The Crimson Affair Chapter 37

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, SEGA and Archie comics does. Sorry for the long update. Thank you so much guys for the support all throughout the chapters. You guys rock!

(Shadow's POV)

I tried to make sense of the current situation but my mind seem to be still in a bit of at odds at itself as though it forgot how to take in everything and organize each event that are currently taking place.

"My apologies but I don't seem to follow…my mind still feels a bit…hazy at the moment to take all that in," those words escaped me as I tried to process in my mind what the doctor is trying to tell me. Right now, I feel quite disconnected with the world. It feels like I have taken a lot of drugs to escape reality. Everything was just all foggy to be able to think straight.

"Technically, you were clinically 'asleep' for three weeks, Mr. Hedgehog. It's normal to feel a little bit strange and woozy upon waking up. You were lucky, you know? Only 47% of patients actually wake up in such a short duration. Most of them either remain a vegetable for months and even years that most families have to decide to put out the life support or not. Here's the bright side, patients like you are most likely to have a good prognosis and will be walking out of this joint in no time."

Three weeks…I was literally in the shadows for three weeks?! Chaos…I must have missed out a lot already. What about the paper works that I have to fill up? The resumes I have to screen? The conferences and the interviews I have to attend to? Damn it, how did I even end up here?

"Shadow, dear?" my mother tried to call me back to reality and I just looked at her without even a slight hint of expression. "What was the last thing you remembered?" she asked.

"Yes, Mr. Hedgehog. Try to recall the events that occurred before the accident. It might help in some way." Dr. Donovan suggested that gave me a reason to put my mind into the test.

I tried to take a few steps back inside my mind. I was able to recall most of my childhood and teenage memories. The times I've spent with my family and friends; mainly Sonic and Scourge, the death of my sister and my uncle who I looked up to the most, my mother breaking down for finding out about my father's affairs and the rest were just memories where I spend most of my days in the office building, staring at the window, contemplating about my life.

Then there's nothing more.

I stared blankly at the huge glass window just beside the hospital bed as I tried reminiscing what happened, however, my thoughts merely lingered into the void until I felt an inner nudge; it was my sense of awareness trying to call me back to reality.

"Darius Conglomerate…" I spoke, barely a whisper.

"What is it, hon?" my mother asked.

"I remember being inside my office...looking from the window," I took a deep breath and closed my eyes to get a more clear picture of the memory. "…It was on the 12th of June and it was Friday. I just finished a whole stack of paper work that time."

The day of the week my mother and I despise the most.

"What about after that, dear? What else did you remember?"

I gently shook my head and tried to look back into my memories once again but everything just all seem to be a blur. The more I probe into my memories, the more my head hurts that I could literally feel something sharp prodding against my skull as though it's literally engraving a painful memory in my brain.

I immediately stopped and rubbed a hand against the side of my head with thick bandages. The surgical wound might seem to be fresh even after three weeks had passed since the surgery.

"I'm…sorry…I can't recall what happened after that anymore…It's like it has ended there."

My mother stood straight and stared at me like I was already lying on a casket. There she goes again trying to make me worry with such an expression. It was the same expression she gave me the night she attempted to kill herself.

"Mother, please. Don't give me that look," I said as I attempted to sit up straight on the bed but the feeling of light-headedness suddenly interrupted me that I had no choice but to drop down on the pillow once again.

"I'm sorry honey, just lie down. Don't force yourself too much," mother reassured as she gently stroked the part of my forehead that was free from the bandages. It's like she used to do when I was a young boy.

That comforting feeling of a mother's touch was enough to help me relax. I'm just relieved that my mother is still with me even if Maria is no longer with us. But my father, wherever he is right now, he might be spending his time with his whore and didn't even bother visiting me.

Why am I even surprised? Isn't he like that to begin with?

Maybe I just wanted things to be the way that they used to be.

Back when I didn't find out about my father's affairs, back when I could still see my mother's gentle, warm smile, back when Maria was still alive.

I suddenly heard a beeping sound next to me, it was some sort of pump connected to the bottle that seems to be my source of medication or nutrition connected directly to my vein.

