Chapter 17
Sonic proceeds to enter the battlefield once more, feeling more energized than ever before. His strides are light and bouncy as he smirks at the homunculus, watching the tension darken the air around him.
"Hey pal, did you miss me?" The blue hedgehog chirps, limbering up once more, and popping his spine with a grunt of satisfaction.
Wrath's head twitches, snapping over to the carefree male's form, looking bewildered by his presence. "You should be dead; you have nothing left of your violence." He hisses, twisting cloth flitting in his disdain, the movement reminiscent of a flick.
"Yeah, well, we've both seen how much that works for me. Pretty sure you're boned in that department." The mortal hums, drawling out his words before dodging to the side from an eager blade aimed for his ribcage.
"No matter, I will not tire of impaling you on my needles, you blood draining slowly from your body as you suck in futile gasps of air." The homunculus grins, eyes giving this new crazed look, pupils swirling into spirals of literal bloodlust.
"That's if you can actually hit me." The blue hedgie scoffs, waving him off as he jumps back. "I know something you've been hiding Wrathy boy!" He sings, wiggling his fingers before dashing forward.
The quills on the Sin straighten with his growl, cloth diving under the ground before shooting out in front of Sonic's path, missing at every instance by lithe turns and twists. "You think this attitude will absolve the pain you've inflicted on the innocent. How good you felt issuing your control!" He snarls, absolute perverse pleasure etched on his face with the recounted memories.
"You carry that violence on your skin, burned on your body are the memories of those blissful actions." He continues, launching a smooth horizontal swipe to push him back.
Sonic sticks out his tongue in disgust, rolling back with the swipe but not letting up in his rush. "No thanks, these suck to have. Just makes my whole body achy and people hurt by me. Not my thing, even if I did let it happen." Another swipe passes him by as he rubs his bruised cheek, the one that hurt the most in his book. "And yeah, they are a part of me, but not anything to take pride in." He scoffs, shaking his head.
The hedgehog was gaining distance, the homunculus unable to move from his position as he tugs at the flaying fabric from the ground.
The action takes longer than it ever has before, something both males notice with conflicting emotions regarding it. Wrath hisses, leaning away from the swing Sonic tried to land on him, his movements sluggish and heavy. While it does get him away from Sonic's oncoming attack, he could see the strategic logic start turning in the royal blue hedgehog's eyes, a smirk forming before launching a straight kick to the Sin's chin, forcing him further back.
A grunt sounds as the bloodied male stops his fall backward by jutting out his palms as he collapses, shaking in his rage.
Sonic lets out a whistle, hands at his hips as he looks on at the downed hedgie. "Well, I wasn't expecting a literal knife in your back, but I mean whatever works right?" He murmurs, watching the Sin tense under his watch.
On the exposed back of the dark hued hedgehog was a bloodied and serrated knife, ominous and saturated in dark mist, red marks stain the white bandages in patterns spawning from the puncture of metal. At his remark, Wrath snarls, quills hardening and fluffing out in his aggression, at his command blades flick out to regain space between him and the other.
But it is useless and expends too much energy that leaves him exhausted and panting from a scare tactic. One that Sonic barely has to move to avoid before slamming his foot down on the limp fabric, no longer holding their deadly image. "You know, it's kinda ironic that what used to be holding me down in a bad way is now what is dragging you down. You can hardly move anymore." He mentions, green eyes looking down at the copy with pity, even as the homunculus is dripping crimson liquid from his body and glaring hatefully at him.
"You think you've won just because you found something that labels me as violent? As dangerous? I'll tear your throat out for belittling me!" The dark hedgie barks, tugging back his scarf. He's near foaming at the mouth at this point, digging furrows in the ground with his clenched fists.
Sonic huffs a weak a laugh, bending at the waist to dip closer to the rabid thing, the look of pity gone from his eyes. "I know I've won because you can hardly move. You're not a threat." He announces, emphasizing every word clearly.
To make his words fit his actions, his hand moves to grasp at the wretched blade, not a flinch to be seen from him, even as the collapsed male snarls and attempts to end his life.
Each are futile, weak and the azure hedgehog can't help but stare and hate himself even more, watching this body double try his damndest to eviscerate him.
'My violence caused this. All that pent-up rage? What for?' He questions to himself, brows furrowing together, his hand continues unimpeded. Fabric wrapping limply around his wrist to stop his advance, only to shrivel up once contact was made.
