Arrg, so much pointless crap was at the beginning of all these chap's. I apologize. -rolls eyes-

Chapter 6: The Darkness Awakens

Rouge and Knux woke to thunder crashing in the distance. Their next emerald-finding destination was nearby, and they both had a feeling that it wasn't gonna be easy.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"I don't know."

"The question is, where was I last night?" he asked mysteriously.

"I know! You were on--"

"Shh." He put a finger to her lips. "That's for you to know and for me to find out lata."

"Get off me, you sicko!" she screamed, pushing him off the bed. "Let's just get this over with. I've got better things to do."

"Like what?"

"I dunno."

"You know! You've got somethin' planned for tonight, don't you?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Just because you were cold yesterday, doesn't mean that I've forgotten the bet."

"You'll see."

They exited the bedroom and looked out of the heli. Dark clouds covered the sky, which made it hard to find out where they were. This was the final place where the last Angel Emerald shards lie. Of course, there is more than what they've bargained for.

The heli landed and they were out in the open again. Night covered the space around them, which was confusing because it was daytime, according to the control screen inside the heli. Lightening flashed in the sky at random times.

"Man, this reminds me of the mountainside I found the Master Emerald pieces on." Knuckles commented. (A/N: Gotta love Pumpkin Hill! It's a game thang!)

"This is really giving me the creeps." Rouge said shakily.

"Don't worry. Just find all the pieces you can and we'll be outta here soon enough." Knux comforted. She nodded in reply and they were off.

Knux started collecting pieces left and right. For a dark place, they were much easier to find than yesterday.

Rouge was quite creeped out. She loved the nightlife, but this place gave her an uneasy feeling. She moved quickly, also finding emerald pieces easily. A flash of lightening almost struck her, but she got out of the way thanks to her incredible hearing.

It struck the ground near her, creating a large hole in the ground. A black glow emerged from the hole. She could hear the voice again, coming from the hole. She crawled to the hole and peered inside.

The sight was amazing. She could see the last purple emerald shard twenty feet underground. She could feel the power as she got closer to the edge.

She swooped down and stared at it. The voice got louder as her hand reached out for it. She grabbed the piece and look at it.

The piece moved as if she activated something. All the other pieces including the core moved and attached themselves together. The black-purple glow blinded her as it flashed before her eyes.

She could feel the power within. The control she had all these years, the barriers that protected her from gaining it fell as she accepted the power of the jewel. She could feel herself rising from the hole. Her wings were flapping, but she wasn't doing it herself. She took to the sky with a black- purple glow around her. She grinned evilly and floated there, with the jewel's power guiding her thoughts. She saw a dark figure calling to her from the ground. His scarlet eyes flashed evilly.

"Come, come to me, Dark Angel." he called.

Her wings obeyed as her mind raced with questions. "Why am I doing this? Who is he? Am I under some control?" She tried flying back to her previous spot, but her wings wouldn't obey. The pain that she got from this struggle was unbearable, so she gave up trying. She wanted to know who he was, and flying away wouldn't help.

As she got closer to the ground, she recognized the figure increasingly. The red in his quills blended with his fur easily. A gloved hand was extended towards her as she safely landed.

She grew terrified. What was going on? "Shadow?"

"Hmmm.It all worked according to plan."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"It's not important."

"This has something to do with the jewel, doesn't it? You were inside my head! But how?" she asked, confused at his actions.

"You'll find out if you come with me."

"This is really scaring me. Why would I want to come with you?"

"Because there are consequences for not following my orders."

She started to turn away from him, ready to call Knuckles. "What makes you think I'll--"

A flash of light that consumed her cut off her question. It numbed her sense of sight and gave her a wave of pain that caused her body to convulse wildly. It stopped instantly and his hand returned to his side.

"You'll listen, count on it. !!"

---

Knux saw the flash of green light in the distance. He looked around. Rouge was nowhere in sight. He rushed toward the light and found a large hole. He jumped in it and saw the last two pieces of the Angel Emerald and a stray glove. He picked it up and realized something. "Rouge." he thought. He took to the air and searched the area. He found his walkie-talkie and turned it on.

"Knux to Tails, can ya hear me?"

---

Back at Mystic Ruins, Tails had just walked in to Sonic and Amy making out on the couch. Sonic and Amy were getting closer everyday since they had visited Knux and Rouge and it sickened him. He liked it better when Sonic was trying to avoid her.

Sonic broke the kiss and stared deeply into her eyes. "Amy, you're so hot."

