Hey guys! I'm back with a new chapter. I'm going to try and get another one up before I start school but this is what I've got for you today. Please enjoy and don't forget to review!

Chapter Twelve: Dreaming Me

"We're sorry, but we haven't had any leads lately on the case; but don't give up hope. I promise I will inform you as soon as we get anything. We have amber alerts on all the girls and we'll be waiting by the phone if anybody calls in any tabs."

"Alright, thanks. I'll wait for an update from now on."

"We'll keep you posted. Keep up the hope."

Sonia hung up the phone and turned back to face me where I was sitting at the kitchen table.

"Sorry sweetie, they got nothing. They did say that they'll call as soon as they get anything though."

"Yeah that's what I figured. Thanks for calling them for me anyway."

"Anytime Amy. Listen, about tomorrow, don't worry. We'll figure something out. Even if Manic has to sleep on the couch, he'll live."

"I don't want seem like I'm intruding though. I mean, I have been sleeping in his room for a month and a half and he didn't even know of my existence until a few weeks ago."

It was almost the end of April and Sonic and Sonia's brother Manic was returning from university until he had to go back in August. They were going to pick him up at the train station the following morning; which was a Sunday, which also meant I would be left alone with him all day on Monday so I would have plenty of time to explain why I was staying in his apartment.

It had been so long since we had heard from the police about finding the girls, almost a month; so I asked Sonia if she could check in with them to make sure they hadn't forgotten about us. With no luck, they didn't progress much. I got up from my spot at the kitchen and went to my room; well what I wasn't too sure was going to be my room after Manic arrived. I was secretly nervous about meeting him since he didn't seem too enthusiastic about me being here. Sonic had tried to reassure me that we'd work things out but I still had my doubts that everyone was going to get what they wanted.

It was around six in the evening but it was still pretty bright outside and I had the urge to get some fresh air; at least that's what Sonic and Sonia thought I was up to. What I was really going to do was see if Shadow was willing to take me for a ride on his bike again. Ever since I rode on it the first time, I'd wanted to go back and after the incident where he was never supposed to have contact with me again, I'd had to sneak out or bend the truth about where I was headed. Shadow was reluctant at first but I convinced him that if Sonic didn't know, nothing would happen. I begged him until he finally agreed and from then, he'd let me ride for a little while. I didn't know why but it somehow helped me feel free and allowed me to forget about everything in that moment. It was a way to escape and because I wasn't driving, I didn't have to focus on anything except holding on. It was scary yet thrilling; I could fall off so easily but then again that's what I found exciting about it. I grabbed my shoes and from my room and walked towards the front door.

"Sonia, is it alright if I go out for a bit?"

"Sure but where exactly?"

"Just to the park. I want to go and watch the sunset."

"Oh okay. I'll see you later then, I guess."

"Yeah. Bye!"

I ran out the door and looked around before I knocked on Shadow's door. He didn't answer the first time so I knocked again. I knew for a fact that he didn't work past four on Saturdays because this was usually the opportune time that I met him. I waited a moment and then I heard the muffled sound of footsteps approaching me.

"Oh, hey Amy."

"Hi! I was hoping I caught you at a good time... Don't worry, Sonic's not home."

"Look, I was thinking the other day, maybe we should stop. I mean it's not that I mind doing it, I love any excuse to ride but..."

"But what?"

"I don't know, didn't you say Sonic's brother or whatever will be staying there for a while from tomorrow?"

"Yeah so what's the big deal? I don't purposely want to lie but I also like emptying my head for a bit, you know?"

"Yeah, that's why I ride; it's a feeling like no other!"

"So can we go? Please, just this one time?"

I was clasping my hands together and giving him a pleading look. It was a few seconds before he sighed and gave in.

"Alright, let's go."

"Yay!"

I jumped a little and then followed him down the stairs. Since we'd been riding, we'd been talking more and I'd told him about where I came from; it was the only reason I could get him to let me ride with him. It was a bit overwhelming at first to say it but Rouge had told me it would be hard for a while but that I would soon adjust to telling people when I wanted to. The therapy sessions were really helping as well. I was starting to let go of some of the pressure I'd been feeling since I escaped and I was starting to move on from it. I still had that ache In my heart that never went away when I thought about Kitty- Blaze and the others. Riding made that ache go away for a while; that's why I kept coming back.

Shadow was already starting the engine up by the time I caught up to him. He was always a little on edge as if he was worried that Sonic or Sonia or anybody would catch us at any moment. I personally never understood why; I never viewed it as a terrible act, just a simple little risk. I took the helmet that I was now used to wearing and placed it over my head, clipping it under my chin. I looked over at Shadow who was waiting for me to get on.

