Hello again guys. I am really exhausted, so this chapter would probably come out later than it should. Today was our track and field meet, and my classmates swore that the other competitors were on steroids! I seemed that way. I was stuck in a few sprint races. I think that if I was getting chased by a polar bear like Rouge and Tikal, I would've done better. But I wasn't. Ah well :P
Bloodstained Ivory
Chapter 27: Eccentric
(With Shadow and Silver)
Shadow? Shadow where are you? Shadow are you there?
Silver walked along a pathway, his surroundings nothing but darkness. He tried his best to make out something -anything- in this blackness. It pressed in around him, making him feel insecure and afraid. He looked around.
Shadow? Where are you? I'm scared, Shadow.
He continued to walk along the path, the only thing visible in the dark. He saw something in the distance. Speeding up his pace, he walked over to see what it was. His eyes widened. He ran over to the spot.
Shadow! Shadow!
The black hedgehog lay in a crumpled heap on the ground, his eyes closed. He looked so peaceful, as if he was sleeping. Silver fell to his knees, and hugged the ebony hedgehog thankfully. Shadow didn't react.
Shadow? Shadow wake up!
Silver began to suspect that something was wrong. He shook the jet-black hedgehog gently.
Shadow! Please please please wake up!
Silver's shakes grew stronger, but Shadow did not in any way react to the actions of the argent hedgehog holding him.
Shadow...please don't be...please please don't be...please please please don't be...
Unexpectedly, a figure appeared behind Silver. It laid a hand on his shoulder, making him turn to face it. His eyes went wider than they already were.
"Who are you?" The figure didn't answer. It pointed to Shadow.
"It's gone." Silver's gaze flicked from Shadow to the unknown figure.
"What's gone?"
"His..." The figure tried to say something else, but couldn't, as it diminished from view. Turning back to Shadow in dread, he checked the dark hedgehog for a pulse. He checked him for a heartbeat. He found neither.
Shadow! You can't be! You said you'd never leave me! You can't be! You just can't!
No reply. Silver's heart shattered. He fell alongside Shadow, losing all feeling in his chest. Soon it travelled down his body, and up until his eyes closed...
xxxxx
"Shadow!" Shadow woke up with a jolt. He twisted around to stare at Silver, who was looking down at him in relief. "Oh Shadow! Thank the Ancient Walkers you're alive!" Silver exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug. Shadow gasped in the ivory hedgehog's grip.
"Silver! Not so tight please! What was that about?" Silver loosened his grip on Shadow, placing his head on Shadow's chest.
"It was terrible! Darkness everywhere...and you! You were dead!" Shadow planted a small kiss on his forehead.
"Try not to think about it. I'm here now, and that's all that matters," the ebony hedgehog said reassuringly. Silver nodded.
"Yes...you're here now," he murmured. Shadow smiled.
They washed and got dressed, before leaving the room. Silver took one last glance at the large dorm. Rosie would usually be in here tidying things up. But she wasn't. He sighed. Get a hold of yourself Silver! You need to stay calm,
"Shadow?" Silver called. Shadow seemed to be in some sort of trancelike state. Silver blinked. "Shadow?" Shadow still didn't reply. Silver sighed once again. "Shadow!"
"Hm?" Silver breathed in. Finally!
"What were you thinking about?" he asked, audibly vexed. Shadow flinched at the harshness of his tone.
"Just...something," he finally said. Silver placed a bare hand on his shoulder.
"Something's bothering you. Don't hide it from me, I can see it in your eyes." Shadow's lips barely curved upward in a tiny smile.
"All right. I know you too well to not answer." Silver smiled. Shadow stopped walking. Heading over to one, side, he leaned against a wall. Silver stood by him, waiting for his explanation.
"Well?" Shadow's ears flattened at the abrasive tone in the ivory hedgehog's voice. Silver's eyes softened.
"I feel like something's wrong inside of me... it's like... oh I don't know! Something hurts in my chest... I don't know what's going on. I know I got stabbed and all, but this is different. It's not sharp. It's more of dull and dragging." Shadow breathed in sharply. Silver put his hands on the ebony hedgehog's shoulders.
"Should I take you to Tails? Can't I do anything to help?" Silver asked. Shadow's ears flicked at the tone of voice the other was using. It sounded desperate, as if he was dying, or something similar.
"Silver... Oh my beloved Silver..." Shadow murmured. He felt his eyes grow watery, but he refused to let anything slip out. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," he told the argent hedgehog, bringing his face to Silver's.
He felt the pain in his chest grow almost unbearably strong, before slowly ebbing away. He broke the kiss and hugged Silver, his ungloved hands floating over the white lily's back tenderly.
"Silver, are you feeling all right? You seem to be getting quite temperamental. Is anything bothering you?" Silver shuddered in Shadow's strong but gentle hold.
"I...I-I'm...honestly I'm scared Shadow. I don't want anyone to die! Rosie...and Rouge...and...and... In my dreams you die... I'm scared! I don't want you to die! I love you! When you died, in my dreams... my heart shattered. It hurts Shadow... I don't want to lose you!" Silver said, akin to a child frightened of the dark.
