The Bet3

Three forty two am,a beastly hour to have to awaken at.Shadow rubbed his head soothingly,he had a killer head ache.Groaning slightly he picked up the asprins and water,taking it all down at once.He was still exhausted,but he knew even he wouldn't be able to fall asleep.Putting his now dry gloves and hover boots,he walked out into the quiet morning.Not bothering to change out of the pajama pants he set out for a walk.Even the moon would not grace him with her presence.Shadow's ears shifted,catching every possible sound for...anything unusual.Dark alleyways whispered little threats and laughed at him as he passed.Had yesterday's happenings driven him mad in the head?Walking a bit quicker he glanced all around him,daring the voices in his head to tell him something else.

'What am I going to do?How am I to live now that the very people who created me are...are gone?'Shadow sighed and stopped in his tracks.He took a staggering breath before trudging on.Shadow heard more laughter,but this time it was real.

"Come on now baby,whats gonna happen?"a drunken slur from around the corner laughed.

"Let me go you slime bags!I swear I'll kill you!" the female voice sounded all too familiar.Turning the corner Shadow saw Rouge,in some sort of red and black armor,trying to pry her hand loose from a thug who wanted nothing more than to be a pig and pain in the ass.

"Hear that boys?She'll kill me!HA!An agent shouldn't be out this late".

"And a guy shouldn't be this stupid"Rouge hissed and brought her boot up,coming into contact with his chin,making it bleed.The thug who was some sort of lizard smiled widely,his scales shining from the lamp post.The large bones covered with scales rose up from the back of his neck like a dinosaur.He growled fiercely before stretching his claws,preparing to hit her.A large bolt of power hit him square in the chest.He looked up to find Shadow,blood red eyes ablaze with fury.

"Hey man,mind your own business,we're not bugging you"said one of the lizard boy's minions.

"Correction you are,unhand my friend now.Or you will suffer a pain worse than death,I've had a very bad day"he rolled his head to the side,letting the crack echo down the alley,his eyes didn't move off of them.

"And why should we be afraid of you?"

"Because it would be a wise choice"he growled.The thug's minions got to they're feet,cracking their knuckles dangerously.The sickening crunch of bones echoed eerily.The lizard boy smiled as they moved towards Shadow,big mistake there.He had still had alot of anger left from earlier.

Lizard boy's buddies went flying in all directions,soaring high into walls.Once all had been unconscious Shadow looked back at him.

"My friend if you please"he held out his hand expentently as thought he was going to hand over Rouge into the palm of his hand.Lizard boy looked at his hand for a mear second before laughing evilly.Rouge ungloved one of her hands and raked her nails along the boy's jaw.He hissed at her and did some type of lizard call which caused bigger thugs to come from their hiding spot.

"Oh great,spawn of thugs"Shadow grumbled.He quickly ran up to him,grabbed Rouge and ran with much intentsity.After he was gone the Lizard boy took out a walky talky and pressed the button,speaking into it.

"Affrimative,the black hedgehog is the ultimate life form.Take him down?"

"No no,we'll get him sooner than he thinks.Agent Rouge ok?"

"Played her part a little to well"he answered rubbing his bottom jaw.

"Yes well,she is one of the best.Do not screw this up!"

"Yes Mr.President"he turned off the radio before speaking to his friends,"I wonder why they want him so bad.He doesn't seem like a bad guy,I don't like these jobs the president gives us".

"Yeah,but what choice to we have Danny?You know how that man works"said a buddy of his,refering to the lizard boy.

"Yes I know,get some dirt up on these people and force them to work for you otherwise,cause a great down fall and all hope for their family would be lost.But what really isn't fair,is that the president doesn't respect his part about leaving the people we care about alone"Danny sighed.

"He's still messing with your family?"

"Yes only worse now,if I don't do this job right he'll kill off my nephew.And I'm not going to let anything happen to Espio"Danny promised.His sister was gone and his brother-in-law had ran away,it was his job to take care of Espio,no one elses.Its just to bad Rouge hadn't known the way the president worked,otherwise her own family would still be alive.Well,you heard the bastard,don't mess this up"Danny walked away into the shadows,disappearing from everyday life.

"Are you alright Rouge?"Shadow asked as he put her down on a park bench.She nodded,a frown placed on her face.

"Something the matter?"he asked tilting his head to the side.Rouge bit her lower lip,she felt horrible.Maybe if she told him ahead of time,he could run,and she would die but then again she didn't have much to live for anymore.Except...she wanted him to live,unsure why above all other things.Perhaps she didn't want him to suffer like everyone else.But according to the mad man they had dragged in and prepared to exicute,Shadow's family was already dead.She cursed herself inwardly,then sighed.

"Shadow?Do...w...would you hate me,if something bad happened because of me?"she was staring into his dark red pools that reminded so much of her old house and walking in finding everyone dead.Blood on the floor,just...everywhere.Shadow looked at her.

"Do you plan on betraying me?" he asked darkly.No,she didn't plan to,she was forced to.She looked around,making sure no one was listening,not even a hobo which could just be an agent in disguise.

"Shadow,...I...I work for the government against my will.And...and our President...owns G.U.N. He forces people to work for him by threat and then never holds up his end of the bargin.Thats...thats why..."but he cut her off before she could finish.

"Thats why you became my friend in the first place"he finished coldly.