"You ready?"

"Yup!"

"Then what are we waiting for?"

He kicked the stand and took off. I gripped onto his waist and let the adrenaline rush through my veins as that fear of a possible collision or falling off crept inside my head accompanied by the excitement of exposure. My thoughts were free and my mind, careless. That ache in my heart dissipated the moment I could feel the wind surrounding me. The sun was slowly sinking in the distance, casting shadows upon the entire city. We sped down the highway that led downtown but we turned back before we got too far. We took a path around a grimy looking area and raced through it as fast as possible as some untrustworthy looking bystanders stared at us from the alleyways and street corners. A different anxiety rose up in my chest and I must have tensed up because Shadow slowed down and looked back at me.

"It's okay; we won't be in this part of town much longer. I don't like either."

I just nodded and looked in front of us. I relaxed a bit when I could make out some familiarities somewhere up ahead of us, further down the road. He looked back and shot out of there, all the while, I couldn't help but feel the lingering eyes that never turned away until we were out of sight. Once we were in a more common and open area, he pulled off to the side.

"Why did we go through there?"

"You're looking for speed aren't you? Other areas have heavy traffic at this hour."

"But there were people watching us everywhere, it was really creepy!"

"Alright, we won't go through there again, the cops don't even bother with this place anymore; at least you know one part of town you should stay away from."

"Yeah, I guess."

And this got me thinking.

"Wait what did you say about the police?"

"Oh nothing, just that they don't pass through there as often as they used too."

"How do you know what they used to do if you only just moved here a couple months ago?"

"Because I used to live in that neighborhood and then when I was eighteen I moved out and then came to our building which I was not even aware was this close to that place..."

"Oh, wow. So was it like that back then?"

"Pretty much hasn't changed a bit since I left."

He had a hint of sadness in his voice; like he was disappointed that it had stayed the same. I just nodded my head and looked back. It was almost as if entering an entirely different atmosphere; the dull feeling, the bleakness of the walls, the expressionless faces... It was terrifying to say the least.

If the law enforcement had given up hope, how could the residents possibly maintain their own?

A new idea popped into my head and remained there until Shadow had brought us back. The ride did help me forget about the pain in my heart but it also brought on worsened thoughts that carried with it a new pain.

"Thanks for the ride!"

"Anytime; just- not through that neighborhood again..."

"Oh yeah. I don't really want to go back there. But, uh, I'll see you later then!"

I smiled at him and he returned one but it was almost as if he was wearing a mask; underneath it, that same sorrowful air hadn't left. I felt sorry that he was pained but there was nothing I could do. I rushed up the stairs and unlocked the front door to let myself in. Sonic had returned from work later than usual, it being almost seven o'clock. Ever since he had become a permanent employee, he'd been working several hours more in the day since he had more tasks. Sonia saw me first and I waved to her when she looked up.

"Hey!"

"Hey, you're back. So how was the sunset?"

"It was pretty. I'm happy it sets at a later time now."

"Yeah, it's only a little while 'til it's summer; I can't wait!"

As always, she was in good spirits. I was hoping she wouldn't sense my anxiety over what was still very present in my mind. I waved to Sonic when he saw me and was on my way to my bedroom when I was stopped by conversation.

"So you went to the park, huh?"

"Um, yeah! I was there the whole time."

I was getting a tad nervous. I didn't know why he was asking me after I told Sonia where I was going. Surely she had told him.

"Well, that's funny because I drove past it and didn't see you."

I tensed up a bit. I had to think of something quick; I didn't want to tell the truth because who knew what Sonic would do if he found out. I didn't want to risk anything.

"Oh, well I was sitting kind of far from the road so maybe you just couldn't see me, that's all."

"Oh, okay."

I turned back, headed to my room and shut the door tight behind me. Even thought he had a calm composure, I was fully aware of the suspicion in his tone. I couldn't think of a reason why he would doubt me, I had never given him implications that I was up to something; at least I thought I hadn't.

I pushed it to the back of my mind and focused on the idea I clued in on while riding through that grey neighborhood. Shadow had said that the police rarely check up on that part of town which would also mean that it might be a good place for a wanted criminal to take refuge.

'He' might be hiding the girls there! I'll have to suggest it to the police; maybe they'll find them there!

