"Wh—What do you mean?"

"I meant what I said." The yellow cat sighed in worry and frustration as she walked over to the stove. She ran her fingers through her hair as she looked into the boiling pot on the burner. The feeling of anxiety was bubbling in her stomach, making her lose her appetite. The purple hedgehog shook her head as she opened a cold bottle of water she took out of the refrigerator. She gave it to the white hedgehog who was trying to calm herself down after seeing that horrifying vision.

"Gray, can you at least tell us what you saw? Just to make sure you weren't wrong?" Even though she wanted her friend to tell her what she wanted to hear, the purple hedgehog with red streaks knew that it was worthless. Every vision Gray had was never wrong.

"I was on some sort of cruise ship in the ocean that was dead in the middle of a storm. It was as if we were in the middle of a hurricane." The white hedgehog with jet black hair took a sip from her bottle and took a deep breath. "I was being held hostage by this shadowed-wolf. He held a gun to my head while Juvi was standing in front of me with his gun pointed at me as well. I tried to tell him to leave me. That it was okay. But he refused. And when he tried to go, his arm lifted up the gun against his will. Juvi was shaking in fear. Then he—then he—" Crystal tears leaked from blood red eyes due to overwhelming horror this young woman just experienced. In an instant, Gray was pulled into a strong hug by her best friends.

"What else did you see?" The white hedgehog sniffed as she wiped her tears with a tissue that was on the table.

"I heard a gunshot. I didn't really see him shoot the gun. That's when you called me back." The girl blew her nose hard into the tissue and threw it into the trash can.

"Okay. Do you even have a clue of when your vision will happen?" Gray slightly scowled at her best friend.

"Aleena, we've been over this already. All I can see is the future. I don't know when it'll happen! What I do know is that someone will be held as a hostage against the Shadowed Wolf and somebody they love will be at an impasse. They'll have the most difficult decision of their life concerning the hostage." Aleena sighed as she wiped her hands on a paper towel. She walked into her living room and took out three tan folders from her bag and walked back into the kitchen. She gave one folder to the white hedgehog and sat down on her barstool at the counter.

"Tori? Is the soup almost ready?" The yellow cat rolled her eyes as she continued to stir the boiling pot.

"Quit trying to rush perfection! Anyway, who's supposed to be going over to meet with the agent from G.U.N.? We're supposed to get going on this operation already." It's been a few months since the girls received word that they were going to partner up with one of the most known military agencies in the country. It's not their fault that previous agents couldn't complete the operation. As they were reading, the purple hedgehog looked at a picture of a black and crimson splashed hedgehog. His chest was covered with snow white fur. Red streaks covered his spikes, arms, and legs. Two gold rings shined on his wrists. His arms crossed his chest, sending the message that he doesn't give a fuck about the viewer looking at his photo. But what really intrigued Aleena was his eyes. Despite the fact that his eyes were a bloody color like Gray's, they were cold and uninviting and yet, they were filled with loneliness and longing.

"I think this is the guy that we have to meet." Aleena held up the photo of the black hedgehog for her companions to see. Both girls' eyes widened to see how handsome he is.

"Wow! He's hot!" Victoria almost knocked the pot over from utter excitement.

"You better be careful with that! I haven't eaten since breakfast!" Both Aleena and Gray sighed in relief after they almost witnessed their dinner getting knocked over by a clumsy cat.

"Sorry! Sorry! Well, who is he though?" The blond cat grabbed the bowl full of cut up carrots and poured them into the pot.

"His name is Shadow the Hedgehog. He's the agent that we're supposed to meet for this joined operation." Aleena hopped off her barstool and went to the cabinet. She pulled out three wine glasses and rinsed them out with hot water from the faucet. She sets the glasses on the counter and walks to the refrigerator. She pulls out a nice cold bottle of Barefoot: Wine and Bubbly Moscato white wine.

"So, who's supposed to go and meet with him?" A loud pop echoes in the room after the cork was removed from the bottle containing cool alcohol. Transparent golden liquid fills the glasses until it reaches the middle. Gray got up from her chair and walked to the counter. She grabbed her glass and took a small sip of the refreshing alcohol. Blood red eyes happened to look at the photo of the serious hedgehog. Her fingers decorated with black nail polish delicately touched the photo. Series of visions began to swirl in her head.

"I must keep that promise. It's what Maria wished for…" A lone tear fell from the dark hero's face as he remembered his friend's wish. He looked at the pink hedgehog and gave her a determined smile as he ran off to find Sonic and Knuckles.

