Chapter 13

Betrayal and Denial

It was still night and such a late time almost nobody was around. Sonic made his way to the only park fountian he knew of, but Aurora was no where to be found. Sonic went to turn when he heard the crunching of something under his foot.

The hedgehog picked it up and started to examine it. It a tiny, familer, electric devise he had seen this before. But where? Then it hit him.

"The forest!" he said snapping his fingers, "This is the same thing that fell out of her ear after I pulled her out of the water!"

Unfortunaly just because it looked like the same thing he wasn't sure that it was. Sonic looked up at the fountain and saw something floating in it. He picked it up.

For a second he thought it was a rag but then he looked more closely and knew what it was. It was a piece of Aurora's skirt! She must have been there?

"I know you're here!" he shouted convinced she was near by.

But everything was silent and only the sound of crickets chirping answered him.

The hedgehog took a deep breath and picked up a sent that made his blood boil.

"Eggman." Sonic seethed.

Sonic began to sniff the air. He could smell a faint smell of blood. The hedgehog followed his nose until he noticed a few blood drops on the ground. There seemed to be a small trail of blood drops leading away from the fountain.

Sonic looked past them and to a further look to where they went.

"Don't worry Aurora, I'll find ya."

The hedgehog followed the blood trail until he found it led to a bar.

He hurried inside and found Aurora sitting at the counter.

"Aurora!" he shouted running over to her, "are you all right."

She turned to him with a mean look in her eyes, "Of course I'm all right!" she shouted at him.

Sonic immediatly knew something was wrong and sat on a stool next to her, "Are you okay?" he asked concerned.

Aurora laughed simply, "Of course I'm ok." she said sweetly carresing his shoulder."

Since they WERE in a bar, he figured she had probably had drank too much.

But before he could speak she had all ready started.

"It's funny how things work out," she began, "first you're on top of the world then you hit bottom. Then your just in the middle and you fall back down again with no self control."

Sonic starred at her confused, "What are you talking about?"
Aurora rolled her eyes, "Like you'd understand."

Sonic put his hand on her shoulder only to get it brushed off.

"I'm sorry for what Tails did. He didn't mean to! He's just a kid." he explained, "Sorry for dragging you into all this. I'm just such an adventure seeker I wasn't thinking about you."

"Yeah, I know." she said in a whisper, "I understand."

Sonic let out a sigh of relief. He was glad she understood but he couldn't help but notice how different she seemed.

"How many drinks have you had?" he asked her.

"None, I'm perfectly sober Sonic." Aurora let out a weak laugh, "I'll be right back Sonic." she said tapping his nose.

"Something isn't right," Sonic whispered to himself as he watched her go.

"Yo!" Sonic said banging his fist done to get the bar tenders attention, "How many drinks have you served that girl?" he pointed at Aurora.

The man glanced at her, "None. Why? Is she your girl?"

Sonic laughed, "Not really. Why?"

The man pointed, "Well I just thought you'd like to know if your girlfriends been messing around."

"Whadya mean?"

The man pointed.

When Sonic looked back at Aurora, she was doing just what the bar tender said. She was sitting on a table flirting with another hedgehog.

Maybe Aurora wasn't his "girl" but it sure made him mad to see her with another guy.

"Just chill Sonic," he told himself. "Just walk over there and be yourself."

Sonic walked calmly over to the table where Aurora was.

"Hi Aurora, are you having fun?"

Aurora looked him over discusted as the other hedehog put in his say, "Get lost bub!"

"Sure," Sonic shrugged, "C'mon Aurora." he said locking arms, "lets leave the dude alone."

"Not so fast!" he said grabbing Aurora's other arm, "the girl can stay, you can go."

"Sorry she's too drunk to play."

"Oh but you don't seem drunk at all. Why don't you stay and "play" jerk!"

"Fine with me, bozo!"

Sonic lashed a powerful punch, sending the guy through the window.

The hedgehog hurried to his feet holding his eye. He quickly jumped back in and returned Sonic with a punch in the mouth.

"ALL RIGHT I'VE HAD IT, PAL!"

Sonic curled up, sped into him, and sent the guy flying.

"HA! That takes care of him! Let's go Aurora."

"No!" she growled, bringing back her arm.

Sonic froze confused then found it to speak, "I got rid of the jerk, we can leave."

"I don't want to go with you!"
"But-"

"I'm not your friend! I never was! I work for Eggman, okay? I always have! I tricked you!"

"Aurora.."

"There, now you know."

