Chapter 2

Chase in Station Square

Shadow ran all the way back to Chaos Control (Dr.Eggman's base) without looking back. He arrived at the door panting heavily and had to lean against it for support.

How can a building from my dreams become a reality? he thought. It can't be true.. can it?

"Hey, Shadow," said a voice.

The dark hedgehog jumped a mile. He looked over his shoulder. Rouge stood in the doorway with her arms folded.

"What do you want, Rouge?" he demanded. "And stop sneaking up on me."

"Dr. Eggman wants to see you," she replied. "Now."

Shadow sighed and headed to the computer room.

The fat bald man sat in his chair reading.

"You called?" Shadow asked.

"Ah, Shadow, just the hedgehog I was looking for," Dr. Eggman said, looking up at the hedgehog.

"What do you want?" Shadow asked.

"I need you to get me the Chaos Emeralds," the mad scientist answered.

Shadow shook his head. Won't this guy ever give up?

"Is there a problem?" Dr. Eggman asked annoyed.

"No, no problem. I'm going," Shadow said.

"Good," Dr. Eggman said folding his arms. "Now get busy."

Shadow nodded. "Yes, Doctor."

He turned and ran out of the base.

He stopped outside and looked around. "I hate being outside," he said to the trees. "Whenever I'm out here I feel like I'm being watched. Why doesn't Eggman just get them himself? I don't want to be out here."

He sat down. "I wish I didn't have to get them," he told the ground.

He sat there a moment then stood. "Well, I'd better get going," he said to himself.

He headed to the city.

As he walked he couldn't help feeling like someone was following him. He looked over his shoulder many times but saw no one. Great now I'm getting paranoid, he thought, just what I don't need.

He decided just to ignore the feeling and just kept walking.

After about two hours he stopped for a rest, resolving to get going in a few minutes. He flopped on the ground and stared at the sky. Instead of getting up when he wanted to he fell asleep letting the warm sun and cool breeze have their way.

Shadow stood staring at Maria's grave again. In his hand he held white roses. He was crying and once again apologizing to Maria. He reached over and gently touched the cold marble. The instant he did the sky went dark and all he could see was the grave. Then suddenly he heard sounds coming from nowhere.

He looked around his eyes wild with fear. Nothing but blackness.

Then something grabbed him and pulled him down.

Shadow kicked and screamed but it was no use. Now he felt pressure on his chest like someone was sitting on him. He tried to beat it off with his hands but he only struck air.

Something grabbed his face and pulled him forward. He saw blackness and two red lights. "You'll never see Maria again," said a voice. "You are immortal and immortals don't die. You will never die so just forget about that human. She is nothing anyway."

"No, you are lying!" he shouted. "She is something. She is my friend!"

"Just forget her," it presisted.

"No!" he shouted. "NO!"

Shadow woke with a start.

He looked around wildly. Upon seeing nothing he sighed and lay back on the grass. Just another nightmare, he thought in relief, nothing to worry about.

Yeah right

"You know what you have to do don't you?" a scientist was asking a red and purple creature who was leaning against the wall.

The creature nodded. "Yes, I know what I have to do, Doctor," it said. "He'll be easy if things go as planned."

"Remember bring him here at night so he won't know where he is," the man instructed.

"Don't worry if I have my way I'll make sure he trusts me," it assured.

"I believe you," the man said. "Now go."

The creature nodded. "Don't worry I'll get him sooner then soon if I'm careful."

"That's the spirit," the man said.

The creature ran out of the building ready to begin it's search for the one it was after.

After Shadow had calmed down he stood and headed to the city to get the Chaos Emeralds. When he reached the city it was starting to get dark. So much the better, Shadow thought. I wouldn't want anyone seeing me and trying to send me back to GUN.

He entered the city being careful to avoid people and streetlights. As he walked along he couldn't help noticing a teenage girl with blond hair and blue eyes walking down the sidewalk listening to music through a pair of headphones. The girl made him think of Maria.

"Maria..." he said softly. "I wish I could have saved you. You were trying to keep me away from those men. But it didn't matter they got me anyway. For fifty years I was locked away from anyone. If it wasn't for Dr. Eggman I would probably still be there, alone."

He was so lost in thought he didn't realize he had walked right into the middle of the street. Suddenly there was the screech of brakes and he turned his head just in time to see the headlights of a car heading straight for him!

Before he could react the cars front bumper hit him. He fell backwards at the force and lay dazed on the pavement.

"What's that?" someone asked.

"Hey, that's that hedgehog the military is looking for!" another voice exclaimed. "The ultimate lifeform! We'd better let the authorities know he's here so they can come and get him."

He heard footsteps running away.

"I wonder what he was doing wandering the streets," the first voice said.

"Maybe he's got amnesia or something," someone suggested.

"Good grief, he's only a roboty thingy," someone else said. "He probably had a malfunction or something."

"He's not a robot," someone else spoke up. "He's an organic thingamajig."

"Are you sure it's still alive?" the second voice asked.

"I dunno, maybe," said the first voice. "I'll check. Wouldn't want to give the military a dead creature."

Shadow felt a hand on his neck. "Yeah, he's still alive," the person said in his right ear.

Shadow heard sirens and then the sound of someone making their way through the crowd. "All right people step back. We'll take it from here."

The voice sounded familiar and it hit him. It was one of the personel from GUN! I can't go back! he thought trying to regain his senses. I just can't go back!

Someone knelt down next to him "He looks okay but we won't be sure until we get him back to headquarters. I just hope your car didn't hit him too hard."

"I only bumped him a little, sir," the driver spoke up.

