DISCLAIMER!: Hello beautiful readers! Thank you for your faves/follows/reviews! I love you all 3 First off, I was conflicted in what this chapter would contain, but I wrote this all down in my notebook today while at a cafe - it just came to me, haha. And it's pretty good for handwriting to be honest - I shocked myself! I really enjoy this story and I'm gonna complete it! I have assignments coming up for uni though, so my updating might not be that consistent. Then again, it might be hectic because I'm the procastination queen!

Things are getting heated! WOooooOOoooOO read on... Review/message/feedback much appreciated :D

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It wasn't like she had seen this coming.

If she was being honest, she never even imagined such an outcome.

Amy shot up in Sonic's bed, not sure of where she was. When she saw the walls painted ocean blue, she realised: She was with him! She was with the handsome guy she hadn't been able to stop thinking about since Shadow's party on Friday. What a dream come true.

But when Amy looked next to her, Sonic appeared much darker, and his spikes were angled upward...

That's not Sonic... Amy thought, with her heart racing.

Amnesia slowly vanished as she came to remember that she had slept with Shadow, not Sonic. Memories flooded back to her intermittently, but to her surprise, she felt no disappointment, nor guilt.

The way Shadow had held her, stared at her, and caressed her with appreciation, was... Incredible. She had never felt so adored in her life.

And she began to wonder, maybe not everyone was like the man who raped her? Maybe some men had good intentions, and maybe some men would treat her with gratitude, like Shadow had.

But amongst this revelation, she felt a mix of hope, and terror.

How could she deal with this foreign feeling? How would she keep this going, the new relationship with Shadow...? All she knew, was how to receive abuse...

~Flashback~

Amy walked from the studio she and her friends worked toward her house across the lake, alone, as the sun was setting. She had pushed her friend Sally away when she'd asked to accompany her; Amy knew that there was no one and nothing to prevent Scourge from his harmful methods. And Amy knew that she couldn't imagine a world without the pain, because it was all she had ever known.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" A familiar voice yelled, just metres away from the young, fragile girl.

She shivered at his voice; to her, it meant pain, but it also meant routine. It meant horror, but also a familiar territory. She spun around, anxious but excited, and glared at the green hedgehog.

"I'm going home. What does it look like?" She returned his frustrated tone.

In response to her argument, Scourge walked up to her and pushed down on her shoulders hard, with a blank expression on his face - the same expression he had when he was angry and deviant, Amy had learned.

"It looks like you're going around town by yourself. It's not safe out here, you stupid girl."

And I'm so much safer with you, Amy thought, sarcastically.

"It's 5.30: it's not even dark yet. And besides, no one would want me - I'm tired and weak. Who would take any interest in me when I'm in this state?"

Scourge smiled evilly, his eyes narrowing. That's right, no one wants you... Only me. So come into your owners arms and prove that you're mine...

"Now you know that's not true. What ever would make you think that?" He asked slyly, with fake innocence.

"I'm sorry," She said. "I know you want me. But when you're so mean to me, it makes me think that no one could love me... And that you don't love me at all..."

Scourge put his arms around her tightly in a warm but rough embrace. "I'll always love you, Amy. And I'm only mean - because I care."

Amy smiled through tears, believing him. Of course, it was a lie - a recurring lie, that Scourge used to make her feel weak and helpless - but then he would jump in and save her from her inner hatred, and she would feel obligated to give him anything he wanted: because he was the core of her self esteem...

~End flashback~

How could she keep a partnership that wasn't fuelled by guidance...? She was a lost little girl deep down, just as she had been all those years ago... just as she had been when he screwed her over.

And while it was amazing to feel like a person when she was with Shadow, it killed her not knowing how to respond.

What if she pushed him away?

What if Sonic ruined this?

What if they ever found out how emotionally corrupt she was...?

It'd be over for sure...

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Sonic woke up from his dose on his couch at 8am, feeling hungry from the night before, and thirsty due to his startling hangover. He could hardly remember last night.

Why was he on the couch?

Was Shadow here?

Or... Amy?

No, she wouldn't stay here. And if he was really that intoxicated while she was present... He would have woken up next to her.

Shortly, Amy came down the stairs: messy hair and tired eyes, creased clothes, and an aching, slow moving body.

Sonic was drinking a cup of herbal tea to refresh himself as he sat on his dining table, watching her delicately, as she approached the kitchen.

"Ow... Ow... Ow..." She muttered with each step down the stairs. Her legs were weak from Shadow's affection... Even though he had been gentle, the tension from her muscles due to the subsequent orgasms the night before had made her ache.

What the? What on earth did she get up to last night? She can hardly stand... Sonic thought, curiously.

Amy sighed with remorse as she met Sonic's concerning stare.

Finally, the guilt had begun to hit her, the second she looked into his dazzling eyes.

"Are you okay, Amy?" He asked gently, about to stand up and help her.

Her voice made her melt, especially in combination with a protective instinct.

