Okay, new chapter! (I had a lot of free time.) I DESPISED the last chapter. But this one I think should be a lot better. I have to work on the emotion concept more, but I think I'm getting it! I think... Yes, I agreed with everything Gogehenks said, it was school issues that got me down lately. I feel better now, so yay! Okay, tell me if this chapter was alright please when you're done reading!
And about your picture Windfield...I LOVE IT! It's so great, Rika looks even cooler than I imagined in my head! Keep working on your awesome art!
Chapter 12- Going Under
He saw her again.
Not crying with innocent tears this time, but lying on the blood drenched ground. Eyes open and bare.
He stood still, looking ahead. The thing was in front of him, smiling. The blood of the child was on its claws, dripping towards the dead ground. A mist rose from the girl, being absorbed by the dark one.
Sonic could not see the face. He could not see the arms, the feet, nor the chest. The claws and smile disappeared. All he saw were the eyes.
Sadistic.
Sonic could not move. The thing was suddenly holding him by the throat. It didn't feel like a hand but…something else.
No. It felt wrong. Let me go. Please let me go.
The sadist laugh.
No, if he let the thing do that, he will be gone. No, no, no.
Energy borne more out of fear than anger erupted in the cobalt one. He broke free, unsure how. He tried to run far. But the thing kept coming, never moving an inch, watching.
He saw others on the ground of the burnt forest, faces empty. Crimson was pouring with no end. He slipped on the red.
Crack.
Pain was stabbing him in the back with knife thrusts. It was unyielding, merciless.
The thing was coming closer.
No! Stay away!
He saw the people's blood flow toward the bent trees that cackled like old hags. Little rivers that held life traveling on the burnt soil.
Then it changed.
The trees straightened with vigor towards the repulsive sky as the roots absorbed ruby. Branches stretched out like crooked arms. The bark turned to an empty black, sickening leaves sprouted from the clawing boughs.
Scarlet leaves.
The plants grew taller, masters of the pitiable beings below. Whispering nightmares.
Wait! That was where he saw them! That was why he recognized them before! They were the same! The faces he had seen, the people lying on the ground…
As the trees grew taller, he saw the ghostly faces of the villagers of every race, of every age, entrapped by the black trunks, falling inside.
The thing in front of him with sadist eyes raised its arms. The trees hissed as their branches slowly reached towards the fallen hero.
No! Leave me alone!
He could not move for the broken spine. He felt the breath of the plants that stank of rotten flesh, their pulsing heartbeats. The boughs wrapped around him, squeezing out his last thoughts. He was raised into the air, suspended in their grasp.
Stop! Stop! Stop!
The faces were there, watching him. The branches were their arms, all taking a part in the murder.
The thing was still watching.
Sonic never felt anything like this. It was beyond pain. It was pure torture.
Pure hell.
Somebody help me! Please!
One branch went toward his head. No…it was the girl. She had long black hair with hollow blue eyes. Barley seven years of age. Her little hands reached up. They wrapped around the hedgehog's neck, strangling him with unearthly strength that death had bestowed upon her.
The Scarlet forest was slowly taking him.
The thing was still there, laughing.
But that was not enough.
Two figures appeared next to it suddenly. Surrounded by blue and white, slowly turning darker. The two watched Sonic slowly die.
Shadow! Rika! Please help!
Both stared, locked. No recognition showed in their eyes. Shadow crossed his arms, impatient, while Rika gave a tiny smile of amusement.
Why won't you help me!
The thing between them, their master, spoke. Nodding, white and blue glimmered from their hands.
No! Wait!
They raised their hands.
Don't do this!
The light flew.
NO!
Going through him. Burning. He had never screamed so loud.
The sadist master then took the once living hero away. Flowing mist.
Now nothing but a memory.
"Sonic! Sonic!"
No, don't let him take me. Please don't let him take me.
"Sonic! Wake up!"
The cobalt hedgehog finally opened his emerald eyes and saw the loving face of Amy before him. His heart was racing at such rapid pace, his blue quills were drenched with sweat. Overcome by such vivid fear, he put his head in his hands. The dreams were getting worse. They were never this bad. He could still feel those branches/arms all over him.
