Chapter 26
The hotel room was ablaze with activity.
Tails tapped into the city's security feed and was looking for Sonic via laptop.
Knuckles was calling the TV station manager, trying to find out where Sonic went after the show was over.
Amy was hitting up with magazines and paparazzi for any clue as to Sonic's current whereabouts.
Josh poured over website after website, looking for information on the drastic change in Sonic's opinion.
...
Moments ago
...
Knuckles and Josh stared in disbelief at the screen, as the hostess continued to ask Sonic questions from fans.
"He's... Not coming back..." Josh said quietly. He slowly sat back down on the bed, stopping the tape recorder in his hands and setting it aside. "This is all my fault..."
"No, it's gotta be some kind of publicity thing, a way to get you out of the spotlight!" Knuckles said assuredly.
"The way Sonic talked about me... I was nothing but an object to him..." Josh began to tear up again.
"He would never talk about you like that!" Knuckles sat next to Josh and shook him a bit. "Come on, snap out of it, something's wrong with him or something, you know it!" Josh shook his head and started watching the program, not really paying attention to what was said. The host said something. Sonic said something. The audience laughed. Sonic smiled.
Josh suddenly sat up a bit. Knuckles looked at him.
"Can you rewind, back to the interview about me?" Josh asked.
"Josh, don't be so hard-"
"No, you're right... Something is wrong with him... I think it has to do with Mr. Watch from last night." Josh began watching Sonic very closely as Knuckles rewound. "Stop here, give me the remote."
Josh waited until Sonic cracked a joke and the audience started laughing. Sonic smiled. Josh smashed the pause button.
Sonic's smile was odd. It seemed too big to fit his face, his teeth shown under the stage lights. It was... Unsettling.
"Just like the weasel's." Josh gasped. "Something's very wrong!"
...
"Are you sure it has something to do with Music Park?" Amy asked, covering the receiver on her phone.
"Both Mr. Watch and Sonic had the exact same creepy smile!" Josh pressed, getting another idea and typing in Music Park's website URL.
"That's not much to go on..." Tails replied from his laptop.
"But it's all we have." Josh replied, clicking through tabs. "Any lead is better than no lead at all."
Knuckles hung up his Comm, a rectangular piece of glass that worked similarly to the iPhone. "Station says they were too busy to see who he left with!"
"Aren't they in charge of getting celebrities there?!" Josh asked. Amy plugged her free ear as she got into an animated conversation.
"Apparently not!" Knuckles grunted, throwing his Comm to the bed. Amy quickly tapped her glass.
"I got something!" She yelled. "A photographer from NTrigue was at the show, she snuck into the back and saw Sonic getting into a creepy van..." Her phone dinged. She tapped it again, examining what looked like a picture. "She was nice enough to send us the photo." She held it out for everyone to see.
The van itself was jet black, aside from a logo on the side. A deranged looking smile beamed from the side, with white and yellow eyes shaped into spirals, and white lines representing teeth, shaped into a wide grin.
"I've seen those around town!" Tails yelled. He began to rewind video, showing two different instances where similar vans appeared around the city.
"What do you think they're for?" Amy asked.
"Advertisement." Josh ran over to his laptop. He clicked back to the homepage of Music Park. He turned the screen towards them. In large, bold, yellow type, the name of a new ride flashed on and off the screen. The creepy smile stared down the group, looking a bit more menacing.
"Sonic went here..." Josh said quietly, reading the name of the ride to himself.
THE SMILER.
JOIN US.
...
Amy tapped her phone as the group climbed into a taxi.
"The plot thickens," she announced to the group, "The audience heard a loud scuffle during a commercial break, and a voice shouting. No one thought much of it, but-"
"It could be Sonic." Josh finished.
"Let's not jump to conclusions..." Knuckles said quietly. Amy looked accusingly at the echidna. He held his hands up. "All I'm saying is we don't know what's going on. He could have been forced to say that, or else someone would hurt Josh or something. The crashing could have been a prop malfunction."
