Chapter 15

Sirens snapped me out of my stupor, the crimson flashing lights filling my vision. But it wasn't only me, as everyone lifted their heads in that dark, childhood prison.

"W-what's going on?" The pink hedgehog, who I learned was called Amy, stuttered as Shadow, our cousin, stood up right beside her. They had both been sitting on the bed, talking and trying to comfort each other before this.

Tails didn't even look up as he answered, "Probably another test..." The poor thing was so depressed as he curled up in Maurice's bed, hugging his pillow tightly. With this, we all sort of settled down, as that idea was perfectly reasonable. But, this excuse didn't last, as what sounded like an explosion filled the air.

"I don't think this is a test." I whispered, my voice hoarse from all the screaming I did about an hour ago. I was sitting beside Tails, on my bed. I didn't feel I had the right to be on his, so I had just been on mine, dreaming of better days. But upon hearing the explosion, I had dashed to the door, hoping for some form of answer. The air was filled with electricity, my quills standing on end with some sort of power.

I heard Amy shiver, "Hey...guys..." She quaked, "This feeling...it feels so...familiar..." I turned to look at her in confusion. She was now standing beside Dr. Eggman, who had been leaning against his bed just moments before the alarm sounded. He had a terrified look on his face, and it wasn't long before everyone noticed it.

"What is that look for?" Rouge, the bat who had introduced herself to me while I was sulking, walked over to him in annoyance. "We already have enough on our plate, so why do you have to go and make such horrid faces?" Wow...I get that she's upset...but wow..

He didn't answer as he rushed to the door beside me, "HEY!" He yelled as though someone would hear him over the siren, "LET US OUT!" He screamed.

I took his coat and pulled on it gently, "Who are you yelling to?" I was panicking as I half-yelled at him, "No one is going to hear us!" What was going on? Why was he so scared? The idea of what it could be filled my heart with disarray and fear. I mean, what could really scare this big guy? He's faced an angry, immortal hedgehog for years, and never backed down...so why?

"IT'S-" He had turned to me, trying to explain, but he never got a chance. Just as he was turning, the door burst, throwing both of us back.

Everything was spinning for a second, sound vanishing from the world. My vision was blurred and I felt like I wanted to hurl. But just as soon as those feelings came, they vanished, and I was able to see again.

The next feeling I felt was shock, as a black hedgehog with raised quills and blank eyes stared at me from the damaged and barely there, doorway. Darkness was practically oozing off him as he stood there lifelessly, almost like a puppet. Then, without any warning, he smiled, the smile sending chills up everyone's spines.

"Kuro...How nice to see you." It wasn't my brother speaking.

I began to quake with fear, his presence numbing my soul, "Where's Maurice?" I whispered, tears filling my vision as my body tried to calm itself. It was here that I realized that everyone else in the room were still frozen in shock, their ears listening intently to each word. Dr. Eggman had managed to get behind me, and was hiding there in fear.

"Cold, aren't you?" He chuckled before putting his hand to his head in fake sorrow, "And here I thought you'd be happy to see me!" It was weird to see Maurice do that like this. It made my skin crawl. But it also reminded me of someone...

The realization of who it was suddenly hit me, "Chaos...is that you?" I barely whispered.

His smile widened, the act of doing so breaking reality, "Bingo." His arms opened in a hug, "I came to say "Thank You" for the song. It gave me just the boost I needed to take control of this cry-baby's mind!" He seemed so happy as he walked over to me and picked me up, holding me over his head like a small child, "He wouldn't dare do anything that could actually hurt anyone!" He mused, throwing me up into the air with ease before catching me and doing it again, over and over, "So I decided to take over." I yelped every time he did this, his smile growing wider and wider with each cry, "But don't you worry your preddy widdle head, My Dark Dearest." He suddenly stopped tossing me, and booped my nose before setting me down, "Yours and his friends won't be harmed..." He then turned to the cowering Eggman, "Only his enemies."

At this, Eggman cried out and made a dash toward the beds. But knowing he couldn't hide from the demon, he just collapsed in fear against the wall. At this display, Chaos laughed, the sound echoing across space and time. It broke down the soul, and shattered the mind.

