12
Why was it so hot? Shadow wondered to himself as he felt sweat drip down his face. When he tried to reach out to Maria and Sonic their bodies seemed to melt into a liquid that covered his hands, he looked down, hands covered in crimson.
The thick liquid smeared over his fur as he tried to wipe it off, it just seemed to multiply, growing darker and thicker until it felt like he was drowning in tar. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't move, everything felt wrong.
Panic surged through Shadow as the oppressive weight of the substance constricted around him. He struggled, but each movement only sank him deeper into the viscous nightmare. Shadows of distorted memories flashed through his mind—fragments of laughter, the warmth of friendship, moments shared with Maria. But now, they were drowned in this haunting dark liquid that echoed his despair.
He tried to shout, but the sound was swallowed by the thick air, rendering his voice useless. The world around him warped, colors swirling into an abyss of darkness, and the familiar landscape turned into a nightmarish realm. The once vibrant skies were now choked with a heavy fog, and the ground beneath him felt alive and writhing.
As he sank further, glimmers of light flickered in the distance, pulling at the edges of his consciousness. With a surge of determination, Shadow focused on that light, willing his body to move despite the suffocating grasp of the crimson tar. He could feel it receding slightly, as if responding to his will.
With every ounce of strength, he pushed against the darkness, clawing his way toward the light. Memories of Maria’s laughter and Sonic’s stupid smile. He wouldn’t let this nightmare consume him. As he drew closer to the shimmer, the liquid began to dissipate, revealing the figures of Maria and Sonic, standing amidst the gloom, their expressions a mixture of concern and encouragement.
“Shadow!” Maria called, her voice like a lifeline. “You can do this! We’re with you!”
In that moment, Shadow felt a surge of energy, a connection that bridged the gap between despair and hope. With one final push, he broke free from the suffocating grasp, bursting into the light, gasping for breath. The world around him transformed, shadows receding, revealing a familiar landscape bathed in sunlight.
But as he regained his footing, he realized something was off. The vibrant world felt muted, the colors less vivid. He looked around, and the figures of Maria and Sonic were still there, but they seemed distant, their forms flickering like a faulty projection.
“Shadow, are you okay?” Sonic asked, concern etched on his face. But Shadow could sense something deeper, an underlying darkness that was still lurking, waiting for the perfect moment to strike again. He had escaped the tar, but the battle was far from over.
"Maybe he's just scared." Maria's voice sounded distorted as she snickered when he hadn't moved any closer to the two if them. "When isn't he?" Sonic gave a sharp grin.
"Shut up! You're not real!" He shouted at them, this only seemed to make them smile wider.
"Oh? Were the ones that aren't real?" Sonic chuckled darkly.
"Last time I checked, you were the one created and not born, if anything, you're the one that's not real. You should even be here. You wouldn't be here if I hadn't gotten sick, you were supposed to help me yet you did nothing." Maria sneered.
"You can't even do what you were made to do, faker." The other hedgehog smirked.
The pairs words cut deeper than Shadow would like to admit. He was the ultimate lifeform, these petty remarks shouldn't bother him, yet... It was true wasn't it, he was made to help Maria and he couldn't do that. He didn't deserve a second chance but the professor gave him one, to destroy the world as revenge for her death, but he couldn't do that either. What was the point of existence if he could do nothing he was supposed to, was his life worthless?
_
Maddie rung the cold water from the rag into the bucket and gently set it on Shadow's forehead, the boys had returned home early due to rain and were currently watching her do her work.
"Is he alright?" Sonic asked for the third time in twenty minutes.
"She already said he was fine." Knuckles grumbled in response.
"It's a valid question, Shadow doesn't seem like the type to get fevers." Tails backed Sonic up as he carefully watched the striped hedgehog's facial features.
He looked uncomfortable which was understandable, seeing as he had a fever. Tails felt bad for him, he's probably never experienced a fever before, this one was probably cause by the weather and his lack of chaos energy. He seems to have lost a lot of it after the eclipse cannon, Tails is sure he'll produce more of it and heal eventually but right now, by the looks of it, he hasn't been sleeping or eating much, which won't help him progress at all.His healing would probably have stopped the fever before it even happened if he would just take care of himself.
It saddened Tails to see the hedgehog taking such poor care if himself. He didn't care what he had to say, the second Shadow wakes up Tails is going to force him to eat and then rest, a shower or bath could come after he's better unless he doesn't improve. That's what Maddie does with them when they don't feel well, is let them take a nice long shower and then her and Tom pamper them. He's grateful to have found such a loving family, he just wishes Shadow would let them help him. They just want to help him.
Tails catches Sonic tapping his fingers on his other arm as he watches with an unreadable expression. It's weird for Sonic to be so quiet, unnatural.
"Sonic, why don't me, you, and , Knuckles go down to the store and see if we can find anything for when he wakes up, I'll look for medicine and you can look for stuff you think he would like." He started before turning to Knuckles, "and you could pick out snacks for all of us, were running low and we should probably get some food in him once he wakes up." Maddie shoots Tails an impresses and grateful look as he finishes talking.
"Ok! Good idea!" Sonic was already at the front door before Tails could even stand from his seat.
"This should be enough." Maddie smiles as she hands Tails some money cause she trusts him with it more than Sonic and Knuckles.
Tails thanks her before using his namesakes to fly out the door after Sonic, Knuckles not far behind.