"But why would he be in the Smiler van?" Amy shot back.
"We never actually saw Sonic get in the van." Tails said. "Knuckles is just saying we need to keep an open mind."
"Sonic's in trouble." Josh said abruptly. He looked at the group. "I can feel it. And I know that, somehow, an amusement park ride is at the center of it." He looked out the window. "I know how it sounds... But you gotta believe me."
The cab went quiet. Knuckles gently grabbed Josh's shoulder.
"We'll find him Josh." He reassured the worried teen. Josh nodded.
"We have to..." Josh replied.
...
Music Park rose dramatically over the horizon, with roller coasters, towers, and all manner of music related structures cheerfully flashing, spinning, and whirring. But despite the cheerfulness, the group approaching was anything but happy. Knuckles marched up to the ticket booth attendant.
"We need to talk to Mr. Watch, now!" He demanded.
The young hedgehog stammered, surprised at Knuckles' fierceness, as he tried t form words. He pulled a walkie talkie off his belt and began to call the theme park's owner up front. A response quickly crackled back.
"He's on leave." The ticket hedgehog reported. "We don't know where he is!" Knuckles groaned in frustration. Josh pulled him away.
"Let's just go in and take a look for ourselves." Josh suggested.
"Can we just go in, or do we have to pay?" Amy wondered.
"We don't have a warrant." Tails replied. "We gotta p-"
"I can't believe you guys think we have time to talk about this!" Knuckles interrupted. He stormed over to a kiosk, bought tickets for everyone, and stormed back. "Now let's go find Sonic!"
...
The four agreed to split up. Amy would sweet talk some people into letting her see the vans that supposedly took Sonic away. Tails would try and get a lead on Mr. Watch's whereabouts. Josh would stay by Knuckles for protection, and the two would search the park for any sign of Sonic. As Tails and Amy walked away, Josh ran over and pulled a rope off from a nearby maintenance hut. He tied it around his neck and handed the long end to Knuckles, making a make-shift leash. Knuckles shook his head and gave the rope back to Josh.
"There is no way I'm-"
"You guys have leashes here, don't you?" Josh interrupted.
"Well, yeah, but we only use them to keep wild animals and Mobians under control." Knuckles replied.
"To everyone else, I fall under the first category." Josh replied.
"I'm not doing it!" Knuckles said firmly. "It's not fair to you."
"I don't care how it makes me look! Sonic's branded me as a wild thing on national television, so that's what I have to be!" Josh explained. "I don't like it either, but it's either you hold the leash or animal control does."
"We don't have that here." Knuckles interjected.
"Then what do you have?" Josh asked flatly.
"The police..." Knuckles said, trailing off.
"Then it's even more important I have this." Josh said. "I don't want to go for a walk down to the station house." Knuckles agreed, but he still wasn't happy. He reluctantly grabbed the rope.
"Let's go." Knuckles said quietly.
"You can't talk to me like that." Josh replied. "I'm an animal, remember?" Knuckles sighed.
"...Come on boy, let's go." A pained look was on Knuckles' face as he seemed to spit out the words. I put a dopey smile on my face and followed behind him.
"Don't be so sullen Knux." Josh murmured. "It's just acting."
"Doesn't make it right." He murmured in reply. "Let's just find Sonic."
The two had searched nearly the entire theme park, but amidst the colorful festivities, there was still no sign of Sonic. They stopped to rest for a moment. Knuckles sat on the bench, while Josh sat Indian style on the ground next to him. Josh had been the perfect animal, tugging at his leash, getting excited when he saw new people, even trying to chase some of the squirrel Mobians!
"Now where?" Josh asked, scratching behind his ear.
"Well..." Knuckles sighed as he opened up a map. "There's only one other place, but..."
"It's the new ride." Josh said quietly. A shiver went up his spine. "Something about it just seems wrong..."
