Shorter chapter today, but here we are!
|chapter eight: the bad idea|
He probably wouldn't describe it as a moment of anger like his top five. No, this was in his top five moments of being embarrassed and upset. He was frustrated.
Sonic had stopped in his parents' driveway - they had arrived early. Amy was already at the house, as well, and had been for several hours. She had tried to dissuade Sonic from causing a ruckus all over some overnighter.
But now it wasn't even about the overnighter anymore.
He wanted to know what was going on so badly that it killed him.
He sat in his car, head on the steering wheel. He couldn't believe he had just worked himself up to try and confront Shadow only to be immediately shot down. Sonic truly hadn't expected the hedgehog to do that. And for a moment, Sonic had the realization that this wasn't anything like the anger he felt with the professor accusing him of plagiarizing. This wasn't pure frustration over not being able to clear his name. This was frustration in himself because he had figured himself to be entitled to know what was going on - Shadow had been right. Shadow had called him out, point blank.
There's a reason he's the unspoken leader around there. I should've approached that differently. I just felt like I had to get all of my feelings out. Everything Blaze said in the afternoon didn't make sense, and it still doesn't! If they need help, I'm more than happy to help. But why are they acting like it's a secret ops mission? Like getting Amy and I out of there was imperative. But why? Is it the wolf? Is it the tower restoration and its schedule? I just wanna know, and I feel like we should know.
His phone buzzed for the second time since he left. He had checked the first time, and it had been an unknown number but with the correct area code. Checking again, Sonic saw it was the same number. He knew it wasn't a scammer then, and he knew it wasn't Sarah or any of his family members. That left one good guess.
I'm not answering it. It's probably Shadow.
There was a voicemail this time, but he didn't bother looking at it. He needed to breathe for a minute. Sonic mulled over his thoughts - he figured he could do as Shadow said and used the weekend to think his behavior through. So, why was Shadow calling?
Glancing down at his phone, he saw it lighting it up. A text from the number.
(XXX) XXX-XXXX: Hey, this is Shadow. Sonic, please give me a call when you can.
He groaned as he grabbed his phone and backpack, getting out of the car. He wasn't surprised to see Amy standing there, now in shorts and a tank-top with a large sun hat on. She had her sunglasses in her hand and a soft smile.
"How did - "
"Don't," Sonic pushed past her. "Your boyfriend sure lays down the law."
"He's not my boyfriend," Amy pouted. She quickly followed him into the large house. "And I told you so!"
He practically ripped off the laces of his boots, kicking the shoes off lazily amongst the neatly stacked shoes. The backpack landed on the white bench below the coats with a loud THUD. Amy watched in worry. "That bad?"
"Don't." Sonic gripped his quills as he marched to the kitchen. "Where is everyone?"
"Your dad's on the boat, getting ready for some sunset boating. Your mother and Sonia are in the greenhouse," Amy followed him. "And your brother is in his room."
"Naturally." Sonic rolled his eyes at the mention of his brother. He'd say hi to his parents later - he figured they'd all be going out later at the mention of boating. He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, setting his phone on the counter. "Your boyfriend can't even leave me alone after I've already left."
"You quit?"
"No."
Amy sighed in relief. "He's not my boyfriend. He's calling you?"
"Twice already. Voicemail, and a text."
"Maybe he changed his mind," Amy shrugged as Sonic stared out the window, catching glimpses of his sister and mother near the greenhouse.
He paused and glanced at his phone, almost having hope. "No. He wouldn't. He just got done calling me entitled - "
"Fair," Amy motioned around in the lap of luxury Sonic had grown up in. He gave her a pointed look.
"Anyway. He's got a point," Sonic agreed in a sigh, leaning against the fridge, the only light thing in the ultimately dark-wooden kitchen. The setting sun lit up the room in an yellow-orange hue. Staring at the view, he looked past the greenhouse, towards the lake and towards the mountains in the direction of the park.
His plan from earlier hadn't worked quite as well as he had hoped it would, but that didn't mean the gears stopped turning.
"Sonic? You should call him back anyway," Amy offered, twisting her sunglasses in her hands. The hat was a little in her way from seeing the sudden determined look in Sonic's eyes as he twisted back around to face her.
