To her own amazement, Rouge woke up. She was slumped on the kitchen floor, and there was a strange smell assaulting her nose. She recognized it. Something that reminded her just a little of Omega . . . Shadow's motorcycle . . .

Gasoline.

She heaved herself up onto her arms, despite the screaming pain in her muscles. Across the kitchen sat Knuckles, his legs crossed, his large gloves fumbling ineptly with something tiny.

"Wh-what are you—"

He turned to her with another demonic grin and tossed a lighted match against the wall.

The kitchen was awash in flames within five seconds. Rouge struggled to get to her feet, her legs buckling repeatedly. Knuckles had disappeared, and the kitchen door was closed. Finally managing to stumble towards it, Rouge twisted desperately at the doorknob. Nothing. It refused to budge. She shook it, wrenched it, kicked it, threw herself against it like a dumb animal, all for nothing. At last she collapsed to the floor and hung her head, waiting for the end. She could already feel flames searing the tips of her dragging wings.

Suddenly, through the hellish haze of smoke, flames, and heat, the door shuddered violently.

"Rouge?" shouted a voice on the other side. "Rouge, are you in there?!"

"I'm he—e—" Rouge struggled to call back, but her lungs filled with smoke and all she could do was hack weakly. The blazing heat was starting to be too much; her vision was misting over. Just as she slipped into blackness again, she dimly noticed the door exploding into splinters of wood, and felt a pair of arms wrapping around her . . .

And yet again, she awoke, her head aching. The sharp plastic edges of an oxygen mask were digging into her face, and a cold, stale-smelling stream of oxygen was oozing into her lungs. Still, she sucked at it greedily; it felt so delicious to breathe again.

Once she had satisfied her need to breathe a bit, she lifted her eyes to take in her surroundings. Cream was crouching next to her, holding the oxygen mask on. She gazed at Rouge with wide, frightened eyes. Behind her, almost everyone Rouge knew was trying to put out the conflaguration that had once been her house. Blaze was struggling to do something about the flames; when a fire was this extensive, even she couldn't do much. It was beyond her powers. Shadow was striding back and forth, cursing in Gaelic and Japanese. Judging by his singed quills, he was the one who'd found Rouge in the kitchen. Meanwhile, everyone else was flinging buckets and dragging in hoses. The fire department from the nearest town would probably arrive eventually, but counting on them was like waiting for Godot.

At last the fire got wrestled down to a manageable level. Rouge gazed at the smoldering timbers and charred drywall. The melted remains of the refrigerator poked out of the wreckage. While Blaze snuffed out the last few flames, the others came over to check on Rouge. Rouge gently pushed away the oxygen mask, nodding her thanks to Cream.

"What happened there?" demanded Shadow at once. "Why did your house just catch fire out of the blue? Why were you locked in the kitchen?!"

"I . . . don't know," said Rouge dizzily.

"You don't know? Are you suicidal or something?!"

"I couldn't stop it, I passed out—"

"You what?"

"Shadow, that's enough!" called Blaze sharply. "She's been through a lot tonight. Don't make her talk."

Shadow shook his head impatiently. He didn't look at all satisfied.

"Thanks for getting me out of there," said Rouge quietly, stroking gently at the burnt tips of her wings. "I owe you."

Amy put her hand on Rouge's arm. "Don't worry, Rouge. It'll all turn out all right. You can stay with me until your house gets fixed."

Rouge immediately thought of Knuckles. She couldn't stay with Amy! If Knuckles came after her there, the jig would be up! Everyone would find out—would find out—

Her heart leaped into her throat as she realized that the Master Emerald was probably still in the wreckage of her house. One way or another, the jig was up! When the others started to clear away the charred wreckage, they'd find the Emerald! She was doomed, doomed unless she could somehow—

She didn't really know what to do, but she had to do something. She stumbled to her feet abruptly and tried to push past Sonic.

"Hey, where you going?" demanded Sonic, grabbing her arm. "Are you crazy? That wreckage is still hundreds of degrees!"

"I have to get something!" said Rouge desperately, trying to pull away.

"It's destroyed by now, Rouge," said Sonic as gently as he could.

"No no, I'm sure it must still be—"

"Rouge, it's not going anywhere. When the ashes cool, we'll find it," promised Sonic.

Sure they will, thought Rouge dizzily. Oh, they most definitely will.

"Come on Rouge, take it easy," urged Sonic, putting a hand on her shoulder, both to comfort and restrain her. "We've got to get you to Amy's place, bandage you up, and put you to bed. Just relax, and things will look better in the morning, okay?"

"We're here for you, Ms. Rouge," said Cream earnestly, tears shining in her eyes.

If they only knew, Rouge thought bitterly. If they only knew, they wouldn't want to come within two miles of me.

There was no use in struggling. The others were watching her with anxious looks, wondering why she was acting so strangely. It was only a matter of time before they ran into either Knuckles or the Master Emerald, and then only a little more time before they were slipping the noose over her neck. No saving the situation now.

Setting her teeth, Rouge allowed herself to be led to Amy's house.