Crimson Vision

Chapter 16: Three: Within the Mysterious Room

My conquered fears, my past revealed, my previous life.

I stand alone in darkness.

Was it right for me to venture up here? Was it right for me to learn the truth?

I am alone in darkness.

I came here for answers and it's answers that I'll find. But perhaps some things were meant to stay hidden….. but it's too late for that now.

I live alone in darkness.

I know no one yet everyone knows me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Amy, after all that we've been through I can't say anything more than thank you for your support. You mean so much to me now I….."

I stopped and bent my head. I couldn't go on but the words were right in my heart. It's just the memories of seeing her possessed by the serpent made me feel guilty, that I should've kept a better watch on her. But the creature was gone out of her and she was safe. As I sat next to Amy, who was on the couch and awake, I began to shake from my regret. The thought of losing Amy was stronger than I thought it would be. I felt her grab hold of my hand and she gazed at me with her soft eyes.

"Go on." she whispered.

"You mean so much to me now I couldn't bear seeing you at the mercy of something like the serpent. Therefore I've decided that now is the time to end this….. I'm going up to the Mysterious room and this time I gonna make it." I explained.

A slight smile appeared on her exhausted face. I smiled in return and slowly stood up carefully trying not to upset my stomach wound that was bandaged up.

"Don't worry about me Amy," I told her. "I'll be ok."

As I turned to leave I heard Amy getting up from the couch. I looked back and tried to stop her but she held out a hand stopping me. I watched her as she slowly pushed up her frail body and was on her feet. Then, step by step, Amy made her way over to me and held onto me for support. She looked into my eyes with some kind of hope and then, without warning, she gave me a kiss on my cheek. I was shocked with this being my first kiss ever given to me as far as I know. My heart seemed to jumped and left me stiffened like a statue. I felt Amy's arms wrap around me and unsure as to what to do I wrapped my arms around her as well.

We broke apart after a few seconds and Amy looked at me again with her hope filled eyes.

"Stay strong." she spoke.

I nodded and turned continuing on towards the steps. Upon approaching them Sonic was right around the corner and just stood in his place smirking at me. I looked at him a bit confused yet interested in what he was thinking. He then held up thumb towards me and nodded; he wanted to wish me good luck which was the last thing I expected from him. Nonetheless I took his encouragement and slowly began my trek up the dark stairs. The feeling of going up there was as if I was leaving my home behind and was venturing into new uncharted lands filled with untold secrets waiting just for me. The wisdom and strength of my friends burned brightly inside of me and my ever-growing courage strengthened with every step I took.

Finally I had reached the top of the stairs and looked back down at Sonic still holding that smirk on his face. I took a deep breath and approached the doorway wielding the staircase that lead up to the Mysterious room. My hand opened it and I disappeared inside. The door slowly closed and it was just me and the staircase; at the top was another door and on the other side were the answers I was searching for. I took a step and hesitated. I had to prepare myself for the pain I would endure, I had to be able to withstand it. Then in a last breath I began to travel up the stairs and halfway up the voices began to attack.

They shouted angrily at me but I did not stop, they cursed me but I did not break down. Then there was that small voice, it began to creep in through all the chaos that was going on in my head and it's innocence and vulnerable sound struck my heart. It reminded me too much of Amy and how she was yesterday but that was the past. I couldn't let the voice get to me because I saw Amy stand strong right in front of my eyes just moments ago. The pleading voice would not stop me and I continued on up the stairs. The voices began to get louder, harsher; the pleading voice begged to me over and over again:

"Please don't. You can't."

But it was wrong. I can and will do this and no one had the right to stop me! I charged up the stairs and the voice turned into a ear piercing scream that made me stop in my tracks.

"Just a few more steps." I reminded myself mentally.

I leapt up and made it to the final step, the voices stopped, and looked back down the dark staircase. I had gotten past the first part of my challenge. Now for the second and hopefully final part, getting into the room itself. My heart raced as I prepared to grab the doorknob remembering what happened the last time I did. I couldn't become fearful at the last minute, I could not stand down. I thought of Amy again and her strength inspired to go on even if it meant withstanding horrible unspeakable pain. Forcefully I held the doorknob and sudden rush of heat coursed through my body.

On the outside I burned horribly and dispite how much it hurt I did not scream, I would not scream. That was understood of how weak I was but I was no longer that weak being anymore. I was stronger with new powers, powers that I could use to defend myself and that's what I did. I searched deep within me for any sort of power that would defend me from this torture of fire and suddenly the burning decreased. I opened my eyes and saw that a red light of some sort protected my body as if it was a shield against the fire. More proof that I was becoming stronger. I opened the door slowly and for the first time in ages gazed into the darkness of the Mysterious room without any trouble.

