Okay, sorry for the long wait for this chapter. I have been dealing with some serious writers block. I'm not 100% satisfied with the finished product but I did my best. I hope you guys like it.

Step 10: House Break Him

Dog turds...enough said.

A vivid memory isn't always a good thing, especially when you're stressed. The time was coming for Sonic and I to leave and with every second the eviction drew closer the more I was recalled to my childhood.

"You can't leave me!" My father yelled, throwing his bottle against the wall.

It narrowly missed my mother's head but she did not flinch. She stood there, as steady and wise as an oak. She had been married to my father very young and then, at the age of eighteen, she was the strongest most brilliant woman I knew. Not many other young mothers of a four-year-old and a newborn would be able to take what Dad dished out. But she remained firm for us, never losing hope.

"I put a roof over your head, food in your mouth! You can't do shit without me!"

I scrambled out of the room and into the nursery with my sleeping baby brother in the crib. I didn't know how he could sleep with all this racket. I curled up beside the wooden bed frame and whispered to him. 'It's okay. Mamma can handle it.' She might have been able to. The problem was I wasn't sure I could.

"When we met you were a starving slut, selling yourself on street corners for a damn meal! You wanna go back to that? Fine! But you can bet I'd make sure your bitch of a daughter doesn't end up any better!"

I winced. Don't cry, Amy. You're a fighter. You're better than that.

"I just wanted to go see how my brother was doing," Mother tried again calmly. "I haven't seen him in a year."

"I remember the last time you met up with that brother of yours," he spat the words out at her. "Getting all those ideas in your head, trying to make you run away with that kid of yours."

"She's your daughter too," she reminded him.

"She ain't shit to me unless I can get a good dowry out of her."

"Which you'll get," Mom assured him.

I could feel the mood starting to unwind. He was probably tired from his night at the bar. I could see him plopping down on the nearest couch as Mom spoke soothing words. He'd be out cold soon enough. Unfortunately, we'd all still have to deal with his grumpy, hungover self in the morning.

"She's shaping up to be a pretty thing," Mom told him. "And smart too. She'll attract a clever man. Clever men always have money."

"They do," he grumbled, his voice trailing off at the end of his statement.

"They do," she agreed. "You don't have to worry about my brother. I suppose you're right. Going to see him isn't the best idea."

I felt a frown slither it's way onto my face. I didn't remember Mom's brother by I had seen a picture of myself with him from a year ago. I had looked like such a happy toddler, wrapped up in his careful arms. He looked nothing like Mom, though. It's hard to believe the two were siblings.

I awaited the signal patiently, being rewarded by the sound of my father snoring. He was asleep, finally. I listened once more, relieved to hear Mother's careful footsteps against the wooden floor. She crept into the nursery and checked quickly over the crib, catching a glimpse of the safely dozing child. Her eyes darted down to me, sitting near her feet with tears in my eyes.

She smiled. "Do you remember what I told you, Amy?"

I nodded, wiping the droplets from my eyes. "I do, Mamma."

"And what did I say?"

I looked up at her wearing my best brave face. "'Dream beyond the house.'"

Her smile brightened as she knelt down, seating herself beside me on the floor.

"What does that mean, baby girl?"

"That I don't need to be a house-mate," I proclaimed.

She gave me an approving twinkle from her deep green eyes.

"So what's your dream beyond the house?" She asked."What do want to do out in the world?"

I thought for a second. What was there to do? Well, I could go for princess or movie star like most girls did but I wanted something different, something less glamorous, more honest than the sparkle of glory. I wanted a straight out adventure. Little did I know, I was going to get that.

"I will not let the swirling demon of deprecation eat my penis!"

This is not the way I wanted to start my day. But guess what? Fate didn't care.

I rubbed my temples, growling lowly under my breath. "It's not a monster, Sonic," I explained for the umpteenth time. "It's a toilet. Just aim and fire."

"It's not natural," he argued, crossing his arms and refusing to see reason. "I want to go outside."

I bit my lip and pointed over to the choker collar on our bedside table. "I have to walk you on a leash then."

