CHAPTER 4

The Escape

Shadow was feeling lonely. It wasn't like he hadn't been by himself before but there was a difference from being alone and lonely.

The cold air in the room made his still wet body feel fridget and he started to shiver. I have to get out of here, he thought rubbing his arms for warmth. But how and where?

He heard the door open but didn't look. He was getting sick of human faces and didn't want to look at anymore. Besides whoever it was would soon make themselves known.

Shadow smelled food and he once again realized he hadn't eaten since yesterday morning. He was hungry but he wasn't going to tell them that. I bet they put something in it anyway, he thought.

"Hey hedgy come and get this," someone ordered.

Shadow meerly shook his head and kept it facing in the opposite direction.

"Fine, whatever, stubborn animal," whoever it was said. "But this is your last chance."

Still nothing.

"Okay, have it your way," the person said.

The black hedgehog heard the man leave. He sighed in relief. He had finally gotten rid of that food pusher. At least one thing has gone my way today, he thought. Shadow lay on his back and stared at the ceiling. Now if only I could think of a way to get out of here.

He decided to see how strong the bars were. He stood up and walked up to them. He grabbed the cold iron and started to pull on them. Nothing. They were secure.

Shoot! Shadow thought kicking them, Worthless pieces of junk.

The purple hedgehog walked along the corridors trying to figure out where they had hidden Shadow. I know he's close, she thought. I can sense him. But where are they keeping him? Where is he?

"Freeze!" someone shouted.

She froze and looked over her shoulder. A GUN official stood a short distance away aiming a gun at her.

She smiled. Let's see who's faster, me or your bullet. She bolted.

"Hey!" he shouted.

He chased after her shouting for backup in a walkie talkie.

The female hedgehog rounded a corner and found herself surrounded. This just might be the end of the line, she thought.

"Don't even think of running," one of the officers ordered. "This will be easier on both of us if you just state your name and what you're doing here."

The female hedgehog crossed her arms. Maybe she could get out of this if she played it cool. "I'm looking for someone," she said, closing her eyes halfway and putting a casual attitude on.

"That would be?" the officer asked.

She gave a lazy shrug. "How should I know. I'm only looking for him. I don't know his name."

"Then how will you know who he is?"

"I know what he looks like."

"And what does he look like?"

"I dunno. I only know I know what he looks like."

The officers face turned red. "Now listen here you little creep we don't have time for your little mind games. Now just tell us what you want or we'll have have to make you."

She smiled disarmingly. "Now is that any way to speek to a lady? I don't think so. You should be ashamed of yourself."

"I've had enough of this little broad's attitude, men let's get her."

"I am not a broad. I am a hedgehog and I don't think you'll be 'getting' anyone. In fact I'm not sure you even remember what you were just doing."

The jewel on her forehead flashed a bright light and everyone stood there with blank expressions. "It was nice talking to you boys," She said, breezing away from the crowd. "But I've got something I really need to do now. Now if you'll excuse me I have a hedgehog to find."

She ran off.

Shadow heard his cell door open and sat up. He had been lying on the floor trying to figure out a way to get out. He saw a lady GUN official heading toward him. He could tell by her face she was about to do something he'd dispise. "Do you need something?" he asked getting to his feet.

"It's time to take you to the capsule," she replied.

"I hope you aren't expecting me to go willingly," he said.

"I'm hoping you will, but if you don't, I'm ready," she said.

"Oh, and are you ready for this?" he dashed for the cell door.

The lady tackled him. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this," she said.

Shadow heard the sound of clicking metal.

The female hedgeog found the room Shadow was being kept in just in time to see the GUN officer tackle the black hedgehog. I'm too late! she thought. I have to do something before she takes him to the capsule! But what?

Then she got an idea. She walked casually into the room. "Now, is that anyway to treat the ultimate life form?" she asked, leaning against the cell door.

The female officer stopped what she was doing and looked up. "Who and what are you?" she demanded. "Are you some kind of mutation or something?"

The female hedgehog stared at her wings then back at the lady. "No, I'm just a girl on a mission."

"And your mission is?" the female officer demanded.

