Chapter 1: Project, Shutdown

I ran. From what, I didn't know—but I knew I couldn't stop. If I did, it was over.

The earth trembled beneath my feet, but I didn't slow down. Every pounding step was one step

closer to survival. A second too long, and it'd be the end of me.

BOOM! CRACK! A building collapsed behind me, sending debris flying. I barely had time to

register it before a voice shouted over the chaos.

"Silver!"

For a split second, I almost turned back—but I didn't. Instead, I dove to the ground, instinctively

shielding myself from whatever was hurtling toward me. I did a quick roll and sprang back to my

feet, ignoring the dizziness. Agent Platinum was at my side now, mirroring my every move.

She gave a sharp signal to her ear, and I caught on.

I yanked at my headpiece, activating the comms. "Agent Silver Bullet here. This is

headquarters. Do you read me?" My voice was steady, though my heart was hammering in my

chest.

"Loud and clear," came the voice on the other end, rough and clipped.

"We need to shut that thing down before it wipes out the entire city," said Rodney, his tone grim.

"I'm on it. Any ideas?" I snapped, dodging another falling building.

"Yeah. Kill it."

"Rodney, for once, could you skip the obvious?" I growled, frustration creeping into my voice.

"Eh, sorry. It's in my job description." His sarcasm did nothing to calm my nerves.

I let out a frustrated sigh. "Something actually helpful would be great."

He paused, but only for a moment. "There's a platform a mile ahead. Great vantage point. Get

up there, jump on its back, and you're golden."

I raised an eyebrow as I ran. "Okay, but how the hell am I supposed to shake this thing off my

tail?"

"Silver," came a voice, cool and familiar—Antillia's. "We've got this."

"Not this again," I muttered. "Don't tell me you're about to play the helpless victim again, Ant."

"Really? You're one to lecture me? What exactly are you doing right now?" she shot back, a

smirk in her voice.

I clenched my teeth. This is the last time I bail you out.

Rodney snickered in the background.

"Focus," I said through gritted teeth. "We've got work to do." I cut the comms and dashed

forward, feeling Antillia's presence just behind me.

Up ahead, I saw it—the platform Rodney had mentioned. I pushed harder, dodging rubble and

twisted metal as I closed the distance. My heart pounded faster with each step, the weight of the

mission pressing down on me.

Suddenly, the ground shook beneath my feet, and the sound of buildings collapsing like

dominoes filled the air. The screams in the distance were sharp and desperate. My breath

caught in my throat as I skidded to a halt.

Before I could react, a massive shockwave slammed into me, throwing me off balance. The air

itself seemed to twist, a powerful force pressing against my chest, suffocating me as if the world

was collapsing in on itself. I stumbled backward, struggling to regain my footing, but the ground

beneath me seemed to heave like it was alive, pulling me into the chaos.

I turned, dread curling in my stomach.

The monster was a behemoth. Fifty feet tall, with a massive, hulking frame that was half dragon,

half nightmare. Two heads—one resembled a hulking, shadowy figure with jagged, claw-like

limbs; the other, a grotesque cyclops—both turned their gaze toward me, their presence

radiating pure malice. Its green, scale-covered body shimmered with flecks of blue as it

lumbered forward.

It was huge, but that wasn't what froze me in place. No, it was its eyes—one focused directly on

me. My feet felt like lead, my pulse hammering in my ears.

I can't move. I can't breathe.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The beast's foot came down with a bone-shaking thud, each step bringing it closer, its shadow

swallowing the city behind it. Panic flooded me, my muscles locking in place, but then… a

touch.

A hand, light but firm, rested on my shoulder. I whipped my head around, but no one was there.

The streets around me were empty. Just me and the monster. The sounds of destruction grew

louder. The crash of falling buildings was relentless.

And yet, all I could hear was the calm voice of a girl.

"Chris…"

Is this a dream?

I blinked, the world going blurry. "Chris…" Her voice was insistent, warm, and comforting.

But how? Who?

"Who's there?" I called, trying to sound brave, but I couldn't shake the fear clawing at me.

"Chris, it's time to wake up."

