Hey yall! Joe Stalin here with part two of his horror/suspense story! Many thanks to Zerberus Alpha, ScarletBlaz985 and bluerocker115 for reviewing my first chapter, even if you all hate me for killing Shadow off first!
Just to remind you all, I don't own any of these characters! Except Jack!
Jack The Ripper
Chapter 2- Whitechapel Revisited
''And in Station Square, police are investigating the brutal murder of Shadow the hedgehog, who was stabbed to death in his apartment last night in the latest of a series of murders perpetrated by the serial killer calling himself 'Jack The Ripper''.
''Turn that pissin' thing off Sonic! We've heard it all before!''
With reluctance, Sonic flicked the television off. After a second or two of glancing at the blank screen, he turned round and faced everyone in the room.
They were all there. All of them with the same somber expressions on their faces. Rouge the Bat sat on one side of the couch, her eyes full of liquid and her face streamed with the red rash of tears. Next to her was Amy, her hands folded in front of her and staring at the floor. Cream was sat on the opposite side of Rouge, her eyes brimming with tears.The girls were dressed in black dresses, to match their mood of shock and disgust.
On the other couch sat Knuckles the Echinda, his expression blank and his eyes hidden behind dark shades. A half drunk can of larger was clutched in his hand. Next to him was Eggman, dressed in his usual black and red suit. His expression was also blank, and his head was slowly shaking from side to side in utter disbelief.
On the final available seat in the room was Tails. He was dressed in black jeans and a black shirt, and a lit cigarette was clamped between his lips. It had been Tails who had told Sonic to turn the television off, and with good reason. His expression was one of sheer disgust and revulsion over the events of the previous night.
Sonic sighed for the hundredth time that night. When he had heard the news of Shadows murder earlier that day, he had immediately rung the whole gang and informed them of what had happened. He had then rushed to Rouges house, knowing full well what he would find once he arrived. She was completely beside herself with grief. It had taken him over an hour to calm her down, and by that time everyone had essembled at the house.
This was the first time they had all gathered together for a long time. The last time had been two years ago, for Amy's birthday. Since then, they had drifted apart. Sonic and Amy were now living together and were thinking about taking their relationhip to the next level. Eggman had retired from world domination attempts, and now worked as a physician at Station Square hospital. Rouge and Shadow had been going out together, though it was fair to say that their relationship was stormy to say the least. Cream was just getting used to living on her own for the first time, and was now working as a care assistant at the nearby school.
For Knuckles, the last two years hadn't been pleasant. He had begun to drink heavily, and had had more than one run in with the police. He had become extremely distant, more so than any of the others, and people were beginning to wonder whether he was clinically depressed. Tails had also kept to himself those two years, but he had at least tried to stay in touch with Sonic. But even he had become distant. He too had taken to alcohol, although not as much as Knuckles, and had taken up smoking. It was a more mature Tails who sat staring at Sonic, cigarette smoke hovering around his face.
''My God...I just can't believe it!'' Eggman suddenly stuttered, and all eyes turned to him. Rouge snorted in disgust.
''Well you'd better believe it! My boyfriends dead, and nothing you or anyone can say will bring him back!'' She yelled, before collapsing into tears. Amy lay a comforting arm over her shoulders.
''Jesus Christ'' Tails muttered under his breath. Sonic glared at him.
''Have a bit of compassion Tails! You can't possibly imagine what she's going through!'' Tails frowned.
''Well I'm depressed enough as it is! Its bad enough he's dead, the last thing we need is her bawling her eyes out again!'' Tails sighed and stubbed the cigarette out in an ash tray on the able.
''We're all depressed Tails, Shadows dead! And the worst thing is he didn't just die! He was murdered!'' Sonic said, his eyes flickering over everyone in the room.
''Don't remind us Sonic, I feel sick as it is!'' Knuckles muttered testily.
''It's all over the papers! Everywhere you turn, every single page!'' Eggman said as he fingered the newspaper in his lap.
''Mmm. If he's looking for attention, then Jacks got it made!'' Tails said with sarcasm as he reached in his pocket for his lighter.
''''What do you mean?'' Sonic asked, his eyes on the orange fox sat in front of him.
''What I mean is, is that if he's doing all of this to get his name in the papers then he's succeeded! Most serial killers do what they do for attention, or for fame as it were'' Tails pointed out as he lit another cigarette.
''And most of them kill because it turns them on, but you don't hear me going on about it!'' Knuckles snarled, startling Tails.
''Hey, I'm just saying! After all, everything that happens in this world has a reason behind it! I'm just trying to figure this guy out!'' Tails shook his head and screwed the cigarette between his lips.
''Figure him out? He's a sicko Tails! A nutcase! What more do you need?'' Amy snarled as she sat up, a disbelieving look on her face. Sonic raised his arms in the air.
''Allright everyone, lets calm down! We're all shocked and disgusted about what happened, but thats no reason to start fighting between ourselves!'' Sonic announced to try to break up the tense atmosphere of the room. Amy sat back down, her eyes now focused on Sonic.
