Hey guys! Great news! My writer's block might've died away for a while so I'm on a role! I can't contain my excitement of this, so I'm going to post another chapter of Friends Forever to quench my desire to keep my writer's block at bay!

Disclaimer: Dark-Illusion-Detective does not own The Chaotix, any of the Sonic Characters, nor does she own Sega. She does however own Flame the Swallow, Ocean the Armadillo, Avril the Bat, and Sinister the Hedgehog.

Time to rock and roll!

Charmy: That's my line!

Me:... moving on!


Chapter Eleven: Chosen Demons Part Two

Distant voices was what a young figure in a black cloak heard as she sat on one of the numerous ledges, looking down at the figures approaching. Dark eyes stared at the figures below that she instantly recognized as the ones that she had to get rid of. The ones that were weaker than she was.

"Ocean, are we there yet?" asked the impatient bat, Avril. Of course she was now sitting on Omega, getting a ride off of the robot but the bat still complained.

"I don't even know where we're suppose to go."

"But you do," said Jet, "you have to."

"Well you might as well be talkin' to somone else. I have no idea."

Jet blinked and the hawk's blue eyes stared at her as though she had grown devil horns and had just admited to being the devil in disguise.

"You mean to tell us that you've just been walking aimlessly having no idea where to go?" asked the hawk as he felt his anger rise slightly.

The armadillo nodded; her blue eyes were calm, despite the fierce look that lay hidden inside of them. Cream was getting a ride from Omega after asking him politely if it was alright.

"Why you little-"

Sonic had been silent this whole time, and now was his turn to cut Jet off from finishing his sentence.

"Jet! Take a easy!"

"How can you be so calm?! We're in Hell and you're still calm just like always!"

Sonic shrugged, "I'll get nervous when danger comes at us."

Avril by now blocked everything that was being said between everyone and she looked around. All around them was the ground that was almost as dark as charcoal, lava that radiated with a heat that she wouldn't be able to stand, and she saw something that caught her eye. She stared up toward one of the ledges, one that held the figure.

"Guys... look!"

The bat pointed up toward the ledge and everyone stopped bickering for that moment and glanced up to see the figures dark eyes... watching their every move as though this was some type of new drama series and they were the stars. For that moment, no one moved. No one dared to breathe.

A scythe appeared and that's when they felt true fear building up in them. Everyone backed up, prepared to run... that was until the cloaked figure jumped off the ledge and gracefully landed in front of them and their eyes met with jade green eyes... instantly, Sonic knew who it was.

"Amy?"

No reply. Something unusual for Amy Rose. Sonic took a step toward her, "Amy? A-Are you okay?"

Instead of no reply, he got a sign that she heard him... but it wasn't something that he expected. She started laughing.

"What's so funny?" asked Avril defensively as though she had committed an offense.

"You are all naive. Amy? As in Amy Rose? Sorry... but she's no longer here."

"She got out of Hell?"

Another laugh but this time Sonic's eyes widened along with everyone else's. The news had a bigger effect than the cloaked figure could've ever imagined.

"Sh-She..."

"That's right Ocean the armadillo. Amy is dead."

Almost everyone looked away from the figure. But Sonic's green eyes never left the jade green eyes. Amy's eyes; he was sure those eyes belonged to Amy Rose. He took a step toward her, but the figure backed away, regret and sadness entered her eyes.

"Amy... it's me... Sonic. I was your friend. You used to chase after me."

Her head shook from side to side as she whispered, "Amy did. I would never run after someone like you. Did you know how badly you hurt her when you left her behind at the mansion? Did you know she cried before her fate was sealed?"

The questions slammed into Sonic like powerful punches that came from Knuckles. The blue hedgehog looked at the figure and he reached toward her. He lightly gripped the hood and pulled it down.

Light pink spikes, jade green eyes, that was enough for Sonic to say it was Amy Rose; that what she had said before had been a lie. But it wasn't until he saw the darkness that suddenly overcame her and the dark designs that had begun to move toward her neck, up to her beautiful spikes that Sonic sensed danger like the others.

With no hesitation Ocean grabbed Sonic's arm along with Jet. Omega darted off with Cream and Avril who were slightly freaked out. Jet and Ocean ran as they dragged the stunned Sonic.

Even as Sonic was being dragged, he felt like a part of him had disappeared, crawled in a hole and died. He never felt the same way Amy did... but... now it was different when he realized that Amy was truely gone.

-- In the Darkened Skies of Hell --

Rouge stayed airborne for what seemed like hours. Flame still had guilt written on her face and Vector saw the guilt almost instantly when he looked at her.

"This isn't your fault... you know that right?"

The swallow looked at Vector with her dazzling blue eyes.

"How isn't it my fault? I was the key and I probably set Mobius up to a one way ticket to disaster," said Flame with shame in her voice.

"It could always be worse."

"How so?"

Vector was about to give his reply when he saw that they were lowering toward the lava, "Rouge!"

