Crimson Vision

Chapter 18: One: Last Chance; A Curse at Rest

My final hour, my final thoughts, yet peace at last.

I stand alone in darkness.

It ended this way; it ended for the better.

I am alone in darkness.

I leave this world in anguish with no good-bye's. I leave my loved one behind… how I wish I had told her.

I live alone in darkness.

I know no one yet everyone knows me.

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

I was thrown against the wall by my twin. He charged towards me but I countered his attack with a swift punch to his stomach. I screamed at him as I continued to attack the imposture with numerous attacks, all that should've knocked him out cold. But after the barrage of attacks ended he was still standing with a few cuts on his face… and that damn smirk as well. I wanted to wipe it off for good.

"Stop fighting against what's right Shadow." he said to me. "Stop fighting against what's just and true. You know you deserve it; that's why you're fighting so much. You want it all to go away but the past will always come back to haunt you."

Shut up. Shut up you deceiver! You liar full of tricks! Stay out of my head!! It was too much for me to take, all the guilt and anguish. I found myself charging at my double and throwing him into the pile of junk near the wall but I didn't stop there. I picked up a piece of broken wood and began to beat him with it. Swing after swing, bashing and bashing him. My eyes watch blood pour out from various cuts and gashes on his face and body. I even may have broken a bone or two but the most peculiar about all of this was that he never screamed, cried out in pain, or even wince in between my attacks. It was as if he was allowing me to hurt him… and it became my opportunity to end it all.

I threw aside the prickly wood now covered in blood and lifted up my opponent. My eyes wandered over to a boarded up window nearby and thoughts of death and horrible pain filled my head. This would be the perfect sentence for my tormentor; this would be a perfect death for him. I built up enough strength to hurl him through the boards and out of my vision. My breath was rapid and slowly I approached the window and peered down into the backyard. There he was lying lifeless on the ground. I could see a few of his injuries had worsened because of the impact. Seconds later I felt myself free-falling towards my opponent and landed next to him.

My head tilted as I looked down upon his injured body. The blood the poured out all over him reminded me of the peaceful and dark nights I once had. The nights of when I would randomly search out my victims and feed off of them. Now I could see those nights returning to me once again once I had taken out the only thing standing in my way. My eyes glowed of a menacing red color and I grinned with my fangs showing preparing to take one last hit on my opponent. But his eyes opened up almost immediately and I stepped back. He smirked and soon was on his feet running away into the forest. But I chased after him.

He was going slow… too slow. I was able to catch up with him easily. Why was he giving in like this? Is this some sort of trap for me? Who cares, I caught him and now he'll never get away. I had grabbed his hand and swung him around me slamming him into a tree. As he slumped to the ground a blood spot was left on the tree from the back of his head. My double tried to get up but I kicked him in the face knocking him over. Repeatedly I kicked him in the stomach and he coughed up more blood. Stupid ass. How dare you try to kill me, I have more power than you. I am the one who stalks you in the night! I am your nightmare!

One last kick sent him rolling across the ground and laying face up. I approached him gathering energy in my hand and held it out to him. Thoughts of Maria flowed through my mind; my heart began to ache over her death. No longer will I take this shit. A blast of fire attack my double and scorched and bloody burns were now all over his torso. I prepared to attack again when suddenly I was tackled down. My eyes closed shut upon impact and when I opened them there he was. My twin with his blood dripping down onto me and with that stupid smirk on his face. I noticed his hand was lifted up and green energy was gathering into it. I had to react fast.

I kick him off of me but he still continued to gather energy as I put distance between us. Finally he released it in a powerful blast that would've hit me had I not fallen at the last second. The green energy slowly faded away and I sprung to my feet ready to strike back; but he was quicker. A shadow-like rope wrapped around my neck and my double began to pull me in like some ranch animal. I tried to break free of the rope but it was too strong. I became short of breath and was gasping for air. Everything was spinning, my head felt light but I could still see my opponent still smirking at me. He's not gonna win this one.

A red blast shot out of my hand burning through the rope. One loud snap and I stumbled back into a tree still eyeing my opponent. He apparently threw another shadow attack of some sort at me and I dodged it and charged towards him. My body collided with him and while he was on his back I held my hand against his face. Slowly smoke began to rise from my hand as a sizzling sound was heard. It became louder and louder the longer I held onto my twin. But not a word was uttered from his mouth. He laid there as if nothing was happening. Just exactly what was this immortal creature? Even with so many gashed and bruises and maybe even a broken bone he still was in perfect condition.

I was growing tired of trying to make him suffer. Death had to come now. I stood up releasing my hand from his face. A dark bloody handprint was imprinted on him and he opened his eyes and stared at me once more… along with that sickening smirk. A red whip formed in my hand and I began to strike that lair with it over and over. But with each hit visions flashed in my head. Visions of… Maria. Her fearful eyes of the final moments of her life stared at me with a sense of begging. Her voice echoed in my head and my heart began to ache. But I couldn't stop; I was one step closer to freedom from my curse. One step closer to freedom from my fears and pains. One step closer to freedom from my past.

The condition of my double worsened as I continued to attack him and then… I just stopped. My hand holding the energy-made whip froze in mid-air; it was like some sort of spell was placed on me. My thoughts were unclear but what I saw through my eyes was clear as the night sky above me.

Everything around me was red, blurred, and distorted. I was moving through the streets of the small town, voices screaming on my left and right as beings ran away from me. I seemed to be heading back towards my home either running in fear or running to Maria. But I felt… angry. I didn't know why but I was raging with anger and had the need to kill someone who had made me mad. I passed through the familiar gate that was in front of the house and in front of the house was a being. He looked old and fragile with dark spectacles and a large mustache on his face. Then it came to me… Professor Gerald. The first person I saw when I brought to life.

