CHAPTER 7

"Now before we begin I just want to let you know that I consider myself a gentleman," Eggman said, facing her directly. "Now, depending on how well you cooperate with me, I'll either show you what I mean or you can make it hard for yourself and see my not-so-nice side."

"What kind of gentleman goes around kidnapping girls?" Helen demanded.

"Now, listen here, miss," Eggman interjected. "I had full reason to kidnap you! If I'd let you go back to Station Square loaded with all that information you heard, you would have ruined the surprise."

"They deserve to know what you're up to," she cut in. "They deserve to know that you want to destroy Station Square."

"I never said I was going to destroy Station Square," Eggman interrupted. "My new plan is only a second rate assurance. If Station Square refuses to comply with my orders I will be force to use my new weapon. I know you don't want me to do that, now do you?"

"You're right, I don't," she agreed. "But they still have a right to know."

"I doubt you were going to tell your town about it," Eggman said looking directly at her. "Something tells me you were going to tell someone else about my plan. Namely a blue, pain in the ass, spikey rat named Sonic."

He has a right to know as well! "You have no proof of that," she said instantly.

"I may not have proof but I do know you've been hanging out with that black hedgehog, Shadow. You know who he is don't you?"-Helen looked away-"He's here as well. In the cell I put you two in. I know he helped Sonic save the world once. So if you told him my plan he just might tell Sonic and we can't have that, can we?"

Oh, yes we can! "You won't get away with this!" the girl exclaimed.

"I'm not so sure, my dear," the scientist taunted. "No one else knows about my plan except for you and I have you here. So everyone is still unaware of my plan."

Helen couldn't say anything to that. She knew he was right. Instead of saying anything she just glared at him.

"While we're on that topic I have something to ask you," he went on.

"What?"

"How much do you know of my new plan?"

Helen felt like telling him she didn't know much about it at all, but she knew that was partly untrue. "I'm not telling you," she said, staring up at him, defiantly.

Eggman felt his temper rising but tried to control himself. He tried to remain civil. After all he wasn't talking to Sonic or Chris or any of the other animals. He was talking to a little girl. A little girl who couldn't walk.

"Now come on," he said, putting his hands on her shoulders and staring into her face. "If you tell me I'll let you and your hedgehog friend go. You have my promise."

Helen knew he was lying. "No."

The scientist was getting real mad by now. He made a great effort to keep control of himself. He did not want to hit this girl but she was tempting him. East Robotnik, don't hit her. That's exactly what she wants you to do.

"Why not?" he asked her. "I promised I'd let you and Shadow go. Don't you want to go home?"

Yes I do. I know you're lying, though.

"I do. But I know you won't," she answered. "You say you'll let us go, but I know you're lying."

Now Eggman started showing his annoyance. "Do you want me to hurt you?" he demanded, getting closer to her face. "Because I will if you don't tell me what you know."

"I don't care!" she snapped. "Do what you want to me but I won't tell you what I know. Ever!"

Eggman lifted his hand. Helen braced herself for the impact.

SLAP!

The force of the slapped knocked her out of her wheelchair and onto the floor. She slowly sat up, her face feeling like it was on fire. She looked up at the scientist. His face was almost as red as his jacket.

He reached down and grabbed her shoulder tightly. With a sharp jerk he lifted her off the floor and roughly flung her back into her wheelchair.

Helen rested her burning face in her hands and laid them on her lap. She didn't cry though. She was determind not to cry.

Eggman grabbed a bunch of her hair and forced her head up. There was a huge red hand print on her face where he'd slapped her. He made her look at him. "I did not want to do that," he said slowly, purposly. "but you gave me no choice."

Helen stared at his saying nothing. She had never been hit like that before. It still hurt.

"Now, if you're a good little girl, and cooperate, I won't have any reason to hit you again," he went on. "All you have to do is tell me what you heard. How hard is that? It's very simple to me."

"No," she said again.

Eggman roughly shoved her chair backwards. It hit the back wall and she almost fell out. Her head smacked the wall and she rested it in her lap, feeling great pain.

Now she was crying.

"Decoe, Bocoe," Eggman shouted.

The robots came crashing in falling over each other in the process. "Take her out of my sight!" the scientist ordered, pointing a spiteful finger at the girl.

The robots grabbed her chair and wheeled her out of the room. Helen kept her head down the whole way back to her cell. She didn't want anyone to see her cry.