"Who am I? And why can't I remember anything?" A huge migraine formed in his head as the dark creature questioned what his identity was. It's been a long three months since he was released from the doctor's chamber. Just…who was he?!

"There's only one thing left to do." He teleported underneath the comet, ready to destroy it.

"It's to the past behind me. Chaos Control!" The giant dark rock vanished into space. A giant spherical laboratory began to glow green as its giant laser warmed up. Suddenly, a huge surge of green energy was shot at the comet, blowing it to pieces.

He began to glow as the power of the Chaos Emeralds was being shared between him and two other hedgehogs. Unimaginable power flowed throughout his body as he and the other two super hedgehogs teamed up together to restore the world from the menacing Dark Father of Time.

The dark hero found the woman's body in her bed. Blood was flowing freely from her wrists as she laid in her bed, waiting for death to take her. He held her wrists together and heaved her body onto his quills. He teleported out of the room in a great dark blue light.

"Shadow the Hedgehog….I've heard of that name somewhere before. I just can't put my finger on it." The blond cat wiped her hands on her ice blue apron. She took a cute china bowl and poured a spoonful of the Italian soup into it. Hearing her friend's voice, the white hedgehog made her decision.

"I'll go." Both women looked at Gray.

"You'll do what?"

"I'll go meet with Shadow. I just need the captain to give me the date." Bright red and blue eyes looked at each other with uncertainty.

"Are you sure about this?" The second oldest hedgehog rolled her eyes.

"Yes I'm sure. Now come on! I'm starving!" Gray plopped onto one of the barstools near the counter and grabbed for the remote. A flat screen tv in the corner of the large window flashed on with the local news. After taking a bite, Gray began to think. Those visions she just had…Were they memories of the past? Or are they visions of the future? Whatever she just saw, they all revolved around that dark hedgehog.

But why do I have the feeling that this hedgehog's fate will be sealed in darkness?

"Rose…" Shadow heaved a heavy sigh of relief as the pink hedgehog smiled a weak smile that was only meant for him. Suddenly, Amy started to cough hard. The remaining doctor in the room quickly puts on the oxygen mask and turns the valve. Strong arms held down the young woman as her body tries to welcome back the forgotten gas. After a few more jerkings of the body, the twenty-three year old finally calms down and starts breathing normally.

"I have to go get fresh materials. I'll be back in a few minutes." Shadow looked at the doctor exiting the room and nodded.

Click. Silence waltzed into the room and danced with the melody of breathing from the oxygen mask and to the rhythm of the heartbeat of the monitor. It was too thick for Amy. Even though there's air in her lungs, she still felt like she was being suffocated. Shadow on the other hand didn't know what to feel. What was he supposed to feel? Happiness? Anger? Relief? Sympathy? His eyes kept their attention to the floor. The events that occurred the past few hours were beginning to wear him down. It was if a hundred thousand pounds were added onto his shoulders. What was he supposed to say? Amy was far off worse than Shadow at the moment. She just came back from being dead for a whole minute. Her body was worn out from all of the electrical shocking and seizures while her mind was tired from encountering the demons from within. She just wanted to rest a bit. A delicate hand tries to reach out to the dark hero, but it slowly descended back down to the white sheets. Amy's eyes fluttered in exhaustion despite wanting to stay up to talk to the dark hedgehog above her.

"S—Shadow?" The hedgehog's ear twitched as he was taken out of his deep thoughts. He slowly turned his head and stared at the weak patient. He could see how tired the pink hedgehog was. The life in her eyes was partially there, her skin looked so pale, and her fur was skewed all over the place. He was about to say something until he heard the door click open.

"I'm back. Sir, can you please step out of the room? I need check her vitals and such." A kind voice comes into the room as the dark raven brought in fresh materials for her patient. Shadow nodded and got off of the bed to walk out the door. He stopped in his tracks when he felt Amy's hand latching onto his wrist. He sighed internally as he slowly pulled her fingers off of him. Worry flashed in her eyes as she tried to sit herself up, not wanting the hedgehog to leave.

"Don't be an idiot. Lay back down and let the doctor do her job. Don't make this shit become more complicated than it has to be." The Ultimate Life Form's voice sounded strict, but it was the most comforting thing Amy has heard since she returned to the world of the living. Not wanting to cause more trouble, the pink patient lays back down onto the bed with her head tilted back. Shadow walked passed the doctor and turned the knob.

