Chapter 26: Surviving and Escape

Kia finally pulled out a weapon out of her bag. It looked like a pen, but there was a blue button on top of the white writing utensil. The spider-like ghosts were getting closer to her as they kept their mouths open with drool. Quickly as possible, Kia held the top of her pen and closed her eyes. Then she pressed the blue button hardly. A huge flash was seen. Then the spider-like ghosts screamed in pain as they vanished. Basically, it was Kia's flash pen to work on ghosts and evil spirits. She opened her eyes and looked around. Successfully, she was able to get rid of those pests. She zipped her bag back up and held it on her back as she stood up. But then, she heard a scream. It sounded like it was Tails. Possibly, he could be in trouble.

"Hang on, Tails, I'm coming!" Kia yelled out as she took off.

Back with Knuckles and Rouge, they ran as fast as they could. Rouge had to make sure that she doesn't drop Shadow because he was still weak to stand up. Still, what was wrong with him anyway? Just then, Knuckles stopped and Rouge stopped also.

"What's wrong?" Rouge asked.

"I can sense some presence somewhere", Knuckles said as he took off again.

"Hey, wait up!" Rouge called out as she followed him.

Back with Sonic, he kept his eyes closed and his ears plugged up as the demons continued laughing at him. He was about to explode. He just couldn't take it any much longer. Slowly, he dropped down to his knees and let some tears fall out of his eyes. Was he actually buying all of those lies? Continuing to laugh at him, the demons began to walk to him slowly. They had their fangs coming out of their top gums as their claws popped out of their finger tips. Apparently, they were ready to eat the blue hedgehog.

Luckily, Knuckles and Rouge appeared in the scene. They gasped as they noticed that Sonic wasn't fighting back. As Rouge stood back, Knuckles rubbed his hands together and formed some lightning in his palms. Then he charged at the evil hedgehog-like demons and launched his fist. The demons looked back as they noticed him.

"THUNDER FIST!" Knuckles shouted and then he electrocuted all seven of those demons. After he killed them, they disappeared into dust.

Sonic opened his eyes and looked unplugged his ears. He looked up and saw that Knuckles just saved his life. But was that really him? At first, he had a small doubt, but he believed that it was really him. Sadly and happily, Sonic rose up and ran to Knuckles for a hug. He cried as he squeezed the red echidna hardly.

"Dude, let go!" Knuckles' voice squeaked as his face turned purple.

"Thank you so much!!" Sonic sobbed gladly.

"Lighten up, you crybaby!" Knuckles pounded Sonic with all of his might.

"Ouch!" Sonic rubbed the bruise on his head. "You hit harder than Kia!"

"Are you ok?" Rouge ran up to him.

"Yeah, I'm fine-," Sonic spoke but then noticed something. "What's wrong with Shadow?" he pointed to the black hedgehog that was being carried on Rouge's back.

"I dunno", Rouge shrugged her shoulders. "We found him on the ground just seconds after we escaped some dark room."

"Yo, faker, wake up", Sonic tapped Shadow's shoulder softly.

"…" the black hedgehog didn't respond.

"Uh-oh", Sonic looked at Shadow worriedly.

"Is he dead?!" Rouge gasped worriedly.

"Calm down", Knuckles spoke. "Let me see him."

Gradually, Rouge got Shadow off of her back and handed him to her new boyfriend. Knuckles laid Shadow down on his back and felt his head. He hissed in pain as he took his hand off of Shadow's hot forehead and shook it in the air to cool it off. Then he checked the pulse on Shadow's neck carefully. Something bad was happening to him.

"Oh, my god", Knuckles widened his eyes in fear. "I can barely feel some pulse!"

"Shadow, no!" Rouge got down on her knees and shook the black hedgehog sadly.

"We gotta do something", Sonic spoke. "Before it's too late."

"Yeah, but what about the others?" Rouge turned to him.

"We'll make it out", Sonic said with faith and courage. "Like I always said: "All for one, and one for all."

"Yeah", Rouge and Knuckles nodded with joy.

