I woke up much earlier this morning, and headed downstairs to find Shadow in the same spot, in the kitchen, like yesterday morning. But instead of drinking coffee, Shadow was talking to someone on his phone while readjusting his glasses as he read several things which looked like documents spread out along the kitchen counter.

I took out my phone and looked at the time, hoping I didn't wake up late for my "private lesson". The phone blared 7:03 a.m.

Why would he be here so early?

I heard the soft pit-pat of heels against concrete, as I stepped back out of the kitchen and went a little ways away from the corner Rouge was turning to head into the kitchen.

I know it's bad to ease drop, but for some reason my curiosity got the better of me. I steadily walked back as I leaned against the wall, for my ear to be close enough to hear a feminine whisper.

"Shadow, are those the case files for Ansem Von Kilgred? Omega messaged me late last night saying that you were investigating some of the kidnappings, again. Did you find anything new?"

"Yes and no. Yesterday I got a message from the Commander stating that someone was kidnapped, but he doesn't believe it was the work of Ansem, this time. And it shouldn't be. Ansem is a murderer who does kidnap victims, but kills them somewhere close to the area of abduction."

"So what's the difference between this mystery guy and Ansem?"

"Simple. Ansem is homosexual, and with the recent bodies found the females were raped and had their throats slit to the point of being able to see the tip of their vertebrate. Ansem is far more grotesque than that when killing his victims, and rape is also not his style."

I clasped my hand over my mouth as I tried to hold in a gage.

"So in other words were trying to distinguish two fucked up people in the relatively same field? Oh I do love a challenge." I could actually hear Rouge's whispering voice bleed with lust.

"Pretty much. Which is also the reason I'm a bit pissed you invited Rose, here at such a dangerous time in the city. These two people are raising the murder rate in the city, alone. And as G.U.N. agents, it's our job to prevent any possible casualties."

"Shadow, even though I haven't seen Amy in over fourteen-years, she's still strong both mentally and physically. I could see it in her eyes . . ."

"Well if you say so, but she needs a bit more practice for listening-in."

I nearly stumbled over nothing; as my face flushed with embarrassment of Shadow knowing I was here all along. I slowly walked into view to actually find the two of them not even paying the slightest attention to me. My mouth got the better of me before I could stop myself.

"So you two are investigating murders?" I asked a bit shaky.

"You were listening rather intently. There's no need for me to repeat ourselves of anything." Shadow's tone was cool to the touch.

My faced twisted into annoyance at Shadow. What a fat-headed jerk!

The shuffling of papers was only sound in the now quiet kitchen. Then the sound of a quiet knock came from behind me as I turned around to find a girl about my age standing there.

The girl was what looked like, a pale peach-colored hedgehog. She had long, braided velvety-red hair, and had a shy, almost scared look under her rather large round glasses. She was carrying a bulky book close under her bust that clearly beat Rouge's. And she wore a black short-sleeved, turtle-necked sweater, a modest-but-short beige skirt, and black strung-up boots.

The girl radiated beauty and elegance but when she started to walk up to me, I could catch brief moments of her almost tripping over her feet. Maybe the reason for that was because she was walking towards me with her head down the entire time.

"May I ask your name, please?" The girl's voice was delicate and quiet. It almost wanted to make me hug her and tell her the world wasn't so bad.

"It's Amy, Amy Rose. And you are . . .?"

"Mami," I smiled at her but she didn't smile back. "Please, don't be offended if I don't give you a last name . . . I don't have one."

Is it possible for someone to not have a last name? Is it like those people who don't have middle names because their parents were too lazy or "creative", even?

"Mami, you're rambling, again. That's not something you tell people you just met." Shadow's stern voice sounded out my left ear as I just noticed he was standing next to me.

"Ah, I'm sorry Shadow . . ."

"It's alright I suppose, but we'll get out of your way so you can prepare."

"Prepare, what?" I asked.

"Oh Amy, Mami here is the main chef of Rouge ala Carte. She's an exceptional chef, even though she didn't go to school for culinary." Rouge finally spoke.

She walked up to me, looped her arm over my shoulders, and walked me out of the kitchen. As we rounded the corner I could hear the faded whispers of Shadow and Mami in the distance, until we were out into the main dance hall.

"So, there are no cherries in the Oliver Twist?"

Shadow and I were in the bartending area, as the entire counter was covered with liquors, wines, and beer. I was hovering over a drink that was tinted with a dark green and golden color.

"Yes, remember Oliver Twist has olives in it. But since the drink is rather sweet, put a lime wedge on the side."

For the past three hours Shadow had taught me how to mix and make margaritas, whiskeys, vodka mash-ups, and even the virgin variations of drinks. I already lost count of how many I made, and actually how many I had sampled. I'm surprised that I could still stand without even leaning sideways, but maybe it's because of Shadow supporting my balance.

