was saying. He hated the way Dark had always lectured him. It reminded him of the many times Vector had lectured him about things.

"Anyway, if you haven't realized it yet, today is the day. The day we go back to Tech City..."

"...To destroy it"Shadow had finished.

He made a nod, "Yes and with you as the leader of my army, we are invincible."

He made a nod, agreeing with him. Deep down, he wanted to be more than just the leader of an Almas army. It just made him feel inferior and he didn't like the thought of that.

Later, Shadow and Dark arrived at the city. They were both standing on a hill looking down upon the peaceful city.

"At last...the day of reckoning has come." Dark smirked as he raised his hand towards the blue sky that was slowly turning into a gray color. Soon, a blackish glow came from his hand and surrounded him and Shadow.

The next thing Shadow knew was that they were surrounded by an army of Almas staring at the city in excitement. He looked over to Dark, awaiting his orders.

Dark turned to him and made a nod meaning Shadow could lead the Almas into the city.

The hedgehog nodded and used Chaos Control to warp the Almas and himself into the city.

Once they got in the city, Shadow immediately released the creatures out on their rampage on the unexpected victims of the city. It was only a matter of seconds before he heard the Mobians' screams that were full of panic and fright. He formed a sly smile, 'Music to my ears.'

A few hours had passed and the entire city was under siege from the terrifying Almas and the two powerful demons, Shadow and Dark.

It wasn't too long before the attack started and Sarah had sent military troops into the city to stop the demons but they could not defeat them. All of the brave GUN soldiers fell and Shadow had found Sarah and killed her. The city was now their own idealistic Hell.

Shadow was roaming the streets, making his way towards the Chaotix building until he felt the ground vibrating and the sound of a loud machine behind him. He quickly spun around and saw a GUN tank coming towards him. He then calmed himself and smirked, knowing he would be able to destroy the tank with ease.

When the tank was about to fire, the barrel of the machine had suddenly bent causing it to be really dangerous to fire.

Shadow smirked as he had his piercing red demonic eyes focusing on the tank. He remembered back when Dark had taught him how to use telekinesis with Darkness' eyes. It was practically an unbeatable weapon to everything that stood in his way. He then raised his hand towards the tank and clenched it, causing the tank to explode into pieces at the same time. Afterwards, he lowered his hand beside his waist and was about to walk towards the Chaotix until he heard a familiar and mysterious voice behind him.

"Well done, Shadow. You have served me well."

The hedgehog spun around and saw Dark giving him his usual smirk.

"Thanks to you Shadow, this entire planet is mine to control. My world full of darkness and despair."

The ebony hedgehog frowned and glared towards the demon, "...Your world?"

The demon made a nod, "Yes and you shall be by my side and serve me."

Shadow clenched his fists in disappointment. "No..."

Dark rose an eyebrow in confusion at his reaction, "No?"

"You're wrong, Dark. I'm going to rule this world. I...will become king of Mobius!" His glowing red eyes looked into his and suddenly Dark began to bleed from the mouth until his whole body just exploded from the inside out. After when Dark's bloody corpse collapsed to the ground, he continued to walk towards the Chaotix.

Meanwhile, the Chaotix were at their headquarters running around in panic as they quickly tried to find their best weapons and ammunition to protect themselves against the demons. After what they had watched on the news, they were terrified about the whole situation.

Charmy stood there trembling with a machine gun in his hands as he nervously looked around the room. "I've never been this scared before you guys."

Vector tried to calm down as he tightened his grip around the shotgun he was holding. "Damn it! It's like the fucking apocalypse hit all of Mobius."

"We...we can't give up hope", Tonya tried to have faith but she didn't have much.

Suddenly, the door had flung open and a dark figure had stood at the doorway with glowing red eyes and black tentacles coming from its back.

Everyone pointed their weapons at the mysterious stranger and was ready to attack until the figure approached them slowly, revealing his face.

Once he did, everyone dropped their weapons on the floor in shock and confusion. "Shadow!"

The hedgehog formed an evil smile and fixed his demonic eyes on the group. "Well, well, if it isn't the Chaotix team. Long time no see."

As Rouge's eyes laid upon him, she couldn't hold back her tears of joy. "Shadow", she whispered in a soft voice.

Tonya's grip around her fans had never eased. Her eyes remained on the black tentacles that was swaying from his back in a wild motion. "Rouge", she whispered. "Something's wrong..."

Rouge didn't pay any attention to her and started to walk towards her former lover until Espio took her by her wrist.

"Rouge!" Espio shouted. "That's not Shadow!"

The hedgehog licked his lips in hunger, "You gonna listen to him, Rouge?" He held out his hand to her, "Come to me and be with me once again."

The confused bat stared into his eyes once more and now knew that he was a completely different person. His heart, body, and soul was corrupted by darkness. He was no longer the Shadow that they all knew and loved. She began to back away from him until one of his tentacles had wrapped around her wrist and dragged her body towards him.

"You're not going anywhere, bat girl."

"Sha-Shadow!" She screamed in panic.

Espio took his huge shuriken and positioned it at Shadow, "Drop her, Shadow!"

Shadow faced the chameleon in annoyance, "I have a better idea. Why don't you drop dead!" Then his tail had grew longer and hit Espio into Charmy, knocking the machine gun out of Charmy's hands. When Shadow saw the machine gun slide towards him, he bent over to pick it off the floor.

Midnight's eyes widened as he saw Shadow raise the weapon towards them. "No wait, Shadow!"

Espio knew how everything would turn out so he quietly sneaked out the back door, feeling extremely guilty about leaving his fellow comrades behind. 'I'm sorry...'

Before anyone could do anything, Shadow pulled the trigger to the gun and shot them all without hesitation.

While Rouge was being restrained by his grip, she had to stand there and watch the slaughter of her dear friends in front of her eyes. As she saw him shoot them multiple times after the first bullet was shot into their bodies, she couldn't help but to cry and scream. "Stop it, Shadow! Please God stop!"

Shadow didn't listen to her begging and only stopped when the machine gun had finally ran out of ammunition. Afterwards, Shadow dropped the gun to the floor with smoke arising from the barrel.

Rouge stared at the floor, walls, and ceiling of the room and every inch of the room was covered in her friends' blood. She gave him a look full of anger and tears as she continued to sob and attempted to break free of his grip. "You bastard! How could you!" She screamed as she tried to pull away until they both saw a tall man with white silky hair wearing a black cloak come into the room.

Rouge's eyes widened, thinking it wasn't safe for even Ker to be near Shadow. "Ker..."

The young demon saw Shadow having Rouge in his grip and looked around the room, observing the blood and corpses of the Chaotix. He saw the sight and it made him sick but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to look away from the horrid situation. He then slowly looked back up at Shadow, looking scared to death while tears ran down his face. "Shadow...you...you killed them..."

Rouge didn't want Ker to become Shadow's next victim as well, "Ker!" She shouted. "Get away!"

The young demon didn't move.

A/N: Hmm, I think the apocalypse is gonna hit cause I just updated! Yes people three freakin' months in waiting for this chapter and I apoligize. There was no excuse. I was just lazy then busy but most of all lazy. I hope the next chapter won't take so long to post. Well anyway R&R please.