The Realization of Hector Hedgehog

A Story of the Secret Life

Chapter 3

A Meeting

            "So much for Tuesday evening at Mina's," Hector thought to himself as he dragged himself home. When he had left the hospital, it had been eight o'clock, and it had taken him almost two hours to walk home. This was just a lovely day. I get hit by the mob and now they're going to kill me. Then there's Sally...

            "But are you sure your name is Sally Acorn, ma'am?"

            "Yes." Sally had turned away from him in the hospital ward. "That is my real name. But here's my question - who are you?"

            "I told you that already," Hector had protested. "My name is Hector Maurice Hedgehog."

            "How do I know you're not who I think you are?"

            "And who do you think I am?"

            "Why should I...oh, God," Sally had rubbed her eyes. "You even argue like him!!!"

            I could swear she was from my comic!! Hector bit his nails. iI mean, she looks like her, she acts like her...she even sounds the way she does in my dreams!! But...how...could she exist outside of my dreams?!? It's...just not possible. And yet, there she was, demanding my real name. /I

            "Hector!!!"

            "Ugh…" Hector turned to see Mina. "Mina, I'm not hungry."

            "Now, Hector." His mother turned to look at him. "I heard that you didn't go to work today. Shame!"

            "He didn't," Geoffrey piped up. "He'll get fired if he starts missing whole days now."

            Hector looked at Geoffrey, annoyed.

            "What? I'm speaking the truth."

            "I know…" Yet I suddenly don't care about my work…..how strange…. "Hey, mom, you don't mind if I retire early?"

            "Retire early?"

            "I….don't feel good."

            With that, Hector walked upstairs, his thoughts reeling. I feel so strange…Why do I feel this way?

-------

            "Did you get her?"

            "No."

            "Damnit."

            "We'll just have to try again." 

            "Sir…..I think that he was with her."

            "What?!"

            "Yes."

            They stood inside a large, dark house. The only light were a group of candles.

            "Very well, Jepshtat." The main figure turned away. "Find them. I want the prize at all costs."

-------

            Wednesday was even stranger for the poor loser.

            "Oh!! Hector!!!" Mina had dragged him to the mall, and now was coming outside from the lingerie store to show him scanty panties. "How would this look on me?

            "Oh, why…" Yellow and green polka dots. Dear God, help me…. "It looks beautiful."

            "Heehee!!" Mina giggled. "I'll go look for another one just like it, then!!!"

            Hector gave a sign of relief as she left. His mind began to wander to other things after this. I'm hungry......naah, what am I thinking?.....Thinking.....I'm thinking about.....Sa-

            "You!"

            Hector nearly jumped up three feet. The amount he did jump left him flat on his butt in front of Sally.

            "S-s-s-sally!" Oh my God! She's here....she's really here.... "Wh-wh-what are you doing here?"

            "Hiding." Sally looked at him with a slight air of discomfort anf disgust. "Who was that girl I saw you with?"

            "Oh, her?" She's not related. She's a stalker. She's an evil person sealing your money. "...My fiancee."

            "Really." Sally looked at the store. "She looks very chipper."

            "Uh, yeah......

            Hector just kept staring at Sally. She is more beautiful in person than she was on paper. Wow, wow…….wait, what am I saying?!

            "Yeah…..thanks for saving that guy."

            "Guy?"

            "The guy. The one we brought to the hospital."

            "Right!" Hector laughed and snorted. "Yeah, I remember that!"

            "Riiight....." Sally turned over towards the store. "I've got to go...."

            "Go?! W-waiAAIIIE!!!!"

            Hector suddenly tripped on his own two feet. He fell flat on his face, moaning. Ow.....Ow.......

            "Bye!"

            Quickly, Sally left just as Mina came out of the store.

            "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!" In her bag were twenty pair of the same panties. "These will be just perfect for the wedding night!! I want to..."

            Hector nodded incoherently, but as he did his eye caught something on the ground. Curious, he picked it up.

            "And I'll..."

            Oh no! Sally face came out of the wallet he picked up. Her wallet I have to-

            "Hector!!" Mina suddenly grabbed him. "Let's get lunch!!!"

            As the loser was dragged down, he noticed that Sally was nowhere to be found. Quietly as he could, he put the wallet in his pocket and resolved to give it back to her in an hour, bck at the hotel.

-----

            "Hector! Eat your food, Hector." Hector's mother looked at him. "Are you all right?"

            "Yeah." Just peachy. Absolutely. "I'm just not hungry. May I be excused?"

            With that, Hector excused himself and walked out.

            "Why, Mrs. Hedgehog!" Mina was scarfing down the food. "Whats wrong with him?"

            "Maybe he's sick." Mrs. Mongoose looked at Hector's mother. "Perhaps you should get him some type of penecillin shot. Those things work miracles."

            "I'm not sure." Hector's mother nodded. "Well, I'm going to put all of this away."

-------

            She's alive......she's really alive......

            "Hector!"

            His mother stood at the doorway as he undressed. Putting on his pajamas, he was suddenly presented with a glass of warm milk. Outside, the rain softly pattered.

            "Here, dear." Hector's mother pinched him ."This will help you feel better."

            "Thank you, mo-"

            "Oh!!" Mina's voice drilled. "This room is so beautiful...."

            "Mother, must they stay?"  

            "Of course!" Hector's mother scolded. "Of course they have to! Its tradition for your bride to stay on night two weeks before the wedding! Now, drink that up and go to bed."