"Sir, please wait outside the hall for a few minutes. I need to talk to you about a few things concerning with Ms. Rose." Blood red eyes rolled in complete annoyance.

"Just hurry up already." The dark male walked outside, leaving the doctor to tend to her weak patient. Some of the lights in the hallway were off due to after-hours in the hospital. Taking his mobile device out of his quills. Shadow growled under his breath as he saw the time. It was almost fifteen minutes after midnight. What could the doctor possibly want with him? But the bigger question he had was why is he still there? Why the hell is Shadow not leaving the pink hedgehog here in this disease and death infected hell-hole? It's not like he was actually her friend. Yet, it was this intense feeling that's making him stay. After a few minutes of seething, the G.U.N. agent heard the door to the twenty-three year old's room open. Doctor Alisa came out with a clipboard and an exhausted expression.

"Right now, Ms. Rose is resting. Although, we'll have to keep a strong surveillance on her just in case if she starts to have another seizure." Shadow merely nodded in understatement as he turned around to leave.

"Hold on a second." A spark of anger almost caused Shadow to lose his composure.

"What the hell is it?" The raven merely rolled her eyes since she was used to having really rude patients talking to her with that kind of attitude.

"Ms. Rose won't be able to leave the hospital for a few days due to her body not being used to having oxygen back into her system. When she leaves the hospital to return home, she will need assistance in regards to being able to move around freely at home. Are you her caretaker?" Crimson splashed arms folded in agitation in front of the patch of coppered fur.

"No, I'm not. I'm not her damn keeper."

"Then who are you to her? Since you're the one that brought her here." That question stopped the hedgehog in his tracks. Just….who exactly was he to Amy Rose? There was never a clear label for their relationship. That is, if they even had one. The only times when they exchanged words were when they were on the Space Colony and Amy convinced him to help Sonic save the planet and when he lost his memory and he chose to help her find her younger friend. Sure he'd see her at a few gatherings or when the entire team needed to come together to fight strong forces of evil, but she was always throwing herself at the faker's feet. The dark hero closed his eyes and sighed. From frustration and pure exhaustion.

"I just know her. Is that a good enough answer for you?" Alisa dragged her hand down her neck to knock out a kink.

"I suppose that answer is a lot better than nothing. Anyway, if you can't take care of her, do you know someone that will?" Shadow couldn't help but chuckle. Those idiots are too busy trying to keep Amy out of their hair, they don't even know what just happened to her. He doubts that they even give a damn about her anymore.

"Try asking Sonic the Hedgehog. I'm sure he can take care of her. And if he can't, ask his friends to do it. I have shit I gotta take care of. Unfortunately, I can't take care of her." A buzzing sensation in his quills caused the hedgehog to take out his cellular device. An email from the office was sent to him by the general himself.

Your meeting with an agent from I.D.O.L. is scheduled this Friday at 2 o'clock. Don't be late. —Rogan

"And if he or his friends can't take care of her, who will?"

"That's not my problem."

"You're lying." A thick silence loomed in the hallway as blood red eyes met with dark brown orbs. Red eyes dared for the woman to say that phrase again, but brown orbs held their ground.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You somewhat care about this young woman, don't you?"

"No, I don't." A bright smirk crawled its way onto the raven's face.

"Oh really? If you really didn't care about her, you wouldn't have busted into the room when we were trying to revive her. You wouldn't have brought her here at all. If you really didn't give a damn about her, you would've just let her die and no one would know about it. So don't tell me you don't give a damn about Ms. Rose because it's obvious that you do. Even if it's just a little." Muscles in his hands clenched into a fist as Shadow tried to control his anger. His ego took a fierce blow since he knew that the doctor was right. He sighed as he wiped his blood-stained hand down his face.

"Whatever. Why can't you just send a caretaker to her house instead?"

"There are plenty of reasons why we aren't allowed to do that. But unless you want to sit here and let me tell you all of them, I suggest you find a caretaker for her in the afternoon later on." The doctor turned in a quick motion and started walking in the opposite direction. The Ultimate Life Form decided that it was best for him to leave as well since there was nothing else that he could do. He was about to teleport to a different location until he heard Alisa's voice.

"I would take care of her myself if I could. But unfortunately, I have other patients to tend to and this hospital will not keep her for long. After she gets into a somewhat stable condition, the staff will just throw her out. I'm just simply reminding you that despite the medicines and miracles we do in this hospital, it's nothing more than just a huge business."

