Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog or any of the characters in this story. I only own Scarlet, Iris, and Cecelia Rose, OC's I made to serve as parents for the Rouge, Shadow and Amy respectively. Other made up parents are not named and will only be mentioned in passing.

Title is inspired by lyrics from System of a Down's song Toxicity.

*TRIGGER WARNINGS: Implied sexual intercourse between young adults. Traumatic response to previous sexual abuse.*

2 Between the Sacred Silence and Sleep

It was 7:46 pm when Amy finally stopped to catch her breath.

Moonlight reflected off of the letters on the wooden sign of Azure Lake Park as she read it and her heart surged. After crossing the main bridge, she dropped her bags onto the nearest bench and placed her hands on her knees, giving herself time to recover. Her efforts seemed pointless though, because the moment she could breath again and she started down the winding path, her heart was immediately in her ears again, her thoughts faint against the thrumming.

I wonder what he'll wear? It still gets a bit chilly at night, so maybe he'll wear that golden brown sweater that compliments his eyes? Or maybe he'll show up in the red hoodie I saw him in at lunch? Oh, who am I kidding? He'll probably show up in the athletic clothes he ran in for his track meet, which works for me. Sonic looks good in everything.

Amy paid no mind to the lingering visitors, not wanting to distract herself by wondering what outdoor activities brought them to the park. Chaos knew that if she even started to people-watch, she'd grow a desire to stay out well past curfew to stargaze with the blue blur, or maybe use the last bit of her allowance to get them snacks from the convenience store and go to his place for a movie. It was a school night, and she couldn't let even an ounce of temptation lead her down that path, not tonight. She vowed to stay focussed on Sonic and hearing what he had to say. Nothing more, at least for now.

I should have stopped to get him something to eat. He's usually starving before and after practice; I can only imagine the nerves will make it worse.

In front of her, the path forked, and Amy kept right without hesitation. Faintly, the bushes in her peripheral vision rustled. Amy looked back, slowing just a bit and found a couple headed for the park exit, cheeks flushed and their hands clasped. A nervous smile reached Amy's eyes as she hurried along, wondering if that would be her soon.

Too bad Valentine's Day has already passed. That would have been the perfect day for this to happen!

Ten steps off of the main path, a grand dogwood tree rose on the horizon, sprouting thick, white blooms, a few petals drifting to speckle the soft grass below. A subtle breeze caught a few of the loose petals and deposited them into the glittering lake only a few feet away from the massive tree, the dark waters refracting the moon and stars alike. The pink hedgehog calmed at the view, letting her muscle memory take over as she knowingly took three careful bounds over the thick tree roots at her feet and ducked to find herself under the tree's wide canopy.

I wonder if he's already here?

Taking her place beside a low-hanging bough, Amy examined the space eagerly before concluding that she was alone. She left her bags at the base of the tree, reaching into her sports duffle to grab her travel sized toiletries. She refreshed herself quickly, undoing her ponytail to let her quills flow to her back. After fluffing her bangs, she opened her little red flip phone to check the time. The digital clock in the corner displayed 7:51pm. She sighed in delight, pressing her phone to her chest.

I remember when we first found this place. My mom brought me, Sonia, Manic, and Sonic here to have a picnic. In the middle of a game of hide-and-seek, I found this tree and when I started to climb it, Sonic was already in it, a step ahead of me as he always was. When he spotted me, he told me I could stay and hide with him, as long as I was quiet. I'd never been so excited.

Placing her phone in her back pocket, Amy quickly dusted off jeans and tied the laces of her sneakers over twice, wishing she had her brown sandals to compliment the outfit. Rather than sour her mood with her less-than-elegant footwear, she gratefully smoothed out the beige top with ruffled edges she wore, silently thanking her mom for urging her to keep a spare set of clothes in her gym locker. She would have had to show up in her school clothes, which carried a mild smell from a full day of accumulated sweat and use. She looked up to the white canopy, the blooms seeming to glow on the edges in the moonlight. With a subtle squint, she could just make out the place where she'd carved out their initials, the small letters encircled in a heart.

They never found us. We stayed in that tree for hours, laughing at stupid jokes, growing quiet when Sonia got close to finding us, and carving symbols into the bark. Then we climbed down and played by the water until we were starving and ran back to my mom, begging to split the last sandwich. It was a simpler time. A blissful one.

The pinkette took a quick swig of her water bottle and then stuffed it back in her bag, scrutinizing the way her gym duffle and school bag looked at the base of the tree. She threw both bags behind the tree, reaching to grab a bloom and gingerly picking off its petals.

I've lost count of the number of times I've come here on my own to study, to journal, or to day dream. Sonic and I have only come back to this spot together twice since then, but Sonia mentioned Sonic sometimes disappeared when they came to the park as a family. I'm sure this is where he goes. A place where he can get away when he feels overwhelmed by the city and by… well, everything else.