He shook his head. "No need, just let me outside."

"If they catch you out there alone they will not hesitate to put you down," I screeched. "So just pick one! Use the toilet or walk with me."

He frowned, looking between the bathroom door and the choker chain. This was all very frustrating for the both of us. It almost made me look forward to the eviction because once we weren't residents of this town we no longer had to follow these new rules set for us. Until then we were stuck arguing on which method Sonic should use to piss. This was not my finest hour.

Sonic started up a rocking cycle. He swayed back and forth, trying to tame his bladder as best he could.

"I'll be quick. Nobody will even see me."

I bit my lip before shaking my head. "We're not taking that risk."

"I will not use that...thing," he referred to the toilet, "but I also don't want you dragging me around on a leash like you own me."

I sighed. "We've been over this. I will never think any less of you because of this leash. Besides it's only temporary."

Sonic looked away, weighing his options. His little potty dance only intensified.

"I can promise you one thing though," I said, looking down at my clean wood floor. "If you soil this clean house I will have you hung by the thumbs at the edge of the forest where neither city dweller or Wildling can hear you scream."

He gulped. "Out we go then."

I grabbed the leash and chain, slipped them on him and the two of us dashed out of the house. Towards the woods we went, Sonic trying his best not to let his shaken gut leak. When we reached the edge Sonic snapped the leash from my grip.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

He replied, rushing into the forest as he did. "I'll tie the leash off when I find a place! Don't worry!"

His figure disappeared and I was left alone. Oh God, I should have thought this through. I was by myself, completely exposed to any wild or civil thing that wanted to have their way with me. It wasn't strange for lone women to be caught up in violence in a place like this. Hopefully I could take them. I was pretty tough when I had to be. A rustle came from the bushes. I glared at the spot. What was it? A rogue, bandits, wolves? I gritted my teeth and prepared to lunge at whatever it was. A head emerged from the thicket and before I could get a good look I jumped. We both went tumbling into the bush and I came out on top. I sat up to see that under me was Lionel, pale faced and very confused.

"Oh my God!" I squealed, getting off him. "I am so sorry! I thought you were an animal or something!"

He sat up, rubbing the back of his head where he hit the ground.

"That's alright. I didn't need those extra brain cells anyways."

I smiled a little and went to get up. I reached out a hand and pulled Lionel with me.

"What are you doing out here anyways; It's 6 am."

I shrugged in response. "Sonic had to do some business so..."

He looked around. "Where is he?"

I pointed in the direction that he ran off and equivocated. "I tied him off out there so he could...you know."

Lionel nodded. "I see. It's odd that you didn't stay near him. It's not like it's anything you haven't seen already."

I crossed my arms. "What are you implying?"

He looked back at me with a surprisingly stern look. "I'm not blind. There's obviously something going on between you."

I took a step closer to him and barked out my next words. "So what if there is? Are you going to tell Hound?"

Lionel backed up, a little flustered, not expecting my reaction.

"I'm not upset about you two," he assured me. "I just don't want you thinking I'm stupid. Sonic is obviously head over heels in love with you."

I blushed, maintaining my angry exterior as best I could. "May I suggest you just drop the subject now?"

Lionel frowned. "Alright, then I guess you don't want my warning."

"Warning?"

Lionel's smile reappeared at the idea of being any kind of use to me. I listened carefully as he explained his stance.

"Hound's been getting suspicious of Sonic," Lionel told me. "You know how I was talking about the crimes going on with Wildlings and women in other villages? Well, I was only telling half the truth. It's been happening here too. All these reported rapes have been going on where Wildlings are defiling women. Hound is getting in tight with Eggman inc. trying to rehabilitate the women. They say it's something akin to Stockholm Syndrome. All the women claim to actually be in love with these Wildlings."

I frowned. "Have you ever thought that they actually are?"

Lionel flailed his arms desperately. "You're misunderstanding me. I believe them. After seeing you and Sonic I know it's possible. Hound on the other hand..."

"Hound's a good man," I said, remembering all the times he tried to help me out or defend me from the other villagers. "If he caught us and I explained he'd understand."