"Which is why I don't want you going." Knuckles replied.
"He's my brother!" Josh protested.
"And he wouldn't want you getting hurt!" Knuckles replied. He got down on one knee to Josh's level. "I think you will if you go near that roller coaster."
"I have you to protect me." Josh said quietly. "I know you will." Knuckles was a little taken aback. He reluctantly stood up and grabbed ahold of the leash again.
"Come on boy..." Knuckles called out. "Let's go check out that new ride."
"I'm sorry Mr. Prower, but Mr. Watch isn't here!" The secretary at Music Park's main office repeated. The blue hawk adjusted her glasses as she stared down the young fox.
"But he must have told you where he was going!" Tails urged. The secretary shook her head.
"Mr. Watch hasn't been in the office for over a week." She refocused on her magazine. "Only reason I know he's alive is that he clocks in and out every day..."
"But you never see him?" Tails asked, sounding incredulous. The secretary shrugged, either not hearing Tails' frustration, or not caring. Tails stormed outside. A small pinging caught his attention. He pressed a button on a small earpiece he wore, and a holographic screen projected in front of him. Tails pressed a few buttons, and a messaging window opened.
Amy: Look what I found!
A photo was attached, a picture of a small, but still noticeable, blue quill resting on a black leather seat. Tails began to type.
Tails: Anything else?
Amy: Let me see...
Tails: Use the black light I gave you to check for blood!
Amy: K
Tails wanted to say something about Amy's lack of spelling, but thought otherwise. He didn't have to wait long before another picture popped up. It looked like the floor of the van. It was bathed in a dark purple light, except for a small, bright green spot.
Amy: Is it Sonics?
"Apostrophe S!" Tails corrected to himself a he booted up a software. A small crosshair targeted the blood stain, as it began to analyze it in minute detail. Tails designed the app himself, a program that could analyze DNA just from a photograph! After only about a minute, the app sounded a short chime, heralding in a new screen covered with information. Tails scanned the numerous charts and tables with his educated eyes.
Tails: It's Sonic's.
Amy: What did they do to him?!
Tails: Let's not get excited yet! Let's meet up with Knuckles. Do you know where he is?
Amy: One sec!
Tails strolled out of the office, heading back into the heart of the park. As he scanned the layout, he knew almost immediately where Knuckles would be.
…
"I'm drawing too much attention, you need to ditch me!" Josh urged his red guardian.
"No way." Knuckles replied, shaking his head. "These guys might try and come after you too!"
"We don't know that!" Josh said. "I want you to get close to the building, see what security they have!" Josh pointed to a bench. "Tie me up over there! If someone tries to take me, I'll bite them and scream!" Josh chuckled, half-joking. Knuckles still looked dubious. "I'll be in plain sight." Josh reassured, "You can keep an eye on me."
"But what if someone DOES come after you, and I can't get to you?" Knuckles pressed.
"...They won't..." Josh said quietly. "What would they want with me anyway?"
"This could be Eggman." Knuckles replied. Josh shook his head. Knuckles knew he was right.
"Just do a quick walk around, see where doors are, find security cameras, anything useful." Josh looked over at the large, white building fearfully. "I think he's in there..." He stared for a moment, lost in thought. He sighed a bit before walking over to the nearby bench and tying himself to it. "It'll take five minutes, probably less." Josh assured, squatting down on the ground. Knuckles reluctantly nodded.
"Don't move." Knuckles replied.
"Wasn't planning on it!" Josh replied pleasantly. Knuckles smiled faintly. He hurriedly began to circle the building.
"Geez... What's with all the cameras?" Knuckles thought to himself. The cameras were cartoonishly large, and a rather gaudy shade of yellow, matching part of the creepy smile that took up a large portion of the wall. One of the cameras focused directly on Knuckles. The echidna stared back at it, growing uneasier as the seconds ticked by. "Is this part of the theming... Or are they actually watching us?"