All movements from Wrath freeze, sound isolates to a rapid pounding heartbeat in Sonic's ears.
Fear.
Under all the bravado, the violence, fear lingers.
It was enough of a shock to the blue hedgie that he pauses, once more taking in Wrath's visage.
He was pale, the blood loss from all those open wounds now starting to get to him. Quills prickled up and tense as he watches the mortal out the corner of his eye, aware that death's door was opening to swallow him whole very soon.
He did not beg, nor did he struggle as the dagger was removed with a wet slick sound. Numbness and pin pricks were eating up the blue male's hand where his body touched the cold metal. Its presence an uncomfortable weight that Sonic let linger as the homunculus's body drops like a hot stone, being engulfed in the dark puddle of crimson liquid with the quickness of lava.
Only then does the dagger completely shatter and the hedgehog feels his right extremity again. Fingers sore from holding it too tightly.
Verde eyes close as he drops his head, ears folded back in self-disgust. Created or not Wrath had been made because of his underlying fear, and thanks to that.
Thanks to that, that fear had been the reason for so many people getting hurt.
'If I had only said what I was really feeling...'
The world blinks out of existence only more, his body acknowledging the weightless feeling.
~x~
The ruby-streaked demon watches his mortal move onto his next trial, letting a small, barely existent smile crack onto his muzzle at his shift.
If anyone were to comment on it, he would fully deny it and then cut the offender's tongue out.
"What's got you so happy?"
Son of a-
Shadow's eyes snap over to the other demon coming his way. Acidic green in color, ice blue eyes.
Scourge. Again.
A grunt bubbles out of his throat, switching feeds on his tablet as the green devil grins, hands pulled behind his head.
"I'm just curious! You don't usually show so much emotion with your contracts, can't blame me." Scourge comments, a weak placatingly smile set on his tusked muzzle.
"He's no longer resisting the memory shifts; it's making progress move along nicely." The three-eyed male murmurs, looking at Sonic's statistics, words writing themselves as the hedgehog continues in his trial. Giving him a play-by-play.
"Well, I suppose that's good." The emerald hedgehog replies, rubbing absentmindedly at his neck. "You think he's ready to face Vixen though?" He questions, a guilty look on his face as his eyes dart away.
Shadow narrows his gaze, shooting the other a hard look. "Oh, eager to get away from the image of the woman you helped ruin?" He hisses, tone like a disappointed mother while he crosses his arms.
Scourge tenses, quills straightening in his humiliation. "L-look, it's not that I don't miss her! I feel horrible, you know I do. I-it's just, that was a different me, and I know what I did to her when I was living i-isn't pretty." He stutters, looking down as he ducks his head.
"At least I taught you to have enough decency to be embarrassed by that fact." The ebony hedgehog scoffs, giving the other male a break from his unrelenting stare. "He's not ready for her." He admits after a moment of silence, pulling out his tablet once more to go through the active pieces at play for Sonic. Queen was at the top of the list, the Mechanic just below her although his whereabouts were unusual, being so close to the king piece instead of being switched off now that his task in the Pride landscape was complete.
She was keeping him awake. For what purpose? Further support?
The homunculus that had been conquered were listed in another column, deceased being at the bottom and the only active one now was the one he was facing now, Selfishness. Demon Resources thought they were being funny when they created that one, usually had something to do with being forever consuming black holes that don't stop to consider others around them, Sonic's being no exception.
No doubt the 'poor' mortal was taking on a Sin that was a large ball of mass, a disturbing obesity of his form. Glad he wasn't there in person, but hilarious to think of the azure hedgehog looking humbled and embarrassed by the visage that this sin painted him as.
Shadow glances at the next homunculus, suppressing a shudder from his current company who tried to look over his shoulder at his current mortal, and perhaps a glance at what became of the 'Vixen' he used to date.
She was Empress during Sonic's trials, a boss fight that he was wholly unprepared for at his current level of emotional stability.
But the next sin, the crimson-splashed hedgehog sighs worriedly while rubbing the bridge of his snout. He would not be able to support the idiot during it, and he had limited options. The demon in charge of that sector of creation was... devious and had some particular tastes as well as gleamed and transformed so little information given to them of the subject into perverse personnel.
Unfortunately, you couldn't argue that they don't get results with their method. If mortals passed their trial, they were 88% less likely to relapse in the future.
"What do you mean he's not ready?" The green demon questions, breaking Shadow of his musings. "Isn't he close to finishing all his trials? He'll be confronting the kingpiece soon, kinda needs to be ready for that."