"Sonic, what's wrong?"
He looked to the pink hedgehog that sat beside him. They were sitting outside of the broken down house in the dark. The others were inside, beside the campfire. Sonic had gone out into the dark so that he would be the first to see Draken, Shadow, and Rika when they arrived. Amy had insisted she watch with him. Eventually he gave in to her pleas. Hardly a half hour passed before he fell asleep, letting Amy take over.
He did not think he would have the dream again.
Sonic looked at the ground beneath his feet, colorless rocks strewn all over. He felt Amy's hand on his.
"Sonic?" So much love and care in her voice, he felt his heart break.
He sighed. "Amy, what happened while I was sleeping.?"
The girl trembled at the memory. "You were saying things very softly, things I couldn't make out. You moved around so much and waved your arms, I tried to wake you. But then you stopped breathing. I…I was so scared, Sonic. I was going to get the others but I was afraid to leave you. Oh, Sonic, I'm so glad you're all right!"
Soon Amy began to shed crystal tears, flowing down her pink cheeks.
Sonic could not look at her. The dream replayed in his head. Those trees and the people inside. Did that really happen? Here? Shadow and Rika…they had killed him, unfeeling, with empty faces. It didn't make sense.
And then, that thing. It always appeared in his dreams. But this time it had touched him, hurt him. He could never see the face. He did not want to. Those eyes were enough. He felt so confused.
Did any of this mean anything?
Unconsciously, he grasped Amy's hand, wanting to feel a warm life near him.
In turn, she squeezed back.
He slowly turned to Amy, staring at her green love-filled eyes. "Amy, I-"
Then there was a terrible shaking underneath. The broken houses rocked precariously, loose parts falling to the ground. Surprised, Sonic and Amy tried to stand on the trembling ground, a difficult task. The others from within the house ran outside with scared and confused looks.
"What's going on?" Knuckles shouted.
"I don't know. This has never happened around here before," said Alex with dread.
Cracks were appearing in the ground, all leading away from the group. In the distance, multicolored lights fluttered like a beacon. The shaking grew more violent, more cracks forming into widening gaps.
"Oh no," Alex whispered. "Not there."
Rouge turned to the silver hedgehog. "What's wrong?"
Alex started to tremble like the earth. "That place is dangerous. There's never any light there. I tried to bring a torch there once and it just went out once I got inside. That place is empty."
"And you think they-"
"Well…"
To Rouge, that was an answer. "Alright! Then let's go!"
"Wait! We can't go there!"
"But if that's where they are, we have to!"
"No way! That place is dangerous!"
Krysta intervened. "Listen Alex, even so we have to go."
"You haven't been there like I have, alright?" cried Alex, real fear in his voice.
"Uh, guys…" Ry tried to say.
"For all we know, those three could be in trouble!"
"Guys…"
"So will we, if we go there!"
"Guys…"
"Oh, what the heck do you want now, Ry!" Krysta roared.
"Sonic just left."
The others turned around to the spot where the hedgehog had been standing. Sonic was now running toward the blinding lights ahead that illuminated the impenetrable dark. The dream replayed in his head, remembering the betrayal of blue and white.
"Sonic!" Amy was the first to go, until the others followed.
Krysta's face was turning red. "Ry! You stupid freak! Why didn't you say anything!"
"I'm not a freak!" the imp cried, insulted.
Alex was left behind by his newfound friends in the dark as he watched them go. "Wait! You don't know what's out there!"
He stood still. Alex did not want to go back there again. It always hurt when he went. But the thought of being alone once again, having no one beside him, was something he could not go through another time.
Sighing in exasperation, the silver one ran towards the lights, long quills flowing, his family sword clanging against his back.
Before the trembling, before the lights, the green dragon led the two across the jagged rocks in obscurity. No matter how much they tried, neither Shadow nor Rika could seem to break free and run. All they felt were the puppet strings, manipulating their every move. Tugging at them, racing through every limb.
Draken knew this very well. He sensed the force surrounding them, he had felt it often himself. It just made his job easier.