A buzz from his glove caused Knuckles to start. He pulled his Comm from inside his glove, the safest place in his opinion.
Amy: Where are you?! Josh is alone!
Knux: He told me to check the building. Can you keep an eye on him?
Amy: K, but don't leave him alone! I feel freaked out in this place.
Knux: We all do...
Knuckles replaced his his Comm and took his time now, studying every nook and cranny. Cameras were plastered everywhere, studying the various park guests. One would periodically train its eye on him, causing him to quicken his pace. As he scanned the final wall, he made note that the only door was on the side he left Josh on. Thinking of Josh, he quickly scanned the final wall, making sure he was alright.
His heart stopped.
Josh wasn't tied to the bench!
Knuckles stumbled over to the bench, frantically scanning the crowd for any signs of the human. He eventually began to get desperate.
"JOSH!" Knuckles screamed. He called the teen's name again and again.
"Knuckles!" He heard Josh's voice call out. He turned to see Josh, Amy, and Tails walking towards him, a swirl of cotton candy in their hands. Josh held two. He hurried over to the echidna, looking anxious.
"Did you find something?" The teen gasped. Knuckles was about to yell. How could Josh not warn him?! Couldn't Amy have texted him that they were going?! The air head was always on her phone. Anger built up in him, boiling and rising, until finally he turned to Josh and-
"Knuckles?" Josh asked again. The echidna stopped for a moment. He looked into the teen's eyes, seeing desperation and fear stare back at him. Despite his calm composure, Josh was scared more than the rest of them. Knuckles exhaled a bit and relaxed. There was no need for yelling. Josh had been through enough. Besides, it looked like Josh still felt guilty about what happened between him and Sonic last night. Knuckles didn't want to add to it.
"There are cameras everywhere." Knuckles replied finally, pointing to one if the yellow boxes mounted to the building. "The only way in is through there." Knuckles pointed to the door. "I noticed a few air ducts , but there are cameras mounted on both sides of them. Only way in is to be invited."
"Would you like to be?" A voice crooned from behind them. The group turned.
"Mr. Watch?" Tails scoffed in disbelief.
"My secretary told me you were looking for me!" The weasel reported, his ever present smile beaming at the group.
"She says she hasn't seen you in a week." Tails said pointedly.
"I haven't been in the office, I've been doing promotion work!" Mr. Watch replied calmly. "We expect the Smiler to be a favorite, and want as many people to come as we can!"
"That ride did something to him!" Josh said coldly, glaring at him. Mr. Watch looked back surprised.
"Whatever happened to your owner is not on account of The Smiler!"
"He wouldn't just leave me!"
"Perhaps he was kidnapped on his way home!" The weasel suggested.
"And then decided to go on live TV?" Josh shot back.
"We found his blood in one of your vans!" Amy crossed her arms.
"One of our vans was stolen last night, you can check the log." Mr. Watch didn't miss a beat. "We would have filed a report, but it was returned shortly after you arrived at the park.
"I don't believe you." Josh said flatly. "Your roller coaster did something to him!"
"I would not allow something negative in my park." Mr. Watch cried out in defense. His face lit up. "Let me prove it to you! I'm inviting all of you to ride! If your attitude does change after you ride, I'll personally take a wrecking ball to it!" The others carefully considered his offer.
"No way guys..." Josh blurted out after seeing his friend's faces. "You can't!"
"It's the only way we can know for sure..." Tails mused.
"Make Watch go on it!" Josh pointed to the weasel, who put his hands up defensively.
"I've already been!" He insisted. "I have pictures to prove it!" He pulled out his walled and showed a souvenir photo of him on the ride.
"You could've been photoshopped in!" Josh pointed out.
"Photoshop...?" Watch repeated slowly.
"We don't have that here Josh." Tails corrected. "But you're right, we don't know if he's been on it or not." Josh smiled in satisfaction. Tails continued, "Which is why we have to go."