"Silver... do you remember the rose?" Silver nodded, holding onto Shadow tightly. "It's still alive. It's our symbol of hope. No matter how dark it gets, there is hope. And even when it feels like all is lost, I'll always be with you." Silver stiffened at these words. They seemed so... he couldn't put a finger on it.
He held Shadow in a death grip, not wanting to let go. Shadow took another breath. Although Silver's grip was extremely tight, it was comforting.
"But remember," Shadow went on. "Whatever happens, I love you with all I am, and I will always be near no matter how far I am." These words struck Silver's heart. He dropped in Shadow's arms, tears spilling openly down his face. Shadow held up the sobbing hedgehog, looking worriedly at him.
"Silver? Silver what's wrong? Did I say something?" Silver laid his head on Shadow's chest, his own chest heaving from his quick laboured breathing.
"Those...those words you said..." Silver gasped out, his chest rising and falling rapidly and unevenly. "They..they..they were the...the..same...as...as what...my mother said before she was killed..." he managed to get out, fighting for breath. Shadow's eyes widened in genuine surprise.
"Your mother," he breathed. Silver nodded, trembling in Shadow's grip. Tears spilled shamelessly out of his eyes, as he continued to sob, his body shuddering uncontrollably.
"She...she said those words...and...and..." Silver couldn't continue. Shadow implanted a kiss on his forehead, which seemed to comfort him.
Soon Silver had stopped sobbing, but his chest was still rising and falling spasmodically, and he was still fighting for breath. His head remained on Shadow's chest, as he was exhausted after his breakdown.
(With Rouge and Tikal)
"These guys just don't know when to quit do they?" asked Rouge as she looked behind her back. She had stopped stammering once she had gotten warm enough, but her lips still had that purplish tinge.
They had been running for a few minutes now, and Rouge was getting tired. She screeched to a halt, and at once began to feel cold. Not regarding any of her freezing limbs, she leapt into the air, and fell onto the white bear in a drill kick.
The bear opened it's mouth in a roar as it threw the white bat off it's back. She twisted and landed on her feet, ready to leap again. The bear bared it's stained canines at her, and Rouge could see something in its mouth. Something that glittered in the frosty light. She groaned.
"Tikal hun, I found the chaos emerald!" she called to the orange echidna. Tikal looked at her, a mixture of disbelief and incredulity in her eyes.
"We're on the run, didn't see any chaos emeralds, and now you've found one?" Rouge jumped out of the way as the polar bear jumped at her. She few up into the air so that the polar bear wouldn't be able to reach her. She immediately regretted it. The air was freezing up there!
"Would you believe it hun, it's in that bears mouth!" Tikal shuddered in revulsion.
"No! It isn't is it?" Rouge pointed at the snarling bear who was now headed for the orange echidna.
"Watch the bear." As it drew close to Tikal, the orange echidna could see that there was indeed a chaos emerald in there. She wondered why the polar bear didn't swallow it, or why she didn't sense it.
"Tikal watch out!" She heard Rouge scream. She saw the bear jump at her. She skidded out of the way just in time. The bear turned to face her, it's snarling face, and gaping jaws scaring her no end.
She backed away from the bear, and it followed her. She continued to back away. She hit a large chunk of blue ice. Her eyes widened as the bear came too close for comfort. Suddenly her gaze hardened, and she put a single hand out.
Rouge watched the bear and the echidna from above, not daring to move lest the bear should hurt the orange echidna by her actions. She didn't see what was going on, but suddenly the arctic dweller reared on it's hind legs, it's jaws gaping in what looked like...agony?
Ever efficient, she swooped down, and grimacing in distaste, grabbed the emerald out of the polar bear's mouth. As she did so, the polar bear froze, and seemed to melt down. Rouge and Tikal watched in shock as the polar bear disintegrated into nothing.
"Wow..." Tikal said, as she walked up to where the polar bear had stood. She looked down for any remains, but could find none.
"Let me tell you hun, I was definitely not expecting that," Rouge said. "But at least we have this beauty," she finished, holding up the dark blue emerald. Tikal nodded in agreement. "But now. Can we get out of here? I'm freezing!"
"Oh all right!" Tikal said smiling. They made it out of the polar region as quickly as they could.
Tikal suddenly began looking around and ducking at random moments. Rouge looked at her strangely.
"Tikal hun, what are you doing?" Tikal's eyes were wide and scanning the area. Rouge looked around too, but could not see anything out of the ordinary. Tikal's usually smiling face disappeared.
"I know you're there. Come out." As Rouge watched, the shadows seemed to materialize into one figure. Rouge's eyes went wide.
"King Shadow?" Tikal's expression grew defensive.
"Mephiles!"
Yipes! Out of the frying pan and into the fire! I wonder what mr. meph is doing here. So I didn't finish this on time after all. Sorry 'bout that guys! I'm really busy these days, and I probably won't be able to update until next week Thursday... I'm going to camp with the rest of the class, and I'll be busy packing, drawing Chinese dragons, finding chopsticks, buying chili peppers, wearing leis, and dressing up like a french maid! O_O Ya I was joking on the last one. But not on the other ones! I have a feeling it's gonna be crazy! So if I can't upload, plz forgive me, but can u all please review?
