Shadow sat down beside Chris, glaring at the other people gathered there. Chris' mom and dad gave him small smiles, Mr. Tanaka nodded at him, Chris' grandfather did the same as Mr. Tanaka, and Ella gave him a warm smile.
Chris turned to Shadow, "You feeling okay, Shadow? Do you want anything?" Shadow shook his head at the boy, not leaving his eyes from the other people. "No thank you Chris."
It was strange that he trusted the boy this quick. Of course they had met before, Shadow was certain of it, but still…He had a feeling that trusting others, especially humans, wasn't the number one thing on his to-do list. But he cannot figure out why the boy was changing him.
Aw, well. One more thing to uncover from the blanket covering his memories.
"Chris, don't forget. You have to get to school in fifteen minutes." Chris nodded, "Okay, dad." It felt kind of weird, his parents' being here, but he wasn't complaining. Shadow turned to Chris, "What's school?" "Um…it's a building that I go to…to learn things. It's a place that I hate. Every normal kid does."
"Then why do you go there, exactly?" "For my future." Shadow nodded, not exactly understanding. The bell from the clock suddenly rang, causing Shadow to flinch.
"Oh boy. Seven thirty. I'd better go." Chris quickly got up and ran to the front door, waving goodbye to everyone at the table.
"Bye Shadow." Shadow gave him a nod, and the boy ran out of the room.
…
"So, Chris, you're saying you found Shadow the Hedgehog?" Chris nodded happily at Helen, giving her a smile, "Yeah! I'm happy he's okay, but…he doesn't remember who he is. All he remembers is where he used to hang out and me." He had been told by Shadow that Space Colony Ark was kept secret, and only the government knew about it.
He was going to help keep it that way. "Well, at least he remembers you." Chris nodded, but a sad look began forming on his face, "It's just kind of sad. It seems like a lot of bad stuff happens to Shadow."
Helen placed her hand on top of his, causing Chris to blush. "He'll be okay. He's alive and healthy, and he has you as a friend. It'll be okay."
The two children didn't notice a GUN robot observing them.
…
"Shadow? He's still alive? I thought that blast from space took him out for good!" The soldier who gave his Commander the news flinched, not expecting this kind of behavior from his Commander.
"Where did you hear this news, soldier?" The man swallowed, then started talking, "A young boy and his friend were talking about him. It's very clear that Shadow is staying at the boys' house. The location of the boys' home is unknown at this point."
"Well, we'll just have to visit this boy. Where is he now, soldier?" "He's at the school." The Commanders' eyes widened unexpectedly, "Is this the same boy that was taken to the Space Colony Ark a few months ago?"
"He looked just like the boy, sir. So, yes it is." "Okay, I saw the television news, so I know what he looks like. Call the principal, and ask them when school time ends." The man nodded, "Yes sir!"
….
Chris walked down the street, his backpack slung over one shoulder. He wanted a little bit of fresh air before going back to the large mansion. A rumbling sounded behind him, and he turned to see a military van stopping behind him. It had the GUN symbol on it.
Uh oh…
The Commander smiled pleasantly at the boy, "Hello, son. Do you want to take a ride with us?" Chris shook his head slowly, "N-no thank you, sir. I really got to get home."
"Well, son, we could just drive you there." Chris shook his head again, "No thanks." "Come on. It'll be no trouble at all."
Chris hesitated, an idea forming in his head. "Well, okay." He got into the back of the van, smiling pleasantly at the military soldiers.
…..
"This is it. This is my house." The van stopped in front of the small, brown house. "Thank you again, sir." The Commander placed a hand on his shoulder, "How about we look around, son? Ask your mom, I'm sure she won't mind." Chris swallowed, "Yes sir. Thank you, sir."
Chris slowly walked to the front door, and knocked subtly. A woman with blonde hair opened the door, and gave a pleasant look to Chris. "Hello, Chris. What can I do for you?" She noticed the military on the front step, then turned toward the boy, "What's going on?"
Chris went into the house, then turned to her. "I have to ask you a favor."
…
After hearing everything, Helens' mom agreed that she would go along with the plan. While the military searched the house, Chris would go out the back door and run for his house.
He ran back to the van, "Mom said it's okay for you to look around." The Commander smiled, "Thank you, son." The military got out of the van, and went single-file into the house. Helens' mom placed her hands on Chris' shoulders, looking at the military, feigning concern.
"Is there anything I can get you while you look, sir?" The Commander tipped his hat, "No thank you, ma'am. Just wanting to look around. You might have a dangerous animal around these parts."
It was taking all he could to not launch himself at the old man, and telling him Shadow wasn't dangerous. Stay calm Chris. Don't do anything to give you away…
The Commander and his men went up the stairs to search, and then Helens' mom opened the back door slowly, "Go, Chris. Go." Chris whispered his thanks, and then ran to his house, not daring to stop until he reached the mansion.
…..
Shadow was the first to see him after he ran into the front door. The boy had sweat falling down his face, red with exhaustion. He raised an eyebrow at the boy, watching silently.
Finally, the hedgehog spoke to the boy, "Hello Chris. How was school?" The boy stood gasping for a few more minutes, then answered, "GUN cornered me on the way back from school. I had to trick them." He gasped as he saw Shadow groan, and held his head in his hands.
"Shadow?" Chris walked forward, grasping his shoulders. Shadow looked up, giving Chris a glare. "Did you say…GUN?" Chris nodded slowly.
Shadow felt a rush of hate for GUN, along with fear for Chris, but he didn't know why. "Chris, should you go back to school tomorrow?" Chris shook his head without hesitation, "No, of course not. I think they might corner me tomorrow when they find out I lied to them. But…I can't just not go."
Shadow just fixed him with a glare. "I don't trust GUN, and I don't want you to get hurt. I have a feeling I ought to protect you, Chris, and I can't do that when you just head into danger."
Chris nodded slowly, "I'll have to leave a note for my parents." Shadow nodded, agreeing with the idea. Chris hated the idea that they had to run away. He had just tried to run away from his parents last night. They might think he hadn't forgiven them.
But he did have to have safety. His parents would want that for him too. Sighing, he trudged up to his room, and emptied his backpack, refilling it with things he might need. He wrote a note in careful handwriting:
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm really sorry, but I'm leaving. This doesn't have anything to do with you. Trust me, if there was another way, I would take it. But there isn't. The military cornered me at school, and I think they're after Shadow. I need to help him, and I need to help myself. The military might corner me at school tomorrow, so I decided to back off until they give up. Please give a note to my teacher explaining my absence. Shadow will protect me, so don't worry. I will always love you, and I will try to find a time to come back. We both will.
Love Christopher.
Chris kissed the note softly, then placed it on his bed. He nodded at Shadow, telling him he was ready. Shadow unexpectedly scooped him into his arms, and began moving at sonic speed down the highway, until the city became a speck in the distance.
They didn't notice a certain grey and black hedgehog watching them from the nearby trees.