Act I: AWARE

Chapter XVI: Shell of Light

Outside Mogul's Residency: Wednesday, 10:15 AM

Sonic stood with the police force – his hands in his pockets and his eyes trained on the ground.

The news stood in front of him – cameras and microphones out, as Knuckles stood in the front.

He hated press conferences.

"Last night, we found the mayor – Mammoth Mogul – dead in his own home. This was confirmed to be another victim of the serial killer who has been claiming victims across the city for the last week," Knuckles began, flipping through his notes on the stand.

Cameras flashed, causing Sonic to squint his eyes shut as Amy squeezed his hand tight.

Sonic only thought about the son's face – how empty, upset, and confused he looked.

He remembered exactly what it was like.

Being a kid, even though Sonic was older at the time, just reeling from the fact that two police officers just told you your parents were killed.

He couldn't stop thinking about it.

"We are consoling the family and arranging for a funeral to be held soon at the Cathedral. We are unclear at the time of this man's mission and vendetta against this city – but we vow not to rest until this killer is caught and pays for his crimes."

Knuckles looked up, closing the book.

"That is all for now."

A flurry of questions was launched towards them, as the police force were heading to their vehicles, escorting away from the scene.

Sonic and Tails – with Scourge, hopped into their car, watching as Silver and Blaze darted off into the sky overhead them.

Sonic wordlessly turned the key in the ignition, peeling off.

No words were spoken for the entire ride.

C.C.P.D. Main Precinct, Wednesday 11:30 AM

Sonic had his face buried in his hands – Cosmo sitting across from him, as Tails gazed at the board they had devised – attempting to connect all of the dots from Tikal's murder, all the way to now.

"So, Petunia just – went missing? How did you find out?" Sonic asked.

Cosmo shifted, one leg crossed over the other as she sighed.

"She had called me, and she was panicking. She said someone was after her. She had gotten too…involved in something. She-"

Cosmo stopped, readjusting.

"She was having an affair with Mogul."

Tails gasped quietly, Sonic turned his gaze to the wall.

"And Mogul was also involved in the mob. But it seems like he was involved when Shadow's adoptive dad was in charge…"

"And Maria," Tails added.

Maria. Maria. Maria.

Shadow was so torn up about their deaths. They still were never able to quite figure out who did it – but something stunk horribly.

"After that phone call, she had hung up abruptly. That was the last time I heard from her. I snuck into her apartment, and the entire thing was ransacked. She was gone. I grabbed one of her wigs, just to have something to remember her by. It helped a lot for the club raid," Cosmo said.

"That's so odd though…wouldn't they be wondering why Petunia was there if she was dealt with?" Sonic asked.

"Maybe she wasn't of major importance to them. Maybe just another loose end? Something that wouldn't require a whole bunch of questions," Tails remarked, now sat on a stool.

Sonic nodded lightly, his chin resting on his hands.

"Gerald and Maria's death…now Petunia. I don't understand any of this. It's almost like we NEED this guy to keep killing so we can keep putting pieces together," Sonic said.

It felt like such a disgusting thing to say – but they didn't have much to work with.

Sonic grabbed the file on the Restoration Plan, flipping through it again.

"My dad wanted change. He had this entire economic plan to change this city's course – and two weeks later he was killed," Sonic began.

He continued flipping through the file.

"Then – this file was in the factory. Why would it be there, of all places?" Sonic asked again.

Then he remembered.

"Restoration is a lie."

Tails looked at him puzzled, cocking an eyebrow. "Was he talking about the Restoration plan?"

"He had to be," Sonic said, flipping through the file.

"Was – this a front? The file was in the factory – and it seems like the killer is using it as a part of this grand revelation he's trying to make," the hedgehog added.

Tails stood up, arms crossed. "Sonic – he was your dad though. Surely, he wouldn't have been involved in-"

"I don't know Tails," Sonic cut him off, eyes hard. "I don't know he – he could have been!"

Tails sat down silently, a sigh escaping his lips as he looked off into the distance. Cosmo shifted again in her seat, crossing her arms.

"I question it all now," Sonic muttered, resting his head on the desk.

"That factory…it was in Maria's name," Tails added.

"Shadow may have been memorializing it." Sonic said.

Cosmo sighed, pulling out her phone as her eyes widened.

"I just – got a weird text…"

Tails cocked his head to the side. "Hm? From who?"

Cosmo raised her head, the terror in her eyes beaming.

"Petunia. But – it's not her."

Mafia: Unknown Location, Wednesday 12:15 PM

Shadow had watched the press conference.

The next victim in this person's stream of killings. He twirled the rose around in his hand.

He saw the pictures too – the image of Gerald and Maria sending him into a whirlwind of emotions.

He remembered that night too.

He was 20. He was starting to join the police force, and he had to keep his tie to the mob an absolute secret.

