CHAPTER 4

FINDING ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

Later that morning at Shadow's house, Kayla was sitting at the kitchen table eating waffles. She ate them like she hasn't eaten in days.

Shadow joined her at the table, "Slow down. You act like you haven't eaten in a while."

Kayla still had her mind on the food placed on the table, "I can't help it. I love your waffles. They're so good."

Shadow smirked, "I've never heard that compliment before."

"You should it's the truth."

Then a white bat came through the door, "Hey, Shad."

Shadow looked over to her, "Damn it Rouge, use the doorbell. You can't just barge in here."

"Why can't I just walk in here? It's not a crime is it?" Rouge kissed Shadow on the ear then took a napkin from the table and wiped some of the syrup around Kayla's mouth.

"Walk in here if you want, but I promise you after when I'm through kicking your ass you won't be walking anymore."

Rouge put her hands in her hips, "Now Shadow, a kid's with you now. You have to watch that mouth of yours."

"Come on, kids hear a lot more shit on TV than they do in the real world."

Rouge gave him a glare, "Shadow."

"What?"

"I said watch it. I don't want this sweet child to obtain your bad habits."

"Fine, I'll try to back off from the language. When I was a kid my mother never said anything about my mouth."

"You mean she never punished you?"

Shadow shook his head, "Unlike people today, she respected me."

Rouge crossed her arms, not believing what he just said.

Shadow watched as Kayla put her plate in the sink, "I guess I should take her with me if I have to protect her."

"We need to ask her about Project D.E.A.T.H."

Kayla looked nervously over to Rouge.

Somehow Shadow knew that she didn't want to talk about Project D.E.A.T.H. at the moment. He walked over to Kayla and took her hand, "Come on, I get to the Chaotix."

"Will other detectives be there?" The girl asked.

Shadow nodded, "You bet. They're kinda crazy. I'm surprised that I haven't lost it yet."

The girl giggled, "They sound fun."

Later Shadow, Rouge, and Kayla got to the Chaotix.

Vector and Charmy were watching Tonya looking up information about Project D.E.A.T.H. on her computer.

"Did you find anything?" Charmy asked.

Tonya kept typing on the keyboard, "Not yet."

Vector noticed Shadow and Rouge come through the door with a little girl along with them.

Kayla looked around the building, "This place is huge."

Tonya had her attention on the girl, "So that's the girl huh?"

Vector walked over to the child and kneeled down at her, "You must be Kayla right?"

"Yes, sir", Kayla said a little nervous.

"We know what happened at the facility and you're the only survivor. We can't get through to the computers, so we need to know."

"About what?"

"Lance wanted to know about Project D.E.A.T.H. and we do too. Tell us about Project D.E.A.T.H."

Kayla ran away from him and ran behind Rouge, "No, I won't tell anyone!"

Vector was getting impatient. He began to walk over to her, "Is it a weapon? We gotta know! Everyone's future depends on you."

Shadow stood in front of him, "That's enough, Vector."

Vector was confused, "Why?"

Shadow looked back at the frightened child hiding behind Rouge. He looked back at Vector, "Can't you see that she's scared? She doesn't want to talk."

"How are we suppose to get any information out of her?"

"When she feels like it."

"That could take forever. We don't know what Lance is up to. Once he finds out about Project D.E.A.T.H. he could use it against us."

"I'll take that chance."

Kayla looked up at Rouge, "I don't like that crocodile, Detective Bat."

Rouge kneeled down and stroked through her hair, "Of course you don't."

Vector was a little insulted, "Hey I'm the good guy here!"

Shadow looked over at Rouge playing with the girl's hair, 'Something's holding her back. I guess she doesn't completely trusts us yet.'

Espio tapped on Shadow's shoulder.

Shadow turned to face him.

"Do you think she'll ever come through?"

Shadow looked back at the child, "I don't know."

"That was so unlike you, Shadow."

Shadow looked back at Espio, "What was?"

"You volunteering to keep the girl safe. See you do like kids."

Shadow crossed his arms, "This one isn't like the rest."

Espio smirked, "Yeah but still."

Shadow glared at Espio, "Drop it okay." He walked over to Rouge and Kayla.

Espio sighed, "I was starting to wonder when his grumpy side would show."

Later that night at Shadow's house in the kitchen, Shadow checked the time and figured it was time for Kayla to go to bed, "It's getting late. Time for you to go to bed."

Kayla sighed, "Do I have to?"

"Yes."

"But it's only eight o'clock."

"I know that, but you're a child you need plenty of rest."

Kayla jumped up and down on the kitchen floor, "It's not fair! It's not fair! It's not fair!"

Shadow couldn't take anymore of her whining, "Shut up and do as I say!" As he shouted, the girl was startled.

Her eyes started to water, "You yelled at me."

"That wouldn't happen if you never pissed me off."

"I'm telling Detective Bat on you."

"For what?"

"One you yelled at me and two you just said a bad word."

"What! You made me!"

"I'm still telling on you. You're not a very nice person, Detective Hedgehog."

Shadow took the girl by her arm and led her into the spare bedroom. When they got there he threw her on the bed, "Lay your little ass down and take a time out."

The girl continued to resist, "No, I won't do it! You can't make me!"

"For god's sake listen to me."

"No!"

Shadow sat on the bed with her, "Why are you acting this way?"

"Because you're mean."

"That isn't the reason."

The girl calmed down and sat beside Shadow, "I don't know, I guess I miss my dad."

Shadow held her close to him, "It's okay to miss your father, Kayla. It must be very sad when you don't have a father to look after you."

Kayla looked up at Shadow, "Do you have a daddy, Detective Hedgehog?"

Shadow was silent for a second, "I...did."

"What do you mean...did?"

"My father's in heaven."

Kayla gasped, "I'm sorry, Detective Hedgehog."

"It's okay you didn't know."

"You must be really sad."

Shadow didn't face her. He tried not to cry.

Kayla held his hand, "Please, don't be sad."

Shadow faced her.

Kayla had tears in her eyes, "Or you'll make me sad too."

Shadow made a slight smile and hugged her, "Don't cry."

Kayla smiled and hugged him back.

They broke away.

Shadow started to leave the room. He looked back at the child, "Goodnight, Kayla."

Kayla got in bed and yawned, "Good night, Detective Hedgehog." She slowly went to sleep.

Shadow smiled, turned off the light and left the room.