She smiled. "Do you know how long I've waited for you to say that?" They started making out again.

Tails couldn't take the burn in his eyes anymore. "Guys!" he yelled. There was no answer from them. He sighed and left the room. A quiet buzzing played with his ears in the kitchen. He spotted his walkie-talkie vibrating on the counter. He picked it up and spoke into it.

"Tails here. What's up?"

"Tails, this is Knux. I think Rouge is in trouble."

"What? Where are you?"

"I have no idea. Can you track the heli?"

"Um.sure, if it's not too far away. I'll go check. Stay where you are! Over and out!"

Knux put the walkie-talkie down and sighed. Him and Rouge had separated over thirty minutes ago, and he already missed her. He sat in the heli and stared into space.

They reappeared in the same black abyss that was her nightmare. Purple and red candlelight flickered off the walls of the room. She stumbled and started to fall, but Shadow caught her in time.

"You need to be in top condition for what I have planned." His cold voice sent chills down her spine.
"And what is that?" she asked shakily.

"You wanna know every little thing, don't you?"

"What do you want me for?"

"That's just it. I want you, Rouge." he said as he turned away.

"Well, this isn't the way to tell me, now is it?" she asked sarcastically.

"I saw you while I was falling, Rouge. I saw you with that echidna. I knew right then that I wanted you. I loved you. Your perseverance, your dedication, your beauty.It inspired me to live. I know I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you, Rouge."

"What?" she asked. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Well, why is it that all I see is you? I hear your voice in my head. Everything reminds me of you. I can't just avoid it."

"I'm in love with Knuckles, Shadow." she confessed.

"I don't care." Shadow said with the sharpness of a knife.

"I don't love you, Shadow." Rouge refused.

"I don't care." he repeated.

"If you don't care, then why am I here?"

He turned to her with confidence. "I can make you love me."

"How can you do that? I love Knuckles, didn't you hear me?"

He shook his head. "You see, that's why I love you, Rouge. You never back down. You know me well enough to know that I don't back down that easy myself. I get what I want when and how I want it." He still held her in his arms.

She tried to wriggle free, but his grip was too strong. "You wouldn't." she begged at the thought of him raping her.

"I wouldn't disrespect you like that. I have other ways. You tell me now and get rid of Knuckles, or I'll have to force it out of you."

"You know I can't do that, Shadow. No matter how much you torture me, I'll still love Knuckles and nothing can change that. You can't always get what you want, you know."
"Oh, but I can, my dark angel." He extended an arm and held his hand inches away from her face.

She saw the purple-black glow again. She remembered that she still held the mysterious emerald. The power rushed at her thoughts, begging her to say those four words.

"No! I won't give in, Shadow. I love Knuckles!" she convinced herself.

"Hmm, you're tougher than I thought. So am I." His fingers brushed her cheek, making the power come into full contact with her mind.

She saw the flash of light again, blinding her as it covered her body and his. This time, it stung every inch of her body. She agonized, but she had no mercy. "You can't do it, Shadow. I'll die before you make me say those words." she said, wincing in pain.

"I don't wanna kill you. You will say it and mean it." His hand came in full contact with her fur, making the power even stronger.

She convulsed in pain as the darkness flowed through her mind. It plagued every thought and memory she had. Her head felt heavy and her eyes were wet with tears. She gasped, "No, Shadow I don't.love you.Let me die.."

"No, I have control. Relax and just say it. I will have my way with you." he said through clenched teeth.

"Never." she said before a burning sensation went through her whole body. She screamed and kicked like a little child.

"You will say it!" he yelled. His fingers stroked her fur, turning the power up a notch.

She was at the point where screaming did nothing for her. Her mind did that job. Her voice was a whisper, still refusing Shadow's plea.

This was the highest he could get to torturing her. Any higher, and he would kill her. He weakened her, and that's all that mattered. "It'll come out any minute now.." he thought.

Her body weakened in Shadow's arms. She was on the verge of death, but it never took her. She opened her eyes to see his glowing ones. It was sweet to see him confess like that, but torturing her would never work. She could still feel the power clawing at her mind.

"Say it." he summoned.

Thoughts of Shadow filled her head instantly. It didn't phase her, but she could feel the control over her thoughts and feeling slowly dying in her mind. Her pride was weakening and she was moments from saying the words. She had no control now.

He could see it. After all that torture, he would get what he was looking for. He could see her lips forming unspoken words. The silence was broken by her labored words.

"Shadow, I.."

---