This chapter was really hard to make. I don't know why. Finally, I finished (not without watching a very similar scene from Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations with Fai and Kurogane talking.) I hope you guys enjoy!=)
Chapter 3: A Wake up Call
The week went on as usual; I had nightmares, I woke up with my arms bleeding, Sonic, Amy and Tails visited me and I occasionally ate a meal my nurses have given me; but that routine didn't last long, for someone came to visit me that hadn't sine the first time they saw me.
Knuckles broke the cycle on a Saturday; it was a bad day for him to come because, at that moment, I had just awoken from another one of those nightmares. Sonic, Amy and Tails, once they had seen me, ran over to me and started comforting me. I didn't notice Knuckles at the door until he grabbed the banana I had neglected to eat. My glazed expression turned into one of puzzlement and wonderment as I turned to look at him; I didn't understand why Knuckles, out of all people, was there. "Why are you here when you haven't visited me since the first day?"
Knuckles didn't respond, which really ticked me off. I was really getting sick and tired of people answering my questions untruthfully or not at all just because they were afraid that they would upset me more than I already was. Didn't they know that what I needed was not lies or comforting words or even silent, sympathetic stares? That what I needed was a straight answer for once? "Answer me, damn it!" I spat out those words angrily; coloring my tone with discontent and annoyance as I tried to get them to understand how much I needed them to tell it to me strait for once.
He still didn't answer. I waited for about 5 minutes—the air in the room cackling with the feeling of tenseness—until I was about ready to strangle him. I opened my mouth to snap at him but had no time to, for he said, "There was no reason to visit someone not worth my time. All you do is mope around and try to pull off suicidal stunts during the night."
I didn't say anything, there was no need too; I knew he was right—even though I hated admitting it to myself—and I could do nothing to change that. "Well, it's time for you to answer me. Can you justify your actions?"
If he wanted a response, I was going to give him one; I shrugged everyone away and stood up. I heard many protests from Amy and Tails, but only saw a nod of encouragement from Sonic; as if he knew what I was going to do next and approved of it. I walked towards Knuckles, the air becoming more tenser every time I took a step. Once I was in arms-reach, I punched him in the face. He fell to the ground, not looking surprised in the least; the only people whom seemed surprised at my action were Tails and Amy. "What would you have done differently in my situation, Knuckles?"
I had no time to respond to a punch from Knuckles—the fact that he had gotten off the ground quickly had surprised me—and didn't resist as he pinned me against the wall. "I would've done a lot differently, Shadow. Do you not see the kind of suffering you are inflicting on them?" I looked towards Sonic, Tails and Amy only to see Amy crying and Tails hiding behind her. Sonic seemed perfectly calm; the only thing betraying him was his eyes, for in his eyes I saw sadness, anger and sympathy in them. I looked away and slid to the ground when Knuckles unpinned me.
"Shadow, this isn't the way you should live your life." This time, it wasn't Knuckles whom had spoken, but Sonic. "Feeling sorry for yourself and wishing you were dead is not a way a person should live. What happened to the old Shadow; the one whom didn't doubt himself or his motives no matter what? The one whom pursued his goal until he achieved it? Look at you; I've tried to be empathetic towards you, even sympathetic, but I just can't anymore. You need to get your head out of the past and into the present!" Sonic stood up and walked past Knuckles and I, only hesitating at the door to say, "Shadow, if you value even only a fraction of your life, I would suggest going to a councilor."
Amy and Tails followed suite; Knuckles was the last to leave. "This is my last visit. When you're done sobbing and feeling sorry for yourself, come and see me; then we'll see who punches better."
Once he left, I tilted my head down, gave a half-crazy, halfhearted laugh, and said, "It's not as simple as that. If it were, I wouldn't be like this now."