Chapter III
Shadow listened as the pitter-patter of the rain subsided while he stood alert. Even after he popped a few pills of Ambien, he was completely incapable of sleep. So, he thought, what better way to spend a sleepless night than taking a walk at 4:30 AM? He sighed as he closed the door behind him; no doubt it would be a long night. He almost reached down to turn on his boots' thrusters to hopefully set his mind at ease with the wind in his face, but decided against it when he saw the streets slick with rain.

Shadow reminisced on all the trouble the city had given him the past few years as he stared at the dulling glowing lights that illuminated the city; the scummy officials in charge of the ins and outs seemed to have a chip in their shoulder just for him. Wasn't he supposed to be a hero?
Where was the appreciation for all that he accomplished? Yet, here he was, living in a crumbling apartment and eating stale food like a worthless degenerate.

He soon realized the streets were completely void of any living creatures; the silence was more unnerving than Shadow was expecting. He glanced around the empty streets and sidewalks, hoping to find some sort of comfort. Somehow, he felt worse after confirming that he was, indeed, completely alone. He then realized how ridiculous he was being. If he just focused on walking, everything would be alright.

Minutes passed. As he walked, he thought he could hear footsteps hiding within the sound of gravel crunching beneath his. His mind soon worsened. The water drops that fell were instead the drops of blood leaking from his slit neck. The cold gusts of wind were nothing less than his own dying breaths. He quickly turned back when he felt worse for wear, to say the least, barely restraining himself from a full sprint. He was too proud for such an indulgence. Too consumed in his own paranoia, he didn't notice the twisted and black amorphous entity that watched from the rooftop.

Shadow slammed the door on his way back into his room, locking it tight. Part of him felt he was being crazy, but he couldn't help but feel he wasn't alone. He hid himself under the blankets, trying to shake his persisting paranoia with memories of a happier time. Right as he started to finally drift off to sleep, he was violently forced awake by a hideously loud banging from his kitchen, forceful enough to send some of his various trinkets falling to the ground from the vibrating cabinets. Terrified, and with his blood running cold, he nearly leaped out of his bed, a million thoughts scrambling in his head.

Darkness. Pure and wicked. That's all there was when he finally stood from his bed. He couldn't see anything, not even the bed he had just laid on moments ago. Frantic and confused, he gazed into the void that had enveloped him, hoping to find a trace of anything familiar; the void only gazed back. Just as he began to resign himself, he saw a figure lumbering towards him only several feet away.

Shadow froze, unable to move despite every fiber of his being telling him to run away from whatever force crept up to him. The being finally stood not inches away from his face, and to Shadow's surprise put a hand on his shoulder.

"I've heard you haven't been getting what you deserve. But why shouldn't you? You're the only reason these people live to see another day. And here you are, in spite of it." the entity said, it's voice sounding like a thousand people, all speaking at once.

Shadow was unsure of how to react. He did destroy those bombs way back when, didn't he? He was the one who defeated Robotnik, not Sonic…right?
"Wh… who are you? What do you want?" Shadow said, still shaken up.
"Simple. I'm here to make a deal."
"A deal?"
"A deal. I can grant you anything you wish. For a price, of course."
Shadow pondered this for a moment. Anything he wanted? His mind reeled at the possibilities. He could be the king of a great land, he could have enough money to swim in, he could maybe even…
He suddenly remembered what the entity had said.
"What's the price?"
"Oh, nothing much. Just a small thing really, you wouldn't even notice it's gone. I only want the part of you that's been holding you back all these years."
Shadow found a shred of his confidence, raising his voice. "And why should I trust you?"
"Oh? The customer doesn't trust me? Allow me to show you a sampling…"
In the blink of an eye, the void around him melted away, and he suddenly found himself standing in the middle of a grassy field, with a country home not too far off in the distance. Where the hell was he? He started towards the home, unable to find anywhere else to go. What just happened? He was lying in his bed, then some black… thing told him he'd make a deal, then…
His thoughts were interrupted by something he thought he'd never see again.
"Maria!?"
The girl sitting on the front porch, quietly sewing shot up when she heard him speak.
"Shadow! You're back!"
Maria darted towards him, stumbling as she excitedly ran towards shadows outstretched arms.
"Maria! What happened!? I thought you were-"
Right as she was mere millimeters from hitting his arms, the scene distorted itself into a gnarled, corrupted version of what was once paradise, before finally dissipating into the blighted void Shadow had found himself in before.
Shadow collapsed, heart wrenched and yearning.
"I see you enjoyed your little trip there."
Shadow looked up at the sightless being.
"I'll take it, whatever deal you want, I'll take it!"
What could form a face would have grinned, and the entity replied with a curt "excellent."

The void vanished once again, and for good this time.
Maria crashed into Shadow, and seemed to melt into his arms. "What, Shadow? What were you about to say?"
"…Nothing, I'm just glad to be home."

Meanwhile, Shadow's corpse lay cold and lifeless in his bed, as the black beast silently moved through the window to find its next prey.