Chapter 11

Sonic had been living at the West Continent Refuge Alpha-Niner for about four and a half months and he was happier than he had been in a long time. But, his health was still slowly deteriorating, the stomach-aches at night were getting worse. Sonic had to muffle his cries of pain with his blanket to keep from waking those in the tents around him. He would be struck with horrible hot flashes making his body feel like it was going to burst into flames. Sonic would often go see after he dropped off the kids but the only thing Baxter could find wrong with him was that was he severely dehydrated and needed to drink more water, especially when the hot flashes start.

This particular morning, he arose extra early to head to the Medical Building and get his blood drawn again for Dr. Bartel's work as well as another check up on his health. He was supposed to have it done in the evening but today he wanted it done early before he picked up the kids. Tonight he was taking them camping underneath the oak tree so he wouldn't have time. Sonic went to the Medical Building whistling with a spring in his step trying to maintain a happy outlook despite how down right terrible he was feeling. The kids had been looking forward to camping for about two weeks and Sonic was eager to not disappoint them. Inside, he went to the front desk, "Hey Billy, is there a doctor in the house?"

Billy, the assistant, laughed and gestured behind him, "He's in the back Sonic. You sure are here early though. It's because of the camping trip right?"

"Yep. It's gonna be buckets of fun. Sorry to bug ya and run but I gotta get a move one or I'll be late picking up the kids. See ya Billy!" Sonic walked down the hall of the Medical Building, looking for Dr. Bartel. He came across the room they normally used to draw his blood and found the light was on and the door open however, no one was inside. Sonic glanced about for any sign the Doctor had been there but saw nothing. Another hot flash struck, causing Sonic to sway and sweat uncontrollably as he felt the skin on his face flush. He glupped down some water from the bottle that he now carried. It took effect quickly and he could feel his cheeks cooling. Feeling better, Sonic decided to just come back the next day and turned to leave when a faint low howl reached his ears.

Fast as lightning, Sonic whipped out his pistol and clicked off the safety. He scanned the room again, ears swiveling about his head to find the origin of the sound. The barely audible noise came again, Sonic turned to face it but saw nothing but a door on the side of the room. He had seen this door many times but it always had a lock on it, leading Sonic to believe important medicines were kept there. But no, there was no lock and the door was cracked slightly. His gun still up and ready to fire, Sonic pushed it open further to reveal a downward staircase. Looking over his shoulder to ensure no one was watching, Sonic began to descend.

Down into the darkness he quietly went, scarcely daring to breathe, trying to minimize the echo each of his steps made. When he reached the bottom, things were better lit. There was another howl, but it was much louder and closer. Every muscle in Sonic's body tightened up, ready to kill the source of the howl. The further he went into the basement room, the stronger the smell of rotten flesh grew. Sonic put his finger on the trigger and found himself shaking, much to his own surprise. 'Have those bastards really gotten in here? Will this place get torn apart, everyone here killed? Will I be all alone again?' With a vicious shake of his head, Sonic banished the thought. "The fuckers will have to eat me alive first." he muttered under his breath. Sonic turned a corner and had to slap a hand over his mouth to stifle an involuntary gasp.

Lined against the wall of the big room were five large glass cages with three to four zombies shuffling back and forth in each. On every cage there was a metal slot like the one that had been on Sonic's quarantine room. Sonic darted behind the cover of the corner as Dr. Bartel stepped out from the shadows on the other side of the room with a bucket. As soon as they saw him, the zombies began to become agitated, scratching on the glass and growling. Baxter pulled out a slab of raw meat from the bucket and their agitation worsened. Sonic watched incredulous as the Doctor went down the row, stuffing the meat into the slots and causing small frenzies as the horrible creatures scrambled to devour the meat first. "Most interesting. They recognize what it is by the smell. Same reaction upon consumption."

As Bartel was about to shove meat in the last cage when Sonic finally found his voice and shouted, "What the hell are you doing!?"

Dr. Bartel jumped, dropping the bucket and dumping the meat with its bloody juices onto the floor, "Wha-?! Sonic, what are you doing down here!?"

"I should ask you the same thing! I come here to get my blood drawn and instead I find your little zombie farm! Good Gaia, are you trying to kill us all?!"

"Certainly not! I'm conducting important research!"

Sonic scoffed, "Research my ass! Are you trying to figure out whether not we can get the zombies to leave us alone by feeding them steak?!"

"NO! This is science! I'm testing my potential vaccine mixtures and seeing what works best! That's what your blood is being used for! Your blood is the-"

Sonic cut him off with the cocking of his pistol, "Shut up!" He pointed the pistol directly at the Doctor's head. "Just shut the hell up!" At that moment the zombies in the cages began to howl, snarl, and bang on the glass.

Dr. Bartel watched them and muttered, "Amazing. They've caught your scent. They recognize you."