Scattering the petals in the grass where her bags once were, she nodded in approval at her work. After checking for the blue blur one more time, she decided to make herself look as gorgeous as possible. She fluffed her quills once more, turning with her back to the tree and standing in the middle of her makeshift bed of white petals. She perked out her chest and placed her hands behind her back, thinking of the elegant statues from her favorite art museum and pretending to be one.

And now it will be the place where things change for both of us.

Eight o'clock came and Amy stood stock-still, the only movement the lifting of her quills against the breeze and the subtle rise and fall of her chest. Every few minutes she let her eyes drift to her peripherals, scanning the shadows for the blue blur. After fifteen minutes, her back began to ache at the forced arch in her back and she gave in, standing normally. Still, she stayed where she was, keeping her hands behind her as she rocked on her heels. A noise on her left alerted her and she jerked back into position, reminding herself not to look directly in Sonic's direction. She wanted to look unaware and serene when he saw her, already imagining herself feigning surprise when he tapped her shoulder and offered her a bundle of roses. When she didn't hear his voice, she turned to see a small bird rustling in a bush. She deflated, waving the bird away in irritation.

Give him some time, Amy. He's probably just nervous or running late grabbing flowers or something. Beautiful girls make guys like Sonic lose their senses, especially when they're the one. He'll show up soon.

Another fifteen minutes went by and Amy pressed her back against the tree, watching the moon hover between a skyscraper and parking garage in the distance. While she listened out for the blue blur, she decided to make use of her time, clasping her hands together and rehearsing what she would say when he asked her to be his girlfriend. She popped a mint in her mouth and reapplied her lip oil in thought. Finally, she alternated between 'yes, I will be your girl and love you for the rest of my days' to 'of course, Sonic, I'll be your girl until I take my last breath!' But none of those seemed as succinct as 'Yes, Sonic, of course I'll be yours.'

Several rushing footsteps from the main path caught her attention as they grew in volume and Rouge's warning about all the boys that were more than willing to play sick jokes on her made her heart sink. Without hesitation, she stumbled over a tree root and fell to her knees, reaching in her bag. She pulled out the pepper spray her mom packed her and sifted through the bushes. She eyed the main path and watched as four middle-aged men trotted by, chatting and pointing at the park signs before continuing down a winding path.

"J-just some late night joggers. It's okay. Sonic will be here any moment now."

It was 8:55pm when she finally lifted her phone to her face, sitting on the tree bough as she looked for a possible message from Sonic. Instead, she opened two unread texts from Rouge, the screen light burning her eyes.

Rouge : Sooo, what happened…? -8:35pm

Rouge : Asked my mom about that project and she flipped her shit. Sorry, girl. - 8:50pm

Amy left the bat on read, unwilling to draw her focus from her current situation. She'd get an earful if she told her Sonic hadn't showed up yet, and she didn't want to sit in her own disappointment at failing to get her interview with Rouge's mom. She was already starting to feel like garbage. A thought crossed her and she toggled through her contacts and highlighted Sonia's name, her thumb quivering over the call button. A voice in her mind told her it wouldn't hurt to call Sonia, start a random conversation, and then nonchalantly ask if Sonic was home. At least then she could possibly determine his whereabouts. But she had a hard time coming up with a believable excuse for when Sonia inevitably asked her why she wanted to know, and pride floated to the surface. She clicked the phone close, tossing it in the grass and sliding off the branch to her feet, needing to blow some steam.

After struggling to get her shoes off, she warmed up with a few cartwheels, reveling in the feeling of the cool grass between her toes. A few aerials and a front somersault later, Amy felt herself close to breaking a sweat and decided to rest. She still felt those uneasy feelings and almost moved to practice her floor routine, but her eyes drifted to the water. Snatching her cardigan out of her bag, she placed it near the bank and sat, skipping a handful of pebbles before slumping over her knees in thought. For a moment, she wished to get lost in the water's depths.

"He'll come running, I know it," Amy said to herself, her enthusiasm falling flat.

Her eyes shot open when her phone buzzed relentlessly behind her. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she got up from the bank and scooped it up from the grass without a second thought. Realizing she'd missed the call, she clicked the phone open to see her mom listed in her recents. Her face fell as the disappointment settled in and a text flashed to the front of the screen.

Mom : Staying late, love. Sorry. You'll have to get dinner on your own. Do you have enough for a pizza? - 9:42pm

Her eyes burned, traitor tears threatening to spill. She sniffed, texting her mom back and letting her know that she'd figure it out. She sat on the tree once more, slowly fitting her shoes to her feet, refusing to cry. She took her time, telling herself that at the stroke of ten, Sonic would no doubt come busting through trees, mumbling excuses but with flowers in hand. Just like a scene in the movies. She waited a bit longer, rubbing her arms as the chill started to settle in.

