I'm back baby! And this chapter is a biggie!

I will warn you, this is possibly the darkest chapter, so yeah... how do I give a warning without spoiling it ?

Anyways, hope you all enjoy, please let me know what you think. Oh and as a reply to one of the reviews I got, no it's not Sonadow, it's supposed to be father/son relationship, so none of those scenes are gonna happen okay. NOT Sonadow!

Okay, enjoy ^^

"Tails? Are you okay? How are they treating you?" the blue hedgehog asked rapidly, hiding himself behind a closed door where he would feel out of sight and out of hearing range.

"I-I'm fine, really. You don't have to worry. Vanilla is so friendly, and she has a daughter my age called Cream, she makes me cakes whenever I feel down" was said with a small chuckle.

Sonic sighed, eyes closing for a moment as he caught his breath. The thought of his little brother being in any kind of danger made his spines bristle. "Thank Chaos."

"I just wanted to talk to you Sonic. They're already talking about sending me to School, a-and I recently met a few other kids but..."

"But what?"

"They make fun of me" the young voice confessed, sadness seeping into his voice.

The older boy stopped his hand from balling up on instinct. There was nothing he could do about those kids for now. "Tails, just keep away from them. In fact just stay away from anyone. It's not worth the risk. J-just keep with Vanilla until I escape, then I'll come get you and we'll leave."

"Is that a good idea? Won't you get into more trouble?"

"I don't care! Tails I can't... I can't stay here. This stupid Shadow guy is trying to use me as bait to catch Eggman, and he's not letting up. Every time I refuse he... (sigh) I just need the right moment to try and escape again" Sonic spoke quietly, yet remained reassuring, whether it was for Tails or himself, he didn't know.

The fox, though younger and normally the one seeking comfort, swapped roles, the moment he sensed the anxiety in his brothers voice. "Sonic. Why don't you want to help them?"

For a moment he was silent, his emerald eyes almost shrinking as the gut wrenching sting of betrayal crept in. "What?! Are you insane! You know what will happen to me if Eggman gets me again. Shadow's just going to leave me with him. It's a trap! I'm not falling for it!"

"P-please calm down, I-I didn't mean to upset you. I know you don't trust easily, b-but I've been speaking to Vanilla, and she's known Shadow for a while. Apparently he's really good at his job and he's saved so many people, sometimes even the world, and he's never been given credit. I really don't think he's lying to you. I think he just wants to capture Eggman. I think you should help him."

His hand began to shake, "Tails I can't! I... I can't do it. He'll torture me, and Shadow will leave me."

"But Sonic, if someone doesn't stop Eggman, his army will get bigger and bigger and soon he'll be powerful enough, not only to rule the underground, but the whole world."

There was no response.

"If he's captured, you'll be let go. And Vanilla said you could stay with me! This might be the only way we can be together again."

Sonic lowered the phone, unable to accept the hard truth Tails was relating to him. He didn't want to accept it. He's always been good at running away, it's all he was ever good at. But he could never run from Tails. He would never break that promise.

Looking around, Sonic realised he had confided himself to none other then Shadow's own room. It was bare and minimal. A simple bed, a closet, and a desk. Nothing else to speak of. Only one thing made it to his attention, which was a simple photo of a blonde human girl with big blue eyes, resting on the desk next to a laptop. Who the girl was, Sonic didn't know, nor did he care. Yet, something in the girl's smile made him think of the smile Tails would always give him, the moment he thought of hope. Sonic could only imagine it, the sadness in that small child's eyes, but with a smile that would make you think the world was about to change for the better. No doubt that was how he looked now, praying with hope he'd be listened too, and Eggman would be caught.

How could Sonic fail him now?

New theory. Tails was working along with Shadow and Eggman, they had been planning this for years and this was a terrible idea.