"What are you talking about!?" Sonic demanded, growing unnerved by the zombies' behavior.

"Your blood. They know you from your blood. None of my mixtures, administered carefully by injecting it into the meat I feed them, were working so in a desperate move I tried just a straight dosage of your blood with nothing else mixed in. It seems to deteriorate the potency of the infection bacterium by leaps and bounds depending on the size of the dosage. Your blood reduces them to mindless ravenous creatures but it has a side effect. They become addicted to it, they can't get enough. Something about the scent drives them crazy! However the last donation you gave me is having a weaker effect but they are still as addicted as ever. In fact, the process almost appears to be reverseing! I believe its becau-ACK!"

Sonic had grabbed the owl by throat and now he hissed, "That's what you've been doing with my blood?! Creating crazed monsters with it!? Well let me tell you something, Doc! You're not getting another frickin' drop from me! When Laura hears about this, she's going to want your head on a silver platter!"

"Ack! B-b-but she knows already!"

"What?" Sonic dropped Bartel in shock, "What do you mean? Laura would never allow something like this! Ever! I'm getting to the bottom of this right now!" Sonic took off up the stairs.

Startled, the Doctor ran after him, "Wait, what are you doing!? Come back!" Sonic dashed out of the Medical Building and into the building with the Lieutenant's office in it, surprising Collins.

"AH! Jeez you scared me there. Where's the fi-hey! Where are you going?!" exclaimed Collins as Sonic stormed past him.

Sonic tried to open the door but it was locked. Without hesitation, he kicked it open and shouted upon entering, "I want answers Laura! And I want them NOW!"

Capone, who had been talking to Jared, was caught completely caught off guard, "What in Mobius are you talking about!? And where do you get the nerve to come into my office and talk to me like that!?"

"Where do you get the nerve to let the Doc keep zombies in the goddamn basement of the Medical Building!?" retorted Sonic, his quills bristling with anger.

The Corporal jumped out of his seat, "Undead inside the refuge?! Lieutenant, he can't be serious!"

"I'm dead serious! I want the truth Laura!" Both Jared and Sonic stared at the lemur who was rubbing her temples.

At last she said, "Sit down. Both of you." When they had both taken a seat, she continued, "A couple of months ago, I allowed Baxter to have zombies for his research on a cure. He assured me that they posed little threat and the cages looked secure so I agreed."

Sonic replied with hurt apparent in his voice, "So you lied to everyone in this refuge?! You lied to me?! You told me that this was a safe place that was free of the undead! You lied! What else did you lie about!? Are you hiding anything else!?"

"How you really got here!" added Dr. Bartel as he entered the room, having final caught up, "That's what else she's hiding! Go ahead and ask her about the two bites on your arms." Sonic looked down at what were now two scarring scabs on each arm.

He looked back up at Capone already getting angry as he began to speak, "How did I get these?" Silence was his answer. "How did I get these Laura!? Answer me! What happened in those first few days?!"

Laura shouted back, "We had you bit by the undead downstairs!" Immediately, raging hurt jumped to Sonic's face and he took a step back. She continued, "When you came here, the defense force saw the bandage above your elbow and tazed you. You remember that. While you were unconscious Baxter concluded that you were immune and said a cure was possible. When you woke up, he sedated you with the intention of exposing you to a recent strand of the infection. We kept you sedated for about two days and when you escaped on day three, we caught you and Baxter told you the false story."

Jared's jaw nearly hit the floor, "And you helped him?! Why!?"

Baxter jumped in, "Because she knew it was necessary for the preservation of Mobian civilization but lacked the guts carry through it completely! That's why she terminated the observation period after only three days."

"Because I realized that I made a bad call. I knew it couldn't be undone but I wasn't about to let it go any farther! Ok!?" snapped Laura.

Sonic glared at Laura, "You let those things bite me! How could you let him do that me!? How could you?!"

"Because of the scientific value and data that can come from it! Besides, its more important than ever! My lastest anyalsis confirms something I've been suspecting for a while."

"What do you mean?"

"Sonic, over the time that you have been telling me about your hot flashes, lack of thirst and extreme stomach pains I have studied the blood samples you have been giving me. I suspected your worsening illness had something to do with exposing you to the infection. I recently, last night actually, uncovered the cause. My initial conclusion that you are immune to the infection… was wrong."

As Sonic and Laura gasped, Jared exclaimed, "That's impossible! He has multiples bites, how could he not be immune!?"

pushed up his glasses, "Let me finish please. You have a strong resistance to the infection but you are in no sense immune. Every bite that you have gotten, introduced more bacterium into your system, slowly reanimating the dead bactirum. It was happening so slowly though, it was impossible to notice. This is also why it appeared my experiments were working but now it seems to be going backwards. However, when I introduced the more potent strand of infection into your system, the process kick-started. Happening faster, changing you on the inside. Sonic… you're slowly turning. But, your sacrifice-"

"My sacrifice?! Don't give me that 'needs of the many' bullshit! That's just an excuse to do whatever the hell you want to someone as long as you have a 'noble' cause! And now, your telling me, because of your stupid quest for a cure, that I'm slowly becoming a zombie!?"