Not that it mattered – he soon would find out many of his co-workers on the force were tied to it as well.

That wasn't the same for Sonic though.

He always wondered why he was different. His dad and mom weren't different. He remembered seeing Jules and Aleena around when he was a teenager, when Sonic was younger.

When that hit was ordered on Gerald, and then Maria, Shadow wasn't just going to sit around.

He took the Mafia over – and he gave everyone hell.

He became the most powerful criminal overnight, and no one saw it coming.

Rouge walked through the door – hands on her hips as she clicked her tounge.

"How ya feelin'?"

Shadow looked up, face remaining expressionless.

"I am fine."

Rouge sighed, sitting down in an arm chair as she reclined back, whistling lowly to herself.

Shadow allowed her to whistle, staring at the desk before returning his gaze to her.

"Do you remember them?"

Rouge looked at him, confusion across her face slipping as she realized what he was asking.

"'Course I do. You know I loved Gerald, and her."

Shadow sighed, walking towards the dresser on the back wall, pulling out a picture.

He made his way back to Rouge, sitting on the chair next to the desk.

The picture was him, Maria and Gerald when they were younger.

Maria was his biological daughter – everyone called her the Mafia princess. But he knew – she didn't agree with what her dad did.

Shadow didn't either – but that all changed when they were killed.

Shadow wanted revenge – but yet, to this day? He still doesn't know who ordered the hit.

He's been searching forever – to find the one culpable.

To no avail.

It drove him insane – sleepless nights of imagining what he would to the person who ordered their death when he found them. It kept his bloodlust rising, and rising…

He was in it for vengeance – not for fun, or for money.

Rouge sighed, crossing a leg over the other.

"I know you didn't ever find who did it – I'm sorry. I wish I knew…"

Shadow shrugged, clutching the picture tight before discarding it on the desk.

"It's alright, Rouge. You've done more than I could have asked for."

Rouge nodded, her eye flickering towards the rose.

"Why do you always twiddle with that rose?"

Shadow stared at the fake flower for a moment – picking it up and gazing at it.

"Roses were Maria's favorite flower."

Rouge grimaced slightly, her resolve slipping away.

She knew how fragile he was – how fractured he had become.

How quickly it turned him into a rageful man.

"It seems the killer knows this too. It was a peace offering, perhaps…" Shadow remarked, still staring at the flower.

Speak of the devil, a call came ringing on the computer. Shadow cocked his head, walking to his seat – Rouge following.

Shadow tapped some keys – as a chat bank appeared.

A red cursor blinked on-and-off, before words began typing across the screen, all in red text.

"Did you see what I did last night?"

Shadow scowled – Rouge clicked her tongue behind him.

"Well Shads? You gonna leave him hangin'?"

Shadow sighed, typing a response.

"I did."

He waited for a moment. Words came across the screen.

"He is not the end of this. The next victim will come shortly. Would you like a hint?"

Shadow felt his stomach turn slightly.

Did he want to know?

Rouge appeared quite excited, only deepening Shadow's worry.

"Boy – I know I wanna know!" Rouge exclaimed, Shadow sighing.

"Alright, alright."

He began typing.

"If you insist."

A moment passed – then the reply came.

"Orphaned like you. He wishes for justice. We both know he cannot achieve justice. For him, it is futile."

"Orphaned…like me?" Shadow whispered, his eyes squinting.

The next message came before he could respond.

"Restoration…is a lie. You know that, right?"

"Restoration? Like…the Restoration plan?" Rouge asked, biting her nail through her glove.

"That's the plan that the mobs and politicians started using the money for after Sonic's paren-"

Shadow stopped, eyes widening a bit.

He began typing.

"Is this the Restoration plan?"

A moment passed.

"You are getting hotter."

He typed quickly.

"Jules and Aleena are dead."

"Yes. They are. But one of them lives."

"Jules and Aleena? One of them are alive?"

"No. Their legacy. It lives."

"Huh. Their legacy lives. So, I'm guessing that…" Rouge's voice trailed off, her eyes widening with realization.

Shadow's eyes were peeled back wide as well. He felt his hands start to shake,

Gaia, please be wrong about this.

"Which one is the next victim?"

A moment passed.

"The one who wishes for your downfall. For mine."

"Sonia?"

"You are very, very close."

Shadow stopped; his breath hitched in his throat as his fingers shook.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

"Is it Sonic?"

A moment that felt like three years passed before the response returned.

"We will be in touch soon."

And with that – the program closed on its own.

Shadow sat there, his eyes wide and mouth hung open.

Rouge had her mouth covered by her gloved hand, feeling her heart rate quicken.

Sonic was next.

C.C.P.D. Main Precinct, Wednesday 11:40 AM

"Want to know the truth behind your friend's disappearance?" Sonic read the text aloud – his eyes grimacing.

