Chapter 48; the survival(?) instinct
Sonic was transported immediately to the nearest hospital. Soon, while Amy and his daughters waited for the doctor to remove the bullet and put his hand in plaster cast, the rest of the singed ones arrived. Knuckles came up last.
"How is he?" he asked Amy.
"He is ok. If the bullet doesn't cause any infection he will just use the lunar dragon's powers to heal his arm in no time. But I didn't call you here just for that guys. Miles and Marianna were abducted!"
"What?!" Jet screamed angry "where is my baby girl?!"
"Sonic is the one who knows. But the point is we need to locate them as soon as possible. Sonic said they talked about selling them somewhere."
At that moment the doctor came out.
"How is he doctor?" Amy asked him
"Relax ma'am your husband is ok. There has been no infection in about a month he will be good as new. "
Sonic came out with his left arm at a plaster cast. When the doctor left, Jet immediately started the questions.
"Sonic where is Marianna?! What did they do to her?"
"The guys whom Miles attacked once in his anger kidnapped them with his gang. They will try to sell Miles and his deck somewhere. They also said that if they can't sell Marianna they will play her at dice!"
"Those creeps! Playing my girl like if she is some kind of item! When I get my hands on them!"
"Relax Jet. We need first of all to get to this guy's family's house. We'll search the whole house with or without the will of his parents!" Sonic said. While moving outside of the hospital his mark shined as his hand was healed from the wound the bullet caused. Then Amy helped him remove the plaster cast. They rode their duel runners and, after Knuckles called Rouge to inform her of the situation and tell her to go to the police station with Shadow and Storm to file the kidnapped person report, they all headed for Kristian's house.
At the same time Miles, who was at the brink of fainting, was forced to watching Kristian play with Marianna in a disrespectful way, with his anger going up further by the second. Soon enough they made it to a warehouse. Kristian's henchmen carried Miles and Marianna inside and tied them up before throwing them in a dark room. Marianna crawled close to Miles.
"Miles are you ok?"
He looked up with all the strength he had.
"I'll be fine. Are you ok though?"
"For god's sake don't worry about me. We need to get out of here. And get you to a doctor."
"But how? We're trapped here and.."
But suddenly the heard Kristian talking to the phone from somewhere close.
"Yes sir. I'm very sure. It is the duel king's son. That's why I can't sell him to you for less than my beginning offer. Proof? Of course. His signature invoked mekk-knight deck." For 10 seconds there was silence. "Oh you're coming right now? Very well sir. Are you sure you won't take the girl too? Very well. I'll be expecting you."
Miles and Marianna looked at each other worried.
"Dad." Miles thought "Please come quickly."
At the same time Sonic and the rest of the singed ones knocked the door of Kristian's home. His mother opened the door.
"Can I help…" she started saying but Jet and Amy charged in before she could answer and headed directily for Kristian's room.
"What is this unreasonable intrusion?! I demand you leave right away!"
"We are not going anywhere till we get what we need ma'am." Sonic said preventing her from picking up the phone to call the cops.
"Wait, I know you. You are the duel king. How dare you show up here and invade in my house with your friends after your son gave my baby boy a black eye?!"
"Your baby boy kidnapped my son and Jet's daughter! We're not leaving until we learn we find a clue about him. And you better help us out here because if you don't and my son is hurt I will use all the power I have on the world to crush you like bugs! So start talking."
"I.. I can't believe you're accusing my boy of such a thing! It's your son you should go after!"
"Ma'am don't make me go any further." Sonic said pointing at the gun he had on his belt in a way so Kristian's mother could see it.
"A.. All I know is that he was supposed to meet with his friends tonight at their hideout."
"Where is this?"
"I don't know."
"I know" an unknown male voice was heard.
Sonic and the others turned to where Amy and Jet disappeared moments earlier and saw them coming back with a man, presumably Kristian's father.
"I don't know why my son decided to act this way – yes dear mr the hedgehog is telling the truth. I found ms the hedgehog and mr the hawk searching through our son's facebook messages and I tried to stop them but they showed me a message saying about kidnapping Miles the hedgehog. They must be in that warehouse they use as hideout. I'll take you there myself."
Sonic followed Kristian's father outside where he started driving in front of the team's duel runners in his car.
However they were already too late. The moment they started heading for that place, the guy Kristian was talking to on the phone had already arrived with a truck. He paid Kristian 200.000 euros for the deck and Miles himself. they opened the door to the room where Miles and Marianna were in and the new guy's henchmen carried Miles who started moving violently as he realized that indeed they were only taking him and Marianna was now at the mercy of Kristian and his gang.
