My Soul's Oath.

Chapter 12: My Nightmare Comes True.

Now is the time I wished that I was someone he knew. As I hid behind one of the trees outside my old house, I saw the fainted Knuckles on the porch and the note I had written in his hands. This was something I never expected to see him do, whether or not I was alive. Now, as a Grim Reaper, finally willing to reveal how I died, I never expected someone like Knuckles to faint. He must've really gone through something when he saw that letter. I felt bad. Maybe I shouldn't have done this. Well, there's no turning back now.

"Knuckles!" I heard someone scream. I know that voice.

Amy and Tails came out on to the porch. Amy kneeled down and felt his head.

"What happened?" she asked Tails.

"I don't know," he said. "He looks like he fainted. But the question is by what?"

He looked down at the letter.

"It's a letter."

He picked it up and read it aloud.

"If you want information about Sonic's death, deliver a reply note to the old oak tree outside the city. From S." He made a face when he said the last one.

"What do you think it means?" Amy asked.

"I think it means someone knows who killed Sonic," Tails said. "But, this note, this handwriting is familiar to me."

My eyes widened, and I think I must've stopped breathing.

"Wait a minute." He still looked at the paper and his eyes widened. "This is Sonic's handwriting! This must be why Knuckles fainted."

Amy made a face. "You don't actually believe that Sonic might still be alive do you?" she said rudely and unconvinced.

Tails looked up at her. "At this point, Amy, I'll do anything to have Sonic back. And you may not know it, but you want him back too. Now help me get him into the house." He picked up Knuckles by the arm and swung his arm over him and dragged him in the house. At this point, I wanted to go over there and tell them that I was still alive. But it would be no help to me. They would only see the boy I had created, Silver the Hedgehog. The only thing I could do for them now is just let them know how I died and get them justice. Then maybe they could move on, and for their sake, I would try to.

Amy then looked out into the distance. Then she shouted, "Sonic, if you're really out there, know this: I never want to see you again!" She then went inside the house and slammed the door.

I came out from behind the tree. I was trying so hard not to cry, but I couldn't help it. I fell to the ground and leaned up against the tree. I was fighting the tears. There was nothing to be done about her hatred of me now. She still thought I was dead, and I still was in love with her. And I didn't have any hope of her still having any feelings for me. I had to let her go. No matter how much I felt for her, I was dead and she was alive . That was then and now I'm in now.

It's time to move on to the future.


I waited near the tree I was murdered under for Knuckles. I was wondering if he would even come. He was the most stubborn person on the planet next to me. But still, once he made up his mind about something, there was nothing to be done about it. I began to wonder if in this case, that would be true. I wanted at least someone to know the truth that didn't hate me or was trying to hide the fact that they hated me and still didn't want to solve my murder even though they missed me. Yeah, Knuckles was now our only hope of justice and now if he didn't come, then my hopes of my murder being solved would be gone forever.

I knew I shouldn't be doing this. The dead couldn't really talk to the living. For some reason we had to hate the living. I still didn't know why. But no matter what Katherine said, I couldn't hate or forget my family. No matter what she said. The only thing I could do for them now is find my killer. And I needed to know who it was. The man who murdered me has been walking around free for three weeks now. And I needed this to be over. I wanted justice and there was only one person who could help me. And I was the only person who could help him. Knuckles and I needed one another to solve my murder. So, I was still hoping that he would come back to the tree to at least give me a letter. If not, then I was doomed.

Then I saw him.

I sighed in relief and I ran behind a nearby tree. He came out from the shadows of his hood and reached into his pocket. I looked at his pocket. Hoping and wondering what he would have. I hoped it was a reply letter, but then again, it couldn't be. I mean, Knuckles wasn't easily convinced of anything. So maybe it wasn't what I thought it would be. He kept feeling around his pocket trying to look for whatever he was looking for. I continued to wait and I was really tempted to take the thing out of his pocket sooner. He was being Knuckles and I was getting really annoyed. I was trying to stop myself from getting out of hand. I would've probably knocked him out if I was alive, but I couldn't do that now. He'd probably have me arrested. Now, I waited.