''Okay! Now I think the best thing to do is to stay the night here, to try to...come to terms as it were. It'll be best to do it in a friendly environment!'' Sonic announced. Tails snorted.
''A friendly environment? We haven't seen each other for the best part of two years! How can you call this a friendly environment Sonic?''
''I agree! After all, it has been two years! Cut the crap Sonic, things have changed! We're not as close as we were before and you know it!'' Knuckles cut in.
''Maybe so, but that doesn't mean we're not still friends! And besides, we all have to remember one thing! One of our friends was killed last night, and it's our job now to stick together! No more distance, no more arguing!'' Sonic said. Knuckles turned away and Tails snorted. Sonic ignored them and continued speaking.
''Okay! Now then, it's nowten o'clock, and I'm sure none of us wants to stay in here glaring at each other all night! So I think the best thing to do tonight is...'' Tails cut him off.
''Go out for a drink! After everything thats happened tonight, I could use something of the alcoholic variety! Who's coming with?'' Tails gaze shifted over everyone in the room.
''I'll come. But one of you's is gonna have to drive! I'm already over the limit as it is!'' Knuckles announced as he straightened up.
''Come on, I'll give you two a lift!'' Eggman said as he helped Knuckles up.
''Just remember you guys, we meet back here no later than midnight! Understand?'' Sonic pointed at them.
''Whatever! Jeez Sonic, these last two years have certainly done wonders fo your sense of fun!'' Tails said sarcastically as he pulled on his coat. Eggman turned to face Amy and Cream.
''Will you ladies be joining us?'' Cream shook her head slowly.
''I can't, I have work in the morning. And the last thing I need is a slur on my record for turning up drunk!'' She muttered sarcastically.
''Suit yourself! See you later!'' Knuckles waved as he followed Eggman and Tails out the door. A moment later, the front door slammed shut.
''I can't believe those guys! How can they even think of going out drinking at a time like this?'' Amy questioned, only to be taken back as Rouge stood up.
''The same reason as I have! Come on Amy, lets you and me get wasted!'' Rouge walked upto the table and grabbed her purse. Sonic walked up to her.
''Rouge, I really don't think this is a good idea!'' Sonic motioned to her to sit back down, only to be met by a death glare from Rouge.
''Listen hedgehog! I've got a lot of bad feelings right now that I want to suppress! And if going out and getting plastered is the only way to do it, then so be it! Coming Amy?'' Rouge gestured to Amy as she walked out the door. Sonic looked at Amy quizzically.
''Well?'' He asked. Amy shook her head.
''She can't go on her own Ames!'' Sonic pointed out. Amy sighed and stood up.
''You owe me for this Sonic! Just remember that!'' She said sternly as she walked out the room. A moment later, a loud slam signalled that she and Rouge had left. Sonic turned to Cream.
''So...fancy a video?''
He was sitting at a corner table in the pub. It was ironic. He was Jack, and the pub he was in was called...'The Whitechapel Inn'.
He sniggered for the tenth time. It was always funny everytime he thought about it. He was calm, and sat quietly, watching the amiable bustle of the drinkers from his corner. He had arrived late, and many had already left. For now, they appeared normal. But he knew better. It was just a disguise. He knew what they really looked like underneath.
He frowned suddenly, and reached into his coat. His hand gripped over his prize possession. He had come across it during his last blood hunt, and he was very proud of it. His blade was still the most important thing he had however. That was tucked safely in his other pocket. He removed his hand from his coat and glanced down at it. He had cut himself again before he had entered the pub, and even now the mark continued to dribble blood onto the tabletop. He smiled, and took another swig from the glass in front of him. All was calm in his mind, as the night wound down.
He lifted his eyes up suddenly, whilst keeping his head down. Two people had just entered the pub, and were making their way towards the bar. Two women. Both young-ish and appealing to the eye. Both were wearing black dresses, and both looked as if they had recently been crying.
He frowned. He knew them. His eyes narrowed as he examined them, and his grip on the glass tightening. Where did he know them from? He looked deep into his mind, but could remember nothing. He snarled frustraitedly, his eyes never wavering from them. They were talking to each other as they ordered their drinks, and he strained to hear them.
''All I'm saying Rouge is that I don't think you should be doing this! Drinking yourself silly isn't going to change anything!''
''Maybe not, but it'll at least give me something else to think about! Now are you gonna drink up or not?''
He shook his head sharply. He knew he had seen them before, but for life of him he just couldn't remember. He snarled and downed the remaining alcohol in one gulp. He set the glass down and turned back to look at the two women. They were still talking.
''To think! We'd have been going out for three months this week! He's the first guy who's ever gotten past the one month margin and now he's dead! I sure know how to pick them Ames!''
''Now don't talk like that! None of this is your fault. You have to understand that Rouge''
''Maybe, but as God is my witness if I ever find the son of a bitch who killed my Shadow...not even wild horses would be able to keep me off him!''
The glass shattered in his grip. He knew who they were. They were friends of him. The one he had killed the night before. Shadow...thats what he had been called.