Finally, her stomach cramped in hunger and her eyelids grew heavy. With a miserable sigh, she threw on her cardigan and slung her bags over her shoulders. The bushes poked and snagged her clothes as she headed back to the main path, and when her sneakers hit the stones, her progress was slow as she drearily drowned in her own speculation.

Maybe the note really was for someone else? But then what special place would he be talking about? No, the note was in my locker, so there has to be a reasonable explanation as to why he didn't show up for me. There has to be… The note was for me…

She reached the final bridge to the park and started across it when low voices caught her attention. Realizing they were coming from below her, she backed away from the bridge entrance and stiffly leaned over the side to see who managed to make a hiding spot out of the wooden structure. She hesitated, berating herself for being nosey, and started to walk away. A feminine moan made her freeze and lean back, a couple gradually coming into view as she made out their figures in the dark.

"Sonic. Ah."

It was then that the image of Sonic and Sally twisted around each other was seared into her brain. Sonic leaned over the chipmunk with his arms pressed above her, his athletic shirt lifted and exposing his chest and his athletic pants hanging dangerously low. With her back pressed against a leg of the bridge, Sally held onto him, her legs curled at his waist as if she were afraid to let go. Her pleated cheerleading skirt barely covered her and her top lay on the ground, forgotten. Together they rocked and writhed, their movements frantic and out of sync. Sally moaned again and Sonic met her lips to swallow her desperate plea.

Amy's tears blinded her in an instant and the withering girl stumbled down the park path in a rush, desperately searching for a different bridge to cross.

~aAa~

"You okay, Amy girl?"

On any other day, Bunnie's warm southern accent would make her smile, her natural charm sparking conversation from the pinkette even when she wasn't feeling particularly social. But tonight Bunnie's presence only served as a reminder of what had just transpired in the park. Though the older girl wore a blue waitress dress, complete with an apron, pen, and notebook, Amy still imagined her in her cheerleading uniform when she looked at her through swollen eyes. It didn't help that her golden tresses were pulled back into her characteristic ponytail, reminding Amy of the days she spotted her in the hallways at school, arms locked with Sally and Mina.

"Y-yeah, just having a rough night. Mom's not gonna be home 'til late, so I gotta fend for myself," Amy said, trying to minimize the cracking in her voice.

"Ah, I understand. We're closing soon, so I wouldn't suggest orderin' any meat. Cook won't take the time to make it right. He's trying to get ya'll out of here fast," Bunnie warned, a hand on her hip.

"Okay. Um, can you g-give me a sec? I kinda came in here without a plan."

"Of course, sugah. Lemme get you a water. That voice of yours sounds mighty coarse."

Bunnie left a roll of silverware and hurried to collect the bill of the two lingering customers on the other end of the diner.

Amy hadn't really paid attention to the number of patrons when she'd shoved open the door to Daisy's Diner, but she was thankful that the booths were relatively empty. It was instinct for her to look out for the inviting red sign of the diner when her stomach screamed and she found herself alone after a long day of school. The diner was one of the few places open late on her end of town, and Amy and her mother found themselves at the family-owned diner every other Saturday at least. It wasn't until the pink hedgehog rushed in and seated herself at the booth closest to the door did she realize she'd likely catch Bunnie on one of her many shifts.

Why did I come here? Bunnie already graduated, but she and Sally are still really close. There's no way I could keep my mouth shut about what I just saw, let alone pretend I didn't just get my heart shattered. She'll know just by my face that whatever happened to me likely involves Sonic, if she doesn't know already. I should have just grabbed a pizza and gone home.

Amy rubbed her arms to comfort herself, her attention drawn to the window on her right. The city seemed encapsulated in a silent globe from inside the diner, the dark street vacant aside from the occasional car and the infrequent pedestrian or two, huddled in their coats as they briskly walked under the glow of a singular streetlight. Usually this would calm her, put her in a sort of mindless trance, but right now it made her uneasy. The pinkette found it difficult to find a feasible distraction outside of the diner, and when she blinked, the image of Sally and Sonic flashed against the glass.

She winced away from the window, throwing open her menu and skimming the choices. Yet, her eyes fogged over and her mind lingered on the copulating couple. She squinted her sore eyes to keep the tears from breaching, shoving her face deeper into the laminated tri fold.

I don't understand why he would put that note in my locker just to show up for someone else. Why leave me the note in the first place? If I'm not the one, then why?

Amy flinched as Bunnie returned, this time balancing a tray of dirty glasses. The pinkette blinked her tears back and folded the menu back up, sitting straight with a small smile. Bunnie eyed her cautiously, but proceeded to place the water glass as close to the pink girl as she could as if silently urging her to drink.

