My days, you guys... Let me just say I was not expecting such a response on the last chapter, like I genuinely thought this story was dead.
Thank you guys so much for the support and for the encouragement to carry on the story. It's giving me such a new love to start writing again and I'm hoping I will still carry on with the story.
Seriously thank you all so much, and I hope the story lives up to what you're expecting.
Oh also, shout out to fanakatsuki who reminded me I already used the name Axel on Sonic's brother, so if you haven't noticed, I've gone back and changed the name to Eric for the robot, so that way there's no confusion.
I hope you enjoy the chapter and please leave a review xx
Sonic did everything he could to resist, but the two robots that grabbed his arms and restrained him were stronger then he was. He was forced down the dark and pitiful hallway, threatening in vain that he would destroy these useless tin cans the moment he got free. However he never got the chance as they threw him into what was known as the Red room and locked the door behind. Sonic stumbled and ran to the door, grabbing the handle and shaking it angrily. "Eggman! You can't leave me in here!" he yelled out, his fists banging loudly to be heard.
"There's no point kid, you're wasting your breath" a voice softly whispered behind him.
With frustration Sonic closed his eyes. He turned around and leaned back on the door. When he opened his eyes though, an immediate horror settled in his stomach and his body began to tremble.
This was why it was called the Red room.
It was where Eggman disposed of the bodies of people who didn't survive his cruel experiments.
The walls and floors, all dripped in red, while corpses laid in piles on the ground.
Sonic screamed, turning back to the door and banging his fists once again.
"Somebody help! Please Eggman, I'm sorry! I'll get you the money just let me out!" he pleaded. The owner of the second voice quickly ran up behind him and pulled him away, trying his best to calm him down. Sonic couldn't though, he pushed the guy away from him and quickly backed into a corner, chest heaving heavily as the sights laid deeply in his mind.
This man, a red furred wolf, was just like he was. Both of his legs had been robotised, meaning he had worked for Eggman for a while. He still had full control of his mind, and much like Sonic, he would try to hide his new robotic limbs from the world when on a job.
The wolf kneeled down in front of the hedgehog, trying to block out the view of the terror behind him. "Listen to me. My name is Eric, I'm in here same reason as you. You can get through this, I promise. Three days is all. I'm getting released tomorrow.."
"No. No please don't leave me alone here! I have to get back to Tails, I can't stay here" Sonic cried, eyes widened and fixated on the corpse that was half human half robot. His stomach became uneasy, and the smell was overwhelming. His hand covered his mouth as he felt his organs clench, causing him to gag. Eric quickly covered the hedgehog's eyes, trying to help in anyway, but nothing could help. Sonic, the weight of reality really setting in on him now, started to scream. Nothing would settle him, nothing would break him out of the trance. All Eric could do was hold onto him, and prey he would survive on his own.
Sonic stared into nothingness, the memory replaying itself out over and over again. Eric was a thief before Eggman recruited him, but he was a good person. It hurt him deeply that this was his fate. To be forced into a mindless robot, and to be forced to self-destruction, all to keep him quiet. He suddenly became away of how much he was trembling, but only when Rouge placed a soft hand on his arm and broke him from the torments of his mind. He looked up to her, redness and confusion clouding his mind. In her hand she had a glass of water, but he refused it.
She left it on the table next to the sofa where he was sat with his legs drawn to his chest. She had put the heating on but he still felt cold to her. Unfortunately she didn't know where Shadow kept blankets or if he even had any. All she could do at this point was wait. And fortunately, it wasn't long before she heard the front door unlock and someone walk in.
Running to the hallway to meet him, Rouge smiled as Shadow stood by the door, placing his keys in hiding place.
"How did it go?" she asked.
Shadow was quiet for a moment, walking past her to check if Sonic was where he left him. Satisfied at seeing the former thief still sitting on the sofa quietly, he motioned for Rouge to follow him into the kitchen where they couldn't be heard.
"Well?"
"It's not good. Either I make Sonic be a witness or he'll be killed" Shadow put it bluntly, folding his arms and looking away from her.
Rouge, taken aback, blinked rapidly. "Should have seen that coming" she sighed. "I told you the General won't waste any more time on this kid if he doesn't have to. I wouldn't worry too much though, he makes those kind of threats all the time. It's only in extreme cases that he.."
"It's worse" Shadow added. "Due to what's happened, Eggman has a good chance of being found innocent and I or G.U.N could be taking the fall."
"Are you serious?" she gasped. "How is that possible?"
Shadow shook his head and started to pace. "Because I was there and Eggman was in prison, that's how. Even if I get Sonic to talk it might not be enough. We need more evidence, I need to find out who sent this robot, who was controlling it."
"No" Rouge interrupted, holding onto his shoulder, "I need to find out, you're off the case sweetie."
