Chapter 13

This will be the luckiest chapter yet! I'll make sure of it, bruh!

Wraith was looking really cool when he looked both directions in a matter of seconds. He could see a lot of things instantaneously that no mere mortal could on a regular day. It surprised people from all over the globe when someone was this good at using his eyes like a valiant winner. How was this? Well, maybe it was Knuckles's spirit being passed on into yaboi. It makes a lot of sense since Wraith was a perfectionist with all of his being. It also helped that the kid was a pretty neat individual.

"Where is that guy?" wondered Wraith in an aloud way. He turned to Ken and Kit who were following him closely. "Can you guys do something and keep your eyes open for him?"

Kit shrugged in a special way. "We have been looking accurately, but have found nary a soul, Wraith," he said flatly.

"Enoch is so totally missing." Wraith did a growl in his mouth and expelled gaseous anger. He then kicked over a bucket and it spilt water on the ground. "That is so stupid! That bucket had liquid known as water yet it ain't got an accompanying mop!" He punched a wall in his frustration.

Ken smirked at the situation because he suggested it. "Enoch's a good friend to me so you don't have to worry about a permanent disappearance," the crude replacement Knuckles species reassured.

"Dartmouth…" Wraith kicked the wall with a judging slap of his dominant toe.

Kit was concerned, but believed in Ken's thinking too. He thought that Wraith may be getting too over-reactive now. He turned to Wraith and placed a wise hand on the lad's shoulder. "Remember all the zen, man."

Wraith blinked twice and thought about his life. It was cool being him and his socks reminded him of the pristine living conditions of yore. He cracked a light grin at Kit and stopped feeling like a kicker. He just sneaked around more professionally and peered past every corner with brighter hope in his eyes.

Kit smiled at the goodness he had done and Ken looked at him too. Ken was a bit envious though. It was one thing to be Wraith, but to be so emotionally accepted by him was a true blessing. Ken wanted to be admired by Wraith just as Kit was. This might be impossible in the future though since Wraith was expanding his amazing life by an exponential rate while his own charisma was only increasing linearly. Kit was already legendary, so there was certainly no hope to think of.

Wraith took a step back from leading his pack and grabbed a hold of the two by a shoulder each. "We must hide now!" he whispered in a quick and strict fashion. Something concerning had just concerned his attitude shift. It was kind of scary to the two guys since Wraith was known to punch people (even allies) when his emotion were unbalanced.

Wraith pulled his pals into the corner and they calmed down to prevent seeing. Wraith had heard some heavy duty footsteps coming from the area next. It was apparent that a serious issue would arise if they were not careful. This reminded Wraith of a bad day when your socks are supposed to be put in the laundry hamper, but you forget and are left with no fresh socks; you then have to wear the ugly, smelly ones. I mean, Wraith had some stench-filled bad boys hugging onto his tarsals and drooping down to his toes, but even he knew that month-old socks were hideous to get on your feet when you fel strong urges to be neat and tidy. It would be like soaking your feet in a cat's litter box. Who would want that other than idiots with no cares for cleanliness? Cleanliness was next to hedginess after all, as Wraith would always instruct his followers.

The footsteps got closer and they sounded heavy. It was getting frightening as the closer sounds drew near. Ken was about to scream for his mum, but he decided against it because that wouldn't be what Pohatu from Bionicle would do; that man would just kick rocks and be done with it.

Wraith gave Kit the look and Kit gave an understanding follicle of evidence in his brilliant terrapin eyes. Wraith was going to give up their position now, but not in a bad way. Reckless, yes, but the revelation would be tailored to match the current situation properly. Now was not the time to be a complete ninny like the weaklings would. Wraith had a hot reputation to uphold anyhow.

Moments later, Wraith jumped out of hiding with Kit and Ken right by his side. Kit was on the left and Ken was on the right. Wraith screamed like Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, and Hitmon Top all at once and delivered a powerful blow to the approaching dude's nose. The "pow" sound effect was harsh and the newcomer toppled to the ground, writhing in agony.

It was Enoch the Snake of all people. Just the man they were all looking for.

