O-kay... Hahaha, now to delve into the mindset again... Sorry it's been so long. So... many... distractions... The last of which being that I got Shadow the Hedgehog (the game) the other day. Hahaha. Played through it a few times, got inspired a bit more-ish, and now writing again. Yay! Or not. We'll see. XD Hanging out with AmethystUchiha, now, who is awesome! :D

Thank you for the reviews! You're all awesome!

Chapter Three: Calm Down

Dark was not the way to go. Not when the only thing I was searching for was a bit of light. I knew that. But I couldn't stay somewhere that I didn't belong. Not anymore. And with nowhere else to go, Dark was the only one I could turn to.

Memory wasn't something that was a friend out there, though. More like an acquaintance. It stopped in occasionally. Bits of it, anyway. But most of the time it left me alone to wonder. And as time kept moving, it dropped in less and less.

The building - where we were staying - was an older place, but it looked alright. Looked almost new. I didn't know where it was; I'd never asked. It didn't matter much. There were trees there and some hills and rocks, and to the north was ocean, only a mile or two away... And there was always the sky. I liked the sky. When I looked to the sky, I felt connection, belonging. I felt that way a lot out here.

Dark waited in the building all the time. I didn't spend a lot of time in there with him. Partially because it made me feel guilty. I knew he had another name, but I hated myself for not remembering it. I didn't know if he knew I forgot his name. He was fairly accepting of the new name. He never asked about it. He never asked about much. I think he thought I didn't ever want to talk.

But he was still the only one there.

I walked into the building, out of the rain, and I twisted my dreads together tightly, trying to get some of the water out of them. I didn't look at him but said, "There will be rain tomorrow."

"Will the rain be as bad as today's?" His question was immediate, like he was glad for the chance of conversation.

I closed my eyes at his voice, searching myself for an answer. The press of the humidity and wind on my fur was heavy. I shook my head, not meeting his eyes. "Worse."

He didn't say anything, then.

I walked past him, to the only completely empty wall - the rest were covered in pictures. Pictures of people I didn't know. Or maybe I did. I couldn't remember. An old, bald man was sitting in one of the pictures. A young girl stood next to him. The girl was in more photos. All around the building - or house: whatever it was. She had a nice smile. Dark seemed to think so, at least. He stared at the pictures sometimes. I wondered if he knew her. Or... if I knew her. Something about her was familiar. I could've asked him... But then there was the possibility that I was supposed to remember her. And I didn't.

I hated it.

What's wrong with me?

...

Blood. Blood. Blood - it's everywhere. Where am I? She stared at me from the wall: the face of forever. Where did everyone go? Blood - whose is it? Cold. It's so... cold. So many stars... Out here... Dead. His eyes. No! Dead. Not real. Move... Move... Please... No... I can't... This can't be... No... Not you... Not everyone... All... It's... It... No! NO! Let me go!

"Knuckles!"

His red eyes were staring at me when my own eyes flashed open. What just...? I frowned. "I fell asleep." I sounded half-dead.

His voice, though... It sounded the same as always; it never changed. "Sleep is natural."

I looked at him for a moment but then turned away. I couldn't meet his gaze, and I didn't attempt to sound awake... Or alive. "Not here."

The short exchange was enough. It always was. Whenever we spoke.

I stood up slowly, leaning back against the wall, hating my memory, my self... Why was I here? What was I doing? What was happening to me?... I closed my eyes.

Dark stood up with me. I didn't expect him to do or say anything. Maybe walk away, go off on his own again. But suddenly his hand pressed itself upon the side of my neck.

My eyes shot open. Instantly, I panicked. My mind raced. I... I was going to be strangled. ! Why? Nothing logical. Natural. I tried to pull away on instinct, but the wall was behind me.

Trapped.

His other hand caught my shoulder, pinning me to the wall. No escape.

Immediately, Dark noticed my struggle, and his eyes met mine. He took a step closer. "Calm down."

My instincts abandoned me with those two words from him. My breathing slowed with the realization that I was not actually about to die.

His hand remained completely still on my neck as he breathed, "Close your eyes..." I did as I was told. My breathing slowed more. I had no idea what he was doing, but... "Your pulse... It doesn't change."

What? I opened my eyes, only to notice that his face was much closer than before. "Wh-what does that mean..?"

He was staring at my neck as if fascinated. "Your pulse. It makes no difference how you breathe right now... Your pulse stays unusually fast."

I had no idea what he was talking about, and I didn't understand his behavior. "...Why?"

His ruby eyes darted up to meet mine. "Why? Why does your heart beat so quickly? Whether you're panicked or dazed?"

I frowned unappreciatively, a spark of pride lighting up in me. "I'm not dazed."

His eyes moved down, toward my mouth as I spoke, and I thought I saw a smile cross his face. The look was alien on him. It wasn't any expression I'd ever seen on him before. But after a few seconds, his eyes returned to mine. His voice couldn't have been more than a whisper. "Regardless... The rate of your heart..." I nodded, and he continued as if in some sort of trance, "It could mean..." He took a deep breath, and I felt the hot air on my skin... "...several things..."

Yeah... Okay, just as a clear-up to make complete sure that everyone knows what's going on, Knux was narrator and Dark is Shadow.

But what's going on with Knuckles' memory? :O

Reviews are appreciated! I'd love to hear any questions or anything. Hahaha. :)

And now to see what's going on with Rouge...