They had been driving for a while, he could see none of it. This is how it happened. Eggman would let you know one way or another he wanted a meeting, you would go to your assigned location, you were then bonded and blind fold to stop any chance of finding the secret location. When seating in the car, the robots scanned you down, searching for any tracking device, whether it be external or internal. Apparently Eggman had caught a few traitors this way, which was why security was extreme. But he didn't know if Eggman had prepared for invisible chameleons or not. If Epsio was even in the car or not. He hadn't heard anything, no shuffling, no small whispers; just the sound of the road. Had he not been about to confront the crazy man, he would have given in to his urge to cry.

Espio did not make it into the car.

The purple chameleon clung with his adhesive ability, the best that he could do, against an agitated wind that stung his eyes and freezed his fingers.

There was no way he could have squeezed into the car without touching someone, or thing. Even Sonic had to flung over the metal robots. So before the car could pull away without him, he had leapt onto the boot and had been still ever since.

The tracker in his gloves flashed red on and off, signalling that it was emitting his location to the G.U.N van that followed at a far distance behind, far enough not to be seen, and to the two agents that ran/flew off road close by, but out of sight.

"Target is heading towards the forest" Rouge called down to Shadow, watching from the holographic monitor on her wrist. Shadow didn't respond, but kept to the directions he was given. He knew this would be his last shot at taking down Eggman for good. Nothing would stop him this time.

As said, the black car turned off from the road into an opening not meant for a vehicle of that size. The two agents followed behind. Only they may had been lagging too far behind, as the moment they stepped into the forest, the tracks from the car lead them past a series of turns, beyond trees, that soon started to feel repetitive and confusing. All they could do was follow the tyre tracks, yet they seemed to be leading them in circles. They had no sight of the car, their view being blocked by the thick trunks of bark. At one point Shadow skidded to a halt, feeling himself growing overwhelmed. "No... no" he mumbled, spinning around in what seemed like an endless torment of trees. He felt all sense of direction drain out, and for the first time in a while, the sense of panic started to grow.

"Shadow!" Rouge snapped at him, shaking him from his trance as she grabbed his shoulders. "They've stopped, we need to go" she said.

Hearing the news, Shadow focused once again, following her lead.

As she said, they soon reached the end of the tracks, which lead to...

"Espio?"

The chameleon, no longer invisible, was standing where the tracks ended, waiting for them to approach.

"Wha- Where's the car?!" Shadow growled, marching towards him with murder in his eyes. Rouge was quick to step in front, stopping any violence before it started.

"Espio what happened to the car?"

The ninja remained quiet, there was almost an amusement in his smile, much to their confusion.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. It's underground."

"What?"

"The ground" he said while stomping on the grass, "literally swallowed them whole."

Shadow narrowed his eyes, "Why didn't you stay with it then? How do we know this isn't another passage way?" he said accusingly. Espio didn't even acknowledge the emotion when he said, "Because the security to get in is so intense, the scanner almost picked up on me and I had to run. It came from that tree up there, so unless you got any official Eggman tech on you, we're not getting in this way."

After listening to the explanation, Rouge fell down to her knees, and for a moment, stared at the ground. "Damn it" she whispered, fixated at the very spot the car should have been. Suddenly, in a burst of anger the started to punch the ground, "damn it damn it damn it!" She stood up, furiously pacing as she threw her communicator to the ground. It may not have been her personal mission, but she had promised the blue kid they'd keep him safe. And she was also supposed to getting a bonus of priceless jewels upon completion of this mission. "There's no way we're getting in."

Yet Shadow, who had been surprisingly calm during this, turned to face his fellow agents, his arms crossed over his chest as usual, whereas a smirk rested on his face rather unusually.

"Yes we are" he said simply, holding out a Chaos Emerald.

Sonic was left in total darkness, not being aloud to move of his own free will. The "collector" robot had grabbed and thrown him over it's shoulder, leaving him tide and blinded. There was still no sign of Espio, and at this point he felt ready to be sick. There was no hope, he knew it. This was a set up, he was going to die.

Without knowing which way he was being taken, or what was going on around him, Sonic could only listen. Machines were grinding away, a horrible, mechanical shriek, echoing around, multiplied with wailing of chains as it worked with metal, clanging together in a place that made him think of hell. Even though he was surrounded by machine and oil, all he could smell was sweat and blood.

