Chapter 11:

A life of neglect and loneliness was one I lived within this large, maze-like garden. My tiny, blue hands played blankly with the black petals of the rose, its thorns unacknowledged as I sat alone on the old swing tied to the older oak tree.

I wore a dress of silken blood trimmed with the coldest gold, and little sneakers of matching origins squeezed my feet as they floated at least a foot above the grass below me. My emerald eyes were dull, and my thoughts were constrained and caged.

Here, I waited for my brother knowing that in the end, he wouldn't come. Father would make sure of that. He always kept him locked up in there, and left me here with our butler.

Speaking of the black rabbit, he stood beside the carved fountain with a book in his hands. He just stood there, reading, not even caring that his ward was as depressed as death. But, I held no hope for his play...he never played with me, and every time I tried to talk to him, he would get upset and tell me to go play on my own. So, I just sat here, day after day, my heart darkening with the black flowers around me.

Sullenly, I looked to the highest window of the castle where my brother was caged. My father always had to have the best money could buy, so he bought his beautiful, sapphire wife, he bought a castle, and he filled it with bought objects that meant nothing. He never even really saw any of the things that he bought, not his wife, or his stuff, but he just had it there to impress everyone around him..

The one thing that he couldn't buy..was us. We came suddenly into his life, and looking and acting nothing like him, he shunned us, neglected us, and locked Mother up in her room.

My eyes fell to the window just below the first, and there I saw her. Her emerald eyes watched me sadly, her message painted silently on my heart, "You both deserve so much better...". But noticing my gaze, she hung her head and went deeper into the room so that I couldn't see. I knew she was crying though. She did it every day, and only when we were in her arms, would she stop. Every evening she would hold us close and bless us. Then she would put us in our conjoined crib, and rock us to sleep with her soft, loving lullaby.

I loved her, and I loved my brother. Every time I was able to be with him, I too would hold him close. Even when we were sleeping, he was always in my arms. I don't want him to leave, and I'm afraid that if I let him go...that's exactly what will happen.

A longing sigh filled the air as I crawled down from the still swing, and walked slowly over to the fountain. The butler looked at me for a moment, but just continued reading as though he didn't. I didn't even bother with him as I looked at my sad reflection and ran my hands in the soothing water.

My brother and I always joked about how I was so wild, not even gravity could control me. This was because my quills were always up in the air whereas his were down. No matter what I tried to do to get them to go down, they would just bounce back up again. It was our one and only running joke.

Growing bored with the water, I looked to the wooden door that led back into the castle. It looked old and worn with a golden handle, but it wasn't old or worn, and was a good showing of the lies that were told to protect our father's name. Heh..I digress.

Every time there was a social gathering for our father that required his family to show, he would have the three of us pretend to be happy, and tell everyone how kind and gentlemanly our father was. Any time I showed any hint of defiance or want to tell the truth, I would be left here, alone, in the empty castle with the butler. So I don't say anything, and neither does Maurice.

Our father is old and gray, with a few brown patches around. His eyes are dark and cold, and all he cares about is his money and stature. He doesn't care if me, my mother, and my brother rot in this castle. I would bet that he wouldn't care if we were taken away or died. He wouldn't have to deal with Maurice anymore, and he never dealt with me, so I wouldn't make a difference.

I was worthless, and the tears I was crying were worthless. The unimportant things fell down my face, ignored by the one who was supposed to care. They fell onto my dress, and into the fountain, forgotten and neglected. Though they fell fast and true, I didn't make a sound, nor did I try to rub them away. There was no point.

The sound of the door opening filled my ears, and with a start, I rubbed my eyes and drowned my face. Maurice, in his cute, green suit was standing there, looking at me. His emerald eyes were dull and bored. But when they fell upon me, they lit up, and he smiled.

"Kuro!" He cried out, running to me, "I was let off early. Do you want to play?" His voice filled my heart with glee, and I held him tight, just as he did me.

"Yeah!" I said, letting him go and smiling bravely, "Why don't we play hide and seek?" I said happily. Hide and Seek was our favorite game, and he nodded vigorously at it.

