Hey yall! Joe Stalin here with chapter 4 of his nasty bloody thriller story! Thanks to Zerberus Alpha for reviewing, and to all those who have been reading so far!

Now sit back, relax, and pray that your favourite character doesn't become Jack's next victim!

Jack The Ripper

Murder On The Dance Floor

It was a tense atmosphere the following evening at Sonics house. True to his word, the blue hedgehog had made sure that everyone was round his house and were prepared to spend the night. It didn't make for a pleasant evening.

For starters, no one wanted to be in the same house as each other. Suspicion was rife as to the possible identity of Jack, and no one was above suspicion. Everyone that is, except Rouge. Cream had been right, several people could vouch in her defense that she had indeed stayed on in the 'Whitechapel Inn' several hours after Amy had left, which ruled her out completely. For everyone else, tension was high.

''Well, isn't this nice? I'm sat in a room with a load of people I haven't seen for two years, and one of thems a serial killer!'' Knuckles snarled sarcastically. Everyone glared at him.

''Oh will you shut up Knuckles? Its too early in the evening for this!'' Eggman said. Knuckles snorted and took a long swig from the can of lager in his hand.

''We don't know that Knux! For all we know, this is all just a huge coinsidence!'' Rouge cut in. Tails laughed.

''Oh yeah right! Shadow gets murdered by someone who happened to know his address that only us lot knew! And then, to cap it all off, Amy gets wasted the very next night by someone who happened to know that she was going out that night! Yeah Rouge, big coinsidence!'' Tails snorted. Sonic glared at him.

''You lot promised me that you wouldn't do this! You said you'd all stay sociable and try to get on!'' Knuckles looked up.

''Well it is a bit hard to stay sociable Sonic when someone in here has killed two of your friends!''

''No! None of you did this! I know each of you from way back, and I know that none of you would even dream of doing what this sicko has done!'' Sonic all but shouted. Tails jabbed at Eggman.

''It was nevera problem for him only a few years ago! He tried to knock us off virtually every day of the week! If anyone should be under suspicion its him!''

Eggman stood up.

''Thats it! I'm leaving! I refuse to remain under the same roof with people who suspect me of being a murderer!'' Eggman turned to leave, but Sonic blocked his way.

''Hold it Eggman, just wait a minute! Now we all knew that you used to do some pretty awful things, but at the same time we all know that you've changed! Now I am getting so sick of you lot being at each others throats every chance you get! Its because of this attitude that will break us apart! And that means that you'll be easy targets for Jack!''

That hit a nerve. Eggman sat back down nervously, and Knuckles and Tails stared down to the floor. Cream let out a soft sob,and Rouge lay a comforting hand on her shoulders. Sonic shook his head.

''Im sorry. I know that I shouldn't have said that, but its the only way for you all to see the seriousness of what your doing! So now do you all see the importance of us all staying together?''

Everyone nodded. Sonic smiled slightly.

''Good. Now then, what time is it?'' Eggman and Tails looked at their watches simultaeneously.

''Half past nine'' They both said in unison.

''Okay. Now what we need to decide on, is what we're going to do tonight'' Sonic said. Rouge stood up.

''Well, as there's obvious tension in here, maybe we should all go out somewhere...together!'' Sonic and Knuckles looked up.

''What? As in a club? Are you sure?'' Knuckle asked.

Rouge nodded. ''If we're all together, we'll be safe. And its pretty clear to me that none of us want to be stuck in here all day glaring at one another!''

Sonic nodded in approval. Cream sighed.

''I'm not sure. What if he tries to get us?''Rouge put a hand on her shoulder.

''Like Isaid, if we're all together he can't hurt us. Now, what do you all say?''

Knuckles nodded entusiastically. Tails and Eggman didn't look as keen, but both of them nodded as well. Sonic shrugged slightly. Rouge smiled.

''I have good idea's sometimes don't I!''

Tails looked up.

''Are you and Sonic sure your up to this? I mean, considering whats happened, maybe its not such a good idea''

Rouge walked up to him.

''Like I said last night, I've got a lot of bad feelings I want to suppress! Now we all know whats happened, but at the same time we can't just hide away in fear! Thats what he wants! And I really don't think Shadow and Amy would want us to do that either!''

Sonic sighed at Amy's name, and Rouge turned to face him.

''Oh I'm sorry Sonic! I didn't mean to...'' Sonic cut her off with a shake of the head.

''I'm fine. Besides, your right. Sonic the hedgehog doesn't run from his enemies, he stands upto them! And even though she's gone, I'm sure Amy would agree with me!''

Rouge smiled and lay a hand on Sonics shoulder.

''I'm sure she would Sonic'' She whispered. Sonic smiled.

''Thanks Rouge'' Knuckles stood up.

''Okay then! We're all agreed, so lets go! Tails?'' Knuckles gestured to Tails, who stood up with slight difficulty.

''Oh yeah! I aint gonna let some God damn son of a bitch interfere with my life!'' Knuckles laughed and patted Tails on the shoulder.Sonic jabbed at them.

