Chapter 50: Little Walter

Sh-E

"The reason why I'm here is that... I've kept watch over you all this time and I'm so sorry those events occured. I shouldn't have left you..."

"It's not you. It's me who should be sorry."

"What do you mean..? You didn't do anything wrong at all!"

"Yes, I did. I failed to rescue you, Maria and Cybil. Sonic came so close to joining that list and you guys didn't deserve it. I do. It probably would be easier for all of us if the man just killed me right here..."

...

Looking back on my reunion with Megan, I understood why she revealed that she should have been apologetic instead of me. Throughout the traumatic experience she endured, my friend matured into a strong and capable young woman, but was deeply affected by this ordeal, physically and emotionally. I could see it in Megan's eyes when we reunited in the hospital, just before we met up with the Herd and began searching for Sonic. Oh ... I wished that I could have done something to heal the young girl's guilt, take her pain away and bring her smile back to life.

And ... I don't think I'm going to get that chance, because I now belong in the heavens...

Sonic had recently noticed the signs too, which meant that I wasn't the only one who wanted to do something pleasant for her. We both didn't know how things were going to go with defeating Sullivan, but ... my blue friend and I had a horrible feeling that we would escape from our unsettling stalker just fine, but end up witnessing one or two more deaths in the process. I absoutley dreaded the thought of Megan dying. I mean ... she had her whole life ahead of her!

If we lost our younger friend, she wouldn't be able to grow older, travel around the world, find a job she enjoyed, buy a house, fall in love, get married and maybe have a family of her own! Even though we didn't get the chance to interact a lot during our time together, my friends and I strongly believed that the brunette teen deserved to live happily after this ordeal...

But right now, we needed to help a little boy. And afterwards, we would be able to get in the superintendent's room.

"Dad...? Daaaad...? Where's Dad? Daaad, I can't see your face!"

Once Shadow, the Herd and I made it down to the bottom of the staircase, we all began to take in our surroundings. We didn't see any monsters which was good, but ... my friends and I did come across a very strange looking mannequin standing several metres behind the staircase. For some reason, it almost looked like ... it was wrapped up in warm golden blankets and peacefully sleeping. I didn't know why, but ... something about it was telling me to come back and investigate further soon...

"Are you kidding me?! It's locked and has several chains dangling across it! How are we going to get in, if we can't undo the chains?!"

Upon hearing Granny's words, I walked over and noticed that the door leading into the superintendent's room was locked up tight with six chains draped over it. At first, I was disappointed but an idea suddenly drifted into my thoughts. Maybe there were more mannequins wrapped up in the golden blankets?

If so ... It seemed possible that finding them was our solution to the problem...

"We'll see if there's a way to undo the chains, don't worry," Sid reassured the elder female sloth. "But first, we gotta find that little boy and help him."

It didn't take long for us to cross paths with the child, because when we entered the main lobby, we found him standing in the very centre, clutching a small book tightly to his chest. His light brown hair shone perfectly from a small light on the ceiling and his outfit consisted of a black and white striped shirt, lilac-blue jeans and light brown shoes.

His piercing green eyes reflected the waves of emotion pouring out as he called desperatley for his parents in a heartbreaking tone. He was a lot younger than Peaches and Megan, most likely 7 years old. As I gazed at him, I suddenly gained that protective instinct I had when I realised that our younger human friend didn't have her parents with her back in my kingdom.

Poor thing... There has to be something we can do to help...

"Hey...," I whispered soothingly, cautiously walking up to the child and crouching down to his level. "What are you doing here, all by yourself?"

"Mommy won't wake up! ... And ... and I can't find Dad!" The little boy whimpered, wiping the tears away slowly and gazing at me with pure sadness radiating off his innocent soul. "I'm trying to wake Mommy up ... But, nothing I do works...!"

He looked so vunerable and crestfallen, that I almost wanted to pull him in my arms and comfort him. But deep down, something was telling me not to. I suddenly remembered another thing Joseph revealed to us, back in Room 302 of the Past. When he was little, Walter truly believed that the room was his actual mother. We all thought that was rather strange, at first. The cult he grew up with really must have done a number on him... This young innocent boy was going to grow up and become a serial killer from what we heard. I ... Is there any other way to save Megan, survive the ordeal and help him find a mother's love, at the same time?!

The adult version was down in the prison with our teenage human friend and her parents... Eileen was right. Megan was the one who would have to kill him, whether we liked the idea or not. We ... We don't have a choice in the matter. Like Joseph said ... killing Walter was the only way for us to escape from the otherworlds...

"How do you feel about us helping you...?" I asked, gently. "And ... do you know where she is now?"

Even though my friends and I already knew where she was, I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable. I could tell that he was a representation of the last remaining pieces of positivity left in Sullivan. The young version of him meant no harm whatsoever, and to be honest, that was an incredible relief. "That ... would be very nice of you." The child answered, suddenly cheering up and smiling brightly at me. "Yes, yes! I do! She's sleeping in the room I was born in!"

"Lots of people tried to stop me from getting inside," He continued on. "But it's okay now, because soon I'll be able to wake her up and be with her again. I gotta hurry, Mom's waiting!"

Just seconds after his words escaped, the child dashed off in the direction we came in. "W-W-Whoa! Hey, wait! We need help with something too!" I cried out worriedly, running after him but stopping when he disappeared. "Argh...!" I groaned in annoyance, gazing at Sonic, Tails, Amy and the others apologetically. "I'm sorry, guys..."

"Hey, it's alright." My blue friend repiled, nodding to show that he understood. "Next thing to do on our list; get rid of the chains and unlock the superintendant's room. Let's go!"

It always brightened my day to see Sonic enjoying his adventures, even though we had a couple of issues throughout. Whilst we ventured back to the chained-up door, I couldn't help but let Megan drift into my thoughts. Was she still alive? ... Was she okay? I had a horrible feeling that things weren't going to end positively soon. I tried to fight it off as much as I could, but ... the lingering feeling still remained. Fortunatley, we knew that the brunette teen would still have a family, no matter what happened.

If the worst comes to the worst, we'll still be there for her.