"Better. I'm gonna show him that I'm not trying to act entitled. I'm not trying to run the show - I'm just trying to help. I want to see that tower come to fruition just as much as he does, and I'm going to show him that."
Amy knew that tone, and it made her stomach sink. That was a 'I've-got-a-plan' tone from Sonic and more often than not, the plans never worked out. Not as well as Tails' plans did, at least. It was a difficult comparison, but she'd still rather take the latter's plans anyday over Sonic's. "Uh…Couldn't you just call him back instead?"
"They're going up there tonight at Half Point. That's where they'll be camping," Sonic rambled, the gears rolling at the highest setting. "And it's where I'll meet them."
"No, Sonic, don't - "
"They can't say no if I show up prepared," Sonic cut her off, setting the water bottle down and grabbing his phone. It buzzed again in his hand, but he completely ignored it. "And then your boyfriend will have to let me join in on the trip."
"But I - He's not - "
"And if I show up prepared for the weekend, he'll be impressed." Sonic could see it all working out in his head as he hurried up the stairs to his bedroom to pack.
Of course, that was just his imagination playing out the scenarios to his benefit. As usual.
Amy tried catching up with him the best she could. "Sonic, wait! This is a terrible idea! He's not going to be impressed, he's going to be livid. You can't just do whatever you want all of the time with no consequences!"
"This time will work, Ames!"
"Just call him back!"
No answer as Sonic was already shuffling around drawers in his room. Amy huffed at the bottom of the stairs, looking at the guest house where all of her stuff was before looking back upstairs. There was no way this was going to work in Sonic's favor - Shadow would rip him apart or fire him or -
She bolted off to the guest house in pure panic, her own desperate plan forming.
Maybe if I'm there too though, Shadow won't eat Sonic alive. Maybe we'll both get fired or reprimanded or suspended or whatever else he can do with his management. I'll just tell Sonic's parents that plans have changed and we're going to work after all.
She skidded to a halt halfway outside.
Wait. There's no way Sonic's going to let me go with him. How am I going to…
Her eyes wandered over to Sonia, who was a few feet away outside the greenhouse by her lonesome. The plan wasn't the best, but it was the best that Amy could come up with in about ten seconds before Sonic disappeared off into the mountains.
"Hey, Sonia! Can I talk to you for a second?!"
~.~
Shadow stared down at his phone.
He had even texted Amy - getting the number from Sarah shortly after he arrived at his house to gather more clothes. He sighed heavily - no answer from Sonic or Amy.
Great. I've pissed off Sonic, who's probably told Amy all about it by now, and she probably sees me as the villian. So much for the date.
His house had been well cared for, as he expected. Knuckles was an excellent plant caretaker, and kept Shadow's multitude of house plants alive. He didn't have time for a pet, but he figured having plants of his own would keep him close to work whenever he did get some spare time at home. It was rare, though, which was why his house was pretty minimalistic. He didn't even have a TV - he found that he never watched it when he was home.
It bothered Rouge to no end, so she had brought her own TV after the third time she had house-sat. Now, her spare TV sat in his living room permanently, according to her. Rouge and Knuckles had greeted him when he had arrived. He meant to make the trip quick, all while trying to get a hold of Sonic.
I even had a change of heart. Shadow thought back to his last text. He had asked Silver over text what he would think of if he let Sonic show up tomorrow afternoon - and the white hedgehog had been "down." So Shadow sent Sonic one last pleaing text:
Shadow: Silver and I discussed some more. You are welcome to work tomorrow with us if you have the time tomorrow afternoon. Please call.
Nothing. No answer. And it had been ten minutes. He waited at a four-stop for the cars before him to go, waiting to hear his phone buzz, but it never did. By the time he got back to the station, he thought for sure that the young, promising cadet had quit. He was surprised to see Sarah back so quickly. Had he been gone that long?
"I picked up Jericho's, too." Sarah held the boxes as Shadow opened the door for her - it was already unlocked and Silver's car was there beside Blaze's. "Silver ran home and grabbed some more stuff. I figured you two could eat before you leave or take the food with you. Blaze is still sleeping."
"Alright. Have you heard anything from Sonic?"
