Hey guys! Oh my god! I looked at all the hits I got and I wound up getting more than 40 hits today! Thanks for the hits guys! Since I lost the thing that had the disclaimer so I could copy and paste it, my friend is once again going to be forced to type it.

Disclaimer: I hate you Illusion.

Me: That's new... please?

Disclaimer: Fine. Dark-Illusion-Detective does not own Team Chaotix, any of the Sonic Characters nor does she own Sega. She does however own Illusion, Charcoal and Beacon.

Thanks! Anyways, moving on!

Chapter Nine

Charmy wanted to yell for Vector or for Espio, for anyone really because he remembered how close to death he'd been at the restaurant but now nothing could stop his death; he was sure of it. The bee looked at Cream and instantly hated himself for dragging her into this mess.

"Cream-"

"No talking," darkly said Charcoal as he pointed the pistol toward Charmy. The bee gulped and didn't say anything, earning a very creepy grin from the dusty black cat. Another quick scream was heard and Charmy's eyes widened.

"ESPIO!!"

"I said no talking!"

Another gunshot, another bullet whipped past Charmy's head and he took a few seconds to restart his heart that had stopped from fear. Charmy looked around; it looked like a slightly large struggle went through the store. He then heard a sniffle and he looked toward Cream and saw she was nearly crying.

Charmy definately felt guilty now, and to make matters worse, Espio's screams were pain filled, something Charmy didn't hear too often. The bee was struggling not to scream out Espio's name to see if he'd respond.

"Ah, hear that? One of your members are being attacked, oh well I suppose, a life can be replaced easily."

"D-don't say that!"

"I thought I said-"

"He's my friend! And you're gonna- AH!" yelled Charmy as a bullet grazed his cheek. He looked very freaked out; the cat wasn't bluffing about regretting it if they moved or talked.

"Just think of it this way kid, I'm not the one who's hurting the chameleon. And I'm not the one who has done anything wrong... yet. I'm just the person making sure no one else gets hurt."

Charmy definately saw Cream crying and he wanted to hug her. He looked at his chao doll and he thought, "Espio... what do I do? Where's Vector when we need him now?"

-- Another part of the store --

Espio couldn't move at all; the honey colored sparrow that held a blade against Espio's neck smirked when he realized that his paralyzing trick worked. The sparrow looked at Illusion who had a gash on her head, and he saw the fear in her eyes. That was going to work wonders against her.

"L-leave him alone!"

"Nope, I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Ugh... I can't believe I didn't see that coming... I should've listened to Illusion..." thought Espio as he yelled as the blade dug into his shoulder. "Come on! I need to move!!"

"STOP IT!!"

"Answer one question truthfully and I'll let him go."

"What's the question?!" asked Illusion, tears forming in her eyes. While the tears formed, she turned into a ten year old.

The sparrow looked at her with a cold stare as he started the question with a statement, "a friend of mine, Charcoal, told me that you're the one that killed my dad. If you don't answer this question truthfully then the chameleon dies. Now, did you kill my father for any purpose?"

Illusion blinked confusedly, what father? She didn't kill anyone. She looked at the sparrow.

"I didn't kill anyone."

"Liar!" shouted the sparrow angrily as the blade went toward where Espio's heart was. "Tell me the truth!"

Illusion turned into a six year old as the tears started going down her face.

"I-I didn't kill anyone... please... l-let him g-go."

The blade touched Espio's chest, toward where his heart was and Illusion heard Espio groan. The sparrow smirked.

"Well? You don't want him to die do you? Tell me the truth or else this blade will kill him."

Illusion's eyes were wide, tears falling down her face like waterfalls and she turned into a three year old out of fear of losing someone.

"W-who a-are y-you?"

"I am the only one that asks the questions! I'm Beacon just so you know. Did. You. Kill. My. Father or NOT!?"

"I DIDN'T KILL ANYONE!!"

"LIAR!!" screeched Beacon as he lifted his blade and he stabbed Espio. Espio yelled in pain and he took deep breaths. Illusion turned into a fourteen year old suddenly and she looked almost lifeless.

"Ill..." Espio didn't finish because he fell unconscious.

Illusion looked toward Beacon with an emotionless stare that made the sparrow shiver at the possible thoughts that could've went through her mind.

"Since you have nothing to lose. Did you- OOF!!"

Illusion had dashed up to Beacon and shoved him against the display window. Her eyes showed pure anger and tears ran from her eyes as she looked like she would murder him. Beacon then realized something; he was in danger.

"Put me down! CHARCOAL!!"

"No need to yell. I only want you to get the hell out of my life before you regret it. Now... GET OUT!!" shrieked Illusion as she threw Beacon toward a shelf and numerous stuff fell on Beacon. The sparrow got up and he lunged at her and that's when the fighting got carried away. Beacon was trying to stab Illusion, and was failing as Illusion kicked, punched, clawed, anything she could do to him.

Beacon cried out for Charcoal and the cat just looked at the two kids in front of him. What was he suppose to do? Cream looked at him with wide, scared eyes while Charmy was obviously trying to figure out a plan. Before Charcoal could tell the kids to get out and stay out, Beacon came into sight being kicked by Illusion. Beacon slammed into the counter where the cashier would be and he groaned. Illusion was hissed angrily as she had numerous slash marks on her. She turned toward Charcoal and the others. Charmy yelped along with Cream when they saw the look in her eyes; Charcoal however just smirked.

