Hehe sorry for the small delay. I had a major case of writers block.
I have a small request of the kind readers out there. While checking for new reviews I noticed that all of them are from the same people, and while I thank them, I'd like to get my story some fresh new readers too. So, if you know a good author on fanfiction, PM them and spread the word!
Now, onward!
Shadow was starting to get impatient. He sat cross-legged on the sofa, the unpacked boxes towering over him. Eileen and her mom had left to get groceries at a small shop, and since a tall black hedgehog walking on two feet would get one or two odd glances, they left Shadow alone with his thoughts. His finger tapped the table next to him as he tried to think of a way to kill time. Or even better, a way to escape.
Finally the boredom grew too much and the dark hedgehog jumped up, running to the door. He slowly opened it a crack, his blood red eyes scanning the hallways. When he saw no one, he crept over to the elevator doors, hitting the up button silently. The doors slid open with a loud ding, causing the hedgehog to flinch and look around, expecting someone to be right around the corner. When he saw no one, he backed slowly into the elevator, letting out a sigh of relief.
He punched the roof button, causing the elevator to shoot up. The floor numbers grew higher as Shadow prayed that no one would get in the elevator with him, he couldn't see that ending well. The hedgehog's eyes grew wide as the numbers stopped climbing at 42, a mere 8 stories away from the roof. He looked around franticly, his eyes finally resting on the ceiling, where long light bulbs were protected by clear panels.
Shadow slipped one of the panels away, hopping into the small gap. He slid the panel back into place as an elderly woman walked in, hitting the ground floor button. He held back a wince as the lights burned his back and the panels grew hot underneath his hands. Luckily the lady hit the button for level 49, so they would stop before they got to the roof.
The pain caused Shadow to have a sudden flashback to his time aboard ARK, where Gerald Robotnick ran his dangerous tests against Shadow. He remembered the one specific time when his creator made him go through a huge obstacle course in thirty seconds or less. It was where he first met Maria; his mind was distracted as the hedgehog's gaze lingered on her for one second too long. Shadow's foot caught a small dip in the path, and he fell on his back onto heated metal.
As he got off, screaming in agony, he couldn't help but notice the girl watching on, her hands over her mouth and tears in her eyes. Robotnick, however, just looked on, a small frown on his face. Shadow was shocked by her tears; no one had ever shown sadness for the pain he was forced to endure. She gave the hedgehog the inspiration to keep going, and he finished the course in seventeen seconds.
Afterwards Shadow was in his room, if you could even call it that, laying on a long ice pack and wincing at the pain. His thoughts however were miles away, thinking of that girl he saw. She was different from the rest of the people here; kinder and more caring. The next day Shadow was forced to do another course, but the girl wasn't there. He found himself stumbling at every turn, falling at every bump. After he was finished Robotnick strolled up to him, stroking his long grey moustache.
"Shadow, I'm sorry to say this, but that was absolutely dreadful! I've never seen you mess up so badly!" he yelled at the hedgehog.
Shadow didn't even hear him. "Sir, may I have permission to ask a question?"
His creator sighed. "Go ahead." He said, shaking his head.
"There was someone here yesterday," he started out slowly, "a girl that I've never seen before. Who was it?" Shadow's eyes met the dark lenses of Robotnick's glasses.
The man rubbed his temples. "That was my grand-daughter, Maria. She wasn't supposed to be there during the test, but she snuck in anyways. If you do well tomorrow, I may let you meet her." He said, but the hedgehog's mind was gone.
"Maria… What a nice name…" he thought to himself
Robotnick stopped rubbing his head. It occurred to him now that Project: Shadow had done better during yesterdays tests when his grand-daughter was there. Perhaps she was the key to his creations success!
The man flashed a grin. "Perhaps Shadow, I can bring her to your tests tomorrow?"
Shadow snapped out of his trance. "Y-yes please sir." He said with a small smile. "I would like that."
True to his word, the next day the girl was there to encourage Shadow to do better through the course. He finished under ten seconds then walked up to Robotnick.
"What was the time sir?" he asked, panting from exhaustion.
His creator put his arm around Shadow and walked him over to a door, where the girl was standing in the corner looking at the hedgehog with a mixture of curiosity and fear on her face.
"Maria, I would like to introduce you to Project: Shadow, my latest plan to cure you!" the man said drawing up to his full height to make himself seem even more impressive.
The two exchanged there hellos, and as Robotnick left the two of them to talk, a quick friendship was made. Each day their friendship grew greater and greater, and as a result Shadow did better and better in his time trials. They were friends for the rest of his days aboard ARK until…
But no, that was too painful to think about. A small tear fell onto the panel the hedgehog was hiding on, evaporating with a small sizzle. The doors made a small sound as they slid open once more, the elderly woman inside strolling out. As the doors closed Shadow fell to the floor, the tears from the pain and his memories falling freely now. The elevator went up once more to the roof, where the dark hedgehog stumbled over to the edge, biting his tongue to keep from crying out in agony.
He looked over the edge to see Eileen and her mother surrounded by policemen, cuffs slapping on their wrists.
Shadow only heard the last part of the policeman's monologue. "- are under arrest for the hiding of an alien species wanted by the government. You have the right to remain silent."
The hedgehog reeled back. "What have I done.."
Haha! I told you I had plans!
And hip-hip-hooray for a longish chapter!
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-thats a dinosaur, signing out for now!
