Act I: CATACOMBS

Chapter XIII: Poltergeist

"But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit." – Isaiah 14:15

The night had returned, and Sonic was tapping his foot absentmindedly against the floorboards. He twirled his revolver in his hand without a thought, staring at the ground.

Tonight, he was supposed to rob Starline. Whoever the hell that was. Think that's the platypus?

They all blend together to him.

He cracked his neck, watching the Babylon Rogues loading their sacks with dynamite, gunpower, and other items. Sonic raised an eyebrow. He thought this was supposed to be a quick and quiet job.

"So, Sonic!" The voice of Scourge said, snapping Sonic from his daze, "Tell me 'bout yourself. Other then you being some quick shooter."

Sonic chuckled, "I've been driftin' in and out of tiny towns. The next stop had to be Westopolis! The legends were too good to pass up!"

Scourge smirked, "Yeah – they ain't comin' true at the moment. Trust me though, when that Undertaker 'fella leaves, it'll be back to business as usual. So long as Robotnik takes a hike."

"I 'dunno," Jet piped in, "I feel like that motherfucker will be comin' back as long as Robotnik is still breathing. We might have to put a round in his head if we want him to stay away!"

"You think so?" Sonic asked.

"That's what it seems like," Wave added, "Ever since Robotnik showed up, soon did the Undertaker."

"Really?" Sonic asked.

"Yep," Wave replied, "It was like a few months later he came around the first time. We all thought he was just some weirdo passin' through, until he killed the first 'fella. Then we knew he was the legendary angel of death!"

"Huh," Sonic said, dozing off, "Sounds like it ain't much of a coincidence."

"I think he's kinda funny," Bean said, "I think he can stay if he wants!"

"Then we'll ALL die, Bean!" Storm groaned.

Suddenly, the door opened, revealing Shadow – who was leading Knuckles, Rouge, and Amy inside.

"Woaaaah, what's pinky doin' here?" Fiona asked, filing her nails.

"She's joining Rouge. I felt she could do with a friend," Shadow stated.

"Glad to have you, Arnie!" Jet exclaimed.

"It's Amy." Amy replied.

"Sure."

Amy rolled her eyes, stretching her arms as she walked towards Sonic. She cast him a side-glance. "You feelin' alright?"

"Well, of course, your highness!"

"Good," Knuckles added, stepping in, "We'll need your speed tonight."

"You can count on it, Knucklehead."

"Wha – don – don't call me that?"

"Nahhh, sorry pal, that one's stickin'!"

"Oh, lighten up Knuckles," Rouge said, slithering to his side, "I think the name suits you!"

Knuckles grumbled, fidgeting with the wool gloves on his fists. He casted an eye to the door as it opened, as Nazo and Zero stepped inside.

"Everyone ready?" The cyan hedgehog asked.

"Oh, born ready, pal!" Storm exclaimed.

Nazo smirked, nodding. "Good to hear. The 'coach is out front. After the amulet is delivered to Tails and the police, come back here for your reward. When it passes inspection, Knuckles will take it from there."

Knuckles nodded.

"Well, guess we better get this party started! Gotta make it quick after all!" Sonic exclaimed.

With a nod, Shadow turned on his heel, beckoning for the team to follow. Down the stairs, Sonic's eyes saw the stagecoach, with a familiar face in the seat.

"Howdy, y'all!" Tangle exclaimed, as her and Whisper sat at the front of the coach.

"Well! What are you two angels doin' here?!" Sonic asked.

"We're your escort. We'll get you in and out," Whisper remarked, nodding towards the blue hedgehog.

Sonic chuckled, stepping to the side and allowing the team to climb inside. He shot a wink towards Amy, who chuckled as she stepped in.

Shadow was last, and he turned to him, a hollow look in his eyes.

"Do your thing in there."

Shadow turned, stepping inside – leaving Sonic to stare off in the distance for a moment.

Do your thing. Be quick. Be fast.

No slower than usual.

Once the coach halted to a stop behind the building, Tangle hopped off her horse, squinting her eyes to adjust in the darkness. She tucked her hat on her belt, searching for entrance points as the team exited the stagecoach.

Shadow pulled out his revolver, turning to the group. "Alright, Wave and Storm are on lookout. Find a post on the roof. Knuckles, Rouge, and Amy, look for the amulet. The rest of us will keep guard inside."