Finally, he took out a red envelope. And he was about to put it in the tree but then he hesitated. He looked at the letter and then he sighed.

"Here's hoping, Sonic," he said. And he put the letter in the tree.

I saw it in his face. He wanted to take that letter back. I could see. But he walked away, looking back at the tree several times. I waited until he was gone. I looked out from behind the tree, and saw that no one was around. And I raced over to the tree I was murdered by. I hesitated as Knuckles did but not for the same reason. This was where I was murdered. Not where Mom or Dad were murdered. But where I was murdered. I could still see it in my mind. I felt tears falling down my face in fear. I saw him, and me falling to the ground bleeding. Me watching myself being murdered. 18 years old. Dead. But I had to be strong, but I was still scared when I thought of it and was still angry I couldn't see his face.

Wiping the tears away with the sleeve, I reached into the tree and pulled out the red letter. I smiled. I remembered how Knuckles always sent not white envelopes but red instead. I opened the letter and I braced myself. I didn't know what he would say at all. I was worried, but I still opened the letter, pulling out the note. It said,

"Who are you? What do you know about Sonic's death?"

That's it? I frowned. Well, I'd gotten half of what I wanted. He was on board at least for now. Now I had three things I had to do; send another letter, keep this a secret from Katherine because if she found out, I would be in huge trouble, and continue to take people's souls.

It's a good thing I work well under someone I hate.


It was 11:30 pm and I had just reaped a bartender over near what I called Murder St. And he was kind of an idiot. He didn't know he was dead. How can you not know you're dead after a light falls on you that's made of glass? I was hoping to get this over with so I could deliver another letter to the house. I had Tails and Knuckles on my side and that was enough for me. Amy didn't have to keep believing as much as I wanted her to. But at least two people could help me. I wanted to get this guy to Heaven but I really didn't think he would make it. He seemed like a real crook. But now I knew that as soon as his ghost stopped being drunk, I was about to witness where the ghosts go once they've died. But even as a ghost, he still was drunk and was trying to grab a beer. Ironically, he realized he was dead when he couldn't pick up a beer. I almost started laughing.

"Sir?" I said to him. "I'm sorry but you're dead."

He gave me a look. Yep, still drunk.

I reluctantly took his arm and led him out the door. He tripped on the way out. I sighed and rolled my eyes. Man, this guy was annoying.

As I helped him up, something very strange happened. Small amounts of light and sparkles came down from the sky. One landed on my coat. It kept falling and falling until they started to form into a circle. The sparkle came off my coat and began to join the circle and came spinning around and around. Suddenly, the light became stronger than before I shielded my eyes, but I still was trying to look at what was going on. I thought I saw something beginning to form. It looked like a door. The lights started to fade. I looked at the man. He fainted. I rolled my eyes and then looked at what the lights had made. It was a door.

It was covered in marble and it was white and shining brightly. It was covered in skulls at the top and the stairs were pitch black. I wasn't sure whether or not I should go in it or not. I had some feeling about this door. And it wasn't good. I was afraid I wasn't ever going to come out. But something told me about this door that it wasn't going to be like that. But just in case. I took a deep breath and shouted.

"Amy, I know you can't hear me but I love you!"

I took another deep breath and picked the man up and carried him over my shoulder. I was impressed with my own strength. I hadn't realized that I was this strong. I reluctantly pulled the latch on the door and knocked. Then the door opened and I was sucked inside with the man I had reaped. I saw nothing but darkness and stars. Oh, how I wish I hadn't opened this. I was trying not to look at where I was actually going. I felt myself spinning and turning and my head trying to process what the hell was going on. This went on until I felt myself collapse onto the fall of some kind of marble. I winced as I opened my eyes and held my head. Yep, that's gonna leave a mark. I thought to myself.

