Disclaimer: Sonic and co. © Sega

Reise and Egglings © Blank the Nobody

Chapter Fourteen

Insanity's Epiphany

1 Month, 19 Days and 12 Hours before Black Egg Armageddon

You can drive a person to the edge of oblivion. But when you take them too far, too many times, they eventually snap.

"Mommy." whimpered a small and scared voice.

A single ray of light shined down on her from an old and overused light bulb. In the middle of the light sat a scared rabbit, sitting in fetal position with her arms wrapped around her knees. Tears cascaded down her cheeks and onto her stained and tattered dress. Her cries echoed and bounced off of the tiny room's walls. It was a nightmare for the girl, a total and absolute nightmare. There was no contact with the outside world making her think that all of her friends are dead. She hoped and prayed that her friends were alive and a small glimmer of hope shined in her soul. Another sob escaped the rabbit's lips as more tears poured out of her eyes.

In front of her was a small two way mirror and as she cried a tall, shadowy figure stepped into the next room so they could watch. Cream could only get a glimpse of a silhouette behind the glass and she wanted to scream. There was no point though, the only person that would hear her scream would be herself and the psychotic man behind the glass.

"Good evening Cream, how are we doing this fine evening?" asked Eggman as a light lit up in his room, making it possible to see him from Cream's side.

The man was being sarcastic, anyone could tell. But why? Why cause so much pain to a young, innocent girl? Was it for some greater purpose unbeknownst to her? Or just to antagonize Sonic into attacking him? An answer couldn't be found at all, and Cream only hoped that she would somehow survive the trials she was about to endure.

Cream didn't reply to Eggman's question and instead kept on crying. Eggman watched the girl sob and his heart was filled with sadness. Even though he's an evil villain, the doctor couldn't stand watching Cream cry. Not because it was annoying, because it actually pained his heart to do so. The doctor still has some feelings left and watching a little girl cry did make him feel bad. But in his mind, he knew that it was all for the good in advancing his own science. A familiar figure walked up next to Eggman and a familiar laugh filled the room Eggman was in.

"So tell me, have you gotten used to the screams of young children yet?" asked Reise as he stared through the glass.

Eggman turned to face his new partner. Even though they were working together, Eggman still wasn't used to Reise's sadistic mind. But soon enough, Eggman's way of thinking would be the same. Ivo could've grabbed any other little girl, but Reise told him to kidnap Cream specifically. The doctor looked through the glass, his eyes staring at the frightened form that was Cream. His heart ached a bit, but he quickly got over it.

The experiment was to see if the Egglings still had any humanity left in them. If they didn't attack Cream, then there was still a droplet of hope in the Mobian turned monster. Eggman and Reise didn't want that. They wanted brutal, battle hardened creatures that will kill anything that they come into contact with. The experiment quickly started as Eggman swiftly grabbed the microphone in front of him and turned it on.

"Well, I might as well get down to business," said Eggman into the microphone so Cream could hear him.

Eggman pressed a large red button next to the microphone, switching on all of the lights in Cream's holding chamber. The young rabbit cringed in fear, not knowing what was happening, but she still stayed seated. In every corner of the room there were mechanical, circular doors. Her fear intensified at the sight and she held in the urge to cry. What sick game was Eggman playing at now? To take her mind off of it, Cream inspected her room. It was square and normal with dark gray metal walls. The room was large enough for her to run around in and not get hurt, but small enough for the sense of solitary to set in.

A smile crept onto Reise's face at the sight and was filled with excitement and Eggman shared in his excitement only a little bit. He still felt bad about what he was doing, but he kept working anyway knowing that it would somehow help his own cause. Robotnik grabbed the microphone again and gave Cream her last piece of useful advice.

"If I were you, I would get up," said Eggman, with a calm tone. Cream looked up to see the doctor with a confused look. "because things are going to get a bit hectic in there." There was a green button next to the red one he had previously pushed and Eggman's broad finger hovered over it. He still had a conscience, and he knew that he couldn't press the button.

"Do it." said Reise seriously and as if his body was being controlled, Eggman pressed the button.