No response from the red eyed demon.
"Shadow, where are his memories of his Root?" Scourge interrogates, a heavy snarl etched on his face, forcing his co-worker to look him in the eye. A hand gripping his shoulder to keep him in place.
No running away.
"Where is his Root?" He asks again, a bit of panic setting in. Shadow wouldn't have lost such an important piece of his mortal's recovery. He wasn't one to break the rules, he couldn't be terminated. Not yet at least. Please don't get yourself terminated, for my sake, for the people you have yet to reach. Shadow still had to help him with his own recovery in the mortal plane's future. He's why Scourge was here now, free of the sins that ate at him all through his life. "Shadow, what did you do?"
"Don't stick your tusks into how I work." The grumpy male responds, brushing his arm off his shoulder with ease. "My methods don't concern you." He hisses with a daring glare, an uneasy powerful glow emitting from his third eye. A power move to get the lesser demon, the one with the briefest of experience, to back down.
Scourge steps down, quills bristling under his gaze but tries to keep his teeth bared, only getting to a grimace instead of the snarl he envisioned. "Where is his Root then? Where is she going to be Shadow? He needs to face her if he's gonna ever recover."
The glow dims as the dark hedgehog turns away, heading towards DR sector. He had a last-minute activation to approve of. "Behind the mask, when the king piece feels he's ready, truly ready, she'll take him to the Empress." He answers, tone dull and abrupt, the conversation was over, no further knowledge to be given.
Scourge watches the older demon walk away, a noticeable tremble in his limbs now that he was alone. If he truly meant his words, if that Root was where he said it was, it was dangerous.
Risky.
Shadow was taking a gamble on his mortal, on his reputation, his own freedom. If he failed, another shudder runs through the acid colored male, quills reflexively lifting.
Why stake so much on this one, this singular mortal, Shadow?
Is he more than a nameless face in a crowd of people you've helped save?
The male lowers his ears, buttoning his mouth shut from telling others of Shadow's plan. As much as trusted him, he couldn't help but worry.
He would wait on the sidelines until he needed help. As much as the black-and-red demon would deny it.
~x~
Sonic heaves deep breaths, using the ground as his couch while he recovers. The homunculus was a tough battle, as disgusting and unsightly as he was, mostly a joke in hindsight.
But the blue male couldn't help but learn something from it, don't be gluttonous with every little fucking thing apparently, otherwise your soul is a literal fat bastard. A greedy pig.
Fun.
He shakes his head before turning over to lay on his back, looking at the newly painted sky. Once more somewhere new, somewhere that had someone wanting to kill him, as part as a lesson.
Green eyes drift around to the clouds, watching as they shifted like watercolor paints, an enchanting design as the puffs of white faded and changed constantly.
Blue. Purple. Red. Pink. White. Start again.
What would this world's monster be? With such a pretty sky.
The hedgehog stretches while lying there, popping some exhausted joints before getting up. Scanning over the distances around him, a dark building, perhaps a tent rested just past the bright horizon, settling into a section shrouded in dark colors only.
"Gee, I wonder where I should head to." He drones, eyes half lidded and unimpressed with the similar theme of the sins' hideouts.
"Sonic, wait just a moment."
The cerulean hedgie swiftly turns his head, looking at the appearance of the ebony demon, expression grim. "Hey Shads, what's up? Are you upset I beat Selfishness all~ by myself?" He snarks, a cheeky grin leaving his face after too long. "What's wrong?"
"You'll be completing this Sin without me here. My presence will only make things harder, maybe even impossible if I stay with you." Shadow murmurs, rubbing the bridge of his nose in agitation.
"Pfft, I just did one without you." Sonic waves off, trying to shake off the nervousness he felt, this coldness that radiates down his spine.
The demon merely narrows his eyes, his arms crossed to show he wasn't amused. It was then that Sonic realized something, Shadow was standing, not floating in the air leisurely, actually standing.
"What am I facing Shadow?" He asks, cutting the bullshit he had planned. Shadow wasn't going to be bailing him out like every other time, not here to give him sassy little hints, or just to keep him company when he's flailing through these worlds.
"This Sin has a copy and transfer effect, if I'm noticed lingering near you..." The crimson splashed male didn't even have to finish his sentence for him to get the picture. He'd be facing another Shadow if he wasn't careful, and that went well the first time they met. "I'll still keep the audio feed open, so that I'll know when you've hit any unnecessary trouble. Hopefully with how you're progressing, you'll be able to handle this without me babysitting you."
