Hope you like it!
Chapter 8: The Pain of Losing You

Iscreamed and stood up. My head spun. I knew killing this creature would take what energy I had left. I knew it would most likely kill me. I tried not to cry as I made the slow, painful walk to the monster. I clenched my fist. Thoughts raced through my brain. Who would guard the Master Emerald when I was gone? Why must I die just as Espio was finally going to forgive me? Must I not have what I want? I remembered my vow to the Shrine and muttered something I'm ashamed of now. Tears flowed freely now. I didn't care. Forget this pride, I'm going to go down and I'm ready. I'll go down crying if I must.

The Beast roared. It no longer scared me. Pure determination was the only reason I could stand. My arm was broken, my head and back were bruised beyond reason and I had bled too much to care. My stomach felt hollow, and my chest was pounding.

Heart ache is a strange thing. I felt no pain now, but I knew if I survived the pain would be unbearable. The pain of losing Sonic, Tails and Ceaira would be enough to overwhelm me. The pain started. I quickly pushed it aside. In the end, I knew it would be the pain that would kill me and not the Beast.

"You're crazy!"

I turned around to see a small, grey robot. "Backdrop?" I had almost forgotten the tiny robot that had brought the Beast to me in the first place.

"You are crazy! Eggman says that the monster had gotten out of hand! Ceaira took over this mission!"

I looked at him. "Tell me one thing, Backdrop, what is she? What is it?"

"That's two things, but the Beast is the Guardian of the Tribe of the Wind . Ceaira is the Keeper of the Beast."

"I don't care what Tribe they are from, I want to know what kind of creature she is!" I yelled.

Backdrop let out a long, monotone sigh. It ended in a scream as the Beast swiped a massive paw, sending the small bot flying. I turned to face the monster. I couldn't wait any longer. It was now or never.

I lunged. The Beast laughed at me. It knew I stood as much as a chance as Backdrop, rest his robot body. "You won't be laughing soon, Beast!" The last time you said that. . . I didn't finished the thought. I knew I didn't stand a chance in my condition, but if I was going to die, I wasn't going alone.

I land square on the monster's back. I winced, seeing the work Charmy had done before his fall. I punched with my good arm, though neither were good. I screamed, causing myself as much pain as I caused the Beast. I heard Ceaira screaming at me. Harsh words that I don't remember. Insults that didn't affect my then and don't affect me now. I didn't care anymore. It's an amazing feeling when you know that death is on it's way. You don't have any cares. You no longer care what the world knows about you, or what you know about the world. All you care about is what will be coming soon.

"Knuckles!"

I didn't look up, but the voice sounded so familiar. I didn't have time to think. The Beast bucked and I was thrown off. "Knuckles!" The same voice. Would it just let me do my work?

I fought with all my might, but it was futile, useless. The Beast had won. That voice kept calling my name. I answered once. It asked me to hang on. It told me that I would get through this. I didn't listen. Ceaira begged me not to kill the Beast. She cried out that it was her only friend. I didn't care.

I finally fell. I knew this was it. I was dead. I felt the Beast's hot breath on my skin. I was fading, but I found strength somewhere. It surprised me, but I didn't question it. With the last ounce of energy I had left, I punched the Beast's throat.

I threw up again. My fist was lodged in it's throat. It made horrible gagging sounds and fought, but I held on. I wouldn't wish this death even on it, but I was killing it like that. The struggles lasted only about two minutes, but it felt like hours.

The Beast just stopped struggling. It just fell. I waited until the last shudder went threw that monster and then it went limp. I heard Ceaira cry and scream at me, but once again I didn't care.

A hand landed on my shoulder. "Can we leave, Vector?" The person asked. I didn't look up. I just fell into the arms of who ever was standing there.

That person held me up and we left. They kept telling me to hold on. All I had to do was listen to that voice.

After a good while of walking, the voice whispered, "Vector, we have to stop. Espio looks horribly pale and I'm practically carrying Knuckles."

"I guess your right." Vector responded. I was aloud to lay down then. Almost instantly, I fell into the deep void that had been calling me.


When I finally forced my eyes opened, I was laying on a couch in the Team Chaotix Detective Agency. My arm had a sling and I was bandaged up pretty badly.

Espio was sitting in a chair beside me. "I didn't think you would ever wake up," he whispered. "We thought you were gone."

"I thought I was too," I groaned. "How long was I out?"

"Two days," he answered. I looked at him. He had a black eye and a bandage on his head and around his rib cage.

"How many did I break?"

"Three. Nothing big," he laughed softly. I knew it must hurt.

"Sorry. Where's Ceaira?"

"It's fine, Knux." He broke off. "Ceaira? Vector handled her. That's all he wanted me to tell you."

"Did you figure out what she was?"

"No. She wouldn't talk after the Beast was killed. Knuckles, I'm so sorry."

I looked at him and sighed. "Espio, I need to rest."

He nodded. "That would be the best thing right now." He stood up.

It hit me then that I didn't know who had carried me back . "Espio. ..?" But he had already gone. I let the thought die away and I slipped back into a deep, healing sleep.