CHAPTER 23

REIGN OF FIRE

Later the Chaotix soon returned and gave up looking for Rouge.

Charmy faced Vector, "Maybe she'll come back."

Vector scratched his head, "I don't know, Charms. She was broken when Shadow raped her and she was twice as broken when Tonya died in front of her eyes. Let's just hope she's okay."

Espio sighed, "It's my fault this all happened. It's always my fault."

Vector placed his hand on his shoulder, "Don't blame it on yourself, Espio. It could happen to anyone. You're not alone."

Espio made a slight smile trying to be happy for Vector, but was still broken up in the inside from losing Tonya. His first lover, he missed her so much. He would do anything to see her again.

Then they heard Charmy screaming from the recovering room.

"Charmy!" Espio and Vector shouted. They both ran into the room in a hurry while taking out their regular guns.

Vector took his fist and punched the door open. He and Espio were shocked to see who was in the room. They saw a black hedgehog sitting in a chair beside an unconscious white bat laying in the bed.

Charmy, Vector, and Espio pointed their guns at the black hedgehog.

"What are you doing here?" Vector asked.

"What did you do to Rouge?" Espio asked.

"You got the nerve to show your face here, creep!" Charmy shouted.

Shadow placed his hand on Rouge's, "Relax, she just fainted."

"From what?" Vector's grip had tightened around his gun.

"From seeing me I guess."

"Lie!" Espio was about to fire at Shadow, but Vector took his hand and put it on his gun.

Vector shook his head, "Not yet, Es." He faced Shadow again, "What happened?"

Shadow started to explain, "Another demon showed up and started to attack her. When I saw her in trouble I killed the demon. When Rouge saw me, she just...passed out so then I carried her here to recover."

"I don't trust you!" Charmy was about to fire as well, until Vector took his gun away.

Vector dropped his gun to the floor, "No, I think he's telling the truth."

"Are you crazy, Vec? He's just trying to kill us!" Espio glared at Shadow.

Shadow tried to convince them that he wouldn't try to kill them, but he doubt it if they listened to him. "I'm not going to kill you I swear."

Charmy placed his hands on his hips, "Yeah right!"

"Really I'm just here to help, Rouge. I quit working for Dark."

"Just shut up, Shadow...or is it Darkness?"Espio didn't know what to call him since he changed his name.

Shadow then began to give up on them, "Fine I don't care if you guys listen to me or not, but I am not leaving this spot. I'm going to stay here with her no matter what."

Vector had no idea Shadow had strong feelings for Rouge. It made him believe him more, 'I had no idea Shadow felt that way about her.'

Then they all heard a small yawn coming from the bed.

Rouge had awoken and was scared to death when she saw Shadow holding her hand. She screamed, "What the hell are you doing here! Vector, do something!"

Vector walked over to her and tried to calm her down, "Relax, he says he's here to help."

Rouge crossed her arms, "Yeah right I bet it's another trick."

"What happened, Rouge?"

Rouge tried to think back before Shadow had bought her there, "I was attacked by a demon then Shadow had rescued me."

Charmy's eyes widened, "He was telling the truth!"

"Yeah he's telling the truth, but I still don't trust him besides he's the reason why Tonya died", Espio said with anger.

Shadow faced Espio sadly, "You're wrong, Espio. It's true I did send that demon, but I didn't tell her to kill Tonya. I know how you feel, Espio and I realized the mistakes I made when I found out about my demon self. If you're willing to give me another chance to fix the error of my ways, I'll be eternally grateful."

Espio began to think for a moment, "If you're truly on our side again, I guess you could lead us to Dark's base?"

Shadow nodded, "Of course anything to help you guys."

Vector smiled, "All right Shadow, you have our trust...for now." Vector, Espio, and Charmy left the room leaving Shadow and Rouge alone.

Rouge noticed Shadow still holding her hand. She took her hand away from his and got out of bed, "I still don't trust you."

Shadow stood from the chair, "It's okay, I understand. What I did to you that day, I deserve to be the most hated thing here."

Rouge and Shadow then walked out the room together.

When they came into the main lobby, Charmy flew up to Rouge "Another demon!"

Rouge sighed, "Not another one." She checked the bullets in her Z-X. She had one missing so she decided to add one more.

Shadow walked up to Vector, "Can I go?"

Vector had to think for a minute, "Sure just don't try to pull anything."

"Yes, sir", Shadow had walked over to Espio to talk to him.

Vector pulled Charmy over to him and whispered in his ear, "I want you to look after him, make sure he doesn't try anything funny behind our backs."

Charmy saluted, "Yes, sir!"

Shadow handed Espio a necklace with a green jewel in it, "Here, I think you'll need it."

Espio took the necklace and faced Shadow with a friendly smile, "Thanks."

Shadow smiled back at him.

Espio could feel his friendship with Shadow rising again. It was somehow even stronger than before. "We should get going."

Shadow nodded, "I'm right behind yea."

Later the green jewel led them into the city, when they got there practically the whole city was on fire.

Charmy's mouth hung open, "Whoa the whole city is on fire!"

Espio faced Shadow, "Did a demon actually do this?"

Shadow nodded, "Yes, I can feel the presence of another demon getting closer."

Espio looked ahead of him and within the fiery blaze on the road he saw a silhouette of a dark figure approaching them. He and the rest of them watched as he appeared from the blaze.

The demon was wearing a black cloak with a light blue jewel in his necklace. He was carrying a flamethrower in his hand.

"It's Reign, the eleventh of the fourteenth demons", Shadow had said.

Reign glared at Shadow, "So it is true. You're back with them. Lord Dark gave me orders to kill you as well."

Shadow clinched his fists, "I'd love to see you try."

Reign raised his weapon and pointed it at Shadow. He pulled the trigger and fire came from the barrel of the flamethrower.

The fire came at Shadow, but he dodged it because of his supersonic speed.

"Hey use the Z-X!" Espio shouted.

Shadow faced him with a smirk, "I don't need a gun to defeat him."

Espio looked at him confused, "Huh?"

Shadow transformed into his demon form and jumped in back of him stabbing his claw into Reign's back.

The demon dropped his flamethrower on the ground then his lifeless body as well.

Shadow transformed back into his normal self. He faced the gang with blood dripping from his hand. He smirked, "Darkness never uses a gun."