"Was I supposed to?" Sarah asked, raising an eyebrow as they entered the vestibule. He opened the second door for her, and Silver's head shot up above the front desk at the smell of food. "He didn't answer your call?"
"Or texts. I even changed my mind and let him know he could join tomorrow if he really wanted to. I figure by the afternoon, it would be safe for him to hike up," Shadow noted. The sun was disappearing fast despite setting slow in the summer. He and Silver would have to get going soon.
"Well, I'll let you know if I hear anything. Maybe I can get a hold of him," Sarah shrugged as she set the food down.
Silver went to open his, but Shadow closed it. "We have to get going now if we want to make it to Half Point before it gets too dark."
The white hedgehog frowned a little. "Fine. Thanks, Sarah!" He rushed to pick up his backpack, which now included a sleeping bag. There was a tent big enough for the two of them that would attach itself to Shadow's bag. "Hold down the fort."
Sarah gave him a half-assed salute. "Good luck, boys."
Shadow grabbed his food container and nodded at her. "I'll get Jericho's next time."
"Right." Sarah stood on her side of the desk, mulling over whether or not to say something else.
Silver was outside as Shadow adjusted his backpack with the tent now attached. He took his container of food again as he had set it down to get his pack. Sarah knew it was now or never. "Hey, Shadow?"
"Yeah?" Shadow turned around to look at her, pushing the first door a little as he was on his way out.
Sarah paused, her soft smile disappearing on her face. Shadow saw it and the door closed as he pulled back into the room a little. She stared at the ground before meeting his gaze. "You got your gun?"
His quills quivered as realization sunk into him. This whole time, he'd been concerned about Blaze - who was visibly scared at one point. He hadn't stopped to consider how Sarah handled seeing the footage the first time, what she thought as she contrasted the image for a better view, and what was going on her mind. She had volunteered for night watch with Blaze - but was it out of fear for Blaze's wellbeing or fear of the unknown?
Still, Sarah wasn't out there in the field. She stayed in the station - she would be safe. She would be fine. She was the least one he had to worry about at the moment, Shadow figured. So, he offered her a comforting smirk and a warm look.
"Both of 'em. We'll be safe, Sarah, I promise."
With that, he left. Sarah was left to the silence of the station. She glanced over at the white fan on the counter space, staring at it and trying to not let her imagination run wild. But she had a sinking feeling deep in her gut.
Roughly, she turned on the fan.
~.~
By the time Blaze woke up, her food was cold. It was probably ten at night - she rested beside Sarah in the main room, taking Shadow's chair and sitting to Sarah's left. That seemed to bother the sage hedgehog immensely.
"You're always on my right."
"And tonight, I'm on your left." Blaze picked at the tomato on her burger.
It was odd seeing both monitors working at the computer at night. The cat had gotten used to just seeing the monitor on the right with the cameras on. Sarah was filling out reports though, actually working. Blaze didn't realize Sarah was such a workaholic when given the opportunity.
"I would like to see the cameras, though." Blaze didn't like how Sarah would actually use the second monitor meant for the cameras. She'd cover up the program with other programs she was working in.
"Everything happened later at night," Sarah reminded her. "Let's say by midnight. Okay?"
"Eleven."
"Eleven-thirty."
"Eleven."
"Eleven-fifteen."
"Ten-thirty."
"That's not how you negotiate," Sarah turned in her chair.
Blaze gave her an unimpressed look. "Eleven or ten-thirty, take your pick."
"Eleven it is, then." Sarah went to look back at her computer but quickly spun around again. "Ya know, you're like my mother. No fun at all."
"I'm touched. She sounds like a wonderful lady."
"Terrible. Awful. No good."
"You're just upset that you lost that one, and that you can't get under my skin like you can Shadow's or Silver's."
"Way to call me out, Mom."
"Don't call me Mom," Blaze sighed as she pushed her food away. She was rested now, but not really hungry. Her thoughts were still racing, as she could gather what had happened the night before. She anticipated for it to happen again. A part of her wanted it to happen again. The wolf-life creature was clearly still around after two days of inactivity. She wanted to know exactly where it was, and make sure that it was far from Silver and Shadow at Half Point.