But something was strange as the butler put down his book, "I'll be the seeker, children." He said with a cold smile. Me and Maurice looked at each other, confusion at his sudden interest sparked. But our naive four year old hearts just nodded, and the game began.

He covered his eyes and counted, and with a couple giggles, Maurice took off toward one end, and I the other. I hid behind the hold tree in a bush of black roses.

It was a hard place to find, and I had stumped Maurice with it many times, but it was also a sharp place to be. The thorns poked at my arms, and the dirt soiled my dress. But I didn't mind.

I closed my eyes and waited. My breath was held, and my ears were opened, but I didn't hear anything. I opened my eyes and sighed. Maybe the butler had decided not to play after all. Maybe, this was an effort to read his book in peace. But just as I was about to come out, I heard his footsteps.

I held my breath, waiting, and almost screamed as everything went dark. I was lifted into the air, the feeling below nothing but some type of fabric. Was this part of the game? I didn't remember that this was how you played…

A few minutes passed, and I could feel the ground through the fabric again. But Maurice's scream made me panic as he too was placed in the bag. I felt his fur, and could hear his breath as he held onto me.

"What's going on?" He was freaking out, and so was I. I embraced him, hoping that he wouldn't hear my racing heart.

"I don't know..." I said honestly, "Maybe he's just playing with us.." But that idea was knocked out of me when I heard his voice speak to another...deeper voice. But this new voice was filled with static, and just felt cold.

"Here's your order, Mr." We yelped in pain as we hit a hard surface, "Now, where's my money?" The other man's voice scarred my mind as he spoke.

"Here it is, sir. One-thousand mobiums, as promised." This new voice was calm, and though he said sir, it sounded like he was the one in charge. I could hear the butler cower beneath him as he ran with his money.

We were in the air again as this new man picked us up, and carried us away. We were screaming and crying until he spoke to us, "My dearest children, don't be afraid. I will not harm you." We weren't reassured, but we stopped our crying and just held each other tight…

I awoke in a garden, the golden flowers around me glowing in the morning sunlight. I had been running all night, and my only guess was that I collapsed from exhaustion. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, the wild trees that surrounded this little haven watching me with a quiet fascination.

I could feel Mura's warmth in my quills, and just to gaze upon her, I took her out and led her in my lap. She was beautiful and her light was kind. But there was some sort of sadness hidden within.

"What's wrong, Mura?" I whispered. Though we were alone, I couldn't help but want to be quiet. The wind blew secrets of lost murmurs and shadows that have been watching me...I didn't want them to know our plans.

What do you remember? She asked. This confused me. I had been having nightmares of the past now for a while after allowing them to surface. The one with me and Maurice in the garden was both new, and familiar as it brought back yet more memories. Yes, I now remember all of it...up till that point. What's beyond is still fuzzy, but I'm sure it'll all be back before the end of the day.

I had been holding it all back before in fear of it, but now, I needed it. Everyone needed me to remember and to find this place...my brother needs it. The only thing is...the memories I do remember now are nothing but sorrowful. This is what I was afraid of, and judging by the nightmares I had before the start of this wild ride, it doesn't get better.

A silent tear fell down my white cheek, the pain of the past hard to bear, "I was betrayed once before by a butler I used to have...my father was a jerk who neglected us..and my mother always cried for us in her bedroom..." I held her tighter, her power the only thing keeping these memories from breaking my young heart and mind, "Nothing else yet.."

A relief spread across the surface of the crystal, and my naive heart twirled with confusion, Don't worry, darling, the rest will come in time. She said reassuringly, but that only darkened my heart a little more. I didn't want to remember anymore...it hurt...but I had to...or did I?

My eyes left her smooth surface and looked to the sky. They were glassy and filled with thought as I thought about what this blindness had done for me. Judging by the memories I knew so far, my past was horrible and cruel...but in not knowing that, I got to see Mobians smile with me. I got to meet new people, and I got to be free for who knows how long. Sure, I had nightmares and breakdowns, but all in all, it was such bliss to be ignorant.