I looked around. I was lying on a floor. It was all black. I looked up at the ceiling. It was carved in the most beautiful and most creepy way. There were gargoyles on the walls. The only bit of light that could help me see was only seven candles, all surrounding a star circle on the ground. My head was pounding for an instant but then it stopped. I tried looking down the hallway but it was too dark. I picked the guy up again and grabbed a torch and walked down the hall. As I walked down the hall, I heard the cries and moans of ghosts. I thought something grabbed me but I kicked it away with my foot. I felt that this dark hallway went on forever. There was nothing but pictures of really dark ghosts and graves on the walls. Not only that but the walls had I think human bones in them. Why did they hate humans so much? As I kept walking down I saw some stairs and a door. I decided to go through the door because I was tired of walking. I was about to go through when someone or something grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the door. I looked as to what grabbed me. It was a hedgehog, just like me.

He had pale fur like me, and his eyes were green and he was dressed in a long black cloak. I wanted to cry for help but he covered my mouth hard with his hand. So hard, I think I couldn't breathe.

"Don't even think about it!" he threw me to the ground. He raised his scythe to my throat. "Why are you here? SPEAK UP!" he shouted.

"I have a person I reaped. I think you might have wanted this one. Can you please tell me where I am?" I gasped.

His eyes widened and he released me. He pulled me up off the ground.

"Well, you came to the right place. My apologies. You must be the new guy, right?" he asked. I sighed and nodded.

"Well, Sonic, I'm Romeo. Please follow me. The council is waiting for your drunk friend." I could hear the quotation marks in his voice when he said that last part.

I walked behind him until he was gone. Then another door appeared and I wasn't sure that I should go through it but I followed him in through the door. I was scared but at the same time, I felt ready. I walked behind Romeo as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of skeleton keys. He set one in the door.

"After you," he said. I reluctantly walked in with him walking behind me. I saw the famous council Katherine was talking about all this time.

They were almost like I pictured. Pale, dead looking, some of them had no skin at all. Many of them cloaked and looked like skeletons. It was like being in a courtroom with the leaders of the dead. They were all lined up in different ways. It was like a first, second, and third place in an award ceremony, except there were more than three places. There were twelve of them. A man was in the center and he looked familiar to me. He had white hair and pale white skin. I was haunted by this man. But I didn't know why.

He opened his eyes and walked down from the platform to me and the man I was carrying.

"I don't believe we've met. Although, Katherine has talked to me about a meddling hedgehog that was rebelling against the rules." I frowned and turned away from him. "Not that I can blame you though. It is a hard job you have after all, and it's very hard to get used to. I should know. I've been around over a thousand years. I'm Ren. I assume you're Sonic? Well, it's a pleasure." We shook hands. I knew right away Ren was the Leader of all the Grim Reapers.

I still wondered why he was so familiar to me. I threw the man on the ground.

"Delivery," I said smiling.

"At least Katherine didn't bring it for you this time."

"I'm sorry. That won't happen again." Why was I bothering to be polite?

"I would hope not. Hmmmm. His crimes and his deeds must be weighed. Sally!" A skeleton approached him and took the man from his arms.

"Weighed?" I asked.

"To see how much sin he has done. You can't get into Heaven with heavy sins. It would be unthinkable! We'd never be forgiven. I do feel bad sending some people away but it's my job. My fate. There's nothing else I can do." He sighed. "In time you will learn this and understand it."

"I already understand," I said.

He looked at me. "But you don't. Not yet. You haven't been dead long enough yet. You have ways to learn. You will get there, but not yet. But you will," he said smiling. "I have faith in you, even though we have just met."

He seemed different from all the reapers I had met. He was kind and yet he seemed sad. I didn't get why he seemed so familiar to me though. I feel like I know him from somewhere. But he was so sad and kind. He seemed to hate his job just I did, but maybe he was right. Maybe, I didn't know what 1000 years of this was. Maybe I would learn to understand, even though I knew I wouldn't. I hated this fate just as anyone. At least I have someone to relate to.

Ren took the man from the ground and walked over to one of the walls and gestured his hand in a way that made the wall disappear. In its place was a pair of huge golden scales. On one side there was a moon and on the other was a devil. I was seriously hoping that his 'sins' weren't enough to make him go to hell. Ren handed him to another woman and placed him on the scale with the devil. He went down really low. I felt myself sweating.