A new hope sparked a light in my head and the ache in my chest had disappeared. I thought that maybe if I was the one to find them, I would have redemption from abandoning them. I kicked off my shoes and walked over to my bed. I lay there for a while thinking about what it would really be like to grow up in a place like that neighborhood. Anything would have been better than how I was brought up but it seemed like it would a different kind of sad life. The weight of fear and misery that that place held on to attached itself to anybody who went near it. It hung heavy in the air like an always present fog; invisible to the eye but apparent to the mind. Living in that, constantly carrying around that sensation of fear and desolation must be difficult. I could understand why Shadow had gotten out of there at an early age. I thought about the way he seemed after we had left; that disappointment in his voice, the despondency behind his smile, it looked as if that little amount of time we had sent there had really taken a toll on him. I assumed I would have a similar reaction if I had to go back to the cabin in the forest.

As I started to think about revisiting the nightmare of a place I spent most of my life, my blood began to boil and my head began to pound. I reached over to the nightstand next to the bed and pulled open the drawer in search of my pills. Rouge had said to take one if I ever felt overwhelmed by a situation. I grabbed the half empty water bottle on the nightstand and swallowed the capsule. I sat back down and waited for the effects to set in; which meant drowsiness followed by loss of appetite. I wasn't supposed to take the pills daily because their side effects weren't too healthy for my body. It was still quite early in the evening so I tried to make the most of it until my brain would shut down for the night. I opened my door and made my way to the kitchen to search for food before my stomach refused it. I looked through the fridge and pulled out the other half of a sandwich that I had made at lunch. I ate it quickly and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I was walking back to my room when Sonia saw me and called me over.

"Hey, so I just wanted to remind that we're supposed to be picking up Manic at around nine so we should be back no later than ten."

"Oh, that early? I thought he would be coming in the afternoon."

It wasn't ideal for me to wake up with a nervous feeling; it usually led to a bad day but I guessed I would just have to live with it. I didn't regularly wake up late so it wouldn't have been a problem in that aspect but I would have appreciated more time to think about how I was to introduce myself. I must have looked absent-minded because Sonia started waving her hand in front of my face.

"...Amy? Is everything alright?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm just tired. I just took my medication so it tends to do that."

"Oh, I'm sorry this is stressing you out so much. Just trust me; everything will be fine, I know my brother very well."

That's not the only thing on my mind but I can't tell her because that would be revealing where I was when I was supposed to be at the park!

"Yeah, hah. Well, goodnight!"

"Goodnight."

She smiled and walked in the direction of her own room as I walked towards mine. The dreariness of the drugs had begun to kick in finally and was dragging me instantly toward the bed. I closed the light and nestled myself underneath the covers. Next thing I knew, I was off in dreamland.

xXx

I opened my tired eyes and was startled to find that I was standing on the edge of a sidewalk. I looked up and realized that I was across the street from the grimy neighborhood that Shadow and I had ridden through. I felt my body stiffen and the familiar sensation of fear coursed through me, making my spine tingle. A cold wind blew despite the warm April weather that made it seem as if the winter had never left this part of town. The streets were deserted in both directions and nothing but emptiness was behind me. My feet began to carry me across right into the neighborhood despite my mind desperately telling me to turn around. I had lost control over my movements and was advancing further into the dark depths of this unknown area. Unlike the first time I was there, with eyes peering at me everywhere I looked from the hidden shadows and filthy alleyways, there was not a soul in view and the only sound that could be heard was the howling wind as it passed through the spaces in between the buildings. I was shivering now; both from the chill in the air and my terror. I continued on through the neglected community, still unable to control my body's motions. I figured that my mind was taking me to a set destination; omitted information held in my brain that I hadn't been able to think of at the moment. My now shaking legs turned me down one of those dark, dreadful alleyways; completely going against every alarm in my body screaming at me to turn back. I was engulfed in blindness, a suffocating hand that tore away my senses until I suddenly stopped in my tracks. Once my eyes adjusted, I could make out a metal door on the wall facing me. My feet started moving again and my hand reached out for the handle. Just before I turned it, the wind came shooting down the tunnel pushing me closer to the door. I looked back but was unable to see anything clearly through the darkness. I thought must have been going insane because I could faintly hear a whisper carried on the draft. As soon as the current died down, it came back with a vengeance only this time I definitely heard a voice. It was frightening me so much that my knees were threatening to right buckle under me. I listened closer to try and listen to what the wind was telling me.

"...Here...We're here..."

"What? Who's there?"

I called out, on the verge of tears but it was a while before I got a reply. I stood there waiting and waiting until I felt a blast of wind, stronger than any of the others.

"...Help us...We're here...help us Rose..."

"Kitty? Tikal, Jules? Where are you?"

"...Here..."