They soon arrived at a serrated wall of rock, hundreds of feet high. In the center was a giant hole, creating an arch of black. The fifty foot tall cave entrance seemed to beckon the ones before them to come inside, the strings pulling harder. But the deep shades that made up its interior also created a warning.
Enter at your own risk.
No one spoke, afraid of angering the dark.
Now's the time to run, to leave, spoke the thoughts of the hedgehog and fox.
Draken unfurled his leather wings and flew into the cave. Shadow and Rika followed without hesitation.
What was the point of trying? Damn Fate.
The ground inside the cave suddenly vanished. Just like that. It was as if they had walked into air. The rocks had abandoned them, replaced by the void.
But they were floating, not falling. Invisible hands cradled them, like a mother holds her beloved child. Neither screamed, too confused to do so. Something was moving across their eyes. The white and blue spheres glowed with their soft lights. Draken was nowhere to be seen.
Rika was suddenly frightened. She was always one to take control of something. Always understanding what went on around her. The cradling air, though protective, felt hostile. What was she even doing here?
"Shadow, what's?" Her voice trembled and it took her every ounce of strength to bring it under control.
Shadow knew how she felt. They were young children now, being led by the hand, blind faith pervading their minds.
Thankfully, after what seemed like forever, they finally landed their feet on beautiful solid ground.
They were in a large room, crafted by nature. The emerald dragon stood before them, his back turned. His eyes were locked onto a circular mirror in front of him, attached to a smooth wall. It was over fifty feet in diameter, etched with strange white runes on the sides. The glass reflected their figures, showing every detail.
Shadow looked closer. Wait…he could read those symbols! It was as clear as day to him. But he had never even seen the ancient language before. And yet he could translate every single word.
Heart succumbs…for where the raven sleeps…hope and faith combined…true battle lies within the heart…
A bunch of fancy words that made no sense. Then he came to the last line.
For that is the price…
The final words were faded out completely that he was unable to make them out. No, he needed to read those words. Somehow…they would help him. He just knew they would. He looked to the fox girl to see what her reaction was to the mirror.
He did not know what he expected to see. Perhaps disgust, annoyance, curiosity, maybe even a little fear.
But this…
Her eyes were wide open, the blue ice broken. They roamed among the white runes on the mirror's sides. Her mouth was half open in complete shock. She was shivering so much that she had to hold her arms to keep them in check.
"H-how?" she whispered.
Shadow was about to go to her when Draken spoke.
"Ready?" It was more of a statement than a question.
The dragon's scales shone with light brighter than the sun, the emerald rays touching the room until it slowly reached the mirror. The runes turned to fire suddenly, the flames licking the clear glass.
They saw themselves. Their reflections were truth, fact, reality. Fantasies vanished along with knowledge of the past.
Shadow saw a hedgehog wandering the lands, nothing in front of him, behind him, or anywhere near him. He was bending down like an old man, the red and black fur scorched and falling out. The crimson eyes were empty and desperate, searching for a scrap, a morsel of promise that no one would share.
Rika saw a fox locked away in herself. People holding out hands that she pushed away. The cloak was shredded, her face scarred from past battles that had achieved nothing. Her golden fur was an ugly yellow, riddled with wounds. The sphere that she lived in created distance where no one was allowed to enter. Her eyes expressed disdain for all, and lost faith.
Draken saw the last dragon, green scales that had lost their luster. Someone tired of life, tired of trying to fighting for a cause that was already lost. Someone who had watched his fellow kin die in the skies by him. Falling down like flies. Someone who had felt such torture inside, and now wanted life to leave him alone.
Shadow and Rika were locked into place, staring at themselves. Draken turned away from the mirror. He had already faced this before. It was easier this time to look away.
A rainbow of mist emerged from the mirror, slowly enveloping the fox and hedgehog. They were raised into the air, suspended. But neither saw nor felt any of this, hypnotized by their reflections.
That was when the exploding lights came and the earth shook. The conflicting energies finally released.
Draken closed his eyes and waited.
"Sonic! Please wait!"
