*Chapter 4: Can't Run...*

Sally looked around for two friends, but nothing in sight. She couldn't get that scream out of her head. She knew it was Tails. She must find him and Sonic.

"Tails! Sonic!" Sally called. "Tails! Where are you?!" Nothing but sounds of nature. She look down to the ground and found a dead bird with guts out. Sally moved away from it and continue to walk down to the woods. "Could be a animal." She said. "Maybe a wolf or something."

"Sally! Is that you over there?" A female voice asked. Sally turned to see a mongoose with yellow fur and long purple hair coming from behind the tree. Sally places her hand over her chest.

"Oh, Mina. Thank goodness it's you." She said. "What're you doing out here?" Mina smiled a little.

"Ash and I are camping. But, he's taking a little nap, and I wanted to go out for a walk until I heard a scream out there." Mina replied.

"You heard Tails, too?"

"That was Tails? He's out there all alone?" Mina asked in shock.

"Sonic was with him." Sally said. "Tails told me that Sonic was acting strange today. He had bloodstains on his shoes. I don't know what is going on, but I'm going to find out as soon as I find Tails."

"Since you are here, where's your camp?" Mina asked.

"Back that way." Sally pointed behind Mina. "Amy's back there. Tell her I'm still looking for Tails and Sonic. But, if I'm not back in 30 minutes, and if Knuckles comes back to my camp, tell him to come in the woods." Sally left Mina alone. The confused mongoose watched her leave before heading to the path where Sally came from. A slight hiss was heard from thin air, making Mina gasp. She looked around for anything. Nothing in sight. At least she heard the sound once.

"I have to get to the camp grounds soon." She says, walking faster. Above the branch of the tree, SonicEXE watches her with a smirk.

"A new play thing." He says. "But she will be next after the red echidna." He silently climbed off the tree and took off to the woods.

More blood was dripping on Sonic's chest. He heard that his best friend is killed by a demon. He started to tear up after hearing his helpless friend get killed by EXE.

"Tails, I'm so sorry. I couldn't get out of this! Please don't think it was really me doing this to you." He says. "The demon won't get away with this! Once I get out of here, I will kill it!"

"Hahaha! Foolish hedgehog. You can't get away from my world. Tails failed the game, and he is now mine forever. Would you like to see him?" A voice said. Appearing before Sonic was a figure. Tails. But, his fur is no longer yellow. It's dark gray with hollow eyes, and blood falling from his eyes. Scars on his chest. Sonic gasped at the sight of his friend. He wanted to turn away, but his eyes couldn't leave the sight of the poor fox.

"Tails..."

"His soul belongs to me. He is too slow." EXE spoke.

"You bastard! Let him go! Leave my friends alone!" Sonic shouted.

"Sonic..." Tails spoke in a low voice. Sonic finally got out of the grip from the dark. He came to the fox by grabbing his shoulders.

"Tails? Buddy?" Sonic asked. "Are you okay?" A demonic laugh is heard around them. Tails slowly looks up at Sonic, crying in blood.

"...Why?" He asked. "Why did you give me to him?"

"What?" Sonic asked. "I didn't do this! EXE took over my body and mind. I'm trapped here! But, I'll stop it!"

"...He's too strong, Sonic. You can't stop the demon." Tails said before disappearing. Sonic reached for, calling for his friend's name. More laughter is heard. Sonic falls on his knees, crying in despair.

"Bastard!"

Knuckles wandered to the woods to look for Sonic and Tails after hearing the scream. The scream was so loud, he could hear it from the lake. Sally and Amy could hear it from camp. Knuckles has never heard that terrifying scream before. Someone must be in danger.

"Sonic and Tails might be out there. I have to find them and see if they heard a scream too." Knuckles said to himself. He push the bushes away and smell something. And it is not pleasant. He covered his nose and continue to stroll down the woods. The sky was getting dark. Knuckles looks up at the sky and see the clouds are forming, and they are dark red. What is happening? Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared before Knuckles, who gasped in surprise. SonicEXE is grinning at Knuckles, covered in blood.

"Found you..." He sang.

"Sonic...? Where's Tails? Is he okay?" Knuckles asked. "Who screamed out there?" SonicEXE started to have dark aura around him, and the sounds of eerie is heard. Like claws scratching the chalkboard. It was so horrible. Knuckles covered his unseen ears, trying to block the sound. "Aggh! What the hell is that noise?"

"You can't run..." SonicEXE says by floating around Knuckles who continues to cover his ears. Knuckles looks at SonicEXE grin, showing his razor teeth that is good for biting. He notices his eyes.

"Oh shit..." Knuckles whispered. He made a run for it, but SonicEXE keeps appearing around him. "Get away from me you creep!"

"You can't run, Knuckles." SonicEXE said. "Tails failed the last game, and now you will fail this one." Knuckles was about to punch the imposter, but missed as SonicEXE went behind him, chuckling at him. "You're too slow." He sang out.

"Where's Tails?!" Knuckles asked in anger, trying to lessen his fear. "What have you done to him?!"

"He's in my world now. He is my little toy, and now you will be my next toy!" SonicEXE says. Knuckles turned to punch the demon again, but again, SonicEXE went around Knuckles and grabbed his dreadlocks. "Playtime is over for you, Knuckles." He then launched his claws into Knuckles' stomach. The red echidna screamed in agony, and SonicEXE's demonic laughter is heard. The body fell lifelessly on the ground. SonicEXE wipes the blood on his face and forehead, smiling in delight. "So many souls to play with. So little time." He says in a demonic voice.