The tears had begun to fall from my petrified eyes. The voices started to fade away; I was alone once more, cold and afraid. I thought I would be frozen forever and started to panic as I focused all my energy on regaining control of my body. Just then I heard somebody speak up from behind but it was a new voice; one I knew all too well.

"...Amy, you need to help them... You need to save them!"

"Feathers! Wha- How are you here?"

"You need to help them Amy! You're the only one who can..."

"I don't know how! Please Feathers- Wave... You need to tell me how."

"...Help them..."

I finally forced myself to turn around and face her. There she was, standing in front of me; violet feathers unmoving despite the blow of the wind, for only a couple of seconds before she started to disappear. I called out to her once more but she vanished, without a trace; leaving no evidence that she was ever there. The wind was still howling in my ears and ran out of the alleyway and back into the light. When I reached the end of the passage however, I was back on the other side of the street, looking back at the sordid neighborhood. Everything in sight then became white and I had this falling sensation that made me want scream. I then sat up in my bed, covered in sweat, my eyes wide open and staring frantically around my room and was gasping for breath. I started to calm down as I realized that it was only a dream; or a nightmare rather. I removed the covers, walked over to my open window and shut it. I stepped out of my room and went straight to the bathroom to splash some water in my face. I looked at myself in the new mirror when I was done; this time not tempted to smash it with my fist. I saw a very tired and startled individual staring back at me. I tried to relax my facial expression to look less freaked out and fixed up my hair. I wandered into the hallway and looked up at the clock that read 9:30 A.M.

Damn it! They're going to be back soon; I should get properly dressed but my stomach is begging me for food.

I hadn't eaten much the night before and it left me quite famished. I let my hunger get the better of me and had some toast and peanut butter before getting ready. I stuffed it in my mouth in a hurry, not even bothering to get a plate. I then ran back to my room and changed out of my pajamas and into my jeans and a red t-shirt. I made my way over to the bathroom and brushed my teeth then waited in silence until I heard a knock on the door.

Huh? Are they back already? Why would they knock when they live here? Better get it anyway...

I peered through the peephole on the door and saw a figure with auburn hair standing outside. I opened the door without unlocking the chain just in case I didn't know the person. I was surprised at who was there; not exactly who I was expecting at all.

"Dr. Fox? What are you doing here?"

"Oh hi Amy! Is Sonic there? I need to speak with him."

"Um, no he's out right now, but he should be back soon if you want to wait for him."

"Oh that would nice, could you let me in?"

"Sure just let me unlock the door."

I closed the door and thought for a moment.

What the hell is she doing here? And what does she want with Sonic? I was her patient, not him. Hm...

I unlocked the chain and opened the door once more to let her in. She looked around as she walked in, her high heels making a sharp clacking noise on the hard wood floor every time she stepped anywhere. I gestured that she could take a seat on the couch as she looked around the apartment. She then smiled at me, sat down and crossed her legs. The room went awkwardly silent; the sound of the clock ticking away in the hall was the only noise audible. I decided that I would break the silence.

"So... What do you want Sonic for?"

"Oh, um, he asked me a, um, medical question a while back and, uh, I was just getting back to him about it..."

I just nodded. The way she was speaking; she sounded a bit unsure of herself. I walked over to a chair in the living room and took a seat opposite her. Out of boredom, I let my curiosity wander out of my brain through my mouth.

"What was the question?"

"Sorry? Oh, right, the question. Oh, uh, just some- thing about a type of medication."

The way it came out, it sounded more like she was asking me than telling me. I was getting a bit suspicious and she seemed to be getting nervous. I tried to pry as much out of her as possible before the others got home.

"Is Sonic sick?"

"What? No, not that I know of."

"Then why would he be asking you about medication?"

"Oh, uh, he was just curious..."

"If it wasn't serious, then couldn't you have just called?"

"Oh, well I suppose I could have, it's just that he hasn't been answering my calls lately so I thought I'd drop by."

"You've called him more than once about this? That's odd for something that's unimportant."

"Well, I just wanted him to get the information... That's all."

"Hmm..."

I got amused with her anxious behavior and would have annoyed her further but the door then opened and a very loud, green hedgehog walked in. I assumed that it must be Sonic and Sonia's brother Manic; either that or a new neighbor had just barged in on the wrong house.

"Home at last!"

I just stared at him for a while and waited until the others walked in before I announced my presence.

"Hey Amy, I'd like you to- Fiona? What are you doing here?!"

"I was hoping I could speak with you... privately. About that question you asked me a while ago."

"What question?"

I looked at her and saw her sending him a message through her expression that had worry written across it.