"Oh, I can't tell you. It's a secret mission," the hedgehog replied. "All I can tell you is it involves breaking someone out."

"You won't be breaking anyone out," the woman growled, pulling out her gun.

The female hedgehog shrugged. "You think you can stop me with that? I don't think so," she turned to go. "Infact I think I'll go break him out right now."

"Don't you-"

The purple hedgehog zipped off.

The female GUN officer got off of Shadow and ran after the female hedgehog banging and locking the cell door as she ran.

Shadow got to his feet and ran up to the door only to find it locked. "Shoot!" he said kicking the bars.

The black hedgehog looked toward the entrance. I wonder who that hedgehog was? he thought. What was she doing here? I wonder if she was trying to get me out of here? I hope that woman doesn't catch her.

The female hedgehog ran down the hall glancing over her shoulder. The GUN official was following her. Good, she's falling for it, she thought.

She rounded a corner then stopped. She looked back and saw the woman getting closer. "Where are you?" the woman demanded, looking around.

The purple hedgehog came out. "Looking for me?" she asked, leaning against the wall acting casual.

"There you are," the woman said aiming her gun at the hedgehog. "Now I want you to come with me quietly."

"No way," the purple hedgehog said. She pulled out a short sword with a gray handle. "I won't be going anywhere."

"Oh yes, you are," the woman said taking a step forward.

The female hedgehog ducked around the corner again and found herself in a closet. "Nowhere to run," the woman said coming up behind her.

The purple hedgehog backed up and the lady jumped at her. When she did the hedgehog ran out of the closet and slammed the door behind her locking it. The woman pounded on the door shouting. "Let me out! Let me out!"

The purple hedgehog didn't comply she just turned and ran in the direction of Shadow's cell.

Shadow saw the purple hedgehog come back into the room. She was holding the keys to his cell and acting casual.

"Hello," she said calmly. "I'm here to get ya out."

"How did you get the keys?" he asked.

"Oh, that lady was happy to give them to me," she replied, walking up to the door.

She unlocked it and he walked out. "I guess I'll have to thank you for saving me," he said.

She smiled. "There's no time for that right now," she said, as sirens began blaring. "We have to get out of here." She grabbed his arm. "Come on."

They quickly ran out of the room. As they ran down the hall Shadow asked. "How did you know I was here?"

"I was sent to find you," she answered simply. "And I followed the helicopter that brought you here."

Shadow was about to ask another question but he tripped. "C'mon get up," she said urgently.

He tried but couldn't. "I can't," he said panting heavily. "I don't have enough energy to go any further."

The female hedgehog knelt down and grabbed him around the waist. "I'll get us out of here," she said.

"How?" he asked looking up at her.

"Like this," she said.

She began running down the corridor picking up speed with each foot fall and beating her dark blue wings rapidly. "Hold on tight," she instructed the black hedgehog.

Within seconds she was flying at an incredible speed.

They heard doors slamming behind them. "The place is going into lock down!" Shadow said. "We won't be able to get out of here!"

"We'll see about that," she said, beating her wings even harder.

Suddenly she was flying so fast everything was a blur around them. Shadow saw the way out ahead and with a great burst of speed from the purple hedgehog's wings they shot out of the GUN building and into the cool night air.

Shadow breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally," he whispered.

They flew for about two hours then Shadow had to ask. "Who are you and where are we going?"

"My master wants you," she replied, evading the first question.

He blinked. "Why?"

"You have the knowledge on how to use something," she said. "He needs you for that reason."

"What for?"

"To destroy the world."

Shadow gasped. "I don't want to help anyone destroy the world," he protested.

"You have no choice," she said calmly. "I was ordered to take you to him and that's what I'm doing."

"No!" Shadow exclaimed, trying to wiggle free.

"Stop it!" she ordered, tightening her grip.

Shadow didn't let up. He struggled so much the purple hedgehog lost her grip and he fell out of her arms and into a forest far below.

"You won't get away that easily!" he heard her shout.

When he landed on the forest floor he ran blindly into the darkness, never looking back.

