CHAPTER 25

DARK'S BASE

Later that night, Shadow came into the Chaotix with the light pink necklace in his hands.

Vector was leaning against Tonya's desk acting like he was waiting for him. He faced Shadow, "Got another one?"

Shadow looked at the necklace in his hands, "With help."

"That means there are only two more demons left."

Shadow nodded, "Right, Vector. The remaining demons left are Hazel and Deminse."

"We can't allow them to enter the city any longer they did enough damage already. That means that we have to go to them. Shadow, you're gonna lead us to Dark's base. Are you okay with that?" Vector still didn't completely trust him.

"Of course", he said without hesitation.

"Good, Charmy's just making some extra adjustments to the plane. We'll be leaving in a matter of minutes", he walked into the garage.

Shadow then eyed Rouge checking her gun. He decided to walk over to her. He handed her the necklace, "Here."

Rouge took her eyes of the gun and stared at the necklace for second then snatched it out of his hand. She continued to inspect the gun.

Shadow knew she was still upset with him, "Rouge, I know you don't want to talk to me right now, but I'm sorry for what I did to you that day. I didn't know what I was thinking. Just please accept my apology and maybe we could start over and forget about what happened."

Rouge looked up to him and glared, "You just don't get it do you. What you did to me was wrong and you know it."

"I'm sorry. How many times do you want me to say it?"

"Try to go for a trillion", she walked away.

Shadow hit the wall hard with his fist, 'I wish I never saw that disk then none of this would've happened.'

"Hey we're ready to go! Come on, Shadow!" Espio shouted from the garage.

Shadow then snapped out of it and walked into the garage.

When they all got on the X-jet, Charmy was about to take off.

Espio was sitting beside Shadow. He faced him with a glare, "You better be telling us the truth."

"I swear I won't lie to you guys."

Espio crossed his arms and didn't face him.

Vector looked over to Shadow, "Okay Shadow, tell us where Dark's base is."

"It's in the arctic", he answered.

"There?"

Shadow nodded slightly.

Vector turned to Charmy, "Hear that Charms?"

"Yes, sir", Charmy started up the plane. "We're going to the arctic!" He shouted in happiness.

The plane then took off.

When they got to the arctic, they began to look for Dark's base.

"Do you see it, Charmy?" Vector asked.

Charmy shook his head, "No."

"I knew it!" Espio shouted, "You tricked us! You led us into a giant wasteland so Dark and the remaining demons could ambush us!"

Shadow shook his head, "No Espio, I'm telling you guys the truth."

Espio crossed his arms, "Prove it."

Shadow pointed below them.

Espio looked over and saw a huge black building standing in the middle of the snow covered ground. Espio looked at Shadow with commiserate, "Uh, sorry."

Shadow smiled, "It's okay."

Rouge stared at the base through the window, 'He maybe right about where Dark's base was, but I still don't think he's on our side.'

In Dark's base, Deminse and a female light green haired demon that was wearing a necklace with a light green jewel in it was standing beside him looking out the window, until they both saw the X-jet fly by.

Deminse's eyes widened, "Darkness, that traitor! He led those fools straight to us!"

The girl placed her hand on Deminse's shoulder, "Let me take care of them for you."

He removed her hand from his shoulder, "No Hazel, I won't lose you too. You're the only thing I have with me right now."

"But Deminse..."

"I said no!"

"Listen, I'm not doing this for Lord Dark, I'm doing this for you, brother."

Deminse turned his head not facing her, "Fine, if you wanna die then be my guest. Nice knowing yea sis." He walked out the room with tears coming to his eyes.

Meanwhile outside of Dark's base, Charmy had landed the plane on the ground and everyone had got out.

Rouge was freezing once she stepped outside. She held her shoulders, "It's so fucking cold here."

"Uh yeah they don't call it the arctic for nothing", Charmy said making it obvious.

Espio held Rouge close to him, "I'll keep you warm."

Rouge blushed as Espio held her close to his warm body.

Shadow looked over to Espio embracing on Rouge. He gritted his teeth in anger, 'Damn that chameleon.' He clenched his fists wanting to hit him for ever touching Rouge. He almost walked over to him, until he heard a girl laugh. He turned and faced her, "Hazel..."

The light green haired demon walked up to the group with a large gun in her hands, "You are so pathetic, Darkness." She laughed once more. "No wonder Dark doesn't want you anymore, you're too damn emotional."

"That's enough, Hazel!" Shadow shouted.

Hazel sighed, "I guess you're right. Joke time is over. Let's get this over with." She pointed her gun at Shadow.

Shadow quickly ran out of her aim with his supersonic speed.

She got annoyed, "Keep still, damn it! I can't get a good lock!" She then began to shoot the gun everywhere. A Light green beam came from the barrel of the weapon and hit the ground while missing Shadow.

Charmy was extremely curious about the beam, "What is that?"

Shadow quickly explained, "It's a paralyzing beam."

Charmy gasped.

"Don't let it touch you, if you do you'll die soon after you're paralyzed."

Instead of flying Charmy slowly lowered himself to the ground.

Shadow couldn't keep evading her beam any longer. He looked over to Espio, "Espio, now!"

Espio took out the Z-X from his holster and fired at Hazel when she wasn't looking. The bullet easily made it into the side of her head. The bullet soon exploded in her head.

She fell in the white snow bleeding out her mouth, dropping her gun beside her.

Espio looked over to Shadow walking over to him slowly while his fists were clenched, "Heh, we make a pretty good team don't we, Shad."

Shadow confronted the purple chameleon with a serious look on his face. He took his fist and punched Espio in the stomach.

Espio fell to the ground holding his stomach. He looked up at Shadow.

"Don't you ever touch her like that again. Got it?"

Espio quickly nodded.

Shadow took Espio's hand and helped him off the ground, "Let's just go in the fucking base and kill the last demon." He led the group into the base not fully prepared for defeating the last remaining demon.