There she lay, unconscious, body in a graceful position. Her eyes fluttered open, emeralds wandered about. Head throbbing and blurry vision, she tried to push it away. The pink hedgehog sat up and looked around, confused; it was complete darkness.

"Where I am?" she whispered in to the darkness.

Amy pushed herself off the ground and began to feel at the emptiness, trying to find something worth helping. She began to walk around in the darkness, looking everywhere, but there was nothing to give her a clue of her location. Her hands travelled down the white summer dress that hugged her body, she smiled at the tiny designs that flowed down from her right hip. A pain from her arm caught her attention, she watched, shock stricken, as the wound slowly healed. The memory of the freak earthquake shot through her mind and her eyes shot open.

"Shadow?.." Amy whispered.

Shadow was just about to catch her, but he was too late; she ran about in the darkness shouting for him.

"Will you stop! Your yelling is really giving me a headache!" a voice spoke.

Amy froze and prepared herself for the worst.

"Who was that? Show yourself!" she yelled out.

"Calm down, just give a sec!" the voice said, sweetly.

The voice echoed from everywhere, Amy was nervous but stood her ground for this stranger to come out. Suddenly a spark appeared and it began grow bigger and brighter. Amy shielded her eyes from the blinding light; a figure stepped out and the light faded out.

The figure was a female with a slender body. She was a bit taller than Amy, much taller…as tall as a 12 year old human. Gold locks rested on her shoulder, blue eyes that sparked like the sun hitting the deep, blue ocean and an angelic face.

"Hello Amy" the girl said with a gorgeous smile.

Amy stood awestruck at the girl's beauty; she looked like an angel.

"Hello…you remind me of someone. Have we met before?" Amy asked, poking at her memory.

"We haven't met before, but I'm sure you've heard of me…from Shadow?" she replied.

Amy's head shot up to the girl's face and finally realized who this girl was. She was the one Shadow always kept in his heart, the friend and sister he loved and lost..

"Maria.." Amy mumbled.

"Uh-huh!" Maria grinned.

"I can't believe it's actually you, I never thought that I'd being meeting you! Oh yea, why am I here? Where I am? Is Sha-!" Amy stuttered

"One at a time!" Maria giggled.

"Okay, where am I?" Amy asked.

"You are in a secret part of yourself, you're quite safe."

"What do you mean, "secret part of yourself?"

"This is a part of yourself that you've been pushing away. Possibly…affection?"

Amy thought about it and it was true, she had been pushing her feelings away and doubting herself.

"..Am I dead?" Amy gasped.

"No! No! You're just unconscious" Maria laughed at Amy's silly reaction.

"Unconscious?! Why?!"

"You went a little overboard with the temperature of the shower water; your body couldn't handle the heat, so you fainted in the shower."

"Bu-..But I got out of the stall and the earthquake and Shadow!!" Amy said frantically.

"Calm down, Amy!.." Maria placed her hands on Amy's shoulders, "After you fainted, your mind quickly went into dream mode, so here you are."

"So…this is all a dream! The earthquake?"

Maria nodded her head.

"That's good, I just need to wake and get out of this prison." Amy said, giving a sigh of relief.

Maria looked away with a worried look on her face; Amy noticed the frown.

"Amy…don't take this dream lightly." Maria said.

Amy gave Maria a confused look.

"What do you mean, Maria?" Amy asked, raising her eyebrow.

"I came here to warn you, the future isn't bright and you have to be careful. Please Amy, promise you right now that you won't do anything foolish." Maria pleaded.

Amy held Maria's hand, "I promise you and I'll always keep that in mind."

Maria's face lightened up and she hugged Amy. Amy understood why Shadow saw Maria as a true friend; she suddenly gasped.

"Maria…my body! Is it still in the shower stall?!" Amy stuttered.

Maria gave a smile, "No, you were saved."

"Saved? By who?" Amy asked.

"Shado-!"

"Urk!" Amy choked; her cheeks grew a shade of red. To have Shadow see her body! But…to be saved by him was a different feeling.

"Don't worry, you weren't naked" Maria began to laugh, "Is there something I don't know? You're blushing as red as an apple."

Amy mentally slapped herself out of her fantasies; "It's nothing" she smiled.

"Oh come one, please tell me! It's not like I'm going to tell anyone, I mean…" Maria said as she whistled and pointed up into the endless heavens.

A giggle escaped Amy lips, "Okay…I've fallen for Shadow."

Maria's face was ecstatic, a big smile graced her face, "Oh my gosh! Amy, have you told him?"

"Well no…I doubt he'll let anyone into his life after he lost you" Amy stared down at her bare feet.

"That's not true, remember he promised to put his past behind him?" Maria said, stroking Amy's quills.

Amy looked at Maria's promising face, unsatisfied.

"Okay, if I give you proof, will you believe me?" Maria said, placing her hands on her hips.

