Chapter Six: Daffodils in Ruin
Daffodils. They were always her favourite. Shadow knelt down and laid the flower gently on the dull tomb stone, the sky was getting dark, but he could still make out the worn writing upon it:
Maria Robotnik
1944-1956
Lost in the crusade to shut down the space colony ARK
Crusade, Pfft. Lost? More like mercilessly gunned down.
Shadow stared at the writing for a few minutes, his fists clenched, he forced himself to relax, and left.
He arrived home to find the house empty. There was a note on the couch:
Shaddy,
Tails on a date with Cream, me on a date with Blaze. Back later, hopefully not ;)
Sonic :D
Shadow rolled his eyes, couples are overrated.
--
"Y'know it's actually been pretty good tonight, Sonic." Blaze rested her head in her palm, looking at Sonic almost dreamily.
"You expected it not to be?" Sonic grinned, the two were in a nice restaurant, and he had ignored the fact that this would financially cripple him until he got a job, but what the hell, it was good. "I'll go pay the bill, back in a minute."
Blaze nodded, watching the hedgehog until he went out of sight. He returned after a few minutes and held her hand as she got up.
It was a long walk home, and there was some silence at the beginning. Until Sonic spoke the question on his mind; "Blaze?" she turned to him, "How did you become a...a werewolf?"
Blaze paused, looking down.
"It's ok if you don't want to talk about it."
"Mm." Blaze smiled weakly as Sonic put his arm around her.
--
Shadow tossed the note in the bin as he lay on the couch, his eyes closed. His peace was interrupted by a knock on the door, so, after muttering a bad word under his breath, he answered and to his shock, he found Famine at the door.
There was a pause as Shadow glared into his smug face.
"You gonna invite me in?" Famine peered around Shadow and into the house, "I can't come in unless you invite me across the threshold, don't know who the idiot who made up that rule was but, you know us Black Creatures."
"All too well," Shadow continued his cold stare, "Leave. Now."
"We can always have this conversation outside I guess..." Famine grinned and turned around to an old lady across the street, he waved, "Y'alright?!"
"Get in here." Shadow grabbed him by his collar, dragging him in. "Make this quick."
"Very well." Famine leaned against the wall, in his traditional, infuriatingly cocky pose, "I'm giving you one more chance. You know you want to join us..."
Shadow didn't retaliate, his cold stare began to fade.
"...I bet you remember. The feel, the warmth... the taste. Scaring them 'til they almost piss themselves." Famine laughed. He saw Shadow sweating.
"Get out."
"Or what?" Famine raised an eyebrow, "You haven't fed in weeks, you touch me and I'll hand your arse back on a plate, you know I will."
At that very moment, whether it be a godsend or very lucky, Sonic and Blaze arrived home, the blue hedgehog jumped back in shock as soon as he saw Famine, who by now had pinned Shadow against the wall.
"You!"
"You!?" Before Famine could react properly, Sonic had pulled him off Shadow, and knocked him to the floor with a punch to the face, "Heh, I've had worse slaps by girls!" he stood up, grinning into Sonic's glare, he then turned to Shadow. "Tsk. Associating with lycos... pathetic. I'll let myself out."
Sonic stared at the door for a few seconds after Famine left. Blaze had gone to help Shadow.
"You ok?" Blaze put her arm over Shadow's shoulder, he looked breathless.
"I'm fine." His eyes were fixed on the floor. He caught his breath and went out.
Sonic was about to stop him, but Blaze took his shoulder and shook her head. "He's got to sort this one out for himself."
He agreed hesitantley, quickly making his way into the kitchen for a beer, he silently offered Blaze one, and she accepted.
"Sooooo...." Sonic drummed his fingers on the couch as they sat down, "No one's in..."
"I'm not that easy, Sonic."
Sonic sighed, "Fine."
--
Shadow approached the undertakers, walking quickly and staying alert; these Black Creatures could play dirty.
Straight as he opened the door, two large, bulky guards blocked his path. Shadow looked up at them, "Ruin! It's me!" he shouted past them.
A grim voice sounded from behind the guards, "Let him in." the guards immediately moved out of Shadow's way, and Ruin told them silently to leave, they did so. Shadow stepped closer to Ruin, looking at him for a few seconds. He was a black and red hedgehog, not unlike Shadow, but he was much bigger, and bulkier, he had crueler eyes and wore a smart, clean suit, his grim voice sounded once again. "You here for something, Black Shadow?"
"Don't call me that." Shadow said this quietly as he admired the room, it was neat, and clean, if not somewhat dark-themed. He took a seat in front of Ruin. "I want to know why you gave power of the Creatures to Famine."
Ruin raised his eyebrow, "Simple. He's an idiot. A fool."
It was Shadow's turn to raise his eyebrow, "And that helps how?"
"Well, my old friend. I'm pretty much still ruling, just from the back seat, the only difference is that I don't have to take the blame if it all goes to shit."
"I see." Shadow leaned back, "And this talk of an uprising?"
"That's all true. It's coming Shadow. You know which side to choose..."
"Do I now?"
"You should." Shadow was taken back by this statement, he motioned for Ruin to carry on.
"All the good times we had? Remember when we got those campers, where was that?"
Shadow cocked his head back, smiling, "Ah... I remember that."
"And those bloody drunken teens!"
"Weren't so tough when we showed our teeth!" The two leaned on each other as they laughed.
"There's always a place for you here, Shadow."
Shadow stopped abruptly, then stood up. "I've got to go."
"Mm." Was all Ruin said as he watched his old best friend leave.
Right, I don't want to sound annoying, which I know I am, but anyway. More reviews people! I've got one per chapter and while I thank those who have reviewed, it's not that many, especially those people who subscribe and favourite this without atleast reviewing, (Yes, I know who you are). I've got some good ideas for this story. It'd be a shame if I had to stop it due to lack of interest from other people. Oh, and anonymous reviews are also accepted. Thanks.