A sudden blast of light nearly blinded me, and I instinctively closed my eyes. My breath

quickened, and when I opened them again, the world around me was gone, replaced by an

endless void of pitch black. The rumbling of the earth had stopped.

What is happening?

I was alone.

And then, the darkness parted—like a curtain being pulled back. A girl stepped through.

She was stunning—ivory skin, fiery red hair, and eyes as blue as the sky.

"Sakura…" My voice cracked, the name tumbling out before I even realized it.

Her lips curved into a sad smile. "It's time to wake up, Chris. Your friends are waiting."

"Wha—how are you here?" I stammered, confusion washing over me.

"I've always been here," she said softly. "They're calling for you."

I shook my head. This doesn't make sense. "But I can't leave… I can't leave now. There's

something I have to—"

She interrupted gently. "You've done what you can. Now go. They need you."

I looked at her, heart hammering in my chest. "Will I see you again?"

Her smile was bittersweet. "I'll always be with you, in your heart."

I didn't understand, but her words gave me a strange sense of peace. I nodded, and in that

moment, I understood. I had to go.

A soft whisper filled the void, a voice I recognized.

"Chris…!"

SONIC!

I gasped. My heart raced as I felt myself pulled toward the light above. I didn't hesitate. I

couldn't.

The next thing I knew, I was gasping for air. Sweat soaked my skin. I was back.

I was in my room.

The familiar scent of the Thorndyke mansion surrounded me, but something was different. I felt

disconnected. The world felt distant, as if I had just woken from a dream, only to realize that the

nightmare was real.

A voice broke through my haze. "Chris, are you okay?"

I jerked upright, my pulse spiking, only to find none other than Sonic standing by my bed.

"Yeah…" I whispered, my throat tight. "Where… where are we?"

Sonic tilted his head. "In your bedroom, obviously."

I glanced around, still disoriented, but the daylight outside the window caught my attention. It

was noon.

I bolted upright. "What time is it?"

"Almost noon," Sonic said. "You've been out since last night. Everyone's been worried."

"Everyone?" I repeated, still groggy.

"Yeah, Tails, Amy, Cream, the whole crew."

I didn't respond, and the silence between us grew heavier.

"Chris?" Sonic asked again, his voice gentle. "Are you sure you're alright?"

I forced myself to breathe. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just a weird dream."

But the dream wouldn't leave my mind.

"Sonic, what happened last night?"

Sonic's face twitched. "You don't remember? We found a Chaos Emerald, then Eggman showed

up and tried to grab it. You got caught in his machine and—"

"Wait, what? I fell?"

"Yeah," Sonic said. "But you were fine. Tails did a check-up. No concussion, no big injuries. You

were out cold for a while, but that's it."

I sat in stunned silence. My mind replayed the events of the night, but nothing made sense.

"Did I say anything while I was out?" I asked. "Anything… strange?"

Sonic blinked, clearly puzzled. "Well, you kept mumbling something about needing to escape.

And someone… calling for you. A name, I think—Sakura? Does that ring any bells?"

I froze. The name echoed in my head. Sakura. Her face flashed before my eyes, and for a

moment, I could feel the warmth of her touch.

"That… that was her name," I whispered.

Sonic watched me carefully. "Who was she?"

My heart clenched. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady.

"She… she was my best friend when we were younger. We were inseparable. But then, one

day, she just disappeared. No trace. Everyone thought she ran away, or maybe she was taken,

but…" I trailed off. "I never stopped looking for her."

Sonic was silent, his usual energy dimmed by the weight of my words.

"Chris," he said quietly, "I'm sorry. I can't imagine what that's like."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

Sonic paused before speaking again, his voice quieter than usual. "I've lost people too, you

know. It doesn't get easier, but... you learn to live with it. They'll always be with you in here." He

tapped his chest gently. "But you don't have to do this alone."

I smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. "Thanks, Sonic."

After a long moment, I stood up. "Let's go downstairs. They're probably worried enough as it is."

Sonic nodded, but as we left the room, I noticed something in his expression—a shadow, like he

was thinking about something that didn't quite add up.

I wasn't sure what it was, but I had a feeling he was concerned. For me.