Shadow: Awakening

Shadow: A Life Without Fear

"I--ish--um--hi." I stammer, totally caught off guard by the young human female before me. Stars, she's so...not what I was expecting. Is this really Maria?

"Hi! My name is Maria. What is your name? Are you another quarantine patient? It's been a long time since anyone came to visit me in person. Do...do you know why no one else has come?" she asked, looking at me with pleading eyes. Does she not know that she has NIDS? I think, feeling a bit dismayed.

"Well, um...you see..." I can't seem to explain such a problem to her.

"I mean...if you're here, than that means other people could have come, but they--they didn't. Why is that?" Maria looks at me and her beautiful azure eyes start to well with tears.

"They would have! They all would have! But they couldn't! I'm here because NIDS can't kill me--hopefully. I'm here because Gerald and everyone else are trying to cure you! I know people would have come visit you if they could, but it's not possible." A look of shock crosses Maria's face, and her tears threaten to start spilling over. Before I even know what to think, I have a rush of emotion and my instincts take over. "No! That is, don't cry. Please don't cry! I don't want to see you cry; I want you to be happy! I want to cure you, and then you'll be able to come out and meet people!"

"Do you really mean that?" Maria says, biting her lip in what I realize is long-suppressed hope. How many years has this poor girl gone without anyone there to comfort her? How many times has she not let herself hope in the fear her hopes might be dashed? Well, she deserves to hope and I'll do everything I can to make sure her hopes are far excelled!

"Yes! I do mean that. Gerald--your grandfather--is doing everything he can to cure you as soon as possible. He--he created me! He created me to help you, to cure you. I will, too. Together we'll find a cure, and then you can visit as many people as you want. Please don't cry; there's nothing to be afraid of." I feel a rush in my head, and I realize that I have found why I don't want Maria to cry. I want to protect her, to shield her from danger and sadness. I don't want her to be afraid. "I--" I pause, but these emotions are far too strong to be held back. "I'll protect you, I won't let anything harm you, I will do everything I can to make you happy. I promise I will. You don't need to cry, because I will never let anything happen to you." I can see hope start to dawn on her face, and the hints of a smile start to appear from the sadness and fear that were present only moments before.

"Really? You can really help find a cure?" Maria was on the verge of true, unmarred hope.

"Yes." I say, and I know I mean every word I've spoken.

"I never thought there would be a cure." Maria confessed, and my hearts* break at the thought. "I've always been to afraid to hope that there might be a way to escape NIDS."

"That's okay; I think anyone would feel the same way. Just know that soon you will be able to cast off this disease and live a life devoid of fear."

"I can scarcely imagine how a life without fear would feel." Maria admitted, and she gave me a sad smile. "It must be the freest thing in the world."

"You'll soon know exactly how it feels," I say, knowing that my next words will swear me to her forever, "and I will never let anyone steal that hope from you."

** I believe that Shadow has 1 heart, but that it is divided into 4 main chambers and so can be considered 4 different hearts. The different chambers allow him to operate at supersonic speeds.