"Miles don't worry about me I'll be fine. You make sure you survive!" her voice echoed in his head.
10 minutes later he was on the way to a bigger warehouse somewhere west. Sonic and the gang made it outside of the warehouse. Sonic and Jet moved at the front of the door while the others went around to cover the other entrances and exits. Sonic put his ear on the door and heard the youngster's team making jokes and discussing about…. The girl! Sonic realized they were talking about Marianna. He also managed to listen the phrase 'Let's just share her. I'll go first.' When Jet was told about this he pushed Sonic to the side and kicked the door opened.
"WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER YOU ANIMALS?!" Sonic heard him scream from the inside. He followed him inside and saw Jet capturing one of the youngsters while the others headed for the back and east exits only to be captured by Tails and Knuckles who had the back door already covered, and Amy with Wave who went to the east exit. Jet started punching the one he had on his hands and literally made him spit blood until he revealed that Kristian was at the basement with Marianna. Sonic and Jet immediately rushed for the basement while Tails and Knuckles started interrogating the remaining captives. They went down the stairs and heard Marianna's screams.
"Hold on sugarplum! Daddy's on the way! Jet screamed.
They made it to the half-opened door and witnessed once they opened it Marianna half naked being used by Kristian as a human shield while he was pointing her head with a gun.
"Let her go now!" Sonic said.
"No!"
"It's no use kid. The police are on their way. If you kill her you're going in for all your life. Let her go now and you won't be handed to the police!"
"Don't lie to me king! You will give me to the torturer when you learn what I did with your son!"
It was only then that Sonic noticed Miles wasn't there.
"Where's Miles?!"
"Sold! In a matter of minutes he will be flying for… I don't know where! But you'll never see him again!"
Sonic lost his patience. He took out his gun and pointed it at Kristian.
"You wouldn't wanna shoot your friend's daughter would you?" he said proceeding to lick her cheek. But it was a fatal mistake. Marianna took the chance to use her leg and kick him in the knee. The sound of the bone breaking was disgusting. Kristian screamed out of agony momentarily letting go of Marianna. She moved out of the way and Sonic took the chance and fired a shot at Kristian's hand wounding him badly. Marianna run to her father who hugged her hard while Sonic approached the fallen Kristian.
"Daddy! They took Miles we have to hurry!"
"I know sweetie. Let's go up. Maybe these guys know something."
"Wait!" Sonic said
He looked down in anger at the pathetic teenager who grabbed his wounded arm with his other hand. He put the gun between his eyes and he looked at Sonic with pure hatred
"That was just a flesh wound but if you don't tell me where my son is the next one will teat your brain apart! And trust me it is not a quick death! It is a very slow and painful death! Now!" he said pushing the gun on Kristian's forehead "Where's Miles?!"
"Shoot me! I'm not telling you!"
Sonic pulled the trigger! But only a click was heard. The gun wasn't loaded. Kristian literally cried out of terror realizing Sonic wouldn't hesitate to shoot him.
"Damn I'm out of bullets. Jet give me your gun."
"Here." Jet handed it to him.
"Thanks" Sonic said while taking it and pointing it to Kristian's head.
"Ok this time I'm loaded so tell or I'm sending your brain right to the floor!"
"A. at… at the old airport. He will be taking off soon."
"Very well." he put the gun away. "A medical team will be here soon." Then he started running towards his runner and told Amy to sit behind him as they accelerated towards the old airport.
Meanwhile Miles had fainted on the way to the old airport. When he woke up he was in a room tied and dizzy. He quickly snapped out of the dizziness and heard voices and cries. He looked around him trying to find something to cut his bonds. He saw next to him a piece of broken glass. He started crawling towards it. After about 5 minutes he was right next to it. However he heard footsteps coming towards the room he was in. he rolled on top of the piece of glass which sank in his flesh causing him great pain. However he kept on top of it as 2 guys dressed in black uniforms and a guy with expensive clothes got in.
"Ah I see you are awake mister the hedgehog. I'm terribly sorry for your mistreatment. But it is a necessary way to keep this business going."
"What kind of business is buying and selling people?!"
"My dear child. You have grown under the care of your 'king' father and never got to know the most important thing of all. The world is nothing but a big jungle. And only the strongest survive. I'm the strong and your father's the weak. So if he wants you back he will have to negotiate with me, the strong as I said. I believe 50 times the price I bought you will be good enough."