"You know, that question about those pills that you asked me about and I told you I would get back to you on it?"

"Pills? Oh, that question! Oh uh, yeah, why don't we talk outside then."

Dr. Fox stood up and rushed out the door but not before saying goodbye to me. Sonic followed her and closed the door. I was eager to press my ear against the door and listen in about this so-called pill question but there were others in the room so I just walked up Sonia who was helping Manic to bring the last of his bags in from the hall.

"Oh Amy! This is Manic; Manic this is Amy!"

"Nice to meet you."

I extended my right hand as a greeting gesture which he shook very rapidly. He had on these oddly shaped sunglasses even though it was a cloudy day. He stood back and stared at me for a while before speaking.

"So you're the one who's been occupying my room for the last month and half, huh?"

"Yup."

"Well, you gonna tell me why that is?"

"Huh? Wh-what do you mean?"

"Manic! Stop that; I told you to be nice."

Sonia interjected before he could answer. I guess they hadn't told them anything about why I was here. I was appreciative that they gave me the option to choose when I wanted to say it but, in a way, I was secretly hoping that they would tell him so I wouldn't have to. It was still hard for me to talk about without getting emotional. Manic just walked away and dove into the fridge. Sonia just rolled her eyes and walked over to me.

"Sorry about that. I really have no words to describe Manic for you; just expect the unexpected."

"Haha, alright."

She cheered me up right away. That was Sonia for you; always positive and spreading her happiness wherever she went. I started pacing a bit around the space between the kitchen and the living room, trying to pass the time until somebody spoke. It turned out, I was the first to ask a question.

"So, Manic, what do you study at university?"

"Oh, uh, I'm in Literature."

"Oh, really? That sounds interesting. What do you do?"

"Write, read, analyze, same kinda stuff you would do in your high school English class only harder."

"Oh, I see..."

But I didn't see. I had never been in a class room and had no idea how you could analyze a piece of literature. It made me kind of sad the way I had missed out on everything I should have already experienced. Sonia must have noticed my mood change because even thought I couldn't see it directly, I felt her eyes on me, an apologetic stare boring into my back. I stood there for a few minutes trying to refocus my thoughts but Sonic stepped back into the apartment and distracted me from them anyways.

"Sorry about that. She just had some things to tell me."

I walked back up to him and stared at him, not entirely believing what neither he said nor how Fiona was acting.

"What was that really about?"

"I just asked her a medical question, that's all. What, you don't believe me?"

"Not really. Now what was that really about? It was strange the way she just came all the way here to answer a question wasn't it?"

I held my gaze until I saw him flinch back a bit and then sigh.

"Alright, you really want to know?"

"Mhmm!"

"Okay, I didn't want to tell you but... we're dating."

"I knew it!"

I didn't even have a chance to respond before Sonia shouted from across the room. I just started giggling and Manic turned around, a combination of different types of food in his hands.

"Nice bro! She was so hot!"

"Manic, please! Have some respect!"

"Sorry! But she was."

Sonia continued to scold Manic in the kitchen while Sonic just made his way towards them. I was still trying to wrap my head around them being together. Trying to survive instead of growing up didn't leave me much time to ponder the thought of love. I didn't what it felt like to have someone love me or to love someone else. Sure I had read about it in books and had seen how shows on TV had tried to portray it, but it always seemed pretty vague to me; too much perfection in it. When I thought about it really hard, it was almost as though they were trying to tell people what they were supposed to be feeling inside when they 'fell in love'. I was momentarily lost in thought before Sonic burst my bubble.

"Amy? You okay?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, just thinking about this weird dream I had. It felt kind of like a premonition."

"Really? Care to share?"

I didn't mean for it to come up but it was all that I could think to say instead of saying my real thoughts.

"Oh, um, not really. I don't remember it much to be honest. There's just something that makes me wonder a bit. I would like to visit the police that are on the case for my friends though."

"Whoa, that serious? Alright, well we can go in sometime during the week or-"

"Can we go today? It's kind of important."

Now that I'd mentioned it, I wanted to tell them as fast as possible. I felt bad for interrupting their family reunion but I felt worse about where the girls were.

What did Wave mean by 'I'm the only one who can'? Were the investigators truly lost on their whereabouts? I guess I'll find out soon enough...

That's the end of this chapter! I'll try and get chapter thirteen up soon so stay tuned! Hope you liked this one and please tell me what you thought of it in the reviews, I can't say enough how much I appreciate them, critical ones too just no flames because those are not appreciated. Anyway thanks for reading and come back again!

- DarkRose