Chapter 18

Westopolis was west of Station Square and south of Soleanna. The city itself seemed to lack a certain appeal unlike its neighboring cities. Everywhere you looked there was boarded up houses and graffiti everywhere. The train made loud screeching sound as it came to a halt. Shadow stuck his head out of the car. The sun was setting. Had they been on this train a full day? He shook his head to get rid of his thoughts and walked over to Maria, who had fallen asleep.

"Hey," he said softly as he nudged the girl.

"Mmm five more minutes," she murmured back at him. Shadow sighed and nudged her a little harder.

"We're in Westopolis. I need you up ."

"Huh," she stammered out as she sat up, eyes fluttering open. She looked around the boxcar that she was in, confused on how she got in there. She then noticed the black hedgehog that was beside her.

"Shadow?!" Maria said in confusion as the memories of last night came rushing back.

"So last night wasn't a bad dream then huh."

"No it wasn't," he said solemnly trying to back on track, "But we need to get out of here before we are spotted or whatever happened with Faker will all be for not."

"Faker?"

"Just go," Shadow snapped, grabbing Maria's hand and jumped off the train.

-XXX-

"I think I should cut it," Maria said as played with her hair. Shadow looked up at her.

"Why?"

"It's going to be a hassle to take care of if we're on the run."

"Fair point," Shadow agreed, "But where are we going to find a place that cuts hair this late?"

"Across the street," Maria said pointing out the building that almost seemed to be too clean in the area that they were in.

-XXX-

The young lady in the salon was tidying up from today's activities. It had been a busy them for them since the area that the salon was in was not in the nicest part of the city. She sighed as she heard the chime of the bell as the door opened. She walked over to the countered to see the young girl with long blonde hair standing there.

"Hi there," the woman said, looking over the girl, "We're about to close here in about five minutes so I don't think I would be able to take you in."

"I kind of figured that," The girl said, rummaging through her pockets pulling out what money she had with her at the time, "But I really need to get this done. Please?"

"Oh alright," the woman sigh, "Put your money away. I'll do it for free. What's your name sweetheart? And what are we going for?"

"Mars Saunders," she said feeling a tad guilty about lying, "And as short as you can."

-XXX-

The girl thanked her many of times before running out with her new pixie cut. The woman had cleaned up again and was locking the salon up for the night.

"And where do you think you're going Ms. Erica?"

Erica looked up to see two bigger men staring down at her, their faces in sick twisted grins. She had never seen them before. How did they know her name? The one grabbed her wrist with one hand and her face with the other.

"Who are you?" she asked. They looked at her and laughed.

"We're gonna be your worst nightmare here in a minute," the one said.

"How about picking on someone your OWN size."

The thugs looked down the street. Erica could see her. The girl that just had her hair cut was standing down at the other end.

"Oh like you," the one said as ran down the street only to be speared down by the Ultimate Lifeform himself. He tried best to scramble back to his feet.

"Dude forget it! Blondie here as a scary ass rat with her!" he shouted. The other dropped Erica and ran as well into the darkness.

"Rat?" Shadow questioned. Maria had ran over to the woman on the ground.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yes. I am," Erica said, looking up at Maria and coming to a realization.

"You're the girl!" she exclaimed, " The one on TV that everyone and their mother is looking for in Station Square."

"Oh...um..." Maria stammered out, starting to walk backwards towards Shadow. He came over and put himself between the two.

"Sweetheart you save my life. I'm not going to report you. The least I can do is offer you a hot meal and a place to sleep." She looked down at the hedgehog. "He can stay too."

Shadow looked back at Maria awaiting for her answer.

"If it's not too much trouble for you," Maria said, her stomach growled.

"Oh it's not a bother at all," Erica laughed, "Your stomach seems to really like the idea. I'm going to take it Mars isn't your really name there so I would like to know your real name there."

"It's Maria," she said with a slight smile.

"That's much prettier," Erica said. She looked down at the Ultimate Lifeform.

"I take it he's not a rat," She said, "Looks more like a hedgehog to me."

"Precisely," Shadow said, "I take it you were not present during the Black Arms attack."