"My father doesn't have 1.000.000 euros!"
"That unfortunately is not my problem. Load the airplane with the others." he said to his two 'gorillas' "we're leaving soon."
They left and closed the door behind him. Miles then removed the glass from his flesh and started cutting the ropes that tied him. Soon his hands were free. And after them his legs were freed. He took the piece of glass with him to use as a weapon. He then got out of the room and started walking through the corridor. When he made it to the center of the warehouse and saw tons of children being loaded on a medium sized airplane. He realized from their expression they were drugged. His mind started killing them with his imagination in the most gruesome ways he could think while he was thinking of a way to save them when he heard the boss sending one of his gorillas to bring him to the plane. Miles ran back at the room but he when he got in he felt someone grabbing him.
"What the..?! he said shocked as he was immobilized with a headlock. He felt the air leaving his lungs. Voices started echoing in his head from the dizziness. Mostly Marianna's and the boss' phrases.
"Make sure you survive!"
"The world is nothing but a big jungle."
"Yes" Miles thought "it is a cruel world!"
Without realizing he raised the piece of glass and nailed it directily on his opponent's head. He screamed out of agony as Miles took the chance and pushed him to the ground. If he kept screaming more would come. He took out the glass from his head and nailed it into his mouth cutting his tongue. The man was left unable to scream and was now at Miles' mercy. Miles thought about just tying him up and escaping. But he felt something else. It was HATRED. But not for his father this time. But for those animals in the same warehouse that he was in. Miles' face turned to a mask of rage as he jumped on his opponent and lost all sense for a moment. He started moving the peace of glass up and down with incredible speed as he whispered, again and again
"DIE! DIE! DIE!"
One moment later he saw what he had done and let go of the glass. He moved away from the corpse while looking at the blood in his hands. But then he heard a voice from inside of him.
"He deserved it." It was like a whisper.
"He deserved it Miles. And those other guys deserve it too. It's up to you to make them pay. Or you can walk away and let them sell those poor kids and lots more without any problem. Make your choice now."
Miles jumped without any hesitation. He searched his opponent and found a gun and a knife. He put the knife on his belt and started walking through the corridor back to the main room of the hangar. He saw a man entering the corridor probably to see what took his colleague so long. He saw Miles with his hands red due to the blood and his eyes widened in shock.
"What the….!" He managed to say before Miles raised the gun and fired directily at his head, which exploded into a several pieces which rolled on the ground before his body got to touch the ground. Another man appeared almost instantly. Miles shot him 3 times hitting once the heart, once the right hand and once the head. He took the 2 dead men's guns and bullets and entered the main room. He saw he boss looking at him in disbelief and terror.
"KILL HIM!" He screamed to his henchmen.
They attempted to raise their guns to fire but Miles reacted faster. He fired at the first guy's heart killing him instantly and jumped ahead making a barrel roll. When he got back up he fired immediately shattering the second guy's head into pieces just like before. The boss attempted to run but Miles shot his leg so he fell down. Then he tossed the gun and started walking slowly and with his face disfigured in anger and without realizing it, a maniacal laugh.
"Please" the boss begged him "Please don't kill me. Go. Take all these kids with you. Jus please let me live. Please!" he said crying like a baby.
"I would" Miles said with his anger to its limit "But there is a problem. The world is a big jungle! Only the strongest survives!"
"No… please."
"AAAAAAHH!" Miles screamed as he attacked the boss and started nailing him with the knife over and over painting his hands red from the blood.
"Pl… please…" he tried to beg but Miles grabbed his tongue and cut it off with a swift movement of the knife.
"Shut up! You're an animal you hear me! No! you're a disease! I'll cut you into a million pieces!"
The boss started letting out loud cries of pain and agony which couldn't be understood. He looked into Miles' eyes with his own eyes flipping from the pain and agony.
"This is what you get you son of a bitch! This is what you get for being what you are! Die! DIE!" Miles screamed as his nailed the knife directily at the boss' heart and the latter stopped moving for good. Miles stood there for several minutes looking at what he had done. But he didn't feel guilt or disgust. He felt.. pleasure!
"Yes!" he thought "you animal needed to be put down! This is what you and all your criminal friends deserve". He whispered in a maniacal way.