"But-"

"But nothing! If you're going to play Russian Roulette, bet your own goddamn life!" Sonic left the office in an enraged huff while Jared still stood in the office looking at the Lieutenant with an angry scowl.

Laura asked, "Corporal, please go after him."

Jared replied coldly, "I will ma'am. But with all due respect, not for you."

Corporal Roar left the building, going past a very confused Collins, and went over to Sonic's tent. Rustling could be heard from inside and a moment later, Sonic emerged with his pack on his back. "Where are you going?" Jared got no answer so he asked, "You don't think I had anything to do with this do you? I'm as appalled as you are."

Sonic looked at him and shook his head, "I know you weren't involved. To answer your question, I'm leaving."

The Corporal was taken aback, "Why!?"

"Because… I'm turning into one of those things. I can't stay here and endanger the rest of you."

The hedgehog began to walk away towards the gate but Jared grabbed him by the sholder, "Sonic just wait! Maybe we can-"

Sonic shrugged him off and yelled, "I can't stay here Jared! Don't you get it! I'm going to turn into one of those walking meatpiles and come after all of you!" He turned away and muttered, "I'd rather die than have that happen. That's why I'm leaving… Before its too late…"

Corporal Roar, who had heard Sonic's story and knew that while the hedgehog always put on a brave face, he had a lot of pain inside, put a strong supportive arm around Sonic's shoulders, "I understand. I see I can't talk you out of it. You've been a great friend. Take care of yourself Sonic."

"You too. And Jared?"

"Yeah?"

"Whether Laura or Baxter gives you permission or not, shoot every single one of those undead bastards."

Jared gave Sonic a small salute, "You got it." Sonic returned the gesture and continued on his way. As he was about to reach the gate, Tiger, Chi, Luna, Tailor, and Sally ran up to him crying and latching themselves onto his legs.

Chi wailed, "Why are you leaving Sonic? What about the camping trip?"

"Yeah we heard you say that you're leaving! Is it something we did?" asked Tiger.

Sonic knelt down and tasseled the cub's hair, "No, no. You guys didn't do a thing."

Luna sniffled, her tears making her glasses slide down her beak, "Then why are you leaving?"

"Because… well… I have to go."

"No go! No go!" sobbed Sally.

Tailor grabbed his arm and pleaded, "Please don't go! We'll miss you! And who will tell us stories?"

Tiger added, "You never finished the story about the two brothers! That one was the best one! I wanna know the end!"

"Yeah!" chimed the other kids. Sonic looked at each of them in turn smiling sadly. Right then he felt selfish for wanting to leave because while he was hurt and wanted never again to get attached to anyone, he saw that these kids were strongly attached to him and if he left, they experience the pain he felt now. Their tears and sadness made Sonic want to throw his pack aside and stay.

'But I can't… Not with this change happening inside me…' Sonic said aloud, "I'm so sorry kids but… I have to go…" He reached into his pack and pulled out the little black book with the pen attached, "Here, this is the next part of the story. I'll be honest with you, it's a little scary and a little sad but I know you guys can handle it. You're much braver than I am… And when you've read what's there, can you do me a favor?" The kids nodded. Sonic couldn't help the tears welling up in his eyes and the shake in his voice, "Give it a happy ending for me."

Luna took the book, "We will. We'll give it the best ending ever!"

Chi cried, "We'll make sure the two brothers live happily ever after for forever and ever and ever!"

Tailor clung to Sonic and wailed, "The dead people are gonna eat you! Don't go! We'll miss you!"

Sonic hugged all of them tight as they began to cry loudly as young children do. The sound broke his heart and he cried too as he said, "You kids are the greatest friends anyone could ask for; I can't thank you enough for being the best thing in my life. I'll miss you, all of you. Good bye." With that, he let go and walked up to the gate. Off to the side, Corporal Roar could be heard barking an order and promptly, the gate creaked open enough for Sonic to go through. He looked back one last time to the kids, who were still sobbing and waving good bye. Sonic waved back and stepped through the gate which swung closed and locked behind him. He looked out at the field of brown grass and realized he was back where he started; he was once again, all alone.

Author's Note: Alas what a horrible cruel twist! Our hero was doomed from the start! But the real question is, where will he go and what will he do now? Oh my gosh I have to resist the urge to just put up the whole rest of the story all at once! XD Anyways, I hope this chapter had you gasping in horror and surprise and perched on the edge of your seats. Please read, review, and enjoy.