CHAPTER 53: The Note

"You sure you'll be okay?" Shadow asked Sonic.

"Yeah, yeah," Sonic said, shifting the ice pack on his right foot. "It's just a sprained ankle and some road rash."

"How do you know it's just sprained?" Shadow asked. "I mean, you haven't even been to a doctor, and I doubt you got an M.D. overnight..."

"This isn't the first time I tripped while running full speed," Sonic said. "It's just lucky it happened close to home this time. I know you've got to be at least a little tired from me leaning on you that long."

"Nope," Shadow said, grinning. "'Ultimate life form' isn't just a fancy title, you know. I'm a good bit stronger than the average person. I could probably have carried your whole weight back here without breaking too much of a sweat."

"I'd really prefer if you'd told me this before," Sonic said. "Well, actually, maybe not. No telling what THAT would have looked like..."

"I don't even want to think about it," Shadow said, starting for the front door. "Well, I'm gonna go say hi to Rouge, then I'm heading home."

"I thought we called it a draw," Sonic said, leaning back on his couch.

"We did," Shadow said. "But that doesn't mean I can't go say good afternoon."

"Okay, alright," Sonic said over his shoulder. "Just joking..."

"Your sense of humor is a little dry right about now," Shadow said. "Must be the ankle."

"Yeah, guess so," Sonic said. "Hope the swelling goes down pretty soon. Sitting around here is the most boring thing in the world."

"Well, least you've got the TV and two friends within walking distance," Shadow said, laying one hand on the doorknob. "Well, I'm going now. I'll see you around."

"Okay, I'll see you," Sonic said, waving with his left arm. Shadow let himself out, closing the door behind him. Sonic looked around for the TV remote, and saw it on the table beside the couch- several feet beyond his reach. He sighed at length. "What luck."

"Oh yeah, sure, now he gets it," Shadow said to himself as he saw a glowing green gemstone on his bed."I could've used that a couple hours ago. Maybe Sonic wouldn't have tripped and just about killed himself..." Shaking his head, he strode over to his bed and picked up the Emerald. Underneath it he found a hastily-scribbled note on a rather small slip of paper. He read it before doing anything else:

Shadow,

Here is the Emerald you asked for. I hope you
can put it to good use. You will hear from us in
one month. Until then, keep the Emerald safe,
and keep yourself safe.

Dave

Shadow stared for a few seconds at the note, reading it again. What the hell? he finally thought. What does he mean, 'keep yourself safe'? Does he know about the attacks? There's no way he could know, not unless he was connected with them... I'll have to ask him when I see him. Hate to do it, but I'll have to... coax the answers out of him. Think I might have to ask him why he was in such a hurry, too. Kind of hard to read the writing, even if he did spell everything right.

Yeah, I know. Another shortie. I seem to have a knack for them, don't I? Well, size doesn't matter. Just because something's important doesn't mean it's not small. Hope you like.