            Hector drank up, although his mind was on something else. Sally......you exist, but I will never see you again! My job with you's over, and I wish you the best. In my dreams....

-------

            Several hours later, Hector was still up, his mind completely alert.

            "Sally...." he talked to himself. "How do you exist outside of my dreams?"

            Its seemed impossible to him. Yet not so impossible. He didn't understand why. And there were still questions.

            "Such as," Hector began again, "Who those men were."

            The men had been very familiar to Hector; not as recognizable as Sally, but by no means unknown to him. Their voices, mostly, for they had kept their faces from him. But he knew that he knew them.

            "I wonder who they re, and why-"

            His thoughts were interrupted by a strange sound. His eyes widened.

            The living room!

            Without another thought, he put on a bedrobe and quietly tiptoed downstairs.

------

            The rain was getting harder as the princess climbed into the window. She was drenched from head to toe. Her red hair was dripping, as was her clothing.

            What am I doing here.....

            "Do I have to go?" Sally turned to the figure. "Its not who I thought it was! How can it be him?! Why?"

            "Princess..." The eyes looked up at her. "You must trust me. This boy is the key to saving everyone......"

            I still don't understand, Sally spotted a piano. How Hector holds such importance. He....looks like him......but......

            As she sat at the piano, the wood of the chair squeaked loudly. With a glance of fear, Sally tensed up and froze.

            Please…..don't let anyone awaken….

            "……Sally?"

            The princess almost jumped when she heard the voice of Hector. Before she banged her knees on the piano or screamed, however, she managed to mentally force herself back down Silent!

            "Wh….what are you doing here?!" Hector whispered as he fumbled with his glasses. "This isn't the time for anything you're planning, lady!"

            "I….."

            Sally silently stood up from the piano. She took a deep breath and whispered as low as she could.

            "I'm here to give you something."

            "M-me?" Hector's eyes widened. "What are you giving me?"

            "This."

            From her pocket, Sally scrounged around until she came up with a small black box. Promptly, she placed it into Hector's hand.

            "Don't ask," she whispered. "Please, you must protect it."

            "I…."

            Hector knew what it was. Deep down, he knew, ad he didn't want it.

            But its Sally, he thought to himself. She's in danger!

            "Sure."            He put it in his pocket. "I'll….take it."

            "Thank you." Sally slowly turned to the piano. "This piano's beautiful."

            "No…..really?"

            "Yeah…" Sally quietly opened up the board covering the keys. "It reminds me of the times I'd play with…….with my friend." She stammered. "He….was such a good pianist."           

            "Really….."

            Something suddenly tugged at Hector. He felt himself drawn to the piano, and he felt like playing a tune. Yet he had never taken a single lesson in his life.

            What am I doing….?!?!? Hector fought, but lost against the strange urge. Why am I going to wake everyone up with this strange lady in the house?! How will I explain?!?!?!?

            He sat down at the piano with Sally watching, her eyes widening with each move he made. Then he began to play. The beautiful melody carried throughout the house, as if Hector had been playing his whole life.

            Beautiful….

"Sally..." Sonic giggled. "How's that?"

            "Beautiful." Sally, and Sonic, both children, both giggled. "I just hope the hands will play forever…."

            "Hec….tor….." Sally could only gasp as he finished. "How…..did you know that song?"

            "It was….your favorite as a child."

            "Only Sonic knew that."

            "I…"

            Hector stopped. He looked at his hands.

            Wait……I don't remember it…….ever being……in the comic……..

            The shocking revelation made him gasp. It was shocking. He had, for a moment, been immersed within a memory….an image……that had been……

            No, no NO!!! Hector's mind screamed. It…it can't be real!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

            "Hector…."

            "HECTOR!!!!!!!"

            The lights were suddenly on upstairs. Three shadows appeared in the staircase.

            "Oh no!!" Hector turned. "Princess, you should-"

            But turning, there was no one there. What the…?!?!?

            "Hector Hedgehog!!" His mother was the first to come down. "What are you doing at this time of night, in the middle of the poring rain, playing the piano?!"

            "Uh…." Hector turned about wildly. "I-"     

            "Oh, Mrs. Hedgehog!" Mina squealed. "He opened the window and now the rain is coming in!!"

            Hector turned, and indeed there was a puddle of water where Sally had been. He gave a gasp. Ack! Must……think….

            "Oh!" Suddenly, Hector laughed. "I….did!? Well, I…..the last thing I remember is going to sleep."

            "You…." Hector's mother looked at him suspiciously for a moment, only to laugh. "Oh! Foolish boy. Sleepwalking, I see!"

            "Well, Irme," Mina's mother stepped forward. "If he does it often, he should see a therapist. Its bad for him!"

            "Oh, Hector!" His mother shook his head. "My milk must not have been warm enough. Now, come along upstairs, I'll close this God-forsaken window, and you go to bed."

            Hector nodded. However, his mind was not on sleep; it was on what just happened.

            I don't believe it, he thought. I…I think I'm going crazy….

-------

            The Spyder was outside of the house, in invisible mode.

            "Oh, god…." Sally's head was in her hands. "I don't get it, I don't. For a moment, that kid….was Sonic!"

            The figure, who sat next to her, patted her on the shoulder as she rubbed her eyes.

            "Don't worry," he said. "He's the key. It will all come out right in the end."