"Well no," Erica answered, "Wait a dang minute, you can talk?!"

"Yes he can talk," Maria giggled. Shadow stared at both of them trying to figure out what was so funny.

"Well does the little guy got a name or am I going to be calling that hedgehog all night?" Erica asked.

"Shadow," he muttered out, still looking at the woman with so much distrust.

"Well Shadow, my name is Erica," she said introducing herself, "and it will my honor to have you and Maria at my place tonight."

-XXX-

Her apartment was welcoming. Maria felt safe and secure there the moment that they had entered. Shadow was still very cautious about the situation. Dinner was some sort of chicken stew.

"Can I have seconds?" Maria asked.

"Oh you go right ahead," Erica told her. Maria went back over to the Crockpot and grab another bowl full of the stew.

"Does he not eat?" she asked looking over at Shadow.

"No he does," Maria said sending a glare at Shadow. He rolled his eyes and went to grab a bowl.

-XXX-

"You know we can't stay."

Maria sighed sitting on the edge of the bed. Erica had shown the two to a small room that really was only big enough for a double bed. She had asked if they were okay with this sleeping arrangement which Maria told her that it was fine.

"If we stay here, we risk endangering her too into our mess."

"I get it Shadow," Maria snapped, not meaning it sound as abrasive as it came out.

"Look," Shadow started as he came over and sat down beside Maria, "I know that this sucks. I get that, but we really shouldn't get others into this mess we're in."

"GUN started it," Maria muttered. Shadow chuckled.

"I know they did. And we are not going to let them end this they way they want to, by shoving one of us back into cryogenics again."

They sat in silence for a while.

"We should go," Shadow said.

"Yeah," Maria agreed.

-XXX-

Erica woke up early and went over to her kitchen. She looked down to see a note on her counter.

Erica,

Thank you so much for giving us food and shelter last night. Sorry we couldn't stay.

-Maria and Shadow

She sighed as she listened to the news talking about the two of them hoping that they would stay safe and out of harm's way.

-XXX-

"When did the Black Arms attack?" Maria asked, watching the world go by from another boxcar on another train. This one seemed to heading south towards Soleanna.

"I think it was a year ago," Shadow told her.

"And the amnesia, when was that?"

"It was just after-wait how do you know about that?"

"Sonic," Maria answered with a smile.

"Of course Faker would tell you," Shadow spat.

"Why do you call him 'Faker'?"

"Because he called me fake first!"

Maria laughed at Shadow's frustration. There was obviously some rivalry between the two of them.

"He calls you Mr. Grumpy Pants," Maria giggled. Shadow chose to ignore that comment. She sigh.

"Do you think they'll be able to fix him?" she asked. A long silence came between them as Shadow tried to come up with an answer.

"I don't know," Shadow finally said, "If they are able to save his leg, it won't be the same. I don't think he'll ever be able to run again, but if they were to amputate..."

"I don't want to think about that," Maria said, her voice shaky at the idea that they would take his leg. She looked up at Shadow.

"He saved me."

"That is in his nature," he told Maria as she let out a yawn.

"Get some rest," Shadow told her. Maria nodded and walked over to the hay that was in the boxcar nestled herself in. Shadow sat right beside her.

"Did you know I can heal myself?"

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah," Maria said looking over at her left wrist, "I broke it when the robot hedgehog attack Amy and I and it's not."

"Robot hedgehog...do you mean Metal Sonic?" Shadow questioned, "Does that mean you've met the Doctor?"

"The real creepy round guy who has the Robotnik last name?"

"Relative."

"No he's not?!" Maria exclaimed, "Well I guess with mustache that would make sense."

"Please, he looks like almost identical to the Professor."

"A bit more crazed. He turns animals into robots!"

The two of them kept talking away, catching up on each other's lives, not know on how their lives have changed and would be changed in the near future.

-To Be Continued

-XXX-

AN: I can't believe it's done. I'd like to thank everyone who has found it and read it over the years. I had thoughts when I started back up that no one would want to read this anymore but I feel like I was proven wrong. So from the bottom of my heart: Thank you

Catch you all in the squeal!

Darko out!