There was an eerie silence in the DWMA's dungeon. It had always been quiet since Shadow first woke up here, but he was interpreting it differently after his spat with Eggman many hours earlier. He wasn't sure what to make of things now. Would Eggman return and argue with him some more? Would he continue holding Shadow's freedom at bay, then start making demands? Shadow didn't know. All he did know was that it was very quiet.

At least until Omega showed up. He barged into Shadow's cell abruptly, making the hedgehog jump up from the bed and prepare for a fight. The robot didn't attack, though.

"G-G-G-G-G-G-Greetings Shadow! How how how how how can I be here?"

Shadow scowled at the malfunctioning robot before him. The machine's exterior was noticeably damaged. Omega's eyes flashed from their usual red to a variety of shades between pink and purple. His arms bent at the elbows and rotated in different directions.

"You have one new mess-mess-message!" Omega spun his torso all the way round once.

A light emerged from Omega. Not the kind of artificial light that would normally be produced by the robot's components, but a magical one. The glow shimmered until it left Omega completely and shifted into the shape of a person.

Standing in the room with Shadow and Omega was a jackal man. He had long, white hair and black fur. His face was that of a man in his prime, but his expression was very cold and weathered. His right eye held a blue iris, with the other being gold. He gazed at Shadow with an unsettling intensity, despite his otherwise rigid expression. An odd feeling of dread filled the black hedgehog, one he couldn't quite understand.

"Hello Shadow,"

"You know my name?"

The jackal man looked around the room without much interest. "You don't remember me?"

"Remember you?" Disbelief rattled Shadow. Was that the strange feeling? Did part of him recognize this man?

"We've met three times before. I thought seeing my face might help jog your memory, but perhaps it's for the best,"

"Who are you? When did we ever meet?"

"My name is Zero. We met briefly in the crypt several days ago, as well as in Empire city. I went by the name Infinite during those encounters. Tikal didn't want to risk having you recognize me,"

Zero waved a hand over his face. His image shimmered until it showed him wearing the familiar, silver mask of the witch Infinite.

Shadow stared at the image in front of him with rising concern. "You only mentioned two times that we met previously. What about the third?"

Zero's real face returned, and he held a hand up to his chin. "Hm. That would have been over fifty years ago,"

Shadow stumbled back a step. He felt his leg touch the edge of his bed. He didn't dare sit down.

"Fifty years?"

"Over fifty," Zero corrected. "Oddly enough we both look almost exactly the same as we did then. This phantom ruby in my chest heals me and keeps me from aging. I wonder what your excuse is?"

Shadow felt lightheaded. His mind was racing wildly for answers, but none were surfacing. He glanced around the room involuntarily before focusing his vision back on Zero.

"That's impossible. I can't be that old,"

"If I can, why can't you? Besides, who knows how long you were lurking around before I found you. You might just be ancient," Zero laughed once. "Or you could be a replica,"

Shadow's brow furrowed as he pondered. "You're saying that I might not be the first Shadow? That someone else could have existed before me with the same appearance?"

"The Shadow I met was a product of the Grim Reaper's experiments. I don't know why he wouldn't try again," Zero seemed curious now. "Maybe I can find out now,"

Another light emerged from Omega. This one took on the shape of a human girl.

Shadow's knees went weak and he hit the floor. He partially caught himself with one arm, with the other holding one hand to his head. Shadow felt his lungs shrinking, and took deep, shuddering breaths to try refilling them. His body was wracked by tremors; a cold sweat came to him.

"I'd say you're the real deal then," Infinite stated with a hint of amusement.

Shadow regained a bit of himself and stared up at the jackal through the haze. Zero began speaking again.

"I used to lead a team of my own that wasn't aligned with witch society or the DWMA. I wasn't even born a witch. I became one after I stole this ruby from the Grand Witch and merged it with my body and soul. The powers this gem gave me helped me stay independent,"

Zero noticed Shadow still appeared burdened, but didn't stop speaking.

"My team and I were merely investigating the DWMA when I discovered you. Meddling with the Black Arm series is a dark deed, one I never expected the previous grim reaper to be muddying his hands with. The previous grim reaper captured me after I found you, then turned me over to the Grand Witch. I spent almost fifty-two years in the grand witch's asylum. I haven't even been free for two months yet,"

Shadow only caught the gist of everything Zero had said. "Who was that girl?"

"That I won't tell you. You'll have to be shown. Have you ever linked with another mind through soul resonance?"

Shadow inhaled through his nose and tried calming down. He shifted the focus of his mind towards memories that weren't locked away. "Yes. I've done that,"

"Good, then you'll do it again. Resonating with me will reveal my memories of the last time we met. Seeing my perspective should work as a frame for the rest of your memories to fill. If your other memories don't come back, you'll at least have something to go on,"

"Are you aware that I'm locked in here because anyone who resonates with me is at risk of becoming corrupted?"

"That won't be an issue for me. This phantom ruby is one with my mind and body. It'll protect me,"

Shadow got on his feet and squinted at Zero. "You worked with Tikal to free the kishin. Why help me now?"

"I owed Tikal a favor for releasing me. I'm acting on my own now. What I want is payback for what happened over fifty years ago. You can do what you want after you've regained your memories, I don't really care. As long as the DWMA can't use their precious little scythe. That's the price the grim reaper pays for imprisoning me,"

Zero held out his hand like he was holding something. Omega moved behind him and brought forward a letter. The robot held the paper in place, overlapping the image of Zero.

"Here's the directions to my location. Perhaps you'll remember it when you arrive,"

Shadow examined the sealed envelope. "I'm under tight surveillance. I need a way out of here,"

"That's what Omega's here for. He already bypassed DWMA security to get here. He can do it again. Right Omega?"

"E," Omega replied.

"He'll help you sneak out of the academy. The rest is up to you,"

Zero vanished. Omega's eyes became more normal. The robot held out his arm.

"Commence departure,"

Shadow followed Omega out of the cell. He glanced down the hall and thought about Eclipse. He didn't have time to help his recently adopted brother now, and considered the fact that he was abandoning him. Shadow thought of reaching out with his mind, but remembered how Mephiles had appeared when he last spoke with Eclipse. He spoke quietly, even though Eclipse wouldn't hear him,"

"I'll try and come back for you,"

Shadow felt uncertain of that promise. He didn't know what he'd find after meeting with Zero. He might even turn out to be a monster and he wouldn't be much help to Eclipse in that case. It seemed pointless to plan for the future until things were resolved. Every fiber of his being was drawn towards his current goal.

Shadow walked with Omega to reach the outdoors. It had been days since he breathed fresh air, and it gave him some sense of relief despite the circumstances. They emerged on the side of the hill beneath the DWMA. A walkway brought them into the edge of the residential area. Then Omega fell.

"System shutdown,"

Now that he was on his own, Shadow picked up the pace. Running through Death City at night was a surreal experience. It was quiet, much like the dungeon had been. What kind of city was this anyway? There never seemed to be many people around.

There wasn't anyone around now either. At least, not until one person appeared before Shadow. A person he desperately needed to avoid. Someone who would be better off if they weren't dragged into the furthering chaos of Shadow's fractured life. Someone who complicated that life in the best and worst ways possible.

Of course, it was Sonic.