Why Help Me?

Chapter 10: Scared Stupid (Part 3)

(Metal's POV)

A few days passed since Sonic, Tails, and I had gone on that crazy adventure in Snitchelhosen's mansion. Well, the mansion was more or less haunted due to ghosts popping out of books, a gigantic crocodile thing named Francis trying to eat us, and a somewhat ghost girl attacking us just for trying to take some measly rose. I have to say, I felt bad for the girl losing her fiancé on the night of her wedding, which really must have done a number on her. Just thinking about losing Sonic so suddenly one day was nerve-wracking, I would probably end up in the same condition as that girl was. Especially since I haven't gone through losing someone I genuinely love, and I prayed that it wouldn't happen. Yes, I'm aware of aging one day claiming our lives but dying like that sounds less scary than being killed by one of Eggman's robots. Most people who grow old are usually already asleep by the time they surrender their souls, depending on how bad a heart attack is. I sat up in the bed me and Sonic sleep together every night nowadays, glancing over at him as he was sleeping peacefully. I looked outside to see that the sun was just now rising and stood up from the bed, stretching my arms before heading over to the fridge to get something to eat. I picked out an apple to eat for now, since they are healthy food, and began eating it, my ear flickering towards the bed and I glanced over, seeing Sonic waking up as he pushed the covers off himself and yawned sleepily.

"Morning, Metal." Sonic greeted me, acting like his usual cheerful self.

"Morning." I replied, sitting down at the table. "Got any plans for today?" I asked him curiously.

"Well, it has been a while since we did your training, maybe we could continue where we left off, like work on your supersonic hearing," Sonic replied.

"Sounds good enough for me," I said, reluctantly shrugging before throwing the apple core away in my trash bucket.

With that said, Sonic and I headed out of my cabin and went to our usual training spot at the beach, and he began teaching me to use my hearing by having me close my eyes and listen carefully for him as he sneaks up on me. I did what I was instructed, and my ears flickered, hearing him approaching me from behind. I stayed where I was standing, listening closely as he got closer and closer, and just when I heard his footsteps go silent, I swiftly moved out of the way right as Sonic lunged at me. Sonic grunted as he landed, now in front of me, and turned around, smiling like he was impressed with my success in hearing him coming.

"How was that?" I asked him.

"Pretty good, you were able to jump out of the way just in time." Sonic replied.

With that, we both continued, and all I could hope for was that today would be more peaceful than what happened in Snitchelhosen's mansion.

Hours passed and Sonic and I were heading back to the campsite, taking the trail home since it seemed way quicker, and everything was pretty peaceful. Just then, a limo drove up the trail, and Sonic and I had to step to the side to avoid getting hit, but instead of passing us up, the limo slowed down and stopped a couple of feet away from us. An old man who wore some long black robe, almost looking like he was prepared for a funeral, and wearing circular glasses, stepped out of the limo, and I kept my guard up in case he was some kind of criminal seeking trouble.

"Sonic the Hedgehog?" The old man spoke, his voice raspy like he just recovered from a large coughing fit after swallowing water in the wrong pipe.

"Yeah, that's me." Sonic replied, crossing his arms and gazing at the old man suspiciously. "And this here is Metal, a good friend of mine." he added while jabbing a thumb at me.

The old man looked at me, dipping his head a bit in greeting before looking back at Sonic. "You have been summoned by my master, and associated in his will, including Metal." He informed us.