"Oh, the infusion pump is beeping. It's time to change your IV bottle and it's almost time for your medication. I'll call on the nurse," said Dr. Donovan as he briefly went towards the door to call one of the nurses on duty to take care of the said problem.

The nurse soon entered my room and changed the bottle after punching in some sort of setting on that pump. After that, she informed me about a medication that she would inject directly into my vein through the line that's secured on my wrist.

Seeing her preparing a syringe, I was suddenly reminded of my childhood memories being in the hospital. These must have been the memories that I have forgotten because I never want to remember it. But now, they seem to be coming back.

My mother and father would always take me and Maria to the hospital for an annual check-up. Every hospital visit, the doctors would take some of my blood. Of course, as a child, I was never fond of needles that's why every time I see someone in white walking closer to me, I immediately assume that they would pierce that sharp needle in me that would often make me go on a rampage like an angry bull in a bull fight until they give me something to sedate me during the procedure.

The next thing I know, I'm already at the car seat of our vehicle like nothing had happened but the pain still radiates on the part where the needle was once pierced. My mother would often compliment me that I have been a good boy and she would give me some bonbons as a reward for 'behaving' all throughout the procedure despite being sedated.

The pain I have to go through with syringes and needles scarred me so much that my brain must have automatically took that memory away intentionally and was seem to be triggered upon seeing a syringe and a needle once again.

Thankfully, those annual checkups and blood extractions ceased as I got older but I noticed that Maria was getting more fragile as the time went by. She was often admitted to the hospital and was often discharged once again because she has 'recovered' like most doctors would say.

By the time she was seventeen, her body weakened that she could no longer do her daily activities without assistance anymore. I saw her slowly changing from her once healthy self to a fragile girl who could no longer do what normal teenage girls do.

I was around fourteen or fifteen at that time and I was old enough to understand the situation around me and seeing my sister in such a weakened state hurt me more than I could ever fathom.

Chaos, being in the hospital reminds me so much of Maria. I guess this is one of the reasons why I once considered going into the medical field so I could find a way treat Maria's illness.

After the nurse finished her given task, she left the three of us in the room once again and I was challenged once again to test my memories but still, I failed.

"I…I apologize, I couldn't really remember the events prior to the accident. But seeing the nurse preparing that syringe, I suddenly recalled my sister."

Dr. Donovan nodded at my statement as though he was mentally assessing my responses while my mother appears to be still hopeful that I would remember everything.

"I remember our annual hospital checkups when we were still young…I…really miss her."

My mother faintly smiled at my words. "We all do, dear. How about this? Do you remember how the two of you used to play 'Canon in D' together for me and your father?"

I nodded in reply. "Yes, I do. Maria is really good with the violin…I could never surpass her skills that's why I would always choose the piano instead of the Stradivarius even if I could play it."

Dr. Donovan smiled.

"That's a good start, Mr. Hedgehog. That was already a memory from the past surfacing and seeing that you have not forgotten about your personal identity, I could make a conclusion that your long term memory is still intact. Not only that, there's a huge chance that your cognitive skills are intact as well so you don't have to worry about learning how to use the spoon or fork, going to the bathroom or even dressing up yourself. To put it simply, you could resume your daily activities like before. In addition to that, if you used to ride a bicycle, played some sports, drove a vehicle, and played musical instruments like you mentioned, there's a strong possibility that you would still be able to do so when you're fully recovered. However…"

He paused for a bit and shifted his gaze to my mother. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Hedgehog but I regret to inform you that there's a tendency that your son's brain may not be able to fully recover from its previous faculties, particularly in the memory department."

"Pardon my rude interruption but…mixed company here…" I uttered with a hint of annoyance that made them shoot a glance at me. "Whatever you're trying to say, doctor, you could say it to me, too…So you mean to say that I may have a problem with my memories?" I clarified what the doctor pointed out that made a part of me feel empty inside.

The doctor nodded with a neutral expression like most of them do whenever delivering bad news; similar to the time they told us that Maria won't even have the chance to celebrate her 18th birthday. How they were able to maintain such a poker face in times like these is baffling me but on the contrary, I'd be lying if I said I can't do so as well. I was always an adept in concealing my feelings around the people I barely know but the statement the doctor gave me was enough to enrage me.