My head fell, shaking violently as it did. What was I thinking? Maurice, the only one I've ever really cared about is in trouble! Not only that, but he's being held in that facility that has cause me so many nightmares along with the Dr., Knuckles, Burakku, and Tails. If I decide to forget now...then they will all die...or worse, be turned into a creature like me.

A broken smile broke across my face, the remembrance of his warmth filling my heart. I just want to talk to him. I want to hug him, and know that he's there. Tears poured down my face, the reality of this world hitting me hard.

"Hey, Mura...when we get out of this..." I couldn't control it, not even when I was holding her close, "Can you, me, and Maurice watch the dawn together?" I could feel her smile.

Yes, child. It's a promise. I smiled, the idea of peace after all this a nice thing to hear. It stilled the roaring darkness of my heart, and I wiped the tears away with my right arm.

I placed her back in my quills safely, then stood up. My legs wobbled a bit, but her power kept me from falling. I would have to find food soon, and thankfully, there was a town just a few miles away just off of the path to my brother and friends. I could stop there and restore my energy before I continue.

I started running, the colors of the land melting into shadows and abstract paintings...and memories. Daydreaming while I run isn't uncommon. In fact, it's very common, so it's no wonder why I drifted away into my memories once again as I ran as sparingly of my energy, as possible to this town.

"Come on, Maurice, Kuro." Okami was rushing us, "We're already late." Bani was right beside him in front of us as we walked down the endless, blank corridors.

Maurice was clasped to my arm, his body shaking with fear at what was about to happen next. I was too, but I tried not to show it...i was probably failing miserably though.

The man had told us to call him The Good Doctor, and that he was our saving grace. He told us that our parents had abandoned us, and didn't love us anymore. In truth, I believed him. I mean, our mother probably still loves us...but I know our father wouldn't care for our absence...the butler...well, he was the one who sold us. However, The Good Doctor is no saving grace. He has used us to be in twisted and cruel experiments involving crystals of immense power being forcefully electrocuted into my brother. He has drowned us while making the other watch after we've disobeyed. He has forced us to fight innocent robots that were just created..and he didn't need anymore. He makes us run in high-powered wheels that burn our feet and legs when we run...If anything, he was the devil.

I would have preferred to turn to stone on that swing instead of watching my brother come in from an experiment, charred, crying, and barely conscious. I would've preferred to waste away and fade like those black roses than to watch my brother's terrified eyes as he screamed and cried as he was drowned. I would've preferred to vanish forever in that blessed fountain than to watch as my bother's faded emerald eyes locked with mine as his soul vanished from killing an innocent creature.

These scars won't fade...not for all eternity.

I stopped, my face falling to the floor. I knew a vent to the outside was just behind us as I had seen it many times after coming from the testing room back there.

I took his hand, and held it tight. They would come after us, and I knew this, but if I could get him out of here, then it would be worth it...even if I was to be left behind.

I took off, Okami and Bani's cries of shock following as I dashed as fast as I could under the heavy sedatives to the grate. His hand was held tightly in mine, and he dashed beside me. Though Maurice was a brighter and sweeter child than I, he was by no means a push over. I knew that even if I wasn't there, that he would make a difference...who knows...maybe someday, I would be able to see him again as the hero I know he is.

I opened the metal bars enough for him to climb through and pushed him in. He began to climb up, his eyes betraying his shock and worry.

"Hey, Come back here!" Okami's voice rang true only a few meters behind us.

His eyes widened as I began to close it so that they couldn't follow, "What are you doing?" Tears began to pour as they caught up and grabbed me. I began to fight my hardest.

"Run, Sonic!" I told him, the nickname seeming to jar him back to reality, "I'll be okay." He stared for a couple seconds, his mind not seeming to register, and dashed up to the surface.

"You know that was your only chance...right?" Bani whispered, the realization of what I had done making them both hang their heads with shame.