"Here ya go, sugah. Yer tummy tell you what it wants yet?" Bunnie asked.

"Um, a strawberry shake and a fry?" Amy said.

"Smart girl. I'll put ya order in and get ya going. Need anything else?"

"No, that's it. Thank you, Bunnie."

Thankfully, Bunnie didn't hover; she simply nodded, took her menu, and went about her closing tasks. Amy was sure her tear stained cheeks had caught her attention by now, but the bunny girl hadn't tried to pry. Amy relaxed into the cushion when the last patrons exited the diner and the clash of pots and plates sounded from the kitchen, her order in the making. With the diner empty of customers and everyone else going about their night, Amy found she could think clearly.

Pushing her water glass aside, Amy reached across the table to dig into her bag resting on top of her gym bag in the other seat. When she successfully grasped her phone, she immediately flipped it open to find two messages waiting for her. When she nestled back into her seat, she decided to tackle the message from her mom first.

Mom : Stuck in some weird traffic. Police and helicopters everywhere. Not sure when I'll be home. Did you eat something? - 10:46 pm

Amy : Stopped at the diner for fries. I'll take the rest to go for you.

She closed the screen before her mother could reply, checking the second message anxiously. When she saw the name of the sender, confusion sprouted in her. She was expecting maybe a pushy message from Rouge after failing to reply to the bat, so when the name didn't match she worried about the message's content before she opened it. The only other people she expected to message her were Blaze, who only ever called Amy if time permitted while following her father's strict schedule, and Silver, who usually passed out after baseball practice. Cream was gifted with a used phone a few months ago and was still new to the texting thing, but even she was more likely to send a text than this person. Still, she took a breath and opened the message.

Tails : Hey, Amy. How is your night going? - 10:47pm

She couldn't even fathom responding to the fox with the truth. More importantly, she couldn't figure out why he was messaging her this late at night. Sure, he no longer had to be in bed by nine since his mother stopped enforcing a formal bedtime, but Amy at least expected the fox to strive for a full eight hours of sleep. He was in more extracurriculars than she was and knew he only ever had time to socialize during lunch while slaving over his calculus homework. The little genius needed all the sleep he could get.

Why is he trying to start a conversation this late at night? He doesn't know about the cookies, so he couldn't be asking about those. Maybe… maybe Sonic did see me at the park and he's already started telling everyone. And Tails would be the first to know. Chaos.

Before she could come up with a sufficient reply for Tails, Bunnie returned with her food. The fries were still sizzling and her shake nearly breached past the lip of the cup.

"Here ya go, sugah. Fries fresh outta the oil and a shake with extra whip," Bunnie said.

"Thank you, Bunnie. I'll try to be quick. I don't want to hold you guys back from closing on time," Amy said, her eyes not meeting Bunnie's as she closed her phone, sliding the girl her debit card.

Bunnie hesitated to leave the pinkette, gingerly taking her payment and eying her with concern. Amy stiffened, only willing to relax once she was alone again. She thought she was in the clear when Bunnie pressed her serving tray to her side and shifted to walk away, but Bunnie halted, leaning over the table and with a tilt to her head, speaking softly to the pink hedgehog.

"I don't mean to pry, but did something happen to you, little love bug? You're usually more chipper, but you look like someone ripped your little ol' heart out."

Amy gathered just enough courage to meet her eyes, but immediately regretted doing so. Bunnie looked like she already had an apology waiting for her, and Amy couldn't help but feel frustrated at the unmistakable pity that oozed from the bunny. Amy didn't want anybody's pity, so she swallowed the burning in her throat and replied.

"I'm fine. I just saw something I shouldn't have."

"It must a been mighty traumatizing to have made you cry. Did you see a crime in action, love? Do I need to call the authorities? Maybe your mama?"

"Not quite. I don't really want to talk about it. I'll be okay."

"As long as you're not in any danger. No questions asked if someone is trying to hurt ya, alright? You just let me know who I have to beat up!" Bunnie assured her, flexing an arm with a smile.

Amy wanted to smile at her antics, but the warmth she should have felt from the girl's protective nature was enveloped in a sour envy. Amy hesitated at the words that bubbled in her throat, but before she could quell the wave of petty sarcasm, she opened her mouth.

"Are you sure? You'd have to trade punches with your best friend and her new boyfriend."

Bunnie's eyebrow furrowed as she stilled. Amy watched as realization gradually crossed the bunny's face and she swallowed, yet she still asked for clarification.

"What do you mean, sugah?"

"I saw Sonic and Sally making love under the bridge at the park."

Amy had never seen Bunnie look the way she did. Her face held pain mixed with remorse, pity, and, dare she say it, shame.

