Sight beyond the doors was horrifying. Blood stained every wall, maimed corpses were lying on the ground, some were missing chunks of meat. Ebony hedgehog kept walking without being disturbed by it. As he continued he noticed that one unfortunate rat was still breathing. He saw Shadow and slowly reached for him.

-P-Please... Kill... Me... - he said gargling his own blood. He took a knee by the dying rat.

-Don't worry... Soon everything will be over... - he whispered grabbing him by sides of his head. - Sleep well... - he added breaking his neck. Sighing, he stood up and proceeded to search the rooms. In the distance he heard screams of the mad Mobians. He knew that sooner or later he will encounter them but it didn't make it any easier to think he WILL have to kill them. The whole place became more like a labyrinth because many of the doors were stuck, mostly blocked by chairs, desks and other furniture that was in the medical wing.

-They must've tried to barricade themselves. - he thought, trying to find another way in. As he walked along the corridors he saw many bodies and the further he went, the more mutilated they were. That sight would make a normal person flee in fear or at least stop them from going deeper into the wing. Finally Shadow encountered a group of crazy Mobians. As soon as they saw him, they lunged towards him. He was dodging each blow and retaliated with vicious blows to the chest area, arms, legs and head. With his heavy boots every hit he made to the head, warm blood splashed his face, skull fragments were flying along with other broken bones as he revelled in brief moment of carnage that ensued. His inner killer was enjoying it. He once wouldn't be able to control him, but as years went on he managed to restrain him and only use him at the time of danger.

Odolayla was sitting by the doors, listening. Silver was quietly sobbing while hugging Miyuki.

-There there... - she whispered, while stroking his quills to calm him down.

-I hear steps. - violet hedgehog muttered. - Try to make him silent.

-He's just a child, I'm doing all I can. - honey fox looked irritated at her. - He went through a lot in the last few days so cut him some slack.

-We will die if they hear us. - she growled through her teeth. She picked up her radio. - Avita, we need information, I don't know how much time we have left.

There was a moment of only static coming out of radio.

-I have information Shadow is already in the medical wing. - she heard amber fox say.

-Good... I hope he hurries up.

Ebony hedgehog occasionally encountered a single Mobian that tried to attack him throughout the whole med-bay, but made quick work of them. He didn't search every single room, but was bringing doors down in those which he did. As he neared the hiding place of hedgehogs and a fox, they grew frantic. Odolayla stood in front of the doors, ready to fight back. As Shadow brought down doors to their room a louder thud was made, mixed with breaking wood as chair that was holding them was destroyed. Violet hedgehog released a sigh of relief and let her guard down.

-Good thing you're he- - then she noticed how he looked. His whole face was covered in blood and so were his clothes. The scent of it was strongly coming off him. - What the hell happened!? No. You know what? I don't want to know. Let's just get out of here.

-Very well. - he said stepping aside. He looked at Miyuki and saw little hedgehog in her arms. His eyes widened when he noticed who that was. Silver was looking at him from the corner of his eye, tightly hugging honey colored fox. Black hedgehog shook his head. And coldly said while stepping out of the room. - Come on, move.

He bumped into Odolayla who stood frozen in place.

-W-We've got a problem. - she said in shaky voice. As he looked up at what was in front of them he saw a huge group of mad Mobians. Yuki stepped out of the room and saw one that was standing on the front. Her jaw slightly dropped as she recognized the orange colored female fox.

-M-mum... - she dropped to her knees almost letting Silver go.

Shadow walked towards the horde with intent to kill.

-You know I can't let them live. - he said having heard what fox said. She just hung her head, not wanting to see this. Her tears dropped on blood stained floor. She tried to block out the noises that were coming out of the encounter. Fighting lasted few minutes and when the last one fell ebony hedgehog looked at Odolayla. - Get her out of here.

She just nodded her head and went forward with Miyuki holding Silver with Shadow behind them. As they got out, Paria was already waiting for her friend. When she saw the state she was in she quickly ran to her. Honey fox put grey hedgehog and tried to hide her tears. She was shaking and sobbing. She knew now how boy she just held had to feel.

-Yuki, what happened? - turquoise hedgehog asked.

-M-My mum... S-She was one of them... H-He had to kill her... - she could barely speak.

Then Paria noticed Shadow and was horrified by his look. His whole fur soaked in blood as well as clothes. She approached him not really sure of what she was doing.

-Thank you for bringing her back... - she said quietly and quickly walked away, taking Yuki with her, Silver walking beside them. Black hedgehog smiled a bit looking at him. He knew that the future might've been somehow changed for him, giving him better life. Maybe it was Doctor's absence, maybe it was the Time Eater itself, but that didn't matter for now.

-You should get cleaned up. - said Odalayla walking up to him. - Come to my apartment, I'll get your clothes clean. And thanks for coming to get us.

He just nodded and followed her. They were passed by a small group of guards that were going to secure the medical wing. They would have no problems with that, Shadow was sure he killed every single frenzied Mobian that was there.

As they arrived at Odolayla's place the news of what happened at medical bay have spread already through the word of mouth. Most people who saw Shadow were afraid of him to some extent, but were reassured by those who recognized him that he's on their side. Black hedgehog took off his clothes going before going into the shower and violet one threw his clothes into a washing machine to clean them of blood that soaked into them. Shadow's fur was dry already, blood buried deep within it. It would take some time to clean it all. His chest fur that was pure white just few hours ago was now stained with Mobian blood. It was a completely unnecessary waste of life. Ebony hedgehog wanted to make sure that the blood spilled by his hand would be paid for by humans responsible for creation of the virus that caused that madness. He leaned against a wall, warm water splashing his face. It was a long time since he felt such warmth on his skin. As his fingers were going through his now wet fur he was reminded of how someone in the past was running her fingers through that black fur. He longed to feel it once more even if he knew it wasn't possible.

Meanwhile Paria and Yuki came back to their place, taking Silver along with them. Honey colored fox could not bear to leave him alone after what she felt. That made her understand his sorrow and sort of connected to him.

-So you want to take care of him? - turquoise hedgehog asked.

-Of course, he's an orphan, he has no one to turn to. - she replied, holding little hedgehog close to her. She was still shaken by what happened in medical wing and it was easily visible. Tears were still running down her muzzle, she couldn't stop them. Paria didn't know what to do aside from talking with her. Miyuki's father didn't take the information easily either and he was visited by hedgehog's parents. They came to talk to him like their daughter did with his. Silver understood what happened but cried along with fox that held him. It was his way of coping with his own loss.

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