"Yes, clinically speaking, you are most likely suffering from retrograde amnesia." He blatantly replied that made my brows furrow in response.

Everything started to feel like an enigma. That's where I began to mentally question the events that occurred prior to my accident.

What happened before that? Come on, remember it Shadow, damn it! Remember it!

"But that couldn't be possible. I could still remember my name, my birthday, my family, everything."

I was in denial. I couldn't accept that fact. I could still remember everything, how dare he labeled me as someone with amnesia?! I feel like my pride has just been crushed and I hate it when that happens.

I suddenly felt Dr. Donovan's hand on my shoulder.

"You don't have to lose all of your memories to be labeled as a person with amnesia but the fact that you have lost some memories of the events of the accident is enough to be labeled as such. Some people lost their entire memory while some don't, like in your case."

I felt even more discouraged after hearing that. As much as I want to believe what he's trying to tell me, something within me hates the fact that something vital was taken from me even if I was still lucky enough to retain some of my memories.

The feeling of losing one's memory is just like losing a part of you. They say that losing something is always a gain but what would I gain if those lost memories were once precious to me?

My mother's smile was restored upon hearing that but I am still feeling uneasy at that moment. The thought is disrupting me from thinking straight coupled with the slight pain that must have been from the stitches in my head.

"Think of it this way, Mr. Hedgehog. Losing memories could either be a blessing or a curse. You see, there are times when the brain would intentionally throw some memories away, especially those that can cause an emotional and psychological injury to yourself. That is termed as 'psychological repression'. Think of it as some sort of defense mechanism warding off some intruders that are trying to get in. Maybe your current memory loss could be your mind's way of getting rid of that traumatic incident and not just merely due to the injury your brain has suffered or a post operation side effect. There are a lot of causes for losing one's memory but the ones I have mentioned are most probably relatable to your case."

I shook my head in disagreement. I wasn't listening to him anymore as thought of me losing my memories because my brain wants to get rid of it became more complicated.

"I told you, I don't have amnesia and my brain is perfectly fine!" I angrily retorted.

"Shadow, dear. Please, calm down. Dr. Donovan is just explaining about your condition," my mother did her best to keep me from exploding but at this rate, it was already too late.

"Maybe there's a mistake. I…I could still remember most of my life. I don't have amnesia! I have my memories! I am not forgetful! How dare you label me as such?!" I could feel the rage trying to take over me but the doctor tried reasoning with me as calm as he could until I attempted to get off of my bed to beat some sense into him.

"Shadow!" I heard my mother called out to me but I could no longer register it to my brain. I feel like I'm losing control of myself. My vision has literally tunneled and all I could think of right now is the desire to hit something to get these frustrations out of me.

"Mr. Hedgehog, perhaps you would like an oral medication to control—"

"I don't need no damn medications! It's your fault why this happened! If you didn't try to mess up with my brain, I wouldn't lose my memories!"

I looked at my hand with an intravenous line attached to it and pulled it out of me then I got my hands on my bed's side rails and released the lock.

As soon as I got rid of the side rails in my bed, I found myself attempting to stand and walk towards Dr. Donovan until a bunch of doctors, orderlies and nurses came bursting inside to restrain me back on my bed.

"Let go of me!" I yelled as I tried to release myself from their grip.

"Sir, I want you to relax. Take deep breaths and—"

"I don't take orders from anyone!" I pulled my arm away from their restraints and pushed them away from me. "Unhand me now or I'll beat the shit out of you!"

I could feel the burst of adrenaline flood my system as my body shook in violent fits of anger.

"Versed, 5mg, stat!" one of the doctors said then I was suddenly distracted when something sharp was pierced into my arm.

I ignored the pain and continued to break myself free.

Whatever they gave me, I didn't give a damn anymore.

"Release me, you fucking imbeciles!" I let out a deafening scream as I pushed one of the nurses away from me and kicked a doctor beside me but as soon as I was about to reach my next target, I started to feel my muscles losing its strength. My vision began to blur, my breathing started to calm and the next thing I know, I've lost my balance and fell into the hands of the medical personnel that are restraining me.