Tears began to fall as I responded, "Yes...and I took it." I couldn't believe it. He was finally free! He was safe! A soft joy at his release filled my heart as I was dragged away to The Good Doctor. I knew that I would be punish severely for this offense, but I didn't care. He was free!

I closed my eyes, the idea of what's to come paralyzing, "Maurice...enjoy the surface for me...please.."

I won't go into details of what I did at the village...okay, I stole some bread from the stands. But what would you have me do? I still have no money, no connections, and I'm still just a child. What to you expect? Besides, no one saw me, and I have to get to my friends and family. Time is of the essence, and I couldn't wait around for a kind soul to give me a bit of bread….I'm sorry...if there had been another way, I would have taken it..please know that.

Sorry, guys, Sonic's staring at her right now with a look. Knock it off, Sonic! Let her finish.

Back to the story.

I ran a bit longer to the edge of a forest where a little brook ran right beside to sit down and eat. The water's melody was calming, and it too sang of old legends that I could not understand.

Quietly, I ate, the fresh bread melting in my mouth as I thought of the past. Though many things were bothering me at the moment, one of those things shone through. It was my promise to never touch a Chaos Emerald, and my hatred of them. In the past, all I had known of them was pain, and that they were his gems.

But now, I knew better. Mura was nothing like I had originally thought. Thinking back to the conversation we had just moments before, she probably knew about this...and she probably felt bad about it. She probably felt horrible about causing both me and my brother that much pain...but much like me and Maurice, she had no control over what she did. From what I understood of these beautiful gems, they have so much power, but they can only use that power for good if the person using them has good intentions. The Good Doctor was not one of those people.

I can't blame her for what happened, just as she can't blame me for hating her before. It was a complete misunderstanding, and I know that now. But it's funny...she's been with me so long, helping me and keeping me smiling that I can't just part with her based on an old hatred. After all she's done for me...it just wouldn't be fair to her. As for the promise I made, I'm pretty sure Maurice has broken it too. So, no guilt here.

With the last of the bread gone, I got up and kept running. I still had a long way to go, and time wasn't going to wait. My memories continued to fill my head, the past far more interesting than the familiar swirling of colors.

"Where are we going?" I whispered hoarsely to Okami as he held my hand tightly. Bani wasn't here, and we had just passed the usual lab space.

Last night I had spent crying in the lap of a shadow calling himself Chaos and though I said this question, I didn't really care about it. I couldn't feel my heart, and my legs were like lead. My blue hue was gone, replaced by black and white. As soon as Okami came in, he strapped rings to my wrists and ankles, and had me put on a golden collar. He had told me that it would help me control my power...but at this point, I had no power left.

Maurice was gone, and with him my life. I had nothing to hold onto anymore...if it wasn't for the fact that my body wouldn't let me die, I was sure that I would. At this point, I wouldn't even mind if I did.

Tired and lost, Okami dragged me though endless halls. I had asked him a question, but he didn't answer.

Okami had become far less happy since Maurice disappeared. I remember when they would chat together and hang out in the room. We all would used to play with anything we could find when it was an off day...but that's all gone now. I guess..I wasn't enough..or maybe he's still mad at me? I wouldn't be surprised.

Finally, a room came up at the very end of the hall. It had a big double door that was bigger than even The Good Doctor. My guess was that it was for more than one person...but considering that I had never seen anyone else down here for a while, I wouldn't know who.

Heh...I've been alone now for a couple months… The robots come in every once in a while to talk, but I can't feel anything anymore. In and out...in and out...daily routines of screaming and crying. You get bored of it after the first few weeks. Aside from yesterday when I was shocked though with overwhelming power, I haven't been crying or screaming...there hasn't been a point. There's no one to comfort me, no one to really talk to. I'm alone. When Maurice left, he took the light with him…

Staring up at that door, a small, wry smile spread across my lips. There was no fear, no resistance as Okami pulled me in. My only hope was that Maurice was doing better than I. I knew he was alive..we can't die...but I wish him the best.