Who was this?

Cosmo felt her breath quickening, her heart beating faster every moment.

Tails noticed this, grabbing her shoulders gently.

"Cosmo – why don't we get you some water? Maybe just a moment to relax?"

Cosmo shook her head rapidly, swallowing a lump in her throat.

"No – I have – I have to know."

Sonic nodded, watching as Cosmo typed the response.

"Yes. Tell me everything."

Before a response was made – Amy rushed into the room.

"Guys – you need to come see this. The killer is on the news."

Sonic and Tails exchanged a look, before rushing out of the door.

Amy led them into the conference room – where the television was turned onto the news station.

Knuckles stood cross armed, alongside Antoine, Bunnie, Sally, Silver and Blaze.

Big was speaking, addressing what was about to play.

"The killer has posted a new video to his page last night – where he has quickly amassed almost 2,000 followers – inspiring an uprising in the city. His last video – was directed at the late Jules and Aleena the Hedgehog."

It felt like the entire room stopped for a moment. Sally looked at Sonic worriedly, as Silver immediately grabbed his hand.

"It's okay. You're okay…", was all Silver said, squeezing his hand.

Sonic nodded rapidly, feeling like the breath was leaving his lungs.

The video began – focusing on a collage of images, files, and old photographs that appeared on the screen – though the killer had written scribbled messages on top of them.

The montage began with an old, televised speech of Sonic's father Jules – giving his speech about "restoring" the city back to its former glory. All a part of his mayoral campaign.

As the speech ended, the deep, masked voice started.

"Jules and Aleena. Two of Central City's founding members, alongside the Echidna families that aided them…"

Knuckles swallowed a lump in his throat.

"But – what is their…legacy?"

"One reporter set out to find the dark truths about the family's legacy. Jules attempted to coax this man into an agreement, with money, of course. He found out shooooocking secrets…"

"One was pointing to Aleena's frequent stays in the mental hospital – and how the Echidna's used the power and money to cover it up…as well as covering up the fact that Aleena's sister has attempted to kill their mother…while succeeding on killing her father."

Sonic felt sick to his stomach, caving over to hold onto the table in front of him.

"Sonic? Are you okay?" Tails whispered.

Sonic nodded – the breath caught in his throat.

"Jules attempted to coax this man into a hush-money agreement to save his mayoral campaign. BUT WHEN HE REFUSED? JULES TURNED TO HIS LONGTIME ASSOCIATES – GERALD THE HEDGEHOG, IVO ROBOTNIK, NAZO THE HEDGEHOG AND DOCTOR FINITEVUS – WHERE THEY CONSPIRED AND HAD HIM MURDERED!"

Sonic's eyes were peeled wide. He couldn't feel his arms, his legs, his own body went completely numb.

His breathing picked up – his grip tightening on the chair to keep him from caving over onto the floor.

He couldn't believe this. He couldn't believe any of this. He was dumbfounded – he was miserable.

His entire family had built this corruption. He was this corruption.

"CENTRAL CITY'S LEGACY OF LIEEEEEES AAAAAAND MURDERRRR. RESTORATION IS A LIE. AND NOW? YOUR CITY'S POLITICIANS HAVE USED THE RESTORATION PLAN TO FUND THEIR EMPIRES WITH THE MOB, TO CONTROL AND OPPRESS YOU, AND IT ALLLLL STARTED WITH FINITEVUS'S END – FOR WHEN THEIR INFORMANT RATTED HIM OUT – THE RESTORATION FUNDS WERE PUT BACK INTO THE MOB'S BACK POCKET, TO CONTROL YOUR CITY'S LEADERS, AND THUS? CONTROL YOU."

The scene changed to the backdrop of the upside down cross, as a hooded figure stepped into view – though half of his body was cut off on the side of the screen.

"Manic, Sonia…and Sonic. I hooope you are watching. This is your legacy. Central City needs you to answer for the sins of your father…and your mother. Goodbye."

The video ended, as it returned to Breezie and Big.

It was silent in the conference room – and it confirmed one thing.

The Restoration Plan's money was taken by the mob once his parents were killed – and it all started with busting Finitevus.

Whoever the rat was led them to Finitevus, and now politicians, police, and other powerful figures were using the plan for kickbacks – pouring money right into their pockets.

The mafia used his father's plan to gain control of the city. Robotnik, Nazo, Shadow…

His father started all of this – even if he didn't intend to, and that made Sonic sick to his stomach.

Sonic didn't say anything. He rushed out of the room, ignoring any cries for him.

He darted down the stairs, as he ignored the eyes that were on him – before pummeling through the doors and onto the grand staircase.

Sonic didn't know where he was going – Sonic didn't know what he was doing.

He just ran.

And didn't stop running.