"'Kay, you two, follow my lead. This'll be a piece of cake for me," Rouge slithered, earning a gruff sigh from Knuckles.

"Just make this search quick," he said.

Sonic watched them barrel into the building, suddenly feeling a wave of nausea wash over him. This was his first hit since he had arrived to Westopolis, and the fate of the town hung in a sick balance.

It wasn't a simple desire for cash, or the petulant stench of greed – it was something much more sinister entirely.

Sonic made his way behind them, quickly scanning the empty building. It was a typical business compound in a typical western town, though it was full of objects that would only be kept by rich, wealthy people. There was nothing typical about it besides the fact that it was a corrupt businessman's keep.

Sonic followed Jet and Bean as they sat at a couple tables, kicking their feet up with revolvers in their hands. Standing guard alright.

His eyes moved to see Shadow and Rouge hustling upstairs, followed by Knuckles who clenched his fists tightly together. Sonic glanced towards Amy, the pair shrugging as they followed after them.

The upstairs was large, yet it seemed impossible to pick this amulet out. It was helplessly dark, and even when Shadow and Knuckles sliced a match, the flame didn't help much.

Sonic's vision was plagued by dark black and a small speck of orange from the matches – not promising when you're trying to find one piece of jewelry.

"Check over here," Rouge whispered, pointing towards another blacked out room. She tossed Amy a match, who immediately swiped it against her belt – igniting the flame. Sonic followed her, his eyes moving downstairs quickly to see Whisper and Tangle rummaging through cabinets downstairs. He saw Scourge whispering into Fiona's ear, enticing giggles from the fox.

They sure were doing their part.

Sonic and Amy walked into the pitch-black room, beginning to search through drawers and cabinets. The search was coming up shorthanded, no sign of any special amulet to be seen.

"So, this your first heist, or whatever?" Sonic muttered, attempting to drum up conversation during their hunt.

"Second time. I went with Rouge once, didn't go so well though…"

"What makes 'ya say that?"

Amy shrugged. "Dunno if I'm cut out for this kinda life. I'm glad to just be everyone's friend and all, but I was never too good at the cowgirl lifestyle."

Sonic snickered. "Well, you got the makin's for it. Just 'gotta give it some time, you'll get there."

"You think so?"

"I know so!" Sonic said, "I can see there's a fire in there, I'm just waitin' for it to come out!"

Amy giggled, hiding the red that danced across her cheeks. "If 'ya say so…"

"Amy! Can I get a hand real quick?!" The voice of Rouge exclaimed from the other room, causing Amy to snap her head to the door. She turned to Sonic, jabbing a thumb towards the direction.

"I'll – be right back I guess!"

Sonic watched her leave wordlessly, exhaling a sigh he was holding on tightly too. He resumed his search wordlessly, coming across a bookshelf. He cracked his neck, pushing his hands against the sides of the bookshelf as he attempted to search it.

Suddenly, three books fell from their place, earning a slight jump from Sonic as they thudded against the ground.

"Damn!" Sonic whispered, poking his gaze to the empty spaces of the books.

He lifted his match, his eyes adjusting in the dark until he noticed a tiny safe in the back. He whistled lowly, grabbing a lockpick from his belt, jamming it into the keyhole of the safe.

Wiggling it around, he jammed and jammed, rotating it helplessly until the door clicked, giving way as Sonic began to pry it open.

There it was. This had to be it.

Pulling the item out, he held up the amulet – a small purple and white scepter that hung from a chain. He examined it, chuckling.

"What a pretty little thing…"

Suddenly, that's when the room went purple around him.

Sonic froze in place, watching as small particles of purple-black mist danced around the scepter. Voices, venomous and deep, filled his ears quickly.

"Your hands are cold against the scepter's touch. Your eyes are filled with blood. Your arms steam with sweat."

Sonic was frozen, his eyes wide and staring at the scepter. He couldn't tell if it was real. He had no way of knowing.

"Gaze into the pit. Behold the realm of the dead, the Lake of Fire. The land of Damnation. Eternally suffering, bound to chains by their tongues are the blasphemers, with pitchforks resting in the chests of sinful men. The adulterers have their place in the Lake of Fire – the immoral and the abominable. You must SAVE THEM NOW."

"I must…"

"SAVE THEM NOW."

"FREE THEIR CHAINS."