Shadow groaned loudly, knocking her hand away. "I'm not going to risk loosing."
"And you won't. Trust me Shadow, I can get together a team and we will go back to the lair and gather all the intel that we need. Eggman didn't know he was going to be caught, so likely he has access on him..."
"Or someone else has control in his absence" Shadow finished, taking a moment to think. "Who would it be?"
"That will be my job to find out. Your job is waiting for you in the sitting room. Personally I think I got the easy one" she laughed. Shadow looked back to the door way, though was unable to see anything.
"How is he coping?"
"Simply? He's not. The kid is more broken then my criminal record. Try not to blow up too much when you go talk to him okay" Rouge joked, pushing Shadow to the door. "I have to go now?" he argued. "Yes, try and get as much info out of him and send it to me. I need to start working on this case. We only have two and a half months left" she said. With that, she planted a kiss on a reluctant Shadow's cheek and walked out of the house, leaving him behind clueless.
When she left, he felt himself glued to the spot he stood in, hesitant to approach the sitting room. He and Sonic hadn't spoken properly in a while, and this would hardly be an easy topic to bring up. However, there was no putting off the inevitable. He quickly made use of being in the kitchen and whipped up a sandwich with a side of salad and brought the meal into the room he wanted to avoid.
Sonic was still as he left him. His knees drawn up to his chest, arm clutching around them and his eyes staring at the wallpaper as if he were waiting for it to peel off.
Even as Shadow walked up to him and sat in his view, Sonic didn't register any movement or interruption. It occurred to Shadow that he could be going through another hallucination. So after waiting a moment, he lightly pinched the hedgehog's bare foot.
Sonic flinched, blinking his eyes and mind clearly coming back around to the real world. "You're back?" he mumbled, realising who he was looking at.
"I got you something to eat. You must be hungry" Shadow said, trying to hand the plate over. But Sonic shook his head, not wanting to take it.
"Fine, I'll eat it" he said while helping himself. Sonic started to look slightly annoyed. He wanted to save it for later.
At this point the blue hedgehog sighed. He had to wait for the questions to be asked that he knew was coming and he just wanted to get it all over with so he could go back to bed. His stitches had bleed through due to his attack and he was worried what would happen once the painkillers wore off. All he wanted was to sleep, and yet, the idea of being alone scared him now. Maybe the awkward silence wasn't so bad.
Shadow finished off the meal, enjoying it more then he realised he would. He put the plate down and brushed off his hands. "So, are you going to tell me what happened?" he asked bluntly.
Sonic lowered his eyes, biting down on his lip, not knowing if he could bring himself to speak about it. But Shadow wasn't going to wait, and the look on his face made that clear to him.
"I... got attacked by a robot."
"Yes I figured as much. What happened?"
Sonic tried to hide his face in his hand, his brain throbbing as he tried to remember. "I don't know... something grabbed my throat and then... something happened, I-I can't remember."
"Did the robot say anything? Was there anything that suggested Eggman had been the one to sent him?"
"No nothing, they can't talk. He didn't even know who I was" Sonic answered sadly.
"Then who would have sent him?"
"I don't know.. I can't think of anyone."
"Well think harder, I need to know who it was!"
"Shadow..."
"If we don't figure this out Eggman will be released and you'll..."
"SHUT UP, SHUT UP, JUST SHUT UP!" Sonic screamed out, hiding his face away in his knees as he couldn't bare to let the memories play through once again. His hand pierced his ear and he began to tug violently, unable to control his breaths as they seethed through his teeth.
Shadow stared in bewilderment, eyes widened in shock as he hadn't expected such a reaction. This was a lot harder to talk about then he had originally thought it to be, and learning from past experiences, he bottled up the initial reaction of anger for being yelled at and forced himself not to dwell on it.
"Okay, I'm sorry, I won't talk about it anymore" he said, placing his hands up in defence. It had no effect however, Sonic shivered with every struggling breath as his panic attack grew worse.
Shadow was at a loss of what the best thing to do was. He was completely useless now, so he decided that the best thing to do was give Sonic some space. He stood up, ready to leave the room, until Sonic's hand lashed out and grabbed him by the wrist.
"No don't leave!" he cried out, his face no longer hidden. Shadow stared back for a moment, truly seeing how broken and scared this kid looked, and why shouldn't he be? After everything that had happened, how could he possibly feel safe?
"Alright, I'll stay. Just calm down" he said while sitting again. He pulled a face when he saw Sonic wasn't letting go of his wrist, but instead of pulling away he allowed it, this one time.
"I can't... talk about it now" Sonic said through wheezing breaths, again staring off into the distance. Shadow figured that by him somehow staying must be helping because the blue hedgehog wasn't struggling as much this time around. He wasn't crying this time either, so Shadow could deal with that.
