Okay, so we're still in the dark regarding Silver, but Sonic's learning a bit more about his foreboding future. But will he survive the night? Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story. R&R plz

Chapter 9

I Enter Level Zero

I sat in a small wooden chair on the roof, watching Amy work in the garden. There was a whole bunch of almost anything you could imagine up there. Peas, carrots, squash, eggplant… just what they needed to survive.

"How'd you get a garden up here when you're not given supplies from outside the city?" I asked, curious.

"We were lucky enough that the former residents had left their garden. We were able to grow a new one from the seeds." Amy explained, checking to see if the tomatoes were ripe. She sighed. "I just wish things were better. Mobotropolis was once a beautiful city; it was the capitol, the shining crown of Mobius. Now… it's a restricted area, and only new Werewolves and criminals with a death sentence are allowed to enter. But no one ever gets out."

"Wait… criminals? I never heard that part." I said. Amy nodded.

"Much about Mobotropolis is kept secret to the public, so I'm not surprised you don't know." she said. "Yes, criminals are sent here, but only those who have the death sentence. But it's impossible to get in or out unless escorted by a government official." She paused and pointed upward. "You can't see it, but there's an electric dome over the top of the city, so you can't climb in or out. Even in Werewolf form, you'll break your hand if you try to bust the wall, so you can't run in our out. And there's only one door, one made out of solid steel, and it's locked on the other side." she sighed.

"Wow. How do you survive?" I asked.

"Not easily. The longer you're a Werewolf, the more the darkness influences you, until you're an entirely different person at night. There's… augh!" Amy screamed, collapsing on her knees. I rushed over to help her.

"Amy!" I yelled.

"Got to get downstairs…" she moaned. "Look… up."

I did what she said. Oh, no. I thought. I hadn't realized how much time I'd spent up there. The sun had almost set. I pulled Amy up and ran as fast as I could with her, forgetting to keep my identity hidden. I set her down in the apartment, shaking my boots and gloves off. I didn't want them to rip when my feet and hands got bigger. Amy stumbled back to the bedroom, closing the door behind her. I was beginning to pant. The transformation was coming over me, too. I groaned, falling to my knees. I closed my eyes, as if trying to block out the pain. It didn't work.

I waited for the pain to subside, for the transformation to be over. But I laid there for a while, and there was still pain in my neck. I slowly opened my eyes. Amy was towering over me in Werehog form, her hand on my neck.

"You survived last night. Tonight, we shall decide if you shall be accepted into the pack. If accepted, you will be allowed to hunt on our grounds. If not, you'll be the hunted. Understand, pup?" she growled. I nodded, tucking my tail between my legs to show submission.

"Good. Come with me." Amy smirked, getting off me and trudging down the stairs on all fours. I followed her, my animal instincts telling me to be quiet or she'd make me.

We ran through town for a little while. When we came to a corner in the wall around the city, we saw a lone Werefox sitting there. He nodded to Amy, and she nodded back. "There's a new pup. Spread the word." she growled. The Werefox nodded and started howling. Amy ran off again and I struggled to keep up.

Eventually we came to the castle. Werewolves of all kinds flocked in. Amy and I got to the throne room, where my future Werehog self sat like a dog on the throne. Amy hopped up to the throne next to him. My future self grinned at her then barked for order. Instantly everyone calmed down.

"We have a new pup from outside. He survived last night, so I believe we might be able to give him a place among us." he growled. "Theo."

I slowly walked up to the throne, keeping low to the ground to show my submission.

"Rise, pup." Future Sonic snarled. I stood slowly.

"You will be tested for admittance soon. But for now you are free to roam as you please. If anyone attacks you…" he was cut off by two short high howls, followed by a long one.

"New prey." my future self smirked, then turned to me. "That is the signal for new prey. Prove your worth, pup, and kill it for the pack." he grinned.

"Make sure there's lots of blood!" the Weremongoose sitting next to me called.

"Oh yes! Lots of blood and fresh meat!" someone called from the crowd.

Soon the whole room was filled with barks of "Lots of blood!" and "Meat! Fresh meat!"

My future self scowled, and before I could blink he jumped off his throne and used his powerful jaws to snap the neck of the Weremink that had started the scene. Everyone fell silent.

"Next person to start a riot in my presence will suffer the same fate! YOU HEAR ME?" he roared. The room was silent, but everyone sunk a little lower to the floor.

"Good. Now," he turned to me, "Get us our fresh meat. I will follow and supervise." The rest of his apparent "gang" showed up behind him: Amy, Sonia and Manic. "They will come with me. Now go."

I didn't hesitate. Bolting out the door, I headed as fast as I could towards the front gate. I could smell the newcomer before I could see him. He had no fear scent, but I didn't pause to think that that was odd. The thrill of the hunt was pulsing through my blood, exciting me. I couldn't wait to sink my fangs into my victim, hear his cries of pain, feel his blood flowing down my throat, taste the meat that I had hunted and killed.

I continued to run. I could hear his voice now; a voice dripping with hate for my species, cursing us continuously. All the more reason to kill him and enjoy doing it.

"I should have told them… I should've told them who he was and no one would be in this mess. They could've extracted it, or killed him before this all happened…" I heard his voice again.

I stopped in the shade of a building. Right in front of me, at the city's iron gate, pounding on it furiously, was my target. I stared at him, my breath catching in my throat.

I heard more muttering from him. My canine-like hearing picked up "I've got to find her… I've got to make sure she's alright…"

I heard Sonia behind me start to wail. Animal instincts forgotten, her Hedgehog past was kicking in. "NO! He CAN'T attack him! I'll KILL Theo if he draws ONE DROP of blood!" she howled. I heard the sound of a scuffle, like the other gang members were holding her back, but my target had obviously heard her howls and whipped around to me.

"Hello, faker. We meet again." Shadow growled.