Amy looked at Maria, unable to understand her, "Um-"

"Great!" Maria cut in, "Okay, so you have to listen to whatever I say, alright?"

"What are we doing?"

"Getting in touch with your mind."

Amy grew even more confused.

"I mean that if you are able to get in touch with your mind, you'll be able to get in touch with your senses." Maria said, excitedly, "Now close your eyes."

As instructed, Amy shut her eyes. She wasn't suspicious of Maria, Amy trusted her.

"Now one by one, I'm going to tell you to concentrate on each of your senses…now concentrate on your cutaneous receptors!"

Amy put her mind forth, giving it her all.

"Come on Amy, you can do it!" Maria exclaimed.

Slowly, Amy began to feel the cool air against her body and warmness against her right hair; she felt her quills being stroked.

"This feels really weird." Amy whispered to Maria.

Maria giggled, "Let's move on to hearing, concentrate!"

Amy shut her eyes and concentrated once again, it was difficult for her. She clenched her fists and focused. Suddenly, she was surrounded with noises of sorts; the chirps of birds, ruffling of clothes, rustling of leaves and familiar voices.

"Now you can hear everything from your ear's and feel everything from your own skin." Maria said, grinning.

Amy smiled, "Thank you, Maria."

"Pffft! No problem" Maria grinned, "Go ahead and experience the fun."

Amy shut her eyes and focused on her senses; she felt like she was back home.

- - -

There was a conversation between everyone and I felt a lot of negative energy…anger, fear and worry. I heard the voice of someone I've never heard from before.

"She's got a fever of 102, her pulse and breathing are weak and her heart rate is not normal. It's most definitely that she will go into a coma." a male voice spoke.

What?! A-a coma!? No! I can't fall into a coma! I'll be stuck here, maybe even forever!

"But the proper treatment should help her."

What was going on? What treatment? I heard the tinkling of glass and felt my arm being held; a sharp pain shot through my body. It hurt so much! My arm went numb. What the hell did he do?!

"Now we just need to wait and see… we should leave."

"Leave? She can't be left alone!"

I gasped, it was Shadow's voice and I was so happy he was alright. His voice contained frustration and worry,

"Would you be willing to stay here with her, Shadow?" the mysterious spoke again.

"Wait a second! Why, Shadow? Can't one of the girls do it?" a male voice echoed through the room.

Then I heard a metal clang and Knuckles shout in pain.

"I think Shadow would be perfect for the job." A husky, female beamed.

"I agree, Amy will do fine with Shadow beside her." said another female voice.

"…Okay, I'll do it."

Shadow?...Take care of me? I let out a sigh, happy one. I never knew he cared about me so much.

"Are you sure, Shadow?" Knuckles asked with sternness in his voice.

"I promise you, Knuckles, I will take good care of her." Shadow assured him.

Then I heard footsteps walk out the room, Knuckles did not sound happy. I heard everyone talk with before they left, then the door closed. I don't know what was going on but Shadow did not speak or breathe, waiting for him felt like an eternity. Finally I heard footsteps walk towards me, Shadow let out a sigh and I heard the noise of a chair being pulled up; my right hand felt so warm in his grasp.

"Don't worry, Amy…I'm here for you." Shadow whispered.

My heart pounded against my chest, he really cares about me…I had to let him know that I heard him! I had to respond. I opened my and there stood Maria with a smile.

"Well, how was it?" she asked.

"Amazing, but I need to do one more thing. I need to show Shadow that I heard him." I mumbled.

Maria began to think, her index finger lay upon her rosy lips and her eyes wandered in thought. Her face lightened up with an idea.

"I got it!...You're going to have to focus on touch, it's really difficult to focus on" she smiled.

Ignoring the warning, I closed my eyes and concentrated on touch. It was so hard, I was getting worn out.

"Come on Amy! Let him know! Let him know you heard every word he said to you!" Maria blurted out.

Maria's words echoed through my head. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists; I felt my nerves activate and with the little strength I had, I faintly squeezed his hand. I fell to my knees, breathless; I only hoped he felt me squeeze his hand. I heard him gasp and his grasp pulled away from me.

"Amy?...Amy! Open your eyes, please Amy!" he plead turned into a whisper.

Tears flowed down my cheeks like waterfalls, Shadow was in so much pain and I felt so much depression flow through him. I wanted to let go of this place and wrap him in my arms; suddenly I wasn't able to feel or hear anything, I wasn't strong enough to focus on my senses.

"I'm so sorry, Shadow…" I whispered in between sobs.

Maria wrapped her arms around me and I cried on her shoulder.

"I just want to go home…"

- - -

Author: Woo-hoo! Chapter 6 is up!

Shadow: Finally! You left everyone in suspense!

Author: Well, I didn't do it on purpose…or did I?

*dramatic music*