He shuddered and inspected his hand. The glass had cut his palm open, and blood oozed out of the wound. He casually wiped the sharps of glass away from him and wiped his injured hand over his coat. He winced slightly from the pain, then pricked his ears up and listened in on more of the conversation.
''I don't know what I'm gonna do Ames! I've lost everything! How am I ever gonna get over this?''
''One day at a time Rouge. It will take time, but you will get over it. Now come on, lets go home''
''No. Yu go, I'll stay here for a while. I'm gonna need a lot more booze after all this!''
''I'm not leaving you on your own Rouge!''
''Don't worry. I've got Eggmans number, I'll just call him and have me pick me up''
''Your sure?''
''Positive''
He stared. One of them was getting ready to leave. He narrowed his eyes and looked directly at her. A smile began to spread itself across his face. He knew what he had to do.
He waited until she had left the pub, then very carefully stood up and walked out into the cool night air, his hand fingering over the cool metal object in his pocket.
Amy shuddered in the cold. It was a lot colder than it had been when she and Rouge had first shown up, and she huddled in her coat. It was beginning to fog over, and the whole place gave her the creeps. She gave a casual look at the street sign on the opposite side of the street...'Whitechapel Way'. She shuddered. Why was that name so familiar to her?
She walked on through the mist. They hadn't bothered to drive, and had walked to the pub. It gave them a chance to talk and to try to come to terms with what had happened. She was beginning to regret that decision now. The mist was freezing and it was a fifteen minute walk from Rouge's house. She sighed and glanced over her watch. 11:45.
She began to tremble, but this time not from the cold. She was being followed. She could sense it. But the thick fog around her made it impossible to see.
She quickened her pace. Were those just her footsteps she could here...or someone elses? Her breathing intensified. She was being followed she was certain. But by who? One of the drunken louts from the pub hoping for a good time, or perhaps...him.
She broke into a run. Blindterror coursed through her. Behind her, she could here quickening footsteps. Jack was coming after her.
Her arms flailing in front of her, Amy turned sharply and ran down a deserted alleyway. After she had run halfway through it, she slowed down to catch her breath. She listened intently. She could no longer hear the footsteps. She sighed with relief and clutched at her chest. She hadn't been followed at all. She was just hearing things. She gasped for air and turned her gaze to the entrance to the alley. What she saw made her heart skip a beat.
Through the mist...a silhouette. Jacks silhouette. She couldn't make out any facial features, but she could hear him allright. Ragged breathing. She tried to run, but her legs refused to cooperate. She stared wide eyed as Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out something. She knew what it was. A gun.
With a cry of terror, Amy broke into a run. She didn't hear Jack cock the gun, nor did she see him aim directly at her head. But she did hear the shot.
It pierced through the night. With a dull thud, it hit its mark.
Amy keeled over instantly. She landed head first in a large puddle. She made no sound other than a dull splash as she collapsed to the floor. She lay motionless.
Jack smiled. He looked from her limp body and them to the gun. Energy coursed through his arm. It felt amazing.
Carefully re-pocketing the gun, he reached in his coat and pulled out his treasured possession. He stared at it longingly. The cool metal felt good on his skin and his reflection peered at him from the polished surface. He had just one thing on his mind.
His footsteps echoed through the alley as he approached her limp body. He crouched down and getnly caressed his fingers over her cheek. She felt soft, warm. He gently stroked her as his eyes moved to the bullet hole in the back of her head. Blood was slowly trickling from the wound and down onto the cold concrete. He smiled and lifted up the blade.
Slowly, he positioned it directly over her temple. His breathing intensified, coming out in sharp ragged tones. Sweat trickled down his nose. He knew he had to do it, and yet...
He sighed and stood up. He couldn't do it. This time it was different. He didn't know why, he just knew that he would be unable to do it no matter how hard he tried. He stared at the blade, and slowly nodded his head.
Leaving her prone body on the floor, he walked over to a nearby wall. Slouching against it, he pulled back his coat. Picking his area, he carefully inserted the blade over the chosen area of skin...his thigh.
Without hesitation, he dragged the blade sharply across his leg, piercing through his trousers. He cringed as he felt it pierce through his flesh and tissue. The feeling of the warm liquid felt soothing as it poured from the wound. But it didn't last long.
He stared down dismayed as he saw the blood was rapidly seeping through the material of his trousers. There was too much of it.
"Shit" He whispered, trying to standon his leg only towound up falling on the floor. He had miscalculated how deep he had pressed the blade to his skin, probably cutting a nerve or vein pretty deeply by just how much blood he was losing.
Quickly re-pocketing the blade, he carefully staggered up and inserted his leg back down on the floor. He grimaced as a sharp jolt of pain surged up his leg. Delving into his pocket, he pulled out a large piece of material and wrapped it tightly over the wound. He regained his composure, and staggered away through the mist.
Behind him, Amy lay motionless as the mist slowly enveloped her.
Oh dear! Has Jack taken himself out of action? Is Amy dead? How are Sonic and the others going to take the news of Jacks latest attack? And who'll be next? Find out in the next chapter! And don't forget to R&R!