I felt myself being carried back into my hospital bed then I felt something cold, hard, round and metallic being gently placed on my chest. It must be a stethoscope.

I'm on the verge of falling asleep but I still fought to control it just to know what they were discussing regarding my sudden inappropriate behavior and aggression.

"I apologize that we had to resort to chemical restraints, Mrs. Hedgehog but it is for the best before your son hurts himself." I heard one of the doctors said.

"What happened to my son, doctor? Why did he suddenly become so violent?" I could still hear my mother's voice filled with trepidation.

I tried to move my head towards them and open my eyes but they were already too heavy.

"It's alright, Mrs. Hedgehog. 'Agitation' is a very common emotional response particularly to those who had just woken up from a coma after a traumatic head injury. It might be very alarming but I assure you, this phase is temporary and it would eventually go away. He will be fine."

"Oh dear, I hope he recovers soon. My poor boy…Doctor, is there any way we could do to help him fully recover his memories back?" I heard my mother asked pleadingly like she was more devastated with my condition than I am.

"Well, there are some events that may trigger some memories to return like the one your son has mentioned earlier about being reminded of his sister upon seeing the syringe that the nurse was preparing a while ago."

His statement gave me a glimmer of hope all of a sudden.

"Triggers?"

"Yes. It's possible to retrieve lost memories through certain events that could trigger it or through other means by photographs, letters as well as proper guidance from family and friends. But I cannot guarantee full recovery. Most of the time, he might only recall meaningful events in his life that made a psychological and emotional impact on him. For example, a surprise birthday celebration, a successful marriage proposal, promotions, or even traumatic events, too, like the accident, per se. But the minor memories he had, let's say, the meals he ate, the casual conversations he made with people, I don't think he might still remember most of them. But who knows? Maybe your son is as lucky as the day he woke up from that coma. We'll know in time, Mrs. Hedgehog."

Those were the last words I've heard before I started to doze off.

(Rouge's POV)

I looked at myself in front of the mirror as I brushed my hair.

My once short locks had already went past my shoulders while a couple strands of hair are almost covering my eyes. It's almost the same length as my sister's now. Not only that, I've lost a few pounds for following her dietary regimen and for going to the gym to do some kick boxing to maintain my figure like we used to do before she got busy in taking care of Flint. I even studied a little bit about mixing beverages as well like she used to do while she was still bartending.

All this time, I've been doing my best to copy my sister's lifestyle as much as I could like I was really her, and that I no longer exist.

I put down the brush and blankly stared at the mirror as I studied every detail of the reflection before me.

This girl in front of me, this isn't me.

I feel so different but for these past few weeks, I finally accepted the fact that I could live not being myself anymore. I'm living in a lie and I'm getting accustomed to it. It's not right but my mind is convincing me that it is better this way than living like I used to before.

Everyone lies anyway, what's the point of living in the truth?

Life has never been easy for me until now like that incident at the massage parlor that I still couldn't get off of my mind.

(Three weeks earlier)

(Rouge's POV)

After resting for a couple of days so I could recover from my injuries, I went to work as always and left my memory of the incident in Elysium behind me as well as my conversation with Kragok. I wanted to contact Shadow about what happened but I lost all of my contacts after my phone went missing after that bombing incident so I just hoped that he would pay me a visit instead but he never did and it made me wonder.

Perhaps he was busy? I shouldn't be surprised if that were the case. He's probably doing some paperwork right now and the thought is kind of making me feel jealous in an amusing kind of way.

As soon as I entered the establishment, I was immediately told that the manager wants to see me.

As I walked along the corridors, I noticed that most of my co-workers were looking at me and I could hear most of them whispering here and there but I chose to ignore them and went to my destination.

I knocked on the door and was startled when Felicia was the one who answered it with a devious look on her face.

"Good, you finally managed to show up, huh?" she said as she crossed her arms and I just looked at her in complete indifference.

"Ms. Bat, would you kindly come inside. There's something that we need to discuss," said the manager as he motioned for me to sit down at the chair beside his table.

