I'm sorry. I tried to update yesterday, but our district's superintendent is a bitch. I got frostbite while walking home. My fingers still hurt a little because I was a dumb ass and ran my hands under warm water. (The really sad thing is I was wearing two pairs of gloves. Yes. That's how cold it is here.)

Anyway, to those of you waiting for me to finish one of my other stories, (ADiP), I will update it eventually. I've just been busying rewriting the last chapter because it has to be super epic. XD

The lying little children, with souls selfish and small,
Will find their wriggling tongues cut out, and nailed to his wall.

STATION SQUARE, MOBIUS
Sonic's House
12:03 PM
05.16.19

"What?" She sounded angry. A bad mix of worry and anger. "He tried to kill Tihocan?" She pulled the child into an involuntary hug. "Oh God, did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine." He said, voice muffled by her bosom. "Please let go. My arm hurts."

"I'm sorry." She released him. "Go get your bag. I'll take you to school."

Sonic stepped into the conversation, concerned. "School? Machu, he was almost killed by his father. Don't you think the kid deserves a break?"

She crossed her arms. "I don't know how your parents raised you, Sonic. But, there's no excuse for missing school."

"Are you kidding me-?" He was cut short by the young child.

"It's okay, Uncle Sonic." He smiled. "I'll be fine."

His expression softened. "Sure, Tihocan? You can stay home for today if you want." He crouched down to the small hedgehog's level. "We won't be mad at you."

Tihocan shook his head. "I'm okay, Uncle Sonic. Really." He held his injured arm. "I just hope no one makes fun of me." He spoke the latter in a quiet, almost inaudible voice.

Sonic felt so much pity for him. The other children knew Tihocan's father was in a mental hospital. Some understood the concept more than others. They'd pick on him, call him hurtful names, and throw objects at him: books, pencils, wads of paper, sometimes even rocks. Talking to the teachers wouldn't do him any good, as the adults just laughed at the blue hedgehog's failure. He wished he could do something. He wished he could make all the ridicule stop. But, he knew he'd only make things worse.

He sighed, complying with the child's request to return to school. "I'll take him, Machu." He said, placing a hand on Tihocan's shoulder. "I want to speak with his teacher, too."

"Why, Uncle Sonic?"

"That's none of your business, Tihocan. It's just between me and Mr. Kakusumi. Go get your bag." Machu narrowed her eyes at him, suspicious.

"That poor child." Mr. Kakusumi, a slender yellow porcupine, was the only teacher for Tihocan's grade level. "I could never imagine how it must feel to be so neglected." He was a wise person, but sometimes Sonic didn't approve of his teaching methods. "I'll keep a close eye on him."

"Actually," Sonic spoke with a harsh tone. "I'd prefer it if Tihocan stayed inside for a few days. Just until all this blows over." He shoved his hands in his pockets.

The teacher chuckled. "Honestly, I don't think that isolating him with help him with any of his issues. And, I can't teach biology without taking the kids outside."

"Teach him out of a textbook, then."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Sonic. But, I believe children learn better if they experience things firsthand. I assure you that-" He was rudely cut off.

"Listen here, you modern-day hippie," He growled. "I want my son to stay indoors. If not, I'll have your teaching license ripped from you so quickly it'll tear the flesh off your hands."

"Very well, then." He sighed, frowning. "I'll put him in a separate class for a week." He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "Happy, Mr. Sonic?"

"Yes." He turned to the door. Before he could leave, Mr. Kakusumi said something that caught his attention.

"I used to look up to you, Sonic. You were my idol when I was younger. But…you just fell apart." He paused. "I can't help but pity you and the child that you raise."

He exited the building, slamming the door as he did. Sonic looked over at the playground. Tihocan was sitting by himself on the swing set. He stared down at his arm sadly, poking it. The blue hedgehog couldn't resist – He had to comfort the child. He glanced over his shoulder and casually walked over to the swings. He sat down.

"Hey, can we talk?"

"Recess is almost over, Uncle Sonic." They didn't make eye contact. It was too awkward.

He looked around, wondering where all the children from the previous day were. "Where are all your friends?" The child shrugged. "Do you have friends?"