''Just remember! We all stick together! Are we all clear on that?'' Everyone nodded.

''Okay then, lets go!''

Knuckles and Tails made their way to the door first, followed by Eggman. Rouge waited up for Cream, and both girls made their way out of the room. Behind them, Sonic pulled on his coat.

Once he had done that, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out. In the light, it glistened metalically.

''Just to be on the safe side'' He whispered, before making his way out of the room.

Inside the club, the party was in full swing. The gang had arrived late, and the nighr was winding down. There were over two hundred people inside, all of them enjoying themselves to the full. Knuckles took one look at the far side of the room, and smiled broardly.

''Well, thats me sorted for the night!'' He laughed before making his way through the crowd towards the bar. Tails sniggered.

''If theres one thing I can say about Knuckles, he sure knows how to have a good time!''

Behind him, Sonic pulled his coat on tighter. Rouge noticed.

''You okay? You seem tense'' Sonic snorted.

''Well based on whats happened in the last two days, I think I have the right to feel a little tense don't you?''

Rouge was surprised at Sonics sudden mood swing. Sonic noticed.

''Sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you'' Rouge smiled slightly and patted his shoulder.

''No one should have to go through what you have had to. If I pressured you to come, I apologise''

''No, you didn't pressurise me! I came on my own free will, and I shouldn't have snapped at you! Besides, we didn't come here to snap at each other! Thats what we left the house for!'' Sonic smiled and Rouge returned the gesture.

Eggman walked up to Cream, who was standing near the door nervously.

''Are you okay my dear?'' Cream looked up nervously.

''Im scared Doctor Eggman. I've never been so scared in my life'' Eggman gestured his arm towards her.

''Can I buy you a drink, and we can talk about it?'' Cream smiled.

''Thank you. I'd like that'' The two of them made their way to the bar through the crowd.

''Well then. If you two will excuse me, I think I'll go up to the smoking sector for a quick ciggy! See ya later!'' Tails said in Sonics direction, before taking off through the throng of people.

Rouge smiled at Sonic. ''Do you want to dance Sonic?''

Sonic looked back at her surprised. Rouge continued to smile at him. Eventually, he returned the smile.

'Why not!''

Rouge laughed as they made their way to the dance floor. Unbeknowst to her, Sonic delved into his pocket and grasped the object in his hand.

Once they had reached the dance floor, they joined in with the other ravers. Galfway throught he song, Rouge looked into Sonics eyes.

''You know, in this light you look the spitting image of my Shady!'' Sonic smiled nervously.

''Thanks, I guess!'' Rouge moved closer to the blue hedgehog.

''I know hw your feeling Sonic. I've felt the same way ever since he died. But I feel safe when I'm with you. As long as your here, nothing bad can happen to me!''

Sonic smiled as the song came to an end.

As the song ended, another began playing. 'Murder on the Dancefloor'.

He snarled. He could see them. Hundreds of them. All of them the same.

From his vantage point, Jack smiled as he reached into his coat pocket. His fingers brushed against the cool metal of the gun, feeling comforting against his skin. Without hesitation, he grasped it and slowly removed it from the pocket.

From where he was standing, it was dark and hid him completely from the eyes of those beneath him. No one knew where he was, let alone what he was planning to do.

As he steadied himself against the metal beam, he smiled as he carefully picked his target. There were so many of them, he didn't know which one to pick. To him, they were all the same.

His ears throbbed as the loud speakers continued to blast out music throughout the building. He couldn't put words to the music. To him, it was just random noises. Nothing to put him off his main aim.

With a grunt, he positioned the gun at the chosen target. Through the bright lights that flashed across his face, he could make out the face of his chosen victim. Totally unaware of their fate.

With a smile, hepulled the trigger.

''Sonic? Are you allright?''

Sonic grimaced, a pained look stretching itself across his face. With a strangled gasp, he fell against Rouge. Rouge looked down surprised at the blue hedghog slumped against her, only until her eyes passed down to his back. Through his shirt, a bright liquid was slowly seeping its way throught he material and down Sonics back.

Rouge screamed.

''Oh my God! Oh my God!'' She shrieked as people closest to her looked up, wondering what was wrong. Within seconds, they noticed the problem.

''Shit! This guys been shot! Call an ambulance!''

The music cut off as pandomonium erupted on the dance floor. People rushed to Rouges aid as Sonic collapsed to the floor. He wasn't moving, and already a small pool of blood was beginning to surround him. Rouge was beside herself, and had to be ushered away as Sonic lay motionless on the floor.

In the crowd someone pushed his way through, a surprised look on his face.

''Hey, whats all the commotion?'' Knuckles asked. Behind him, Tails and Eggman walked up, each of them apparently unaware of what had just happened.

Ooh! Is Sonic dead? How will the others take the news? And who will be the next to fall to Jack? Find out next chapter!

And please, please, please don't forget to R&R!