"Oh. Oh, Amy-girl, I'm so sorry I… I can't say I didn't see this coming, though. I just didn't expect it to happen like this."

Bunnie's words stung. She knew. Everyone probably knew about Sally and Sonic's chemistry, the underlying romantic tension that they left out on display but never acted on. That also meant they all knew Sonic would never reciprocate the pinkette's feelings. Hell, deep down, Amy knew it herself, so she couldn't blame anyone but herself. She always deluded herself into believing Sonic and Sally were nothing but platonic and that it would stay that way so she could keep her dream alive, her fantasy where Sonic was hers alone. Amy pursed her lips hard, trying to keep it together. Her next words came out like a shuddering hiss as she searched Bunnie's eyes for mercy.

"Please don't tell anyone about any of this. It's already going to be hard enough. And don't tell Sally t-that I saw them. Please."

Bunnie reached to touch the girl's shoulder, but Amy flinched away at her touch. Bunnie backed away with a nod.

"My lips are sealed. Stay as long as you need to. I'll let my pap know not to kick ya out."

The tears began to stream as she stared at Bunnie's back, the pink hedgehog's shoulders beginning to shake. She bit her bottom lip in an effort to muffle her cries, containing her misery to her little booth. She folded, her arms curling around her head as she let her forehead press against the cold table. She allowed herself to cry, giving herself a moment as she put everything else aside. Bunnie said she could take all the time she needed, so she would. Nothing would come of her holding it in, her therapist had told her that much.

I guess this is it for me. I lost. I failed. Sonic's heart is off the market. Or maybe it was always unreachable for me?

She wasn't sure how long she wept in that booth, but her shake was half melted when she finally lifted her head from the table, body worn and face soggy. Though her appetite was nonexistent, she picked up a few fries, dipping them into her shake before guiding them to her mouth. She chewed on the pieces mindlessly for a moment, before her stomach growled impatiently. Pressing the side of her head to the window with a sniff, she continued to eat her dinner, eagerly now as she began to stuff her face, hoping to drown her sorrow in food.

Rouge was right… that note was a trap.

Amy's ear twitched as it picked up the pitter-patter of rain on the window. With a heavy sniff, she rubbed her face with the back of her sleeve and peered through the smeared window. She used the sleeve of her cardigan to clear it and watched the drops pelt the glass. She relaxed into her seat once more, ready to give in. But as her head slipped back, she caught a glimpse of the starless sky, vacant of cloud cover.

"Where are the clouds?" Amy asked herself.

On further inspection, she noticed that the sky was murky, a tint of green cast across the darkness. The glittering stars and the bright moon she'd admired in the park were gone, the matte black of this new sky sucking the life out of the city. The only light outside was the singular streetlight, which Amy watched intently as the lingering rainfall dripped from the top of the post. She examined the drops closely, noticing something odd as they caught the light of the lamp during their descent.

"Why is the rain green?"

Amy's phone rattled against the table, startling her. She checked the text quickly, annoyed by the interruption.

Mom : Thank you sweetie. See you soon. - 11:23 pm

"I don't remember seeing a storm in the forecast."

Bunnie's voice carried over from the kitchen, the girl looking through the delivery window to watch the random downpour. Amy eyed the girl for a moment and then a crash rang through the diner and Bunnie disappeared just as fast as she appeared. When Amy turned back to the window, the scattered shower had ended, leaving behind green-tinted puddles in the street and toxic-looking streaks on the window that bubbled the outside world. She placed a hand on the window in thought, the eerie quiet of the world around her making her ears ring.

"It stopped," Amy muttered to herself.

A shriek made her jump, her blood running cold as she faced the kitchen again. Amy watched the double doors to the kitchen as she waited for her heart to stop racing. After a minute, she breathed a sigh of relief only to swallow it as Bunnie busted through the kitchen doors, shaken. She left Amy's card on the table in a rush, her arms trembling as she picked up Amy's dirty dishes, her eyes frequently darting toward the kitchen doors.

"I d-don't think you should be here, Amy-girl," Bunnie said quickly, pulling her eyes from the kitchen a moment to warn the pinkette.

"What's going on?" Amy asked, breathlessly.

Unadulterated terror dulled the shine in Bunnie's eyes as the perturbed girl faced the pinkette.

"C-cook went out back to take the trash, and when he came back, he started going at it with a server. I knew he was a b-bit tense tonight, b-but it's like he's lost his mind!"

Another crash sounded and both girls eyed the kitchen. Amy's heart dropped to her stomach as she watched two people struggle behind the delivery window. She recognized Bunnie's grandfather and who she presumed was the cook both locked in a tense struggle, her grandfather pulling the cook backwards as the cook groaned and thrashed.

