Chapter 7

A/N: The story doesn't get any happier, I'm afraid. Fortunately I don't plan to use the events in this story and include them in the Tails Epic, which will be my longest and greatest fan-fiction story that will tell Tails' life.

While the guards were taking him into his cell, he looked around him. He noticed Amy, pacing around in her cage, taken aback when she saw him in his shackles. She was taken aback. He was just lost, but now he was hardly in a better position than before…

He had hoped that he'd be put in a cell near Amy, but he knew that wouldn't happen. Everything had to occur to the dream he had, to the vision Bronx had. So when they finally opened the door, Tails recognized everything in the room.

It was like a torture chamber, with all sorts of things in the room. Electrical weapons to shock the victim, a plasma torch to burn the victim, and in the middle of the table, a dagger, in which Tails knew would kill the victim.

The dagger was what would kill him.

Just like in his dream, Cosmo was unconscious in her cell. She would not awaken until it was too late… the guards threw him into his cage, and he slammed against the bars, and the cage door closed. Out of no where, chains enclosed his hands and legs, locking him in place.

What use was resisting? He just sat there in place. Death would come. Tails wished he had a clock in the room to count his last seconds… but there was one thing he wanted to do before he died, he wanted to look at every aspect of Cosmo's face, and remember why he loved her…

(Meanwhile…)

Knuckles and Sonic's surprise attack seemed to have succeeded, at least initially. But before either of them could utter a sigh of relief, another squad came, well armed, and already firing them at first sight.

They barely managed to get behind a wall, when they heard gun fire being fired back at them. "What in the world's going on?" Knuckles said.

Sonic shrugged his shoulders. "Beats me."

They turned around slowly. There, in front of them, was an entire squad of the government agents. One of them, a familiar looking bat, caught sight of them and gave them a wink.

"You're not the only ones after that bear." Rouge said to them. Sonic sighed in relief, thankful for her assistance.

"Rouge, can you and Knuckles look for Cosmo?" He asked her. "I'm going to go and find Amy." Rouge nodded, and motioned for Knuckles to come closer.

"Great, now she gets a piece of the action." Knuckles muttered to himself.

But Sonic was already racing off, silently, but still expeditiously. It would only be a matter of time before their extra time ran out…

(… In the torture chamber…)

But for Tails, time was already up. He had not even looked up when Bronx entered the room. He did not want to give his enemy any satisfaction.

Bronx laughed evilly at his indifference. Bronx spoke, but Tails refused to comprehend anything he said. Just like in the dream.

He knew next that he should cry his wife's name, but he did not want her to see this. No, not this. Bronx went to the center of the room, and spun the silver dagger.

It spun, and spun, and spun, and spun. Tails nearly laughed at himself. It seemed ridiculous that he was waiting for it to point toward him, because he knew it would.

But it did not point toward anyone, it pointed to the opposite side of Bronx. Disappointed, he spun again. Tails, a bit surprised, watched the silver dagger spin again, and again, and again…

He had anticipated for it to point toward him. He had already said his goodbyes.

But it did not.

It pointed toward Cosmo. The bear smiled evilly, picking the dagger up. No! This was not supposed to happen! It was supposed to be him! Tails would not let this happen!

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" He cried, terrified for her life. Cosmo opened her eyes, before her pupils grew large with terror as she saw the dagger in Bronx's hand.

The following actions are unexplainable. Where do you find strength when you had let go of all of it? After all, they were star-crossed. They were doomed to die.

But Tails broke through the chains, and amazingly knocked down the door. Bronx, surprised and terrified, did not hesitate as he turned around and threw the dagger at Tails.

But Tails was cunning, he quickly moved out of the way, though the dagger did sink deep into his arm. The pain was nothing to what he would feel if he failed to save his love…

With one amazing force, he punched Bronx straight in the face, and while Bronx was still recovering, pulled out the dagger from his arm and plunged it straight into his black heart. Bronx fell, dead on the ground.

The door to the room opened, and Knuckles and Rouge entered. They were surprised by the scene. There was, however, no time to explain. "Let's go," Tails said darkly. There was no gentleness in his voice.

He helped Cosmo up, but before any of them could move, a small group of guards entered, looking shocked by their master's death. Afraid, they quickly fired upon them.

The room was small, there was hardly anywhere to dodge. Taken aback, Rouge had taken several shots, and she fell to the ground. Her life had been snuffed.

"YOU!" Knuckles cried, as he charged at the guards. Afraid, they fired, and several shots missed. The few that hit could not bring him down.

He punched, smashing people's faces, slamming his fist into every inch of their bodies. No guard remained standing.

Knuckles panted, before falling to the ground. Tails and Cosmo, ducking underneath the table, ran toward him. Cosmo had taken a laser shot near her wrist, but it had just grazed it. Tails' arm was still bleeding, but he ignored it as he bent down to his friend.

Knuckles looked toward him. "I'd rather die here, with her…" He told him. "I won't make it anyway, I'd slow you down, and then none of us would make it out alive." He coughed blood, and tears were going down Cosmo's eyes at the sight.

"But Knuckles…" Knuckles shook his head at Tails' plead, already having made his decision. Stubborn to the end…

"Both of you, just leave me and get out of here alive! Tails, guard Cosmo with your life. Do not fail her as I did to Rouge…" He sighed, slowly closing his eyes. Yet when Tails thought him for dead, his final words came out his mouth. "You know… I never told her what I felt toward her…"

The strength in Knuckle's hands were gone, they were cold and lifeless…

Tails stood up, grabbing Cosmo's hand and rushing out of the room. There would be a time to grieve… but this dark place was not the place for it…

A/N: Fellow readers, the story is still going down a sad, dark road…