Fading Shadows

Chapter XII

Infatuation and Insanity

The world was dark. I could not see anything but complete darkness. I could feel something soft and slightly scratchy tickle my face and I peeled my eyes open. As I observed the fact that greenish moss supported my weight, I remembered that I had taken a wander into the woods. My mind sluggishly woke up from my slumber; reluctant to leave the dreaming state it had followed the night before in order to face a new day. I rubbed my eyes and stood up to survey my camp. The fire was extinguished, but hot embers glowed in the heart of the ashes, retaining heat from the now deceased fire. I kicked into the ashes, sending several hot fragments about from beneath them and diffusing the concentrated heat source before stomping the reddish glowing embers out. I dare not take the chance of having a lone spark landing on the grass and starting a brush fire that would quickly go out of control, wrecking havoc in this field and possibly the surrounding forest.

I noticed how warm the day seemed, not cool and pleasant like it would be at night. I must have slept in. I glanced up, and the hot, blazing sun was up in the sky at its zenith, further reinforcing my suspicion as I sighed and started forward. Finding my way back should be easy enough, since I had proceeded in one direction. Then I only would need to go the opposite way to get back to the outskirts of town. I went northeast to get here, now I needed to go southwest.

The voyage home was rather quick, not lingering for a long time like my trip out here. I presume now that the rapid progress was due to the fact that I did not stop for sightseeing, as I had seen everything beforehand. Regardless, I enjoyed the scenery of sunshine and trees as I got back to town. The sight of a road and the rumble of traffic told of my new location; I was back in the city. I could smell the exhaust left behind by the cars as they cruised by, and the smell was a contrast to the piney-earth smell that the woods exuded.

Upon reaching the road, I decided to do the one thing I can do best. I wandered around the city, and I was doing so for hours before evening arrived. The arrival of the evening was the signal of nighttime and darkness, and it was darkness in more ways than one... in more places than one. It not only was night in the city and this half of the globe, it also was once again dark and alone in my heart...

I heard a pleasingly familiar voice when I walked by a certain restaurant in my solitude. The voice was innocent and melodious, like music to my ears. "Sonic... I am so thrilled we are finally going out!" The voice was Amy.

"Sure thing, Amy. I felt bad 'bout some of the stuff I have been doing, and I wanted to make it up to you," I heard Sonic reply with a trace of hesitance. "This is the place. Do you like it?"

"Sonic..." Amy paused as she admired the front of the place. Her emerald eyes lit up with joy.

"Do you like this, Amy?" Sonic softly asked again as Amy covered her mouth as she gasped.

"Sonic! This place is gorgeous! Thank you so much!" Amy embraced the blue hero with a hug that for once was not blinded by her overly ambitious and somewhat bothersome love, good-natured though it was.

"Good, I was hoping so!" Without another word spoken, Amy dashed inside as Sonic raised a hand in protest. "Wait! Amy, what're you doing?"

"Let's go, Sonic! I have waited for you long enough!" The door closed as Sonic noticed that I was watching them. I walked up to him calmly as my heart felt a soft pain inside. I was confused by this bitter feeling. Why do I feel this way? Am I... jealous? My heart thumped sorely for a moment as I realized I was jealous. And sad...

"Well, I see you finally caught on to Amy's chase," I muttered in a futile attempt to tease Sonic.

"Hey, Shadow. How are you doing, faker?" Sonic grinned sheepishly.

"I am fine, I guess. Good luck on your date tonight," I spoke up in my reaction.

"Oh, you reminded me, Shadow. I need to go tonight." Sonic slapped his forehead and gritted his teeth.

I arched an eyebrow in disbelief. "You are leaving Amy here? Now!?" I was shocked.

The door opened as a pink and youthful face watched us in excitement. "Sonikku! Come on! I can't wait!"

"Amy, I am sorry, but Tails said that an emergency showed up last night. He needs me to see him today!" Amy pouted as her brow wrinkled and her lips parted in protest.

"Sonic! This is our date!"

"I know! Believe me, Amy I'm very sorry! Egghead might start an attack tonight! I need to get with Tails! Thanks Shadow. Sorry Amy. I gotta go!" Sonic turned around and formed a blue blur as he sped off into the distance.

"SONIC!!!" I let my mouth gape as I looked where the blue blur had gone off. "Tonight?" I muttered softly. What about Amy?

"Shadow. Why did Sonic thank you?" Amy's voice held a note of absolute grief, as it was on the brink of breaking with her heart as silvery tears clung to her eyes. Her eyes looked so beautiful in the orange glow of the sunset, glittering and with a shine that could only be compared to the Chaos Emerald itself.

I looked back at her burning emerald eyes as my eyes widened to the size of saucers in my fading disbelief. "I don't know. He thanked me when I mentioned tonight." I was on the brink of panic as my heart raced in my chest.

"Shadow... I have been waiting for this moment for years, for years." Amy sighed.

"I know, Amy. I know you have," I replied. The next harsh remark caught me off guard.

"This is your fault, Shadow," Amy deadpanned, no emotion in her voice, grass-hued eyes drilling into my own. Her statement was so out of place, so out of the blue that I struggled to comprehend what she had just said. My mouth gaped as my eyes stared at her.

"This is your fault," Amy repeated, her constantly gentle voice filled with venomous hatred. Her accusation plunged a dagger into my tender heart, ripping though the soft flesh and tearing apart my emotions. "This is your fault, Shadow! You scared Sonic away!" Her voice raised an octave and volume as I cringed as the receiver of her outburst. "You ruined everything! Ruined my life!"

"I didn't do anything," I responded as my heart sank. My own friend was against me.

"Yes you did! Sonic ran off because of you!! Go away! I hate you!" The dagger in my heart was twisted, spilling my life onto the concrete sidewalk. I let one sob out as I heard that last part. The next thing was just as unexpected. I felt something hit my face with force, jarring my head to the side. The impact sent pain stinging through my cheek and doused the pain in my heart with gasoline. My heart burned away, crumbling from the heat of her rage.

Placing my hand on my cheek, I slowly, painstakingly looked back at glaring emeralds as tears spilled from my eyes. It's done. Amy is done. My only friend threw me into a furnace and left me to die. A sob tore my throat open as I took one last pained glance at my only friend and bolted away, running faster than I ever have in my entire life. I hate you! Another sob choked my breath. I hate you! I ran as fast as I could, ignoring the slight discomfort of my face and the burning of my lungs. The only thing I felt was the gaping hole in my chest that remained where my heart once resided...

A.N. And so the angst of the story truely begins...