"B-Bunnie! C-call the cops!" her grandfather choked out.

"Pap!"

Amy watched the girl push off her table, leaving the dirty dishes behind. Bunnie started for the kitchen doors only to halt as she watched her grandfather disappear behind the wall with the cook, both bursting through the doors on the opposite side into the dining area. As they both thrashed, knocking tables to the side, Bunnie ran to the counter and reached over it. Amy pressed her back to her booth, her eyes fixed on the cook. His skin was putrid and his eyes were fogged over as he wriggled out of Bunnie's grandfather's hold, twisting around wildly and plunging his teeth in his neck. A cry of utter agony shook the windows and Amy found she couldn't move.

Bunnie came back holding a cast-iron skillet in both hands, her eyes darting to Amy when she realized the girl was still there. Bunnie waved the pan toward Amy as if scaring off a frightened wild animal.

"Go!"

Pulled from her shock, Amy was up in a second, her waist hitting the table several times as she scrambled for her bags. She slid through the door before she could open it wide enough for her to pass through safely, her gym bag snagging as the door closed on it. In her haste, she turned back to tug it free, but froze as she watched Bunnie run toward the cook through the glass of the door.

"Get off of him!"

At the sound of crunching bone, Amy shoved the door and tugged her bag free, the weight making her trip from the sidewalk into the street on her back. A pair of lights blinded her and she leapt to her feet to scramble back to the safety of the walkway. A car rushed past her just as she hit the safety of the sidewalk, and in her panic, she turned to the foggy window. She threw her hands against the glass, banging on it as murky figures writhed behind it.

"Bunnie!" Amy called.

Blood splattered against the window and Amy jerked back with scream, hesitating a moment before taking off across the street, holding back the urge to vomit.

~aAa~

"Police are arriving at the scene as we speak, sweetie."

"T-thank you."

Trembling against the brick wall of a building, Amy finally pulled her phone from her burning ear, daring to look around her to verify she was still alone. As she crouched low under the shadow of the vacant building behind her, she wiped the tears and blinked at the active phone call. The cries from the diner still echoed in her head as water dripped from the veranda by her feet.

What is happening tonight?

She had managed to stifle her hysteria while on the call with the emergency dispatcher, but now she felt the panic climb back up her throat. Her lips quivered as the phone screen shook, then blurred. The small voice of the dispatcher on the other line barely made it to her ears as she closed her wet eyes a moment, putting her head between her knees. Her breathing picked up and the ringing in her ears made her head throb.

I hope Bunnie is okay. I should have stayed to help her and her family, but I ran like a coward. She could be dead right now. The police were probably too late… I should have —

Shuffling in the alleyway near her made her heart seize. She waited a moment to see if the person responsible would show, but decided she didn't want to stick around to find out. Though her thighs burned, she shakily brought herself to stand and shot one brief glance to the dark alley before heading the other way.

I need to get home.

Amy pressed her opened phone to her chest, looking back and forth as she shuffled across the street, her bags thumping against her legs. As faint groans started to taint the air, she crossed the third street and rushed into a right turn only to freeze. In the middle of the street, a few paces from a flickering streetlight, two figures huddled over something. Their bodies were like that of the man in the diner, writhing and jerking unnaturally. The streetlight flashed brightly a moment, highlighting the two enough so that Amy could make out parts of the being underneath them. The light bounced off the edge of a bloodied arm and she felt the urge to throw up again.

"Are you still there, sweetie?"

One of the huddled figures raised their head, turning painfully slow to the pinkette. Amy swallowed as she caught the muffled cries of the victim underneath them, but held eye contact with the creature that stared back at her. As the 911 operator on the line called for her again, she squeezed her phone, her heart in her throat as she expected this to be her last breath. A tear breached her right eye.

"H-help me," she whispered.

Red and blue lights reflected off of the windows, brightening the street as a patrol car pulled out from the intersection and screeched to a halt in front of them. The headlights blinded Amy, and for a few seconds, all she could hear were the sounds of the car doors clicking open, boots to ground, and the click of a loaded gun.

"This is Station Square PD! Put your hands behind your head, now!"

A pair of otherworldly shrieks hit her ears and she flinched back, plugging her ears as her tears streamed from closed eyes. Her heart in her throat, she squinted her eyes to see, but found the vague outline of the officers confusing as they edged away from the creatures they aimed their weapons at. Amy raised a shaky hand to shield her eyes, but to no avail.

"D-don't come any closer!"

At the first gunshot, she was gone. Rushing as she ducked away, Amy looked behind her as the screams of one of the officers echoed through the streets. She nearly ran into a pole as she cleared the next street, her feet struggling to keep up as she passed under streetlight after flashing streetlight. Even in her frantic haste, she managed to catch the words on the street signs, nearly tripping as she realized she was in the homestretch.