"You don't have to. We have time. I was being impatient" he admitted. Looking Sonic up and down, his eyes laid upon the missing arm, where the bandages hid the stitches that no doubt would be uneasy to look at. Without thinking of it, his hand reached out and landed upon Sonic's back, lightly rubbing along his spine in comfort. "Are you in any pain?" he asked.
Sonic took a moment to answer, but he soon shook his head, "N-no, I don't think so."
"Do I have to go back to the hospital?" he asked, breathing now settling to an easier pace.
"No" Shadow answered, and to his surprise Sonic breathed a sigh of relief. "You're staying here from now on. I've arranged to have a doctor come and visit to assess the situation, check up on you and hopefully provide any medication you need, but no, I'm not letting you leave here."
"What about... if anyone else tries... you know.."
"They won't get a chance" Shadow said sternly. Sonic kept looking away however, his mind drifting into panic and doubt, so Shadow grabbed his chin firmly and forced him to look him in the eyes. "Listen to me. It's not going to happen again. If I hadn't of left the robot wouldn't have gotten anywhere near you, you understand?"
Reluctantly and with so little confidence, he nodded in agreement, unsure whether he could believe it or not. But there wasn't much choice left for him now. Still, there was a lot that weighed heavily on his mind, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to say anything more at this point. He just wanted to sleep, ideally on the sofa where Shadow sat by with a gun and kept it pointed at the door all night, but he didn't see that happening sadly. His initial panic has settled down now, and he slowly leaned back against Shadow's hand, almost trapping it against the cushions as a way to make sure he didn't leave. It didn't though as Shadow pulled his arm out and freed himself.
Raising his brow, the black hedgehog glanced at Sonic once again. With all the commotion and everything that had been going on, he had completely over looked that the kid didn't have anything to wear. He had been wearing nothing at the hospital, which wasn't a problem for them, it was hardly immodest, but it wasn't sociably accepted for them to wear nothing at all and it left little in the way of dignity.
"Stay here, I'll be back" he said while standing up and walking away.
"No wait!" Sonic called out but Shadow had already left, leaving him to curl back up on the sofa and stared paranoid at the windows.
Fortunately it didn't take long for Shadow to return, and he held a box in his hands. When he sat back down, he pushed his hand against Sonic's legs and made him sit normally. The box was then placed on his lap.
"What is this?" he asked.
"Open it."
Doing as he was told, Sonic tried to pry off the lid, but the box was proving tricky as it wobbled, so Shadow had to hold it still for him. With the lid removed he dropped it on the floor, "What is this?" he asked, picking the item up, unable to hold it out to look at it properly.
Realising again the struggle he was having with something so simple, Shadow took the present from Sonic and held it up to show it was a new hoodie. It was light blue and had Japanese writing down the sides of the arms as well as large pockets on the front.
"You lost yours while taking down Eggman, I figured you would want a new one."
Sonic just looked lost as he took it in. He took it from Shadow's hands and placed it on his lap, deciding to leave it there as he went back to the box to see what else was in there.
"What's wrong with it?" Shadow asked, not appreciating that the only gift he's ever given in his life wasn't being acknowledged. Sonic seemed more impressed with the new shoes that he found instead. "Wow these are awesome!" he smiled, holding up the red sneakers in admiration.
"Sonic" Shadow snapped, drawing his attention back to the question before hand.
With a deep sigh he put the shoes down and started fiddling with the hoodie instead. "It's fine, thank you" he said bluntly, eyes drifting around.
"Tell me what's wrong" the agent ordered, not willing to let the matter go.
Sonic was quiet for a moment, but he eventually caved. Looking down sadly, he traced the hem of the garment with his finger. "The other one belonged to my brother. It was the only thing I had of my family, and now it's gone... so..."
Now it all made sense to him. Ever since he had arrested him Sonic wouldn't let anyone take that hoodie away from him, and many people had tried it. The garment smelled of pure trash and he wouldn't even let it be washed. Shadow assumed it was to hide his robot arm, but clearly it had been a lot deeper then he had realised.
"Do you miss them?" he asked.
For a moment, Sonic just froze. He didn't know how to answer that question.
So instead, not wanting to talk anymore, he lifted the hoodie up and placed it up over his head. He struggled a lot to put his arm through the hole, everything got a bit tangled without being able to use another hand to straighten it out. Shadow didn't know if he should intervene or not. But he couldn't leave him with his head trying to get through the arm hole. He had known that Sonic would struggle to adapt to his new situation but he didn't realise how much it would effect.
After pulling the bottom part down, Sonic finally managed to put the rest of it on and finished with an over exaggerated smile in achievement.
"Tada, how do I look?" he grinned forcefully.
Shadow laughed, knowing the moment was bitter sweet. He could only imagine what kind of commitment he had landed himself in now.