Suddenly, Sonic felt himself be lifted, and his breathing came to a halt. He was placed onto his feet, his old shoes returned and the tracking anklet being removed. Sweat ran down his brow, and not because of the intense heat of the surrounding lava he remembered from previous visits, all used to melt metal down, and sometimes to get people to talk. There were faded screams in the distance, and all the nightmares were suddenly flooding his mind. He almost hiccuped when swallowing his fear down, as he was spun to face the man he didn't want to face.

The blindfold was removed. And there he was.

The large, looming figure, of a man, round in shape, and tall in stature, sitting on a throne made of metal, stroking the hairs of his long, out grown moustache.

Eggman. The devil of the world. An evil so horrid it was almost unbelievable.

But Sonic knew it all too well, and he couldn't find the courage to put on an act of bravery. His legs trembled at the very sight of this man, and he quickly forgot why he had come here.

The evil genius stared down from his place, a sickening grin, revealing yellow teeth, was met with a fearing quivered.

"Sonic! My old friend. I was starting to worry you wouldn't come back" he tormented, leaning back on his throne.

The small hedgehog cowered down, unable to move as his arms were locked in the grasp of the robot that brought him around. The surrounding were all to familiar, as was this situation. A new, fresh set of faces occupied the prison cells within the cave like part of the underground walls, all watching in a matching fear. A robot, equipped with guns and free permission to fire at any moment, surrounded him, while the metal grinding continued to linger in the air.

It had been six months since he was last here. It started to feel like hours ago.

If anyone pictured hell, this was it.

"But of course" the man responsible for it all continued, "I knew it was only a matter of time. How's your arm doing?" he taunted. Sonic looked away, and the man laughed manicly. "Ha Ha Ha! Not so slick now are we? Normally I'd give you a warning, but I haven't been getting any payments from you in a while."

With his ears picking up, Sonic quickly found his voice again in defence, "No no, I left the money where you told me too! I waited for the robot to pick it up."

"Humph, maybe so, but it's far less then what I demanded. Which makes me think you've been keeping some for yourself!" Eggman yelled, pointing his finger accusingly.

Sonic felt the panic return, clogging up his lungs. "No! I swear..."

"I have a robot spy watch you every time you do a heist. I know every location, every building, and every penny you have robbed from them. Do you think I'm a fool?"

"No.."

"Did you think I would notice?"

"N-no I-I..."

"I even saw your pathetic attempt to take that obviously fake emerald, a job that I did not assign to you, which lead to you being captured. Did you really think buying back your freedom would be so easy?" he laughed once again.

Sonic couldn't speak, the words twisted in his mind and no reason seemed good enough now. He didn't know what to do, how could he get himself out of this? For the first time since he left home, he wished his father were with him.

"I'm sorry!" he screamed, unable to handle to noises abusing his ears and the words draining all thought from his brain. "I didn't have a choice..."

Eggman spat at him, "Of course you did. You could have left that brat to die."

"... no" Sonic breathed disparagingly, unable to take it any more. His head hung low, and tears threatened to fall. Eggman stood up, and stepped down from the platform his throne was built upon, luring down to the broken hedgehog. He tusked, like a disappointed teacher, before reaching out a large hand, and gripped the hedgehog's face, forcing him to look up at his master. He sighed heavily, a sarcastic disappointment moulding his features. "I had such hopes for you. There was so much I could have used your powers for, and now..." he trailed.

Immediately, Sonic shook his head rapidly, his eyes pleading before his voice could.

Eggman continued his torment. "I-I'm hurt! Hurt! I gave you everything you needed. A home, a job, security, protection, I even let you keep that fox as a pet. Yet, how do you repay me? You give me only half the payment I ask for, you get caught, and when you escape, you come back to me for a place to hide. I... I just don't know how much more disappointment I can take from you."

Sonic knew Eggman had gotten it wrong, but at this point he had no reason to care.

