Hey guys! Alright so I figured I might as well type up this chapter for Last Stand since writers block has hit me once more with Chaos Riders. I hope you enjoy it like usual and please tell me what you think.
Disclaimer: Dark-Illusion-Detective does not own any of the Sonic Characters nor does she own Sega. She does however own her OCs: Illusion the Cat, Sherman the Raccoon and Charcoal the Cat.
Here you go, I present Chapter Fifteen!
Chapter Fifteen
The scent of antibiotics and sickness seemed to be all that Illusion and Charmy could smell as they sat in the waiting room, waiting for visiting hours to open up so they could visit Espio. Three weeks had passed and already so much had happened; everything from Espio surviving and being forced against his will to remain in the hospital, to Charcoal being accused for the murder of his family, a crime he didn't even commit. It seemed like things were on a neutral scale, what kept everything in balance was Charmy's positive attitude, Vector's reassurance, and the news that delivered some slice of hope.
As they sat in the white room, Charmy and Vector were playing hangman and Illusion was watching the clock tick down the minutes left until visiting hours would begin. Her green eyes were also on her cell phone that laid on her lap; a deal had been made that Illusion would be the first person to hear about Charcoal's sentencing and would be the first person to make an objection if she had any.
"You can see Espio now," a young nurse said in a timid voice.
Vector rose first, then Charmy flew over to Illusion and took her hands and lifted her onto her feet. The trio made their way toward the room where Espio would be.
When they entered the room, they weren't surprised to see that the room was still a blinding light, and the stench of medicine hadn't faded away. They saw the purple chameleon awake and meditating on his bed, earning a grin from Charmy and a disapproval head shake from Illusion. Vector walked over and hugged Espio, catching the chameleon off guard.
"Vector… can't-"
The crocodile let his hug go before Espio could finish his sentence. Espio patted Charmy on the head and smiled at Illusion. The white cat nodded and smiled back, glad to see that Espio was still in his same condition, on the road to recovery.
"Hey there Espy, what's up?"
Espio rolled his gold eyes at the nickname that Charmy insisted with sticking with and replied, "I've been doing okay. Has Vector kept the place clean?"
"Everywhere except his room."
"I-W-We've been busy!" Vector quickly stated and Illusion bursted out laughing. Sure the Chaotix had a few jobs, but not nearly enough to keep him away from cleaning his room.
The ninja could tell his comrade was lying and whacked him over the head, earning him a glare from Vector and a laugh from both Charmy and Illusion. So the hour passed with them informing each other of what's been going on while Espio was in the hospital, news that came from their jobs, the rent, even about how Charmy ate all the ice cream and spent four hours crying and complaining about a brain freeze. As the visiting hour came closer to ending, Espio noticed that Illusion was oddly quiet.
"Illusion, are you okay? You've been awfully quiet."
"Yea, I was just thinking that's all…"
Charmy nodded, "She's gotta go to the courthouse and see what Charcoal's sentencing is as soon as she gets a call."
At that moment Espio seemed to understand, Illusion was worried about Charcoal's well-being. He nodded, "Ah so that's why you've been quiet."
Illusion looked down at her cell phone and nodded, "But I'm sure whatever sentencing he gets he-"
Just at that moment the phone sitting on Illusion's lap began to ring and she answered it almost instantly.
"Hello? Yes this is Illusion…" There was a long pause before Illusion's eyes suddenly began to water, "Please hold on a minute! Yes I'll be right there!"
"What's going on Illusion??" Vector asked as he saw Illusion shoot up to her feet.
"I'm sorry but I have to leave. I just heard the possible sentencing for Charcoal and I need to find a way to change it!" she almost cried as she held back her tears and fear.
Espio looked at the nervous cat and asked the words that haunted him every day since he's been in the hospital.
"What's his sentencing?"
Illusion froze at the door and whispered, "They're thinking about putting him to death…"
Before any of the Chaotix could offer any words of advice, the white cat darted out of Espio's room and onto the busy streets of Westopolis.
--
It felt like he was suffocating as he sat on the hard wooden chair in the courthouse. Charcoal's lime green eyes scanned the hot room as he couldn't find it in himself to sit still and already he received a few glares from the judge and a few other people because of his inability to stay calm in hot weather. The dusty black cat coughed into his hand out of nervousness and looked at the judge.
"Um, sir-"
"It's Your Honor!" yelled a bystander to Charcoal in a know-it-all tone of voice.
Charcoal nodded calmly and resumed, "Your Honor is there any way to open up a window? It's kind of hot in here…"
The owl that sat in the judge's seat seemed to glare at the cat.
"The windows haven't been able to open in the last twelve years. Now stay quiet until we wait for your sister to arrive."
Charcoal's ears twitched as the doors opened and as if on cue Illusion ran up to the judge.
"I got here as fast as I could, sorry that I'm late," Illusion apologized and Charcoal sank in his chair as though if she saw him then she would say he deserved the sentence.
"You are aware you are more than an hour late correct?"
Illusion nodded as she smiled, "I have a proposition for my brother's sentencing. If you would just hear me out, I'll explain what happened to my brother, what got him here. I'll tell you the whole story and after wards, I'll tell you what I think my brother's sentencing should be."
"Lady if you haven't noticed, I am the judge here, we already know that your brother there is a murderer who almost killed you."
"…"
The white cat wasn't sure what her response should've been except to walk back over to Charcoal and look sad.
"What do I say?"
Charcoal shook his head, "If you can't defend me… don't say anything."
"There's a way to defend you. One important piece of evidence that could change their mind… but I don't know."
"What's your idea?"
