The Collection

Watching from afar Pt.4

One long year after Espio's death. I haven't been able to fully infiltrate Shadow's intense guard of Soni, this was getting frustrating, Shadow was probably the fastest thinker so sneaking up on him was extremely difficult to execute. I even had to limit my visiting the house and messing with Soni but I did enough to really keep her on edge for so long, if Shadow left the house, he always brought Soni with him, knowing the "killer" wouldn't kill in front of Soni but, maybe that was the right idea! I had to break her down more... But how? Letters. Over filling her mailbox with letters of love to show just how much I cared about her, maybe she'd let her guard down knowing that someone really loved her compared to every guy that's been close to her the last few years. Speaking of... I've noticed the two of them getting physical with each other in the late nights which can only mean he's lured her into a false sense of security like the others before him, I hated him. I attempted to call Soni but the calls kept getting hung up on, she was getting taken from me, I hated it so much. That was MY Soni. I started back on my spiral because of Shadow, he was ruining everything I was working so hard towards! I took a heavy drag from a cigarette and pressed the blade against my thigh, it helped numb the pain that she was escaping me, the smooth feeling of alcohol slithering down my throat.
Why. Why. WHY. Did Shadow have to intervene! I had to get her back... They were for dating and going further than Espio or Honey did, she was going to come back to me now! At least when I wake up from this blackout.

Come morning I awoke and started on my letters, Soni didn't know how much I loved her, I had dedicated my whole life to her after all. "You're my everything~" I signed on the back of a photo of her getting undressed in her bedroom. "Fucking chase me!" On the back on another of her walking down the beach. "Fucking break me!" Scratched onto another photo of her winning a fist fight against Fang. A lucky guy to be underneath her...
Every day I put a picture or two in her mailbox by paying off a random individual, taking opportunity to see her get freaked out and buckle under the pressure of someone watching her. Soni cried everyday into Shadow's arms, constantly questioning who was attacking her like this. Another year of watching her break down, they upped her medication and started pushing for her to seek asylum until they find the stalker. But... Her image. She wouldn't want people to think less of her, pretty blue Soni finally comes back into the spotlight and her celebrity best friend gets killed. She goes into hiding it would only make her suspect, she was trapped in my mind games, and no one knew. My fake gentle smile kept everyone off my trail, my fake concern for Soni's health made everyone think of me as a saint!

Waiting and watching one night I noticed Shadow wasn't with Soni, in fact, he was walking up to her house alone. Dressed in a nice suit and tie it seemed they were going on a date night; I would have to make my strike tonight. Luckily, I was already dressed in my full black suit, I approached quietly behind Shadow, that's when I noticed he had an audience of one. Front window was Soni, paralyzed with fear, she then started pounding on the window attempting to get his attention but to no avail.
Not wanting him to catch me I started bashing his head in with a smaller version of my hammer, his blood soaking into the concrete as his body collapsed. Soni was already on the phone which meant I couldn't collect the body I just had to leave, I evacuated to a high ground and listened in on Soni struggling to talk and then silence. What happened? I could only wait and watch. Soon the Chaotix and ambulance arrived, taking Shadow in first before grabbing Soni, she was carried out on a stretcher. Evidently, she overdosed on her medication and passed out, bashing her skull off there steps and causing a crack and bleeding. I wasn't sure if Shadow was dead, but he didn't look like he was breathing besides, who could survive an attack like that? I had to wait till everyone was gone before I headed home and changed into a new clean outfit, wait for the phone call that my dear sweet Soni was in the hospital and show up all concerned. My plan was gaining speed.

It's been a year since I lost Espio, talking to the Chaotix only broke my heart more as he was a crucial part of keeping them together, let alone Mighty. But they promised to avenge them both and keep my safe from whoever was stalking me. Shadow never let me leave his sight, but I also did the same for him, our time together did bring us closer and eventually we became an item. I was hesitant and anxious about being in love again, considering all of my lovers have been killed but Shadow made a promise he wouldn't die on my watch. We carefully loved each other without much disturbing us except that I kept seeing a figure outside the house, had an anxiety attack, called Shadow only for the figure to be gone by the time he arrived. It was routine at this point to just take my meds and just relax on the couch, on good days we would go out, get groceries and address the public with the thousands of questions they had about my health or the murders. Bad days resulted in being anxious and throwing up all day, I ended up losing more weight than I should. Shadow worked to keep me in better health, with healthy eating habits and working out. Everything seemed to be going well until I received my mail one day and found pictures of me undressing or doing lewd things in my house, I choked and started sobbing uncontrollably. My love interests weren't the only ones being targeted, I was being stalked and probably soon a target myself, I took the pictures to Shadow who took them and tossed them in the trash, holding me close and helping me calm down enough to take medicine.
Over the next year I had gotten a picture or two in the mail with disturbing writing on the back, every day I was breaking down and struggling to breathe, it got bad enough Shadow took me back to the doctors. There they put me on stronger medication and advise I get therapy or admit myself to asylum which terrified me, Shadow promised I'd be alright but discussing it on the phone with Knuckles he wanted me to reside on Angel's Island for some time to escape this, I just went with Shadow's plan for the time being.

One night Shadow stepped outside to check the area before we went on our date, he knew that now 2 and a half years ago that's when Espio died was a date night. I watched him carefully from the window and smiled weakly when he was on his way back, but my smile quickly faded once I saw a figure behind him. In a panic I called the Chaotix all while banging on the window, i was shaking so bad I started to feel sick, so I took my medication but, in my panic, kept swallowing them until I started to feel something.
"P- lease...! Hurry Shadow he-! O-Oh god..."
He had his head bashed into the concrete and the person continued while he was on the ground, I turned to head towards the door, but everything froze, blood dripped from my nose and everything went numb, all I remember was blacking out as I reached for my door. Shadow was dead, he had to be after an attack like that, I don't know if I'll ever see him again, I don't know if I'll ever wake up I don't...
A white room with blue accents. I could barely see. A warmth of people around me. Only colors. Pink. Red. Orange. No black. I could barely move my arms, but I felt the tubes attached to them and my mouth, a hospital where I could only hope Shadow was in the next room recovering but that seemed more like a dream to me. I smiled before passing back out. I could hear arguing the whole time.
"We can't take anymore losses like this! She needs to come to Angel's Island where the only one close to her is someone who will kick ass if someone unauthorized is on my island!"
"We really do recommend putting her in asylum for her own health... Overdosing on pills, having her boyfriend go missing, a friend of hers get murdered, witnessing a dead body and someone getting pulverized into the pavement with a heavy object. Shes not mentally sane to even be out! I'm sorry but I don't really recommend taking her to an Island for therapy."
"Please stop fighting! Soni wouldn't want that... I'm normally a mechanic but I've been there for year to help Soni with injury and if I'm given the proper tools, I'd like to be her daily doctor so she can live wherever normally!"
"*Sniffles* Oh poor Soni... She doesn't deserve all this hate! Knuckles! Tails! We have to help her! Killing those who just loved her is wrong..."