I did what he said and sat on the chair. His orange fur with black stripes distracted me from thinking straight. I was never really fond of looking at bright colors because they hurt my eyes. Besides that, I noticed that they weren't as shiny before. He seems to be stressing out a lot. To make my anxiety worse, there's something strange about the way the manager was acting. Instead of his gentle expression like he used to have, he's giving me a look filled with disappointment like I've done something horrible.

Looking at my side, I saw Felicia with her gaze not leaving me like she's expecting something to happen.

"I would like to know why you called me, sir." I spoke so as to free myself from this deafening silence filling the room that's already making me feel uncomfortable.

"You were gone for four days, Ms. Bat. Did you know that you have caused some problems with the shifting with your absences?" he said that made my ears perk up in surprise.

Shifting problems? But I could have sworn I have informed them properly that I would be on leave because of my condition.

"But sir, I kindly asked Ms. Felicia that I would go on a leave for a couple of days to rest so I could recover from my injuries. I was one of the casualties in that explosion at Elysium."

The manager shook his head. "But Ms. Felicia told me that you didn't even inform the establishment that you would be gone."

His words made my eyes widen in surprise as I shot a glare at Felicia. "I asked for permission and you even agreed. What are you trying to do here?"

Felicia just rolled her eyes at me. "Cut it, Rouge. You didn't inform us, that's why you created a huge mess with the shifting plan. Your co-workers even have to fill-in for your spot. Think about how much angry they are with you right now after what you did. How rude of you to lie in front of the manager himself and even to me, YOUR supervisor. I'm surprised how you still had the audacity to show your face here. That really sums up how much of a horrible rat you are."

What is she trying to do?! Oh chaos, what's happening here? Is she sabotaging my reputation again by making up those stories?

I stood up in complete shock and tried to convince the manager that I was telling the truth.

"Sir, in all honesty, I asked for permission to take a few days off and she even told me that she would adjust the rotation plan." I looked at Felicia with a look of disbelief.

"What are you talking about? How can I adjust the rotation plan if you didn't even inform us in the first place?"

I was about to speak when the manager cut me off.

"Ms. Bat. Let's try not to point fingers here. Let's focus on the current issue. You got sick or injured. Yes, we would understand that if you just called and informed us. I know that you are already aware of that being a responsible adult like yourself."

He's not making any sense at all.

"Sir, I called the office and Ms. Felicia was the one who answered it. Why don't you tell him the truth?!" I spat at Felicia but she just rolled her eyes at me.

"Ms. Bat, you've been working in this establishment for three years and you have an outstanding performance. You were often adored by your clients and looked up to by your co-workers but creating trouble like that won't guarantee a satisfactory result on your performance. Not to mention, I've also read a lot of horrible things from the assessments done by your supervisor. Reports about you abusing the privilege of overtime, reports about you offering 'special favors' as a means of asking for a larger tip whenever doing a massage for VIP clients, refusal to attend private sessions, failing to follow the standards and also for speaking ill of your own supervisor in front of a client. She was just concerned about your performance but you responded to her inappropriately…With multiple negative reports like that, I don't think it's going to work out, Ms. Bat…"

Those words…I've always knew what they meant. He's going to fire me.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing and if I didn't have manners, I would have tackled Felicia now for giving the manager too much false information regarding my performance. She's literally blacklisting me from ever working here.

I won't allow it. I have to save myself. I can't even resume my part time job in Elysium yet after what happened.

"Sir, I have done my best in this establishment. Those were just rumors made to ruin me! In case you didn't know, I was almost raped by my client at the recent private massage session you assigned me to. He's also the same client that molested me before!"

I did my best to explain myself despite anxiety taking over me. The manager had a surprised look on his face but it was soon replaced with a glare.

"If so, why didn't you report it to your supervisor?" he asked.

"I did! I informed Ms. Felicia regarding the matter like it was stated in the protocol but all she did was brush it off and create more rumors about me."

I saw him shifting his gaze to Felicia then back to me. "That's preposterous. Don't ever create such bogus things regarding our clients and don't ever question your supervisor's report, either. Making up unbelievable tales is plain childish and foolish. You're not a child anymore, Ms. Bat," he rubbed his temples in annoyance.

How could he look past through that report of sexual harassment? It's a legal matter! Oh chaos, what has Felicia done to him? All of this is not making any sense. Why isn't he hearing my side of the story? Instead, he's taking Felicia's side like it was all that mattered.