Sonic was silent. In some way he always suspected she did but for some reason he couldn't believe it.

"Now that you know, I'm going to kill you."

Aurora rushed at Sonic and pinned him to the ground. Aurora sat up on her knees with her legs spread so he wouldn't be able to get up, then she violently started punching him in the face but he didn't struggle. She seemed to be serious about everything she said her eyes seemed to sing a sad song such as,

"Where has my heart gone?

Am I really this monster I'm showing?

I long to kiss your lips, but my anger just keeps on going.

My only passion now is to kill you, but that's not how I feel.

Take away this anger inside, I can't control myself.

Please, bring me back to you."

Unfortunatly Sonic couldn't get the message. In his heart ache he used both feet to kick her off.

"I hate you Aurora!"

Aurora smerked defiantly, "I'm glad we finally agree on something. I hate you to Sonic."

That hurt.

"Shut up! Just go back to your stupid freak of a master and leave me alone!"

Then the hedgehog ran away.

Aurora snarled, "Coward."

Once again another creature was in a capsule at Chaos Control Centers just waiting to destroy things but there was one little problem.

Rouge was entering the room where the creature was being kept.

When she looked up at the new creation she screamed in terror dropping the clip board she was holding.

Dr. Eggman heard her and rushed in, "Rouge? What is it?"

The bat girl just pointed a shaking finger at the capsule.

When he looked he added his own little groany version of a scream.

The creature was the most uglyiest thing he had ever seen!

The left side of the creator head had two spikes on it one going down like Sonic's that was his blue color and the bottom one sticking up like Shadows which was black and red. Also, like Shadow, it had a red marking coming down it's forhead. The other side of the creators head had three spikes on it. There color and shape were like Aurora's. The creator had long claws exstracting from it's toes and fingers. The rest of it's body was black blue and bright blue with blue and red blood veins sticking out of it's body. But the most disturbing thing besides it's long fangs was probably the discusting heart beating on the outside of it's body.

Dr. Eggman immediatly pointed an acusing finger at Rouge, "Where did you get that ridiculous reject!"

"Me! I was just incharge of making it's organic bones! You were the one who wanted this ugly thing in the first place!"

The evil genuis thought for amount then his face turned into rage, "That sneaky little hoe! She gave me her blood!"

"She did?"

"Of course! How else can you explain this! This should have looked like Sonic! Not a freak!"

Dr. Eggman paused, "Then again I always did think Sonic looked like a freak."

"So what are you saying?" Rouge questioned.

"This creation is neither male nor female. It is just here for an idle existance." he grinned, "MY existance."

Sonic slowly walked down the dark side walks of Station Square. At this point he really wasn't sure what to think of this situation. He just didn't understand it! First Aurora was his enemy, then she was his friend, now she was his enemy again? But why? Why did she save him then just abandon him like that.

"I risked my life to save her." he thought out loud clenching his fists tightly, "She's just ungrateful."

What am I getting all worked up for? I barely know her! It's not like Tails is betraying me or something. Sonic thought. Sonic looked up at the sky trying to figure himself out. Why do I feel like this? I shouldn't. She's not a close friend of mine! I shouldn't feel like this! Sonic closed his eyes. But, I can't help it.

Sonic shook his head, "There's something wrong with me! I have to get rid of this feeling!"

Sonic rushed down the streets trying to think of something he could do to forget his problems. Then he stopped.

"Maybe I can ask that guy."

Sonic refured to a sorry, sad, looking bum sitting next to the road.

"Hey man. Can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead." was all he said.

"If you have a problem you want to forget about what do you do?"

"The best thing you can do! Drink it off."

Sonic jumped back, "No way! I'm not a stoner! Besides I'm under age!"
"It's the best way to forget. Besides," the man said patting the side of the building next to him, "they really don't care how old you are here."

"Forget it!" Sonic started to walk away.

"Fine, but you'll never find an easier way to forget."

Sonic stopped and thought for a moment. I guess one drink couldn't hurt me.

Sonic walked pass the man and into the bar.

Without even letting Sonic ask, the guy behind the counter, having his back turned to Sonic, slid Sonic a mug of booze filled to the brim.

Sonic took a sip and swallowed.

"This stuff is nasty!" the hedgehog said, sticking his tongue out.

"Just take it all in one gulp. You'll get used to it." The guy encouraged .

Sonic wasn't sure, but did it anyway.

"Ughh." was all Sonic said.

"Here kid," the guy laughed, "Have another one on me."

Sonic shrugged, "Why not. How could my day possibly get any worse."

