The night air was heavy and the sky overcast, a fog shrouding everything in a quiet stillness. It was an odd stillness, like the calm before a thunderstorm. The neon lights of the shops and buildings were the only signs of life in the city; alongside a lone black hedgehog, quietly making his way through the empty street.

It was only on nights like these the city was actually pleasant for Shadow to visit. The bustle and commotion during the day overwhelmed him. The unusual sight of an alien hedgehog walking around during the day drew far too much attention. Far from an ideal stroll.

The late night walks brought him peace, and a strange sense of comfort. It was only a month ago that he had recovered his inhibitior rings from his crash to earth. He didn't plan on surviving his fall, and had hoped his sacrifice would help him atone for his mistakes. But here he was.

Alive, but lost.

Living, but struggling.

Shadow's stomach growled. The sudden sound startled him.

Struggling...and hungry.

Shadow gripped his stomach and sighed. He had been living in a small cave just outside of the city, where he spent his days feeling aimless and guilty. He would steal food for himself from the very shops he was now walking past. A pang of guilt was quickly washed away by another wave of hunger. With a defeated sigh, Shadow Chaos snapped into a small café; reemerging with a small, stale bagel for himself.

As he munched on the stale bread, his mind drifted to thoughts of Sonic and his friends. What would they say, if they saw him like this? How angry would they be, that he didn't bother to show his face again, to let them know he was alive? Would they even care?

Would they give him back to G.U.N? His stomach twisted at the thought.

What would he even say, if he met them all again?

No.

He couldn't do that to them. Not after all of this time.

His mind drifted to fantasies. Maddie making a delicious dinner and the others racing to the table with delight. Sonic and Tails reading comic books, laughing and joking. Knuckles training hard in the backyard. Everyone asleep in their beds, warm and safe.

Shadow with his very own bed among them.

Sonic and Tom playi-

He felt the blood in his veins turn cold.

Oh. No, he couldn't face Tom again.

Shadow closed his eyes, attempting to seal the comforting images in his mind. Even if they weren't possible, he could still take comfort in the idea that they had that life.

Regardless of the ridiculous notion of him being a part of it.

The fantasy shattered before his eyes as a loud, resounding static ripped through the air around him. Shadow could feel the involuntary, protective movement of Chaos energy circle through his chest as sparks of red lit up the fog around him.

It was eerily silent for a moment as he looked around, ready to engage whatever came his way. The streets were silent. Not a single sound greeted him.

It was definitely not human, someone would have called out to him by now.

Some animal?

It felt far too strong.

Was it Sonic?

The possibility made his chest tighten. He considered leaving right then and there, but something told him to stay put.

He could feel movement circle around him, teasing him from the fog. It was aggressive, stalking him, yet remained out of sight. It made no sound, but the energy produced from it made shadow feel nauseated from the intensity.

Shadow growled as his eyes darted back and forth, trying to make sense of what his senses were telling him. Whatever it was, it was powerful. It was fast, and It was toying with him.

"Who the hell are you, what do you want?!" He snarled, calling out. Energy crackled from his spines. The sound of his own voice felt strange to hear. When was the last time he had spoken aloud?

Finally, the movement from the fog stopped. Shadow cautiously took a step forward, energy still pulsing through him, ready to strike. He peered through the fog, trying to ascertain anything he could.

A long, marred, and oily maw thrusted forward from the darkness. It snapped wildly, just barely missing his face. Shadow tensed as he rocketed backward, and released a large shockwave of Chaos energy, knocking back the fog, but not whatever this thing was.

It stood fast, looming over him. It was a twisted, blackened, emaciated creature. It's flesh clung to its bones, keeping it in an upright position. It's head was crooked and wicked, a permanent skeletal grin fixed across its long, jagged snout. it smelled of rotting flesh and smoke.

"What the-" Shadow began again, his eyes wide with disbelief. But the creature dashed impossibly fast forward, causing him to break his stance and evade the creature by rolling hard to his right. The beast hissed in rage, igniting it's whole body in flame. The flames poured from its eye sockets, it's mouth, everywhere flames could lick across its skin.

"Is that so?" Shadow mused, baring his teeth in retaliation. What was this disgusting thing, to try and attack him?

"Let's see you get back up from this!"