I should have listened to Shadow about his advice on having a back-up plan in case things go wrong. Now I'm regretting everything for not taking his words in good earnest.

"Sir, if you're going to fire me because of my absences, those rumors about me and for speaking ill of Ms. Felicia without even hearing my side of the story, then that would be an injustice act!" I couldn't help myself anymore. Those words just came out because of being on the brink of losing my temper.

The manager sighed. "I wish those were the reasons why I'm considering it…" he took something from the drawer of his desk and took out an SD card.

He plugged it in his laptop using a card reader and opened a certain file in it.

I couldn't believe what I'm seeing right before my eyes. It was the surveillance footage on the lobby of the parlor in different time periods and they often include me closing the main doors around 7 or 8 pm in the night but the next footage baffled me the most. It was from the time Shadow got knocked out by Knuckles.

I saw the footage that involves me leading Sonic and a knocked out Shadow being carried by his bodyguards inside the establishment then another footage of us leaving the place together. The images weren't so clear but I know it was us.

He stopped the video and frowned at me. "Men in black with two hedgehogs…which brings me to question: why have you let these people in especially way past office hours? Was it because you 'serviced' them? Four in one, huh? That must have been quite a night you had."

My mouth gaped in surprise. It slipped my mind that there were surveillance cameras in the establishment but hearing them make up such a conclusion made me feel uneasy.

"That wasn't the case! One of them was injured and we let-"

Felicia forced a cough as a means to interrupt. "No explanations needed, Rouge. The point is, you brought four men into this establishment and who knows what you and those men did inside."

I shot a glance at Felicia but a lump in my throat from all of their shocking assumptions prevented me from speaking further.

How could they assume something like that?

"See, I told you there's more to that talented bat, sir. That's why I took the opportunity to bring this footage to you for proof."

Seeing Felicia's superior grin together with our manager's look of disbelief made me feel like my pride is being stepped on multiple times. I don't know if I would still be able to control myself after all the shit I've been through. I feel like I'm in an endless loop of bad luck. Everything that's happening to me is starting to become unbearable.

"And let's not forget about your 'session' with Mr. Rodent the day after that." The manager pointed out that made the hair at the back of my neck to rise.

"My session with Mr. Rodent?" The horrible memory resurfaced once again in my head but I tried to forget it. The memory of it was just too much to handle.

"Felicia, would you kindly remind her?" he said and Felicia took out her phone to show me an image that made my eyes almost water in response at the most horrid thing I've ever seen.

It was an image file of myself with that horrible rodent by my side kissing me passionately. From the way the camera angle was positioned, he intentionally made it look like I was the one who took it as though it was intended to be a selfie of us together.

I was bewildered at the sight that I felt my blood drying up.

"Does this remind you of anything?" she smirked. "I saw this on a certain website where sluts make a name for themselves. You even have the guts to spread this photo using like you were trying to brag about how willing you are to do 'special services' at any cost."

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He must have taken this while he's violating me.

Our manager's brows furrowed and stared at me like he didn't know me anymore.

"But sir, that's not the truth! It's far from the truth. Mr. Rodent spiked my drink and I was unconscious that time! Please, you have to believe me."

"Unconscious, you say? How come you were able to take the photo? Unless you actually enjoyed playing tonsil tennis with your client and taking pictures of you together," Felicia continued but I just ignored her and did my best to tap into the manager's conscience.

"He must have been the one who took it! Please sir, just hear me out. I know you are a considerate man. Just listen to my side of the story!" I pleaded but he just looked away from my gaze.

Felicia raised a brow at me. "What else are you trying to prove? The image file is enough proof already. You willingly gave yourself to him, end of the story."

"No I didn't, you lying cougar!"

"What?! Oh the nerve of you to call me that, you little pest!"

The manager stepped in and silenced the both of us seeing that we were both getting out of control.

"Girls, girls, calm down!" he bellowed and we eventually obeyed then he focused his gaze on me.