"What, why?!" Josh cried, turning to Tails.
"You know for a fact none of us have been on the ride, we've been with each other ever since Sonic left to try the ride. We'll know for sure what this ride does if we ride it." Tails calmly explained. Josh tried to argue, but couldn't find anything wrong.
"Well I'm not going." Josh stated.
"Good, you can tell if something happened and try to reverse it if something really does happen!" Tails assured.
"He'll have to stay out here..." Mr. Watch warned. "The building you see is temporary, and that door is for maintenance on the ground. The only safe place to be while the ride is in motion is on the ride."
"What about the loading platform?" Amy asked. Mr. Watch closed his eyes and shook his head.
"We don't have one yet. We're a little behind schedule," He reluctantly admitted, "So you'll be loaded onto the ride via crane and harness. Only place to stand is on the ground, and that's a safety risk and a park violation while the ride is in motion."
"We can't just leave him out here alone!" Knuckles worried. "Maybe I should stay out with him."
"If you'd like, one of my staff can stay and guard him!" Watch offered helpfully. "I don't think you'd want to miss this!" Before anyone could say anything edgewise, the weasel scurried off to one of his employees.
"I don't trust him." Josh hissed.
"We'll be fine..." Amy assured quietly as Watch returned with an employee. He wore a black t-shirt covered by yellow overalls to match the Smiler's creepy grin. "Brian" as his name tag declared, was smiling himself rather creepily, but the brown hedgehog wore a baseball cap, again, sporting the logo, that he had pulled low over his face, covering his eyes. He waved a bit too cheerfully to the group, his yellow and black striped glove catching the group's attention almost immediately.
"Brian will take care of you young man." Mr. Watch declared. He clapped his hands together. "Now for the rest, follow me!" He began to walk over. The trio looked at each other before somewhat reluctantly following.
"We'll be back in just a bit." Knuckles quickly added, turning to face Josh. "Don't be afraid to hurt someone if they get to close." Josh nodded as the group disappeared into the complex.
"Please be careful..." Josh quietly pleaded.
...
Tails stood in awe at the beauty of what was before him. Never before had he seen such a feat of architectural prowess, of such daring steel-work!
"This baby holds the world record for most inversions on a roller-coaster! Fourteen to be exact!" Watch recited proudly.
"What's that thing in the middle?" Amy asked, pointing to a very large and odd looking structure that the coaster weaves around. It looked like a spider, but there were only five legs, each leg sporting a different, and rather menacing looking device. Amy saw large hypodermic needle, barrels of some kind of chemical, spinning wheels with spirals on them, bright flashing lights, and... Large, tube dusters? The legs all fed into a large ball with a video monitor wrapped all the way around it, which was constantly changing images.
"We call it the Marmalizer!" Watch explained, chuckling. "It's a hokey gimmick our writers came up with, it's supposed to brain wash you." The trio turned to look at the weasel, who looked back at then, realizing how bad that sounded. "I'm not saying that it does! I mean, look at it!" The group looked back at the large structure. "What could that thing really do to you?"
"...One way to find out..." Knuckles murmured, slowly starting to walk forward
...
Josh sat quietly on the bench, listening to his music. He loved the music Sonic had given him... He wanted to tell that to him in person though. Josh sighed.
"I miss you Sonic..." Josh said quietly. He stole a glance up at the ever-present Brian, who had not moved from Josh's side ever since his friends went to the ride. The employee hadn't moved or said a word. He just smiled.
"Don't talk much, do you?"
Josh slouched down on the bench. He wanted to be anywhere but here. The place made him nervous.
Brian moved a hand up to scratch his ear.
"So you can move..." Josh mused. "What else can you do?" The employee looked down at Josh. His smile wavered just a bit... After a moment, he reached a hand into his overalls and pulled out a small folded up piece of paper.