All of the sudden, there was a bright light. The three opened their eyes and looked around. This time, they were surrounded by floating mirrors that showed their reflections. The floor was made out of glass and they could hardly see the place maze below them that they just escaped. Were they on the last floor? Are they about to find their way out after all? Sonic and Knuckles stood up as Rouge took Shadow and carried him on her back again.

"Now where are we?" Sonic asked.

"Who knows", Knuckles sighed. "We better find the rest of our group." Speedily, he took off running and Sonic and Rouge followed him from behind.

Tails covered his eyes as he shivered in fear. The snake-like ghosts continued to hiss as they were coming up towards him. They opened their mouths because they were ready to take a big bite of his souls. But then, Kia appeared in front of the scaredy fox and held her flash pen in position. She closed her eyes and then pushed the top of it hardly. The pen flashed and destroyed the evil ghosts. The snake-like spirits hissed in pain as they vanished. Kia panted exhaustedly as Tails opened his eyes. He gasped in shock.

"Kia, you're here!" Tails smiled thankfully.

"No problem, kid", Kia continued to pant as she looked back. "You ok?"

"I'm fine now, thanks to you", Tails stood up.

"Hey!" a familiar voice called out.

"Eh?" Tails and Kia looked on ahead.

Knuckles, Sonic, and Rouge ran up to them as they panted. Then they reunited with Tails and Kia. Tails gave Knuckles and Rouge a big hug as Sonic and Kia looked away from each other again. But then, Kia noticed that Shadow was unconscious and was held onto Rouge's back.

"Whoa, what happened to him?" Kia asked Rouge.

"He's sick", Rouge replied.

"How did that happen?"

"That, we don't know", Knuckles shook his head.

"Maybe it's a curse, right?" Tails asked shakily.

"Either that, or he's placed under a spell", Kia walked to Shadow. "Hmm…" she felt his head. "Whoa, he's hot. He feels like over 100 degrees."

"I'll say", Rouge said as she felt some warmth on her back from Shadow's body.

"C'mon", Sonic pointed forward. "Let's get going."

"Yeah, but which way?" Kia looked around. "Plus, how much time do we have left?"

"Look!" Tails pointed up.

Quietly, Kia and the others looked up. They saw the same holographic hour glass that still had some sand in it. However, time was running out. Only one hour has passed. The sand from the above was still going down slowly. The heroes gasped in fear. Then they took off. Minute after minute, they ran as fast as they could. After ten minutes have passed, Kia suddenly stopped and halted everyone.

"What now?" Sonic crossed his arms.

"Listen", Kia shushed him.

"Help me…Somebody…Anybody…" another familiar voice yelled.

"Silver?" Rouge guessed.

"Hey, Silver, where are you!?" Knuckles called out.

"The mirror…Look into the mirrors…" Silver's voice replied.

"The mirrors?" Rouge looked around. "All of them look so curvy and such. Man, no wonder I don't go to these kinds of places at the amusement park."

"Look around, quickly", Kia ordered.

Silently and quickly, everyone began to look around. They had to find Silver then Blaze fast! Otherwise, they're doomed! However, all of the mirrors looked the same. Even Kia was getting tired of looking at those odd shaped glasses. As she looked to her left, she saw a mirror that hopefully looked different from the others. She tip toed away from Sonic and the others as they tried to look into the mirrors anxiously. Slowly, she took a good look at the dissimilar mirror. It was normal to be exact, the long glass that was inches taller than her and more inches wider. She placed her hand on it, but a hand suddenly grabbed it aggressively. She yelped as she was pulled into the mirror. Just then, she opened her eyes. She was surrounded by an area with nothing but gray fog all around her. She looked back and noticed that the mirror was gone. But then, she heard some footsteps. A couple of figures appeared a few feet ahead of her. Strangely, both of them were Silver! Conversely, the Silver on the right looked more evil as he held his good sided reflection by the arms from behind. Kia growled in anger.

"What's wrong, little girl?" Evil Silver teased. "Scared?"

"Help me!" Silver yelled out to her clearly.

"I got an idea!" Kia pulled out her flash pen. "Close your eyes, Silver", she commanded and he did what he was told. She shuts her eyes tightly as she held her pen in position. Then she pressed the top down and it flashed at an instant.