She leaned back in her chair - well, Shadow's chair - and closed her eyes. No missing hikers, no missing campers, and one mysterious creature roaming around. She rested her eyes, waiting for eleven to tick by.
"Do you think Sonic quit?" Sarah quietly asked, looking down at her phone. "Shadow said he didn't respond to any of his calls or texts. He hasn't responded to any of mine either. Amy hasn't either."
"You texted her, too?"
"Yeah. So did Shadow. You would think she wouldn't avoid Shadow. But maybe Shadow pushed Sonic too far?"
"I wasn't even there," Blaze shrugged a little. Her senses told her nothing was out of the ordinary in the room or around the station - that it was just her and Sarah. And for a moment, she felt relaxed and safe. "What exactly happened?"
"Sonic wanted to know why he couldn't go on the camping trip."
"Ugh, I tried to reason with him," Blaze sat up at the mention of it. "I can't believe he's this stubborn about a camping trip just to do manual labor. Wouldn't you want a free weekend off?"
"I don't know. I don't think it's about that anymore - or ever was," Sarah trailed off, staring at her phone still. "I think he wanted to be included and feel important. When we went on our date, he talked about how he volunteered during college courses. He works with animals and homeless shelters in Westwood."
"Sounds…like him, I suppose." Blaze couldn't really tell for sure. She hadn't spent much time with the male hedgehog, but he certainly seemed outgoing and generous but to a hero-complex part that she didn't quite get.
"He said that he likes to keep busy - he can't ever just sit and relax all day without feeling useless. He keeps busy by helping others, and in turn, that gives him some sort of gratification."
"He's not like a middle child, is he?"
"No. He's the oldest," Sarah answered, looking over at Blaze and leaning back in her own chair. "I think he was so upset with Shadow's decision because…he couldn't help. He felt rejected and secluded from everything going on with the tower. In our minds, we've been focused on the…wolf. And he probably hasn't - or he has a small idea about it. Maybe it just offended him that Shadow didn't think he was capable of doing something."
"Like?"
"Being prepared for the trek, the overnighter, the restoration. Who knows? I just think Sonic was frustrated more than he was angry. He left upset, that's for sure."
"Hm…I don't think he'd quit, Sarah," Blaze gave her friend some reassurance. "After all, Amy wouldn't let him. And if what you say is true, he likes to volunteer. Hell, he liked the manual labor this much after just a week - I can see why he would feel upset about Shadow's decision when you take the wolf out of the equation. But since it's certainly involved in the equation…Sonic doesn't realize that."
"No. I don't think so," Sarah agreed. "So, you think they'll be back Monday, bright and early with better attitudes?"
"I don't know what could possibly kill Amy's cheery attitude, but yes," Blaze gave a small purr despite the circumstances. Sarah laughed. Blaze's tail wrapped around her ankles as she stared at the ceiling tile. "Shadow sure has his work cut out for him if he decides to date Amy."
"Yeah. She was sure excited about it," Sarah recalled the day Amy spent in the office with her. After lunch, Amy had spoken all about her future date with Shadow and how stoked she was. "She might as well have printed out an itinerary."
"Hm," Blaze smiled at the memory of her and Shadow's conversation earlier - about the grocery store. She hoped the two did end up going out. Despite all that had happened, she thought that Amy would be a good balance to Shadow's lifestyle. He worked so much. Amy was a dutiful worker, but she also knew when to sit back and have fun. Shadow needed someone like that to help steer him from his moments of pure tunnel-vision - the moments where he was too focused on work that he did nothing else.
Blaze didn't know where they'd all be in five years. She knew she'd be graduated with Silver, hopefully. But past that, she didn't know. The two had spoken about maybe moving west - along the coast for a bit. Or further inland, but still west. She had relatives out there, and it would be nice to move back closer to family.
"Hey?"
"Hm?"
"Where do you see yourself in five years?"
"What is this - a job interview?" Sarah chortled as Blaze gave her a smirk.
"No, seriously. You're not doing a job related to your major - you're here just because of relatives that have worked here before. So, what would you do as a drafter? Where do you see yourself?"