"The weekdays, specifically Monday thru Thursday has a steady drinking crowd since most people actually come here to dine-in on this time. It'll be good practice for you."

The quiet of the empty club was filled with the tapping of glasses as I went to start on another drink. But my thoughts were buzzing from earlier this morning.

"Shadow, since you and Rouge are G.U.N. agents why did you both decide to start a night club?"

I could feel Shadow's stare at the back of my head.

"It's something that Rouge wanted to do, so being her partner I agreed to it."

"But you did mention someone else. I believe it was someone named Omega?"

"Omega, a military-specialized robot that plays as our third member in our military squad: Team Dark."

"A robot, cool. When will I get to meet him?" Even though we are in the age of robots being heavily used in everyday cases, in the Country I never actually seen one in-person.

"Omega lives with me, so that means you will have to come to my home to see him, which is very unlikely seeing as I don't like visitors. And on top of the matter Omega doesn't seem to be too fond of the idea of being at the Club seeing as there are people much like you who would flaunter in his space all night." Shadow moved from the other side of the counter and came beside me.

"Well why not be a good coworker and invite me over. All I want is to just see him is all, my visit can be as short as five minutes." I was being persistent because I could see the irritated look behind the glare of Shadow's glasses', pay back.

"If it'll make you shut up then when the case with the murders subsides, I might put it into consideration."

The afternoon flow by and into the night as people started to appear in front of the entrance, where Knuckles had took position a few moments ago. Shadow returned back to his home since he actually was off tonight. So in other words, he was teaching me how to do his job for the night. One of these days I'll get him back for it.

I had changed into my uniform and started to serve a couple of drinks that I luckily learned to mix earlier. Everything was going smoothly until I felt someone staring at my back; I turned around to find Mami behind me holding a plate of perfectly placed sweets. Her head was facing down at the plate rather than looking at me.

She trotted over nearly tripping and spilling the food all over the floor, but surprisingly she didn't. She placed the plate on the counter, bowed to me and left.

The rest of the night went by smoothly until it was time to clean up. Thankfully Knuckles and Mami stuck around to take care of the dance hall which proved less hazardous than when I first arrived on Saturday. But I was still stuck with the crummy garbage duty.

I carried sets of bags that weighed me down on each arm to the dumpster was a little ways away from the club in the back alley. I just felt stupid for walking alone over here when Shadow was practically on my back about the string of murders.

As I was walking with another set I could hear the shuffling of feet behind me. I kept my head up acting like I didn't know of their presence but then I remembered leaving my hammer up in my room. Dammit! My nerves were crawling on my spine as I pushed over the first bag into the dumpster and a sticky substance sloshed on my shoes.

More shuffling footsteps.

The second bag was heavier and required me to push my entire body over the rim of the dumpster, my hands running along gross and even furry things in the garbage.

The footsteps were now behind me as I tried to conceal my growing dread. My mind was reeling back to my childhood, friends, family, Sonic and my life here at Club Rouge.

I finally turned around to see Mami stumbling around with the last three trash bags. I breathed a gasp of air that I didn't realize I was holding out on and ran to help her. We pushed the bags into the dumpster and got the hell away from the ominous area.

I actually got to go to bed early tonight, too. But when I woke up the next morning I realized that yesterday was just the calm before the storm.

"What do you mean she didn't get home last night?" My voice was frantic and scared as I couldn't help imagining her mangled, broken, and bloodied body lying out in the middle of some gang-infested area.

"Mami's, brother called last night and told us she didn't reach home, but she did call and told him she was on her way. Shadow is already turning up the entire city looking for her as we speak, but I'm still worried." Rouge's voice sounded sad, but calmer than mine.

Knuckles showed up at the doorway of the club covered in sweat, "Shadow is crazy, Rouge. He had me running all around the damn metropolis area!"

"Well you know how Shadow gets about her and this like walking on needles for Shadow. If he finds her dead, then God knows what he'll do when he goes commando and goes after the killer, himself." But I was muting out Rouge and Knuckles' conversation as my mind reeled back in on itself.

Even though I just knew her for only one day, I felt like if she died half of my being would crumble into pieces. Maybe I'm starting to become a self-less, compassionate person, or I just fear the possible loss of a new friend. I don't really know what to think at this point, right now.

So I put up my FC only to have her kidnapped and possibly killed. But who knows, I actually am going through some serious writer's block right now. I could've written ten chapters by now, but school is taking out that spark for me.

I acknowledge the comments I received for this story so far, and I didn't even realize that Shadow was one of the possibilities of being the murderer. But who knows? ;)

Also, Fan Character contest is going to be started in about two or three chapters, so rules and regulations will be posted up pretty soon on my profile. And just a heads up, people who don't review my story will not be put into consideration for having their fan character in the story.

So please R&R, reviews are like the written form of ecstasy.