"Grr, you little brat!" Evil Silver hissed as he released Silver and rubbed his eyes.

"I'm outta here", Silver said shakily as he ran to Kia. "Thanks", he gave her a hug.

"Umm…Yeah", Kia blushed.

"You'll never escape me", Evil Silver said as he looked at the two creatures angrily.

"Oh, crap", Silver looked at him fearfully.

"Great", Kia looked back. "Now what do we do? I don't see the mirror anywhere."

"Hahaha", Evil Silver laughed. "That's because you're under my spell. Once someone looks into my mirror, I turn into his or her reflection and then pull them in. Then I'll take their souls out. But he better be lucky that I haven't started devouring him yet", he pointed at Silver madly.

"!!" Silver gulped.

"Wait, I got it", Kia whispered to herself as she pulled a scripture out of her backpack. She threw it and it landed in the middle of the air. Then a sudden light was seen out of nowhere. Silver looked back as his dark reflection covered his eyes. With him distracted, Kia took Silver's hand and they ran for their lives. Then they jumped through the mirror and made it out. After that, Kia led Silver to the others.

"Kia", Tails gasped as he turned to her.

"Where were you?" Sonic asked as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Look who I found", Kia looked at Silver with a wink.

"Is this everyone?" Silver examined the group.

"Now we have to find Blaze", Knuckles smiled a little. "Then we'll be outta here."

"Time's running out", Kia looked up at the hour glass. "Let's get going."

"Yeah, but where is she?" Rouge asked as she looked around. "How can we find her quickly?"

"Just run, I guess", Sonic shrugged his shoulders.

"Then run we shall", Kia took off forward and the others followed.

Meanwhile, Sin and his goons were watching them through Ian's crystal ball. They were a little bit shocked that the heroes were almost together, but they were running out of time. None of them had doubts that they would be able to survive. Sin smirked, because he had something extra, just in case the group does fully reunite.

Blaze had her ears covered still as she kept her eyes closed. All of the voices wouldn't leave her alone. She couldn't stand up, because she was so scared. Her concentration was being distracted by those voices. The mirrors around her continued to show her and her comrade's future when they die. She knew, so that's why she didn't bothering opening her eyes. What was she going to do? Was there anyone that could save her? For the first time, she felt trapped. There was nothing else she could do. Even if she tried to run away again, nothing will change. She was surrounded by evil and she couldn't do anything about it.

Out of nowhere, a hand grabbed Blaze and pulled her up. Then her body was turned around. She opened her eyes by a frightened gasp. It was Silver, who had a worried look on his face. Sonic and the others stood behind him as they wondered what happen to them. Thank goodness, the future wasn't true! Suddenly, the laughing stopped and the mirrors only showed their reflections on them now.

"Are you ok?" Silver asked nicely.

"…yeah", Blaze looked away. "I thought that you guys were dead."

"Us? No way", Silver shook his head. "We're together again, and no one can stop us now."

"Um, about that…" Kia looked back suspiciously.

Everyone else looked back just to see what she was talking about. The heroes gasped in fear. Lots of evil spirits and demons appeared out of nowhere as they were charging at them slowly. From the looks of them, there was about hundreds of them! Was there more time left to fool around? Kia looked at the hour glass above her and noticed that the sand was beginning to run out.

"How much time do we have left?"

"Dunno", Silver scratched his head. "But we don't have time for this."

"So let's run!" Sonic took off forward hurriedly. Then his friends followed.

The heroes ran as fast as they could as they tried to get away from some more goons. Silver took Blaze's hand as Kia took Tails'. Then everyone began to run a little bit faster. The demons and the evil spirits laughed evilly as they continued to follow them by flying above the floor. Corner to corner, Sonic and the gang turned and kept on going. But then, they reached to a dead end. They gasped and turned around. All of the evil spirits and demons snickered as they began to go up to them dangerously. Knuckles and Sonic growled as everyone else backed up. Shadow lifts his head up and opened his eyes. Sure his sight was a little bit more blurry, but he was able to see that his friends needed some help. He gets off of Rouge's back and kept his balance.

