Chapter Two

"Oh great just what I need and wanted to come home to." Sonic groaned as all walked into his kitchen.

All the kitchen cupboards were open including the draws. The chairs were tipped over and in different areas of the kitchen, broken glass littered the floor with some dented cans of food. There were broken eggs on the side as well as on top of the cooker and finally some of the tiles by the sink were cracked as if someone punched a few of them in frustration.

"Wow it looks as if someone came in and burgled the place." Tails commented as he avoided treading on the glass.

"Sonic can I quickly ask you something before we sort all of this out?" Shadow asked as something was bugging him and he wanted to know.

"Yeah sure." Sonic replied with a raised brow at Shadow, watching Shadow slowly look around at the mess in here.

"How come the doors inside of your home are large? The front door is like normal size yet all the others are wider. Why is that?" Shadow asked as he moved his head and looked at Sonic with a curious look and a need to know.

"Erm, well they were like that when I moved in here. Maybe whoever lived here before me liked wide entrances and never got around to changing the front door." Sonic said with a slight anxious smile back at Shadow.

"If he is going to question that he will question why my bathroom is large and the way it is." Sonic thought as he hoped Shadow will assume it was down to the lie he told.

"So you have a larger than normal bathroom as well huh, might have to check that out a little later before leaving for home." Shadow thought as he heard that thought, curious to know what the rest of this house looked like now.

"I suppose that does sound legit." Shadow casually said with a shrug and was going to leave it as that.

"Anyway, you definitely have something here and it is trying it's hardest to get your attention Sonic." Shadow said as he looked around the kitchen again with a calculated expression.

"How wonderful, tell it I do not appreciate it making a damn mess in my kitchen or anywhere else in my home. Tell it to God damn write me a letter instead and leave it somewhere I will see it." Sonic said with a hint of anger at all the work he now had to do yet again.

"Alright. Hey shit-bag! Stop trashing my boyfriends home and write a damn letter if you want to tell him something!" Shadow called out with some aggression in his tone.

Everyone dead-panned at that and were all giving Shadow looks of disbelief. Well that was until the kitchen lights began to flick on and off before the bulb shattered.

"Erm I don't think it likes what you said." Rouge said as she felt fearful with the level of aggression.

"Oh my chaos you really are being haunted." Amy said with terror in her voice, shaking a little while moving a little closer to her friends.

"Well how grown up that was, you really are just so mature." Shadow sarcastically said with a roll of his eyes.

The door to the kitchen began to slam closed and swing open, this happened six times before the door was slammed shut and left shut.

"Oh grow up will you. You are not getting anywhere by doing this so just stop your tantrums already. You know who I am right so how about showing yourself so we can chat face to face." Shadow calmly said as he crossed his arms and looked at the closed kitchen door.

"I am confused with how this thing knows Shadow." Knuckles muttered as he stood with his friends and all were looking at the closed kitchen door.

"Beats me, maybe Shadow does this kind of thing in his spare time and sprits talk to one another." Rouge whispered back and was simply taking a guess here.

"I really don't think this is solving anything Shads." Sonic whispered over to his boyfriend as he moved a little closer to Shadow, the others behind them.

"Oh relax. I'm a professional my love and this spirit will leave you alone." Shadow winked at Sonic then looked back to the closed door.

"He called me love, his love." Sonic thought as a warm tingly feeling erupted in his chest.

"That confirms that, he does this kind of thing all the time." Knuckles mumbled with a small frown, wondering how Shadow got into spirit busting.

"That's it take your time and think about what you are doing." Shadow said with a grin, watching a grey mist appear and slowly take shape of a being.

"What the frick?" Knuckles whispered as he was wide eyed and couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Yeah I second that." Rouge whispered as she was glued to the entity taking form.

"This so fascinating yet terrifying all at the same time." Tails muttered as he was also glued to the entity forming in front of them all.

"I don't like this, what if it can harm us?" Amy said with fear and wanted all this to stop.

