CHAPTER 3

THE PRICE TO PAY

It was another morning at Rouge's house. Rouge came downstairs into the kitchen for coffee. She saw Shadow at the table reading the paper. "Good morning, Shadow."

Shadow looked at her then looked at the paper again. "Good morning."

Rouge sat down with him with her coffee, "Shadow, I have to ask you something."

Shadow laid the paper on the table paying attention to her, "What?"

"Is my father trying to kill you?"

"I don't know, but I think he wants me alive so he can torture me again."

"...I love my father."

"I understand that, but I see him in a different perspective."

Rouge moved on to a different subject, " Tell me what kind of food do you like?"

"...Blood..."

"Blood? How do you get blood?"

"What do you think? I kill people for it. I'm a bloodsucker remember?"

"A vampire that's right."

"By the way, bat. If you dare go back on your promise. You will become one of my victims. That's not a threat, it's a promise."

Rouge finally remained silent after what he said. She nervously picked up her mug of coffee and drunk it slowly.

Later during the day Rouge had an unexpected visitor at her door. She would've told Shadow to hide, but he had already performed the action. Rouge opened the door and a red echidna appeared in her presence. He was wearing an uniform with a badge that symboled GUN.

"Good evening if I'm mistaken you must be Rouge the Bat, General Bat's daughter."

Rouge nodded, "yes."

"My name is Commander Knuckles and I just came to check up on you and to ask you some questions."

"What kind of questions?" She figured it would be about Shadow.

"A couple of days ago, one of our experiments got loose. He was our most powerful. He is described as a black hedgehog a little bit of red covers his body as well, he is also wearing a shock collar that has the words 'Experiment 301' carved on it. Have you seen this man?"

"No, I haven't." Rouge said nervously.

Knuckles headed towards the doorway, "If you ever see him, contact us immediately. He is very dangerous. Oh and your father said hello." He left her doorway.

Rouge sighed, "That was close."

"Too close."

Rouge looked behind her and saw Shadow.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were about to slip."

"No, never."

Shadow clenched his fist, "See that you don't."

Nightfall came and Shadow was in the living room sitting on the couch Rouge was sitting next to him.

"We'd better go to bed now, we'll have a long day tomorrow." Rouge suggested.

"I don't need to rest. I must recharge myself by drinking blood since three days passed, I have been feeling a bit weak."

"...I can't help you there..."

"You don't have too."

"Huh?" Rouge was confused.

"Just go to sleep, I'll be back by morning,."

Rouge didn't know what he was going to do, but she wasn't going to let him just leave, "Wait."

Shadow faced her.

"I'm coming with you."

"No, you'll get in my way."

"What if something bad happens to you? Then you'll blame it on me. I'm coming and that's final."

Shadow growled, "Fine."

When they got on the dark streets Shadow began his search for blood.

"What are you looking for anyway?" Rouge was wondering.

"You'll find out."

She crossed her arms. Rouge was so sick of him hiding things from her. Then she saw someone behind them. It was Commander Knuckles. She gasped. "Shadow."

Shadow looked back as well, "Commander Knuckles..."

Knuckles hated it when he was fooled easily, "301, I knew it. Rouge, you were hiding him the entire time."

Shadow stepped in, "Leave the girl out of this. This is our battle."

"As you insist." He took out a gun that shot out an electric shock from the barrel.

The shock came at Shadow, but he moved. It almost hit Rouge as well, but she was smart and moved too.

'I must be careful, I don't want to hurt the general's daughter.' Knuckles put the weapon back in his belt. "I'll take care of you another time, just keep your hands off of these civilians and the general's daughter as well."

Shadow growled under his breath.

"Shadow...did I do something wrong?"

Shadow faced her, "No."

Then out of nowhere a gunshot was fired at Shadow but Rouge came to his rescue and jumped into the scene.

She was shot in the arm, she was bleeding heavily.

Shadow came to her aid to checked her wound, it was kinda bad, but he was sure he could treat her. He looked back behind him, "Knuckles..."

When they got back to Rouge's house Shadow laid Rouge down on her bed to rest. He gauze her wound, he just waited for her to awaken.

Rouge started to wake up slowly, "Shadow..."

"Are you okay, bat?"

"Yeah." She sat up from her bed.

"You saved me, but you must know that I am the ultimate experiment if I can take a tank shot, I can handle a simple bullet."

Rouge looked down knowing he still doesn't appreciate her.

"But you tried to save me and for that I owe you my life. Thank you."

Rouge looked up at the grateful hedgehog, she smiled slightly,"You're welcome."

He kissed her hand, "You have earned my trust."