"What's that?" Josh asked politely. No answer came. Josh looked up at Brian frustrated. "Are you not talking because it's part of your act, or because I'm an animal?" Josh asked, agitation clear in his voice. "Because I'm not! I once had a brother, he treated me as an equal, he loved me!" Josh stopped for a moment. "Then we... We got into a fight... And... He left me." Josh finished sadly. He leaned forward and rested his mouth on his fist. "He... Told me to leave. I never thought he would be serious!" Josh closed his eyes and groaned. "What am I thinking? A roller coaster made Sonic lose his mind? He left because he was mad and decided to make a point!" Josh held back tears. "I lost his trust... And his support." Josh looked forward, staring blankly. "Probably somewhere in Sambada-what's-its-place drinking a margarita or something-" Josh stopped when he became aware that he had an audience. Brian was turned and looking at him. Josh looked down awkwardly, trying to avoid the stare if the creepy hedgehog.
The hedgehog held out his black and yellow, gloved hand, offering the paper to Josh.
"...For me?"
Silence.
Josh gently tugged the paper. Brian gave it up willingly.
"What is it?" Josh tried asking, but he was, of course, left unanswered.
He unfolded the paper, which looked like it had been carefully preserved, each crease folded with great care.
He looked at the front.
His eyes went wide.
"This is..."
Josh looked up at the hedgehog, a mix of hope and fear in his eyes.
...
Amy was the last to be lowered off the ride.
"That was intense!" Amy gasped, out of breath.
"Shame one of the effects didn't work..." Mr. Watch took out his Comm and made a note. He put it in his pocket as he asked, "So, how does everyone feel?"
"The same." Knuckles shrugged.
"Let's ask Josh for sure, he'll notice something." Tails suggested.
"He missed out, that ride was awesome!" Amy gushed.
Knuckles chuckled as he pushed open the door.
"I wanna see the ride photo!" Tails cheered.
"It's right over-"
"Josh is gone." Knuckles wasn't moving. He looked pale, as he stared at the bench. Tails and Amy froze as well. The three quickly burst through the door, sprinting to the bench.
"A note!" Tails picked up a piece of scratch paper.
Your little friend is ours now. Any attempt to save him will result in his death. Do not make any efforts. He will be returned to you when we finish our job. However, it will cost you... We'll discuss details later.
-Black Hill Gang
"Not the Black Hill Gang..." Mr. Watch moaned. Knuckles turned to him in anger.
"What happened to that employee, huh punk?!" Knuckles screamed.
"What employee?" Watch whimpered. His voice caught as he realized his mistake.
"Excuse me?" Amy growled.
"Well, you see I-"
"You've been in on this the whole time!" Tails yelled accusingly.
"N-No, it's just-"
"This better not be some kind of sick joke!" Knuckles shoved Watch to the ground. "Where is he?!"
"He is property of the Ministry of Joy now!" Watch bellowed in a proud, haughty voice. A crazed smile spread across his face, causing the heroes to stop talking and back away. "He is heralding forth the future!"
"Give him back!" Knuckles lunged at the weasel. Watch quickly pulled a small black box out of his pocket and threw his arm up. Knuckles landed on the box, which sent a jolt of electricity through him, with enough force to throw him into the air. Watch took the opportunity to stand up and run a distance away.
"You will never know our secrets!" He cried defiantly. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at his head. "Welcome to Joy!"
He pulled the trigger.
Don't read if you want me to ruin the moment. But this next bit has announcements... So...
Josh is a little... Busy at the moment, so I'll conclude. I promise, Shadow is coming next chapter, and I'm sorry this update took so long, I wanted to set this up just right. Look for the conclusion in the next exciting chapter! Please give me a review if you like it! Or if you don't!
Also, for all you readers of my story Dependency, I am going to start working on it again! Just an FYI! Oh, and I apologize for the lack of indents... Things are technically goofy right now, I'm trying to fix that. Thanks everyone!
