CHAPTER 28

Nack flipped and kicked tables that were scattered all around the room while he tried to find Shadow and Rouge. "Shadow!" He called, "Come out come out wherever you are!"

"Stop this!"

Nack turned to the priest who was standing behind him and shouting at him.

"Stop this at once!"

Nack approached the priest and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "Shut up, you old bastard!" He roughly shoved the badger down to the floor and continued to look around for Shadow. He then decided to just start firing random shots at tables until he was lucky enough to spot Shadow.

Behind one of the tables, Rouge watched as Shadow continued to load the gun with the special bullets. Her eyes widened when she saw gunshots being fired through the table they were behind. The shots had gotten closer and closer to Shadow while he loaded the gun. She didn't know if he had noticed or not so she tugged on his blazer just enough so one of the bullets would miss him.

Once Shadow finished loading the gun, he turned to her. "Time to put a stop to this!"

She watched as he stood behind the table and aimed the gun towards Nack.

Nack's eyes widened in surprise when Shadow fired the gun at him. Fortunate for him, the bullet missed him and shot through the wall that was behind him. He looked at the huge hole in the wall that the bullet made. He panicked at the hole the strange gun had made in the wall. "What the fuck?" He fell backwards as he tried to avoid another shot that was fired at him.

When Shadow saw Nack hit the floor, he thought it was the perfect opportunity to set his sights on the demon that was terrorizing everyone. When he spotted the demon, he aimed the gun and fired a shot at it.

The demon let out a cry of agony as the intense gunshot had made a huge wound in its stomach. Its legs wobbled as it became weakened from the impact of the powerful bullet.

Shadow turned to the group who was watching the demon fall weak. "Hey! Take that thing out!"

Tonya took out her bladed tessens, "I got this!" She ran up to the demon and easily sliced its head clear off its body.

Garnet held her hand up to her mouth as she tried not to get sick from the gruesome sight. "Dear God!"

Jack couldn't believe his eyes as well when he saw Tonya chop the demon's head off and making it seem like there was nothing to it. "We really need to talk to Rouge about her career choices..."

Razi and the rest of The Raider were backing away slowly from the angry group of detectives.

Ker angrily fixed his eyes on the orange beaver, "So much for your precious Hell Hound."

Razi nervously held his hands up. "Oh come on! Can we just talk this out?"

Angrily, Knuckles grabbed the beaver by his shirt. "You're in some serious shit now!"

Razi made an uneasy laugh before shouting out to Nack in panic. "The jig is up, Nack! Abort mission! Abort mission!"

As Nack tried to reach for his rifle while he was on the floor, Shadow had suddenly kicked the gun out of his reach. He looked up at the furious hedgehog with an uneasy look. "Perhaps we should come back another day?"

With his teeth clenched in anger, he picked Nack's body off from the floor and slammed his back against the brick wall. "You ruined my wedding and I'm pissed", he growled.

He tried to get out of Shadow's grip but he was too strong for him. "Come on, Shadow. I was doing you a favor. You don't want to seriously be tied down yet do you? You're like what? Thirty now? Still so young."

The more he had talked, the more furious he had gotten. He once again slammed his back hard against the wall. "Shut up! I should snap your body in half right where you stand!"

"Oh Shad, you don't want to do that. Temper, temper." He started to gasp for air when Shadow had tightly grabbed him around his neck.

"Shadow, no!" Sarah had called out.

The hedgehog's eyes flashed over to the yellow fox woman.

"Don't do it", she spoke in a firm voice.

Even when Sarah demanded him not to take Nack's life, Shadow's grip on him didn't seem to ease up.

Rouge had then attempted to talk him out of it. "She's right, Shad. Even if Nack deserves it, we don't kill."

Shadow sighed heavily in frustration and removed his hand from around his neck.

Everyone's eyes widened when they watched him fling Nack's body over towards the rest of The Raiders.

Sarah approached the group with her fists clenched, "You're not going anywhere. You're under arrest!"

Nack slowly stood from the floor while still holding his neck. "This isn't the end. Not by a long shot!"

Before anyone could do anything, Zena had threw a smoke bomb down to the floor. When the smoke had cleared they all had vanished.

Knuckles looked around to see if he could find any sight of them, but there was no luck. "They're gone."

Shadow crossed his arms, "This wouldn't have happened if you just let me beat his face in."