Espio wasn't here. Which meant that Shadow, Rouge and the back up team wasn't here to rescue him either. They had abandoned him, just like he knew they would have. He couldn't... he couldn't hold back any more. A tear fell down his mussel, dripping into Eggmans hand, as all he could think of was Tails, and how he'd never see him again.

The mad Doctor grinned with a twisted satisfaction. He had the ability to make grown men cry, and this boy was no challenge for him. He wiped the tear away with his thumb, anyone watching would think he was feeling empathy. But the grin on his face said otherwise, he pulled Sonic up to the tips of his toes, making the frightened teen choke from the hold.

"I was going to make you the ultimate weapon in my army... but I suppose the animal in you will always be your weakness" he released his hold.

"Take him to the roboticizer."

"NOOOO!" Sonic screamed out, fighting his way free from the robot that dragged him, but his efforts failed. Eggman continued laughing as he walked back up to his throne, giving himself the best view.

"PLEASE! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!" he screamed again, now facing the direction of his fate.

What looked like a metallic wall, suddenly began to raise, opening up to a new part of the underground factory.

Panic rang through Sonic's ears, feeling as if they were filling with blood as he tried began to kick at the robot. He was strong enough, he knew he was strong enough, but as soon as he did any sort of damage, a new robot would step in and secure him. The wires on his wrists would spark with every attempt to break them, sending vats of electric down his vein's. "No... please..." he wept, "I can't... not again..."

The wall had lifted, and relieved the roboticizer. A table, much like a surgical table, was the centre of the machine. Surrounded was tools used to maintain the robots, above it, was what created them.

A grinder, made up of small, razor like spikes, each ideal to strip away flesh. Among the instruments, a saw, and a welder.

"Help me... Somebody please..." Sonic wept again, loosing the will to resist as the robots forced him onto the table. The wires finally removed, but he was still restrained by the grip of the robots. They grabbed his legs, pushing them onto the table before an automatic energy beam shackle locked around his ankles. Before they secured his arms, one robot released a claw like tool from it's compartment, and latched on the collar of Sonic's jacket, the only thing he had left from his family. And then, in seconds, it was torn away, along with the rest of his clothing.

Exposed and humiliated, he was forced into restraints, his limbs being stretched beyond what was normal for him, while the tears stained his mussel in one final attempt for mercy. "Please! Eggman... I'll do anything! I swear, please don't do this, I'm begging you" he cried out, his voiced shrilled and horse from the pain his pleas were causing him.

Eggman didn't even respond. Instead he laughed harder, enjoying every moment of this torture. He raised his hand high, giving the signal. "Begin."

The grinders switched on, and began the pick up speed, as did the saw soon afterwards. The noise what he had heard before, and Sonic knew there was nothing that could save him now. He tensed up as the grinders lowered down, a shrilling scream ripping apart his lungs as he braced for the horrific pain that was coming. The saw was lowering towards his arm, and suddenly all he could see was the imagine of the family he ran away from for this. The grinders dropped.

"SONIC!"

A flash of chaos lightning blinded the mad scientist, which followed an explosion that blew him backwards out of his chair, scattering his robots around him.

The sound of grinding stopped, and all Sonic could hear was white noise. He opened his eyes, but the world was blurred, with red spots dancing in front of him.

Nothing in his mind registered what was happening. He had no recollection of who that voice belonged too, nor did he feel the heated shards of metal that fell down onto his skin, burning where they landed. Motion. There was motion, something wrapping around him while the world spun in an awkward sort of way. He felt like he had been lifted into the air... was this... death? He felt so numb, everything felt white, he wanted to sleep... he drifted, eyes rolling up to escape the shapes and colours that tormented him. With a short, unexplainable sense of peace, Sonic finally escaped, his thoughts being left behind.

The steaming smoke that shrouded the whole area was quickly lifted, lights flickering on and off as they struggled to function with the lack of energy flowing through their cores.

Below them were the sparks of electric, as hoards of robots rushed to their masters aid, firing lethal lasers at the sudden intruders. An army of G.U.N soldiers spread out from the multiple entrances, each taking cover with their target locked on to the robots.

