REALLY sorry 'bout this late chapter. Been a bit too busy round here but I'm back for good now. Finally finished at last =). Enjoy!

The police had surrounded the council building. Michaels was taken inside for a brief session of questioning before being escorted out, followed by Johnson who hung his head in dejection and shame, refusing to meet anyone's eye. Daniel and I watched from the entrance as both were put into police cars and transported away. Daniel just stood beside me, arms folded and seemingly unmoved by everything he saw, completely detached while I watched everything in a strange, curious interest. I almost felt sorry for Michaels and Johnson before I remembered what they had done.
When the police cars had gone, both of us were left outside in the fading daylight. A cool wind blew softly down the street and caused a chill in the air. Daniel sighed and I heard him recite softly, 'the dark and secret love , does thy life destroy.'

"Someone I know?"

"It's from a poem." He smiled at me. "William Blake. You should read more poetry like that. Gives you a different view on the world, makes you more cultured."

I nodded as if I was agreeing. Daniel sounded like he wasn't really interested in our conversation. I waited for whatever came next. The next time he spoke, something in his voice seemed worried. "It'll all get in the papers now and there will be chaos for at least a month until they find a new leader. Not that it's the main problem. This isn't the end" He smiled again, as if it was just a passing thought and, for some reason, it made me suspicious. "At least we got our reward in the end. Split between three of us, we made a handsome profit and all in the new bank account we opened."

We both nodded but Daniel had more to say. "Strangely enough, Malcolm, half your share was missing when I checked it. You wouldn't like to tell me where it went."

I tried not to wince. I had spent a while afterwards thinking he hadn't noticed. I didn't know why I didn't want to tell him the truth. "I spent some of it."

After the doubt I had expressed, it was Daniel's turn to be suspicious. "Oh yes. What on, if I may ask?"

"Just a...few bits and pieces. It's...a...surprise, yes a surprise." I tried to sound sincere, praying that Daniel couldn't hear my heart pounding. Eventually he shrugged and went to walk back down the street. As he walked away, he paused and turned his head round. "What are you going to do with the money?"

I was honest for once and said I didn't know. Daniel nodded slightly "It's just...Davink and I were thinking of renting a place. You know, somewhere to stay and settle down." He paused for a moment. "Want to come and look around? It's a nice place we've chosen."

"Not tonight. Maybe later." I replied quietly. Daniel continued walking and I watched him disappear round the street corner. I didn't really want to tell Daniel about the money, after all it was mine. I just hoped that Vector spent the money on something sensible after the hospital bills. It was then that someone came up behind me. It was Sonic.
He smiled as I turned to face him. "Heard you were around. How's things?"

I shrugged. "Same old. Few details to sort out."

Sonic smirked as he produced a letter. "Someone left this for you." I took the letter and Sonic walked away but not before he said in a sincere voice, "Thanks...for everything." And he too went away. I glanced at the letter. It was short, brief an to the point.
Don't think I've forgot this! I will have my own back. Look out for me.
Adri (or Princess Adrianna the Dark Vixen, if you prefer)
P.S: Tell Davink I want a re-match.

The rest, as they say, is history. The exams came and went in a surprisingly short time (which seemed to drag on forever and the time came when I left my school for the holidays. College was just round the corner, but two months holiday came first.
I did allow myself time off...for the trial of Johnson and Michaels, to check up on the others. Amy fully recovered in no time and went like nothing had happened as did everyone else. Rouge even talked about turning over a new leaf afterwards although no one was prepared to take it seriously. The next few weeks proved to be peaceful and evil-free.

And yet, a dark cloud hung over us and we found ourselves waiting for the next blow. When it did come, it took us all by surprise. If someone had told us of the chaos that would happen in the next two months, I would never believe it. How a birthday turned to a three day siege, how Knuckles would be tricked into joining the wrong side for the right reasons, how three human beings turned from unlikely heroes to the most hated creatures in Sonic's world.

But that's another story...