Chapter 12: The Final Sentence

After their moment, Sonic and Manic went back to the living room. Sonic reclaimed his seat between his boyfriend and best friend, while Manic reclaimed his seat next to his sister.

"Alright," The blue hedgehog sighed. "Over the phone, you said we had to go over Mother's sentence. Why?"

"She's… she's gotten worse, Sonic." Sonia answered.

"What do you mean?"

"... They sent her to a psych ward… to figure out why she was acting this way. They tried everything, but all she kept saying was she was getting her revenge on Father and 'that bitch'. I don't know what she meant by that."

"She's crazy." Shadow frowned. He looked over at Sonic. "What could she possibly be talking about?"

"I don't know." Sonic frowned in thought. "Revenge on Father may make sense… but I'm unaware of another."

"They're saying that she's a lost cause." Sonia continued. "And she keeps saying that she's gonna break out and kill everyone one day… She's a danger to herself and to others. They're saying there's no other choice."

"What do you mean, Sonia? What are you talking about?"

"... I'm talking about Mother's final sentence. It's the last one she'll ever have in her entire life, and it's guaranteed that with it, she won't hurt anyone ever again."

"... She's getting the death sentence, isn't she?"

Both Sonia and Manic nodded. Sonic took a deep breath, feeling sick to his stomach. He despised Aleena with his very being. Before, he had wished death upon her, but now, in his now matured age, it was hard to wish death upon anybody, even if they themselves tried to kill him.

"Death… is so… final." He said. "Once that switch is flipped, there's no going back. She won't ever be able to redeem herself. Her death will be on my conscience…"

"Sonic… sweetheart." Shadow started, holding onto his hand. "You cannot blame yourself. She's the one that chose this path, not you. She will never redeem herself, and as long as the two of you both live in the same world, she will keep trying to find a way to hurt you."

"... Eggman does the same thing, though. And I've never wished death upon him."

"Eggman has never been caught, and you don't have to live with him. And remember how he reacted when Cosmo and Chris were hurt? He's not trying to kill you, Sonic. In fact, after working with him, I should know, he's more sensitive and compassionate than you realize."

Sonic lowered his ears in thought. "You're… right… he's ten times better than Mother will ever be." He frowned. "Mother is a lost cause. If this is the last resort for her then so be it." He looked back at his brother and sister. "When is the execution? I have a few things I want to say to her."

"... It's… tomorrow." Sonia sighed. "I know it's last minute, but we were having such difficulties finding you."

"I'm surprised. I am the Hero of Mobius afterall."

"That may be so, but nobody knows where you live or what your phone number is… Do you still want to see her tomorrow?"

Sonic frowned in determination. "Sis… nothing is going to keep me away from rubbing my good life in her filthy drunken face."

…

The very next evening, Sonic, along with his siblings and friends, went to the correctional facility to meet Aleena face to face for the first time in nine years. He held onto Shadow's hand tightly, feeling nervous of what he was about to do. Shadow could feel the anxiety from his blue boyfriend radiate in waves, and he gently squeezed his hand, gaining his attention.

"You don't have to do this, Sonic. We can turn back right now if you want to."

"No, Shadow. This is something I have to do. I have to know why she treated me so badly. Why was I the target."

"She may not answer you, sweetie." Vanilla warned.

"I'm well prepared for that possibility, mama. I just wanna show her how her little IT child raised to be something great."

The others nodded in understanding as they continued to the entrance. As they got closer, a flash of lightning and a roar of thunder erupted from dark rain clouds that were forming overhead. Sonic gulped in fear, suddenly feeling as if he was in a horror movie. At last, they got to the entrance, and the guard was more than surprised to see Sonic.

"Sonic, what are you doing here?" The human asked him in disbelief.

Sonic frowned, a spark of cold determination filling his very being, seriousness shining in his eyes. "I came to see my mother."

The guards' eyes widened. He pulled out a walkie talkie from his belt and spoke into it. "Get Officer Smith up here."

Sonic frowned in confusion. He felt he had heard that name before, but he couldn't be sure of where. Suddenly, the doors opened, and an old man in a Corrections Officer uniform stepped out. His eyes widened at the sight of the blue hedgehog. In return, Sonic's eyes widened as well. He may be older now, but he could never forget the officer from that fateful day.

"Hello Sonic." The man finally broke out of his shock and nodded to him. "It's been awhile since I've seen you. Nine years to be exact. You've grown to be a fine young lad."

"Officer Smith." Sonic smiled, a few tears coming to his eyes. "I can't believe it's you."

The blue hedgehog suddenly rushed into the man, hugging him tightly. The officer chuckled and hugged back. "It's good to see you too, Sonic. And I see you've brought some friends."

"Yes, Officer Smith, these are my friends. Tails, Rouge, Knuckles, Amy, Silver, and Blaze. My new adoptive mother and sister, Vanilla and Cream. Our Chao, Cheese. You've already met Sonia and Manic, I'm sure. And this…" Sonic smiled proudly, pulling Shadow forward. "is my boyfriend, Shadow the Hedgehog."

Officer Smith smiled and held his hand out to the black and red hedgehog for a handshake. "Pleasure to meet you, son. I hope you're treating this young one right."

"Like a prince, sir." Shadow nodded accepting the handshake. "Are you… the officer that rescued him nine years ago?"

"Along with his principal and teachers, but yes, that is me."

Shadow smiled and held onto the man's hand with both of his, squeezing them in gratitude. "Thank you… thank you so much."

The officer chuckled. "It was my pleasure. But… what are y'all doing here now? What's this I hear about wanting to see your mother, Sonic?"

Sonic was silent for a moment, looking down and lowering his ears. "I heard she was being executed today… I came to talk to her." He frowned and looked back up at him. "She has some explaining to do to me. About why she treated me so horribly. And I want her to see how well I've been doing for myself. I wanna rub it in that she was wrong about her 'little IT child'."

The official was shocked, but at the same time, he saw this coming. He knew, eventually, Sonic would come to confront his mother once and for all. He didn't think today would be the day, but it was the boy's last chance to do so. He nodded and held the door open.

"Follow me."