"NO!Thats why I went to your school,I didn't know who you were until you told me your full name"she was standing now,eye to eye,but if she didn't have her boots on he would have been slightly taller.

"Did you know they were going to do that to Maria and Doctor Gerald?Is that why you wanted me out of my own house?!"

"I didn't know they'd do that until it had already happend.True I did try to keep you out of your house,only so they wouldn't catch you!Shadow please...believe me".

"Why should I believe someone who was putting me on?! I bet you only gave me your number so that you could track me down!"

"No,it was because I like you!"she clamped a hand over her mouth before turning away from him.A surprised look came across him.She...liked him?But,but...but...

"But you knew my name before you gave me your number"he whispered,feeling like an angry fool,exactly what he was.But at least he was cute right?His shoulders sagged and he brushed his quilles out of his face.Before he could say anything she spoke up.

"Run away Shadow,run far away from here.Don't go to Sonic's,they'll drag him into to and even though he's a hero,they'll kill him"she got up and turned to walk away but stopped to listen to him.

"Where am I supposed to go?Everywhere is to expected,how the hell am I supposed to hide when I feel I'm a wanted criminal?"he huffed,crossing his arms.She turned back to face him.

"Well...no nevermind".

"What?"

"Well,there is a way where you can maintain normal life.But...you'd have to stay with me"she looked back at him,"I have five fake addresses incase I did something to upset the president,like now.But I can assure you,you'll be safe if you don't mind living with someone that betrayed you".

"Technically,you didn't...yet.You warned me,and I guess I could trust that side of you,plus there is really no reason for me to stick to my instincts, G.U.N is top priority,they could find me in no time"he sighed and walked next to her.

"But exactly how are you going to explain where I went?"

"Due to certian negotations,Project Ultimate lifeform took cover and is hiding preparing to defend himself if possible.I propose we give him the time to calm down and come out of hiding within a few weeks or so,how does that sound?"she looked up at him.An arched eyebrow and astounding smile.

"You've been working on that all night haven't you?One more question,how did you know I was going to be taking a walk at this time?"

"Because I've been in your place before and its exactly what I did.Umm...do you have anything you need to get from Sonic's house,or your own?" Now that he thought about it,he did.He had left alot of his valuable positions back in his room,and he wouldn't mind taking a few pictures of Maria and Gerald.Plus,he should take a few of the plans Doctor Gerald had of any great inventions.

"Yeah,and leaving Sonic a note saying I didn't go commit suicide and I'll see him Monday would be a wise idea".She nodded and walked next to him quietly,nothing to say,nothing to make anybody feel any better.Once reaching Robotnik residence they walked in,once more glass crunching under their weight.Rouge followed Shadow around the house,bringing back pained memories of her own.She saw him stop at a certian spot in the room,a pool of dried blood occupying the spot.She guessed before he said anything,Maria.She placed a hand on his shoulder,catching him by surprise,so the sudden shocked caused his quills to stand defensively,puncturing her hand.She drew her hand back painfully,holding it tightly.

"Ow!"she whispered,trying to shake the pain off even though it never worked.He turned around,he had been distracted but now noticed.

"Are you alright?"he glanced at her,she looked at him and nodded.She couldn't even manage a weak smile,her hand was bleeding continueously now,damn hedgehogs had good defensive systems.She didn't know what to expect when she walked in his room,but surely not this either.

It was anything but a normal room.The bed was some sort of a pod that filled with sleeping mist,letting you have pleasant dreams.A capsal filled with electrical wires,a chart reading the statis if something was in there,making sure it was still alive.But nothing was in there,millions of books ligned up on shelves about everything.Then a few normal things,a dresser filled with clothes,closet,labtop,little knick knacks.Shadow picked up a bag that was actually quite large and could hold basically all his normal things.After taking his clothes,labtop and a few knick knacks he made his way to Maria's room.Rouge followed Shadow and noticed he took a few pictures of the three of them.

"Have everything you need?"she asked after awhile.He nodded and glanced back at her,her hand was still bleeding.

"Your hand still hasn't stopped bleeding?"he sounded a bit worried.He picked up her hand and examined it.

"I'm...I'm fine"she yanked her hand back away from his grip.

"That isn't fine,I don't think your hand should be bleeding this much"he picked up her hand again and tried to examine exactly where his quill had entered.She was still trying to pry him loose,but had very little luck.

"Sh...Shadow let me go...please"she pleaded,as though she were about to cry,why she wasn't sure.But he wouldn't let go.

"Would you just trust me?!"he growled.Just because she wasn't trustworthy lately,didn't mean he wasn't.

"I...I do ...trust you.But,your grip...its hurting me".He loosened it and his expression softened.His eyes kept hers.

"Then don't try to run away"he whispered.She nodded as he looked closer,just as he thought.From the angle she put her hand on his quill,it had hit a vein in her wrist.This was why it was bleeding so much.Letting her go he walked into the bathroom and pulled out medical bands and tape.He tied it tightly around her wrist and taped it so it wouldn't come loose.

"It should be fine by tomorrow"he smiled.Taking her hand back she and him walked back down to Sonics place,note at the ready.It was short and to the point with no dwelling. Sonic,can't stay here,you understand.G.U.N will probably come looking for me and I don't want my friends getting hurt.Found somewhere else to stay where no one will find me.See you in school MondayShadow

A/N:How was it?