The hedgehog puffed as he was teleported and shoved inside a testing lab. "I woke up ten minutes ago, and I didn't expect to already be a guinea pig."
"Five minutes ago you tried to escape, no wonder." A metal sheet-of-a-door shut Sonic in, with him spin dashing into it in one final attempt to escape.
"Hm..your ability was only limited in terms of running...interesting. But you will refrain from such outbursts."
The blue hedgehog decided to stop banging the door. Whatever Infinite was up to started to creep him out. He didn't know what it was, but he already had such a bad feeling that the outcome would be messy, nonetheless. "Ugh, let's get this over and done with." He sighed arrogantly.
Infinite let out a small chuckle as he pressed not only the blue button on the speed limiter, but also some switches on a control panel. The hedgehog felt a slight movement below his feet.
"Seriously? Some jogging? Is that all!?" He commented, cocky. Within seconds, the conveyor belt caught up to Sonic's speed at three hundred and forty three metres per second. It felt good to stretch his legs: it was a relief and a hobby that he hadn't been able to do since yesterday. But in saying that, a kind of patheticness washed over him.
Sonic could easily rush out and leave, though he'd possibly get thrown back here, or worse. So what was stopping him? Why can't he physically seize the moment? It's been handed to him like baby food, and still, his determination that was usually there had failed him. It couldn't possibly be because of the odds of success, because that would've stopped him ages ago.
The thoughts would not shake off of him, with goosebumps growing on his skin for seemingly no reason. This feeling he felt, was unusual; unfamiliar. "What's happening...? What's happening..to me?"
The jackal was mocking him quite fiercely, but it went unnoticed. Sadistically, he shouted at the hedgehog after noticing the pace dropped quite drastically in his running. This, Sonic heard. The speed went higher than before, to the point where for the first time in his life, he actually wanted to slow down. His body was drained of nearly all of it's energy, and the last remaining bit was used towards the unusual feeling.
Suddenly, Sonic couldn't see straight. His vision warped around him, bringing out his worst nightmares: Tails being anxiety ridden and distressed, Amy trying to help the fox but unsure of what to actually do, and his fellow Mobians being terrified as their whole world collapsed around them. But the worst one he saw was Infinite.
Sonic slowed right down to nothing, staring straight down at the floor. "You..." He mumbled neutrally.
Infinite gave no reaction.
"You did all of this..." The hedgehog's hands balled up into fists, his whole body shaking in pure rage. "Why..?"
"Because all of you pathetic weaklings deserve it."
"WHY RUIN EVERYONE'S' LIFE?!" He shouted furiously, before taking a deep breath. "I love to see the best in people, but you are making me see the worst. I will not stop fighting back, even if I don't make it."
The threat stated neutrally "I want you to break your spirit so badly", not moving away from the console table. "When will you stop repeating the same measly words, actions, and fights?" It leads to nothing but hurt for you and your friends.
"Because people like you thrive off of hurting others, its sadistic as much as it is pathetic!" Still shaking to his core, Sonic walked over to the glass, and smashed at it. "You are nothing! You destroying people and places may break them for now, but I always bounce back, and when I do.. you better watch out because you're my top priority. Once I'm out of here, they'll all be free of you and your horrible ways!"
The villain stormed over to Sonic and laughed maniacally. "I can smell your fear from here! How would I, someone who is leading the empire to victory, come crashing down by a measly rodent like you? Sonic The Hedgehog, you can barely look me in the eyes, let alone battle against me. I do not want to repeat the same scenes with you. Drop it, or I will harm your friends."
The same feeling from before drowned the hero, as his expression screamed 'overwhelmed' and the same devastated look in his eye returned. He made the obvious choice, backing away from the window. Out of pure dizziness, Sonic sat on the floor, completely out of it, as Infinite turned on the speed limiter once more and teleported into the lab room.
"I can easily bring your friends up here and injure them. whether its physical or mental. I could also do it on Mobius, without you being there to see."
"No..." The hedgehog whispered underneath his breath, absolutely terrified. "What if Infinite was already hurting them? What if something happens to them because of me?" The voices yelled inside Sonic's head, just about bringing him to breaking point. His eyes became watery, with him attempting to stop it before the moistness turned into tears. He couldn't afford to cry; especially not in front of Infinite.
Intimidatingly, the jackal circled around Sonic like prey. "Two days in, and I've cracked you. How weak. Heh, I might as well say the deal now, before anyone perishes due to your recklessness."
The hedgehog's breathing was heavy, as sweat started to trickle down his face, not being able to move his head from facing down. Shivers were sent down his spine through every smooth word the jackal spoke.
"You will obey my orders, and will not act out, or make any annoyances. You will also be required to run everyday for an hour, in order to power our super badniks. Do you agree to the terms?"