"Ah that's it very good, well done. We can see you now and would love to know why the hell you are here?" Shadow said with a calm voice, not at all scared or feeling threatened.

The smoke turned into an old looking hedgehog with ragged fur and drooped quills that were as long as Sonic. In fact it looked exactly like Sonic but much older and lacked the green eyes. This spirits eyes were a burning orange and was looking right at Sonic.

"Oh crap it's looking at me." Sonic quietly said then grabbed onto Shadows arm and moved very closer to Shadow for protection.

"What is your name and why are you here?" Shadow asked as he tried to get some information out of this spirit that he assumed was some long dead relative of Sonics.

The ghost pointed at Sonic and began to speak in some strange language having an aggressive tone while looking outraged.

"Shadow is he threatening me?" Sonic whispered with fear in his green eyes, unable to tear his gaze from the spirit.

"Wow really he's...you sure?" Shadow said with surprise then turned his head to look at Sonic.

"What is he saying?" Rouge asked and beat everyone in asking that question.

"Sonic are you a werewolf that changes every night when the sun goes down? He says you are and trying to warn you about something that is going to happen to you in the future, the near future." Shadow asked with a very concerned expression.

"Not that would explain the wider doors but why not tell me? Did he think I would have an issue with this?" Shadow thought as he kept eyes on Sonic.

Sonic tensed up and slowly moved his head to look at Shadow. Their eyes locking.

"Y-yes. I was going to tell you I swear, I was trying to find the right words and wait for the right time to do it. Does this mean you don't want to be with me?" Sonic sadly said as his eyes began to water.

"Now why in chaos would I allow something like that stop me from being with someone I deeply care about. Believe me I really care about you and only you." Shadow said with a warm smile.

"Really? Oh Shadow." Sonic said then flung himself at Shadow, hugging him tightly and hoping this wasn't some dream.

"You are just so adorable." Shadow chuckled as he hugged Sonic back.

There was suddenly some very loud and very aggressive non-English words being said by the ghost making the couple turn their heads to look at it.

"Yeah I will do my best so chill already and I promise I will take very good care of your great grandson. No one will dare come near him while I'm around." Shadow seriously said and unintentionally gripped onto Sonic a little tighter.

"My great grandfather has been terrorising me and wrecking my damn home? Well I hope you plan on fixing my things or at least come up with some cash to replace some of the things you smashed. I may have my inheritance but I can't keep using it to replace broken stuff." Sonic said as he frowned at his dead relative, not at all sounding happy.

"Ghosts don't have currencies Sonic and I will fix your home. It will take me seconds to do." Shadow said with a very smug expression, releasing Sonic from his hug.

"Right I'll believe it when I..." Sonic said with a disbelieving raised brow then widened his eyes as Shadow clicked his fingers and everything had returned to the way it was.

"See it. H-how did you just do that?" Sonic whispered as shock was still present.

"Witch!" Amy said as she pointed at Shadow, all were looking at Shadow as they were all shocked at what he did.

"No, not a witch. I just click my fingers and thought about what I want then it happens. It's basic demon 101 and it wasn't all that hard to master either." Shadow smirked as he and Sonic locked eyes.

"Demon 101? Are you mocking me or something?" Sonic said as he lightly pushed Shadow away from him, feeling outraged and insulted.

"What? No of course I'm not mocking you." Shadow replied as he was starting to get a little annoyed and somewhat hurt emotionally as Sonic seemed to not believe him.

"Oh so you find out what I've been keeping hidden about myself and you are suddenly a demon. Just get the hell out of my house and stay away from me!" Sonic said with so much anger and sadness he ended up shouting as some tears fell from his eyes.

The kitchen suddenly went deadly quiet after a glass flew out of the cupboard and smashed again the far wall opposite. The spirit spoke out and was looking at Shadow, saying something to him in a language that all knew. Shadow hissed and tensed up as he shut his eyes, shaking a little.

