Sonic and Knuckles: The Experimental Game

Chapter 11: Side effects

Sonic was awoken by the smell of burned wood coming from the chimney. It must've burnt out throughout the night. Knuckles was nowhere to be seen. He is probably getting some air or maybe working out for a bit. But all his conclusions turned out to be false when he hears a small noise of retching coming from outside. Sonic got outside to find Knuckles on his fours regurgitating behind a bush. Sonic wants to see if he's alright, but right now wouldn't be a good time while the red echidna is throwing up. When the retching stopped, Knuckles coughed up a bit of the acid he had left in him. Why did Knuckles became so sick all of a sudden? It could've been something he ate before, unless...

Sonic walked a bit closer to sick Knuckles and asked softly, "A-Are you ok?" He could hear his heavy breathing from the short distance. "I think I'm done." He said backing away from the mess he had created and lying on his side. Sonic stood in front of him and squatted to his level. Knuckles looked at him. "What is wrong with me Sonic? I don't feel good." Sonic thought for a moment and realized something. "It must be the serum's side effects. It could be sickness." "What do we do?" Knuckles asked with his voice a bit foggy. They both have to hurry home. Who knows what will happen next? Knuckles got up and started walking towards the direction they were mainly heading to. Sonic followed him. But as he was walking, he suddenly feels a strong pain in his chest. He doesn't know what it is, but it is burning inside of him. He stopped and cringed to the pain. Knuckles turned to Sonic to see if was keeping up, but only see the blue hedgehog on the ground, trying so hard not to scream. He ran to him and tries to see what is wrong with him.

"Sonic are you alright?" He asked with slight panic. "It burns. It burns so much. Please help me." Sonic couldn't take this. He held his chest and held back tears of pain. It hurts as if something was crushing his ribs. Knuckles didn't know what to do. There's nothing around here that can help him. "Sonic, just breathe. Take deep breaths." Sonic did, but his chest still burns. Knuckles wrapped his arms around him to keep him calm. Sonic did as what the red echidna said and kept on doing it until the pain slowed down and then came to a stop. Tears spilled down his face. This was never the pain he had never experienced during his battles with Eggman. This was very strong. It was probably also one of the side effects. Knuckles noticed the crying hedgehog and try to calm him. "Hey you're ok, alright?" Sonic nodded as he sniffed and hugged Knuckles above his waist. This was some sort of friendly hug that Sonic would give once in a blue moon. Knuckles hugged back to helpless Sonic. The poor hedgehog had gone through a lot, yet he just havs to suffer more. "We're gonna make it home. I promise."