CHAPTER 4

LOST ANGEL

Later, Espio was talking to Shadow in the main lobby of the Chaotix. He gave him a sly look as he spoke to the hedgehog. He let out a chuckle, "So Vector blew up on you again? Why are you acting so surprised?"

The hedgehog rubbed his forehead in frustration. "I hate it when Vector gets like that. Doesn't he know that when he puts me on those late night missions, I'm gonna show up late regardless?" He then felt the chameleon playfully nudge his arm.

"Oh come on, Shad", he spoke in a low voice. "You can't simply blame everything on your late night assignment. You were out with bat girl after all."

He crossed his arms and shifted his eyes away from him. Espio was the only one out of the group of detectives that knew about Shadow and Rouge's intimate friendship. "I told you don't bring that shit up around here. Are you trying to bust me and Rouge? If Vector ever found out, he'd kill us."

The chameleon shrugged his shoulders apathetically. "Hey if you and bat girl stopped fooling around so much during your missions, you would be here on time. That's all I'm trying to say."

Shadow gritted his teeth angrily, "When that girl gets here she's gonna be in so much trouble…" He suddenly felt his cell phone vibrate inside of his pants pocket. When he checked his phone it was a text message from Rouge. He glanced through the message, sighed heavily, and put his phone away.

Espio saw Shadow's annoyed expression. "What's going on?"

The hedgehog shrugged, "Rouge just wants me to see her outside."

The chameleon arched an eyebrow in confusion. "Why?"

"She didn't say. All I know is this better be fucking important."

He then saw the hedgehog walk out of the door and slam it on his way out. He shook his head while cracking a smile. "Those two just need to go out already."

When Shadow made his way outside of the Chaotix, he walked behind the building to find Rouge standing there waiting for him. "Rouge, what's going on here? I don't have time to play any games. Vector's not happy and…" His words trailed off when he saw a young child appear from behind Rouge. He looked back at her with a puzzled look on his face. "What's going on here?"

Rouge kneeled down at the child and held the frightened child's hand while she began to explain to Shadow. "Shad, I found this child roaming around alone. He says he needs help."

Shadow took a good look at the child and judging by the appearance, the child seemed homeless. He looked back at Rouge. "What's the problem?"

Rouge turned to the child, "Tell us what's wrong, sweetie?"

The child stared at the black hedgehog who was eagerly waiting for some answers. He stared at the armband that was pinned to the arm of his coat and figured that he must be the leader of the Chaotix detectives. He began to get uneasy and took a step back. "…I don't trust him."

Shadow and Rouge's eyes shifted towards each other by the child's reaction to Shadow.

Rouge tried to form a calming smile at the child. "You don't trust Shadow? Honey, Shadow won't hurt you. He only wants to help."

The child gave the hedgehog a cold look with him giving him the same look back. "How will I know you won't turn me into the police?"

The hedgehog leaned his back against the brick wall of the building and crossed his arms. "Did you kill anyone?"

The child slowly shook his head and seemed to hesitate. "N-No…"

"Well that gives me one reason to not turn you into the cops."

The child was still feeling uneasy around the hedgehog.

"Why don't you begin by telling us your name, boy?"

The child rose an eyebrow towards the hedgehog. "Boy? How dare you!" He walked over to the hedgehog and kicked him hard in the knee.

"God damn it!" He yelled as he held his leg in pain.

"I'm a girl! You fucking dick!" The child stomped her foot on the ground angrily.

Rouge placed her hands over her mouth in shock when she saw the child suddenly attack Shadow. She quickly pulled the child away from Shadow when she saw him giving her a violent look. She made the child stand behind her when Shadow tried to confront her.

"Rouge, move! I'm gonna teach that brat a lesson!"

"Shadow, for God's sake! Calm down! She's only a little girl!"

When he saw the girl fleeing behind Rouge, he decided to take a deep breath and settle down a little. "What a sassy brat", he growled under his breath.

While Shadow was trying to calm down, Rouge turned to the child. "Don't mind him. What's your name?"

"…Joseph…"

Shadow's eyes widened as he heard the name. The way she looked and by the way her named sounded dangerously familiar. He quickly took out the picture of the missing child that he and Rouge were supposed to find. He studied the picture then looked back at the child. The appearance was a perfect match. "Joseph…your name is Josephine…isn't it?"

The girl made a small yet hesitant nod.

Shadow pulled Rouge to the side and began to whisper to her. "She's the girl we've been looking for."

She nodded, "I know."

"We have to turn her in", he whispered. "She needs to get back home."

Rouge looked back at the girl and then turned back to Shadow. "Don't you remember why she probably ran away in the first place? She's in some kind of trouble. If we send her back, she'll just probably keep running away."

He sighed heavily as he agreed with her.

"We have to help her, Shadow. We have to find out what's wrong with her."

He turned away from her and looked back at the strange yet frightened girl. He couldn't deny the fact that he knew just taking her back home wouldn't solve her problems.

In The Next Chapter...

Joseph: Your boyfriend's not very nice...

Rouge: Wha? He...He's not my boyfriend!

Shadow: If you didn't dress like a freakin' paperboy, I would have never called you a boy, you mouthy little runt!

Joseph: Just because I'm flat chested, it doesn't mean I'm a boy!

Shadow: You're a child! How am I supposed to know?

Rouge:...Oh dear God kill me now...