"Wait, what you are doing?" the white bat turned to him surprisingly.

"I'm fine", Shadow panted a little. Carefully, he walked up until he reached between Sonic and Knuckles. The two turned to him in shock.

"Are you crazy?!" Knuckles yelled at him furiously. "You're too weak to fight!"

"Just watch this", Shadow held his right wrist tightly. Lots of lightning began to form beyond his palm. He opened his eyes and noticed that the devilish creatures were coming up close. He squeezes his wrist tighter and more lightning circled around him. Sonic and the others backed up so they wouldn't get in his way. Then he ran to the demons. "CHAOS LIGHTNING BLAST!" he shouted as he dashed to the demons. Then he stopped and swung his fist to the ground. The lightning that he gathered went straight to all of the demons and electrocuted them painfully.

"SONIC WIND!" the blue hedgehog launched his attacks. The blue tornado zipped to the spooky things and sent them up in the air.

"BLACK WAVE!" Rouge threw her attack. The effects of her attack caused the demons and the evil spirits to hold their heads in pain.

"FIRE BLAST!" Blaze threw lots of fire balls at the demons and they burnt into dust. However, the evil spirits were still alive.

"EVIL SPIRITS BE GONE!" Kia threw lots of scriptures and they all landed on the devilish phantoms. Then she did a hand sign. Magically, the evil spirits vanished into thin air.

"Phew", Silver sighed in relief. "That was close."

"But we still gotta get outta here", Rouge looked at the hour glass.

"Uhh", Shadow collapsed forward.

"Holy crap", Sonic gasped as he and Knuckles caught him by the arms. "He still doesn't feel good."

"Now what do we do?" Tails shook his head.

"Let's keep going! We're almost out of time!" Kia yelled orderly.

Sonic and Knuckles held Shadow up by the shoulders and took off forward. Then everyone else started following them. Quickly as possible, they ran from corner to corner, turn by turn. However, the hallways looked the same. Just then, there was a door that appeared out of nowhere and it opened up widely.

"There's the exit!" Blaze pointed.

"Hey, the floor's disappearing behind us!" Tails looked back and noticed that the floors were fading.

"Don't look back!" Kia shouted.

The door was still open as some light was seen. Everyone closed their eyes as they started running faster. First, Sonic and Knuckles jumped in with Shadow. Next up was Silver. Then Blaze followed. Rouge jumped in as she yelled. Kia took Tails' hand again and they were the last ones to jump in before they could've fallen from the vanishing floor beneath them. Then the door slammed itself hardly. The hour glass soon then ran out of sand.

Sin saw that and seethed with anger. He couldn't believe that they survived! Now he was getting furious. But still, he almost had them. What was his next test? Desiree crossed her arms as she continued to look into Ian's crystal ball.

"I don't believe it", she spoke. "They finished the test in one hour, fifty-nine minutes, and only five seconds left. Looks like they made a new record."

"Indeed", Ian agreed.

"Oh, shut up", Sin snapped as he turned around. "But…I know just a plan to spice things up for them", he smirked.

Back with Sonic and the others, they woke up and found themselves in an empty room. They all cheered as they got up and hopped with joy. Shadow got up slowly and realized that he was feeling better. That was a close one! They survived the crazed test! However, he still wanted to know where Amy was resting at.

"We made it! We won!" Tails yelled happily.

"Yeah", Kia said. "Hey, you feeling better?" she turned to Shadow.

"Yeah", the black hedgehog rubbed his head. "I feel normal again. What happened to me?"

"I'm guessing that Sin was trying to play some dirty tricks on us", Kia pondered. "So he did those effects on you so you wouldn't be able to make it out. Good thing we got you out before…you know…"

"Now all we have to do is find Amy", Silver looked around for an exit.

"Yeah, but where?" Sonic asked curiously.

All of the sudden, all of the lights dimmed. Now what was going on? Another maze-like test? Obviously, Sonic and the gang were getting pretty annoyed with Sin. But then, some dark mist circled around them. Then they vanished.

Whoo, that took me 4ever!! What's Sin up to now? Where's Amy? Tune in next time!!