I tucked the drawings into my pocket and slammed the door as I entered the hall. I decided to try the experient room first, just in case Shadow went back to his own chambers. Unfortunately for me, that was in the South Wing and I really didn't need anyone stopping me to ask where Shadow was.

So guess what Grandfather did when he saw me pass by?

"Where's Shadow?" He asked, "The party's starting soon."

"He ran off." I admitted softly.

"Why?" He asked, "What's wrong with the project?"

"It's a long story, but he ripped all the pages out of my Earth books. I yelled at him and he ran off. Grandfather, he drew this. do you have any idea why he did that?"

I took the creased piece of paper out of my shirt pocket and handed it to him. His expression turned solemn as he analysed the black markings. "Maria, we need to talk." He said slowly, motioning for me to go around the corner with him. When nobody was in sight, he began to explain. "Now before I say this, you have to understand that it was for a good cause." I nodded slowly, hoping he would make this short and sweet. "Well, Black Doom is the only immortal creature we knew about at the time. Shadow was created in the study of immortality, and so we used the DNA of Black Doom to make him. Meaning he is indeed a lot like Black Doom in many ways. For example, his colors are black and red, as are his father's, and Shadow's spikes bear a strong resemblence to Doom's Eye. Now, I need you to understand that these similarities aren't all just physical. They are mental as well."

"Grandfather, please get on with it." I pushed.

"I'm going to be straight forward with you, Maria. I was desperate, and I worked with Black Doom even though I know he hates the Earth. As much as Shadow can be taught differently and as much as he can love the inhabitants of that planet, he's going to have the urge to hate people, and to destroy them."

"That's not true!" I shouted in denial.

"It is! He's not here for his attitude, Maria! It's just in his blood!"

"I'm not gonna hear it!" I shouted, holding my hands over my ears. "He's so nice to me!"

"We love him for what he's going to bring us, Maria!" Grandfather yelled behind me as I walked away, "But not because of his other qualities!"

"I love everything about him!" I screamed, running now.

Finally, the experiment room came into view. I saw the big, white double doors getting closer and closer until I could finally seek refuge inside. I locked the doors and leaned against them, sliding to the floor. To my surprise, tears began to stream down my face. I was crying over the hedgehog I met yesterday. All I could think to say was, "What a world, what a world."

I glanced up at an analog clock nearby. 9:45. So much for racing time.

I looked around the huge room. There was a shrine of the Master Emerald near the back of the room, and quicksand ran in a river throughout the room, emptying into a huge circle. I watched as the Biolizard waded cheerfully through the sand. It wasn't even up to the tops of its feet, and the rivers were shallow, so it had no problem passing through. "Poor thing." I thought to myself. The few lights hanging from the three-story high ceiling that worked were constantly flickering, and it reminded me that the Biolizard was the origional and abandoned Project Shadow, although it seems content here anyway. "What. A. World." I thought again, also saying it aloud.

"Tell me about it." The low, masculine echo rang through my ears and adrenaline began to work its way through me. I couldn't even remind myself to be mad anymore. It was no use when I caught a glimpse of him.

Shadow stepped out from behind the stone shrine but didn't approach me. He didn't look as miserable as before, but his scowl looked rock-solid. His arms were crossed. "I love your attitude." The moment I uttered the words was the same moment I realized how out of place they sounded. A look of slight shock covered his face, and then an amused look, which erupted into malicious laughter.

"What!?" I demanded.

"That's what sarcasm is, right?" Was all he said in response.

"What? No! I'm being serious!"

"Well, look." His face turned hard again. "I heard you talking with the professor, and you defended me. So, thanks."

"He made you look like some kind of monster." I replied, "Which you're not."

Shadow looked down at the ground. "I am a monster."

"What? No you're-"

"Bah!" He screamed in annoyance, "I COULDN'T CONTROL MYSELF! I just, destroyed those Earth books for DESTROYING THEM! I'm a destructive, meaningless, BEAST!"

He ran up to me, panting, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "Maria, why celebrate the day that a monster was created? Why don't you hate me like everyone else I've ever known?"

So many feelings were running through me. I wondered why I felt so horrible, just because he was clearly unhappy. I wondered why I wanted to tell him things were going to be okay, even though I didn't know if they really were. Then I felt sick to my stomach, because I realized that I liked him in a different way than I thought I did, and he's not even a human. Do I... like an animal that way? Should I be ashamed?

Is that sick?

I couldn't be sure, but when he started sobbing I didn't care anymore. Before Shadow could object, I put my arms around him and whispered, "Because I love you."