I Will Protect You

Chapter 17

Shadow's POV

" WHERE THE HELL IS HE!" I yelled in frustration as I pounded my fist against the rough bark of a tree. With our combined efforts, Rouge and I had managed to search land and air for several hours without having any luck in finding quill nor tail of the sickly hedgehog.

Rouge was doing an another air check to see if she could see anything, even though I seriously doubt she will, while I took a small break and tried to think things through.

" How could he get away like that in the condition he is in it doesn't make any sense?! " I growled as I leaned my forehead against the tree that I had previously just used to punish my hand.

My mind was pounding with questions and each one just added to my seeming endless list of confusion. I hate not being able to answer something or come to a reasonable conclusion about something. I mean I am the ultimate lifeform for crying out loud! If I can't find the only azure hedgehog is this entire area then what does that make me? I'll tell you what the ultimate failure that's what!

I groaned and rubbed my temples as all this stress was beginning to pile up on me and give me a stressed endouced headache. I leaned against the tree and slowly slid down it until I was sitting firmly on the ground. I set my head in my lap and entwined my fingers together and placed them on top of my head as I took a deep breath to try and calm myself.

Not long after my brief chill session I heard a familiar voice shout my name from above me and then land gracefully in front of me. " Sh-Shadow I..." I cut her off as I lifted my hand to shush her. She panted as she stood in front of me, I guess from the over excursion she has been putting on her wings.

I sighed as I stood up, " Rouge please if you have not found any good news then I do not wish to hear it." I grumbled as I started to walk and begin searching again.

I then heard her take a deep breath to steady her breaching and she spoke. " Well if you asked me I think it's a mixture of both good and bad..." She said while rubbing the back of her neck. I flicked my ear to show i was listening and turned my head slightly, " huh what do you mean? " I asked her trying to make sense of what she just said.

She cleared her throat nervously before speaking again," Well the first part is that I have found Sonic bu-..." I cut her off as I did a three-sixty and bolted back over to her, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her violently.

"You did that's great! Where is he? Is he alright? Did he get into trouble? Why didn't you bring him with you!?" " Sh-Sha-dow-dow i-if y-you-ou w-would-d s-sto-op sh-aking me-e I could-ould tell you-ou!" She said while Shadow shook her. "Oh right sorry Rouge!"

She shook her head trying to get rid of her dizzy spell and focus her mind back on the task at hand. " Alright Shadow first things first, yes I did find Sonic he is up the ways about maybe half a mile from here. Second thing is I have no idea of his physical condition and yes I would say he did get into trouble. And to answer your last question, I did not bring him with me because it would have been very difficult to grab him. "

Her face was stern and one could tell by the way she furrowed her brow that she was nervous and slightly...scared. Hmm scared...I don't think I have ever seen her like that. I remained silent as I began processing all the information I just received. My pupils dialted when I heard that Sonic was in trouble and I looked at her asking a silent question.

Understanding my stare she straightened herself up and nervously cleared her throat once more before replying with a shaky, " He's at G.U.N...again."

My heart seemed to stop at that very moment as my legs gave way and I fell to my knees with a soft thud. My head hung low as Rouge walked over and rubbed my back in a comforting manner.

I slowly shook my head as my gaze never left the ground. My fingers dug into to the dirt as I gripped it in anger. The only thought running through my head now was that i had to rescue Sonic.

I slowly stood up with my head still hanging. Rouge, knowing what I was doing, grabbed my shoulder and tried to stop me. Big mistake. " Shadow stop think for a moment please! Now that they have Sonic back they'll want to keep him more then ever. That means more guards, and higher security. That's means more trouble for you and a higher risk of getting yourself killed!"

I spoke, my voice a low growl- like rumble as I looked at her hand on my shoulder. " Remove your hand bat you cannot stop me. You do not understand what that hedgehog has gone through. Now that they have him back, yes it might mean more security but it also means more experiments. That means more pain, more suffering and the closer he is to reaching death and I swore to him that I would never let that happen again... " i then lifted my head up and stared at Rouge. My crimson eyes were darker rimmed with a dark gold trim proving that I was pissed and that I meant business. I then snarled as I said,"... and I'll be damned if i, the ultimate lifeform, break that promise to him...and if anyone gets in my way..." A dark chuckle vibrated from the back of my throat as I spoke,"... They shall perish! "

And just like that I turned on the rockets in my skates and blasted off leaving a trail of fire behind me as I blazed through the appending forest ready to literally bring chaos where ever it is needed.

Welcome to hell population me.