"A bump to you may be a jolt to him," the first voice said. "but like I said we won't know until we get him back and have a doctor look him over."

Someone grabbed Shadow's arm. His eyes opened halfway taking in the crowd that was staring at him. Then they snapped wide open when he realized someone was trying to pick him up. He bolted, breaking the GUN official's grasp, and ran panic stricked down Station Square.

"After him!" he heard someone shout. "Get that black hedgehog!"

Shadow heard the sound of a motor reving up and ran even faster. He didn't want to go back. He COULDN'T go back!

He ran faster and faster passing cars and people in almost a blur. They all seemed to point at him and shout. "There he is! Over here!" as he passed by.

I have to get out of the city! he thought. But how? I don't see any way out. There has to be a way out.

He decided to go back the way he had come. He ran around a corner and up the street. He still heard the sound of a GUN vehical behind him.

Just like before, he thought. there was no escape then. Will there be one now?

Then he saw the way out of the city and hope returned. But only momentarily.

He saw two more GUN officials holding a net pulled out wide between them. They were standing right in his path. He tried to stop but was going too fast.

Shadow flew right into the net ripping it out of the officers hands and knocking them over. He tripped and fell, then tried to get back up only to find himself tangled in the net.

Shadow heard the screech of brakes and looked up. He saw two GUN officials get out of the huge truck and walk up to him holding guns. He started to back up, shaking violently.

The one official raised his gun and aimed it at the frightened hedgehog.

Shadow felt a sharp sting and looked at his shoulder. A small black dart was sticking out of it. He quickly pulled it out but it was already too late. The tranquilizer was already begining to work and he felt drowzy.

"Come on," said the one who had fired the gun. "let's take him to headquarters."

The other man nodded and grabbed the net. He began to drag the half concious Shadow away.

Through half closed eyes the black hedgehog looked back and saw the blond girl he'd seen earlier. The one who looked like Maria. Without thinking he pushed his one hand out of the net and said in a tiny voice. "Maria," the instant before passing out.

The blond removed her headphones and stared after him as he was drug away. How did he know her name was Maria?

The two officers drug the unconcious Shadow to a truck and set him in the back. They started the motor and drove to the helipad. When they got there they handed him over to two GUN officials in the helicopter who set Shadow along some seats in the back. Then they took off.

Almost immediately the silence was broken by whimpers behind them. To the two it sound like someone in pain.

"Who is that?" the pilot asked.

"I don't know," the copilot replied.

"Check on that hedgehog," the pilot ordered.

The copilot looked at the back seats. He saw Shadow thrashing about trying to remove the net in his sleep. He was also the one who was whimpering.

"It's him," the man replied.

"I thought they said it would keep him quiet."

The copilot shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "At least he'll be out of it until we reach the island."

The pilot shook his head. "I wouldn't be too sure."

Shadow was having another nightmare.

He was falling head first. But he was unable to even scream as he saw the ground get bigger and bigger as he fell. Then something in a white dress flew up to him and caught him. It was an angel with blond hair and blue eyes. He recognized her instantly. Maria.

He tried to speak her name but couldn't form the words. Then she was suddenly surrounded by a bright light that blinded him. He closed his eyes and the light vanished. When he opened them he found himself in a tank that's used for creating new creatures. It was full of water and he couldn't breathe. He looked outside the glass and saw Gerald Robotnick staring up at a huge computer.

Shadow tried to get the man's attention by beating on the glass but it was useless.

Then he noticed another tank on his right side. It was darkened but he could make out a shape. It looked like another hedgehog or was it a bat?

The animal moved and looked right at him. He saw two red glowing eyes and a smile which showed two small white fangs. Fear gripped his heart as he realized it was the thing that haunted all of his dreams. He opened his mouth to scream but water came rushing in. Bitter water that made him gag.

His head began to buzz and he felt himself dying. He wanted to live but he realized the water was poisoned.

Darker and darker. His head fell limp to his chest and he died.

GASP!

Shadow sat up breathing in great gasps of air. He looked around wildly and found himself in a helicoptor. Panic seized him and he let out an involuntairy cry.

"What was that?" someone asked.

"I don't know but I think I'd better check on that hedgehog again," someone else said.

Shadow saw someone look back at him. Their eyes met and he froze.

"That thing's awake!" the man exclaimed.

"I guess that didn't work after all," the pilot said. "you'd better give him another dose."

"Roger," the copliot said getting out of his seat.

Shadow noticed the man held a gun and jumped. The net flew off of him and he bolted for the helicoptor door.

"He's trying to escape!" the copilot exclaimed.

"Well stop him!" the pilot shouted.

Shadow heard the copilot running at him. The hedgehog opened the door and nearly fell out. All he saw a empty space and a long drop.

"Hedgehog, nice hedgehog, come here little hedgehog," the copilot coaxed getting closer and closer. "If you get away from that door I'll give you something."

Shadow looked back at the man then down at the ground far below, deciding what to do. Then he made up his mind. He wasn't going back and he was going to make sure of that.

He took a deep breath calm to himself then let go of the chopper and jumped out!

Authors note: Dear reader for your benefit I didn't add what I had originaly written down on paper because some of this chapter was stupid. Now I am satisfied at how it's written. And to avoid any trouble I have to have Rouge working for Eggman in this story. I hope nobody minds and I have no idea how Shadow ended up in the capsule at the GUN base so I'm guessing, so please don't get mad at me. Just to let you know I'm not very good at doing nightmares so this story is giving me practice. I hope it's okay so far. Let me know what you think okay? Well I'd better go I have to start chapter 3 now.