I was on my way to lunch when I first saw the monster.

It was this red and black thing, out of the corner of my eye. It was a really weird, spikey, anthropomorphic shape, and it was strung up by wires and tubes like a ragdoll. Just hanging there by said suspensions in a huge glass cylinder, filled to the brim with a thick, green liquid. I remember squinting in confusion and horror to get a better look. I completely forget where I was heading and pressed my hands up against the glass. Its eyes were closed, its fur a villainous black and red pattern, and its head shaped into large, jagged-looking spikes. He looked… murderous. And evil.

Ah, and now I was interested. What the hell was this monster?! Seriously, somebody should've explained this all sooner.

I was about to walk away and go to my grandfather to ask him questions about it, but no. That didn't end up happening. It opened its eyes.

They were red. Bloody, bloody, bright red. And our gazes locked for that one split second that was enough to motivate him to break right through that glass. There was a huge explosion of sound and I flinched, stepping away from the window that led into the room. A scientist working at a desk nearby - a woman with ebony hair and a contrastingly white lab coat - was jostled from her work as that nasty fluid seeped across the floor and he took a step forward, eyelids blinking, pupils flitting across a white plane to see this world outside of his little chamber.

The monster turned to look at me again and I yelped in panic. Whatever was happening probably wasn't supposed to be happening. I turned and ran in the opposite direction as fast as I could, feet clattering against the metal floor to get away.

It was months since I saw him next.

Oh, but he came back alright. Just out of the corner of my eye, I saw him walking down the hall as if he was just another citizen of the colony. His heavy metal shoes gave it away. I froze up in shock, wondering if he was supposed to be out. As soon as he saw me, he froze too.

"..." I didn't say anything. It wasn't like it would understand me anyway.

"...I think I remember you," he said suddenly in a voice so low, masculine, and refined that he sounded like an adult, despite being such a young creation.

Shit, it could speak.

I still couldn't force any words out. My hands shook slightly at my sides and my legs were feeling weak. What if I was right and it wasn't supposed to be out? What if it was hostile and tried to attack me?

He cocked his head to the side slightly, waiting for an answer. He opened his mouth slightly again, as if to say more, but decided against it and turned away. He broke into a jog, and all of a sudden his shoes were on fire. Literally on fire. As if he was riding on miniature jets, he hovered a few inches off the ground and took straight off down the hallway. It was such a fast movement that a gust of wind rustled my blonde hair.

That, as I later learned, was none other than the alleged 'Ultimate Life Form'.

And then came more. I saw him around on occasion, but it seemed to increase in frequency, these awkward meetings. We never said anything after that, just exchanging a few glances as he passed me by. Sometimes he'd stop walking to try and talk, but that was just too much for me. I'd always turn and walk faster. But this one time, he didn't let me do that.

"...Excuse me."

I turned. "...Yes?" Oh God. What did he want.

"Does it bother you that we pass each other so often?"

"No. Not at all. I'm very busy, so-"

"Wait," he held out a hand as if to grab my arm and stop me, but we didn't touch. "I hope this doesn't bother you, but I've figured out your daily routine, and I've been organizing my own schedule so that I can see you more often."

He what.

"What?! That's… really creepy." I looked down at the floor.

"...I'm sorry. I like you."

That got me to look back up. "You like me? You don't know who I am, though. I'm sorry, but I'd rather not associate with Professor Robotnik's projects."

"You don't have to call him that. I know he's your grandfather."

How this villainous… thing managed to keep such a straight face while saying such intrusive things was a phenomenon to me. What gave him the right to speak to me and say these kind of words? It was freaking me out. "Okay, can you stop?"

He squinted his eyes. "Stop what…?"

"Stop talking like that! I can't take it. It's weird. You make it sound like you've been stalking me and doing research and that you know everything about me - like, figuring out someone's routine?! Why would you even do that, much less tell me that you did it?"

He looked down. Oh God, did I hurt his feelings? "...I'm sorry. I'm created to be a certain age and maturity, but there are things that I haven't fully mastered."

"Like what, social skills?" Okay, I was ready to take that one back. That, admittedly, was rude.

"...Perhaps."

With a sigh, I rolled my eyes. "You're Project: SHADOW, right?"

He nodded, still staring down at the bland metal plates that we walked on all day. "Yes."

"...I'm Maria Robotnik. I'm not mad. But why are you talking to me right now? What is the reason that you stopped me in the hall today and told me these things?"

"I thought I already told you why."

He looked back up and I got a glimpse of those bright red irises. I found myself thinking, 'I wasn't prepared for that', but… I didn't see a reason why I would need to prepare in the first place. Though I couldn't put words to the sensation yet… they seemed to give off a special kind of allure. And I liked it.

"I already told you," he continued, "that it's because I like you. You're the first thing I saw when I woke up for the first time. I would like to get to know the first human in existence."

I laughed slightly. "I'm not the first human in existence."

"Well, if you are to me, then what difference does it make?" He took another step forward. Then another. I was tempted to step back, but held my ground. "After all, I couldn't imagine that anyone knows who the first human in existence was. It simply isn't something that can be factual. We can only give our opinions. If I say you're the first human in existence, and you say you're not, we're both equally wrong and right, yes? Therefore, you may as well have the label."

I shook my head. "I don't think that's how it works. Besides, my grandfather is older than me, so I know that he existed before me. I have evidence and you don't."

"Evidence. Evidence is bullshit," he sighed, smirking slightly. I got a glimpse of his sharp canines. They gave the illusion of miniature fangs.

I couldn't help but laugh again. "Science is nothing without evidence. Shouldn't you know, surrounded by scientists?" I didn't even realize it as my nervousness began to melt away. We were talking like friends. Hm… I'd never had any of those before. Surely he hadn't either.

I got a shrug from him in reply and decided to say something else.

"...You haven't made many friends, have you?"

"Friends?" That smirk grew a bit wider. "I thought you were creeped out by me a moment ago."

Shit. I was. I looked out the window to hide the embarrassment on my face "...You're not actually that bad, I suppose. What do they call you, anyway?"

"Shadow, of course."

"Ah."

"I was created to protect mankind, you know," he said smugly. "I live eternally and no being matches my strength or power. I plan to be the ultimate savior. Everyone's friend. But I'm off to a bit of a bad start if I don't even have a single one."

"And you're saying…?"

"Do you want to be friends?" I could see him in the reflection of the glass, looking up at me. He really wasn't very tall. About three feet at the most. his gloves were pure white and he wore thick, golden bracelets around his wrists. I mean… he was so small and his eyes were so big… he wasn't too scary, getting a closer look now. Maybe he'd won me over with flattery? Maybe he just wasn't as intimidating as I'd let him on to be.

"Friends…?" I still couldn't bring myself to say it though. "Maybe."