After a few minutes he slowed down hoping, since he was black, he would be hard to spot in the dark woods. Now how do I get out of here? he thought looking around, I wish I had a flashlight or something. I can't see anything.

A white face suddenly appeared in front of him. "ARGH!" he shrieked falling on his back.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I scare you?" someone asked.

Shadow looked up. He saw a male bat wearing brown boots and brown leather gloves hanging upsidedown from a tree branch. "Who are you?" the black hedgehog asked.

The bat jumped to the ground righting himself. "My name is Suicide," he answered

"That's a strange name," Shadow commented.

"Yeah I know," the bat said. "Anyway who are you and why are you walking around here all by yourself in the middle of the night? Don't you know it's dangerous?"

Shadow nodded. "I know that," he said. "And my name is Shadow and I'm lost."

"Lost?" the bat asked.

"I don't know my way out of here," Shadow explained.

"Oh."

"Do you know the way out of here?"

Suicide pointed to his right. "If you follow that path over there and stay on it you'll be out of the woods in less then an hour."

Shadow looked at the path. It was kinda narrow in the moonlight. Other than that it looked safe enough.

"How can I be sure it will take me out?" he asked.

"I followed a few people who took that path already," the bat explained. "It leads out of the woods and comes out close to the cemetery."

"Oh, okay," Shadow said. "Thanks."

He walked away.

"Glad to be of help," Suicide called after him.

The female hedgehog landed quietly in the forest and began her search for Shadow. She knew he could run fast and go great distances in a short period of time but so could she. If they raced she would bet that she would win.

She began to run to her right and as she did began to pick up speed. Soon she was running so fast she almost went past Suicide the bat who was just starting to fly back up in to his perch.

She stopped. "Excuse me sir," she said.

The bat looked at her. "Yeah?" he asked.

"Did you happen to see a black hedgehog come this way?" she asked.

"Why do you want to know?" he asked sounding suspicious. "Is he your boyfriend or something?"

She ignored the question. "No," she answered, sounding slightly annoyed. "I'm just looking for him."

"Why?" he asked.

"Oh...for an important reason," she said casualy. "Now, please tell me where he went."

The bat pointed to his right. "He went that way a few minutes ago," the bat said. "But I doubt you'll find him he was going pretty fast."

"Don't you worry I'll catch him," she said. "And thank you. Thanks a lot."

She began to dash down the path knowing she'd catch him easily.

Shadow was out of the woods in a matter of minutes. What would have taken an hour took a lot less time because of his speed. He looked around glancing guardedly at the sky. He didn't see the crazy winged hedgehog but he knew it would only be a matter of time until she found him.

Even with this in mind he felt he had to visit Maria's grave again. He had a feeling he wouldn't be able to for awhile. He picked a small white flower and walked into the cemetery.

Now the cemetery is not one of the most welcoming places and it can be very foreshadowing after dark but Shadow was never scared. The white stones seemed almost welcoming sometimes and once in a while he felt at home there. Though he could never understand why. Maybe it was because of Maria's grave and there it was, a small stone of white marble sticking out of the ground.

He knelt in front of it and rested his head on the cold stone. "Maria..." he whispered. "I can't stay long, something is after me, a purple hedgehog with wings, she wants to take me to her master so I can help him destroy the world but I can't I just ca..."

He froze and listened. He heard something that sounded like silk moving over the grass. He slowly got to his feet listening hard, trying to figure out what it was and where it was coming from.

A chill ran down his spine as he sensed something coming up behind him.

Someone grabbed him and put their hand over his mouth. He gave a muffled scream and tried to get away. A sword was brought up to his throat.

"Be quiet," a voice hissed.

He froze and stared at the sword, it's blade reflecting the moonlight.

"You actually thought you could get away from me?" his captor demanded.

Shadow didn't say anything but he knew this person had to be the female hedgehog who had gotten him out of the GUN building. How did she find me so quickly? he asked himself.

"Now you're coming with me whether you like it or not and this time I'm going to make sure you don't get away," she said in his ear.

She removed the sword and stuck him in the back of the head with the handle.