As happy as I was to see him again I didn't feel that way. My anger was still high and I could see the fear on his face as I approached him slowly. In a distorted voice he said 'Stay where you are Shadow. It's me, Prof. Gerald. I'm here to help you.' I wanted to stand still but for some reason I advanced upon him and saw a mighty claw take a slash at him. Droplets of blood flew through the air along with his voice as it screamed and then slowly faded away. The Prof. was dead at my feet and I wanted to help him but my attention was adverted up to the top of the house where the Mysterious room stood.

I could see Maria's face in the window and then disappeared. I had to go and see her and in a blur of red light I was in the Mysterious room. Maria, finally I can see you again in all your glory, embrace you on my arms and stay there forever… but why do you look at me in such a terrified manner? I thought I was your friend.

"Please Shadow, stay calm! Grandfather was only trying to help!" her voice spoke distorted as well.

I knew that Maria but I couldn't stop what was happening. Why can't you hear me? Don't you hear the words I'm saying to you? Maria! Once again my actions became uncontrollable and I roared loudly like some sort of monster and then glared back at Maria. I charged at her and as she came closer and closer I tried everything I could to stop. MARIA!! She was thrown across the room into the wall, bloody scars were on her back and she was crying. Unable to control anything I watched the horror as I mangled and destroyed my dearest friend I ever had. My heart was crumbling up with every scar that was made; I couldn't take it anymore.

Finally it stopped and I could barley make out Maria among all the red I saw. My head tilted up and mighty roar was heard as everything fell dark. My eyes blinked and there I was back in the forest with my opponent still lying on the ground with all of his injuries. My whip had disappeared and slowly my hand came down to my side as the pain in my heart grew. Clutching my chest I dropped to my knees and tears fell out of my eyes like a strong downpour. Having to watch my friend die a horrific death broke my pride, my strength, my courage. I was too weak to move and remained on my knees crying the guilt and pain out of me. But that all faded away when I hear him laughing.

I looked up and my double was on his feet again just laughing at me and my weakness.

"I told you so." he spoke. "You wanted so you got it. Are you happy Shadow? Are you satisfied with knowing you're the reason why your life is like this? I could've made it easier if you didn't fight back so much but you had to know. What do you have to say now?"

Somewhere throughout his little speech it hit me in the head that he's the reason everything has happened to me. He's the one to blame not me. He had to suffer. After all of his taunting of me killing Maria he had no right to speak of her death as if it was a meaningless event of the past. It meant everything to me, it cost me everything and everyone I knew so he has no right to taunt it and degrade it in such a manner. He has no right to degrade Maria… no one does! So no mercy shall be held upon him!!

My rage grew quickly back to where it was once more and I attacked with my sudden burst of energy. Red streaks collided with my opponent causing him to stumble back. I continued to attack more as the red lights of energy erupted into bursts of fire and flames. My eyes began to glow red as I attacked my twin with blast of scorching fire and my strength grew along with my anger. Another hit and he was thrown against another tree but stood his ground shakily. Our eyes met and a flame surrounded my right hand. Not wasting anymore time I charged at him shouting out in anger and pushed my ignited hand through his chest.

Finally a look of pain and regret fell upon his face and I was satisfied. But he struggled to get in what seemed to be a half smile before turning completely black like ash falling apart to the ground as dust. That was the end of him; that was the end of my curse and now I could rest. I heard footsteps come from behind me and I looked over my shoulder to see Sonic approaching me. He looked down by the tree at the pile of dust and then back at me again.

"He's finished." I said smiling, something I rarely did.

Sonic returned a smile at me but was suddenly distracted by something behind me on the horizon. I turned and could see the changing colors of the sky. It was almost morning! I must've been out here for the whole night battling my true enemy. But instead of rushing back to my domicile I took a few steps forward past the tree I was near and took in the beautiful colors. A memory rushed back into my mind of when Maria and I watched the sun rise one morning. The colors were so awakening and alive enticing others just to get up and see it. While gazing at the colors that slowly changed I felt an even greater comfort within my heart. A comfort that probably would've never been felt had I not gone on this search for my past.

Everything around me seemed to brighten up as if I was waking up from a horrible dream. I began to hear sounds that I haven't heard in ages. I was returning to the life I once lived and then it happened. I felt a great burning all over my body as if it was on fire. Sonic shouted my name but I was unable to answer. The burning continued and I shouted out in pain. Why?! Why is this happening to me?! I'm supposed to be free from this curse! I had freedom right in the palm of my hand but why now?! I could feel the bones in my body beginning to melt and move as if they were going to reshape themselves. I looked down at my hands and realized my whole body was glowing red. Then my vision went crimson as well. Was this how I transformed into that beast from my vision?

I wasn't quite sure but that was the last thought that went through my mind before I heard two air shattering shots of a gun being fired. At the same time my breathing froze and my body stiffened up as I fell to my stomach. There was an unbearable pain in my chest and I could hear Sonic shouting at someone. All I wanted to know was who did it? Who was the one that shot me? Slowly with the little strength I had I turned myself over to see the last one I expected it to be… Amy. Tears were running down her face as she held up a silver pistol aimed at my head. I glanced over at Sonic who was against a tree obviously afraid of Amy shooting him. But Amy sobbed getting my attention and I had to know why.

"Why… Amy?" I barely spoke.

"It's what you wanted Shadow. I'm just being a good friend." she replied sadly.

Her finger rested onto the trigger and she pulled it…

Wow… so that's how it ends for Shadow. But don't go off thinking that this is the end. There are still two more chapters to come as the denouement or the conclusion to tie-up a few loose ends of 'Crimson Vision'. See ya then!