Rouge was now struggling to stay airborne and who could blame her? She was carrying a heavy crocodile and a swallow that was maybe an inch bigger than her. She was no superwoman and even if she was, lifting this much was her kryptonite. She was falling toward the lava and there was no land nearby.

"ROUGE!" shouted Flame and Vector, scared.

"I can't be expected to carry you two around all day!" shouted the bat at the duo. She was scared too.

The trio screamed as they were getting closer to the lava. Suddenly they stopped, dead in the air. Flame was hugging Vector and was staring wide eyed toward a ledge on a wall. Following the swallow's gaze, Vector met a pair of eyes that were very similar to him... but... it couldn't be...

"Are you guys okay?" the voice asked as a cloaked figure made a piece of land appear in the lava and set the trio down on it. They didn't burn up to a crisp, but they knew if they said one thing wrong... they'd be the next things to feed the eternal molten lava that threatened to grab them and drag them into its dangerous heat.

Flame nodded slowly, "y-yes."

Rouge stood up and she inspected her wings. She sighed, "looks like I won't be flying for a while."

"Th-thank you sir."

"No problem," he replied as he jumped from the ledge and landed in front of them. Fear boiled up in Flame and she started to glow red. A gentle hand touched her shoulder, the glow vanished as she saw that Vector was looking at her.

"There's nothing to fear here... it's been a long time."

"I agree. How have things been going?"

Vector didn't answer and the figure tilted his head, "why are you clamming up now Vector? Things have been doing okay right?"

"Do you know him Vector?" questioned Rouge and the crocodile nodded.

"Of course I know him. And to answer your question... no. Not really. Espio left, then Charmy, Espio came back and now we're in Hell."

"I can tell."

"Which reminds me... what are you doing here?"

The figure tensed and Vector looked at the blue eyes that seemed so familiar but too good to be true. Flame saw the eyes and she looked confused.

"Ocean? I thought you were dead."

The figure tensed even more and the eyes disappeared; he had closed his eyes and bowed his head.

"That's not Ocean. Flame... Rouge... this is Mighty the armadillo. Mighty, Rouge and Flame."

"Nice to meet you," said Flame politely. Rouge just nodded.

"Vector, how'd you make everyone appear in Hell?" questioned Mighty as he looked at Vector as though he was the major villain behind this scheme.

"I had nothing to do with it."

"That was my fault."

Mighty looked at Flame who was containing her tears and who tried not to look so depressed. But there was no need, Mighty put an arm around her shoulders and said, "don't worry... it'll be okay. Luckily, you've ran into the right person. Allow me to lead you out of here, and help you find your friends."

Vector was stunned.

"Wait... you're helping us now?"

Mighty nodded and he looked serious as he asked, "is Charmy and Espio here too?"

When the crocodile nodded, Mighty frowned and looked lost in his thoughts.

"How'd Charmy take me leaving?"

"Not well... then again I don't know what a three year old's suppose to do when he misses someone. He hadn't cried or anything..."

"I guess I didn't expect him to. Anyways, come on."

"Quick question, how are we going to get anywhere now? I can't carry all three of you and I can't fly."

"No need to worry on that part Rouge. I'll be the one getting us to where we need to go."

Mighty raised his hand toward the darkened skies and a red and black scythe appeared in his hands. The sight made Flame fearful but the armadillo's eyes looked at her with a boyish glint. Suddenly they began to float, and within a few minutes, they were floating away.

-- Underground Tunnel in Hell --

It was dark, the only light was illuminating from Espio who held the lantern. The flame that flickered inside of it made Espio realize how much life was compared to the small flicker. It was a lifelong struggle to stay alive, to survive; but for the flame, it was an even harder battle against the elements, against everything that wanted to put it out.

"So where does this passage lead to?"

Sinister, who had been beside Espio the whole time looked at Wave and Storm.

"It leads to a part of Hell where your friends might be. I hope so anyways."

Shadow then asked, "so explain about why exactly you're helping us."

"Because you all don't deserve to go to Hell."

"That's the only reason?"

"Not quite Knuckles. There are others, more like one specifically."

"And that would be?"

Sinister glared at Storm who was saying something in giberish, obviously fearful of what the hedgehog would do. Her gold eyes lightened when she saw Storm's fear.

"Please, do not interrupt me any more guys, otherwise you may not get the answer."

They fell silent and as they made it to a dead end, they sat down.

"We're safe here Charmy, please sit down."

"You sure we are? We'd be in quite a fix if we weren't."

"No. We are. As long as I'm around then we're safe," Sinister replied almost too quickly. Charmy frowned but sat down nonetheless. "The reason that I'm helping you guys is that a horrible fate shall fall upon a chosen few if I do not get you all out of here."

"Horrible fate? Like death?"

"Worse than death."

"What's worse than death?" questioned Tails. Charmy remembered how Tails was always so thirsty for knowledge, maybe that's why Charmy smiled.