Wraith grimaced at the sight of the hurt ally and facepalmed with an eerie sense of vexation wrapping around his neck. "This pleb…" the bold Hedgehog muttered. He kicked the fallen snake in his robotic shin and barked at him to rise. "Stop being such a baby and look at me straight in the eyes, Enoch. Where in the world have you been? The guys and I have been searching high and low for your sorry tail. Looks like you just couldn't wait to disappoint us again, huh?"

Enoch rubbed his sore fleshy face with his robotic hand. He arose and looked Wraith straight in the eyes, just as had been commanded of him. "Bottom feeder!" Enoch roared bitterly. "I've been through a stressful time. You haven't any right to just go on and nag me to no end!"

"I do have a right. My right is being Wraith. Or have you just forgotten just how vital I am to Empire. Without me there would be no Empire." Kit and Ken nodded in agreement. It was getting very tiresome to be a part of this repetitive ritual of shenanigans by now.

"Just sock him once more and ignore the rest, man," said Kit anxiously. "We all know he deserves it based on your code of ethics, but we need it done fast in order to get back to the true mission at hand."

Wraith frowned, but agreed. He wanted to wail on Enoch some more and maybe get his blood out of his body to show the snake his place, but it was a foolish time for it. The team had to leave pronto. It might still be a successful mission if they managed to do it right. They all got seen, save maybe Ken, but at least they could leave now with bad happenings to the opponents. The Treasure Hunters were not going anywhere any time soon with such a monumental blow to their assets. Wraith shrugged and crossed his arms. "I don't even feel like hitting you, Enoch. You're not worth that kind of time and effort."

"I don't want to fight you in the first place, Wraith," said Enoch weakly. "I'm so tired from my own battle."

"You had a battle, bro?" asked Ken.

"Yes, another Treasure Hunter. His name was Bokkun and I totally did something that I believe to have never been a part of my circuitry until now. It's a long story, and time is of the essence. We need to get going."

Wraith hated the fact that Enoch agreed with him. He wanted Enoch to stop doing that. It was very hypocritical when Enoch did that. He turned to Enoch and brought a heavy fist down onto his helm. Enoch flinched and once again toppled over. "You're a dump stain…" Wraith grumbled as he turned away.

Enoch got back to his mechanical feet and dusted himself off. He noticed Wraith walking away with his hands in his pockets. "I don't understand why you hate me, but I'll take it that I will learn things later that will justify it."

"No you won't, Enoch," Wraith stopped dead in his tracks and tilted his head back to glance at the serpentine machine. "You're just the worst person from Empire I know. You're almost as bad as my dad when it comes to people I know as a whole. I want to break your spine and sell it on eBay because you have no worth when your just sitting around me. I think you smell weird too. I hate the smell of robots and Snakes. All of those things should be disposed of in this universe."

Kit nodded in agreement, but made sad expressions on his face to Enoch. He knew it must have been a very depressing thought to behold when it came to the egos shared between the two. He knew all about how useless Enoch was, especially when one considered the robotic component that had to be taken into account. Kit just wanted everyone to get along though. Maybe if Enoch wasn't such a stuck-up duke face, the world would be a better place. Who knows, maybe if Enoch was a better person, Sonic would miraculously become a good guy and kiss and hug his son like a true father would. That would be so cool, but it would never ever happen because Enoch was a jerk forever.

"Well, Wraith…" mumbled Enoch. "I will follow you."

"Good," said Wraith with scoffing throats. "At least you're not all stupid. I still hate you to the core, but you're learning. Maybe I'll only break your spine and keep it in the garden as fertilizer for my begonias. You know, instead of selling it on eBay."

Enoch looked down at the floor and then to Ken. Ken looked away from his good friend. It was apparent that Enoch had really hurt everyone's feelings now. Maybe it was best for Enoch to lay low, keep quiet, and basically just stop existing for a little while.

Enoch was out of the way now. It was now a good time to continue maneuvering stealthfully through the lair under the divine powers of Wraith's good intents. It was only a matter of time before another tough foe would rear their ugly head into the scene. Wraith and his team had to be ready to confront anyone… or anything.