Chapter 23: I'll never leave you
Shadow stood up Amy still at his side helping him to his feet. Amy looked into the crowd and saw Tucker slowly walking towards the stage. "Shadow it's him!"
"Come on!" Shadow held his bleeding arm tight as he ran off stage with Amy fast at his side. Tucker jumped on to the platform and continued to purse them at a comfortable stroll.
The two ran out through an emergency exit door they found themselves facing the ocean of RVs once more. Shadow looked at Amy and then took her hand. "Come on we've gotta keep moving."
"Why bother you can't escape me." Tucker stood in the doorway behind them. He pulled the gun from his pocket. "Just give me Amy and I'll think about letting you live."
Shadow pulled Amy forward into the maze. Tucker was close behind them, his pace a lot less brusque. "Come on Shadow just give her up. We both know you can't keep her safe." When they didn't slow down Tucker held the gun up. "Have it your way."
Shadows grip on Amy's hand tightened as he suddenly broke into a seep run. He pushed himself as hard as he could. He was in the center of the maze now he stopped his run. The pain in his arm was so overbearing he couldn't concentrate enough to run that fast. Amy gently pushed him up against an RV wall they were hiding behind. "Shadow just let me go with him."
He grabbed her by her wrists. "Don't say that I won't let him have you the thought of you in his arms makes me sick."
"But I can't let you die." Amy turned away slightly but not much since Shadow wouldn't release her.
"Amy there are worse things than death…like losing you again."
"You must know I want you to live…even if it means without me." Amy's face was stained with tears.
"That's where you're wrong Amy I can't live unless you're with me." Shadow pulled her into a kiss.
Tucker stood in the center of a circle made by five RVs, one of which Amy and Shadow were hiding behind. "Come on out Shadow if you wanna her you gotta fight for her." Tucker held the gun upward waiting for his chance.
Shadow broke the embrace and then whispered into Amy's ear. "Stay here." He was then gone.
"Shadow…" Amy said softly as she looked around but there was no sign of him.
Tucker's head was turning in all directions as he heard the sound of foot steps all around him.
"What's wrong Tucker can't shoot what you can't see?" Shadow mocked as he kept dashing from place to place he couldn't keep this up for long he was losing a lot of blood and it was making him weak.
Tucker could see that Shadow was slowing down the running was warring him out and that would be his downfall. Tucker could just catch a glimpse of Shadow now then and he was starting to figure out the black hedgehogs running pattern. Shadow was making a sharp left when suddenly Tucker fired a shot right into Shadow's leg. Shadow fell to the ground holding his right leg. Tucker walked toward Shadow. "Find your opponents weak spot and then exploit it." Shadow glared up at his attacker as he bent down to Shadows level. "It takes a lot to get under my skin but you've managed to do in record breaking time." "Any last words Shadow?"
"Yea drop dead." Shadow said in a deathly tone.
"Funny I was thinking the same thing." "Now I want you to die." Tucker held the gun to Shadow's forehead. Tucker's finger began to pull back the trigger and then he fired. Shadow's eyes went wide as he heard the shot but felt no pain he saw Tucker stumbling backwards. Shadow saw that Amy had jumped on to Tucker's back and had her arms tied tight around his neck trying to stop him. Tucker pulled on her trying to get free. He stumbled back further and then suddenly rammed backwards slamming Amy into a wall. Amy let go of him and slid to the ground. Tucker turned on her. "You know I adore you Amy." He knelt down to her and put his hand under her chin pulling her view up to his. "I've always had a special fondness of you and I don't want to share you with anyone else." Tucker stood up and pointed the gun at Amy. "I've tried to keep you safe and yet you resist me." "Well if I can't have you I'll make sure no one else can."
Amy was between a rock and a hard place. There was no one to save her now. Amy looked up she caught a glimpse of Shadow which caused her to stare at black hedgehog in full view. Amy realized at that moment she couldn't die. It would be wrong she couldn't leave Shadow alone. She knew that Tucker would hunt him to the ends of the Earth. Amy looked down at the ground and then back up at Tucker. She dug her nails into the ground. "Well Amy is there anything you want to say to me before you go?"
"Yes there is…" Amy's hand came forward as she through dirt into his face. "Go to hell!" Amy jumped to her feet and rammed him to the ground. The two were rolling around fighting over the gun. Tucker found the trigger and pulled it. The bullet brazed Amy's shoulder causing it to sting. She grabbed the barrel of the gun and pulled it out of Tuckers grip. She didn't have it for long though, Tucker had worked his leg back and used it to trust Amy off of him causing her to throw the gun. She pushed herself up slightly off the ground, one hand to her the spot on her chest where he had kicked her. Tucker quickly wrapped an arm around her neck causing her to start struggling; he reached down to his leg and pulled a small dagger out that he had hidden under his pant leg. Then he held it to Amy's neck making her cease the resistance.
"I've been here for you without me you wouldn't have the life you've got the happiness you had." "I gave you this life now I'm gonna take it away from you."
"No you never gave me happiness the only one who could do that was Shadow and you tried to take him away!" Amy screamed.
"He doesn't deserve you I do and if you won't be with me then you won't be with him either!" Tucker began to pull the knife back into her neck when suddenly they heard a gun shot. Blood gushed from Tuckers head and onto Amy. His eyes became wide as he dropped the knife and then fell forward. Amy was laying on the ground with Tucker on top of her. She slid out from under his dead body. She looked behind her and saw Shadow up on one knee his arm stretched out and Tuckers gun in his hand. He dropped the gun and then fell into the dirt.
"Shadow!" Amy got up and ran to him holding the bleeding spot on her arm. "Shadow get up please get up!" Despite the stinging in her arm she turned him over and pulled him up so that he was leaning into her for support. "Shadow open your eyes." "Please open them." She pulled his body to her and started crying softly. "Please…please don't die." Amy clutched him tighter. "I love you Shadow."
"That's why…I'll never leave you."
Amy's eyes burst open she saw Shadow string. "Shadow I don't want you to go away ever again…I want to keep my promise." She laced her arms around him in a more gentle position. "I will stay with you forever." She kissed his forehead. "We need help."
"You were saying?" Rouge's voice was like music to Amy's ears.
"Rouge we've gotta got to get Shadow help!"
"I know the paramedics are coming right now." "I called as soon as I heard the gun shots." "I knew you guys were in real trouble." Rouge looked up and gasped she saw Tuckers dead corpse. "Amy is that?"
"Yes…he's the one who tried to kill us." Amy hugged Shadow and closed her eyes. "We didn't mean to kill him he's was going to slit my throat…there was no other way."
"Don't worry it was self defense." Rouge reassured her.
Amy was so relieved that Shadow was safe she gently laid him on the ground so he was flat on his back. She looked at him a soft smile on her face. "Shadow thank you." She sighed aloud before passing out. Her body laid gently upon his her head to his chest. They looked peaceful at least and even more so they were at peace. At peace with one another.
Ok the ending to this chapter was a little off I know but just for anyone who is confused they didn't die Amy just fainted out of relief and Shadow was past out from massive blood loss k. Next chapter they get all better so don't worry!