CHAPTER 6

A Mistake

Shadow groped his hand around the chain suspending him from the ceiling. As he feared it was secure as well as the metal around his wrists.

He sighed. Now how am I going to get out of here? he wondered. I can't let Gerald hurt these people. With the exception of GUN they're good people. And I promised Maria I'd give them a chance. I promised..."

He let his head droop as tears spilled out. "Maria," he whispered, "I wish you were here to help me decide what to do."

As he hung there something began to bother him. Something that had been nagging him ever since he'd gotten his memory back. What could it be? he thought trying to figure it out. And why is it so important?

Sonic had investigated the huge gray building Shadow had freaked out about the other day but found the place locked and quiet.

By the time Sonic had gotten home it was dark and he was dead tired. As soon as he entered his bedroom he flopped onto his bed and fell right to sleep. He slept until something woke him a few hours later.

Sonic listened for a moment and heard the sound that had awakened him. It sounded like someone rumaging through his things. The sound was also in his room. He turned his head and spotted a dark figure that looked like a hedgehog or was it a bat? searching through his things.

Then it picked up something. A dark blue Chaos Emerald.

"Hey, you!" Sonic shouted sitting up. "Whoever you are! Put that down NOW!"

The thing froze then looked at him its red eyes locking with his green ones. Shadow? Sonic thought, What's he doing stealing my Emerald?

"Hey what do you think you're doing, Faker?" Sonic demanded.

"Faker?" a female voice exclaimed in surprise.

A GIRL!?

"Who are you?" Sonic demanded grabbing her arm.

"That is none of your concern," she growled.

Sonic saw her white fangs in the sliver of moonlight coming in from his bedroom window. A VAMPIRE hedgehog?! he thought staring trancefixed at the fangs.

She saw her chance and broke free. She tried to dash out of the house. Sonic regained his senses and chased after her tackling her legs. She fell to the floor.

Sonic wrapped his arms tightly around her legs.

"Let me go!" she hissed trying to kick him in the face so he'd let her go.

"No way!" he said refusing to let go.

The female hedgehog bashed his head on something and he let go dazed.

She scrambled to her feet and make a break for the door. Sonic shook his head to clear it and saw her open the door.

Uh uh! he thought. You're not getting away from me!

He got to his feet and dashed after her. Just as she went airborne he jumped up and grabbed her waist.

She wasn't even pulled downward by his extra weight! What is she? he thought startled.

She flew higher in the sky. She looked down at him in complete annoyance. "Fine! If you want to be that way I'm taking you with me, you idiot!" she snapped glaring at him. "And don't even think I'm going to let you go after this!"

He ignored her threats and just held on tighter.

Shadow heard someone walking in the hallway. He sensed whoever it was was coming to see him. What now? he thought.

When Gerald Robotnik entered the room Shadow couldn't help asking a question that had been bothering him since that morning.

"Why are you still alive?"

"Huh?" Gerald asked looking confused.

"Why are you still alive?" Shadow repeated. "I saw you get shot before ARK began to fall."

Gerald finally figured out what he was talking about.

"I wasn't shot," Gerald answered leaning against the door. "Just before that would have happened they were stopped when their boss told them the President thought I could stop it somehow. When he said that I came up with a plan to escape. When they asked me I agreed to stop ARK from falling. I was freed and taken into a heavily guarded computer room.

"While they thought I was typing down the way to stop ARK's decent I was actually hacking into the electricity. I made the power go out and, taking advantage of the confusion it caused, I escaped and discovered ARK had been stopped from falling," Gerald smashed his fist on the wall. "Stopped by two little hedgehogs."

Shadow felt like laughing but held it in.

"And I can't believe one of them was you!" Gerald shouted pointing at Shadow.

"Why did you create Mystic?" Shadow asked switching to a lighter topic.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Gerald said in a superior voice.

Shadow felt annoyed at the man's smug tone. "Actually I would," he said calmly. "If you were able to get free how come you didn't start looking for me alot sooner?"

"I couldn't," Gerald replied looking away. "If I had I would have been recognized and sent back to GUN. Besides I didn't know where you were."

"So that's why you created Mystic?" Shadow asked disgusted. "So she could find me? That's it?"

Gerald still wouldn't look at him.

"So that is the only reason!" Shadow said.