"Oh my chaos I know that language, it's ancient Latin." Tails said as he watched Shadow take a step away from Sonic and backed up against the wall where the glass was thrown by the ghost.

Shadow opened his eyes and they began to glow red and his pupils dilated slightly, making him look evil. Sonic swallowed hard as he was transfixed on the sight of Shadows eyes. They were locked on him then Sonic gasped as images flashed inside of his head. Images of a place that was filled with the screams of people crying out, begging to be saved. Seconds after that faded an image of Shadow standing against a half crumbled wall appeared. Shadow had demonic looking black wings, that were slightly more bigger than Rouges, that had red swirly like patterns on them. He had a longer, slightly more thinner looking, tail with a small triangular point at the end that was sharp. There was a level of darkness in his eyes while smirking a little sinisterly. It was like a frozen moment or a photo of Shadow in his head. The images were gone just as quickly as they came, making Sonic blink a few rapid blinks. The spirit of Sonics dead relative stopped talking in Latin and the kitchen went silent for a couple of minutes.

"You are not lying are you, you really are a demon?" Sonic whispered with regret of what he did and said to Shadow.

"I-I would never lie to you without a solid reason Sonic." Shadow whispered and looked as if he was recovering from immense pain.

"What happened to you just now?" Sonic asked as he took a few steps towards Shadow only stopping when Shadow held his hand out to tell him to not come any closer.

"Don't, just stay where you are, please. I need a moment to collect myself. H-he spoke an incantation that takes some of my energy and gave it to you. You saw my home right, you saw a picture of me in a special book yes?" Shadow said as he lent against the wall to keep upright, eyelids dropped half shut and looking a little drained, having had the same images inside of his head at the same time as Sonic did.

"Yeah I saw all that, I guess that was one way to get me to believe you. Hold up what special book and why is a picture of you in it?" Sonic asked as he was finding all of this a little confusing.

"This book wouldn't happen to be all about demons and the different types and ranks would it?" Tails asked as he had a hunch if Shadow was truly a demon and he has a photograph of himself in a special book then it had to be a book on demons.

"You are correct but it doesn't just tell the reader about demons but how to summon each one out of hell. There is also summoning spells to bound any demon to you and a guide on how to control them. The book has been lost for over three centuries and thought destroyed but then demons started disappearing from hell so I was sent to investigate alone. I have yet to find any strong clues but I found out it's someone from this town, a student or a close relative of a student at the high school. So I enrolled at the school but have yet to pinpoint who has that book. Silver and Mephiles thought you might have it because of what they sensed about you. I knew you didn't and tried to tell them but they are just so stubborn sometimes." Shadow explained and was slowly getting his strength back, now able to stand up straight without having to lean against the wall.

"So does that mean the only reason you are even talking to me is because of your investigation? You don't really care about me do you?" Sonic sadly said with drooped ears and looking ready to burst out crying.

"No, I defended you because I care about you, I am talking to you because I truly deeply care about you. I have a very hard time believing you would ever want to control demons for your selfish desires because you are the least selfish being I have ever met, and I've been around a lot. I know it seems hard to believe what I'm telling you is true and to trust in what I say but I speak the truth to you. Demons, well not all demons, are not like they tell you in religious class. Yes we can be sly, scheming, lying, untrustworthy, evil, destructive, chaotic, manipulate beings but not all the time and not all of us." Shadow calmly said with a faint smile at Sonic.

"I don't believe you, I'm sorry but I don't." Sonic said as a part of him really wanted to but a louder part of him screamed 'don't trust him'.

Suddenly the now fixed light in the kitchen switched on and began to get brighter and brighter until the glass part of the bulb shattered. The spirit was trying to get Sonics attention so he could back Shadow up but Sonic didn't understand that.

"Will you please stop breaking things!" Sonic growled aggressively as he kept his eyes on Shadow.

"I'm sorry you feel that way and I do hope one day you will believe in what I say." Shadow said with a small frown, trying to not show how crushed he was deeply feeling.

