AN : Sorry for the late chapter, I came down with a case of Writer's Block shortly after uploading the previous chapter and I've had it ever since. Thankfully, recently I have been able to write more, what with free time during summer and my getting over the WB. I appreciate the patience. So, on with the next chapter!

Chapter 1 : Dying Within

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

The alarm clock on the bedside table rang loudly as it announced the designated time for its owner s awakening. A groan came from the bed beside the table, and a white-gloved hand slapped the button on the top of the clock, turning the alarm off.

"Ohhh."

The person in bed kicked the covers off and sat up. The blue hedgehog opened his emerald-green eyes drowsily and rubbed them as he slowly awoke. A faint image of a slender pink figure lingered in his mind He'd had crazy dreams all night. About what, he wondered?

Then the dream flooded back into his memory. The blue hedgehog's green eyes widened as he remembered who had been a major part of his dreams. He shuddered and tried to forget, shaking off the waves of heartache starting to overcome him. It was the same way every morning. He would fall asleep at night and have dreams about her all night long, and when he woke up he would remember that they were only dreams, and she was not actually with him. That would sent him into a fit of depression which he would endure for the rest of the day until he would go back to sleep and have the dreams all over again.

The blue hedgehog lowered his head and scowled, scolding himself inwardly. That had been five years ago. He told himself he should let go of the past. It had already happened; it was over. But somehow, that didn't comfort him any better.

"Hey, Sonic! A voice from downstairs called. Wake up, breakfast's ready!"

Sonic sighed and raised his voice to reply. "All right, I'm comin', Tails!" He yawned and stretched, refreshing his stressed nerves with new blood pulsing through his body, then swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. Inhaling and exhaling deeply, he rolled his head about his shoulders to give it a good pop.

"Today's a new day, Sonic," the now-twenty-year-old hedgehog addressed himself, glancing over at the mirror nearby. He forced a smile at his reflection. "Time to show the world you CAN get on in life without her."

His reflection's smile faded. He was having trouble convincing himself that. With a weary sigh, he started out of the door of his room and headed downstairs.

When he arrived in the kitchen, he found the orange fox already seated at the table with his plate in front of him. Sonic nodded at the fox. "Mornin', Tails."

"Good morning, Sonic," the orange fox replied, a content tone in his voice. Sonic only wished he could feel as lighthearted. "Did you sleep well?"

"I slept just fine," Sonic answered as politely as possible, faking a smile. He hated being dishonest, but it was the only way to keep his uncontrollable nightmares a secret. He nodded. "Thanks."

Tails smiled his return and went back to flipping channels on the small television set seated on the counter. Sonic, meanwhile, retrieved a plate of his own from the cabinet, and then went over to the stove to dish out some of the scrambled eggs from the frying pan. As he prepared his plate, Sonic allowed himself to sink back into his thoughts. He glanced behind him at the fifteen-year-old kitsune, making sure he would not be noticed if he decided to zone out a bit.

Tails had always been Sonic's closest friend. The two were inseparable, like brothers, and either had always been there to look out for the other. After Amy Rose moved away five years ago, Tails had been the one who had so generously offered a place in his home for Sonic to live. Since then Sonic had been living with his younger friend, continuing his struggle to move on in secret. Sonic knew Tails was aware of his sudden change in behaviour after Amy left, but whenever the fox questioned him about it, Sonic would deny any relation to the fact of Amy's departure and then quickly change the subject.

Sonic took another spoonful of eggs and then turned to set his plate down on the table, still thinking as he turned back around to get the orange juice from the refridgerator nearby. Sonic hoped Tails didn't worry too much about him. He tried to choke his feelings down and act as though everything was okay, but he had a sinking feeling that none of his tricks ever worked. He simply could not help it. Something deep in his heart had snapped when Amy left. The guilt was unbearable.

I had the opportunity to tell her, and I just let her go...

"Sonic?"

His thoughts fled from his mind like spooked horses. He turned to quickly try to mask his emotion with a smile, but Tails had already seen the hollow gaze he was giving the wall.

"Sonic, you shouldn't worry so much. It's bad for your health."

Sonic let out a long, exhausted sigh as he closed the door to the refrigerator and turned back to the table. "... Sorry, Tails." He poured some orange juice into his glass and sat down dejectedly.

Tails watched the blue hedgehog intently, concern flickering in his light-blue eyes. "I know you miss her, Sonic, but you're worrying me with all this stressing."

"I'm not stressing, and I don't miss her!" Sonic snapped. He bit his lip when he saw the taken-aback expression on his friend's face and sighed slightly. "... Sorry. I just... don't feel like talking about it, all right? Just drop it." He picked up his spoon and took a bite of eggs before he had to say anything else.

Tails observed him for a few moments longer, the worry still evident in his eyes, before he finally turned back to the television, giving a sigh of his own. "You never feel like talking about it..." He flipped the channel to one displaying the weather forecast for the week.

Sonic chewed his eggs slowly and returned his gaze to the wall, trying to concentrate on thinking again. He could almost remember it- the pain in her eyes, the tears flowing down her soft cheeks...

Sonic, do you love me? Do you really care if I leave or not?

Sonic's heart pounded mercilessly against his chest. The guilt washed over him as the memory of her desperate question echoed in his mind. If she could only see him now; how much he had lost since she left.

When Amy left... it was like she took a part of me with her.

"And now, back to our regular programming."