Tihocan looked up. "I-I have friends, Uncle Sonic."

"Then why aren't you playing with them?" The child stared down at his feet, kicking a small, nearby rock.

"Because they're mean to me."

"Then they're not your friends are they?" Both hedgehogs' ears perked up as the school bell rang. "I'll come back later to pick you up, okay?" Sonic stood.

"Wait." Tihocan jumped up. "I don't feel good. Can you take me home?" He knew the child wasn't sick. He frowned, knowing the small, grey hedgehog was terrified of facing everyone and getting ridiculed. He couldn't deal with the mental stress of knowing parents told their children to stay away from.

As if Shadow's insanity was a disease.

"Sure." He held onto Tihocan's hand while they made their way back home. The two stopped as they were passing the park. "Machu wouldn't know if we went on the seesaw for a while." He smiled. "C'mon."

There were so many good memories attached to this place. It was newly built since the old park was shut down for reasons unknown. Sometimes Sonic would visit this place to relax and think about what he could've done differently. Maybe he'd still have his reputation. Maybe Shadow wouldn't feel the need to want Maria so badly. Maybe Tihocan wouldn't exist. Maybe his friends would still be alive.

But, maybe this is the way things are supposed to be. Maybe he's supposed to be the child's father figure. Maybe this is all part of another big adventure. What would he have to do this time? Collect all of the Chaos Emeralds and transport Tihocan to a safer dimension? He chuckled to himself.

If only.

He was still a child deep down inside. He still loved morning cartoons, and he'd still ride the roller coasters, and he'd still eat a tub of ice cream without getting sick. He had missed so many years of his own childhood, due to his impulse to save the world, and seemed to relive them through Tihocan. It made him want to spend more time with the child. Like now. They were rekindling a lost relationship, even if they didn't know it.

"Y'know," He said, smiling to himself. He was pushing the child on a swing. "I used to come to the park almost every day after school."

"Really?" Tihocan glanced over his shoulder. "Did your Daddy take you?"

Sonic barely remembered his father. "I came here by myself most of the time."

"Were you alone? Was your Daddy in the hospital too?"

He chuckled. "No, Tihocan. I left home when I was young. I had to save everyone."

"Oh, right. Do you miss your Daddy?"

"Yeah." He hadn't seen his parents in years. He didn't want to see them now, it would be too awkward. "But, I'm sure they're proud of me."

"I would be proud if I was your Daddy, Uncle Sonic." Tihocan smiled, skidding to a stop. He stood. "Uncle Sonic, don't you think we should go home?" He didn't know what time it was, but he was certain the two should leave.

"Probably. Machu's going to kill us." He crouched down, letting the child climb onto his back.

Sonic remembered when his own father treated him this way: giving him piggyback rides, taking him to the park, showing him the unexplainable. He wanted to do such things with Tihocan, but he knew he wouldn't be able to. He wanted to show the child his famous speed, but knew he wasn't able to. He felt as if he was a useless father to the child. This was the least he could do. A short piggyback ride was all he could give.

His knee hurt too much. It always hurt. He was sick of it, but there was nothing he could do. There was nothing anyone could do. He limped the remainder of the way home.

"Sonic!" She whacked him on the head with her wooden spoon. "What's wrong with you? Why didn't you take Tihocan to school?" She hit him again. "What did we talk about this morning?" Another strike to his head. No wonder he had so many mental problems.

"Tihocan wanted to go to the park!" The child sulked behind Sonic, afraid of the wooden spoon. "He didn't want to go to school! I'm not going to force the kid to torture himself!"

"There are no excuse-"

He shouted at her. "You don't know what it's like!" She was shocked at his reaction and stepped back. "You don't know what it's like to be hated because of something out of your control! You don't know what it's like to get kicked out of public buildings, or schools, or restaurants because everyone hates you! Just back off!" He pushed her out of his way and stormed up the stairs, slamming his door shut.

She frowned. "Tihocan." She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Let's go get you a snack."

Sonic had looked himself in his room like an arrogant teen. He sat on his bed, fists clenched. Why did he shout at her? He wasn't mad at her. He was mad at himself, at what he's turned into. He didn't mean to get angry. Sighing, he looked up at the end table across from him. That strange doll was staring at him, head tilted to the side. His heartbeat quickened. He didn't want to admit it, but he was afraid of the toy. There was something about it that unnerved him.