"His sins are very heavy. Let's hope that he'll be able to move on," Ren said.

"And if he doesn't?" I asked.

"You'll find out soon enough," Romeo said from behind leaning up against one of the columns.

I turned from him and looked at that man I had reaped. The thing Ren had called Sally took the man from the other scale and placed him on the other. He really didn't move the scale at all.

Ren sighed and lowered his head. "I guess that's it then." He looked towards Romeo. "Romeo, you know what to do! Open the gates!"

"Yes, master!" Romeo said. And he began chanting ancient words that I couldn't make out. But I knew one word he said. Hell hounds. I didn't know why but I knew that. Bright red light began coming out f the ground and I covered my eyes and then after awhile, it stopped and in its place was a huge black door, overflowing with dark black smoke. Romeo then changed from a white hedgehog to a demon. He opened the door and fire and the sounds of ghosts came overflowing out of it. Black hands surrounded the door and many ghosts started to come out of the door.

"Foolish mortal man!" he shouted over all the noise. "You are hearby sentenced to Hell due to your foolish ways in your life. You will remain 100 years doing hard labor in Hell to cleanse your sins. May the lord have mercy on your soul." He gestured his hand to the door and many long black hands began to drag him out the door. I could see nothing of him but the tears in his eyes and I heard his loud screams as they dragged him into hell. I saw him screaming to me for help, but there was nothing I could do to help him. They probably would have sent me in there after him. I mouthed I'm sorry and I turned my back to hide my shock in this and my doors slammed shut as soon as his hand was gone and the screaming stopped. I looked over at Ren in disbelief. He sighed.

"Glad that's over," he said sadly. "You may go now." He said to me.

I was shaking. "Where'd he go?" I said stuttering. That was the most horrific thing I had ever seen. You'd better get used to it, I told myself. You're going to be seeing it for a long time.

"Into Hell. Where He is. He must work off all his sins. I know what you're thinking, but there was no way I could have spared him. That man had no remorse in his heart. He was evil beyond all compare. I don't like sending people to hell, but it's my job. I can't let any evil get into such a sacred place as Heaven. They would destroy it and take it over. Hopefully, Sonic, one day I will have someone to take my place so I can go. But until then I have to protect the good people of the world and punish the bad."

I stared. "How do you know he was evil?"

He gave me a look.

"Seriously."

"Some Grim Reapers have powers. My power is to see into the hearts of people. Which is useful so we are sure we don't make any mistakes. But these years have grown on me, and since then, I have watched every single person I love die. The only thing that keeps me going is that I might be able to see them again. And I can't let evil rule the earth. We have enough fighting, I don't need more," he said sadly.

"That doesn't mean you have throw them into hell! Maybe they would be sorry if you give them a chance!" I shouted.

He placed a hand on my shoulder. "You have a kind heart ,Sonic. But that will surely get you into trouble. Perhaps we will meet again. Romeo will show the way out. Now please go." He turned his back and walked to the doors in the back, the two men in front of them opened the doors, he walked through them and the doors slammed behind him.

I sighed and followed Romeo out. Everything I had thought about Grim Reapers were wrong. Ren was really now the only one I had respect for. He was the only one I had met that hated his job as much as I did. It made me think, why is Katherine so mad all the time? Did something happen to her before she died? Something that scared her for life?

I walked down the alley and I watched as the door disappeared and I walked away, my shoes smashing the water. Then I realized, it started to rain. I pulled up my hood even though I knew it wouldn't do much for keeping me dry. But I didn't think of it, and honestly, I didn't care. I wanted today to be over. Seeing the start of hell scared me to any life I might have left in me. I was seriously hoping that that would never happen to me. It really was the first time I had been scared ever since I was murdered. I hope that I will never be thrown into hell. I don't think I would've been sent to hell. I hadn't done that much bad things to go into hell, so maybe I'd get a pass. But I was seriously wondering why Ren was so different from any of the Grim Reapers. The ones I had met were mean and very annoyed with their job. Ren was probably the saddest man I had ever met. He probably would've started to cry if he could. But now, he really wanted to move on. From that day forward, I never really criticized any of the Grim Reapers again. I guess you can't judge a book by its cover, I guess.