No, he could not waste the precious seconds. His feet picked up the pace, speeding across the chasm, not paying attention to the propeller sound behind him.
Tails flew next to him, his two orange, furry tails rotating in frantic motion to catch up.
"Sonic, you have to slow down!" the child begged.
The hedgehog's green eyes flicked over to him for one second before he turned ahead once more. But in that one second, the kitsune caught the fear inside. It was something he had never seen before in Sonic. Always with his cocky attitude and boundless confidence, he seemed he could take on anything.
But the fear Tails saw in jade eyes was something different entirely.
The hedgehog suddenly speeded up again, but Tails just propelled faster to keep up. The others were far behind them, trying desperately to reach the two.
Soon they reached the cave. Unhesitating, Sonic rushed through the dark shades, ignoring the silent warning the cavern gave. Tails heard a yelp of surprise from the shadows and flew immediately inside. He grabbed the peach arms before Sonic fell toward the darkness below.
"Sonic, you all right?"
Then out of nowhere, the hedgehog laughed with that cocky grin, making fun of his own mistake. "Yeah, I'm just fine, buddy." He was like himself again.
Tails began to forget what he saw in those eyes just moments before. It now seemed unimportant.
The others finally caught up, panting heavily due to the amount of running they had to do. Ry, in particular, looked like he was about to pass out.
Tails landed Sonic on the ground, facing the group. "Okay, we may have a problem here," the kitsune stated.
The others moved precariously over the edge, barely able to see the bottom. It was hard to decipher how high they were. Then rainbow light exploded out of the pit, nearly taking off their heads. It was really beautiful, but disquieting. The light did not stop and kept showering the cave.
"We have to find a way to get down," Sonic proposed.
"But what about that?" asked Tails, pointing fearfully at the light.
The hedgehog took a moment before he thrust out his hand into the rainbow. He tensed for expected pain but instead felt a soothing coolness caressing his palm, like water. He examined the light and realized it was actually mist. He brought out his hand, finding no marks on his glove.
"It's fine. It won't hurt us."
The light grew brighter and flailed around them violently while the ground shook harder.
"You better be right about that," Knuckles commented.
Soon, they were able to work out a system. Tails would carry Sonic down below using his flying appendages, Rouge would carry the mischievous Ry (reluctantly), Knuckles would glide down carrying Alex, while Krysta used her psychic ability to hover down. Amy would stay behind.
"What? Why me?" she cried.
"Amy, this is dangerous. I don't want you to get hurt," the blue hedgehog said.
"But Sonic…"
Alex looked from the pink girl (who he found kind of cute) to the black pit below and gulped.
He won't go back there.
"I'll stay with her," he declared. "Just in case anything happens up here."
Sonic turned to the silver hedgehog. He was losing time, quick decisions had to be made, and he was good at that. "Alright, Alex. You stay with Amy." He turned to the others. "C'mon, guys! Let's go!"
Although Amy still wanted to go with her Sonic, she was flattered by the fact that Alex would stay with her and miss the adventure.
Soon everyone flew into the multicolored light. It covered them in a loving manner, as soft as silk. But at the same time, it grabbed them, overprotective. Almost suffocating.
Amy bended down as she saw her friends hover toward the bottom. "Be careful!" she called.
Too absorbed in the spectacle, she did not see Alex kneeling on the stones behind her, hands on his chest, eyes full of pain. She did not see the insignia on the sword hilt he carried in his sheath glow with flames so like the runes. Before she turned around to greet him with her smile that he had found dazzling, he stood up, wiping the sweat from his brow. The insignia turned dull once more.
He would not go back there. Not again.
There was nothing. All around was empty.
A dream. An illusion.
Nothing existed except for the mirror images and the runes of flames. There was nothing left.
They were falling into multicolored light, falling towards the glass that held everything.
But they did not see that. Only the reflections. Only themselves.
"Shadow!"
A voice. Something far away beyond the edge.
"Rika!"
It reached out, touching them. Breaking through, they moved. Rainbow mist touched their eyes, tasting salty tears.
Shadow blinked, the crimson eyes moved frantically. He was suspended in the air, strangled by the overprotective mist.
