CHAPTER 4

REVENGE

Shadow was sitting beside the purple chameleon with sorrow, "I can't believe it. I'm such an idiot. How could I forget the way my father died. I've never felt this used before!"

"I understand your pain and I would be delighted to help you."

"But...I'm a Street Punk."

Espio shook his head slightly, "Not anymore."

Shadow smiled a bit, "I guess not..."

"Espio, I'm a ninja."

"A ninja! There aren't many ninjas around here." Shadow seemed interested for some reason. "Hey maybe you can show me some of your moves sometime."

Espio smiled, "Sure."

Shadow sighed, "How am I gonna get revenge on Lance?"

"Just kick his ass how simple can that get?"

Shadow looked over to him in a strange way, "Huh?"

"Come on Shad, you have more dignity than that. I know you can do it and I'll be by your side cheering you on, friend."

Shadow couldn't believe he just called him friend, "Friend?"

Espio nodded, "Of course you're my friend and we'll watch each others backs all the time. Won't we, Shad?"

Shadow made a slight nod, "Right, but where will I go? I can't go back to the place anymore."

"You can stay with me if you want."

There was no ending to Espio's generosity and Shadow couldn't be happier that he met up with him, "Thank you."

When Shadow and Espio got to Espio's apartment, Espio decided to give Shadow something to eat since he was a lower class citizen. Shadow was sitting on his couch thinking about how he would fight Lance tomorrow, until Espio handed him a bowl full of sushi.

Shadow took it and stared at it until he finally asked what it was, "What is it?"

"Sushi, it's really good."

Shadow set the food on the table beside him, "I can't eat this, besides I'm use to starvation anyway."

"But you have to. You need to keep your strength up no matter what and besides your gonna need the energy to defeat Lance tomorrow."

"Since you put it that way..." he reached out for the bowl and started to eat the food.

Espio watched as he ate, 'I hope he'll be okay.'

Later at the Street Punk's hideout, Lance was in his room staring out the window with the rest of his gang waiting for him to speak. Lance slowly turned to them, "Shadow hasn't come back yet, hasn't he?"

Zena shook her head sadly, "Do you think he...figured it out?"

Lance shrugged, "I don't really know."

"But what if he did fight the chip? What will we do? He's gonna try to kill you", Maxcell said.

Lance clenched his fists, "If it does come to that, then I'll be ready for him."

That next day, Shadow and Espio stared at the Street Punk's building roof while they were standing on the sidewalk.

"There it is. I will make Lance suffer", Shadow said as he clenched his fists.

"That's the spirit, Shadow. Let's go."

When Shadow and Espio got to the rooftop, they saw the Street Punks waiting for them.

Lance smiled, but with an evil one while he was staring at Shadow, "Shadow, where were you last night? You had us worried."

Shadow crossed his arms, "Shut the hell up you god damn lying bastard!" He shouted in anger.

"What's wrong, Shadow?"

"I said shut up! You lied to me. The way my father abandoned me, the suicide he committed, my father killing my mother. All lies! You're gonna pay dearly for toying with me that way."

Lance started to laugh, "So you do remember? That chip lasted a while hasn't it?" He looked over to the purple chameleon behind Shadow. "And now your making friends with a middle classer? What's next? Maybe I should get rid of him for you."

"Don't touch him! This is between you and me!"

Lance took out a handgun from his pocket and aimed it at Shadow, "It was nice knowing you, Shadow. Now let's dance."