Italicized words: thoughts and/or to make emphasis.
FOUR
Inside of the hotel, along with chaos and disorder from panicked patrons and hotel staff, more small explosions added to the mounting fear and the need for rescue becomes even direr. Shadow and Rouge make their way even closer to the hotel but even the honeymooners can't help but notice all of the shouting and screaming that's all around them. They pause for a moment to assess all of the commotion around them.
"I wonder what's up with all of those sirens and people screaming bloody murder..."
"I'm not certain, but whatever it is, it can't be good, especially with the ambulances about..."
The couple is surprised by a distraught Mobian running up to them and insisting that they go back to whence they came from because of the smoke that the wind will blow towards their current position. The Mobian then runs off before either Shadow or Rouge could question him about the cause of the mass hysteria leaving the couple with their thoughts. Shadow turned his head to watch the route of the police and ambulances and a feeling of dread comes over him. "Baby, I don't know, but whatever's going on down there is pretty damn serious, you heard that guy."
"I don't doubt you for a moment love, but let's allow the proper authorities to handle what's going on down there, while you and I..." Rouge takes Shadow's attention from what's going on around them by reaching up to cup his face and laying light, soft kisses upon his lips. "Continue with our honeymoon, ok?"
Accepting his beloved's affection, "This'll never get old, kissing those luscious lips."
"Good boy. Let's go..."
"Getting me back from earlier, hmm?"
"Oh Shaddie, I'm just getting started with you."
"Hmph." For obvious reasons, Shadow still has that nagging feeling within him that something or someone may need his assistance, but he forces it to the recesses of his mind for the sake of his honeymoon and keeping Rouge happy. The couple once again arm and arm, go in and out of the stores lining the strip of shops before stopping at yet another storefront. Shadow takes Rouge's hand and admires her moon ring shining brightly in the sunlight and kisses the ring. "Awh, it is beautiful against the sunlight…" Rouge sighs contently.
"Just like your eyes, baby…" He stares deeply into those optical jewels of hers. She lovingly stares back, trancelike. As the couple start to lean towards each other for a kiss, the couple is suddenly jolted out of their transfixion when a huge explosion is heard. It's the doomed hotel. "What the hell?" cried Shadow.
"Look, the hotel! The place is decimated!" cried Rouge. Shadow shields his wife from the flying debris and devastation while watching in amazement and horror. Shadow lifts Rouge's chin to face him then grabs her shoulders. "I need to help those people in there Rouge. Wait inside of that café over there until I return for you…." Shadow points in the direction of a small cafe across from where they stand.
"WHAT?" cried Rouge.
"Trust me, with my power and strength, I can be an asset towards rescue efforts…" assured Shadow.
Rouge grabs hold of her husband's shoulders while pleading, "Please Shadow, we're on our honeymoon and I don't want you getting hurt! That's what the damn police and med teams are paid to do, help those people, so Shadow, let them do their jobs!"
Shadow then looks deep into his wife's fearful eyes, "Please understand, I just don't want to be standing around spectating and not try in some way to aid them. Trust me; I'll be fine, ok? Please Rouge, let me help them!" He hugs Rouge tightly against his chest and kisses her forehead, "I love you. I'll be fine, I promise…" he said softly.
"Be careful." Rouge said with a defeated voice.
"I will." Shadow again instructs Rouge to go and wait for his return inside the café then makes his way towards the hotel.
Finally reaching the front of the ravaged hotel and before Shadow would allow himself entrance by passing the police barricade, he is stopped by one of the rescue personnel. "Please sir, allow me to assist you in rescuing these people. I promise you, you won't regret allowi…" Shadow pleaded and was immediately cut off,
"Sorry buddy, we've got this covered; don't wanna risk more casualties…"
"I beg you! Let me…."
"Look, I can't allow you, please step back behind the tape will ya!"
"Dammit!" screamed Shadow.
Frustrated, Shadow began to find another way inside of the hotel by walking around the side and to the back of the building hoping to find cargo doors, employee entrance, something that would allow him access inside. After discovering these exits inaccessible to him, he sighs in frustration and kicks into his ever faithful plan 'b'. When he finds no one is in his immediate sight, he summons the power of Chaos Control and is teleported inside the main lobby of the hotel.
After the dramatic entrance which included a bright flash of green light had concluded, Shadow appeared on top of rubble that littered the middle of the front lobby. Shadow took in the scene before him looking to his left and his right. "Oh, shit… what happened… wha…" He whispered in a bit of shock at the devastation.
"Hey mister! I just saw you….how'd you do that?" said Tony, a young maintenance worker who was standing there in shock.
"I'll explain later. Hey, maybe we can together get some people out of here… What's your name?"
"Tony, sir."
"I'm Shadow. How well do you know this place?"
"Well, I've been here a couple of weeks now doing maintenance so, not so good…" With an incredulous face, Shadow looked at Tony while gathering up a thought for options. As Shadow bowed his head and pinched the bridge of his noise, he prepared to speak. "Listen...Tony, use what you know to help escort people near us out of here, ok?"
"Ok Shadow. Thanks."
"Go NOW!" Tony rushes from Shadow's sight to do his part in leading nearby patrons and staff towards the exit not without looking back at Shadow momentarily and wondering what was that freakish thing he did to suddenly land on top of the lobby's rubble.
Shadow walked towards the front desk and started to move towards the other side of it when he heard a whimpering sound. He moved closer to discover a 30ish year old female hedgehog holding herself in a fetal position. "Hey miss? You ok?" The woman turns to find Shadow reaching out a hand to her. "Come on, get up. You don't wanna be here a minute longer; this'll be your grave." The woman slowly unfolds herself and shakily reaches her hand out to him and once their hands clasp together, she lunges towards him and gives him a hug in appreciation.
"It's ok, you're safe now. What's your name?"
"Drea. I'm a front desk clerk. It started to shake wildly in here and everything started falling from the ceiling; people running around frantically!" She explained with a trembling voice.
"SHHH, we'll get through this, ok?" Shadow silently assesses their immediate area and concludes it's safe for the traumatic clerk to help in some manner towards evacuation efforts.
"Now, I want you to stay here and whenever you see anyone coming your way, escort them that way, ok?" Shadow points to a wall serving as a makeshift exit next to the electric exit doors which now won't open due to damage caused by the explosion. "Can you do that?"
Drea answers fearfully, "I don't wanna just stand here, please stay with me!"
"Listen, you can do this! If this becomes too much for you, just run out of here. But try, ok?" Shadow grabs Drea by the shoulders. "You know this place like the back of your hand, right? People are counting on you; please, Drea…"
"Uh, ok…thanks, uhm?..."
"Shadow..."
"Right…Shadow." After the small pep talk, Shadow nods his head to Drea and tells her he is going to find his way up to the floors to assist trapped patrons and lead them to the makeshift exit.