"REMOVE THE FORKS FROM THEIR CHEST."

"I must save them…"

"THEY WILL ALL BE CAST INTO THE PIT. SOLARIS HAS SEEN THE SINNERS. HE WILL TAKE THEM DOWN FROM THE PINNACLE TO THE PIT."

Solaris?

Satan.

"DO NOT LET THEM BURN. KEEP FIGHTING!"

Fight. Keep fighting.

"BECOME FURIOUS IF YOU MUST. FOCUS ON THEIR PLIGHT, FOCUS ON THEIR PAIN…"

Focus… Save them…

"AND STEP FORWARD."

"STEP FORWARD. STEP FORWARD. STEP FORWARD. STEP FORWARD."

Step. Forward. Free them now.

They will all be taken to the burning Lake – Iblis himself has seen it. He has decided.

The battle of Westopolis has begun.

It's up to you. It's up to you.

Step forward.

Step-

"Sonic!"

Sonic caught his breath, whipping his head around the room as he felt the gruff hands of Knuckles on his shoulders.

Behind him were Rouge and Amy, looking at Sonic panicked. They examined him, watching his figure shake as he held onto the amulet tightly.

"Wh – what happened?" Sonic whispered, his voice continuing to shake.

"We found you just staring blankly at the amulet. You weren't saying anything, you weren't answering us," Knuckles said.

"Are you alright?" Amy asked, putting her hand on his.

That jolt of touch seemed to calm him down. He caught his breath, wiping the sweat that accumulated on his brow.

"I – yeah, I just – think I dozed off weirdly…"

Knuckles sighed, gently taking the amulet from Sonic. He held it up, scanning it.

"That's it, right?" Rouge asked.

Knuckles sighed, placing it in his fur-coat pocket. "Yeah – that's it."

"Then we better get outta here, I don't want any funny business…" Amy whispered.

"Problem down here!"

The voice of Scourge caused their heads to whip to the door.

Amy seemed to jinx it.

Rushing down the stairs, they saw Scourge and Jet peeking through the windows. They joined behind them, seeing stagecoaches collecting across the cobblestone road.

"Church guys. Starline definitely sent them," Jet said.

"Shit – how the hell did they find out?" Bean spat, earning a shrug from Scourge.

"No idea. Do we have the necklace?"

Knuckles nodded.

"Then we better make a break for it while we still can," Shadow added, appearing from the corner. He removed his revolver from his belt, pointing it towards the door.

The wordless order sent a shockwave of action through them, the gang rushing outside of the building, all hopping into the stagecoach. Tangle and Whisper were already on their horses, cracking their necks and preparing for the chase.

"Hold on back there!" Tangle exclaimed, "It's gonna be a bumpy ride!"

Tangle and Whisper whipped their ropes, causing the horses to begin galloping quickly. Dust kicked up into the lemur and the wolf's eyes as the horses pulled the stagecoach at quick speeds. The church men saw this, commanding their own horses to follow them.

Whipping behind the alley way, the stagecoaches were now engaging in a chase across the town, the pale shining moon beaming brilliantly down towards them as they raced through Westopolis.

Soon, gunshots were whizzing past them, bullet holes placed into the stagecoach.

"Get down!" Shadow commanded, before poking his head from the side. He returned fire to one of the stagecoaches, landing a shot right in the chest of a man as he fell from his horse, causing the steed to steer left, the stagecoach battering to a stop through a pile of barrels.

Sonic joined Shadow from the other side, trading shots with the men as they whizzed through the streets. Jet and Bean began lighting dynamite, before tossing it from the back. The dynamite rolled underneath the coach, engulfing it into flames as the stick of dynamite exploded.

Bean chuckled, reaching for another.

The church men's own fire began to direct away from the stagecoach, placing fire behind them, earning a ripple of confusion from the group.

"What are they firing at behind them?" Knuckles asked.

Suddenly, a valiant white horse tore past them – Silver firing off shots that hit three different riders in the chests. Their respective stagecoaches veered off the road. There was one left, and the sight of dynamite being lit earned a panic through the group.

"Whisp! Tangle! Might 'need to speed up! They're about to throw some boomers!" Wave shouted.

"Got it." Whisper stated, nudging her horse quicker and quicker.

Silver saw the dynamite being lit, squinting his eyes. He looked at the moon quickly, saying a silent prayer of forgiveness. He cracked his neck, turning to take aim.