"I'm really disappointed in you, Ms. Bat. You have a bright future ahead of you but you ruined it by 'selling yourself' to your own clients. Not only that, you have also blemished the name of this establishment. If those lewd activities ever reached the authorities, we're going to be shut down! Don't you realize what kind of mess you have done?!"

Our boss taking Felicia's side, seeing that horrible image and learning the fact that it has spread all over the web made me feel even more inferior. It was crippling me.

Why is no one listening to me?

"What now, Rouge? And let me remind you that all of your co-workers already know about this. So, you got anything else to say?" she mockingly asked me that made me fiercely glare at her in response.

I slapped the phone away from Felicia's hands and angrily stepped on it until the LCD cracked while she just stared at me in shock.

"You have gone too far treating me like this. All these years, you have made my life here a living hell. I tried to ignore the matter and the insults as much as I could but there's always a limit of how much I can take. You're not fit to be a supervisor because all that you're good at is terrorizing people and abusing the power that was bestowed on you by the manager. Remember this: What goes around comes back around," I calmly uttered and she suddenly charged at me.

"Oh fish sticks!" I heard our manager yelped in surprise.

"You little bitch!" she yelled as she reached for my neck but I did my best to claw my way out of her grasp until I kneed her in the stomach to free myself from her then I took a few steps away from her so as not to initiate another cat fight but she was persistent to back down a fight so she once again breached through my comfort zone to land some scratches on my muzzles but with my quick reflexes, I evaded her attack and used my strong leg to kick her in the gut, rendering her off-guarded.

The manager finally found the courage to step in between us so as to prevent us from killing each other.

"Sir, is that how a supervisor should behave?! Hurting her subordinates in front of you?!" I strongly replied and Felicia began to sob.

"She…she kicked me sir…she kicked me so hard…It hurts." Felicia responded weakly but I didn't buy her responses. She's only making it sound like I was the one who initiated the fight where in fact it was her.

"I…I only fought back as a means of defending myself," I voiced out my thoughts.

The manager looked at us in shock then he finally found the words to say.

"That's it! I have no other choice but to make a decision. From this day on, you are stripped from your duties!"

I was expecting that he would point at Felicia but instead, he looked at me.

"You're fired, Ms. Bat."

I was extremely shocked at his words. It wasn't fair that Felicia would still be saved from her job after what she did but seeing that defending myself would be pointless, I accepted the fact with a stiff upper lip despite my inner turmoil then I thanked him for all of the years I've worked there and eventually, I let myself out of his office before he could say it.

I walked towards the hallway and I heard most of my co-workers calling me a 'slut' while some even call me a 'whore' as they tried to avoid being in my way.

I caught sight of Mina along the way and attempted to speak to her but she took a couple of steps away from me like I was infected with a contagious disease.

"You know, I never believed that it was your fault when Felicia told us that you were the reason why the shifting rotation was disrupted but the issue regarding you sleeping with your clients? I don't think I could still take your side after seeing you and a VIP client being intimate."

I was rendered speechless at Mina's words. I couldn't believe what I was hearing all of a sudden.

"How long have you been doing that, Rouge? I can't believe you would do something as degrading as that! And what about your session with Mr. Hedgehog? Did you offer your 'services' to him, too just because he's a VIP client? Sweet Aurora, that's just wrong!"

"Mina, it's not what you think. That client drugged and violated me during that private massage session!" I could feel myself crying deep inside from the shame. "Please, you have to believe me...Felicia was lying to get me fired!"

"I'm sorry. As much as I wanted to believe you, I can't...The manager already told us everything we need to know. I've always looked up to you, Rouge. I know Felicia is making your life miserable because she's obviously jealous at your skills but after learning the truth behind your outstanding performance, I couldn't find the reason to look up to you anymore. I'm sorry but…you're on your own this time. "

Mina walked away without even giving me a chance to explain then I caught Tikal staring at me with a look of concern. I know she wanted to approach me but fearing what Felicia might do to her, she decided against it and went on to do her job, instead.

I was left on my own and I have nowhere else to go except going out of this establishment once and for all for the stares and the whispering people are becoming too suffocating enough for me to handle.

I got out with my mind floating in the clouds. I feel like I've lost the will to live anymore after losing my job but it seems that it wasn't just my job that I've lost. I've lost the respect of my co-workers who once looked up to me including Mina, who was my closest friend in the establishment.

