Phantom

IV

Knuckles had just settled Tails down yet again, the cub now sleeping, when Rouge burst through the door.

"Wondered when my spy would report bac.." he smirked dryly, before seeing her horrified expression, "Well, what is it?"

"Knuckles, you're going to want to sit down for this one." She sternly said, the echidna's brows creased. Rouge never uses real names unless she's dead serious.

"He's alive, Knuckles. Sonic's alive," she explained, and his eyes opened wide, jaw dropped, tears forming in his eyes.

"There's.. no way. I can't believe it." The red echidna had never been so relieved, "This whole time he's been alive? Wait.." he realized.

"He's been alive this whole time. Rouge, please don't tell me he's been.."
"He's been Infinite's personal prisoner, yes." She spoke gravely, "Knuckles, we need to go get him, now. He's on the Death Egg, it's been rebuilt this whole time."

Knuckles' eyes shrank from being massive to two tiny dots, as he turned to a microphone. "Can all available units repost to the main room? Immediately."

***

"What's the news, commander?"

Rouge watched from the sidelines as the chief gave the news, hearing everyone talk excitedly amongst themselves.

These suckers don't even know what that poor kid's been through. And I highly doubt they ever will, knowing Sonic.

But she continued to watch a rescue party get ready to go, a few soldiers, the Rookie the Chaotix had been training, and of course the Chaotix.

Poor Vector was practically pulling his scales out. It was bad enough he was sat babysitting the rookies, but Charmy Bee insisted on going everywhere with him.

Eventually, they left, and Rouge started to leave for the med bay, when Knuckles stopped her.

"And where are you going?"
"To prepare a separate medical room for Sonic."
"Yeah right like he'll need it."

"Knuckles.." she pulled him into a quiet corner, "You can't go telling anyone, but he's hurt. Real bad. They've been torturing him nonstop. He couldn't even talk or hardly swallow even water"

"But he's Sonic. He'll bounce back, I know he will. He's pretty tough, I'll give him that," The echidna laughed, walking of to celebrate with the others.

And so, the G.U.N. agent rushed to the med bay, prepared to do everything herself,
Which was probably best, she highly doubt Sonic would want anyone proding or poking him, and this way, she could do it in silence, so that he wouldn't have to do or say anything.

Everyone thinks he's going to be ok, like he always is. But I don't think so, not this time.

***

"Sonic I'm asking you once again, why the sudden cheerfulness?" Infinite looked at his claws.

"I- don't know what you're talking about," Sonic stayed quiet, backing into the corner.
He was so close to freedom, Rouge was coming back. He knew it.

The Jackal angrily drove his hand into the wall besides the blue, making him jump.
"TELL ME!" He yelled in his face, but he still stayed deadly silent.

"Very well. If you do not tell me, I'll hurt one of the other prisoners," he began to walk off, Sonic going into a panic.

"Wait!" He shouted, the evil character turning back.
"Oh?"

"Fine. Look, they have a spy, okay? That's all I know," he close his eyes, ready for the Jackal to strike again.

"Good, good." He stroked the side of his head, before digging into the skin, "WHEN? When are those little bastards coming for you?"

"I-I don't know," he admitted, the jackal digging deeper, causing him to whimper, "Please, I really don't know. She just said she'd be back,"

The jackal pushed him over, his minions seemingly coming out do nowhere.
"Then we move forward with our plan," he laughed as each villain pounced on him, tying him in more ropes and chains then the ever had, securing a collar and chain around his neck, as well as another chain leading from that one to the handcuffs.

"Follow me vermin to your final session," the jackal laughed, "YOUR EXECUTION!"

He took the leash, but Sonic dug his heels in.
No no! Not now! I'm so close! I was going to get out! I was going to be free!

"No! Please! NO!" He screamed as Infinite pulled, "I don't want to die! Not yet!" His tears streamed form his cheeks, splashing on the floor in pure terror.

"PLEASE INFINITE!" He pleaded, "PLE-" he felt Zavok's clammy hand clasp around his mouth, before a cloth gag was secured around it.

"Here we are," Infinite laughed, stroking the blue's head, before pushing him to the floor.

"Watch it, make sure it doesn't escape." Sonic heard Infinite yell from behind him, before hearing a sharpening of a blade.

He looked up at Shadow with one last pleading look.
"Stop it. I hate you," he walked over to him, kicking him in the rips, "That's for being a complete burden to us all,"

He bent down to his level, scoffing at Sonic's attempt to escape.
"You know, we never really liked you. We all just took pity on you since you seemed so alone, so immature." He moved closer to his ear, "that's why no one ever came for you."

"Alright that's enough now," Infinite laughed, Sonic breathing in sharply as he saw the jackal's red sword in his hands, before holding over his neck.
"I say we put it out if it's misery now,"

Sonic felt Zavok's claws on his neck, removing the collars.

Sonic decided to have one last go.

He pushed at his restraints, feeling them come undone, before finally breaking his cuffs and removing the gag.
"Huh, you really thought that I didn't have one final trick up my sleeve, huh?" He laughed, stretching a bit, "And now that I'm finally free.."

Infinite glared death at Zavok, who just chuckled.
"You fool. Getting out of your chains does not make you free."

But like that, Sonic had rushed off, leaving the group, save for Infinite, confused.

Until Zavok was knocked to the ground by a flash of blue, before it ran into Chaos, Metal, abd then to Shadow.

"Grab him!" Infinite yelled, and Shadow caught him buy the neck, forcing the collar back on before re-cuffing his wrists.
"And now you've had your fun.." Infinite held the sword up to his neck.

"It's bye-bye hedgehog,"

"Sonic!" They heard a gruff voice from the hallway call, before a familiar green crocodile ran in

"Vector!" Sonic yelled, Infinite growling.
"I don't have time for this," he stabbed his prisoner in the stomach, before running to the intruder.

Sonic's adrenaline had completely drained from his body, as he slowly sank to the floor, hand over his stab wound.

Another Möbian ran other, but he couldn't hear or concentrate on what he was saying.
Everything had gone fuzzy. Nothing around him made sense, but he could just hear someone calling his name through the ringing in his ears.