CHAPTER 4

The next thing Helen knew she and Shadow were in a dark room like a janitor's closet. From the sounds outside the room she could tell they were somewhere in the subway.

"What happened?" she asked looking around.

"Chaos Control," he said simply.

"Chaos Control?" she said looking at him, "But......"

"It's mine," he said giving her a Look.

Helen didn't push it.

Shadow sat down. "I don't think it will be safe for us to go out in the daylight," he said.

"Why not?" she asked curiously.

"Because Eggman might still be looking for you," he explained, "and the police will be looking for me."

"Huh?"

"That girl who saw you with me and that weirdo in the race car was a police officer. He chased us remember? He just might think I kidnapped you."

"Uh."

"But," he said looking at her, "If you really want, I will take you home now."

Helen didn't reply. She didn't want her parents to be worried, but she didn't want Shadow to get in trouble either.

"I can wait a little longer," she told him.

He hesitated. "If that's what you want," he said.

She nodded. "Yes, it is," she confermed.

"Okay."

After that the day seemed to take forever to end. Helen was so bored she found herself dozing.

Shadow let her sleep. He didn't really want to talk to anyone anyway.he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts. Which always seemed to go back to Maria.

He heard the sound of a TV in the main area of the Subway Station. He stood up and quietly followed the sound.

No one was in the station. Good, he thought coming out of the shadows.

He found the thing making the noise. It was a small black television suspended from the ceiling.

He glanced up at it.

A picture of Helen was on the screen. He had entered the main area just in time to hear the end of a sentense.

"---- eye witnesses say that the girl was last seen with a black hedgehog identified by some people as Shadow. Authorities believe the hedgehog, who most likely is working for Dr. Eggman, kidnapped the girl for reasons unknow at this time. When the leader of the S. Team Sam Speed chased the hedgehog, who was riding a stolen motorcycle, earlier this morning it vanished by using an ability now known as Chao Control taking the girl and the motorcycle with it."

Now the news lady identified as Scarlett Gargia said, "If you see this girl or the hedgehog who is with her please call the authorities or the military immediatly."

Shadow stared at the screen in shock. They though he'd kidnapped Helen!
Why that's carzy! he thought, I wouldn't kidnap anyone!

He heard footsteps coming down the main stairs and quickly returned to the small room he and Helen were hiding in.

When he came inside he found her still asleep, her head rested against a bucket.

Shadow locked the door and sat down on the floor. He rested his head against the wall. His thoughts returned to the news broadcast. I can't believe they think I kidnapped Helen, he thought, didn't they even see Eggman? He tried to kidnap her and got her wheelcahir instead. Wait a minute! He has her wheelchair! That means I'll have to carry her! If I do that may make things even worse but since her chair is gone I have no choice..

He glanced down at his sore arm. He saw Helen's green ribbon tied around it like a bandage. When did she do this? he asked himself.

He touched his arm. It still hurt. Up until then he hadn't noticed it. He hadn't noticed his sore leg either. Now it was hurting like crazy. I hope I'll be able to carry her all that way. I may not be able too with this sore arm though..

He closed his eyes. Maybe if I rest they won't hurt so much when I wake up.

It took awhile because of the pain but he did eventually fall asleep.

He was awakened a long time later by a loud noise outside the room he and Helen were hiding in. "The time is eight o'clock. The station will be closing in three hours. We hope you have a good evening." a metalic voice said.

Shadow rubbed his eyes. Eight o' clock? At night? Man, just how long have I been sleeping anyway?

He glanced over at Helen. She was still asleep. He didn't want to wake her up but he knew he had to. I promised I'd take her home and that's just what I'm going to do.

Shadow stood and walked over to her. "Hey, wake up," he said shaking her.

Helen's eyes opened slowly. "Sonic?" she said sleepily.

Shadow remembered that name. So she knows him, he thought.

To her he said. "I'm not Sonic, I'm Shadow."

Now she was wide awake. "Oh, Shadow, I'm sorry," she said, "for a moment I thought you were Sonic."

Shadow shook his head.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I think it's about time I take you home," he said picking her up.

His arm hurt but he ignored it.

"I'm ready," she said.

Shadow carried her out of their hiding place. He stopped in his tracks when he reached the main area. Just great! he thought.

The Subway Station was full of people. There was no way he'd be able to get out of there without being seen!

He decided to risk it.