Illusion smiled as the sadness disappeared and she yelled toward the door, "HEY! COME IN GUYS AND HELP ME DEFEND MY BROTHER!"
Vector and Charmy darted into the room; Vector wearing a black suit, Charmy wearing his usual outfit. The door was about to close until a gloved hand stopped it and that's when everyone turned and saw the purple ninja chameleon walking down the aisle and join his comrades.
"What is the meaning of this?" the owl questioned with a tone that cried out for order in his court.
"This is the Chaotix Detective Agency… and they have proof that my brother is not responsible for the crime he has been accused of."
--
So the next two and a half hours were spent by the Chaotix explaining the events after the shooting, and Charcoal even revealed how he wasn't responsible, earning some glares from the jurors that seemed to question each other "Why didn't you catch that earlier?" or "How could you be so blind?" were the questions that ran through in a hushed whisper. Vector smirked as the jurors seemed to be reconsidering the verdict they had in mind originally, Charmy buzzed around Charcoal's head happily, and Illusion and Espio sat down patiently.
Soon the sound of the judge shouting order was heard and the whispers seized. The owl's eyes were bright as a smirk crossed his face, and his eyes were locked on Charcoal, making the cat sink into his chair. The judge then chuckled as he looked at the jurors.
"It seems like our minds are changed," one of the jurors stated as he cleared his throat, "We've decided that five years in prison seems right."
"Five years? What did he do that earned him jail time!?"
"He didn't kill your family Illusion, but he did kill a murderer, and no matter how you look at it, it deserves some jail time."
Illusion didn't think as she exclaimed, "I have an idea! Let Charcoal stay with the Chaotix for three years! That'll serve his jail time!"
The Chaotix looked at the white cat with wide eyes and seemed to be shocked; Charcoal even mimicked the members of the Chaotix only to add some form of shock he managed to squeak out, "W-What?"
"I mean let's all look at the positive side of this sentencing," Illusion started as she stood up from her seat and walked over to the judge, "Charcoal wouldn't be able to get in any trouble while he's with the detectives, not only that but it'll be like community service. He'd have to help the Chaotix with any cases that come up but allow him to have this sentencing rather than the five years in jail."
A nervous glance from the jurors to Charcoal was all Illusion was getting as a response to her semi crazy solution to the sentencing. The white cat sighed as she walked over to Charcoal and dragged him out of his seat and pulled him toward the judge.
"Hear me out. Charcoal is a smart civilian who, if put under the right influence, will prove to you all that he will behave and will be watched closely by the Chaotix Detective Agency. If you can realize how innocent Charcoal was by just doing what he thought was self defense, then I don't see why Charcoal should go to jail when he could do three years community service by assisting the Chaotix with their jobs."
Charcoal looked at the judge who seemed to be thinking about the proposition that Illusion was offering on a silver platter. The dusty black cat glanced at his sister who seemed to be concealed in a mask of confidence, something that Charcoal didn't recall Illusion ever having, even before she saw her family shot dead.
"Very well. Charcoal is now under the Chaotix's guidance and will be observed every month for his deeds he has done with the Detective Agency. Court Adjourned."
The sequence of events was too fast for Charcoal to comprehend at the moment. He knew he got hugged by Illusion and Vector, but never recalled if Charmy or Espio joined in. When the group hug broke up Charmy grabbed Charcoal's hand and literally dragged the cat out, while Vector and Illusion followed Espio on their way back home.
--- Later that Night ---
The sea of sky blue fell beneath the force of dusk and faded into a deep sapphire color that left Espio shocked at the beauty of it. He was in his meditative position and was in a different realm, where everyone else was inside chatting about how happy they were that Charcoal was going to be staying with them, or how beneficial it would be to have Charcoal around; it would make paying the rent off easier than before.
"Espio?"
Espio opened one of his eyes to see that Illusion was in front of him, looking at him with her thoughtful green eyes. He smiled as he stood up and replied, "Hey there Illusion, what can I do for you?"
Illusion's face had a faint pink blush cross her cheeks as she looked up at the sky, "Um… I… I was wondering something important."
"What would that be?"
The chameleon was acting calm but he could tell whatever Illusion had to say, she was extremely nervous about it, almost as if she was scared of saying what was actually on her mind.
"Espio… …"
Illusion fell silent as the blush grew on her face; Espio tilted his head.
"Yes?"
Suddenly the blush faded and Illusion instead asked, "H-How do you feel about Charcoal staying here helping you?"
Espio would never know if that was truly what she wanted to ask, if she wanted to admit her feelings, but he replied simply, "It'll be interesting, that's all I know."
"Hey Espio… I can still stay in your room right?"
He nodded, "Of course you can."
She suddenly smiled, "Before you know it, you won't remember what your room looks like."
Illusion started to walk away from Espio until she asked, "Oh yea… you had a leather book on your shelf… a journal or something… do you know where it went? It kind of disappeared."
Espio's eyes widened as he stared at Illusion with horrified eyes.
"I think Charmy was last in your room if that helps," Illusion offered as she watched the chameleon run inside and screaming Charmy's name then a series of crashing and shrieks of terror.
Illusion smiled as she took out the leather book and she flipped to the last page of the journal and wrote six words down on the clean page. She then hid it away from sight as she ran inside and assisted Espio in chasing Charmy; of course Charcoal laughed and so did Vector. But then again, with the Chaotix you had to expect something like this.
---
Okay guys that's Chapter Fifteen for you! Alright, don't start thinking this is the last chapter, it isn't! Next chapter is the Epilogue, and then my next project will be the sequel of this story. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and please tell me what you think.