Chapter 12: Attack In The Forest
Meanwhile, Shadow was already out of the tunnel and was running. He ran into a forest that was the furthest away form the castle, knowing that Mephiles' vampires would come after him. Shadow looked around and found a perfect place to rest. He started to make traps to slow or stop the vampires, and hoped they would work. As Shadow worked, he started to get hungry and caught a rabbit, then drank its blood and killed it. Shadow grimaced; not the best tasting blood, but he was satisfied. It took the vampires a while to find the forest Shadow was in. They triggered the traps and most of them were killed. Mephiles screeched in rage as his coven was killed.
That bastard, he thought as he looked around the forest. I'll kill him.
He ran off into the forest, looking for Shadow. The vampire was getting tired, so Shadow sat down to rest for a little bit.
Why is he after me? I hate him, Shadow thought.
In the distance he can hear the vampires running around the forest, looking for him. Shadow got up and started to run some more until he couldn't hear them, and turned into a wolf to make his running easier. But as Shadow ran through the forest he saw Sonic's grave, and whimpered before walking up to it. Sonic's ghost appeared before the black wolf, and smiled.
In another part of the forest, a vampire ran back to Mephiles. "My lord, the group you sent is almost all gone."
"What do you mean almost gone?" Mephiles demanded.
The vampire started to look scared. "My lord, he set traps. We couldn't even find them to avoid them."
Mephiles growled and killed a vampire that was near. "What else?"
"We are slowly losing his trail."
The lead vampire glared down at the other, angry and disappointed. He turned around and order the rest to go out there and find Shadow. He turned to the vampire that reported to him. "Go; I will join you soon."
The vampire bowed and left. Mephiles had his fill in blood and then left to join the others. As Sonic and Shadow were talking, they heard noises. Sonic turned to where the vampires were coming from.
"I have to go," Shadow told the ghost. "Slow them down."
He turned into a wolf and ran off. A few minutes later, all of the vampires and Mephiles appeared. Mephiles growled and noticed that Shadow was not there. Sonic stepped in front of them. Mephiles was shocked to see Sonic standing there.
You will not succeed; he is long gone now, Sonic announced.
"How are you here? I made sure that I killed you!" Mephiles asked, shocked.
Sonic ignored him and started to gather energy. Once enough energy was built up he had a sharp stick in his hand. I will not let you hurt Shadow.
The lead vampire growled, and looked at his vampires. "Get rid of this damn ghost! I shall go after Shadow!"
He vanished into thin air, along with some other vampires. The ones who stayed glared at the ghost, and attacked. Sonic smirked and channeled his energy into the stick, making it change into a large stake. He threw the stake at a vampire, which hit it in the heart. The vampire died and turned into dust. The ghost chuckled, then attacked even more. As he did, he killed them all. Sonic flickered; he didn't have enough energy to stay visible.
Good luck, Shadow the Hedgehog, he said, and then disappeared.
Mephiles was dodging parts of the traps that his coven activated. He was still getting hit by some of it, and hissed in pain. Eventually, he saw an abandoned building and walked in, then saw his dead coven.
So he is here. I will kill him for betraying me, Mephiles thought, and then hid in a corner, waiting for Shadow.
The black wolf panted as he ran across the forest; he couldn't hear the vampires anymore, and hoped they were gone. Shadow saw an abandoned building, and turned back to normal, sighing in relief. He had to rest; dawn was almost here. Once he ran into the house, he hid in one of the rooms one the first floor. Just then, he was sent flying in to a wall. There stood Mephiles with cuts and bruises all over.
"You think you can kill me? Then think again, Shadow. I am the most powerful vampire ever," he bragged.
Shadow spat at Mephiles and slapped him on the cheek. "I will end you, and when I do I will be free."
He growled, and lunged at the lead vampire. As they fought, Mephiles hissed and scratched Shadow across the chest. Shadow hissed back and turned into a wolf, lunging at Mephiles. The lead vampire did also, and they pounced on each other. Eventually, Shadow ran away from Mephiles, gravely injured by the lead vampire. Mephiles followed Shadow but was slowed down by injuries as well. As Shadow clutched his wounds, he cringed in pain.
Sonic, I am dying. I am sorry for not fulfilling my promise to you, Shadow thought as he leaned against a tree.
Shadow, listen to your heart and stop listening to your hatred. Follow the river, Sonic's voice sounded in the wind.
The vampire closed his eyes and calmed down, then ran off to the river. Mephiles' claws hit the tree were Shadow's head was. He was now using stuff to throw at Shadow to slow him down but Shadow kept dodging the attacks. Shadow reached the river with Mephiles way behind. He looked up the river and saw something up ahead. Mephiles was using up energy as he tried to kill Shadow form a far distance. Shadow saw it was a sunny clearing, and noticed where he was. This was the spot where he met Sonic. Shadow was hit by a flashback.
It was September of 1790 in Transylvania, and young Shadow was by the river, moping. It was sunny out, and he had just witnessed his family being murdered. Tears fell down his face, and he started to cry. Just then, he heard a voice.
"Hi, my name is Sonic. What's yours?" Shadow turned around and saw a smiling blue hedgehog. He grunted and turned away. "Oh, are you shy?" Sonic asked. Shadow ignored him. The hedgehog frowned then smiled. "I guess not. Hm, I know you are upset. I guess then I have to make you smile."
"Sonic is it?" Shadow asked. The hedgehog nodded. "Can you leave me alone?"
"Nope, being sad and alone is no fun. But when you have friends then you're having too much fun to be sad."
Shadow glared at Sonic. "Why are you so cheerful?"
Sonic blinked and said, "Because today is great and I made a new friend."
The black hedgehog blinked, then wiped his tears away and smiled. "My name is Shadow."
"Well, Shadow, here this is my good luck charm; I want you to have it."
The blue hedgehog handed Shadow a pointed diamond cross.
"Thank you," Shadow said, taking the cross and looking at it. "Why did you give it to me?"
"Because you need it more then I do," Sonic answered.
Shadow blinked and noticed he was by a tree. He bent down and pulled the cross out. It started to burn him, but he didn't care. Shadow stood back up as Mephiles stormed in. He looked at Shadow, and then saw the cross and hissed.
"I will come back and kill you. But for now I will leave you," Mephiles said and left.
The black hedgehog got up and stumbled out of there.
