Disclaimer: Bet you could not guess, but I don't own Sonic & Co. Shocker. Credit to Sega and Sonic Team.
Night had fallen by the time Amy woke. Had she truly slept that long? Raising her head, Amy glanced around her apartment. Places where the now removed picture of Sonic had been. The arrangement of her furniture. The walls, ceiling, and finally the wall-clock. It was nine o'clock. The apartment gave off such an eery appearance at night. The shadows of once welcoming house hold items now seemed to dance around the room, trying to frighten. The familiar sounds presently creek and moan a sorrowful night song. Every item calling for her attention, every item scaring her more than the last. Feeling like a frightened child, Amy quickly got up. She flipped on the over head lights of her living room and watched as it washed the shadows away. Amy stood to watch the room for a moment longer before turning to the kitchen. She had made herself quite hungry by the day's events. She made herself a snack of toasted pastries and a glass of milk. She ate her treat in complete silence, the only sound was from the gentle hum of the refrigerator. After this she went to try and sleep in her bed. Amy tossed and turned for what seemed like hours before finally resting on her side.
Morning had come too soon for many in Station Square. Children headed dreadfully to school, their parents to work, and the weeks usually cycle of things began again. Amy pulled herself from the bed with much difficulty. Even if it had been a dreamless sleep, it was still the only brake from reality she knew. She took her morning shower, dressed in her daily attire, had breakfast, and then switched on the television for the morning news report. She normally wouldn't do this, for the news was boring and sometimes disturbing. Still, today she felt like watching the world from the comfort of her home. At first, none of the stories were of any interest or importance, but then a rather heart-wrenching report started.
"Late last night two men were mysteriously killed," The news anchor stated. "The two men were in their mid-thirties and driving home from work together out on this road." The anchor moved aside to show the street behind him. Moving back in front of the camera, he continued. "Local authorities say there are no signs of a crash with another car." As the camera panned to the car, or what was left of it, Amy's mouth dropped in horror. The entire car was mangled. Twisted medal wrapped around itself heaped in the middle of the road. "Officials can't say what happened at this point. Both men had to be removed from the wreckage and identified by their dental records..."
Amy speedily turned off the television. Something about that story intrigued her though. How was that car distorted like that? There is no way another car could have hit it like that. Even if one did, it too would be in impaired condition at the scene of the accident.
"How could that have happened?"
Amy got to her feet and decided to go take a look at the street it crash on. Maybe she'd be able to find some answers to this little mystery, it wasn't like she had better plans for the day. As she headed out, she locked her door and walked away from the apartment building, not to return that night.
Amy arrived at her destination. On her walk there, her mind drifted between thoughts and memories. She had become quite sick of thinking of it all, but every time her mind tried to stray, the memories would come rushing back like a river.
"How come I just can't forget my love life and move on?"
Amy moved her gaze to the street. She observed the wreckage from a safe distance. Could the car have skid in the rain storm last night? No, no accident could have done this to a car. What then? What could have twisted the metal and gotten away by morning without a trace? Amy found it useless to even try to get close to the car. For one, the police had already searched the area a million time, and two, they'd never let her near it.
"Maybe the answer isn't near the car," Amy thought moving her gaze to the scenery. There was a ditch by the accident with a small tree growing from it to the left. On the right, a foot path leading to an open field.
"That's odd," Amy thought aloud. "Why have a path to nothing?" She slowly began to make her way over before being stopped by one of the officers.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to please vacate the area."
Did he happen to notice something odd about the path, or was this only seen by her?
"Could I ask you what that path over there is for?" It was a shot in the dark, but perhaps he would leak a bit of information to feed her curiosity.
"I believe it use to lead to an old farm house or something." The official turned in that direction. " It was destroyed years ago after the farm closed." Amy stared into the open field, squinting her eye to shield them from the rising sun. Whoever did this had to flee in that direction. Whoever? Why all of a sudden this car accident became a murder case in her mind was beyond her, but something kept nudging her to have the area investigated.
"Please ma'am, you really need to leave." The officer's patience was running out.
"Have you checked those fields for suspects?" Amy inquired.
"This accident is exactly what it implies, an accident. There are no suspects."
"How can you think that was done on..." Before Amy could Finnish her remark,
"Look, ma'am, if you cannot remove yourself from this area, we will be forced to do it for you." With that, the officer returned to his work, and Amy backed off.
"It's only an accident my eye," Amy muttered under her breath. Clearly there was more to this then what met the eye. She didn't know why, but she just knew someone, or something, had to have a hand in this. Still, this wasn't her business to meddle in. Looking back, it hit her. There's more then one way into those fields. A small smile appeared on her face as she made her way into the grass a little ways from the accident.
Amy waded through the grass allowing all painful thought to be forgotten for the moment. She was now far enough out to start making her way over to where she saw the field across from the accident. Being in the open air after a rain storm was always a fond memory Amy could recall. She laughed a bit on the thought and slowly began to pick up speed until she was in a full out run. Her laughter was all she could hear as she had the greatest time she's had in a long time. The fresh air blowing through her hair, filling her lungs. This old field seemed to be the best place she could imagine being right now. Everything about it was perfect. Amy continued to run over the grounds. Then as suddenly as the rush of happiness started, it was over. Amy came to a grinding halt when before her lay the ruins of the farm house, just a few meters a head. Amy panted slightly from her run. She made her way reluctantly toward the plies of broken wood. The once comforting breeze now sent chills down Amy's spine. The humid air became thick and hard to breath. Still, Amy continued to make her way to the house. As she came upon it, she noticed something from the corner of her eye. Her heart jumped. Amy turned quickly to face whatever it might be. Out of habit she drew her hammer, ready for an attack.