A scream filled the air when I saw who The Good Doctor was standing beside. It wasn't a scream of fear, but a scream of surprise. It looked like Maurice...but it wasn't. His crimson eyes glared softly at me, while his welcoming aura filled the void in my heart.

My hands went to my mouth as I fell to my knees, warm tears falling down my face. It was a robot shaped like Maurice with red irises in the middle of black eyes. I didn't know what to feel, be it joy or remorse.

"Kuro, my child." The Good Doctors sweet voice filled my flickering ears, "You have been so sad at your brother's absence that it has been affecting your test scores. So, to better your mood, I have created for you a robot that should make you feel better." I wasn't even thinking as I ran to him, hugging his leg. I couldn't believe it.

I could feel his shock, but even so, he knelt down and petted my head. His hand was nice to feel and as it scratched behind my ears, I purred softly. This was the first real kindness I had been shown since coming here, and I was sure it would be the last. But in this moment, I was happy with it...and I didn't want it to end.

I heard the robot's voice in my head. It sounded like Maurice's, though with a robotic spin. He turned to face me, his hand held out in a kind greeting, "Hello, Kuro. My name is Burakku. It's nice to meet you." I smiled, and let go of The Good Doctor's leg to hold his hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Burakku!" I said with a happy smile on my face. His grip was familiar as it belonged to my brother, and his eyes, though set to a permanent glare, were kind and deep. This was someone I could trust. A sweet remembrance of a brother I had lost so long ago. His smile was true as it filled my mind, and his laughter could be heard as he embraced me in a fond hug.

That night, he slept beside me, holding me like the child that I am. I was happy in his grip, and lay there with a warm heart.

But there was someone else watching me. His dark aura had filled the room as his comforting hand caressed my ears and head.

My darling girl, I will be watching you. If you are afraid, just call on me, and I will be there. Never forget this, Kuro. With this, his hand vanished, and I fell into deep, bright dreams. I never wanted to leave them.

My mind returned when I stopped at an old dock. It wasn't abandoned, as there was an old, graying, blue hedgehog standing there with a boat right behind him, but it did seem to be in total disrepair.

This was when I recognized the old hedgehog as Uncle Chuck, the kind sir that gave me my name, Ko.

I smiled happily and waved, "Hey, Uncle Chuck!" I walked over to him and he bent down to be eye level with me. A smile spread across his face as he recognized me as well, and he patted me on the head.

"Well if it isn't my darling, Ko." His voice was old but glorious. It made me happy to hear, "And what would you be doing here this fine hour, kiddo?" I giggled at the nickname.

"I was wondering if you could give me a ride across?" I asked as sweetly as possible, "See, there's someone over on that island in the distance that I need to see." I smiled as I pointed to the huge island hidden in its own shadow beneath the crimson horizon. It was pretty far out, and I knew I could only get across by boat.

"Oh, that island?" He looked to it, "Now, what friend would a sweet little girl like you have, that would be on that cursed island? Legend has it that G.U.N., a huge security detail, took that island by storm after hearing about horrific experiments going on there." He shivered, "I wouldn't even want to be on that island, and you definitely shouldn't." He then whispered in my ear, almost jokingly, "If I were you, I would get a new friend." He then chuckled at that, and I tried to with him.

Memories were being to gnaw at my head again with the mention of that word, but I held them in. I had to convince him...but how?

"Please sir..." I tried, but he only crossed his arms. I sighed, an idea coming to my head, "Okay...the real truth is that Sonic is waiting for me there. He needs me for a very special rescue mission, and I can't disappoint!" I was only half lying, and Uncle Chuck seemed to buy it as I continued. I got up on my tiptoes and begged him like a child, "Please sir! Sonic is my hero, and I don't want to let him down...he's counting on me."

"He he he, Kiddo. You're a cute actress." He laughed, and my heart sunk, "I know Sonic, and because I know him, I know that he would never let a little kid like you go to a place like that. I hope I taught him better than that." He smiled in a fatherly way, "Besides, my little sonny would be here talking to me himself even if he had." My head sunk. There was no way I could tell him of what was really going on, and there was no way he would let a little child like me go to a place like that..

