Chapter fourteen

Shadow opened his eyes and shot up in a cold sweat, finding himself in his bed. He glanced at the clock and it told him it was only five in the morning. Shadow sighed and got out of bed trying to remember how he even got home as it was all a blur.

"Shadow dear, where are you going?" Fay whispered as she turned around and looked over at her husband with sleepy eyes.

"Just to get a glass of water my love." Shadow softly whispered back as he glanced behind him with a faint smile.

"Ok dear." Fay replied then closed her eyes.

Shadow left the bedroom and walked down the hallway stopping outside his daughters bedroom. He opened the door and sighed sadly as it was empty and untouched since the morning of her abduction. Closing it he carried on towards the kitchen and flicked the light on when he got there. After sorting out a drink he looked at the calendar his wife liked to mark off the day when it was over and he widened his eyes in shock.

"What the hell? I was asleep for three days?" Shadow whispered in horror as he was running out of time in finding his daughter.

Taylor went missing for six days before her body was found and now Shadow only had less than two days left. Not only that but this also meant the guy would be looking for his next victim.

"That is it, we need to station undercover officers at the play park to see if we can find whoever is taking children away." Shadow said as he came up with a plan of action.

Not waiting for the working day to begin he quickly wrote a note for his wife then chaos controlled to his office and began to ring his task force team to come in now. It took an hour but all seven arrived and all looking tired and grumpy.

"Yes I know and if this works you can clock off early ok. Now I need all to stake out at the park for the next couple of days. I don't want any uniforms on display and do not draw attention to yourselves. This guy will be scouting for his next victim and if we can spot him then he will lead us to where my daughter is and where he has been keeping his victims. Any questions?" Shadow said with a serious look to all.

"Yeah Shadow it is just gone six in the morning, no one would be taking their kids to the park at this time. Couldn't this wait until later to announce this? I know you are highly concerned and desperate to find Lilith, heck we all are, but there is nothing we can do for another few hours." Knuckles sincerely said as he was the only one brave enough to voice his opinion to Shadow.

"I know, I know you are right. I'm sorry just go home and make sure you are all at that park by nine the latest. Remember no uniforms." Shadow sighed as he rubbed his temples then dismissed his team.

All but knuckles left the room.

"Shadow you need to go home and get some rest, you really don't look so good man. I'll call you when we have an update." Knuckles seriously said as he crossed his arms and stood in front of Shadow.

"I'm going to scout around the park out of sight. I will go home after the others arrive to take over." Shadow said with an annoyed expression, not liking others telling him what to do.

"Shadow you are seriously overdoing yourself and it will do no one any good if you…" Knuckles began to say with slight anger in his tone but was silenced by Shadow.

"I will what, go insane and run off hurting others out of rage and anger? Never going to happen Knuckles, I am so much better than the scum that resort to violence." Shadow seriously said through gritted teeth.

"We are all worried about you Shadow but I wont stop you from doing what you have to do. Just please don't over do it ok." Knuckles sighed out in defeat then watched Shadow teleport away.

Shadow appeared in the area away from the park by the start of the trees. It was light out thanks to it being summer and it was easy to see all around. Shadow began to look around then something caught his eyes. There was a bush that looked out of shape so he walked over to it so he could investigate. He slowly parted the bush and instantly teared up as his daughter was lying in the middle naked, covered in blood, semen and not breathing.

"N-no." Shadow sobbed as he grabbed her and cradled her in his arms, rocking as his heart began to shatter.

"Oh god no, please no." Shadow cried as he hugged Lilith close, not caring that he was being covered in her blood and whoever's body fluids covered her fragile form.

"Shadow please she is not real, you need to wake up." Maria softly said as she bend down and laid a hand on Shadows back.

"If it helps your friends in waking life are all worried about you Shadow, you need to break free and wake up." Maria sadly said as she retracted her hand and watched as Shadow lifted his head and looked at her.

"I…I don't know how." Shadow said with total helplessness on his features as he finally decided to believe Maria as this was far too nightmarish to be real.

"You need to concentrate and make yourself wake up." Maria smiled warmly down at Shadow.

"W-will she be there when I wake up? Will my daughter be alive?" Shadow desperately asked with a hopeful look in his teary eyes.

"Shadow you have to understand she was never real, your family were just planted in this dream to keep you happy along with this town and every event that you have been involved in. They don't exist in reality and I'm so sorry but you will remember every moment from this dream." Maria explained with a sad look and smile.

"O-ok." Shadow whispered then closed his eyes and really concentrated in waking up.

Shadow opened his eyes and found he was still where he was and that nothing happened. He was still cradling his dead daughter in his arms and Maria was no where to be seen. Taking a deep breath he picked up his daughter and stood to his feet. He closed his eyes as the light summers wind blew through his quills then gasped, opening his eyes as he could have sworn he heard the wind calling out his name.

"Shadow…" The wind whispered in Shadows ear again but this time so much more clearer.

Shadow looked around and faced the direction the wind was blowing in then widened his eyes when a strange light appeared. He stared in aw for a few seconds then he noticed the lack of weight in his arms. Shadow looked down to see his daughters body had vanished and he was no longer covered in blood and bodily fluids.

"So it is all true, I really am in a dream state of some kind." Shadow whispered with a sad frown as he began to remember life out of this dream and how unhappy he was there compared to in here.

"Shadow, wake up please." The wind blew in Shadows ear as clear as day and Shadow finally recognised who it was.

"F-Faker?" Shadow raised a brow as he looked to the strange light that was expanding towards him.

Shadow took in a deep breath and decided to walk towards the light. His heart was pounding in his chest as he was getting a little anxious about leaving but knew he had to. He would rather be in reality than live in a dream world where he would have to deal with his loss. Shadow stopped and closed his eyes as they light began to surround him with a gently warmth. A faint smile formed on Shadows muzzle as he could feel something happening and himself finally waking up.

(Sory for the very slow update but it is finally coming to an end end. Please tell me what you think by reviewing and thanks for reading...)