The mortal could see he wanted to say more, but he shook his head. He waves lazily as he turns back, disappearing right before the blue male's eyes and leaving him alone. For real this time.
With nothing else holding him back, Sonic takes in a deep breath before beginning his trek towards the strange location in the distance.
~x~
The closer he got, the easier to tell this 'building' was a stage stadium, curtains drawn down and obscuring the stage from view. Endless rows of seats lined the way towards it, filled with limp husks of shadows thrown carelessly into them. Sonic's quills start straightening slowly as he descends to the main area, where all spotlights were projected to. It was eerie and the air was heavy and filled with the aroma of something spiced.
Each step taken seemed to drown out all background noises, leaving only his footsteps to thump and echo into the void. Now it was easier to see why his spines bristled on end, there were strands of silk attached to the husks, chairs, on the floor like a twisted red carpet and then all lead to the center this darkened stage, curtain billowing softly like cloth being breathed on.
It really sounded like breathing.
"My my, what a lovely little treat you are." A voice coos out from the stage. "I absolutely adore those shiny quills of yours. Such a beautiful blue color." They whisper, sounding closer than before.
Sonic puffs out more, looking more like a blue puffball than a hedgehog, whole body tense with fear. And just from this person's inflection, that strange drone behind it, sounding like a million different voices at once. Male. Female. Child. All and every.
A hand slowly passes through the curtain split, shape jittering and changing and yet, had no shape as well. But Sonic's mind knew what is was supposed to be, instinctive that knowledge jammed into his head. "How I'd love to come greet you, to see you so up close. Get to know you personally~." They continue with their sultry tone, the hand flinches back. "But I'm afraid I'm not quite dressed for the occasion just yet. It would be so unappealing, I'm sure you'd think less of little me."
The blue hedgehog wants to escape, to get far away, he could feel how dry his throat was getting, how heavy his feet were. Like they were rooting into this spot, emerald eyes dart down, clenching his fists in his freshly retrieved hoodie. Silk has wrapped around his ankles, endless strings sliding gently across, their movements barely perceptive except for the mortal's keen, fearful gaze.
"Would you like to help me get ready? I know you have such a fabulous look. So complementary, I'm sure it's in style." Voice was slipping his s sounds even further, holding them to punctuate, like it was an inside joke for it.
"Why won't you speak to me? You have a voice, don't you? You must have one, you already look so complete." Comes the question before the tone drips down into slight agitation. "That would ruin everything. How disappointing would that be?"
"You won't disappoint me, right?" Except that didn't come from the stage, and the azure male tears his gaze away from the shapeless, shapefully being glitching in his vision to look behind him, at all those husks taking up seats. They looked like a real audience now, still deformed and corpselike but sitting properly in their seats all eyes on Sonic, creepy grins etched onto their faceless mouths. It forces a gasp out his throat before he bite down on his lip and shut it down.
Then they switch, in uniform, one solid motion, those silk threads twisting and tugging like a wave. Their eyes now facing toward the stage behind Sonic now, and with a cold sweat running down the length of his back, he does too.
Webs. The first in his line of sight is this twitching, enormous eye, staring at his entire person, pupil like the center of a web that only seem to lead him deeper and deeper.
No way out. Body feeling leeched and heavy. "See? I knew you had a voice, such a pretty little thing. And those eyes, oh like absolute gems!" He can hear, the praise no longer an echo but a singular defined voice.
His voice. His voice had that seductive tone.
The webs let him go, body dropping to his hands and knees and he's panting, like he ran around the world and back. And suddenly, someone is pulling up his chin, highlighted finely manicured nails grazing close to his throat as they do. His eyes meet near mirror images of his own, a twisted yet delicate sea foam with those webs enclosed tightly in them.
It's him, but it can't be him. His confusion was probably written all over his face at this point, a practiced smirk gracing the other's lips. "Do you like what you see sweetheart? You should, since, it was you." The stranger questions, bopping his nose with the fine point of a nail before letting go of his muzzle, letting him see the whole figure this abomination created.
"You were using this lush figure all wrong, so I had to make it better. Are you impressed?" He asks, posing with a hand on his hip and the other snaking up his chest, trailing over the corset that was laced there, hot in its color and not looking out of place strangely.
But Sonic's mind knew it was off. It wasn't supposed to be that.