Gerald glared at him. "No, Shadow, that is not the only reason," he said coldly.

"Then what is it?"

"You'll find out in time," was all Gerald said. "Right now all I'm concerned about is your cooperation in helping me get my revenge."

Shadow shook his head. "You already know what my answer is," he said softly. "And I'm not going to change it. I promised Maria-"

"Maria didn't know what she was saying when she asked you to do that!" Gerald cut in angrily. "Now you listen to me, you little punk. I created you and you have to do as I say."

"No!" Shadow said quietly but firmly.

Gerald raised his hand as if to slap Shadow again but changed his mind and let his arm drop. "I'd better see if Mystic's back with more Chaos Emeralds," he said.

The scientist turned, opened the door, and left the room leaving Shadow to himself once again.

Mystic was getting tired of flying , especially since Sonic refused to let go of her waist, and was glad when she finally reached Gerald's base.

Just as she landed Gerald entered the computer room. She handed him the dark blue Emerald. "Here you go, Doctor," she said panting. "I've brought you the fifth Chaos Emerald."

Gerald noticed someone had their arms around the female hedgehog's waist. "Who did you bring with you?" he asked a bit cross.

"Oh!" Mystic exclaimed smashing Sonic's hands causing him to let go. "I had a little problem when I got this Emerald. You see this stupid blue hedgehog tried to stop me from taking it by thinking if he grabbed my waist while I was flying away I'd fall. Well as you can see his little plan didn't work and he ended up coming with me."

Gerald peared around her to look at Sonic who was looking around. "He looks almost like Shadow!" the man exclaimed in surprise.

"Are you crazy!?" Mystic asked glancing back at the male hedgehog. "He doesn't look a thing like Shadow."

"So you're about the only one who isn't color blind," Sonic joked.

Gerald grabbed Sonic and looked at him more closely. "Maybe you're right," he said. "I can see it now."

"You!" Sonic exclaimed suddenly realizing who was holding him. "You're Gerald Robotnik! This can't be! You're dead! I saw you die!"

"Do I look dead?" Gerald demanded.

"Uh, no," Sonic said, staring at the man like he had two heads.

"What should I do with him?" Mystic asked.

"Lock him in the room with Shadow," Gerald instructed.

She nodded. "Yes, Doctor."

She grabbed Sonic and handcuffed his wrists. She then drug him down the hall to the room where they were holding Shadow.

When they got to it she opened the door and shoved him in. "Have a nice evening," she said sarcasticly as she shut and locked the door.

"Sonic!" Shadow exclaimed looking down at the blue hedgehog.

Sonic looked up. "Shadow! What are you doing here?" he exclaimed.

"Oh, just hangin' around," Shadow joked humorlessly. "How did you get here?"

"I got a ride," Sonic quipped in a causal tone.

"Ha, ha, funny," Shadow scoffed. "I mean seriously."

"Your purple girlfriend tried to steal my Chaos Emerald," Sonic explained. "I tried to stop her but she flew away with me still holding onto her waist."

"Then they're almost there now," Shadow said more to himself then to Sonic.

"Huh?" Sonic asked,

"Gerald is stealing the Chaos Emeralds so he can reactivate the Eclipse Cannon," Shadow explained.

"Why?" Sonic asked.

"For revenge," Shadow answered coolly. "Revenge on the people of this planet for killing Maria."

"But why does he need you then?"

Shadow looked away. "I am the only one who knows how to use it," he replied sadly. "Gerald forgot how and he needs me to reactivate it for him. But I won't do it. I promised Maria I would give them a chance."

Sonic sat up. "So you're telling me Gerald still wants revenge?" he asked.

Shadow nodded.

"I need to know something."

"Yes?"

"We saw Gerald die, right?"

Shadow nodded again.

"How is he still alive?"

"He tricked the military into thinking he'd help them stop ARK from falling but then he cut the power in their base and escaped unnoticed." Shadow explained.

"Oh," Sonic said. "I'm surprised you're not enthused to help him. After all he is your creator."

Shadow shot Sonic an icy glare. "I am not," he growled. "I have no reason to be."

"Whatever," Sonic said shrugging.

Shadow decided to ignore Sonic. He closed his eyes and tried to change position, but since he was hanging by his wrists he couldn't.

Somehow he was able to ignore Sonic's constant talk and get to sleep.

