Chapter 21

Night Terrors

Sonic, Knuckles, and Josh had been running for a good four hours. Josh was absolutely pooped, and Knuckles and Sonic were mildly winded.

"I need... to get... in better... shape." Josh gasped, falling onto his butt.

"Just keep running, you'll get better!" Sonic said, patting his younger brother's shoulder as he walked past. Josh held his ring up. A Dark Blue glow radiated from it.

"About one more day of running." Josh guesstimated, based on how bright his ring shone when they started, and now.

"Better rest up then." Knuckles said, walking over to a nearby tree and laying down under it. Josh pulled his sleeping bag out and set it out. Mr. Boddy gave him a better one than the one he had before. This one could conserve heat!

"Night Sonic." Josh called out, watching the Blue Hedgehog disappear into a tree.

"Night bud!" Sonic called back, settling himself on a tree branch. Josh smiled, and settled in to his own bag, and letting sleep wash over him.

…...

"...is doomed Sonic!" Eggman cackled.

"Not today Eggman!" Sonic yelled back, before making a dash at him. Unfortunately, Sonic didn't see the tripwire. A gun shot was sounded, a bullet planting itself into Sonic's head. Josh tried to scream, but all that came out of his mouth was static. Josh ran up to Sonic, and tried to shake him awake.

"What's wrong Josh?" A chilling voice asked. Josh looked up to see Scourge, his eyes wide and yellow, his teeth sharp, his mouth leaking blood. "You will soon join him!" Scourge yelled. Josh quickly got up and began running down a long hall with doors as far as the eye could see. The hallway stretched on forever, as Scourge seemed to get closer and closer to Josh.

…...

Sonic awoke from his slumber to the sound of a whimper. He cracked open one eye, and looked down. Josh was curled up in his sleeping bag, in a fetal position. His legs were kicking slightly.

"What is he dreaming about?" Sonic wondered as he sat up a bit.

…...

"The Emerald requires fear!" The Doctor yelled over Josh. He tried to hide himself, but the restraints on his arms and legs kept him secured to the table. Eggman pulled out a laser and began to cut into Josh's head, a severe pain coursing through him. "Fear is in the mind!" The Doctor yelled again, his red eyes glowing.

…...

Josh suddenly let out a scream, almost causing Sonic to fall out of the tree. Sonic looked down to see Knuckles, still fast asleep.

"He could sleep through a freight train." Sonic thought to himself, looking at Knuckles with half-lidded eyes. He turned his attention back to Josh, as he quickly descended the tree.

…...

"It's okay Josh, don't be scared!" A man gently told Josh, who was huddled in a corner. Josh tried to speak, but it came out garbled.

"No, look, see, Mommy and Daddy are alive!" The man pointed to a corner of the room. Two dark figures stood there. All that could be seen were their eyes, glowing in the dark. Josh shook his head. "They are! Go and see them!" The man said earnestly. Josh stared at the two figures, watching as two mouths slowly appeared. The teeth were jagged, sharp, and blood red. Josh let out a blood curdling scream.

…...

Sonic jumped as Josh screamed out again, this time a violent flail accompanied it. Josh straightened out, his hands in front of his face. Sonic watched, worried, as his younger brother seemed to cower from some imaginary enemy. Sonic wanted to comfort Josh in some way, but what could he do? Josh was dreaming. Helpless, Sonic did the only thing he really could do.

…...

The two figures began approaching Josh. His parent's voices seemed to come from them, but their mouths didn't move.

"We love you Josh." His mom's voice said.

"Stay with us Josh." His dad's voice said.

The room became filled with Josh's name, as his parent's voices seemed to overlap. The figures moved without moving their legs, slowly getting closer and closer to Josh, their smiles getting wider. Josh tried to tell them to go away, but all that came out were the sound's of nails on a chalkboard. The figures got closer, and closer, almost 5 feet away. Josh covered his head, but he still saw them, approaching him. The figures finally couldn't take it anymore, and lunged, and then...

Then Josh was moving through a meadow. A very peaceful place. He was moving very quickly, the wind brushing his face like a sweet caress. He felt a pair of arms underneath him. Arms he knew well. Josh closed his eyes and leaned against a strong shoulder.

…...

"Sonic..." Josh mumbled. Sonic looked down, seeing that his brother was still fast asleep. The hedgehog carefully balanced his human cargo in his arms and took a great leap into the tree. He landed without much grace, but it did the trick. Sonic looked for a place to lay Josh down, and found one, two branches that were wide enough to support Josh. He gently placed the boy between the branches. After one last concerned look, Sonic layed next to his younger brother, placing a hand on Josh's thin shoulder. Sonic gave Josh one last look. Josh was still sleeping, but a much more peaceful look was on his face. Sonic smiled, and went back to sleep.

…...

Josh sat back against Sonic's shoulder, as the two of them rested underneath a shade tree. He felt Sonic's hand on his shoulder. He couldn't be any happier. The grass was so peaceful, and soft, and... sinking? Josh gave a startled yelp as he fell through the grass.

…...

Josh quickly placed his hands on the two branches beside him, helping him to pull himself out of a large crack. Josh looked around, confused. How did he get up in a tree? He wasn't sleepwalking again, was he? Josh looked down to see Sonic, sleeping peacefully, his arm on Josh's shoulder. Josh smiled.

"Thank you Sonic." Josh said quietly.

"Your welcome Josh." Sonic said just as quietly. Josh jumped a bit, as Sonic grinned, eyes still shut. "Get some sleep, we have a big day tomorrow." Sonic put both hands under his head and got comfortable. Josh laid back down and did the same.

"...Sonic?" Josh asked.

"Hmm?" Sonic replied.

"...Can you... just leave your hand on my shoulder?" Josh asked, sheepishly. Sonic opened his eyes a bit and smiled. He moved his hand to Josh's shoulder, rubbing it a bit. Josh smiled, and closed his eyes, sleep washing over him.

…...

"Sonic," Josh said, looking at his older brother, "Can we stay like this?"

"Yeah." Sonic said, smiling at Josh. Josh smiled back, and leaned his head against Sonic's shoulder. The meadow was peaceful...

…...

...and Josh slept peacefully.