Another full mug came Sonic's way and he drank it. Now Sonic felt a little better and the beer wasn't that bad either.

"Gimme another one."

Sonic's third mug slid his way and he drank it.

With each drink he felt a little better until he couldn't even remember Aurora.

After Sonic's thirteenth glass he fell asleep on the counter.

Later when he awoke he realized he was the only one there.

Sonic was still stoned and wanted more beer. He found himself in luck when he noticed three drinks in front of him. Sonic started the first one down.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" said a voice.

Sonic's halfway open eyes look up to see Dr. Eggman in front of him.

"Oh, yeah, this is great and very much so." the hedgehog was so out of it that's all he could think of to say.

"So Sonic, have you considered my offer?"

Sonic closed his eyes, "Hm."

"Will you join me? Or are you too messed up to say anything."

Sonic tried to be himself, "You know what's really messed up?" hic "That uh, thing what's it called? Your uh, face"

"You're really pathetic tonight." Eggman grinned.

"The only thing that's pathetic is your, uh, watcha ma' call it." Sonic's head slammed on the table.

"Look at you! Sonic the HERO!" Eggman grabbed the back of Sonic's head making him look staight at him, "now Sonic the stoner. Your little game days are coming to an end."

"Ya know what I reallllllllllly like," hic "Monopoly."

Dr. Eggman frowned, "I suppose your too drunk to get the full affect of what I'm saying. I'll just come back when you have a hang over."

The moment Eggman left Sonic fell asleep.

The next morning Sonic was awakened by someone shaking him.

Sonic got his first wake up call with a hang over by his sensitivity to sound.

"Wake up Sonic!" Shadow said making Sonic's head spin.

Sonic looked up but didn't say anything.

"What happened to you?"

Sonic held his head, "Don't talk so loud."

"What happened?" Shadow said softly.

"I was trying to forget."
Shadow stood Sonic up holding him by the shoulders, "Forget what?"

"Aurora..."

"Aurora?"

Sonic growled, "I still can't forget her!"

"What happened?" Shadow asked for the third time.

"She back stabbed me and then she tried to kill me."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"Why on earth did you decide to deal with this problem like this?"

"I wanted to forget her."

"How long have you known her?"

"Not long."

"Then why did you do this to yourself."

"I failed, I couldn't help her when she needed it the most."

"What?"

Sonic pulled away, "JUST KILL ME! SHOOT ME OR CHOKE ME OR-"

Shadow grabbed Sonic by the shoulders again, "Take it easy!"

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN! I'M ALWAYS CALM! I'M ALWAYS-"

Shadow slapped Sonic across the face, "Snap out of it!"

Sonic stood breathing heavily, saying nothing.

"What's wrong with you? I've never seen you act like this!"

"I can't do this anymore." the blue hedgehog growled, "Just leave me alone!"

Sonic started to break things around him.

"Stop it, Sonic!" Shadow said, trying restrain him.

The two tussled on the floor awhile until Shadow got the upper hand.

"What did you do to yourself!"

Sonic started to cry a little, "I think I like Aurora."

"Like? Do you mean love?"
"SHUT UP!"

"That's enough! Stop lying to yourself! Your afraid of something and you don't want to face up to it!"

Sonic was quiet.

"What was it Sonic!"

"I don't remeber."

"Don't lie to me! You don't want to remember, something happened to you and you made yourself forget! What was it!"

The blue hedehog closed his eyes.

"SONIC!"

Suddenly it came back to him. He could hear Aurora's voice in his head.

"I lost Aurora."

"What do you mean?"

"I was trying to get her out of this church and I ran into a statue and I lost her. I could hear her but I couldn't find her."

Shadow's face was stern, "Is this the same Aurora that backed stabbed you."

"It can't be."

"Why not!"

Tears started to run down Sonic's cheek, "Aurora died seven months ago."

Shadow wasn't sure, "She couldn't have. You would have remembered her."

"Something fell on me."

"Then how did you get out?"

"I think a fireman rescued me."

"Then that means this Aurora that back stabbed you, could be her, somehow."

"She couldn't be."

"Even so, you can't let something like this happen again."

"But I don't know what to do."

"Are you kidding me? You stopped the space colony ARK from crashing into earth and you stopped the Metal Overlord. You're Sonic the hedgehog so start acting like him."

Sonic still wasn't sure but he knew he should start acting like himself and not anyone else.

"Your right Shadow." Sonic shrugged, "but I still don't know what to do."

"First you need to rest, then tomorrow we'll get Aurora back."