Tails continued trekking through the forest, looking around for any signs that anyone had come through. It was approaching his fifth day of being lost in this god-forsaken forest, and the loneliness, which hadn't been as bad before, was really starting to hit him. He thought about his friends…all of which were held in Shadow's grasp. The hope that someone would find him out here had gradually started to wane, knowing that he was out here, alone…and that no one would find him. He started to list off the people he knew in his head, trying to see if there would be someone, anyone, out there…
"Amy…" he murmured aloud, and then shook his head. "No, Shadow had her in the ship…well, what about…no…Rouge and I left them behind…and…well Rouge…"
He sighed and gritted his teeth, opening and closing his fists. This wasn't fair, he thought. This wasn't fair that just one person could take away so many…and hurt so many others. He narrowed his eyes, still opening and closing his fists – a way to release pent up energy. He took a deep breath and continued walking, not knowing that he was approaching a clearing. His body was tense, and waiting…waiting…for the moment he would be able to find Shadow.
Be able to exact his revenge.
~*~
Dark and cold…musty and wet. Dank. Dreary. But mostly dark. Sonic was lying on the floor of something He couldn't see. And he was sore…the muscles in his back felt like they were screaming in pain, crying, pleading for someone to knead them. Instead of doing so, however, he cautiously got to his feat, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the room. He winced and groped around for something to hold onto as he waiting, his back in agony. He blinked a few times, now able to make out the faint outlines of others in the room with him. He called out, expecting his voice to be strong, like it usually was, but was surprised at the hoarse whisper that emanated from him.
"…Hello?" he called, almost inaudible. "Anyone in here?" A shadow in the room leapt to their feet and ran in the direction of the sound then.
"…Sonic?!" the voice cried. "Oh Sonic, you're okay!" He felt the arms of Amy Rose throw themselves around him, and he sighed in relief. Even though he was a bit wary of Amy's undying love and affection for him, he couldn't have been happier to be with someone he trusted right now.
"Amy…" he said, and cautiously put an arm around her as well. "How are you feeling?" She held him out at arm's length, looking at him the best she could in the poor light of the room, which turned out to be a cell, now that Sonic got a better look at it.
"I'm all right," she replied, and then pulled him into her arms again. "But I was so worried about you…" Sonic blushed self-consciously, relieved that she couldn't see.
"Hey, there was no need to be worried about me…I'm fine," he said, pulling away from her. She looked a bit disheartened at this, but quickly brightens up and Sonic takes her hand, lowering himself slowly to the floor, and pulling her down with him.
"Do you know anything about what happened?" he asked, looking over at her. She sighed.
"Sure," she replied, and then took both of his hands, looking him in the eyes. "And I'll tell you, 'cause I'll do anything for you…my hero!!" Sonic winced inwardly but tried to look happy about this.
"Oh, well, do tell then!" he replied. Amy sighed and looked down at her hands.
"Well…you see…after the blast that Shadow hit you with, I screamed…I thought you were dead! Shadow just laughed and shot after Tails and Rouge then, who were trying to get away…but he got Tails in one of his tails…and he hit Rouge right on…" She sighed then, looking down.
"Tails got managed to get away, but Rouge fell to the ground, and Shadow picked her up, along with Knuckles. He took them both up into his craft, where I was being held, and then he went back to get you…and…I was so scared…because I thought he was going to kill me…"
She sighed, a few tears sliding down her cheeks. Sonic sensed her distress and put an arm around her comfortingly.
"Aw, don't worry Amy…we'll be able to get out of here, okay? If Tails is still out there…then there's always that small ray of hope…" She sniffed a bit and nodded, burying her face in his soft, downy chest.
"I just want to go home," she sniffed, and cried there, Sonic holding her helplessly, frustrated that he was unable to do anything to help her.
~*~
Rouge sighed and held onto one of the bars of her cell, looking out of it mournfully. Her heart had a terrible, incurable ache…much worse then any of the physical pain coursing through her body right now. She lowered her head, a few tears slipping out of her eyes and sighed miserably.
"Man…I-I'm…so sorry, Tails," she whispered, swallowing back an awful lump in her throat. "I'm so sorry that…I couldn't stay with you…you must be so worried…"
She turned away from the front of the cell and slid to the ground, feeling the damp stones through her clothes. She shuddered from an unreleased sob, and then murmured, almost inaudibly…
"…I love you…"