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Don't have much time for a beginning note tonight, so let's get on with the story, shall we?
Chapter Eleven: Empty Hope
He's here.... He has to be here.... I breathed heavily, continuing to move despite the aching pain in my feet... I pushed through the trees, trying to force myself to move faster... What if it's too late...? I drew in a deep breath, only to have my throat burn from the frigid air of the island. For it to be late summer, the atmosphere of the island was terribly cold...
It's almost like the island can tell... That was an odd thought... An island able to reflect the heart and soul of its guardian... But I didn't exactly doubt it... I couldn't doubt it. The thought seemed to show a glimmer of hope... Yes, the island was cold... But it was also alive. And I needed that desperately.... I needed Knuckles to be alive...
A freezing wind blasted through the trees in a sudden gust, and, taken by surprise, I tripped over an exposed tree root. I landed on my wings and winced in pain... What was that? I strained my ears and almost thought I could hear some sort of an engine beyond the trees... Who would be coming here? I slowly got to my knees, thinking... The engine cut off. Who do I know that owns a plane? I closed my eyes.... Then the answer hit me. Tails. No... There was no way I was going to let them hurt Knuckles. I reached into the side of my right boot, gently withdrawing a short dagger formerly known as "The Backup Plan".... Just in case I did find Knuckles dead...
No. I shook my head fiercely. He's not dead. And anyone who tries to change that... Can go through me before even touching him. I pushed myself to my feet, running as quickly as I could through the trees... I knew exactly where the passengers on that plane were heading. The same place I was. But I was going to make sure I got there first. You won't harm him...
The forest seemed to be against me. I hadn't moved three yards before I was again tripped. I dropped the dagger as I fell, and it landed .among some grass. I took a few sharp breaths, struggling to get up again. It was impossible to see past the trees ahead, but I knew that I was only a few yards away from the clearing in which the shrine was located. There was a thick treeline only feet away, and all I would just need to pass through there. I could've flown... But the whole flight to the island had pretty much ruined my already injured wings... So, instead, I got to my feet, picked up the dagger and continued to run towards the shrine. I weaved between the trees, then stopped, listening.
Hmm... That's odd... No voices... Sonic and his little friends can hardly ever shut up... Slowly, I moved out into the clearing. In front of me stood the tall, marble shrine. The shrine was surrounded by the ruin of the structures that used to stand with it, long ago... Probably thousands of years ago... I silently wondered what the shrine looked like when it was new... Better than it looked now, I was sure...
I scanned the shrine, my gazing moving up the many, many stairs until I could see the top of the shrine, which looked fairly small from where I was... My eyes went wide. Where's the Master Emerald?!
I left the shadows of the trees, racing out towards the steps of the shrine. It was just before my feet hit the marble that I noticed a figure standing at the top of the shrine. All I could see was purple. And I didn't recognize the figure.
The island was completely quiet. My voice didn't have to be loud to be heard, which was good because I was quivering when I spoke. "Who are you?!"
The figure didn't jump or seem startled. It turned to the side slightly, and I saw it's head look at me. I blinked.... And when I opened my eyes it was gone. WHAT?! ...No, I couldn't have imagined it... No... I put my hands to my head, hoping that, somehow, that would pull me back... No... I can't be losing it again... No, it's only been a day! I have to find Knuckles...
I was jerked from my thoughts as I was suddenly shoved backwards, onto the marble steps of the shrine, and the knife flew from my hands, clattering down the steps, no longer of any use to me. I found myself staring into a pair of yellow eyes, blazing with conviction.
The creature's voice was deep and calculating, but it hissed at me, "What have you done with the Master Emerald?"
I narrowed my eyes, "ME?! What have YOU done with the Master Emerald?! And where's Knuckles?!"
The creature stared at me for a second. He appeared to be some sort of reptile. Then he spoke again. "You're looking for Knuckles?"
"Yes, I've been looking for him everywhere! Who are you?!"
He took a step back, his voice much calmer and natural-sounding, "Espio the Chameleon." Chameleon... I felt a surge of relief. I'm alright, then... Not imagining things...
I slowly stood up. "Do you know Knuckles?"
The question disturbed him, apparently. He turned away, and his voice was still calm but a bit quieter than before, "I... believe so."
"You believe you know him?"
He shook his head. "It doesn't make sense, I know. It is not meant to be explained."
I watched the strange chameleon. He stood perfectly still, seeming to think about something with great intensity... He said what was running through his head made no sense... But I thought I understood him. I looked at the marble stairs, my voice almost normal. "You thought you knew him... And then... You find he's changed..."
The chameleon looked up at me, but I couldn't tell what he was thinking. After a moment, he asked, "Who are you?"
I answered, "Rouge the Bat." It was no use to add any titles to that name... No treasure hunter, or government spy... I'd left the government long ago... And the only treasure I really cared about at the moment was getting further away by the second.
"Have we met before?" He was studying my face quizzically.
"I don't think so..." That's what I said, anyway... There was something faintly familiar about him. I'd probably just passed him on the street once or something.
He still looked thoughtful, but he dropped the subject. "Do you know what happened to the Master Emerald?"
I frowned, replying, "No. I didn't see that it was gone until only minutes ago... "
"It's broken." He spoke with certainty. I wondered why he even asked me in the first place if he already knew... He continued then, "Yet the island hasn't fallen." That was an interesting thought. I hadn't even noticed, actually. Very interesting... Guess I was too concerned with more important things! Who cares, you idiot?! I need to find Knuckles! He continued to speak, but I heard little of what he said... Until he stopped suddenly. I looked at him. He seemed concerned, "Is something wrong?"
Is something WRONG?! Everything's wrong! What kind of question is that?! "I'm worried about Knuckles... Yesterday evening... He... Didn't seem to be... himself..."
He nodded solemnly. "He was knocked out when Shadow the Hedgehog brought him by the office earlier..."
....What? This guy knows where Knuckles is?! "Wait, you saw Knuckles?"
"About an hour or two ago... Shadow brought him into our office..."
Let my rephrase that question. "You know where Knuckles is?!"
He shook his head. "Not exactly... The hedgehog stormed out on me... And vanished..."
So, I had no exact location... But I knew that just an hour ago, Knuckles was still alive. And he was with Shadow... Former best friend to myself... But there was hope... And there was a chance...
Shadow the Hedgehog... You hold my life in your hands... Keep him safe... I'm coming to find you.
Rouge is back in the story, finally! Haha. Rouge meets Espio, who tells her this... And what is going to unravel? Where are Shadow and Knuckles?
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