A low hum rose up in the air, making Cream whimper in fear. Slowly but steadily the four circles in the corner of the room started to slide open. After the mechanical doors slid open the humming stopped, but instead, the sound of hydraulic pistons hissing to life rose up. Cream jumped to her feet, her knees shaking nervously as four large pillar-like cages rose up from the holes. Each cylinder was at least four yards away from her, but that didn't make her feel better at all. From her position, Cream could hear the defiant roars and thumps coming from within the cylinders, making the felling of death drench down into her heart.

Eggman looked down at the microphone. There was one more button left to push, but if he did, he would sign Cream's death warrant for her. Within his head, two sides were conflicting with each other. 'Push the button!' yelled one part of his head, 'Don't push it!' yelled the other. A single bead of sweat dropped off of Eggman's face as he continued to debate with himself. Reise noticed the lack of bloodshed and looked over at Eggman who hadn't pressed the button yet. For Reise, Eggman's cowardice made the doctor look weak and that was something Reise wouldn't have.

"What are you waiting for?" he asked in a cynical tone.

The doctor looked at the man with an angered look. He didn't want to do it, torturing other people was fine, but doing it to little girls was a bit too far for him. Eggman thought back when he tortured Tails, at that time, he was in the thrill of the moments, dismembering the fox's tails was something fuelled by his own rage against the fox. But he had no problem with Cream. Now he was picking on someone who didn't deserve the punishment. But attacking a young female was needed for the experiment to work.

"I'm not going to do it." he said finally, in a calm tone.

A shocked look washed over Reise's face at the statement. The expression quickly turned into an angered one, for Reise didn't like Eggman's defiance toward him.

"I told you to do it." hissed Reise in an enraged tone, as he glared at his colleague with infuriated eyes.

"No!" Eggman yelled as he stood straight up and stared at Reise.

While Reise and Eggman were having a heated debate, something weird was happening on Cream's side. The rabbit stared at the glass in front of her, Eggman clearly in sight. What intrigued her the most was the fact that he could see the doctor arguing and yelling angrily. The odd thing was, Cream couldn't see anyone else. Through Cream's eyes, all she could see was Eggman yelling at nothing but an empty space.

"DO IT!" yelled Reise angrily as he got face-to-face with Eggman.

Obviously Eggman wasn't going to do it, but for some reason, it felt as if Reise was overpowering him. "No." said the brawny doctor in a low and serious tone.

Reise wouldn't take it anymore. The man clad in black grabbed Eggman's arm quickly and lifted it onto the last remaining button. Eggman swatted Reise's hand away, but he knew that it was already too late. A loud hiss filled Cream's chamber as the cylinder's slowly opened up. Cream's gaze darted from each of the cylinders, as a fearful whimper escaped her lips. A low growl came from each of the open cylinders, combining in the air to create a dreadful hum. The young rabbit stared into one of the open pistons and a pair of glowing bloodshot eyes shot open. Seconds later a gnarled, clawed arm shot out of the cylindrical cage.

"No." whispered Eggman as he gazed through the glass that separated him from the rabbit.

The growling intensified as the four creatures pulled themselves out of confinement. Each of the Egglings were hungry for blood and after setting their eyes on Cream the dinner bell was ringing in their heads. One Eggling took a step forward, anxiously licking its lips in preparation for his mouthwatering meal. Cream only stood there, whimpering in fear as all four creatures slowly approached her. She couldn't escape them because the room was so small and Cream wasn't the fighting type without Cheese.

"You can stop them." said Reise with a devilish smile.

"What are you talking about?" asked Eggman in a hesitant tone.

In an instant, all four Egglings leapt forward, destroying Cream's hope for survival. The only thing she could do was stand there and let out a loud scream. Eggman smashed his hands onto the desk in front of him and without his knowledge he hit the microphone button.

"STOP!" he roared angrily, his voice booming through the speakers hidden in Cream's room.

Cream stood there, her eyes shut and her whole body shaking in fear. Noticing that she hadn't been mauled to death, Cream slowly opened one eye to find all four Egglings standing in place, but still growling angrily. Eggman looked at the sight with astonishment. As if on command, the Egglings stopped their attack and remained in their positions, even though they still growled at Cream. Reise smiled at the sights, not because it was impressive, it was because he knew it was going to happen.

"You should stop worrying." said the man in black, in a calm tone.