He wanted to get rid of it. He stood and picked it up, frowning.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, DADDY?" It spoke in a cracked female voice. He glared at it.

"I'm getting rid of you." He walked over to his window.

"BUT, I LOVE YOU, DADDY."

"Whatever." He opened his window and tossed it out. When he turned around, it was sitting on his bed.

"YOU CAN'T GET RID OF ME, DADDY." He froze. "I AM GOING TO STAY WITH YOU FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER." He stepped back. "RING AROUND THE ROSY." It was singing. "POCKETS FULL OF POSY."

He bumped into the end table, seeing the dagger upon it. Machu must've placed it here. He picked it up and drove it into the doll's head. Blood began to cover the blade and his hand.

"IT HURTS."

"Shut up!" He removed the weapon and threw the doll out the window a second time. "Just leave me alone!" He slammed it shut, ignoring the strange stares he was receiving from everyone.

The doll was still sitting there on the bed, grinning eerily at him. "I'M STILL HERE, DADDY."

He dropped the dagger and rushed out of the room, holding his head. Machu and Tihocan were sitting on the couch. The two looked up when he walked in. He was shaking violently. She led him over to the couch, worried. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want to talk about anything right now."

She crossed her arms. "Did you take your medicine this morning?" He'd forgotten he needed to take that. She could tell from his face that he hadn't. "Go take your medicine, Sonic. It's probably why you're so jumpy."

He returned up the stairs, complying. Tihocan looked at her, worried. "Is Uncle Sonic going to be put in a hospital like Daddy? Is he really that sick?"

"No, Tihocan." She sighed. "He's just having a hard time right now. He had some bad things happen to him in the past. Uncle Sonic just needs to get over it."

"Is there something wrong with him?" He frowned. "Is Uncle Sonic going to die?" She pulled him into a hug. "I don't want Uncle Sonic to die!"

"There, there. No one is going to die. Just calm down." She patted his back. "Uncle Sonic will be fine, don't worry."

Sonic had heard the entire conversation. His heart sank. He had two people in this house that cared more about him than anyone in this world, and he was abandoning them. He took the bottle from the cabinet behind the mirror. He stared at it. This little prescription bottle was the only thing that kept him in the real world. Was it the real world? Was everything surrounding him real? He couldn't tell the difference. He couldn't tell the difference between reality and fantasy. Did this supposed fantasy even exist?

He took one of the small white pills, almost immediately feeling the calming effect. He closed the mirror. Silver was staring back at him. The white hedgehog placed his hand on the glass, waiting for Sonic to mimic him.

But, he didn't. He just didn't care anymore. Silver's death wasn't his fault, so he didn't care.

He exited the bathroom and wandered into the adjacent room, curious to see if the doll was still there. It wasn't. Nor was the decorative dagger. His room was barren of the Hellish objects. It was a great relief for him. He returned downstairs to find the two had exited the living room and left to the kitchen. Machu was preparing dinner. Tihocan was seated at the kitchen table, drawing something. He glanced over the child's shoulder.

"What are you doing?" He asked, unsure of what the unfinished picture was supposed to be.

"Nothing." He replied, refusing to explain anything. Was it going to be a surprise for him?

"Sure you don't want to tell Uncle Sonic?" He smiled.

"No! Go away!" He playfully pushed the older hedgehog away.

Sonic chuckled, feeling better. It was as if the medication turned everything back to normal. It made him happy. Until he glanced over Machu's shoulder. She wasn't good at making gumbo. He never liked the taste of it either, even when prepared professionally. His stomach churned and he suddenly felt sick. She glared at him.

"What? You don't like my food?"

"Well," He looked away. "Not necessarily. It just doesn't taste very good."

She frowned, crossing her arms. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You're not a good cook." He said, honest. She huffed and turned back to her pot. "I didn't mean it like that!"

"Whatever." She spat. He shrugged and turned back to Tihocan. The child covered the paper, not wanting Sonic to see what he was drawing. He never realized how happy he was here.

With the assistance of medicine.