Shadow X

Closing the Wounds

Shadow stepped up to the portal when the doors shut on him and the Emeralds fell. He turned his head, not believing his eyes. Tears pouring out of her eyes, Maria's hand was on the off switch.

"Shadow!" She yelled as she ran up to him, grabbing his arm before taking off.

"MARIA!?" Nelson yelled as Maria turned, steeling her face as she continued to run.

Shadow moved along with Maria. "Maria? What's gotten into you?" He asked, stopping himself as he pulled his arm free. Maria looked at him, panic in her eyes when the two heard bushes rustling behind them. Maria backed up turning to run when Shadow caught up to her, picking her up before running ahead and leaving everyone behind.

.

Tanaka and Topaz searched well into the night, but couldn't find a trace of Shadow or Maria.
"We'll have to get help from the police. This is serious." Topaz warned as Chuck inspected the machine. 

"I know. We don't have long to cause Chaos Control and send Shadow back." Chuck explained. "We'll have to start first thing in the morning. But we've all had a stressful day. Maria should be fine, so long as Shadow's with her."

.

Shadow had slowed to a walk as he set Maria down a city over from Station Square. The two walked, Maria finding it difficult and irritating in the heels she wore. Shadow looked around, seeing a clothing store as he got Maria's attention. 

Maria got a new set of clothes, a white T-shirt to go with a pair of jeans and some black sneakers. They walked out as Maria paid in cash, throwing the dress in the alleyway behind the store. 

"What's our plan Maria?" Shadow asked as he walked alongside her.

Maria looked at him, still surprised he's with her right now. "I...I don't know. I can't go back home...Maybe we can-hmm?" A bike leaning up against the wall with a note on it, saying to take if needed. Well, Maria certainly needed it. She got on, Shadow riding in the back as Maria rode off on the streets. "How far should we go Shadow?" She asked. 

Shadow simply shrugged. "As far as you need to go Maria." Maria nodded at that, pushing herself to go faster and out of the neighborhood they were in until there was nothing left to see, hitting a field of dirt around the road when Maria ran out of breath, stopping at a burger joint nearby.

Ordering the food, the two sat outside as Shadow munched down on his food while Maria studied a map. "The world seems big when it's on the open road in front of you. Is there any place you want to go to?" She asked Shadow.

Shadow simply shook his head. "I've already been to most places, and the ones I haven't been to are the ones that I don't know about." He answered. 

Maria nodded. "Ok, well...a beach is definitely out, the dessert's to hot....I just don't know..." She stated as she shook her head. "Shadow...do you think they're looking for us?"

"What makes you ask that?" Shadow responded.

Maria hung her head low. "I don't know. How long do you think it would take for them to just quit?" She asked, looking up to see the T.V playing from the window as it showed a picture of her and a message from her mother begging Maria to come home. That's when she decided to bail on this place as Shadow followed, getting back on the bike.

They rode for another few hours, Maria was tired and sweaty, and frustrated when the front tire popped. The two hopped off, inspecting the bike when they heard the sound of Helicopter blades in the distance. "Those are my dad's!" 

Shadow looked towards the road ahead. "Maria, give up yet?" He asked. Maria shook her head, defiantly saying no. "Ok, wait here." Shadow told her as he sprung away to intercept a man driving a pick up truck and asking if they could get a ride. The man eagerly agreed, and soon Maria was in the passenger seat as Shadow slept in the back with the hay, avoiding the helicopters.