After all I can't break my promise.

Carefully Shadow stepped into the light and stayed against the wall hoping he wouldn't be noticed.

No such luck.

A woman noticed them. She recognized Helen instantly. It didn't take long for it to register. She threw her head back and pointed at Shadow. "It's him!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "the kidnapper!"

Everyone stared at him now.

"It is him!" someone else shouted.

"Shadow," Helen said, "we have to get out of here!"

Shadow saw two men closing in on them. The black hedgehog glanced at the entrance. It was clear.

He did not hesitate. He dashed.

"Get him!" he heard someone shout as he ran up the stairs and into the street.

When he was outside he decided to make sure they wouldn't be followed. He dashed across the street. He heard the screech of brakes and looked over his shoulder. The driver of a red Mercury got out of the car and swore at him.

Shadow dashed into and alley ignoring the man. When he reached the end he ran across another street then through another alley.

After doing this for awhile he came to a stop in another alley and looked out into the street. No one was following him.

Sighing he leaned against the wall of a building on his right and rested there panting.

"Did we loose them?" Helen asked looking up at him.

Shadow looked down at her. "Yes, we did," he said, "we can proceed now."

He stepped out into the street.

"Where's your house?" he asked.

"It's in that direction," she said pointing down the street.

He started to head the way she'd indicated.

"Pretty soon you'll be back home," he said still wishing he didn't have to do that.

He still wanted to spend time with her and get to know her better.

Helen nodded. "But," she said, "what are you going to do? Where will you go after you take me home?"

"I don't know," he said truthfully," I never really.........AHHHH!"

A face had appeared out of nowhere startling him.

He fell backward nearly dropping Helen in the process. He caught himself before he fell over. He glared up at the face which was darkened because it was facing away from a street light.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

The thing turned right side up, it had been hanging upside down from a metal pole coming out of a flower shop. It walked into the beam of a streetlight. Shadow knew the person immediatly.

Rouge.

"So," the bat said staring at him, "you survived the fall after all."

"So?" Shadow challenged, "what do you care?"

Rouge gave him a careless look. "I never said I did," she countered.

Shadow set Helen down. She was getting heavy. "What do you want anyway?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said turning away from him, "I never said I wanted anything."

"Then why are you here? Why did you decide to scare me like that?"

Rouge looked over her shoulder at him. "You know you're wanted for kidnapping don't you?" she inquired.

"Yeah, but it's all a mistake!" Shadow defended himself.

He indicated Helen who was staring at the bat curiously. "I found this girl the other day. I'm only trying to take her home."

"How sweet," the bat said sarcasticly, "but I'm not sure I believe you."

"I'm telling the truth," the black hedgehog insisted, "You can ask her yourself."

"Fine then I will," Rouge said confidently.

She looked at Helen. "Is he lying?"

Helen shook her head. "No, he isn't. He promised to take me home and that's what he's doing."

"Why's he carrying you?"

"I can't walk."

"Oh."

Rouge turned back to Shadow. "See?" he said folding his arms.

"So, maybe you weren't lying," she said, "but it still doesn't explain how you're still alive."

"That has nothing to do with the conversation."

"Why are you still alive?"

"I am the ultimate life form. I am immortal. I cannot die."

"I knew you'd say that."

"The why did you ask?'

Rouge turned away from him. "Try to stay out of trouble," she said opening her wings. "take care!"

She looked back at him and winked. Then she flew off. Shadow stared after her till she was gone. Why am I always so rude to her?

He shook his head. He had no time to think about the bat right now.

Shadow turned back to Helen. "Let's go," he said.

He picked her up and began to walk down the street again.

Suddenly a huge mechanical hand appeared out of nowhere and grabbed the two.

"Kuh!" Shadow gasped the wind knocked out of him.

"Shadow, what's happening?" Helen asked.

Shadow looked over the hand. He saw the jalopy that had gone after them that morning.

"Eggman!" he said gritting his teeth.

"Shadow, what are we going to do?' the girl asked panic striken.

The black hedgehog tried to reach the green Chaos Emerald hidden under his back quiles. He couldn't. "I don't know!" he finally answered, "I can't reach my Chaos Emerald. We can't get away!"

They heard Eggman laugh from inside the huge piece of junk. "You thought you'd be able to ascape me didn't you? Well your luck has just run out!"

The hand began to pull them in.

"Come to Daddy!"