Author's comments: Listen to Bad boy by Cascada when reading this chapter (if possible!)
Chapter 8
Sonic
Sonic rocked Amy in his arms, even after she had closed her eyes. She wasn't dead. She wasn't.
"She isn't dead,"
Sonic whirled round to find a dark shape leaning against a wall, holding a massive laser. So that was what had caused the explosion.
"What the hell did you do that for?" Sonic moaned.
"Duh, to get her out. Except..." Shadow didn't meet Sonic's eyes, "I didn't mean for that to happen. Sorry bout that. Although, she's okay. And, it does make you look good. You can be her hero,"
"Thanks Shadow," Sonic replied, nervously. Knowing how unpredictable Shadow was, Sonic wouldn't know if Shadow would blow Sonic up or hug him, "Next time, try not to knock her out," Sonic smiled, half-heartedly. Shadow grinned, kicking his shoe into the brick dust. Sonic, carefully, picked up Amy's limp body. Sonic could feel her body heat against his fur. It felt comforting.
"You go and meet Tails and Knuckles back in the X-tornado. I'll catch you up with Amy," Sonic ordered, watching Shadow briefly nod and run down the corridor. Sonic moved a stray strand of hair out of Amy's closed eyes. She looked beautiful, even if she was completely out of it. Sonic started running, not used to the extra weight he had to carry. Despite what Amy had said, Sonic didn't gain weight. Except for when his friends had got him mixed up with the old generations Sonic. Man, Sonic thought, that was one crazy day. And it was his birthday that day. Talk about bad timing.
Still aware of the time ticking away, Sonic zoomed through the lair, even while carrying Amy. It was as if just her presence made him stronger. He remembered once telling about his runs, how it felt to run at the speed of sound, even when danger was at every corner. When he had told her about it, Amy had said she wished she could run with him. Now, she was running with him. She just didn't know it.
When Sonic reached the outside of the lair, he glanced around for the Blue Typhoon, Tails' prized plane. However, there was no sign of it.
"Damn it," Sonic muttered, vowing to himself that he would do anything to keep Amy safe. If it came down to it, Sonic would have to try and swim back. But the chances that Sonic could swim there, especially with Amy, were one in a million.
Knowing he had just seconds left, Sonic crouched down, waiting for the explosion. Not knowing what to do, Sonic looked up at the huge moon which had rose high into the sky. He had to make sure they came out of that lair. Alive.
A huge rumble filled the sky, bursting into Sonic's ear. It was time. Sonic glanced behind him, watching a ton of smoke rush its way towards him.
"I'm sorry Amy..." Sonic sighed. The black smoke soon engulfed the embraced pair of hedgehogs, just as the Blue Typhoon flew over them.
"No! We're too late!" A tear trickled down Tails' face; the fox felt like a part of his very soul had been ripped out.
"Wait..." Shadow muttered, still stretching his neck over the side of the blue plane. Knuckles bounced up and down in his seat, excitedly,
"No! Look! He's there!" Knuckles cried. Knuckles was right, underneath them, a blue figure was flying towards them. The force of the explosion had thrown him into the air. Tails, who was now crying with joy, pressed a button on the dash board. A rope ladder unwound itself down to Sonic, who grabbed on with one hand. His other hand was supporting Amy. Sonic looked up at the three pilots.
"I knew you wouldn't let me down!" Sonic grinned. Tails had a guilty and sad look on his face,
"But we weren't there..." He sniffed.
"You were there when it really mattered," Sonic reassured him, yelling a bit just to be heard. The rope ladder was blowing in the wind, causing Sonic to have to cling on for dear life. They were flying high over the sea, which still made Sonic a little nervous. Holding his head up high, Sonic watched as Eggman's lair blew up into more black smoke.
"Nice try, Egghead..." Sonic whispered to himself, as the plane flew off towards land, with the blue and pink hedgehog still hanging on.
When the plane had landed outside Sonic and Tails' house, Sonic ran at sonic speed to Amy's house. He had left her asleep on her bed, before running back to his house. On the way there, he ran past Shadow, who was locking himself out of his house.
"What are you doing?" Sonic asked, curious.
"Can't I do anything without you finding out?" Shadow sighed, walking down his front path towards Sonic.
"Nope. So, what's with the whole, locking yourself out, thing?"
Shadow slipped his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. He looked up at the starless sky, sadly,
"I can't stay here at the moment. Not when Amy knows about me. It would be too awkward for me and too hard on you and Amy. That's why I need to leave," Shadow said all this with no remorse or anger. Shadow was one great hedgehog, Sonic thought to himself. Sonic didn't think even he would give up his whole home and life in the city for the happiness of another hedgehog. Especially if it meant he'd lose the girl he loved.
"Wow...you really care about her...don't you?" Sonic asked, softly.
"Yeah..." Shadow looked a little misty eyed, "That's why if you ever hurt her..."He threatened.
Sonic put his hands up in a surrender position, "Don't worry, I won't. Shadow...where will you go?"
Shadow looked up at the sky again. He licked his finger and held it up against the wind. He smiled, "I think I'll try...east,"
Sonic rolled his eyes, "You can't live like this,"
"I know. But it's fun trying,"
"What about the house?"
Shadow tossed the keys at Sonic, who caught them one handed, "Think of it as a goodbye present,"
Shadow walked up to his black motor bike. Sonic, who never rode in cars or used bikes because they slowed him down, couldn't recognise what kind of bike it was. But it still looked super cool. Shadow threw himself over the side, as he fastened at helmet on top of his quills. After zipping up his leather coat, Shadow started the bike,
"This isn't goodbye, Sonic. I'll be back. I've still gotta show you how to fight. But for now...so long!" Shadow spun off the driveway, just dodging Sonic. Shadow was soon gone, disappearing into the dark distance. Sonic felt sad, still holding the keys to Shadow's house in his hand.
"So long Shadow. It won't be the same without you..."
