The Battle Within

A moment to soon

Tails followed the mysterious hedgehog up the many steps. The rusty metal bars lining the side of the railing. Crust flew off at every breeze that pushed its way through. The streetlights dotted the complex like periods on a Paige. Not a single one lot next to another one without one being burnt out. The bugs flew around the lights lining the ceiling, an occasional moth being zipped out of the air by an incoming predator. Tails watched as Shadow walked down the aisle of doorways that lined the wall. Most of the numbers faded or chipped of the doorways. It smelled of smoke and alcohol. This place also screamed one other thing...crime. Tails noticed the outline of something in white tape in the complex parking lot below. He shook it off and continued his walk with Shadow. The numbers decreased at every doorway until finally shadow came to a halt and fished out the keys. He smirked and stuck it into the doorknob twisting it till a click signified the door had been unlocked. The door creaked open. A faint light shining from the inside of the room. Tails looked inside with a wondering eye. "Well... you can go in." Shadow laughed. A phone rang and Tails jumped startled by the sudden noise. Shadow set the milk down and fished his electronic device out of his pocket and looked at the screen. He looked back at Tails. "You can go in, make yourself at home! I'll be in soon." He smiled. Tails thought Shadow seemed like a nice Mobian but something was off, something wasn't right about this whole arrangement. Tails walked in and looked around before the door shut behind him loudly. He noticed a couch two chairs and a T.V. when he first walked in. The living room was quite small but that's probably because this looked like a hotel or apartment of sorts. Tails made his way back noticing the kitchen and a door leading to what he assumed must of been the bathroom. Two more doors were at the end of the hallway which were the bedrooms. Tails decided to go sit on the couch and wait patiently...besides, Shadows conversation was creating a spark of curiosity within him. He walked back to the couch and sat. It was rock hard, the seats didn't even sink a little. Tails listened quietly ... Waiting.

"Yes, sir...I understand...*snicker* He is definitely the cutest one you've made me get...alright...just make sure he is in one piece, I understand sir... *Click*

Tails sat there confused, possibilities rushing through his head and a slight blush forming over his face from Shadows words...but what was it about keeping someone in one piece? Who? Tails watched as the door opened slowly and Shadow stepped in with a sly smile. "You hungry?" He said walking across the living room into the kitchen. A bar window was cut out of the wall between the two rooms. Shadow opened the fridge and set the milk inside bringing out a few items. Tails felt his stomach growl. "I c-could eat something." Tails said grabbing his arm shyly. Shadow smiled through the kitchen window. "What's your favorite thing to eat?" "Chili Dogs." Tails said smiling. "Definitely my weakness," Shadow smirked. "Your weakness huh?" He  chuckled. Tails watched as Shadow made his way around the kitchen. Not as gracefully as Sonic did, more like he was cautious of every move he made. Tails fumbled with his fingers... He missed Sonic...he really did, but Sonic was with Amy... and Tails knew for his own good...and Sonic's that he needed to leave. If he stayed any longer who knows what could of happened. Tails was still confused about what had actually happened. Maybe he was just overreacting or maybe it was something more... "You okay?" Tails looked up to see Shadow holding a plate with a chili dog on it. "U-uh yeah...just thinking..." Shadow shrugged his shoulders and sat next to the fox watching. Tails tilted his head. "Aren't you gonna have one?" Shadow shook his head. "I ate not that long ago." Tails nodded. "Oh." He began eating the chili dog. Man was he famished!!! "Slow down or you will get a tummy ache..." Shadow said smirking. Then I'll have to rub your tummy to make it feel better. Somewhere deep down Tails did not like the sound if that. He ate more slowly, noticing he bit into something hard and swallowed it. "Uh oh....I think I might of broke a tooth or something." Shadow smiled mischievously. "Really? Well hopefully you will be okay." Shadow smirked. Tails sat there for a few minutes eating when a weird feeling of tiredness washed over him. He fumbled with getting up. "You look kinda tired," Shadow said tilting his head with a smile. "Y-yeah." Tails said his balance become unstable. He noticed Shadow reading a small ripped package to the side. With directions and other things plastered on it. Also in small print Tails could make out the words. Ask your doctor before use if you have... just before his whole world went black...