Chapter 22: Fortunate Sleep

Even though I was glad to see Elise again, I was... still slightly frightened. If I ever came across a spirit from the heavens, I would immediately step back until I realised that they were friendly. It was exactly the same with her. At least, I was slowly calming down and becoming more at ease as we talked to each other more.

She's still your friend Megan, you remembered her and she's back to help you...

"There they are!" Sid shouted, pointing at us as we ran up to them.

"Who's that with Megan...?" Louis wanted to know.

"I'm guessing she's some kind of queen?" Crash put in. "Or princess?"

"Guys!" Peaches shouted, managing to shut them up. "There's only one way to find out, come on!"

As soon as we all met up in the middle of the second floor patient wing, Manny gave Elise a suspicous look whilst Ellie nodded and smiled kindly at her. There wasn't that much to describe about the patient wing, other than there were tons of brown doors everywhere and that the walls and floor were a dull grey.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" I asked, sending a grin in their direction.

"Well, Buck and Flynn already told you our major problem, so basically all we gotta do is look through every single one of these rooms for your friend." Peaches answered, grinning back at me.

Sonic's gotta be hiding somewhere, wanting to jump out at us... Bring it, mate.

Before I knew it, the Herd then decided to focus on Elise, seeing as they had no clue who she is. Just like when I first showed up, Manny stood in front of his family to protect them.

"Manny, there's no need for that." I muttered, placing my hands (which were still bruised and battered) on my hips. "My friend, Elise, here is not a threat. She may have a knife, but she won't harm you, promise."

One by one, Ellie and the rest of the Herd agreed with me. Manny looked like he desperately wanted to protest, but eventually gave in as he knew that we were right. "Fine..."

I looked over sideways at Elise to reassure her that everything was alright and she didn't seem to mind hanging out with us. Personally, it felt like we were one large gang right now which was going to get more larger as soon as Sonic was found.

"Okay, let's get going..." The mammoth said, after Elise greeted the Herd in a friendly manner.

We decided to start at the top and work our way down. The first room had just a simple bed and a window with a soft light shining through. To be honest, it kinda reminded me of 303 back in my apartment complex. At least we had a reason to come in there as I picked up some extra bullets for my hunting rifle.

The second room happened to be Sonic's patient room. There wasn't particularly anything interesting in there, other than a small table with surgery tools and another bed. The covers looked rough, but weren't thrown all over the place like I know how I used to leave my own bed.

Upon entering the next room, we got ambushed by two nurses. They looked a lot different than the bubble head nurses we encountered back in Brookhaven Hospital, taller and more covered up. They basically towered over us, even Manny! Both Elise and I quickly took them out, me firing my pistol whilst she got in close and stabbed them repeatedly with her knife. Although there was something pretty funny about their sounds, I'll admit.

Heh, if I was the owner of this place, I would have named it St. Belch's Hospital.

After I finished the nurses off with a stomp to the head, we went into the fourth room. The atmosphere freaked me out a lot; we were confronted by a terrible sight at the very end. I slowly walked up to see what it was and quickly jumped back, letting out a scream. My friends and I were facing a gigantic head of someone whom I used to be on good terms with; Eileen Galvin.

"This is a nightmare, it can't be happening..." Elise murmured, clutching her knife tightly.

"I'm outta here!" Sid shouted, running out of the room.

"Yeah, see ya!" Both Crash and Eddie added, also sprinting out.

Boys...

I sighed as I locked eyes with the head's distorted ones. "I'm sorry, Eileen..."

"Did you know her?" Elise asked me, with concern lacing her tone.

"I ... I did." I answered, turning to face my friend. "I used to see her a lot in the streets whenever I came home from school. The last time I saw her, ... She was telling me about this dude she had a crush on, Henry Townshend. Afterwards..., I heard the news report saying that they died and ... Here I am now."

"Oh... I'm so sorry..." Elise responded after a moment of silence. "But look on the bright side, you have us! And Sonic will be here too, as soon as we find him."

Gotta love the fastest thing alive!

I smiled, hearing this. But then it faded as a new thought entered my head, reminding me of my social isolation. "Yeah ... I just don't want it to end badly, since I'm special needs and that people like me often get ignored and rejected 24/7."

"I'm sure Sonic will adore you..." My friend told me. "Knowing him, he'd probably walk up to you, tap you on the shoulder and give you a gentle smile. Just wait and see..."

My response was a simple grin and a thumbs up. We then exited the room, met up with the Herd and ventured into the fifth one.

"We're gonna continue looking, you guys stay here until we get back, okay?" Manny said, feeling concerned that the man might burst in and attack us at the spot.

Both Elise and I nodded, and watched as our friends continued on with their search. The room we were in was a bit similar to the first one; a window with a warm light faced us at the very end. But the only major difference was that in front of it was an x-ray board and a bed beside it. I slowly walked up to the board and took a good look at every single one of the pictures; they showed some mildly cracked bones in the spine and rib area. But what completely shocked me was that a nearby photo told me who they belonged to; Sonic the Hedgehog. My idol.

Such a horrific state. So many cuts and bruises. It was heartbreaking for me, and Elise.

I let out a heavy sigh as I took the picture of an unconscious Sonic's face lying on his living room floor. I couldn't help but stare at it for a long time, if only I managed to get in there earlier.

"Sonic..." Elise murmured, realising who it was.

"Yeah..." I answered. "I hope he's okay..."

Suddenly, a familiar noise echoed just outside the door. I didn't know it, but sparks of excitement were flooding through me as I went over to see what was happening. Elise was apparently just as excited as I was, somehow recognising the sound.

I threw open the door. Unfortunately, nothing was outside. But I was still suspicious as I walked cautiously forward to check. "Where the hell did you go...?"

As my eyes darted all over the place, I noticed that Elise had a small smile creasing her cheeks as she stared excitedly at something behind me. I was about to ask what was it that she was so happy about, when I felt a finger tap my shoulder. I slowly turned round to lock my emerald green eyes with matching ones belonging to someone whom I recognised instantly.

"Whaaaaaaaat?" I murmured, letting the corners of my lips turn up into a huge grin.

It's really you...