"How amusing!" He shrugged, "But don't worry yourself, traitor. Maurice is already screaming at me that you two are friends again." He chuckled, "Just in time too….Oh how I wanted to see you bleed." He vanished, appearing suddenly beside Eggman and placing his hand against the wall, "Se y-la-ve...see what I mean about him being a cry-baby? He's so determined to protect everyone...even if they cause him harm." He shrugged again, one eye closing, "I suppose most would call that honorable. But to me, he and Kuro are all that matter, making everyone else nothing but dust in the wind. They are mine after all, and I hate when something hurts that which is mine." He patted his head before walking back to the doorway nonchalantly, no one daring to stop him. Once he was there, he turned, "And why am I telling you all this?" No one moved, "Because I'm about to dye the facility red, and I don't want any of you blaming your sweet, innocent Maurice for it." He turned back to the broken door, and exited with a content, "Tootles!"

I stared after him, a murmur filling the broken room as the animals all unfroze one by one. Before long, an argument broke out, one that I had no say in.

"We should go after him!" Shadow said loudly, "He's about to kill the doctor!" But his argument was one-sided, as almost everyone else sided against him. The only ones on his side were Eggman, Rouge, Omega, and Burakku. Amy, Tails, Charmy, Espio, Knuckles, and Vector were either too scared of Chaos, or just didn't care for the Doctor's safety.

Tails spoke up against Shadow, his face still buried in his tail, "Why bother? No one can beat him, and besides...The Good Doctor will get what he deserves." This sparked an all out fight, one side battling for mercy, while the other side wanted nothing to do with it. They had all had enough.

I sat there, listening to this and staring. It didn't matter what they were going to say or do as I had already made up my mind.

They didn't even notice as I dashed out of the room, chasing Chaos down the hallways.

I couldn't just let The Good Doctor die, not after all I read; nor could I let Chaos force Maurice to kill someone like that. Judging by what he had said about Maurice screaming at him to let Eggman live, told me that Maurice was watching, and was definitely still there. I had to do something...even if I didn't know what. My head was spinning too fast to form a plan, and my heart sounded like thunder against my rib-cage.

It didn't take long before I found him...and not just him…

The scene I found was tragic:

The black hedgehog had The Good Doctor pinned against the remains of his dear computer, pleading in his monotone voice for forgiveness. The bed behind them had been torn up, the walls filled with claw marks, and papers scattered and torn all over the floor. The Good Doctor himself was bleeding, his mismatched eyes filled with terror as his life seemed to be flashing before his eyes. The hedgehog he had so loved, now turned on him to end his life.

I tried to run forward, but couldn't. My heart screamed for this to stop, but my mouth wouldn't move. I was glued there, helpless as my heart beat faster and faster. I felt as though I would explode, but I couldn't move. Help him, save him, anyone! But nobody came.

You want this to end? A woman's voice filled my mind, and everything froze.

Yes. I replied, my mind speaking for me.

What price will you pay for fate's reversal? Her voice was soothing, and reminded me of someone.

Anything. I cried out.

Even your very existence? I turned around, surprised at my own movement, and confused at what I saw. In front of me was a large, glowing green gem. It was almost bigger than this hallway, and loomed over me sadly.

What? I whispered, my heart sinking, What...do you mean...my existence?

The beautiful gem glinted gorgeously in the white light, every eternity reflected in her glass, The only way to fix this...is to erase you from memory, and from eternity. But not only you...your mother, your father, and Ovi Kintobor. For the only way to change this fate, is to erase the ones who caused it.

My eyes widened, my heart breaking with her soft, yet stabbing words. You mean...no one will remember us?

Correct.

But...but… Tears filled my vision as they poured down my left side, That's not fair. I broke, falling to the ground. We finally remembered each other! I finally got to see my brother, after all these years...and now...he'll just...forget me? I won't even exist to him? That's not fair! The gem was silent as I cried, my tears creating a puddle beneath me. All I wanted...all...I wanted...I just wanted to talk to him...I just wanted to hug him...and now..I'll never get the chance…

You could refuse.

I shook my head, my eyes darting back to the scene from before, I can't...You know I can't.

As you wish. Her glow began to get brighter, a heartbeat filling the air.

But… She stopped, now waiting, Before I go...What brought you here? I raised my head to look at her, her crystal body turning in silent thought as her glow and heartbeat remained the way they were.

You, him, Maurice, your friends. You were all crying out. The balance was tipped, and Chaos got free. How could I not come? She responded, Is that all you wanted to know?

I waited, wondering what else I could want to know. But, thinking of nothing, I somberly replied, Yes.

Very well. You are very brave you know. I am very proud of you, Kuro. I felt my head drop again as everything went white, then black.