Was this all for nothing then? I didn't know how to operate a boat..and I didn't know if I could run fast enough, or long enough to get to that island…

I kicked my shoes on the harbor nonchalantly, my eyes reflecting a true disappointment at failing at my given task.

"Then again, Sonic hasn't been here recently, and I know that there's something off with that island..." He chuckled, a knowing look in his eyes as he stared at me, "Say, kiddo..what is your real name?" I perked up and looked into his dull, emerald eyes as I responded.

"My name is, Kuro." I said, the memories flooding back to me. His eyes widened, and with them, so did his smile.

"Kuro, huh?" He chuckled again, "I once knew a Kuro. It was a very long time ago though." His eyes grew distant as they faded into happy memories, "Yes, my sister would invite me to see both her and her brother, Maurice on my birthday. But I doubt they would remember me as it was so long ago, and her husband began to ban me from ever seeing them before they got to the age where they could remember." He sighed, his age coming back to him, "Yes, those were the days. Their smiles could warm the hollows of my aching bones." He hopped mechanically into his boat, oar in hand and motioned me to sit with him, "Why don't you come with me to the island, Kuro?" He smiled, "I would think that you wouldn't want to keep Sonic wait'n." A joyous smile blossomed across my face, the hope of a brighter future filling my heart.

"Thank You!" I cried as I hopped in opposite him, and he started rowing. Spirits were high as we rowed toward the island, with the sun turning the ocean a beautiful golden red, and with the boat rocking softly with each gentle wave. It was calming, so calming in fact that I just lay there looking up at the sky and watching as the stars popped out one by one in the twilit hour.

Memories began to overtake me as I fell into a quiet daze, sleep overtaking me as the boat rocked sweetly within the restful water.

Alarms were blaring as Burakku pulled me through the hallways. His voice was panicked and confused as he didn't know where to go, "G.U.N. is here! They will take you if they find you, and trust me, they will be far worse to you than he ever was!" He was saying this hurriedly, and I could barely understand through the blaring high-pitched noise, and his lack of diction.

"Where are we going?" I was scared. There was nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide. From what I understood, they had cut off all exits, and were searching for The Good Doctor even as we spoke. It had only been a few months since Burakku's birth, and the experiments had gotten less brutal. In fact, The Good Doctor had been showing more affection towards me and Burakku within a few weeks of his awakening…

Suddenly, we stopped. A black shadow revealing himself to be The Good Doctor stood there. My hand went to my mouth when I saw crimson staining one of his gloved hands as he held it to his stomach area. He was hunched over and breathing heavily through the strange mask he wore.

"Come, Kuro, Burakku..." He said sullenly, "I must...get you two...out of here." His red eye was darkened, while his emerald was shining.

He led us down corridor after corridor, finally stopping when he reached a set of two doors, unguarded, and strangely unknown to me. They had rusted handles, and the doors themselves seemed to be rusted with age. The hall we were in was one I had never seen, and seemed almost deteriorated in the red light.

"Over there!" I heard someone's voice some way down the end of the hall that we came from. The Good Doctor wasted no time, and pulled us through the door.

Real air filled my lungs as I ran on the green grass. Salt was in the cool breeze as he took us to the edge of a cliff, the sea down below.

"Kuro...we don't have much time..." He said quietly, "I am going to throw you off..." My eyes widened in surprise, "I know you can't die..but you may lose your memory..." He chuckled, a gleam of a man lost to time filling his eyes, "If that happens...don't come back." He looked at me full in the face, an ironic smile in his eyes as men I didn't know raced to meet us, "I really am a monster...aren't I?" That was his last sentiment as he pushed me off.

Burakku's cry, and the men's screams filled my ears as I fell. The Good Doctor could only stare as another child fell away from his reach...but this time, he seemed relieved…

Through heavy eyes, I saw them apprehend him forcefully though he did not resist. It was here that this chapter closed, and a smile came to my face...goodnight Doctor...goodnight Burakku...see you in another life.