What's going on?
Rika's eyes were no longer clouded. She saw the collapsing rocks falling everywhere except on them. Fear invaded her mind.
What's happening?
Both tried to break free from their bonds, but the it proved futile. The mist closed in, tighter.
Draken did not pay them any attention. He was looking past them at the rescuers that were coming down.
He sighed. This was not the time. Perhaps he should have explained before to them. Explained on what the woman in white planned to do.
Like they would ever agree.
As Tails held Sonic by the hands, he threw the hedgehog at Shadow, hoping to knock him down and escape from the mist, while Knuckles glided toward Rika to accomplish the same task.
He could not have that.
Draken's wings suddenly expanded to an incredible ten feet. He flapped them once, sending a shower of hurricane wind at the others. Feeling the force, Sonic and Knuckles were sent backward, landing hard on the ground.
Sonic immediately jumped up, anger revealed in his jade eyes. "What do you think you're doing?"
Draken answered with a jettison of flame that the cobalt hedgehog dodged. A large scorch mark was on the stone floor, sizzling. Sonic stared at Draken.
Is he crazy?
The dragon saw more of them come, flying down.
Not now. Not now. They did not understand.
He flapped his gigantic wings once again, keeping them away. They struggled to stand against the wind, their determination unwavering.
Then it happened.
They were screaming. Shadow and Rika were screaming. The rainbow and mist went through their eyes, no longer soothing water, but jagged knives. The screams were horrible anguish, despairing and sorrowful. They were going to die. This was it.
The screams were so horrible Sonic covered his ears. What was happening to them?
And through all that, Draken just closed his eyes, waiting.
Come.
What?
Come.
Why?
Come.
Leave us alone!
Come.
Stop it!
Come.
STOP IT!
Come. It's time.
No!
Come, and the pain will stop.
…It will?
Yes. Come.
But…
Come.
Please stop...
And then they were drowning in glass.
Drowning in water.
Sonic's eyes were wide in disbelief. He had just seen Shadow and Rika fall into the mirror. First, their screams stopped in unison, then they fell through. They did not shatter the large mirror. They just went through. Almost like water.
Draken had watched them disappear with no emotion, knowing full well what would happen to them.
Once they vanished, the runes flames became as bright as a thousand suns. The ground shook even more, cracks continued breaking through along the walls and floor. Boulders shook loose, falling down. Everyone was screaming now. The whole world would fall on them. There was no escape.
Before he could do anything, Sonic was struck by a large boulder on his head. Pain exploded as he fell to the ground, then darkness took him. But the darkness was not of death, but of living arms. They carried him gently away from the falling rocks.
His last image were of red eyes that could see through.
Amy Rose was moving frantically. She had just heard such terrible cries only moments ago. The rainbow light was out of control, traveling every way in a wild manner.
"Oh no! What's going on?"
A crack in the ground was widening beneath her feet. She screamed before she felt a hand grabbed her by the arm.
"Amy, are you alright?" Alex pulled her up quickly as the rocks fell. He saw the terrible light wave around. "We have to go!"
"But what about?"
"Now!"
And with that, Alex picked up the pink girl in his arms and ran from the danger.
They were out of the cave before Draken appeared. He crashed through the stone in his full dragon form, green scales glimmering and powerful wings beating. All the others were on his back, trying to hold on desperately. Before the cave finally collapsed and the horrid lights vanished, they were out. Alive.
But when Amy looked up from Alex's arms toward the emerald beast, she was the only one to notice that something was wrong.
Where is Sonic?
They were no longer falling. The pain of a thousand knives had left them. Soothing water and flowing silk covered them. The crystal spheres glowed softly, holding them.
Laying on their backs, they saw a figure standing before them, all cloaked in white. They knew it was a woman immediately by the voice. But the way she spoke was neither old nor young. Happy or sad. Just there.
"I've been waiting for you," spoke the Divine.
Better? Worse? Meh? Leave me a review and tell me! I'm always trying to improve on my writing. I have no idea when the next chapter will come, but maybe soon! I really want to write this other story though which is NOT a oneshot. Okay, well bye!