Eggman's escape had been blocked, and he hid within a circle of his strongest robots. But that wasn't going to save him, not this time.

Shadow spun high into the air, dodging each laser that shot at him. The Chaos Emerald had been absorbed, giving him an extreme boost of power as a red aura reflected from his silhouette. He summoned multiple spears, throwing them down to the robots which were destroyed on instant impact.

Rouge used her wigs and flew above the fight, dropping down her own personalised heart shaped bombs on the robots, creating more damage then the enemy already had. "Shadow, he's in there" she called out, pointing to where the mad man hid.

Shadow nodded, ripping two robots apart at once with his hands before tossing them aside. He marched towards the heavy robots, their attacks being absorbed within the energy shield he made for himself. When close enough, Shadow summed up every shred of energy he had left from the emerald. "Chaos... Blast!"

Within seconds, a black energy bolt took out every robot surrounding Eggman at once, shredding them up into small metal scraps, all of which fell and covered the old doctor who hid his head under his hands, lying on the floor weakly.

This was the moment Shadow had been waiting for for a long time. His teeth bared through an almost possessed smile, and he summoned one final spear, draining the last of his energy.

"Shadow no!" Rouge swooped down, and grabbed Shadow's arm before he could throw the spear. Angrily he turned to her and snarled, "Let me go!"

"Listen to me! Eggman will pay for what he's done to you, but not like this" she said, her eyes growing soft as a glint of worry shined through.

Shadow breathed heavily, not wanting to listen, he wanted this to end here and now, and yet, her words got to him. Not because he agreed, but because this type of death was too good for him. Eggman needed to suffer.

Regaining control, Shadow made the spear disappear. Happy with his choice, Rouge smiled widely, quickly planting a kiss to his cheek before he could flinch. "I'm proud of you" she said warmly, choosing the ignore the sudden confusion and disgust in his eyes. Then she let go of his hand, and he turned back to Eggman. The mad man remained on the floor, but grinned none the less. "Shadow, what an unexpected surprise. I didn't think you'd have the brain cells to find me."

It didn't matter what he said at this point, Shadow sensed the fear hidden behind his voice. He felt no need to respond. So instead, he did something he had wanted to do for a long time.

He swung his leg and round house kicked him across the face, sending the obese man into the wall, leaving a dent before he fell to the floor unconscious. "Take him away" he ordered before Eggman was cuffed and dragged away by multiple G.U.N agents.

Feeling like the world had been lifted from their shoulders, Rouge walked up to Shadow and was about to speak, but the black hedgehog turned his heels and ran away. At first she didn't know why, until she saw who he was running too. "Oh no.."

Behind the rubble of what used to be the roboticizer, Espio sat on the floor, surrounded by soldiers who worked to clear a path way. His hands were together, pressing forcefully against the chest of the young blue hedgehog that lay in front of him. Espio counted to ten each time he did this before placing his mouth down on top of Sonic's, blowing in the air that the teen was lacking in.

Shadow fell down to his knees, his eyes widened and his own breath being lost in his lungs at the sight he saw. Rouge was soon at his side, before she could question it, her own shock mirrored that of the black hedgehog's. "Oh my gosh..." she choked, covering her face in her hands.

Espio's efforts had been paying off as the short burst of air passed through his lips, jolting his limbs and causing twitches in his face whenever he did so. Yet it wasn't enough, and Espio kept going, knowing he needed the help to breath. His body was far from lifeless, and it wasn't that that made Shadow and Rouge immovable. It was what they saw, for the very first time.

Sonic's right arm. Perfectly symmetrical to his other in shape and size. However, this arm was not built with skin and bone, but instead, a translucent mould of plastic material revealed the horrifying truth of what Eggman had been doing to people. The inside was made of metal. A mechanical, robotic arm, with only a thin layer of soft plastic to act as skin, melted onto his shoulder and breast plate which were scared and red with infection and bruises. This is what he had been trying to hide from them. From the world. He wasn't being difficult for no reason, nor was he trying to cause problems. He was trying to protect himself.

Rouge was right... Eggman was going to pay for this.