Soon after this he got up and started cutting the bonds the other kids were tied with, with the knife. As he was halfway there he saw a duel runner arrive and enter the hangar. The two riders who were on, were proved to be his parents. Miles immediately took his most scared and yet happy face.
"MOM DAD!" He screamed and ran to them. The 3 of them hugged very tightly.
"Are you ok baby?" Amy asked him.
"Yes mom I'm fine. But I… I had to…" they looked around and saw the corpses of Miles' victims. Sonic seemed shocked at the start but then remembered back when he killed Zeena's fake brother and nodded at Miles with comprehension.
"It doesn't matter son. You didn't want to." He hugged his son who awkwardly hugged back.
"I'm so happy you're alive Miles."
"Dad.. I'm sorry for the way I treated you and mom. Please… when this is all over… will you teach me duel monsters?"
Sonic looked at him and smiled.
"For sure son."
At that moment the rest of the singed ones arrived. Marianna entered the hangar first and immediately ran and hid in Miles' hug. Sonic explained to the cops that Miles killed all these people in self defense and after examining their corpses, they were persuaded and they let Miles and his family go.
1 month later Miles' life was way better. His dueling skills had increased a lot through the guidance of his family, the singed ones and his friends. He became more likable and finally made new friends of his own. Sonic and Amy felt that finally things were going the best way for their son. But Miles except happiness felt something else. He couldn't understand what he felt until he went on a date with Marianna and the two of them happened to come across a man who was fighting with a woman in an attempt to steal her wallet. Miles immediately came to the rescue with Marianna and they immobilized the criminal while Marianna helped the woman get to an officer who was nearby. And at that moment Miles felt the same hatred that occupied him at the hangar, occupying him again. He looked at the man who attacked the woman with pure anger.
"You damn criminal animals must die!" he whispered.
"Wha.. what?" the man asked shocked.
Miles put his hands on the neck of the man and put pressure. The man tried to stop him but his grip was too strong. He started suffocating. Miles felt unreasonable pleasure at this sight.
"Please… stop.." the man begged him.
"Die!" Miles whispered back "I'll kill you all! Every last one of you criminal pigs!"
Suddenly he felt a couple of hands dragging him back
"Miles what are you doing?"
It was Marianna who was looking at him in disbelief.
"I'm sorry. He punched me trying to escape. My anger got the best of me again" Miles apologized.
The police took the man into custody. Miles and Marianna reached outside Jet's house.
"So… guess I'll see you later." Miles said.
"Yeah. Bye." She said and then proceeded to kiss him on the cheek while blushing. Then she entered her home. Miles felt weird about the kiss. He always thought of Marianna as his friend. But this thought blew over when he entered home and saw Sonic and Amy watching the news on TV.
"Hi. I'm back. Where's Aurora? I need to borrow one of her cards."
"She is out she'll be back soon" Amy said.
Miles decided to sit with his parents and wait for her. The news on TV were about a guy who was caught selling drugs at his closest friends who in turn did the same to others.
"Dad?" Miles asked him "What do you think should happen to the people who don't respect life? Do you think they should lose it?"
"Killing is wrong Miles. By killing you're falling at the exact same level as any other murderers and criminals."
"Yeah but if you could… wouldn't you decide to kill all the criminals out there?"
"No. I've killed someone myself before Miles. I did it to protect your mother. I hate myself sometimes for it. But I'd rather kill again than losing any part of my family."
"Oh. I see. Ok. So I'm gonna go and experiment on my deck until Aurora returns." Miles said and walked slowly to his room.
He sat on the bed and then let his thoughts flood his mind. Why did his dad value the life of criminals? They didn't value anyone's life so why did they deserve life?!
"They don't" Miles whispered.
That was right. Those people were merely animals who took lives for their own personal gain. Miles felt disgust and hatred for them. But there was nothing he could do about them.
"Is there really nothing you can do?"
It was that whisper from his head. Back when he was in the hangar.
"Yes. I can only watch as they perform their evil acts. Until the police catches them."
"And then what? Put them in jail for 20 or 30 years and then be released back to society? Come on Miles. You see it too. These animals don't deserve seconds chances. They must be put down!"
"Yes! Yes they must!" he whispered while feeling like he finally had a mission "and I'm gonna do it! I will hunt them down and kill them all! Every last one of them!" he said while making that same maniacal face.
He went to his laptop and started looking online for known criminal doings as well as airplane tickets for the locations these people acted.
"I will teach you to respect life… by endng yours!" Miles whispered in pleasure as he kept clicking on his laptop's screen.