The painted nails scratch downwards now, gracing the tight shorts clipped and holding onto the stockings that teased defined cerulean furred legs, dropping down finally to the heeled boots that were happily on his feet. "I was feeling so down before you showed up. Nothing but dolls to satisfy me." He sighs, running his hands through the quills on his head, every movement like he was a professional posing for an invisible camera.
"But you, you are a bundle of vitality, such a nice body you have. I can feel the strength you have, the speed, the stamina." The mirror laughs breathlessly, a wide perverse grin on his face.
"I do so love play things that can take a little rough housing. You'll stay with me right? Endure everything that I have in store?" He asks, cocking a hand to his hip and nudging Sonic's chin with the toes of his magenta boot.
The azure hedgehog pulls back, throwing himself to his side before launching out a kick. His leg cracks the double right under his ribcage, expecting to use his loss of air as an escape.
But that doesn't happen, it is Sonic that doubles over, curling to the source of his pain while choking on his disturbed air supply. His stomach, right under his ribcage. Tears prick at the edges of his eyes.
The corset wearing hedgie lets out an amused giggle, hands framing his face in glee. The audience around them does the same, laughing in a singular tone at the downed mortal.
"Ah, just like that! It was beautiful wasn't it?" The excited homunculus pulls the other over by his quills, there was no room to struggle in his grip before the male seats himself over Sonic, other hand gripping his chin roughly before a tongue darts out to lick an unshed tear, purring in delight at the taste. "Yes, quite wonderful, these emotions of yours. You feel so much!"
"Get the fuck off me!" The frazzled male grunts, words slurred from the hold on his chin. Like the weirdo was trying to thrust his sharp fingers down his throat.
"You'll play with me, show me all that you have little treat. I need that beautiful color you have." The Sin sighs, running his hand down towards his cheek from his quills, his thumb pressed at the edge of Sonic's emerald eye. "I love them so much." He murmurs.
His wrist flicks a one quick motion before Sonic blacks out.
~x~
"Hey, you should probably wake before he comes back." A voice states, causing Sonic to open his eyes blearily. He was in a different place now, no, it still looked like the stage but also wasn't. It was a series of tunnels, dressed like the backstage of a playhouse, those silk threads covering the walls and ceilings. And him, he was tied down and suspended like some kink feast, twirling slowly from his movements.
"W-what the fuck?!" He startles, embarrassment eating up his cheeks as he struggles. The webs were strong, barely getting him any pull as he wiggles.
"At least you still have your clothes. Trust me." The voice huffs a laugh before Sonic is turned once more, face to face with a new person. "Don't worry, I'm a friend." Glowing palms lift in both greeting and placating the distressed male.
The stranger undergoes scrutiny in the green-eyed male's gaze, a friendly smile never leaving his pale muzzle. He was floating, sitting cross legged and at ease, despite being in, what Sonic was thinking, a kink dungeon. A kink dungeon with a pervert and no consent was mandatory.
"So, who are you? And why aren't you tied up like a boy scout's fetish for knots?" The mortal grumbles, narrowing his eyes in displeasure.
"I was given the title of The Spirit. You can refer to me as that. And as you so plainly stated, I'm unseen by him, unlikely you." The Spirit replies, before raising a hand above his head, a luminescent disc materializing and darting at the flick of hand towards Sonic, slicing the threads that held him with ease.
The blue male lets out a sharp breath, shutting his eyes to brace for the crash to the ground he was about to go through. But no such thing happen, instead he felt weightless and when he opened his eyes, he was surrounded by that cyan glow before it lowers him gently to the floor.
The Spirit chuckles lightly, a hand curling in front of his muzzle to scratch at his cheek. "I'm sure you're aware of what you must do, yes?" His bell-bottomed pants move to grace the floor, feet quietly stepping over to the azure mortal and helping him to his feet easily. Even at this close Sonic couldn't make out most of his face, quills were pressed forward to cover and frame his face thanks to the hood he was wearing.
Along with his blindfold that held the same design as his clothes and when he looked down, imprinted into the skin of his hands and feet. "I want you to succeed against him, against your envious nature."
Sonic's gut churns at the statement, cold sweat once again running down his body.
Envy. Truly?
Hey extra long chapter thanks to my friend's help in motivation. Pretty great person to let me talk their ear off enough for me to write it down and stuff. No idea when the next will be out but, welcome to Envy, he's my precious pervert baby. Inspired by Dr. Frank-n-furter from Rocky Horror Picture Show and boosted by a few of my friends saying "DO IT!"
