Chapter 5

Helen looked up at Shadow with panic in her eyes. "You can't let him get me!" she exclaimed. "I over heard him talking about his new plan to take over the world. If he gets me........"

Her voice trailed off.

Shadow didn't say anything. He was too busy trying to reach his Chaos Emerald. But the robotic hand was holding them so tightly he couldn't move his hands. He regripped Helen and closed his eyes gritting his teeth.

There was no escape. They were trapped!

The next thing he knew Helen started screaming. His didn't dare open his eyes. He heard a gun shot and Helen shout. "DON'T SHOOT!" then the sound of metal opening.

The next instant he found himself sprawled on a cold metal floor, his body draped over Helen who was breathing heavily.

Shadow opened his eyes. He couldn't see anything. It was too dark. He felt Helen under him.

"Helen?" he asked still hearing her panting.

"Shadow?" Helen said taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For getting you involved in this."

"It wasn't your fault," he objected hugging her. "I said I was going to take you home. It wasn't you or anyone's fault Eggman found us."

Helen went limp in his arms. She didn't say anything further. He didn't mind. For once it was okay just to sit in silence.

He ran a hand through her soft blond hair pulling out tangles gently as he did.

Helen closed her eyes, her head rested against Shadow's soft, white, chest hair. She felt safe with him there. He was like Sonic, almost, only he seemed more understanding in a way.

"Don't worry," she heard him say softly, though she wasn't sure if he was addressing her. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

Eggman was laughing himself silly over his own cleverness. "Hoo hoo hoo!" he gafawed holding his belly. "I'm so clever! I not only caught that little sneek I also caught the ultimate life form as well!"
He laughed so hard he fell out of his chair.

Decoe and Bocoe shook their heads. When Eggman was like this it was best to ignore him.

Eggman climbed back into his chair, his face red with embarressment. He heard police sirens and looked out the windsheild. "Now what?" he said in annoyance.

"This is the police!" a voice announced. "We have you surrounded Dr. Eggman. Come out with your hands up!"

"Now why would I want to do that?" he asked them.

"We know you have a hostage," came the reply. "Release the girl and no one will get hurt."

Eggman ignored the demand. Instead he said. "I've got a better idea. How about I get rid of you?!"

He pressed a button. At that instant a huge ball of light came at the cars. The police scrambled for cover as their cars exploded.

Eggman started laughing. "Not so tough now are you?"

He turned to his robot flunkies. "Let's get this thing out of here."

"Aye aye sir!" they saluted.

From, their prison, in an inner chamber of the ship, Shadow and Helen felt the machine lurch. The next instant they were sent sprawling on the floor.

Shadow was the first to re-gain his balance. "Helen!" he shouted feeling his way through the darkness. "Helen, where are you?"
"Over here," came a voice from his left.

"Are you all right?" he asked making his way toward her.

"I think so," came the reply. "Shadow, what's happening?"
"I think Eggman ran into some trouble," Shadow said looking up, hoping the roof was there. "He did pull away pretty fast."

Helen was scared but tried not to show it. She was more worried then scared. Worried that she would never see her parents, or anyone she knew, again.

Shadow finally found her. When he touched her she gasped and tried to back away.

"Helen, it's me," he said soothingly.

The girl sighed. "Oh, sorry."

Shadow grabbed her around the waist and pulled her upper body toward him.

There was a long silence.

Finally.

"Shadow, where do you think Eggman's taking us?"

Shadow wasn't sure. Had she already asked him that? He remembered. No. She hadn't.

"I don't know," he replied. "But no matter where it is I won't let him harm you."

Helen felt relieved. "Thank you," she said softly. "I'm sorry I'm such a problem."

"You aren't a problem," he said, surprised that she could even think that. "You don't bother me. You are not like some other kid I met. You don't get on my nerves."

Helen sighed and closed her eyes. She was still scared and worried about what might happen to her soon but she also felt comforted by Shadow's words. It felt nice to have someone care.

Shadow's cheek rested on her head as he held her in a protective grasp. He was tired and his arm was hurting. He knew those feelings ment he needed sleep. I can't sleep. What if something happens to her while I am?

"Shadow?"

Helen noticed he said nothing more and figured he was be sleeping. She didn't move. She didn't want to wake him.

Instead she decided to do the same. She snuggled a bit closer and closed her eyes. Within minutes she was fast alseep.

Shadow didn't try to rouse her. His mind was on other things at the moment. I know why Eggman wants her, but what is he planning on doing with me? he thought blinking twice then shacking his head. What will he do with me?

Eggman was pleased the police hadn't bothered following him. He decided to take it easy for awhile.

He couldn't very well do anything about that girl until he got back to his new base. I know what I'll do with her but what will I do with her little tag along?

He was refering to Shadow.

What is he doing with that girl anyway? More importantly how did he survive that fall?

Oh yeah. He's the ultimate life form. The immortal. The hedgehog who helped me then turned on me.

That still doesn't explain what he's doing with that girl.

Well I'll just have to wait till we get back to the base before I ask him about it, the scientist decided propping his legs up on the key board. All well. It won't be that long.

He yawned a big showy yawn. "Wake me up when we get back to the base," he ordered his robots.

They agreed to do so. He instantly dozed off and began snoring loudly and annoyingly.

"Hasn't he heard of breath right strips?" Decoe asked clamping his heands to his head to shut out the noise.

Bocoe laughed. "I don't think so."

"Hey be quite," Eggman ordered awakened. "I can't sleep with all that yapping. And Decoe stop that awful racket. I can't stand it when you snore."

Shadow did not bother waking Helen. He left her go gently and stood up groping his way in the darkness, his left hand out stretched.

It came to rest on a metal surface. At least I found the wall, he though in relief. Maybe if I follow it I'll find a way out of here.

He moved along the wall making sure to stay close to it. "There's got to be a door around here somewhere," he said to himself.

Then a thought struck him. What is the only was out was through the ceiling? If this room is built like that we'll never get out of here!

He quickly pushed that thought aside scolding himself for even thinking it. No! I can't think like that. I have to find the way out of here. At ground level!

He resumed his search. He made sure he ran his hand up and down every inch of the wall as he did so not to pass by the door by accident.

By that time he'd almost reached the last wall. He had gone in almost a complete circle. No luck. He sighed in frustration. One wall left.

Just as he reached the final wall the ship lurched, sending his sprawling.

The ship rocked a few times and he was thrown around like a toy.

He smacked into a wall. "Kuh!" he grunted in pain.

The ship stopped rocking. Shadow crumbled to the floor holding his head.

"Oh.........."

His head began to swim.

"I don't feel so good......"

The bumpy ride had made him airsick.

Shadow felt bile rise up his throat. He swallowed quickly, feeling the fire as it went back down. The black hedgehog began to breath rapidly. He hoped it would make him feel better. It settled his stomach but that was it. He still felt horrible.

He fell on his back exsausted because of his own breathing. The hedgehog felt hot. He tried to get up again but couldn't move. Just forget it.

He passed out.