Beacon took this as an opprotunity and he attacked her. Illusion and Beacon were attacking each other with as much force as they could deal out at one time. Beacon had slashed Illusion on her wrists and Beacon was bitten on the hand. This fight seemed to amuse Charcoal while Charmy and Cream just watched with horrified stares.

"STOP IT!!"

Charmy looked at Cream who had shouted that. Charcoal growled at the disobedience but he didn't shoot his gun. Beacon stopped but Illusion kicked the sparrow toward Charcoal. Beacon slammed into the wall and slumped down, unconscious.

Illusion got up shakily and she looked like she had been sleeping and woke up with a nest of tangled white hair. She panted and Charmy turned pale when he saw blood dripping from her wrists, and her shoulders. The white cat turned toward Charcoal and she was about to attack him when suddenly he beat her to it and he slammed her against a wall and she yelled in pain as she slid down and whimpered. Charcoal pointed the pistol at her and smirked.

"So this is how I get to kill off one of my kin huh? A humiliating death. You always were pathetic. Guess I was always right then, say good bye!"

Charcoal pulled the trigger and Illusion didn't hear a gunshot; for a moment she thought she was dead. But then she heard Charmy yell, "VECTOR!"

"CHARMY! ESPIO!!"

Then everything went dark and quiet.

-- A few days later --

Illusion groaned as she slowly opened her eyes to the blinding lights that shinned on her like a spotlight. She moved her hand over her face, and she slowly sat up. Everything was blurry, and there was an irritating ring in her ear that made her want to yell in annoyance.

"She's awake!"

Illusion looked toward the voice and was greeted by an embrace, "Illusion!"

"... Charmy?"

"Yeah! Are you okay?"

"Am I... dead?"

Charmy looked at Illusion whose wrists, and shoulders were bandaged and shook his head, "nope, you're alive as I am."

Illusion's vision cleared and she saw Charmy sitting in her lap grinning, Vector walked over with Espio and the duo smiled. She sighed with relief when she saw Espio walking.

"So he didn't kill you then... that's good."

"He just missed his heart. Good thing too. I don't think we'd be able to do our job without him."

Illusion then frowned and her eyes started watering.

"What's wrong?"

"What happened?" asked Illusion whose voice seemed pretty calm.

"Well Vector walked into the store without Vanilla. Saw Charmy and Cream watching Charcoal try to shoot you."

Illusion quickly looked over herself to see if there was any bullet wounds. Charmy seemed to notice and he laughed.

"Ironically enough, his gun jammed."

"It... jammed?"

"Yeah! But Vector attacked Charcoal knowing the cat couldn't do anything and Charcoal ran off. Beacon wound up explaining he wanted to stay with us. We're letting him mainly because he signed a deal saying he couldn't harm any of the Chaotix members, that includes you. So now we've got a new member and you're alive."

She didn't say anything, tears slowly falling down her face. She was so close to death that she could've said hello to it and shake hands with it. Illusion then whispered, "I'm so sorry..."

"It wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was."

The trio frowned and a nurse walked into the small room.

"You'll have to go for now. You can visit in a few more hours."

"Might as well head back home guys, come on," stated Vector as he walked out of the room. Charmy gave Illusion one last hug before he flew out behind Vector. Espio looked at Illusion.

"Illusion... we'll be back."

Espio then quickly left. Illusion was ordered by the nurse to lay down for a while and the cat laid down as the nurse was leaving. When the door closed behind the nurse, Illusion sat up and she sniffled.

"No one would've gotten hurt if I didn't say we should go to the amusement park..." she quietly said. She then looked at her wrists and she clenched her hands into fists, "but I'm not going to stay here and watch my friends get hurt. I'm going to solve this on my own. I can do that much, and they won't get hurt in the process."

She got up and she walked to a window; thank chaos her room was on the ground floor. She opened the window up and she crawled through the window, making sure not to hit her shoulders or wrists or anything. She closed it and she gave a secretive smile.

"There. No one will get hurt any more. Now to find that brat I now hate to call my brother," thought Illusion as she dashed away from the hospital; no one didn't even realize she was gone until-

"What do you mean she's gone?"

The nurse stood in Illusion's room, and behind her was Espio who was holding a few white and yellow roses. Concern filled his gold eyes quickly and he looked at the nurse for answers.

"I guess she snuck out when we left her."

Espio sighed. Why didn't he think of sneaking out the window to get out of the hospital early? That thought shouldn't have been running through Espio's head at that moment but it did. The chameleon looked at the nurse, "th... that's okay. I'm a detective, I'll find her. But is she well enough to stay out of the hospital?"

"Of course, that's what I was going to tell her right about now..."

"Okay, I'll find her. Don't worry okay? And thank you for watching over her."

The nurse nodded as she watched Espio run out of the room and down the long hallway. She smiled as she watched. Espio darted out of the hospital like a speeding bullet and he ran down the street toward the Chaotix Detective Agency; he was going to need help.

Grr... this chapter was hard for me to concentrate on! I'm so sorry if it's too short, or if it's a bit off. I tried, that's all that matters to me. Anyways please tell me what you think, even if it's a rude comment I'd like to hear it.