"Well, not here," Sarah felt bad about the realization as she continued to lean back in her chair. "Jeez, I don't know. My folks want me to move back to Hazelton." It was a small town west of Glace that she was from and Blaze was familiar with. "But there's nothing to do there, not job-wise. I kind of want to stay in Westwood though, just to be close to 'em for a bit. But I've even been thinking about moving up to Newart."
"Really? You? Someone who hates snow would move that far up north?" Blaze found the thought comical.
"I know, I know. It's just pretty up there though. I only hate driving in snow, by the way, I don't hate snow entirely." Sarah scoffed at her. "More mountains up there to look at, better views."
"I don't know," Blaze said in a sing-song voice. "Glace has some of the best views for miles - ask the rich and retired who settle here. Like Sonic's parents when you meet them."
"Yeah." Her smile faded. "I don't know. It's not awkward that he sort of got upset with me after you guys came back. I mean - I knew he was trying to pry at a situation that didn't involve him, and I know Shadow wouldn't want him to be involved in the first place, but it was just…so disrespectful the way he acted like he had the right to know why he wasn't involved." Sarah scrunched her nose. "It gave me a bad taste. But I don't hate the guy. I don't know, we'll see."
"At least he got you out and about in Westwood," Blaze remarked. "Granted, you two went bowling so that doesn't really count considering you go every night in college - "
"It is not every night. League is on Monday and Wednesdays, fight me."
"I will. Bowling alley, Monday, 6 o' clock, sharp." Blaze gave her a challenging look as Sarah rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, I'd wipe the floor with you like last time. Silver nearly cried."
"Silver didn't believe me when I said you bowled for a living."
"I do not bowl for a living," Sarah defended as she closed the program she was working in. The cameras were up on the screen, and it was only about ten-thirty. Blaze peered at the monitor - all was empty on every screen. "Happy?"
"Ecstatic, thanks." Blaze rolled closer to her, shooing her away from her own spot in order to look at the camera views better.
"Is this all you two did? Stare at the screen when you could've been working?"
"You get tired when you're out in the field all day."
"Fine," Sarah gave in easily, as it wasn't a conversation worth having to her. She stood up, letting Blaze take over the desk space.
She went to the break room to get them some more coffee. She had to fill hers to the brim with creamer in order to drink it, but she figured Blaze would be grateful for the caffeine boost. She figured that they would need several cups by the end of the night - but she wasn't planning on staying up all night like Blaze was.
The longer she could go without seeing the damn creature roaming around outside, the better.
"SARAH!"
She nearly dropped the cup at Blaze's yell. Running back into the room, she saw Blaze glued to the screen as usual, but her eyes were wide in a sudden panic.
No, no, no. Not this early. It can't show up this early - what the fuck! I don't wanna see a creepy werewolf. I don't wanna see a creepy werewolf. Sarah hurried over to Blaze. "What?! What?!"
"Look at the parking lot!" Blaze now sounded like Sarah's mother, it was such a reprimanding tone.
"What?" Sarah squinted at the screen despite it being clear. There was nothing but cars. Campers' cars and their cars and -
"Oh."
"OH?" Blaze stood, her tail swishing back and forth furiously. "That little - he didn't even respond to - he just - I can't believe him!" She hissed as she grabbed a flashlight and courageously waltzed out the front doors, unlocking them one by one.
"Wait, Blaze!" Sarah grabbed her jacket and followed as quickly as she could, but she wasn't as athletic.
The cat marched out to the parking lot in the dark, the only light source being the lamp post and now the flashlight that beamed across the pavement. Her boots raked against the stones of the pavement as she weaved through her car and Sarah's to the back of the lot.
"This had better not be who I think it is," she angrily mumbled to herself as she felt Sarah on her heels, panting down her neck.
They came to a stop at a familiar car.
"It's Sonic's. But he left?" Sarah questioned. "We watched him leave, I swear. You were asleep but he was - he left, Blaze, I swear."
"I know." Amber eyes coldly looked at the vehicle. There was no tag on it from the station to pay for the overnight parking that usual campers would, but Sonic had parked in the campers' spot. Maybe he hadn't been aware that campers' pay for the lots to help out the station's funding. She pointed the flashlight to try and peer into the windows. It was empty, minus a bag in the back and something like a horde of blankets on the floor in the back.