"I would like you leave Shadow." Sonic said with a serious voice, bowing his head slightly to avoid Shadow glowing red eyes.

"If that is what you want then I will leave." Shadow sighed then vanished within a blink of an eye.

"So what are you going to do about...hey wait that ghost is gone. Where did it go?" Knuckles said with a puzzled look as indeed the spirit was now gone.

"I'm sorry I just want to be alone, you guys understand right?" Sonic sighed with a sadness to it, not once looking up from the floor.

"Yeah we understand, we'll see you tomorrow ok." Amy said with a sympathetic tone.

"Yeah ok." Sonic said as he tried to stop himself from crying in front of his friends.

"If it's any consolation, I think Shadow is being truthful. Of course it's up to you what you decide and just so you know we will help and support you no matter what you choose." Tails said with a sad smile then walked out of the kitchen, followed by the others.

As soon as Sonic hears his front door close he collapsed to his knees and cried out in despair. The lights suddenly began to flick on and off again making Sonic cry harder.

"Just go away, can't you see I'm suffering enough!" Sonic shouted out as he looked up at the broken bulb yet it still seemed to be able to go on and off.

"Truth..." A deep whispery voice called out in Sonic's ear.

"What?" Sonic whispered then gasped, his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he fell forward unconscious.

Sonic groaned and slowly opened his eyes only to find himself in a very strange place. He lifted himself up and got to his feet while looking around. The place he appeared in was some kind of abandoned warehouse with broken windows, crumbling walls and a strong smell of blood was in the air. Then suddenly voices were heard making Sonic spin around. What he saw shocked him to his very core.

"I will control you demon, one way or another I will." A blurred figure said in an obviously masked deep voice as he stood in front of Shadow, who was bound to an iron chair and beaten up pretty badly.

"Yeah I'm betting you can't otherwise you would have by now. How long has it been since you summoned me and bound me to this chair? Two days now am I right?" Shadow said with a blooded toothy smirk, showing a missing canine.

The guy growled then punched Shadow in the jaw. A sickening crack echoed throughout the empty open area. Shadow began to laugh hysterically and was given another blow to the mouth.

"Oh come on do you really think this is going to work on me, going to weaken me? I have you know I've had far worse my way. I've had my heart smashed into pieces so this pain is nothing in comparison. Beat me all you want, break my bones as many times as you please, it won't do a thing. It will all be for nothing and you would only be wasting time for it will never weaken me enough." Shadow said with amusement in his voice but Sonic could clearly see the sadness in Shadow's glowing eyes.

"Oh yes that pathetic blue hedgehog you love so deeply, it is a shame he eventually rejected you for he would have made quite the little pet. Or maybe he is still of use to me and a very good source in gaining control over your demon ass. Yes, I'll send out my minions to capture him and tie him up right next to you. I will make you watch me pound my fists into that pretty little face of his and he will witness me gain control over you." The guy said with a sinister voice, gripping hard onto Shadows chin and forcing eye contact.

"It would be a waste of your time and you know it. I did love him once true but now I couldn't care less what happens to him. He broke me and I will never forgive him for how he did it. He didn't just reject me he humiliated me, he crushed me. I hate him more than I hate half breeds and that is saying something." Shadow growled back with so much hate and anger in his eyes it scared Sonic.

"What did I do to make him hate me so much?" Sonic whispered to himself as he took steps backwards from the scene.

"You broke up with him and tried to send him back to hell permanently. Not only that but you called him out in front of your class on a weekend away with the school. He had no choice but to flee and leave this town forever only by doing that it made Shadow vulnerable. You thought you were helping him, thought that if he was in hell and unable to leave then Shadow would be safe so you acted accordingly to save you lover from this terrible fate. Only you didn't and fate still played it's part. Shadow is always going to be destined to be here and beaten like this. No matter what happens leading up to this moment, this moment is set in stone. You can try your best to change the course of the future but Shadow will always end up like this no matter what you try to do to change things." A more softer sounding voice was heard from behind Sonic, it had a sincere sound to it with a hint of sadness.