The furniture was covered with its tan sheets as usual and then there was the covered portrait that hung on the wall on the far side of the room. It didn't look any different when compared to the vague memories but getting a closer look to the details of the room….. they looked familiar to me. Suddenly I began to get this feeling within me, that I've been here before. Every piece of furniture stirred my brain, everywhere I looked there seemed to be something pushing it's way into my head….. but what? Cautiously I walked around and examined the room, I felt very comfortable and just moved about as if this was my room.

But then the covered portrait caught my attention. I sensed some sort of power within it drawing me near it. I stared at it slowly becoming larger and larger and then I realized I was walking towards the picture. I had no control over my body, it slowly approached the portrait and my hand reached out to it. I became afraid of what I would find under the cover as my hand grew near it. Finally it grabbed onto the cover and ripped it off. Dust filled the air and I fanned it away covering my face. When the dust cleared I took a look at the portrait….. had I entered heaven?

On there was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Her skin was soft and her green eyes stood out like emeralds in the dark. She had long blonde hair flowing down her back and a gentle smile on her face that made me feel welcome into the room. The light blue dress she wore made her seem alive and well unlike the room….. but then I took a glance next to the girl and saw myself. I blinked twice and rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Sure enough there I was sitting next the angel-like girl depressing the picture with my dark ominous colors and a half smile on my face. But….. never in my entire life did I even know of this girl's existence; well at least in the life that I know about.

I stepped away from the picture now confused and unsure as to where I was anymore. This room no longer felt familiar to me and a fear grew inside of me. I stumbled on some boxes behind me sending me to the floor. Still caught in my daze of confusion I stared up at the ceiling blankly. How could all of this make any sense? With that portrait thrown into the mix it set everything out of balance, including me. I had almost become lost within my own thoughts had not a certain hissing noise rang in my ear.

I shot up and looked all around me and in the darkest corner I spotted the serpent's green eyes glaring at me. It slithered from the shadows and approached me as I stood up. We met each other eye to eye, no words were spoken but it almost seemed like we were reading each other's minds. Suddenly a screeching squawk came from behind me.

"No, it couldn't be." I thought.

Taking a peek over my shoulder I saw the crow swoop towards me and over my head. It landed next to the serpent who began to smirk at my bewildered look. This wasn't possible there was no way. I watched with my own eyes Sonic murdering the crow and yet here it is right here alive and well….. of course! Why should I be surprised considering the crow had powers just like the serpent so anything is possible with that vile bird.

"So I see you have made it Shadow, well done." the serpent addressed me. "But are you sure you want to know everything? It could bring back memories….. terrible ones might I add."

"How many times must I tell you this damn it. Nothing is going to stop me not even at this point. So get on with it and tell me everything that I want to know." I replied seriously.

"Whatever you say but I must warn you, what you see from here on is no trick, what you read from here on is no trick, what you feel from here on is no trick." the serpent informed me.

I remained silent and the serpent slithered past me and stood behind an empty mirror frame. The crow flew over landing in front of the serpent and the reptile wrapped itself around its fowl companion with its body upright.

"Come to the front of the frame and see what you've been fighting." the serpent hissed.

Cautiously and mindfully I approached the front side of the mirror frame keeping my eye on the serpent and the crow. I pondered what the creature meant when it said 'what I've been fighting' and as I stepped in front of the frame it became even more confusing. There I was, Shadow the Hedgehog, standing in front of what was obviously a mirror-less frame looking at….. myself. There was much more to this than I thought sending any theories I had out the window. My double stepped through the frame and smirked at me evilly. He paced around me and I kept a sharp eye on him.

"Shocked, scared, surprise? All of these and more are coursing through your mind right now Shadow." my double spoke in a dark tone. "But I bet you're wondering what I— or should I say you have to do with all of this. It's very simple. You're the reason you should die, you're the reason the serpent and crow exist."

He stopped in front of me and stared at me menacingly; I returned the look as well.

"You're the reason you're fate is approaching quickly. Let's face it Shadow, you dug out your own grave and now all you have to do is lay in it and die." he said.

This was all mind-boggling and I needed answers, not blames. That was the only reason I came up here.

"Say what you want about me, all I want to know is why is this happening to me? What brought me here?" I asked.

My double reached into one of the boxes and pulled out a small book. He tossed it to me and I caught it and began to look it over. The dust that covered it caused its white color to fade to a dirty gray color. It appeared to have had a lock on it which might have broken off meaning it was some kind of personal journal of some sort.

"It's her diary. Read the last three entries and everything will become more clear to you." my double informed me.

So I took heed to his advice, opened up the diary, and began to read it.