Chapter 14: Calm and Cool

"Hey Sonic." Knuckles said in an unusually happy tone.

"Oookay red, hey." Sonic replied awkwardly. "Knuckles, I think it's time we talked about what has happened."

"About what are you talking about?"

"You know what I mean. Using the master emerald for transportation, guiding me along the special zone apparently, and trying to save me from that traitor Silver."

"I'm sorry dude, but I have no idea what you are referring to." Knuckles spoke, still keeping the same, cheery voice without any fluctuation in his voice.

"Knuckles, is there a reason you're talking funny."

"Sonic, I think it's just best if you…"

"Knuckles, stop acting so strange, or you're going to get a fist full of my knuckles."

"Sonic, I can't stop talking like this."

"What are you saying man, speak some plain old English."

"You really are a stupid fool," Knuckles said, making sure to maintain a friendly smile that quite contrasted to what he was saying. "Don't you realize that they're monitoring me?"

Sonic stepped closer toward Knuckles.

"Okay, keep talking."

"If I change my tone, they will find me. They will realize that I don't belong. He will be there."

"Who?"

"If I say, it will be too late."

"Darn Knuckles, you really have to learn to help people in easier ways."

"Now listen and listen well. Sonic, you are an idiot... I told you to get to the top of the island, not to jump off it. You have to go back. The super warp ring is still there, it's just hidden. Don't believe this New Mobotropolis crap for another second."

"Wait, you mean that…"

"Exactly, another phony stage. Another illusion. Once again you're being deceived."

Sonic let out a large groan. "So what do you purpose I do, leave now?"

"No," Knuckles voices rose a slight bit. Realizing his mistake, he composed himself once more. "That's too soon. For now, stay here, and try to pretend that this is real. You'll know when to escape."

"People always say that Knuckles, but to be honest, judging how things have been going for me, I don't think I'll being making the smartest of moves. I mean… Tails."

"I can't tell you how relived I am that you did that."

"What?" Sonic forgot about remaining clam. "You… you set me up? You wanted me to kill Tails. Knuckles, I swear that I'm going to…"

But Knuckles had already vanished. Sonic realized that from the moment of his outburst, Knuckles had started to run.

As Sonic was about to continue his walk, he felt a hand placed on his shoulder.

"Sonic dear, who were you talking to?" Said Bernadette.

Quickly speaking, Sonic called out, "It was no one. I was just yelling to myself, that's all."

"Well, if that's over, why don't you come back home. Your yelling had me worried."

"Okay."

Sonic began to walk back to his house, even more unsure of himself then when he had left.

As he got into bed once more, Sonic suddenly realized how tired he was. The moment his body made contact with the bed, he collapse. His eyes felt like heavy sandags. His arms and legs felt like rocks, he was unable to move. He stirred for a moment longer, then fell asleep.

The next morning, Sonic awoke abruptly.

"I have to get out of here, now."

Sonic crept out of bed, ever so quietly. He made sure that his feet gently and gracefully made contact with the floor, without a so much as a single, quiet movement. A few drops of sweat dripped down Sonic's face as he tiptoed across the room and slowly turned the knob. With just a little more noise than Sonic would have liked, the door was open and Sonic gracefully glided through the hall towards the front door. Suddenly, he heard a faint noise behind him, and swiftly turned around. There was nothing out of the ordinary to be seen, just the empty kitchen. Sonic finally made his way to the edge of his house, opened the door, and raced outside the house he once felt safe in.

Sonic first impression of New Mobotropolis was the bareness of the city. There was no one to be found, not a soul to be seen. Granted it was still early morning, for the sun had barely cracked open its view to let the first light stream in. There was a certain amount of peacefulness to the scene that Sonic just could not appreciate as his feelings were more troubled.

He sped through the city, never thinking of turning back, not wanting to endure the rest of the day in this once beloved city. As he reached the front gate, the figure of Nicole emerged.

"Sonic, what are you doing here?" questioned Nicole.

"I need to get out of here for a while, get some fresh air."

Nicole eyes squinted as she closely examined Sonic.

"Why do you have to leave? You plenty of room to roam about here in New Mobotropolis. Why be in unnecessary harm if you can avoid it?"

"uhhh…. Look Nicole, I just really want to meet up with Sally. Just let me out will you."

Finally, after a long pause, Nicole reluctantly opened the front gate, clearing the way for Sonic.

At the first sight of daylight, Sonic walked out of the city. He was outside the cold sickness of New Mobotropolis, and emerged into the warm basking light of freedom. As he ran through path leading to the forest, he let out a sign of relief, and continued on his way.

A single thought had been manifesting in Sonic's mind since he had woken up. One idea that drove him to rashly heed Knuckles warning and make a break for freedom. One blister of neural connection in the deep recesses of Sonic that lead him down this pace.

Currently, Sonic saw the outline of the Great forest, a place that once held his dearly beloved home. He scurried into the forests' opening that, when he had first come through the other way, had filled him with hope. As the clusters of trees surrounded him, Sonic impatiently went scanning about. He spent hours searching, looking for it. It, that thing that had so deeply concerned him. The item that was as blue as the morning sky. The treasured jewel that had started all the trouble.

No such luck; the search was in vain... And then he saw it. It came so close to eluding him, it was almost surreal. A tiny glimmer was seen from the corner of one of the trees. Sonic turned towards it, bend down, and sure enough it was there, starring him right there in the face, "The necklace."