"Hmph, and knowing that, you'd still work here?" Alisa continued down the hall.

"Well, somebody has to look after everyone."

Everything was going so well on his end. Business is booming and so far, those dumbasses haven't even lifted a finger to stop him. It's as if they gave up on trying to even attempt to bug his operations. He was somewhat enjoying this dance from this amateur rabbit. Yeah, she might have a decent body, but her dancing his pretty crappy. So much for going to this so-called "greatest strip club of the century". His time was just about wasted. This club is pretty typical. Too many dancers with decent to good looking bodies and yet not one of them was making him want them. A buzzing sensation in his jacket pocket caused him to stop the dancer from completing her routine.

"What is it?" His ice blue eyes lazily looked at the dancer, telling her to continue with her strip-tease.

"So far, we have about twenty-three sold. But you have a new client who's willing to do business with you."

"Anybody would want to do business with me. Just tell me who it is."

"He should be at the club right about now. Just wait for him to approach you." The figure hung up the phone with annoyance. His eyes looked past the dancer and spotted a very tall man approaching him with two mechanical toys following him. The rabbit stopped dancing and went behind her client. The approaching man brought a chair near the figure.

"You must be the seller. I was told to look for a dark grey wolf." Ice blue eyes looked at his client up and down. He had to admit, the guy was ugly. His nose was huge and pink and you can't even see his eyes. His clothes were pretty tacky too.

"And you must be this new client I've been told about. I wasn't aware that I would be negotiating with what many call you 'a human'." The older man plopped in the chair as he extended his white-gloved hand out to the professional-looking wolf.

"My apologies. My name is Dr. Eggman. And it's an honor to be doing business with you."

I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK! At least for the moment! I know that the first part of this chapter is boring, but I needed it to introduce three of the four fan characters that will be in this story. Again, I'm teaming up with suicuneluvr and Gray-Chan Fallen. Their two fan characters along with mine are introduced in this chapter. My last fan character won't be introduced until later on in the story. For those that are confused, Gray the Hedgehog is the character that has psychic powers and can see the future. She has visions of the future that WILL happen, but she doesn't know who it will happen to. She can only see the people in the visions as herself and the people she loves. Basically, her vision of the future will come true, but it will happen to a complete stranger and she'll be there to witness it. If that made sense xD. As for the memories that Gray is seeing after she touched Shadow's picture, those are the scenes of Shadow remembering Maria's promise in Sonic Adventure 2, the beginning and ending scenes of Shadow the Hedgehog, the scene of turning super with Sonic and Silver in Sonic '06 (there are many reasons of why I REFUSE to acknowledge that game as Sonic the Hedgehog. But that's for another time xD ), and the scene from the first chapter when Shadow finds Amy bleeding to death from her suicide attempt. I got this inspiration for Gray to be the psychic of the group from watching this show called Ghost Whisperer and the protagonist has the ability to see and hear spirits along with predicting the future and seeing the memories of ghosts who come to her for help. As far as the last part is concerned, I'm leaving that SUPER vague because it'll get deeper later on. Just know that Eggman is paying somebody for something xD.

Also, even though this is a bit personal, I need to get this out. I apologize for not being able to write the next chapter until now. From the beginning of the first semester of college, I've had way too much shit to be dealing with. From problems with roommates to having more problems with my mother. I've had at least three panic attacks during school and I just didn't know how to handle any of this. So much shit has happened and weighed on me for so long, I almost made a permanent decision on Thanksgiving night of last year. At this very moment, I'm battling depression, social anxiety, and severe anxiety. Right now, with the help of my father, I'm seeking professional help that's near the campus. I'm tired of crying, feeling alone, being angry, and being silenced. I actually gave up my writing because of everything I've been through during the last few months of 2015. This year, I'm trying to take control of it. I'm trying to get better. After all, I have to finish all my stories!

So, my dear Angels, please know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. There's always just somebody that knows you exist and that they really want to help you! But if you feel the need to end everything, please go to this website:

www . suicidepreventionlifeline . org.

Please go and check out that website! They also have the number for it, but I don't think I'm allowed to put that out. If you really feel the urge of suicide coming on, PLEASE go to that website! They will provide you with the help you need! Even though suicide is an answer, it's a permanent statement where you'll be silenced forever.

With that out of the way, stay warm and happy reading everyone! :)