Believe
By Ember
Running.
It's not what I'm best at.
I hear an explosion and pain bursts through my back.
It hurts.
I run faster.
I wish I'd taken Sonic's running lessons.
I wish I'd learnt how to use the Chaos Emeralds.
Because right now they'd be a lot more useful than knowing how to build a plane.
My vision is blurry. I'm finding it hard to see with the blood in my eyes.
I hope it's not mine.
But I know it is.
I don't want to use my tails and fly.
Because that would hurt.
If your tails had been crushed beneath a twelve-ton robot you wouldn't want to fly either.
That brings me back to the pain. Oh God, I can't take it. I wonder how Sonic does it.
Or Knuckles.
Or Shadow.
Especially Shadow.
I'm just a fox, right? Well Sonic says different. He says I'm a little bro and a tough fighter and that I could beat me or one of Robuttnik's robots any day. But the truth is that, Sonic, I can't.
God, I can't even stand.
I can't do this for much longer.
But I'll never stop.
Never.
Not with you slung over my shoulder.
Another reason why I don't want to use my tails and fly and escape and live. I don't want you to get hurt.
I spin my tails and get a short burst of speed. It kills.
I wipe some blood out of my eyes.
Bad move. Those freaking robots are shooting at me.
With missiles.
Big, loud missiles.
I wonder if I should just give up now.
And then, like some sick joke, I'm falling.
I hit the ground.
Hard.
Man, I wanna cry.
I just can't do this.
Sonic, help me.
I can't do this.
I need you.
I should have never have gone on this mission.
I cry, and wait for the robots to close in.
I check your pulse.
It's dead.
Oh, Sonic, I've killed you.
And I can't wait to join you.
The final shot sounds.
I wonder if Shadow's ever gonna be alright.
If he'll escape from that…
Sick, sadistic experiment…
God, Shadow, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry Sonic.
I'm sorry Knuckles.
I've failed you all.
I keel over.
That missile is drawing closer.
My tails are bleeding, and one is a quarter of the way cut through. It hasn't reached the bone, and it makes me feel better. Even though I will die anyway.
The homing missile shoots above my head, and a prototype draws near.
"Experiment: Shadow needs a subject to provide blood and organs."
Its voice is a monotone. So…inexpressive. Generic. It doesn't care whether I die.
"I have orders to utilise you."
I look up. "I don't care, you fuckers."
"I never cared."
It grabs me by my tails.
I scream in pain, and wipe some more blood away from my face. I don't know where it's coming from.
I hear a transmission, and I know the voice. It crackles through.
"E-501, status report."
I would know that fucking voice anywhere.
"Systems at 98. I have located a subject for use."
"Its condition?"
"The subject in question appears to be a fox with two tails. Has taken heavy damage and will need repairs."
"Just leave it. It's not strong enough to survive what I want it to go through."
And even though I know it's true, I hate being called weak. And my single, remaining ear flicks as I hear Eggman's next order.
"If the hedgehog is there, take him. Dead or alive. If dead, then capture the red one. It can be the new subject."
Knuckles.
"It is already subdued."
It.
I'm not an it. Neither are my friends.
I scream and kick and bite and punch as they wrench Sonic from my arms.
Sonic…
They fly over my head. The whole squadron.
I let out a tormented cry.
"YOU FUCKERS! DON'T JUST LEAVE ME!"
But they've gone. They've left behind a dagger.
And it gleams in the fading light.
I'm going to take full advantage of the situation.
I cry out in pain.
Again.
But I know it will be the last.
:END:
Characters © SEGA
Writing © Ember Rock
Give me credit if you use this anywhere other than FOR YOURSELF AND SONIC WILL STAB YOU WITH SHADOW'S KNIFE.
Sonic: Aw man! Shadow's gonna kill me!
Ember: Shut up. --