Rouge had walked over to him and hugged him lovingly as she was proud of him for not killing Nack or any of The Raiders.

The priest had then appeared from behind the huge piano. "Are they…gone?"

Everyone made a slow nod.

The priest put a hand to his chest and sighed in relief. "Thank God! What horrible people!"

"Horrible doesn't even describe them", Espio spoke bitterly.

The priest had picked up a bible from the floor and began to flip through the pages. "Yes well after all the excitement, it seems that I've lost my place."

Shadow held Rouge close to him, "I think we were right here." He leaned over to her and pulled her into a kiss.

Everyone smiled warmly and began clapping as the two shared their first kiss as a married couple.

The priest closed the bible and shrugged his shoulders. "Well yes that works too."

When they two broke their kiss, they smiled at each other happily. Before they could walked down the aisle together, the entrance doors of the church had flung open which had startled everyone.

Everyone turned and saw a white male bat who appeared around Shadow's age standing at the doorway. Everyone's mouths dropped at the sight of the familiar white bat.

Jack and Garnet stared at the male bat in disbelief.

"Oh my God", Jack spoke. "Is that…"

"Sky?" Garnet said in a shocked tone.

Nails stared at the male bat in worry, "Big brother?"

Rouge couldn't believe the sight of him either. Why was her cousin here? "…Sky…"

When Shadow saw the sight of him, the hate he had for him had came flowing back. He held Rouge closer to him while he glared at the white bat who was slowly walking down the aisle. "You…what do you want?" He demanded.

Sky stopped in his tracks and slowly looked around the destroyed church. He had caught sight of everyone silently glaring at him. "Well what do you know? The gang's all here." He looked over at Rouge's parents, "Uncle Jack…Aunt Garnet…" His eyes flashed over to Nails, "My little sister, Nails." He then lastly caught sight of Rouge who was being held close by Shadow. "And my sweet baby sister, Rouge." He arched an eyebrow as he stared at her wedding dress that had a few rips and tears from the attack by The Raiders, "You didn't tell me you were getting married. Of all people, you invite our witch sister, but not me? I'm hurt."

Rouge was so angered by his presence, she could barely even look at him.

"Sky", Garnet had called out. "It's been so long…"

Sky had turned to Garnet with a sympathetic look, "Oh, Aunt Garnet. How I wish you and Uncle Jack were there that day I killed my parents…" A menacing look had taken over his face, "I would've killed you along with them."

Frightened, Jack held Garnet close to him.

"Don't you touch them!" Rouge was held back by Shadow so she wouldn't be attempted to fight him.

"Oh I'm not after them or anyone for that matter", he spoke. "At least not today anyway." He spoke while flashing his fangs.

"I asked once and I won't ask again", Shadow growled. "What do you want?"

He had then made a cunning look, "Why I only came to give you both my blessings. Congratulations Shadow, on your engagement to my sister. It's quite an honor to have you as a brother in law..."

When he saw Sky turn his back to walk away, he angrily shouted at him. "Hold it, Sky! That's not the real reason why you're here!"

The white bat turned back to the furious hedgehog with an evil smile, "You're right. That's not the only reason why I'm here."

Shadow angrily awaited for the real reason why Sky had came to the wedding.

"…How did it feel, Shadow? To lose almost everything you cared about in a single day? Your agency? The old man?"

Charmy bit his lip hard as he tried not to cry when Sky had mentioned Vector.

Sky continued, "I know how you felt. Venerable…weak…truly a failure! All because you thought we could all get along and pretend that we could all be buddy buddy together. And look where that got you. It cost you a lot because your body fell weak in the line of battle."

"No", he growled. "You're wrong. My body never fell weak."

Sky crossed his arms and gave him a sly look.

"…My judgment did. When your boss decides to come out and show himself, you tell him that this war is not over."

Sky had nodded as he began to slowly back away. "I'll be sure to give him the lovely message." He placed his hand on the handle of the door and turned to the hedgehog one last time. "Oh and Shadow? Welcome to the family."

While fuming in anger, he watched as Sky cackled evilly and walked out of the church corridor.

In The Next Chapter…

Tikal: I guess your family isn't perfect huh?

Nails: What a circus…

Rouge: What could my brother possibly be up to?

Shadow: I'll give you the family you've always wanted I swear…