Shadow had woken after a few minutes to find Helen gone. They took her... I couldn't protect her from them..., he thought depressedly, bringing his knees up to his chest and resting his head on them.

The black hedgehog heard the sound of Helen's wheelchair and looked up. He saw Decoe and Becoe pushing the girl's chair toward the cell. She had her face down and he thought he heard her crying. What did Eggman do to her? I hope he didn't hurt her.

The robots opened the cell door and pushed her in. They shut it once they were sure she was safely inside and wouldn't try to get out.

"Helen," Shadow said, getting up and walking toward her.

The girl looked up. Her eyes were red and her face was wet. "Shadow..."

"Are you all right?" he asked.

He was closer now.

The black hedgehog noticed the slap mark. It was still as red as when she got it. Shadow felt himself getting mad but held it in not wanting Helen to think he was yelling at her.

"What happened?" he asked calmly. He reached up and put his hand on the mark touching it very gently.

Helen winced. Even though Shadow's hand barely touched it it hurt. "He hit me," she explained, holding back more tears.

Now Shadow couldn't hold it in any longer. "Why that-!" he shouted angrily. "I'll teach him to hit you! What kind of man is he to go around hitting sweet innocent girls like that!"

Helen put a hand on his arm. "Shadow, please calm down," she pleaded. "That won't help."

Shadow took some deep breaths. When he was sure he had a clear head, and sure he was calm enough, he asked. "Why did he hit you?"

"Because I wouldn't tell him something,"

"Oh, you mean that thing you heard him talking about the other day?" he asked.

Helen nodded. "That's right," she confirmed sniffling. "Since I didn't tell him he hit me."

Shadow put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Helen. I won't let him do that to you again."

"But what is he going to do with me?" she asked in a slightly whiny voice. "What is he going to do with you?"

"There's nothing he can do to me," Shadow assured. "If he tries anything he'll get more than he bargined for."

"Please, Shadow," she said, putting her other hand on his. "If he does try anything don't do anything rash until you're sure you knwo what he's doing."

Shadow stared into the girl's pretty face. She seemed so caring. So Mariaish.

"All right," he said after a short pause. "I won't. Not unless he tries something first."

Helen's face softened. She leaned forward and hugged him, she also kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Thank you, Shadow," she said in his ear. "I am glad you agree. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you, you're too nice."

"Don't worry, Helen," he said softly, returning her hug but not the kiss. "If I can, I'll try to talk him into letting us go. But I have a feeling it may take some persuading."

"I don't know, Shadow," Helen said, letting him go and looking down at her hands. "I have a feeling nothing is going to make him let us go. Not even you."

"Well," he said, taking her hands in his. "I can always try."

Helen didn't reply. She just shook her head. She knew nothing was going to change Eggman's mind.

Shadow noticed she still looked unsure. He didn't want to push it so he squeezed her hands lightly, let them go, and sat down next to her chair. He turned away from her and unwrapped the bandage she's put on his arm. The cut looked a little better, not completely healed but better, it wasn't as swollen as it had been the day before, and he was relieved.

The black hedgehog rewrapped his arm and stood. He walked up to the bars. He sighed and rested his head against them. "There has to be a way out of here," he said to himself. "I have to get us out of here and take her home. I promised."

Shadow struck the bars with his fist. "I'm not going to break that promise!" No matter what, I am going to keep it!"

He looked back at the blond girl. He didn't see her face, though. He saw Maria's.

"Maria," he said, leaning back against the bars. "What should I do? Are you still with me? Can you help me? Is that why you're here?"

Maria only smiled.

"Shadow?"

That voice wasn't Maria's!

He blinked. Don't tell me I'm going crazy!

Maria turned into Helen. She stared at him in concern. "Shadow? Are you all right?"

He nodded slowly. What is wrong with me? "I'm just tired, I guess," he lied.

"Is that why you called me Maria again?' she wanted to know.

"I'm sorry," he said "It's just... you look so much like her..."

He sat down again and leaned his head against the bars. I'm having hallucinations! Am I crazy? What is going on?

"Maybe there's a reason," she spoke up.

I hope so! I don't want to be crazy! He looked at her. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Helen smiled and shook her head. "I'm not very sure," she admitted. "But maybe you see her in me because we have the same personalitys or something."

"Maybe," he said. I hope...

But he couldn't shake the feeling that there had to be something more than that.