She closed her eyes and held her hands up defensively, pushing his care away before he could even grab her. "I'm fine. Shadow's just a bit... intense, that's all." She said weakly, giggling - and then quickly covering her mouth in embarrassment, realising what she'd just said, and who to...

Sonic was shocked. They had sex?! He felt as if his breath had been sucked out of his lungs like a vacuum. His heart raced with anxiety... She picked him over me? What the fuck!

"Amy!" He yelled with anger, causing her to be struck awake, completely. "Did he hurt you?! Jesus Christ!"

Amy cowered into the wall and responded. "No! I... shouldn't have said anything."

"Damn it Amy, tell me."

"He didn't hurt me in the slightest." She went all goo goo eyed, and continued. "He was gentle. I'm only in pain, because he made me -"

Sonic held up his hand, unable to listen anymore. "I get it." He sighed and his face fell into his hands. All he wanted was to protect her - and in a way, he had, he'd been under the same roof at least - but the jealousy he felt toward his best friend had consumed him. Shadow knew how he'd felt... Was this Shadow's plan the whole time? To take away the girl he'd started to fall for?

Wait, what?!

"Sorry," Amy said sheepishly.

A flashback began to run through her mind the second she'd uttered the apology.

"I'm sorry, okay!" Amy cried through heavy tears. "I can't do ANYTHING right, I get it. why don't you just leave?!"

"I can't leave you, you foolish girl! I love you! But why the fuck do you do this to yourself?!"

Amy began sobbing, uncontrollably. "I just want to feel wanted!"

Tears welled up in Amy's eyes as the vivid memory took over her mind.

"Amy..." Sonic gasped as he held her while she began to cry. "Amy, it's okay. You're a responsible girl - you can do what you want. I understand that you want him, and I'm not mad. I just want to protect you."

Amy heard his words, but they didn't affect her - they went straight through her. A series of more flashbacks came through her mind intermittently as she continued crying.

"Then why would you push me away, the one person who wants you?!" Scourge screamed.

"Amy, breathe. Just relax. You haven't done anything wrong. I'm here." Sonic was trying desparately to comfort her.

Amy felt her mind take over completely, as she began to transfer; her anger at Scourge came out at Sonic without warning:

"I can be wanted! I'm allowed to be with someone! And he FUCKING CARES ABOUT ME! No one else does! All you do is hurt me, all the time, every single time! That's not wanting someone! That's fucking hate! And I HATE you, Sco-"

Sonic was bewildered during her speech, and then flinched drastically as the "Sco-" exited her mouth.

His compassion disappeared as a darker motive took over his train of thought.

"What was that last word?" He said clearly, backing away, feeling the blood boil under his surface, as his fists shook violently.

Amy stopped crying at his withdrawal, and had forgotten what it was she'd said. "W-What?"

"Did you just say what I think you said, Amy?" He didn't stutter, he didn't have any emotion in his voice - except for pure loathe.

Amy was silent, almost unable to think clearly. "I don't know..?"

"You said Scourge," Sonic said quietly, with his eyes closed, attempting to conceal his fury.

Amy shot up quickly from her cower, and this time it was her breath that was taken.

"D-did I? Oh. That doesn't mean anything."

Sonic opened his eyes quickly at the end of her sentence, and suddenly went soft in his gaze, faking his knowledge of the now-solved puzzle.

"Of course, sweetie." He walked back over to her and kissed her nose gently, hugging her. "Let's take you home so you can get ready for work, you can't go like that."

Amy nodded, wiping away her tears.

"S-Sonic?" She asked, as he lifted her up, about to rush out of the door.

"Mmhm?" he murmured softly, still faking neutrality.

"Why aren't you mad at me? For sleeping with your best friend..."

Sonic smiled. He was genuinely amused by this. "I could never be mad at you, Ames. You and him needed something - and you had the capacity to give it to each other. Besides, I trust Shadow, and with him, you'll be safe." Unlike with me, he thought. "Like I said, I don't see you that way. I care deeply for you, and sometimes I carelessly do things like kiss you, but protecting you is my first priority. You'll see I'm right."

Amy nodded, and kept silent.

"And I know how crazy I must be driving you..." He continued, "not giving you what you want."

He stared at her, snuggled in his arms, as she blushed furiously. He laughed at his statement and ran to her place, knowing he was completely right.

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Well there we go... Another chapter finished.

Questions for me and you...

1. I wonder where Sally was in this chapter? Sure it was just a brief morning-insight, but you'd think she'd made an appearance.

2. How much can Sonic take?! I mean really, it's getting ridiculous. That boy is going to snap.

3. Shadow hasn't even woken up, he's still in Sonic's bed. Probably wallowing in self-pity, poor guy. I wonder what his thoughts are on all of this...? Will his love interest change? Or will it become stronger and more persistent as he continues through the story...

4. SONIC KNOWS WHO AMYS RAPIST IS OMG! WHATS GONNA HAPPEN! Where is Scourge anyway? Is he even alive 4 years later? Hmmm... I think I sense a Dark sonic style :D

XOXO REVIEW AND GIVE ME LOVE

Shadowworld96