"There's nothing important in the car. No phone or anything."
"Wait…" Sarah panted as she pieced it together. "He didn't respond…because he's in the park?"
Blaze glared at the car and then marched back inside. "I'm radioing Shadow to let him know."
Sarah's eyes widened. Everything was not going the way she thought it would. She expected a quiet night in the station, go to bed, wake up to Blaze saying the wolf told her he was leaving for warmer weather, and they would never have to worry about this bullshit again. She didn't expect that Sonic hadn't responded to Shadow or her over the phone because he was this upset.
She hurried back into the station, glancing around in the quiet darkness.
"How did you miss his car pulling in?" Blaze grumbled as she reached for her radio, which was on her belt on the counter.
"I-I don't know. I mean, you were asleep. I was eating. I had my headphones in until you came out at about eight, but that's not my fault!" Sarah didn't need Blaze angry with her. She didn't like seeing Blaze pissed off - it was exactly like her mother, and it was scary as hell.
"I can't believe it." She turned the radio on to the correct channel. "Black Bear, this is Iris Doe, we have a problem. Check in."
There was static.
"Oh, c'mon."
"He's probably fast asleep," Sarah whispered in fright as she stood clear of the feline, still standing near the front door.
Blaze glowered at her. "Amber Eagle, check in. This is Iris Doe. Are you there?"
Static again.
No one was on the radio.
Sarah, at that moment, wasn't sure what was going through Blaze's head, but she was sure it was on fire. The sage hedgehog licked her lips. "What do we do, Blaze?"
"We don't do anything," she said as she roughly put the belt on. Her tail flicked. "You said stuff happened later at night. It's not even eleven yet. What was it you mentioned earlier today when we got back?"
"That I found it odd that it was on a cycle. It showed up at exactly the same time, Blaze."
"Okay." Blaze thought it over before gripping onto the flashlight she had set down. "I'm going out. I can catch up to Sonic and haul his ass back here. If I come back sooner, without him, it's because I got Shadow or Silver on the radio to fetch his ass for me."
"Okay, okay." Sarah nodded as Blaze rushed around to grab her coat and pack. Her boots were still laced onto her feet tightly, and it took only a matter of minutes before the feline was ready to go.
"What do you want me to do?" Sarah tried to offer help, tried to stay calm - but how had she missed Sonic's car coming in? If she hadn't had the cameras covered on her screen, she probably would have noticed the movement easily, but she hadn't. She hadn't and now it left Blaze to go out into the dark wilderness where that thing was too.
"Stay here. Report anything odd back on the radio. I'll keep in touch," Blaze offered a supportive clap on the shoulder as she exited out the front door.
"Okay. Okay." Sarah kept saying it to herself, even after Blaze had left.
It wasn't for a few minutes until she jumped from her stupor - realizing just how alone she was and how dark it was outside. She rushed to lock the front doors, avoiding looking out the door and its glass as much as possible, just in case something would be staring back.
She whispered to herself every curse word she thought of as she grabbed her radio, dialing in. "Black Bear, do you copy?"
Static.
Just because Blaze was out there, didn't mean that Sarah couldn't try and get in touch with Shadow and Silver, too. Blaze would surely hear her help too, so long as she kept the radio on. Hell, maybe even Sonic would hear it, too, if he was smart enough to bring his.
But that seemed to be like a weak sliver of hope.
Blaze probably felt more anger than worry as she waltzed into the dark in order to get the cadet back to the station, but Sarah felt impending doom. Her instincts were suddenly thrown into overdrive. It was bad enough with Silver and Shadow out there, but at least Shadow had a gun - although, it wouldn't do much to the damn thing if Sarah's imagination was correct, which she desperately hoped it wasn't.
She was in the middle of making sure she had the right channel on her radio when there was a pounding on the front door.
"SARAH!"
"AH!" Sarah flung the radio in defense, which wasn't her best moment, she'd later admit.
At the front door, banging on the glass, was Amy Rose. She didn't look scared or shocked. In fact, once she caught Sarah's attention, she did the next thing that Amy Rose would do:
She smiled and waved.