Chapter 24: Manifesting

Shadow's POV:

Realizing what time it is, I quickly excuse myself to go to dinner. I tell Rose that I'll grab her a plate after I hear her stomach grumbling.

Once I spot Maria's beautiful yellow fur, I quickly run up to her about to kiss her on the cheek.

When she turns away, I look at her confused.

"My love, what's wrong?"

She crosses her arms, pointing her nose up in the air.

"I've been waiting for you to come to dinner for 3 hours is what's wrong darling."

I flinch at the way she spits out the word darling. I'm so used to hearing her talk in such an endearing manner.

3 hours?? Was I really talking to Amelia for that long?

"I  apologize Maria, but I was trying to help Amelia adjust. She's my friend, and I at least owe her that."

She glances at me, but keeps her body turned away from me and her arms crossed.

Walking over to her, I place my hands around her waist and lean to whisper into her ear.

I grin as I watch her cheeks turn a rosy shade of pink.

"Let me make it up to you?"

Still somewhat angry at me, her glare turns to a pout.

"And how exactly are you going to do that?"

She shrieks with glee as I yank her by the waist and hoist her over my shoulder.

"You'll see."

Walking towards my bedroom, her giggles echo down the corridor.

...

Amy's POV:

I wake up to the burning sensation of the sheets snagged on one of my stitches. Carefully untangling it, I stare up at the florescent lights buzzing on the ceiling.

I have to get out of here.

...

4 weeks later, 3:19 AMSonic's POV:

Groaning as my communicator watch beeps, I squint as the light blinds me.

Who could be texting me at this hour?

Reading the name of the sender, I can't believe my eyes. Shadow finally replied.

It's about time that poser answered my messages.

However as I read the first few lines of the text, my heart skips a beat.

________________________________-------------Sender: Shadow the HedgehogRecipient: Sonic the HedgehogTime Stamp: 3:19 AM

Hey Sonic,

It's Amy. I'm alive, and I'm coming home soon. I don't know how, but I'll figure it out.

WARNING: This message will be deleted within 30 seconds due to settings set by the sender.-------------________________________________

I release a sigh of relief that I never knew I was holding.

She's alive, and she's coming home.

...

1 week later, Amy's POV

After nearly a month of bed rest, I'm finally given the opportunity to leave my jail cell. They call it a room, and well... I call it a prison. It's not exactly a room when the walls are padded, there's no windows, and the door is locked with a DNA technology pad.

I got used to the daily routine of Shadow bringing me meals three times a day. At the end of every day, the lights would flick off but the hum of the chaos energy would remain.

That hum... It's nearly enough to drive me insane all on it's own. It's weakened enough at night for me to get a somewhat peaceful sleep, but the daily migraines from the constant humming are relentless. On more than one occasion Shadow has come to bring me meals to find me curled up in a ball with my hands over my ears.

Which is part of the reason he's going to train me.

Taking one last glance at my slowly healing pink fur in the mirror, I grab my boxing gloves and wait for my prison cell to be unlocked.

...

Maria's POV:

I sit in the corner with my arms crossed as I watch Amy and Shadow train. I really tried to like Amy, but she's just so rough around the edges.

It also doesn't help that I'm torn between uncle and Shadow. On one hand, uncle told me that she's an enemy. But on the other I have Shadow's sweet voice telling me that she's a friend.

Thinking about his dreamy red eyes, I'm pulled from my thoughts as I hear a body hit the mat. I look up to see my beloved gasping for air and clutching his chest.

Bolting from my chair, I'm immediately by his side holding his head in my lap. He notices the anger on my face, and grabs my hand to try and comfort me.

"I'm fine Maria, we were just--"

I cut him off, pinning my ears back at Amy as she walks up to us.

"No, you're not fine!!! She just slammed you down onto the mat!!"

...

Amy's POV:

I feel the urge to roll my eyes as I hear Maria's whiney voice complaining about our sparring match.

I watch as Shadow starts to sit up, trying to reassure Maria that he's fine.

"That's what sparring is love, I'm fine. I just got the wind knocked from me is all."

Once again, her high pitched loud and annoying voice echoes around the training hall.

"But you looked hurt!! And you're the best fighter there is, how did she manage to throw you?!! She's weak!!"

This bitch--

Quickly noticing my temper flare as I take a step towards Maria, Shadow gets to his feet and puts himself between us.

"She may be in a less than ideal state right now, but she is still a hero of Mobius. That makes her a good fighter. I'm sorry my love, but if you're going to keep interrupting our training you'll have to wait for me in the dining hall."

I cross my arms as she pouts.

"Ah-ug-but! UGH!!!"

She storms out, slamming the door behind her.

"Her 9 year old is showing."

I catch a glare from Shadow.

"Don't talk about her like that."

Summoning another hammer, Shadow starts circling me.

"Why? She's a brat and you know it."

He charges, and my muscles scream as I quickly dodge to the side. By the time I stand up from rolling, he's already charging for me again.

"I SAID DON'T TALK ABOUT MARIA LIKE THAT!!"

Pain rips through my body as his fist connects with my abdomen, knocking the breath out of my lungs as I gasp for air. I notice the coppery taste of blood quickly filling my mouth before spitting it onto the mat.

Looking up, I notice the pure anger in his eyes as he lunges for me. I barely manage to move out of the way, and I realize that he's lost it.

"Get ahold of yourself Shadow, we're sparring not trying to kill each other!"

A splintering pain radiates through my skull as what sounds like thousands of bees echo around in my head. My ears ring deafeningly as I cover my ears with my hands desperately trying to drown out the sound.

Squinting my eyes, I make out a gold outline coming straight for me.

"SHADOW, STOP!!"

I cover my face defensively with my arms, waiting for the force of his chaos energy to slam against me.

But it never comes.

The overwhelming humming is gone. And as I peek out from behind my arms, I see Shadow laying on the ground next to two of my Piko Piko hammers.