The rain was coming down really hard, and I was tired. I guess I would have to send a reply to Knuckles tomorrow. I had to get home and sleep, and try to get hell out of my head so I could focus. I walked out, it was really dark out, and I was getting soaked. I might as well try to make a run for it, but I was too tired. Think, Sonic, I told myself, Do you want to get wet, or be lazy and walk home? I thought about it for a minute. Then I decided it would be better if I try to make a run for it so I could sleep. So, I took a deep breath of exhaustion and was about to run off when I heard a scream. It was as if someone was being murdered or attacked. I walked out into the street out of the alley and looked in both directions until I heard the scream again. I ran towards the sound of the scream and stopped in my tracks. It was like I had seen this before.

I was running, it was raining hard, and someone was in peril. And right in front of me was a tall cloaked figure.

"Did you hear that?" I asked.

He turned to me and I looked behind him, and the figure on the looked familiar to me. And then the moon came up from behind the clouds and I looked in horror at the figure on the ground. It was Knuckles.

His body was on its side and his neck was covered in bite marks, all of them dripping with blood. He was barely breathing. I took a step back. My mouth was wide open and my eyes were filled with horror.

My nightmare had come true.

The man removed his hood and his skin was even paler than any Grim Reaper and his mouth was dripping with blood. And when he opened his eyes, I knew without a doubt that this dream I had had one night had come true. But how? I am a psychic or something?

"Yes," the man said licking his lips. "And it was delicious." He smiled cruely.

I clenched my teeth and balled my fists.

"You monster!" And I lunged at him.

He grabbed me and threw me to the ground. Wow. This guy was strong. I had to get Knuckles out of here but how?

"Ha! Think you're strong enough ,boy? I had 300 years on your ass new Grim Reaper! I guess you'll never actually get to see Heaven once I'm through with you!"

I stood up.

"Who are you?" I demanded. "What are you?"

"You'll find out," he said evilly as he lunged at my throat. He reminded of Shadow when he said that.

No. I was going to die again in misery. Well, at least I'd be out of this.

"Goodbye Knuckles." I said as I felt his teeth at my throat. This was the end all over again.

Or so I thought.

His teeth stopped and he groaned in pain as he fell to the ground. He then struggled in pain. I looked at him. He had a sort of spear in his chest. And someone took it out, and I looked up to who it was who saved me. It was Sam.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"You got lucky. If I hadn't been around the corner hearing the scream you'd be dead." He looked at Knuckles. "Oh dear. Not again."

He felt his neck. He sighed in relief as Knuckles moved his head to the side as he touched him.

"Oh, thank god. A few more minutes he would've been far beyond my reach." He then looked at me.

"Please, Sam. Help him." I begged, tears coming out of my eyes. I had been the one who swore to protect him and he was at near death. I didn't want him to be in the same state as me. They had lost one, I don't think they would take it if they lost Knuckles too.

"Did you know this man?" he asked. I nodded. He sighed. "Katherine would kill me. But, for your sake, Sonic, I promise he will live." He placed his hands on his chest and white lights began to come out of his hands. The wounds began to heal and the blood was gone. Knuckles took a deep breath and began breathing normally. He opened his eyes and looked at me.

"You." And then he collapsed again on the ground.

"How did you do that?" I asked in awe.

"That's what Grim Reapers do: we save good people, no matter if its from death or a bad last experience. And you, my friend, are lucky to be alive after facing one of those," he said. "These are some of the most dangerous things you will ever meet."

"What was that anyway?" I asked.

"Sonic, you were just attacked by our greatest enemy, the FD Legion. And again. You're lucky to be alive."

I looked at him in confusion as we walked into the night. I picked up Knuckles as he sliced the man who attempted to kill me. I guess he was right, and I owe him my life.


That's it! Hope you enjoyed it! Sorry for the wait!

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Kagomehater4ever