AN: Yes, it's true! After five months, Renegade is back! I actually may have salvaged it with this chapter. Please review.

Slowly fading away

You're lost and so afraid

Where is the hope

In a world so cold

"Not Alone", Red

Chapter 11: Not Alone

Miles ran through the pouring rain. He didn't know where he was running to, he just needed to try to escape this whole situation. Why was everything going so wrong? It wasn't fair! Why did Cassie have to suffer for her father's corruption! Why couldn't he save her! Why! That was the question that continued to echo in his head even as he slumped in an alley, sobbing softly. God, where are you? Why is this happening to me ? Can't you at least kill me now? Why do you torture me?

"Tails." The fox lifted his head. A shepherd with a long white robe stood before him, the world behind Him an endless white. "Tails, I think it's time we had a little talk."

"Sorry, but it's two months overdue!" Miles snapped.

He sighed. "Tell me, Tails, why are you so angry with Me?"

Miles scoffed. "Really? Do You even have to ask? Let's start with me being on earth, screwing everything up, heading in a downward spiral, and taking everyone else down with me! Is this why You brought me here? To add salt to the wound?" Miles started to cry again. "You took Cosmo from me…and then You brought me here…and You left me! You left me!" He dropped to his knees openly sobbing.

The Shepherd sighed again. "Tails, do you think I enjoy watching you suffer? Do you think I don't understand? Tails, I went through hell so that no one else would have to. I know what it feels like." He knelt down next to Miles. "But you know what? I also know what it feels like to conquer…to overcome."

Tails looked up at him. "To finish the race."

"To endure."

Tails' voice grew firm. "To triumph."

"To stand on a rock."

"To be strong and courageous…"

"…For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." He laughed, His face radiating joy. "Yes. Welcome back, Tails."

They stood up together. "Thanks for bringing me back."

"Now, I think it's time you get going. You've got a few people depending on you tonight. Best not to keep them waiting."

"Yes, sir!" Tails exclaimed, feeling peace flow over him like it hadn't in months. His voice was even getting back to normal. He turned to leave.

"And Tails." He turned his head. "I am always with you." Tails ran off to find John with those words ringing in his ears.

He walked into John's house. It was immersed in darkness. "John?" Nothing. He called out again, louder this time. Still no answer. He did, however, hear a door creak upstairs. He went up to check it out.

Strange, the door was flung open. Stranger, that door was normally locked. Tails walked slowly into the room, looking around to make sure nothing was amiss. The room itself consisted of a few bookshelves along the wall and a desk in the center. There were plenty of papers scattered across the desk. It looked like they were mostly old newspaper clippings. Tails approached and began to read them, trying his best to do so in chronological order.

THE SADIST OF STATION SQUARE: Station Square has been reeling these past few weeks from fear and anguish after a narcissistic serial killer has brought his body count up to three. All of the victims have been young women, and there is evidence that they had been sexually assaulted before there were killed…

SIPHON STRIKES AGAIN: Police were unnerved today after they discovered another victim of Siphon's games. He earned his nickname when police psychologists commented that he seems to feed off the pain he inflicts on his victims. The body count has now risen to seventeen, and police have been unable to identify any of the victims due to the intense mutilations…

SIPHONED OFF: Siphon has taken another victim today. This time, it was 23 year old Lucy Colman, whose brother works as a police detective. Colman is Siphon's twenty-first victim…

So that was the deal with John's sister? Snell had taken her. But if he left the mutilated bodies to be found, what did he mean by "Your sister says hello"? Tails read on.

A FLEEING SIPHON: After more than two years, the trail of a ruthless serial killer has abruptly gone cold. Siphon, as he was called, apparently bit off more than he could chew when he kidnapped Lucy Colman, sister of police detective John Colman. The latter has been on Siphon's tail ever since, in a relentless attempt to save his sister. However, there was sad news today after Siphon apparently disappeared without a trace…

Tails kept looking over the papers. He was surprised when he found some pictures amidst the sheets of text. He studied them. They looked like they were from some security cameras. They were horribly grainy, and Tails had to look closely to try and figure out…what was that? There was an object common to all the pictures, but Tails was having a hard time making it out. It looked like…him! Unless, of course someone had let a gorilla out of the zoo, which was highly unlikely. Why would John have pictures of him? Tails checked the date on them. One month ago, two years after Siphon had disappeared. Tails had learned enough. He knew where he would find John.

John sat at his desk, rifling through his papers again, desperately trying to find something new. There had to be something new!

"John." He looked up, and there was the Shepherd.

John could barely contain his excitement. "Finally! Are You going to help me find Lucy."

"No." His face fell. "I'm sorry John, but some things just need to happen."

"But why to Lucy! Why to me?"

"John, do you believe that I love you?" He hesitated. "John?"

He sighed. "I guess."

"Well then, that's why this is happening to you."

"What! That makes no sense!"

"Of course it does. Remember John, all things work together for the good of those who love Me. And many times, they're better off. That's why this is happening. You don't realize it yet, but this experience will help you so much in the future."

"But how?"

"You're just going to have to trust me, John. Let her go."

"Can You help me?"

"I am always with You." With that, He faded away, leaving John to revel in his newfound peace.

Tails approached John, who was crouching in front of a gravestone. John heard his footsteps and turned his head. "How did you know where to find me?"

"It wasn't that hard. There's only one dead Lucy Colman anywhere near here."

"So you found out. Did you look through my office?"

"Yeah." Tails sat down next to him. "I saw those pictures you had of me."

He let out a humorless laugh. "Well, I thought about contacting you when you first showed up. I thought that maybe you could help me find Lucy. But then I figured that that kind of stuff only happens in movies and comic books." He sighed. "I guess…I guess I just never really let her go."

"Then maybe we can go and find her. We know where she would be."

John shook his head." I hope she's dead. She'd be better off that way. And even if she wasn't, how in the world would we get her out of that prison?"

"With God's help." John gave him a sideways glance that said "What happened to you?" "We had a little chat, smoothed everything out."

"Is that what happened to your voice?" Tails nodded. John once again had to remind himself that he was only fifteen. "So is it Tails now?"

"You bet."

"All right then, Tails. You've apparently pulled off stunts like this before. What's the usual plan?" They both stood up and began walking to John's car.

"It normally goes something like 'Rush in, beat up the bad guys, save the hostages, and get out before the place crumble, explodes, or anything to that effect." He said so casually, like it was something he did every day.

John slowed his walk to a stop. "Uh, Tails. I'm suddenly not too sure about this."

Tails laughed. "Don't worry. You'll be fine."

They got into the car and drove off to the penitentiary.

AN: Wow. That turned out much better than I thought it would. Tell me what you think! And next time, Tails and John storm the gates!