"Ms. Rose, are you there? Please let me know that you are safe."

She pressed a hand to the corner of a building, peering into a familiar alleyway. Beyond the narrow stretch of grime and shadow, the front of her apartment complex held strong against the eerie night, the cool light of two lamps lighting the stairway to the glass front doors. Amy inched her way into the shortcut, lifting her phone to her mouth as her wide eyes searched the shadows. Amy passed the dumpster, giving the metal container a wide berth as she passed through.

"I-I-I'm okay. There was s-someone in the street t-that needed help a-and—," Amy responded.

A couple of empty soda cans crashed at her feet and a hand grazed her waist.

"Ah!"

Her blood-curdling scream broke the silence, her phone crashing to the ground a second after. She twisted around and found a shadow reaching for her with a low moan. Though the darkness shrouded the figure entirely, she saw the face of an auburn hedgehog, a demented smile overtaking his face as the place he grazed her burned. Though a gravely whine floated between her and the stranger, she could hear what she thought he was actually saying in her head.

~Your daddy just wants to play with you, my rosey girl.~

"N-no. Please, I —," she began, backing away.

A grip on her shoulder and another around her ribs. At her wits end, her quills frazzled and she elbowed the offender. His grip loosened and she swung her gym bag without a second thought, shoving the second groper away. She took off down the rest of the stretch, dodging every dark shape that jutted out at her on her way.

She didn't stop as she passed through the glass doors of the complex, the bright lights that lit the hallway making her eyes dilate painfully. Still, she made a beeline for the elevator, slamming the button with her palm. She closed her eyes and the dark figures from the alleyway enraptured her mind and her breathing picked up. She refused to look at the door until a voice made her look up.

"Are you okay, ma'am?"

Amy found the concerned brown eyes of the apartment owner watching her from behind the front desk, surrounded by a mountain of paperwork lit by a singular lamp. Amy brought a shaky hand to point to the door, finding she had been undoubtedly followed. The alleyway gropers were already making their way out of the narrow path, headed for the stairs.

"T-those men out there tried to grab me!" Amy said.

The owner took off her readers and moved to the door with a hand on her hip. She sighed, pulling out a phone, dialing, and placing the phone between her ear and shoulder with a cross of her arms. Amy watched her every move without breathing, pressing herself against the wall next to the elevator as if it would hide her. Panic seized Amy's throat as the owner pushed open the door, stepping out with an irritated wave.

"Wait!" Amy called.

"Excuse me, gentlemen, but do you need some help?"

A ding sounded and the elevator doors opened. Amy didn't hesitate to escape this time, clicking the button for her floor several times until the door began to shut. She closed her eyes, praying for silence, wishing for peace. Suddenly, the owner cried out, he muffled agony followed by the sound of something wet hitting the glass doors.

"Ahhh!"

Amy's hyperventilating overtook her. She held herself and watched the elevator floor as it went out of focus, throwing herself against the elevator's back wall and sliding to the ground. Her bag slipped from her shoulder as she shook. When the elevator hit floor eleven, she crawled out on all fours a moment before getting both feet under her, making a left and sprinting down the hallway, keys already in hand.

Once inside, she engaged all the locks, shoving the kitchen chairs aside to drag the heavy wooden table to barricade the door. She threw the chairs on top, backing away from it as she rubbed her arms, her lungs never settling. She still felt herself in flight mode as she watched the door, the places the men grabbed her itching under her clothes, throwing her bag on the couch, she was in the bathroom in five anxious steps, slamming the door and heading straight for the sink.

She let the water in the sink run, splashing water on her face every few seconds in hopes she could get those wicked men out of her head. The rush of water seemed to help calm her, but she mistakenly lifted her head to view her reflection. Her own jade eyes looked back at her, but rather than the pink of her own fur, she found short auburn quills and a smile that brought dread to the pit of her stomach.

~Be daddy's good girl and hold still.~

Shoving away from the counter, she turned the shower knob to the hottest temperature. She struggled out of her clothes, hysterical sobs filling the bathroom along with a heavy steam. Several places on her hips, arms, and thighs itched with more ferocity and she shoved the curtain aside and stepped into the shower with her underwear still on. Snatching her loofa, she scrubbed herself until patches of her fur floated into the drain. A cramp seized her dominant hand and as she held her wrist, she briefly looked through her tears and found the discarded loofa speckled with red. She folded, bringing her knees in as she sat at the bottom of the tub, trading her sobs for a miserable whimper.

"D-don't touch me."

She didn't want to remember, but her body would never forget.