Sonic took a hot minute, questioning everything. Would he rather put billions of Mobians and humans alike in danger, or put his best friends in the red zone? He replied slowly, the optimism leaving him. "No, but I don't have a choice."
"The hero always makes the move that feels right, but in truth it only benifits themself." Infinite
Sonic got teleported back to his cell, where the tv in his room got automatically turned on. It was a horribly produced ad for Eggman's amusement park from years ago. Usually the hedgehog would've mocked it, or at least make some kind of joke, but he couldn't bring himself to. When Infinite disappeared, he just plopped on the wooden bench of his, and stared down at his feet, ashamed, but most importantly, guilty. "I know I made the wrong move, but I can't risk them. I just can't."
With all of his remaining hope, Sonic checked his communicator for anything; reception, an update.. nothing. That was until one button came across the screen. It was an SOS! He could let them know he was okay!- or for the most part. The hero aggressively slammed the signal, optimism gleaming on his face once more. For an hour he waited for some type of response, but got absolutely no confirmation. What if they didn't get it? How would he even know?
"I can't believe it's only been one day and a half...I'm already starting to lose it. There's virtually nothing I can do that won't put them all in danger..." Suddenly, he had a magnificent idea. "If Eggman is his 'boss', then I should just tell him what's happening! But I'll have to wait the whole week out. All I have to do is obey him for a little bit."
He got off of the bench, and checked the mirror once more, observing all the new injuries he acquired within half an hour. "I think I broke another rib." Sonic turned his head to the right, and saw his very messed up face: It left him in astonishment. The fight definitely was a close call, that was for sure. His eye was black and blurry, the skin on his muzzle bruised and purple. The black nose beaten to a pulp, but not as noticable physically.
If he were to survive the whole week, or however long he had to endure, one thing's certain. Battles were off the table. "If Infinite is able to do this much damage, even when I had my powers, what's stopping him from doing it again?"
Flashbacks started to conquer Sonic's mind, reminding him of that uneasy feeling he felt earlier. It was frustrating as much as it was confusing. Like a slope you fell down but can't seem to stop or slow down; you just keep on rolling down it. No matter how many times he tries to get up and act confident, Sonic just couldn't shake the feeling.
He knew it was only a matter of time before he was forced to obey. He knew that there would be a price to pay eventually. If only that price wasn't at the expense of others. It didn't matter what decision he made: Sonic was caught in a loophole.
"I'll have to wait for Eggman to come back, and then hopefully they'll be fine." Sonic concluded as he splashed some water on his face and exited the bathroom, laying on his bed, waiting. Waiting for what? Even the hedgehog himself didn't know. It had only been forty five minutes into the day, and he was already craving to get out.
For five hours Sonic waited about, trying to rest but being unable to, constantly catching a glimpse at the disgustingly suspicious mush he was supposed to eat earlier. It wasn't boredom that was making him rot away within those five hours; it was depression, anxiety, and the strange feeling. He had never felt as terrible as he did right then and there, so all those emotions were extremely challenging to deal with.
If only he could channel them out, and have some type of positivity, like what Amy taught him, or be optimistic that he would bounce back, like Tails. Even Knuckles' aggression would 've given him some sort of drive. But without his friends, he couldn't do any of that. All he could do was curl into a ball on his bed.
Tears were forming in Sonic's eyes, as they started to trickle down his face. He was furious.
"Why am I crying? I need to be strong! I need to be strong for them, not a coward!" His nose sniffed. "Dammit.."
In an attempt to stop, he continued to think about all the good times he had with his friends prior, but it made everything worse. To think he was only half way through the day...
AFTER SONIC GOT TELEPORTED TO HIS CELL.
"Infinite, give me an update on the blue rat." Eggman demanded, as his lackey teleported to the security room, dusting his hands off.
"He has decided to conform."
The doctor stood up from his chair, taken aghast by the news. "There's no possible way he did that! Ohoho! I've been waiting for this day! How did you manage to convince him?!"
"I have my ways." Infinite stated, pushing his mask up closer to his face.
"You did something, didn't you? Ugh, It doesn't matter, I'll find out soon enough. Fix the Death Egg because I assume there's some damage done. If I come back to find anything horrifying I will-"
"Doctor, you truly are confusing."
His expression went from delighted to angered. "Don't talk over me kid! That's an order!"
"Haha, you need to listen to me. I am everything you need to even come close to carrying out your plans, and I have done just that. If Sonic The Hedgehog won't go quietly, I'll force him to. You do not want him wrecked, you do not want him to see the world for what it is. That is the difference between you and I."
"I want Sonic to live out his life here, wasting away! No matter how much I hate him, I never wanted him dead. You're ruining him, and it's only two days in! Bring him here, now!"
"No."
"That's a direct order! I created you! I made you from a nobody into a warrior, and I can easily take it away! Bring him here, NOW!"
"If you wish, Doctor."