Eggman's stare instantly shifted over to Reise with an angry expression strewn across his face. It was cruel, but at least Eggman did learn something about his new powers. At least he was slowly leanring and taking precise note within his head. Eggman sighed and prepared to press the button that would pump in the sleeping gas in the room. He wouldn't kill Cream, but Reise had other plans.

"Attack." said Reise, knowing that the microphone was still on.

In a matter of seconds, the Egglings pounced again. Luckily, Cream was able to jump out of the way and dodge the attacks. For a couple of minutes Cream was able to avoid the attacks. A swing was thrown out her and it created a wide cut going down her arm. Cream wasn't fast enough to avoid all of the attacks and soon enough, cuts and bruises were covering the rabbit's body. Even with the injuries, Cream was still able to avoid some more attacks even though she knew that she was reaching the end of her rope.

With another swift jump to the right, Cream avoided a downward swing towards her. After the jump, Cream collapsed and landed on the wall for support. Blood trailing down each of her wounds and onto her tattered mess, making her look like some sort of beat up homeless person. Tears fell freely from her eyes because she knew that she wouldn't survive.

An Eggling then slowly walked up to her and overshadowed the tiny rabbit as she whimpered in the corner. It radiated a hungry growl as it came closer and closer, ready to tear her to shreds to make eating her much easier. The other Egglings crowded around her, all of them ready for their snack. The Eggling in front of Cream raised its clawed arm up in preparation for the killing blow. Cream screwed her eyes shut and waited. The Eggling swung its arm downwards and Cream could only think of her life back home.

"Halt." said a familiar voice in a hesitant tone.

The pain didn't come and Cream slowly opened her eyes. Standing in the middle of the room was the same brawny and hulking Eggman from before. Accompanying him was Reise, sporting his normal black overcoat. Eggman's command made the Eggling stop its attack and the group parted so Eggman could see the rabbit. The doctor strode forward and kneeled down in front of Cream, instead of wearing his new psychotic smile, Eggman wore a kinder and more gentler one.

"Don't worry, we're not going to kill you. Reise and I just needed some data, that's all." said Eggman in a soft tone.

That was all he wanted anyway. Some data for his own gain in this war that was raging between himself and Sonic. He had no business killing Cream, not now or ever.

Cream looked around and then looked at Eggman. "Wh- who's Reise?" she asked nervously. If she wasn't going to die, she could at least get some information for Sonic and the gang.

Eggman pointed at Reise with his thumb and smiled again. "He is." He said normally.

It all made sense then. Cream looked past the doctor and stared at nothing but air. "No one's there." she said in a scared tone.

A shocked expression washed over Eggman's face before he looked over his shoulder to see Reise plain as day. But Reise smiled and waved at the doctor and he faded into thin air as if he wasn't there at all. Eggman couldn't tell what was happening to him. The doctor then looked at Cream with the same shocked expression as before. He got up and held his head in hesitation.

"Knock her out." he commanded, before the Egglings backhanded Cream in the head.

Sweat was starting to form on Eggman's brow as he started to think of the possibilities.

"Having delusions Ivo?" asked a familiar voice.

Eggman turned around to see a smiling Reise stand in the middle of the room. Before Eggman could get a word out of his mouth Reise walked up to Eggman and literally walked into the doctor. Eggman's head started to spin as memories flooded in out of nowhere. The doctor fell to his knees and clutched his head.

Flash!

Eggman was in his office, the day he attained his new powers. He was sulking and crying just like he remembered, but there was definitely something different. The lights didn't go out and Eggman slammed himself against the wall, then he hit the floor. There was no Reise though, Eggman was doing it all on his own. The fat Eggman then ran out into the hallway then into the storage area, no one following him at all.

Flash!

"No one's there." said Cream before being knocked out.

Flash!

Eggman was on the floor his head spinning. Reise didn't exist at all. He was only some delusion created by Eggman so he could finally win. Reise is all of Eggman's rage and insanity bent into one cruel and uncaring form. Now Reise was taking over, turning Eggman into the perfect weapon. After reaching his breaking point so many times, Eggman finally snapped. He went crazy in the search for power and that's how it's going to stay, now and forever.

Don't touch that dial kids, Eggman's gone totally nuts and created his own imaginary friend of pure insanity and rage!