Shadow was back on ARK. He saw the blue planet Earth below him and Maria as an angel to his right floating in space. She was looking at him with a sad expression.

"Maria," he called to her not knowing what the problem was. "What's wrong?"

Maria looked away.

Shadow stared at her in shock. Maria never looked away from him!

Suddenly the Eclipse Cannon fired and the earth shattered into a million pieces.

Shadow stared at the spot where the earth once floated in shock. How could that have happened?

He glanced back at Maria waiting for an explanation. She looked back at him with tears in her eyes. "Shadow," she said in a quiet voice only he could hear. "How could you...you broke your promise to me... I-I thought you loved me..."

"Maria!" Shadow shouted wanting to tell her that wasn't true. That he hadn't broken his promise to her.

Maria looked away and began to vanish. "Sayonara, Shadow the hedgehog," she whispered. Then she was gone.

Shadow suddenly looked down. He gasped at what he saw.

His handed rested on the FIRE button on the Eclipse Cannon.

"No!" he shouted denying what he saw. "This can't be!"

His heart beat faster when he realized he had fired the Cannon. No one else. Him.

He threw his head back and shouted with tears streaming down his face. "MARIA!"

"Can't you scream a little softer?" an annoyed voice asked waking the hedgehog out of his terrible dream.

"Huh?" Shadow said opening his eyes.

"I said 'can't you scream a little softer'?" Sonic repeated himself, looking at Shadow in annoyance. "You woke me up from a very good dream."

At least you're having good dreams, Sonic, Shadow didn't say.

"Sorry," Shadow sighed. "But I couldn't help it, Sonic. Maria saw me blow up the world and thought I broke my promise."

"Eh?" Sonic said totally clueless.

"Never mind," Shadow said deciding not to push it farther.

"Whatever," Sonic said still confused.

Shadow went back to ignoring him. It was a lot easier to think pretending he was the only one there. Instead of thinking he fell back to sleep.

"So how many Chaos Emeralds do we still need?" Gerald asked as Mystic entered the room.

"We have five, she said. "We only need two more, but I can't find them. I've looked and looked but I could not find even a glimmer. It's like they've vanished or something."

"They have to be out there somewhere," Gerald said impatiently. "Chaos Emeralds don't just disappear."

"Well, I'll try again tomarrow," Mystic said sitting at the desk chair by Gerald's computer and an odd circle on the floor.

"Okay," the scientist said yawning. "I'll see you tomarrow."

"Good night, Docter," she said.

"Good night, my dear," he said leaving the room.

Mystic sat there for awhile longer trying to figure out where the last two Chaos Emeralds could be hiding. I wonder if Eggman has them or at least one, she thought, And if he does then maybe Shadow can tell me where the guy might have hidden it.

She jumped out of the chair and began heading back to the room she'd just left a half hour ago. Yeah right, she thought as she walked, Like he'll tell me anything. At least it's a good excuse to see him again before I turn in.

She stopped realizing she was right outside the room. I can't believe I almost past it, she thought, laughing in embarressment.

She took out the key and unlocked the door. She stepped inside.

Mystic closed the door behind herself but didn't go any farther.

She looked up at Shadow and the thought of waking him vanished. She took this opportunity to do the one thing she'd wanted to do since she first laid eyes on him. Study him.

She leaned against the door and stared. With his black and red features she took him as the quiet type who only said things when he wanted to or thought they were important. She could even see that he was strong. Just the kind of person I imagined you'd be, she thought, a slight smile on her face. Perfect. Pure. Innocent.

She stepped toward him and laid a hand on his shoulder. He didn't stir. "I wish we could get to know each other," she whispered in his ear. "But even though we just met a few days ago I feel like I've known you all of my life."

She stared at his face peaceful in sleep and longed to kiss him but knew she couldn't. It wouldn't be right.

She turned and began to walk out of the room.

Sonic who lay on the floor put out his foot and tripped her.

Authors note: Yes, I know this chapter has a strange ending but I couldn't think of anything after that. I'll try to get the next chapter done as soon as possible so you can find out what happens next, okay? I know some of you might think me putting Sonic in the middle of things is kinda pointless but I was a bit sick of having Shadow all alone besides I like Sonic, just not as much as Shadow. Well that's about it for now.