Sonic the Hedgehog

Absurd Reality

I am not scared. I am not cold. I fear nothing. Not even the cold embrace of death can touch me. Death fears me.

Like a record, these thoughts play repeatedly in Zero's head. The struggling, exhausted, freezing Jackal tries with everything within him to warm himself using his arms, but this, like normal, proves to be ineffective. Except in this case, fatally ineffective. Every inch of his flesh screams in chilly agony as the relentless, fierce wind blows against him.

If he didn't know any better, he's found himself in a blizzard. But it's not like that matters. No, if anything, the harsh conditions only serve to, in the mercenary's mind: Get things over with.

He stumbles for a brief moment, barely catching himself from falling to the soft, snowy ground.

I once had everything. I thought serving Mobius's most feared villain would bring me back to my former glory. How foolish I was. All that's managed to do is land me in a barren tundra where I will die a slow, miserable death. And no one will ever find me. The metal demon didn't even have the mercy to have my death be in the presence of someone. No, the machine wanted me to die as nothing... surrounded by nothing.

Zero can feel himself getting warmer at the mental image of him being the wielder of all seven chaos emeralds. Him being the one that every ant in this good-for-nothing world fears. A role only deserving of someone of his greatness. His movement begins slowing and his eyes start feeling heavy.

I have so much ground to cover. Maybe I should rest and continue later. I've been at this all night.

Zero trips on himself, but this time, he falls completely, landing face-down on the ground. The soft, warm snow feels as though it were a natural, comforting blanket. Something within him wants to try and get up, but his body doesn't move. It feels unbelievably good to lie down and rest. He struggles to keep his eyes open.

Serving Eggman was the wrong move. I should have been the one calling the shots. I respect the obese fool, but he should have been the stepping stone. Not me. Maybe in another reality... such a correct world would come to be. Not this one... not this one.

The Jackal's vision begins blurring. He snuggles up in the snow, unsure of where he is anymore. The last thing he sees before all consciousness fades away is an incoming light. They say: "Don't go towards the light", but the truth is Zero couldn't if he wanted to. His tired body remains glued to the ground, unable to get up. Perhaps the light will come to him.

The light he saw before passing out was the headlights of an RC-900 X that stops before his freezing body. Out of it steps an old man who looks at the sight before him with immense concern. Without another thought, he quickly hurries over to the Jackal and picks him up, before taking him to his car.

...