He focused, squinting down the barrel of the revolver, before placing his entire faith in one shot.

Time seemed to slow down, as the powdered bullet whizzed through the air, stabbing through the wind. Soon, the bullet arrived too its destination, lodging itself right into the side of the stick of dynamite.

Boom.

The stagecoach was engulfed in flames, a brilliant explosion lighting the sky as the horses that pulled it quickly disconnected, galloping, and wheezing as they rushed into the night. Silver watched the debris of the stagecoach flutter to the ground. Silver whipped his gaze to Whisper.

"Get it moving again! You gotta get them out of town for right now! Go to the Nazo and Zero's other outpost, I'll find the cops and tell them where you're at!"

Whisper nodded, shooting a glance to Tangle as they began to rush the stagecoach away from the scene.

Sonic simply stared at Silver, who circled the site of the explosion with a stoic expression.

He shook his head in utter, utter disbelief.

Whisper and Tangle brought the coach to an outpost outside of town, as the gang all left wordlessly.

They fumbled inside, being met with the sight of Nazo and Zero.

"Success?" Nazo slithered, though a knowing glance danced in his eyes.

Knuckles approached, placing the amulet on the table.

The pair inspected it, nodding at each other.

"Success, it seems…" Zero whispered.

Soon, the door behind them opened – with the police force fumbling inside, followed by Tails – carrying a box of tools.

"How's it lookin' out there, y'all?" Rouge asked.

Espio removed his hat. "Not great. We're in for a nasty cover-up that'll surely damage our reputation forever."

"But besides that," Mighty piped in, "It's fine. No one else was hurt."

"What're you guys saying happened?" Wave asked.

Sally sighed. "The story right now is that the church members were caught stealing the amulet and were attempting to escape with it, until Silver stopped them. The townsfolk know the amulet is a very important key piece to the town – once the news comes out that Starline had stolen it, it'll be a big blow to their system."

Tails had taken his seat, inspecting the amulet with his tools. His eyes moved across the scepter and the purple gem in the middle. Sonic opted to focus on Tails' work, attempting to forget about what he had just experienced.

Amy took notice of this, gently squeezing his hand.

"What's next?" Shadow asked gruffly.

"Next is you all laying low for a few days. We'll handle what goes down with Starline and those buffoons," Bunnie said.

"That, and the amulet gets returned to it's rightful place," Antoine added.

"And, your payment," Nazo piped in, standing up. Zero returned with a small cart, full of bags of money.

"Each of you take a bag. This is your payment for the job," Zero said, placing his hat on the table.

Sonic watched everyone grab a bag. The Rogues gawked when they looked inside, and Scourge sent Fiona a wink when they inspected theirs.

Sonic couldn't have cared less about the money at the moment. Sure, that would always be nice – but those words kept spinning in his head. He felt nauseous and cold, noticing that Amy still held onto his hand.

The door opened, the group looking up as Rotor, Charmy, and Nicole led Silver inside. Silver removed his hat, examining the room.

"What a night, am I right?"

There was a tense air in the room, though Storm and Bean chuckled slightly at his comment.

Silver sighed, giving the group a faint smile. "It's all going to be alright. We have to lay low for a bit, but that's okay. Blaze said she'd take a look at the amulet to make sure it still had its spiritual energy intact."

"Tell her thank you," Knuckles muttered, glancing back at Tails who rubbed the lines of sweat from his temple.

"It's all good. No damage visible…" Tails stated, handing the amulet back to Knuckles.

"Nice work, buddy," Sonic said, ruffling the hairs on Tails' head. The young fox smiled.

Knuckles patted the fox on the shoulder, before passing the amulet over to Silver. "Take this to Blaze, then when she's done – we'll give it back to you guys," he said, gesturing to Espio and the group.

"Then we'll go public with the news," Rotor said.

"Seems foolproof enough," Silver chuckled, dropping the amulet into his pocket. He gave the group a smile, before turning on his heel and leaving.

Sonic watched Silver leave, yet he could still feel the presence of the amulet in his gut.

Who had spoken to him?

And why the name Solaris?

He's missing the bigger picture here, and he knows Mephiles absolutely has something to do with all of this.

He can't tell yet, and he isn't sure what's to happen next…

But he must keep fighting. He must focus on what's ahead.

He must step forward.