"... A lot of things. But what I'm talking about is immortality."

No one said anything and Sinister found herself explaining why this was such a horrible thing.

"Immortality is a horrible thing. Because what is the use of having friends if they're just going to die but you never will?"

Charmy's smile had faded and he found himself leaning forward so he wouldn't miss a thing. The hedgehog took out her scythe and showed it to everyone.

"Everything comes with a price, even living. But Hell is worse because they don't harm you physically... they save that for rare ocassions, but mostly they'll do things to you mentally and emotionally. Granting someone immortality is a way to rip apart at anyone's sanity."

"So if the demons won't kill us-"

Knuckles was cut off as Espio stated, "she never said anything about the demons not killing us."

"That's right... actually... I'm one of the strangest demons and probably one of a kind too."

"Really? How come?"

Sinister reached into her cloak pocket and drew out a very long list but only unrolled it to a certain point.

"I'm an apprentice to someone very important to the balance of power. He's like the decider of who lives and who dies... and when they die," Sinister added the last part sadly and quickly, almost as if it hurt to say it. Like saying something that was tainted in venom.

Everyone looked at the list.

"And this is the list where everyone's names go when they're about to die... and when they're dead. There are many lists that have been generated throughout centuries but this one is the only one I have found that I fear the most."

Charmy and Tails looked curious and were about to ask something when Wave beat them.

"Why do you fear a list? It's just something written on paper."

"Ever heard the saying 'sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me'? Well that saying is dumb and wrong. Words are powerful and this list tells me who will die. Without this list then there would be more villains around."

"Is Eggman on that list?"

Sinister looked at Shadow whose red eyes were staring at space. She rubbed the back of her head and looked at the list.

"I don't believe so," replied Sinister, "but there will be more eviller things out there than Eggman."

"We know."

"Is anyone we know on the list?"

"... No."

Charmy's instincts were to tell everyone that she was lying and pry for the information of who was on the list... but another part of him told him to stay silent, to believe her for now. He nodded in understanding and everyone began to chat quietly as though in fear of getting caught by the demons.

Soon though everyone ran out of things to talk about, and they stood up, preparing to leave.

"Knuckles, I need you to punch through that wall, we'll be out of the passage if you do and I'll lead the way from there."

The echidna walked up to the wall and punched it several times before the wall crumbled and the hedgehog walked through the opening and grinned.

"Come along now. We have many people to search for, so lets not delay them any longer," Sinister said calmly as she led the group away. Charmy found this as a good chance to talk to her privately. He flew beside her and gave her a grin when she looked his way.

"Hey Sinister... who's really on that list?"

"... I told you. No one."

"You're lying."

Sinister was quiet for a long moment before asking, "how'd you figure I was?"

"Whenever you're lying you pause for a while."

"Okay you win... ask your questions."

Charmy thought and looked at Espio who was listening to Tails and Knuckles bickering. His gold eyes showed that he was tired, and the chameleon coughed slightly. Charmy then asked, "is Espio on the list?"

Sinister's face paled slightly as she nodded, "yes."

"Is he going to die soon?"

"..."

"Sinister?"

"Please. Just leave it as that."

"Why? Sinister please tell me! I have to know!"

The hedgehog glared at Charmy, "you should just count your blessings that you're with him now!"

Hostility... that threw Charmy off and he tilted his head in confusion, "but I just wanted to know..."

"Sometimes ignorance is bliss. It's sometimes better for you not to find out certain things."

Charmy looked at the others that were trailing behind them, occupied in their own world, their own state of mind... their sanctuary. The bee looked at Sinister and he whispered, "when I first saw you... you seemed familiar."

"I doubt it."

"I remember... seeing you once. I don't know where but I saw you."

Sinister's eyes began to water and she rubbed her eyes on her cloak sleeve, "just leave it."

"Huh?"

"Drop every question you're going to ask me. I don't want to answer."

"But why?"

"Because you don't need to be damaged anymore than you have been," she replied harshly.

"If you just tell me-"

"CHARMY! JUST LEAVE IT ALONE! DROP IT AND LET IT DIE DAMN IT!"

Sinister's voice echoed all around them and everyone fell silent. The hedgehog had begun to cry and she darted ahead, everyone following behind her quickly. Espio looked at Charmy and caught up to the bee whose face was pale with realization.

"What did you say to her Charmy?"

Charmy wanted to shout at the ninja that his name was on the list, that Sinister was hiding a secret behind them all... but the impulse to scream faded until he just shook his head.

"I just asked a few questions I shouldn't have."

Espio just nodded and coughed.

"Are you okay Espio?"

He nodded, "I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."

Charmy flew behind Espio, he was scared for the chameleon. He was the one after all who could see and hear him when he was dead. Now they were in Hell and Vector wasn't around. But what scared him even more than being separated from Vector and Espio...

Was having them separated from him by death.

--

Finally I got this chapter done! I'm so proud of myself! Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed, and please give me your opinions on this story.