The water ran cold, yet Amy invited the shivers, glad to feel something other than the burn of exposed, wounded flesh. Eventually, she turned the water off, listening for groans or screams, but silence greeted her. Water from her sopping quills wet the floor as she carefully pulled herself out of the tub, discarding her wet underwear onto the ground and avoiding the mirror entirely. After gathering herself in a towel, she left her aching hand on the bathroom door for a moment, debating her next move.

Cold. I need clothes.

The small apartment was swathed in the warm, dim light of the living room lamp her mother usually forgot to turn off. Turning to the right down a short hallway, Amy opened one of the two doors and slipped into her room, changing into fresh underwear and an oversized shirt and pants. When she emerged, she eyed the other door, resting ajar and exposing a vacant bedroom. She didn't go in; rather than risk another reaction, she gingerly grabbed her clothes from the bathroom and headed for the laundry closet nestled between the kitchen and the living room.

Mom's not here yet.

With her hand resting on the shuddering washing machine, Amy rubbed the towel in her quills in a trance. As the washer's floral aroma filled the space, Amy's thoughts were consumed by her mother's whereabouts and then to her missing phone. Then, her face went pale. The faint crash of plastic to concrete echoed in her head as she reflected on the alleyway.

Mom really can't afford to replace my phone right now. Dammit. Mom, I'm so sorry…mom.

Amy hurried over to the landline, the bulky telephone hanging on the wall in the cramped dining area, now vacant of the table and chairs. Amy dialed one of the few numbers she knew by memory. She tapped the back of the beige phone as the dial tone sounded, her heartbeat more apparent as she stared at the wall. At the answering machine's robotic script, she hung up and dialed her work phone, her stare evolving into a hard glare. Her breathing grew shaky and tears pricked the corners of her eyes once her mother's automated voicemail began. She slammed the phone onto its hook, storming into the living room.

Calm down, Amy. Mom's fine. She probably just didn't recognize the home phone number. She'll be home soon.

She wrapped herself in a discarded blanket and pressed herself into the crook of the loveseat, the spin cycle of the washing machine lulling her into a trance. Though her ears were occupied, she couldn't help but see the rabid cook in the diner, the creatures in the street, the men in the alleyway...

As her breathing began to heighten again, she scrambled to find the TV remote, pulling it from a cushioned crease. She turned on her usual channel, the one that played reruns of a romcom she and her mom watched on the harder days, the rougher nights. Reaching for her bag, she pulled out her textbook and flipped it open beside her, sliding out a small, bulky laptop from underneath the seat. She tried to engross herself in her report, letting the lines of her notes pull her back into the tragedy, then the mystery of Project S, but her fright still pushed through.

Things will be better in the morning. It was just… a bad day.

Her exhaustion beckoned her into a dreamless sleep, and Amy didn't resist, begging to find the reprieve she needed.

Darkness still prevailed outside her living room window when she suddenly woke. She blinked the grime from her eyes as the lamp lit the space still, the TV screen glowing before her. The volume was low, so it took her a moment to realize her TV program had been hijacked by a man with a fat face and unkempt mustache, the broadcast scratchy and unclear.

"Good morning, Station Square. I interrupt your regularly scheduled morning program to announce the beginning of your end."

~aAa~

A/N: I hope this is holding your attention. Still working on my descriptions and the lengths of my sentences and paragraphs, but I also want to make sure my stories are vivid and atmospheric. I need you guys to feel the vibes at all costs! But I also don't want you to get bored or discouraged. Trying to find that balance. Anyway…

Next chapter has what most of you are probably waiting for… Shadow will be making his appearance and he will be with Amy for the rest of the story. This is a Shadamy story afterall, so the relationship development needs to start somewhere. Leave a review and let me know how you guys like it so far. I also want to know who you think is going to die/be zombified first. Well, second, because I think you guys can guess that Bunnie was the first casualty.

In private school

Our Cast

Amy 16 (Junior)

*Shadow 18 (Senior)

Sonic 18 (Senior)

Sonia 18 (Senior)

Manic 18 (Senior)

Sally 18 (Senior)

Rouge 18 (Senior)

Knuckles 19 (Senior/held back a year)

Cream 11 (Sixth grade)

Tails 13 (Freshman/skipped two grades)

Silver 17 (Junior)

*Blaze 17 (Junior)

*Mighty 18 (Senior)

*Espio 18 (Senior)

*Charmy 11 (Sixth grade)

Vector (Mighty, Espio, and Charmy's adoptive dad/more like a brother) 26

Vanilla (Cream's mother) 30

Aleena (Sonic, Sonia, and Manic's mother) 40

Iris (Shadow's aunt/OC) 40

Cecelia Rose (Amy's mother/OC) 35

Scarlet (Rouge's mother/OC) 35

Elias (Sally's brother) 23

Bunnie 20 (Graduated/Sally's close friend)

Mina 18 (Senior)

Julie-Su 17 (Junior)