"I don't know about that," Lionel sighed. "He's been instructed to send all women suffering from these 'crimes' to rehabilitation shelters. At the end of their stay the final phase is 'moving on' by mating with someone else."

"That would never happen to us," I insisted.

"Just be careful," Lionel warned me. "I don't want to see you two ripped apart."

"Amy!" Sonic's voice called to me from the forest. I looked over my shoulder. He wasn't there. "Amy!"

"I better get going," I told Lionel. "Thanks for the warning."

He smiled and waved as I ran off. "No problem."

I ran on towards the sound of my mates voice. With each call he sounded more distressed. I found him, standing in a clearing. His leash hung at his side. He had obviously untied it. I was about to scold him but then I saw the look on his face. He was grief stricken.

"What's wrong?"

"I heard a death call," he told me, "so I went to see where it came from and-"

His voice trailed off.

"Was it Shadow?" I asked.

He buried his face in his hands. "Someone shot them. The north pack, I saw their corpses. Someone shot them."

I gawked at him. "That can't be. No one knows where their territory is but the other Wildlings, you and me."

"Bullet wounds don't lie!" He snapped, dropping to his knees. "Women, children, men, everyone! They're dead!"

"Did you see Shadow's body?"

All he could answer with was puke. I dropped down beside him and rubbed his back while he was sick.

"It's okay," I lied.

He was sick again and tears flooded to my eyes.

"It's alright. I'm sure everything's going to be okay."

How could anyone do this? No one was allowed to harm the north pack unless they took violent action first. This had to be reported. Someone had to tell he police. That's when I remembered, Lionel was the deputy. He could do something about this.

"Stay here," I instructed Sonic. "I'm going to get help."

He grabbed for me and pulled me back down. He was rocking back and forth, trying to comfort himself but not a word escaped his lips.

"Lionel can help," I explained. "I was just talking to him too. Trust me."

Hesitantly, Sonic let me go.

I sprinted off to where I had seen Lionel. He was nowhere to be found. I kept running in the direction of the station. Maybe he had already gotten back. My lungs burned as I inhaled crisp winter air. My legs pumped as fast as hey could. We needed to get help. Maybe there were survivors. Maybe some of the wounds weren't mortal. The police needed to get involved. I couldn't let this go unpunished. I barged into the station once I got there and ignored the protests of the officers as I plowed over to the Chief's office. I opened the door to find Lionel standing there with Hound. I gasped for air as the two men stared at me.

"What on Earth happened to you?" Hound demanded based on my horrified look.

"Someone shot the north pack. Sonic and I found them dead in the forest."

Hound's eyes widened."All of them?"

I nodded. There wasn't enough air for me to say another word.

"Is Sonic still out there?" Lionel asked.

I nodded again.

"I'll assemble a search party," the Chief announced to his Deputy. "We'll find Sonic and get him to lead us there."

Hound left the office. Only a stunned Lionel and myself remained.

"Sit down," he said, guiding me over to a chair. "I'll get you something warm to drink."

I did as I was told, letting myself weep once I hit the cushion of his chair.

"Don't cry honey. We'll make it better," he reassured me.

My mind raced. I didn't know them and I was devastated. I could only imagine how Sonic felt. Th lion poured some tea into a cup using the kettle on his desk. With just a pinch of sugar he handed me the mug and I took a sip.

"There you go."

Each sip warmed my insides, made me feel a little better. My eyes drooped. I was so tired. There was no avoiding it as slumber grasped me.

"Isn't that better?" His voice faded as I slipped farther away. "I'm sorry, Amy. I really am. I just couldn't have you here watching all the gory details. Just sleep."

Wait, what?

Darkness grasped at me until I went numb. I felt nothing. A heard the crashing of the mug as it shattered on the floor.

"Sweet dreams, Amy."

Wow, is it just me or can I really feel your horrific glares through this computer screen. Yes, I really did just make that happen. No, I am not intentionally trying to give any of you heart attacks. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Review and share your thoughts.