Sonic frowned and turned around only to see nothing. This irritated him greatly and a frustrated growl escape his mouth.

"Show yourself!" Sonic should out as he clenched his hands into fists.

"I cannot therefore you will have to accept that fact. Look behind you and watch for you are going to have to make a very hard choice." The voice calmly said then something forced Sonic around and made him watch.

"No I don't want to see him get hurt." Sonic whispered as he tried to move but couldn't, he then tried to close his eyes but they were frozen open.

Shadow was breathing heavily after a few more punches to his face and stomach. His head looped to one side and drooped down with blood trickling out of his mouth. Shadows ears flicked as he heard something metal being dragged along the floor. Shadow slowly lifted his head and widened his eyes, showing fear and panic in them. He weakly struggled against the chains keeping him in the chair and was really trying to break free.

"Oh look the bitch knows what this is and I'm betting he also knows it's going to hurt a whole lot too." The guy said as he waited for his partner in crime to stand beside him.

"No not that, please don't do this." Shadow begged as he watched in horror at the thing in this kids hand.

"Dad is this really necessary? I mean this could kill him like it did with that other demon. Surely the book is enough, right?" The teen asked and too was blurred out with his voice masked but Sonic could tell he was about his age maybe a year older.

"It won't kill him son, Shadow is a very powerful demon and has a high rank in hell. If anything this will mentally break him and cause high amounts of pain to his physical form. I can use the book yes but I want to use this method." The older guy said with a dark edge to his masked voice, grabbing this strange short'ish sword that had funny symbols all over the blade.

"Don't do this, please. Just read from the book yeah, it will be more easier." Shadow begged again as he locked eyes with the adult that took the sword.

The sword was held up and the sharp end pointing to the middle of Shadow's chest. The guy chuckled, ignoring Shadows pleas, then slammed the blade into Shadow's chest. The sword ended up going all the way through Shadow and slightly into the chair. Shadow screamed in pure pain and even more so when the guy twisted the blade 90 degrees while chanting in some unknown language. Shadow was not looking so good and was beginning to daze out, as if he was falling into a trance like state while his glowing red eyes showed some pain in them.

"I-I...I can't." Shadow muttered in an emotionless voice as his eyes glassed over from the trance he was forced into, still glowing but completely emotionless.

"I-I don't know, I'm not sure." Shadow whispered as he was struggling to breath evenly.

"Is he talking to them or someone else?" Sonic whispered to himself as he wasn't sure of the answer.

"He is seeing someone in his mind that he loves dearly and they are telling him to obey." The voice sadly said near Sonics ear as Sonic was forced to keep watching.

"This, this is just so wrong a-and cruel." Sonic whispered with deep sadness.

"If they just read from the book, this wouldn't be happening. Shadow would be in their control without all of this physiological manipulation." The voice said to Sonic with sadness.

"I do not care, I don't want this to happen to Shadow." Sonic said as he was struggling to accept this is going to happen regardless on what anyone does to prevent it.

"But, but why?" Shadow asked as his eye lids began to close.

"I...I will, for you I will. I will do whatever you ask me, I will do whatever it takes to make you happy. I will never let you down, I-I obey..." Shadow said then fell unconscious in the chair, still alive and still having that blade through his chest.

"It is almost complete, he will need this blade in him for twenty four hours then he will be under my control. With him on our side no one can stop us." The older guy said then bellowed out laughing.

"That is if he doesn't die while that sword is in him." The masked teen said with some distaste to having Shadow die for he knew Shadow had power.

"I agree there is a fifty-fifty chance but I am willing to take that chance." The adult said with an evil chuckle.

Sonic was crying silently as he kept eyes on Shadow, making his vision blurry. The laughter and images he was seeing began to fade and soon he found his surroundings fading completely. Darkness took over all around him and soon he was out for the count, unconscious and away from that horrifying vision.