I feel so lost and I suddenly felt an urge to be comforted by someone. Someone who swore to be there for me in my difficult times. Even for just a little while.

'Shadow…'

But after losing my mobile phone from the explosion, I have no ways of being able to reach him. I couldn't even remember where he lives or what his contact number was.

That's when I found myself sitting on a corner beside the massage parlor, hoping to see Shadow drop by anytime soon.

I have faith that he would come and take me away from this place so I waited for hours and hours but to my disappointment, he never came to see me.

Desperate, I've decided to make my way towards his workplace, that huge building that was well-known all over Mobius, but all I got was a harsh office personnel telling me to leave for not having a scheduled appointment so I just left the building with nothing except myself and this huge burden I'm carrying.

I was left on my own once again until I suddenly felt my inner walls crumbling down and before I knew it, my tears are finally flooding my muzzles freely. I could no longer hold them so I finally chose to break down.

I was alone and the people who I once trusted to be there for me never came to save me from falling into this pit of doom.

No one stays until the end, indeed. We are all born in this world alone and we would also die in this world alone.

I feel like a ghost wandering in this world. Forgotten, feared and alone.

What is my purpose? Why am I constantly being put into pits that I couldn't get out of?

That's when I suddenly realize what my purpose must have been: To take down that dictator.

I suddenly got the urge to go through Kragok's plan just to fulfill that desire, even if I have to kill a man for it.

(Present Timeline)

(Rouge's POV)

That's how I lost my job, my dignity, my friends and that special person who I thought would be the one who I would spend my life with.

I decided to leave everything behind like Kragok has instructed and it surprised me how easy it was to pretend something you're not especially when that person that you wanted to be is someone you have looked up to all your life. I used to be a little jealous with my sister like most little sisters do because she's older and she can do whatever she wants. It's a childhood memory but I could still remember how I sometimes pretend to be her just so I could do everything I want.

I left my life and my old apartment for good and decided to stay at my sister's house instead.

Surprisingly, her husband never visited at all so I was left to conclude that my sister and her husband has made it official to go on their separate ways for good.

I bought myself a new mobile phone, too but I didn't bother contacting any of the people that I used to know; even my own mother and my cousin.

Although, as much as I tried letting go of my past, there's still a certain someone that lingered at the back of my mind.

Shadow, my most persistent boyfriend for only a few days before he suddenly disappeared in my life.

I know he must have forgotten about me already but deep down, there's an inner part of me that still missed him so much after all he has done for me. To be honest, I still kept the shoes he gave me but I could not bring myself to wear them for it will only remind me of him.

I was close into falling for him but I'm pleased that it didn't went too far. But from time to time, I'm still wondering how he's doing right now especially after what his blue friend, Sonic, has told me before about him being in danger.

Maybe something happened and he just went into hiding?

I shook my head at the thought. This is crazy, I shouldn't be thinking about him anymore. The 'Rouge' he knew was already gone to begin with but knowing the fact that he works in Darius Conglomerate, there's a huge chance that we would meet which also made me slightly pleased why I have to go through this plan but I swear, I would never let my feelings for him get in the way of this mission of luring his boss away from his comfort zone because I am no longer Rouge, I am Sapphire now.

I took a deep breath and went to check on the mail and was surprised when I saw a familiar logo on one of the envelopes.

I quickly opened the letter and the sight before me made me smile in satisfaction. After losing my job and my old life, I finally found the courage to apply at a certain company and I succeeded. It's a letter from Darius Conglomerate and I was told that I have passed the screening and that I am encouraged to come and attend the interview which would be held in a week from now.

I guess this is my first step. I'm happy how things are turning out for the first time in my life.

Versed is also known as "Midazolam", a medication used for anesthesia, sedation and severe agitation

A/N: This one was longer than expected. XD I finally got this posted after struggling with the power issue and also for studying a bit more about head injuries and the psychological effect it does to an individual.

Shadow has undergone quite an emotional phase after hearing about the news. Is it him or is it just his brain still trying to heal itself?

Fate hasn't been kind with our two main characters. I wonder what the future lies ahead for them? :)