Shadow blacked out, going limp in her arms. She smiled in satisfaction. Now to get going. She wrapped her arms around him and ran as fast as she could getting speed so she could start flying.

A second later she flapped her powerful wings and was airborne taking the unconcious hedgehog to the gray building in the distance.

Tails and Amy sat watching TV in the living room in Sonic's house. Suddenly Tails gasped and shouted. "Sonic, I think you'd better come see this!"

Sonic was in the room in a flash. The three watched in silence as a news broadcaster spoke on the screen. "Witnesses say that a purple hedgehog broke into a high security GUN building just a few hours ago. The hedgehog who can't be identified at this time was most likely sent there by an unknown person. Who ever it was was only after one thing."

A picture of Shadow appeared on the screen. "The GUN official we spoke to said that the purple hedgehog freed the ultimate life form Shadow the hedgehog who was created by the estranged Gerald Robotnik fifty years ago. After freeing him the purple hedgehog then took him by flight off of the island and hasn't been seen since."

The broadcast ended and Tails turned off the TV. "Wow, I can't believe it," he said. "I can't believe the military had actually caught Shadow."

"What confuses me most is how that purple hedgehog they mentioned knew Shadow was back on the Prison Island," Sonic said thoughtfully.

"I don't know," Tails said. "but I have a bad feeling if Shadow's still with that purple hedgehog he's in real trouble."

"Why?" Amy asked looking at the two tailed fox questioningly.

"Because, it's very likely that this hedgehog can fly and no real hedgehog can do that," Tails explained.

"What are you saying, Tails? That this hedgehog is some kind of robot?" Sonic asked.

"Not only that. I think it's an organic robot which can only mean one thing," Tails paused.

"What?" Sonic and Amy asked in unison.

"That hedgehog's another ultimate life form."

Shadow was slowly coming around. At first he could barely feel anything at all but after a few minutes he felt pain in his head and arms which felt like they were being pulled out of their sockets. He had no idea where he was and couldn't open his eyes.

The dark hedgehog waited a few more minutes then tried again. They opened about halfway and he looked around. He was in some kind of room with gray walls and a gray floor. There was no furniture or windows only an iron door directly in front of him. Where am I? he thought. and why can't I move?

He felt around with his hands. They landed on cold iron. His heart began to beat faster. He was hanging from a chain suspended from the ceiling. I'm a prisoner! he thought in panic, but by who and why?

The black hedgehog heard the door open and looked up. The purple hedgehog who had taken him from GUN entered. "You!" Shadow exclaimed. "You're the one who brought me here!"

The female hedgehog walked up to him. She had her eyes half closed and a small smile on her face. "I was only doing what I was told," she said breezily.

"Who told you to kidnap me?" he demanded.

"You'll find out soon enough," she said casualy.

"Can you at least tell me who you are?" he asked.

She stared at him a dark look suddenly crossing her face. "My name is Mystic," she said very calmly. "I am the world's only female ultimate life form."

"You're a what!" he exclaimed.

"I am the female ultimate life form," she said again.

"But, that can't be..." his voice trailed off.

"How can't it be?" she asked sounding slightly annoyed. "What? Do you think you're the only one who can be an ultimate life form?"

"No," he said slowly. "B-but if you an ultimate life form then your creator must be..."

"I think I'd better take you to him now," she said interrupting the black hedgehog.

Mystic unlached the chain from the one hanging from the ceiling and led Shadow out of the room. They walked down a short hallway and entered another room. A man sat in front of a computer his back to them.

"Doctor," Mystic said. "I have brought him with me."

"Then it must be time," the man said in a oldish voice.

That voice sounded strangely familiar but Shadow couldn't quite place it.

The man stood and turned around. "Hello, Shadow," he said. "It's been awhile."

Shadow stared a the man, his red eyes getting bigger. This can't be! Shadow thought taking a step backward. This just isn't possible

Authors note: What a hair pulling ending. It took me forever to figure out how to do this part. I finally have it right but I'm not telling you who the guy is. You'll have to wait till I start the next chapter. I bet some of you already know who he is ,though, but I'm not saying anything you just might be wrong. Well I'd better start chapter now bye.