Shadow leaped into the air, a clenched fist bursting with Chaos. It was so quick the creature had no time to react as the force of the punch cracked and exploded across its face.The explosion not only sent the creature flying back, but ripped the surrounding asphalt up and shattered the glass of the nearby buildings and streetlights. Dust filled the air as the street fell into a tentative hush once more.

Shadow's chest heaved as he approached where the creature fell, his eyes glowing and sparking from the residual energy and anger. But as the dust settled and the broken glass crunched under Shadow's shoes, he realized the creature had vanished. It left behind only a trench of upturned earth where it had slid from the impact. That, and one very confused hedgehog to witness it.

Before he had a chance to gather his thoughts, something soft and scarlet made contact with him, nearly knocking him unconscious. A new plume of dust and debris surrounded him.

Shadow shook his head, clearing the ringing noise from his ears that rattled his skull.

Instinctively he lashed out at the figure, preparing to fend off another attack from the monster. The figure growled back at him, but this was no flaming, rotted creature.

The dust settled to reveal a girl, a macaw. Her brow was furrowed, and her body was crouched, protecting itself. Her arms ending in large, leather gloves were closed into fists. The large crown of feathers on her head were standing on edge and her whole form was rippling with a blue-green energy.

A pair of frantic, blue eyes met his. She was panting, clearly frightened.

Shadow stared at the bewildered girl. 'She looks like me; like Sonic, like the others!' he thought to himself.

He could see she was heavily injured, bleeding from an open wound in her midsection. He relaxed his chaos energy, the crimson plasma vanishing into the night air.

"I do not wish to harm you." Shadow moved his hands away from his body.

The macaw's eyes did not leave his, or falter in their intensity. "

Who are you?!" She called out firmly. Her voice trembled slightly as she took a breath to steady herself. Shadow attempted to take a step towards her gently, but she stood fast. He could have sworn he saw her flinch.

"Where...where am I?!" She released him for a moment from her gaze, eyes scanning the environment around them both.

Shadow took another tentative step forward. This time panic overtook the bird's features.

Don't touch me!"

It sounded more like a plead than a threat. Shadow stopped again, his voice low. He lifted his arms outward slowly, his palms skyward.

"I won't hurt you. You have my word."

Her eyes shifted and her face relaxed slightly. Her fists remained clenched as she spoke up again.

"How am I supposed to trust the word of someone I don't even know the name of? Who are you?! I don't like asking twice."

Shadow's eyes glanced down to her wound, which was beginning to bleed profusely.

"I don't think you have the luxury of not trusting me. That looks pretty bad."

The bird simply covered the wound with one of her hands. She said nothing, staring him down with cold, icy eyes.

Shadow began walking towards her again, his arms still out to his sides, palms facing the sky.

"My name is Shadow. I think, from what I've been told, I'm a hedgehog."

She allowed him to approach this time, her body still rigid with tension. Shadow motioned with his right hand for her to introduce herself. Her face relinquished it's anger and gave way to a tinge of fear. Her voice was hushed and low.

"Omu."

Her name was the last word she could muster before her legs betrayed her and she collapsed to her knees. With another wince, she fully slumped to the ground. Shadow ran over to her, rolling her on her back. She had fallen unconscious, most likely from the blood loss.

Shadow's mind reeled.First a monster attack of some kind, and now this bird girl out of nowhere with powers similar to him and Sonic? Where did she come from, and more concerning, where did that creature come from?

He carefully hoisted her up into his arms. Her breathing was ragged and pained. Up close he could see just how injured she was. The gash in her midsection was deep. Fresh, dark blood pooled to the surface and stained her feathers an even deeper shade of red.

He didn't have the skill to treat this. He needed this girl alive, she potentially held answers to all of this madness.

Shadow paused, unsure of what to do. He had to be careful with whom he sought assitance.

Any regular hospital and she would most certainly be taken by G.U.N. Just like he was when he was found all those years ago. The idea of them experimenting on this girl made his stomach drop. Images of injectors and cold steel invaded his brain. He banished the images and took a deep breath.

No more.

His mind searched for solutions. He could only think of one person. One place.

Hope...perhaps.

Shadow closed his eyes and began skating his way in the direction of Green Hills, the trees whizzing past and Omu's pained twitches urging him forward and faster into the night.