Tails flipped the channel, the weather forecast having been concluded. The fox leaned back slightly, pleased with having found the news channel. A young blond-yellow rabbit, who was apparently the news reporter, stood in front of the camera, speaking into a small microphone.

"... And speaking of strange events, there appears to be some form of a limousine making its way into Station Square..."

Sonic stood, pushing his plate away from him. "I'm going to go for a run, Tails."

"Hm?" Tails turned a bit to look at the blue hedgehog. "But you've barely touched your food."

"I'm not real hungry today," muttered Sonic. "... I'll be back in thirty minutes or so."

"Well, okay... Be careful out there."

"... Right." Sonic lifted a hand and pushed the screen door open, stepping outside onto the front porch. He took a short breath of air, the fresh oxygen filling his lungs. Clouds were gathering in the skies overhead, but Sonic decided to ignore them as he walked down the steps of the porch and down the front lawn. He stopped for a moment at the foot of the steps, half-wondering if it would rain. As if it would matter.

The cobalt hedgehog huffed to himself and pulled the jacket he'd brought with him on, buttoning it securely around his shoulders and neck. Shoving his hands into the pockets of the jacket, he then proceeded on into the woods which stretched out a mile or so nearby the workshop.

Leaves were falling with apparent grace onto the soft dirt of the forest ground. The slight breeze whisked through the branches of the trees, brushing by Sonic and attempting to chill his bones. Sonic ignored the chill, shaking it away before it even made contact with his body. The depressed atmosphere of the land matched his current suicidal mood. This forest brought back memories of years past. The memories reminded Sonic too much of the opportunities he had, of what he could have told her, and what he did not. He walked the forest path alone, but somehow as he walked, he could feel a spirit by his side, a spirit that seemed so distant yet so close. The smell of her sweet perfume, the warmth of her rosy pink fur, the glimmer in her dark-green eyes. The emotion over-swept his heart, so deep and so passionate.

Sonic stopped in his tracks for a split-second. The memory lingered in his mind. He reached out a hand to grasp around hers with affectionate tightness, but found that nothing was beside him. "..." His sadness began to slowly harden into hatred. He bowed his head, his eyes shut as he constrained the fury. He hated the world. He hated the pain that came with came with simply existing in the world. He hated everyone who lived in the damn world he was also cursed to live in for the rest of his days. There was nothing left for him, so why should he feel any sympathy or anyone or anything else?

That's it, hedgehog. You cannot quit. Do not let the pain or suffering stop you. Take it within your heart; let it grow. Let it fester within your soul; let it blacken your heart to the core.

Sonic clenched his fists. He could feel a coldness creeping deep into his heart as he kept his head bowed low. His fur stood on end as its colour progressively darkened from a brilliant sapphire-blue to a dark navy-blue.

They are the cause of your pain, hedgehog. They are responsible for every hurt and every pain you feel in your heart. They are the ones who have done you wrong. Let hate be your ally. Go, and make them pay for the heartbreak they've forced you to endure. Destroy every last one of them. You will feel better in the end, and everyone will see that your heart is not something to be broken! They will fear and respect you! Destroy them!

Sonic lifted his head. A deep scowl froze on his expression, and the emerald-green pigment of his eyes was slowly fading into empty white.

Kill! Hate! Destroy! Pay!

"Revenge..."

"Sonic!"

The dark-blue hedgehog turned, his pupil-less eyes intent on the source of the voice. The yellow-orange kitsune halted at the edge of the clearing, placing a hand on the trunk of a nearby tree and leaning over slightly to catch his breath. Sonic's fur lightened again, and his green eyes returned. He shook his head, his self-awareness reviving a bit.

"Tails?... What is it?" Sonic blinked.

Tails opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was exhausted pants. He held up his index finger, signaling for Sonic to hold on while he tried to breathe. Clearly the fox had been running swiftly to get from his workshop and to the forest. That much being said, Sonic could only assume that something important was happening. The blue hedgehog took long strides to get to his friend's side quickly. Sonic helped the fox stand up straight and encouraged him to keep breathing. Once this was through, Sonic tried to inquire of what was the matter, but he jumped back a bit when Tails leaned a hand on his shoulder.

"Tails? What's wrong? Did someone get hurt?"

Sonic tried to inhale and exhale properly himself. He still didn't feel well from a few moments before, but this situation seemed to be too urgent to be distracted by his own feelings.

"I just got a phone call from Cream, Sonic..."

"You did? Is she okay? Did something happen to her mom?" Sonic tried to speak calmly, but the tone in his voice revealed his inner impatience. "Or did someone else get hurt?"

"No one is hurt..."

"Then WHAT is the deal?"

Sonic gave his younger friend a serious gaze. He let out an exasperated sigh and placed both of his hands on Tails's shoulders, turning the fox around to look him in the eye.

"Tails. Tell me what's wrong. Now."

"It's... It's not... She..."

"Tails!"

Tails nearly fell over on top of Sonic. Sonic grunted softly in frustration. Why was Tails acting like this?

"Pull yourself together!" The hedgehog was finally forced to give Tails a light slap on the cheek.

Tails blinked again, life returning to his blue eyes.

"Sonic. You're not gonna believe this, but..."

"But what?"

"... She's back, Sonic."

"What? Who is?"

"... Amy."

Heh, cliffhanger. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I did writing it. Leave a review and tell me what you think. It's appreciated!