Long Time No See

Chapter 14

As Sonic gently shook Shadow's shoulder. Shadow began to stir. His eyes fluttered open. He looked around and yawned.

"Enjoy your nap?" Sonic asked.

Shadow sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Yeah." He spoke.

"So you ready to talk? About Scourge?" Sonic asked.

Shadow looked down and didn't know what to say.

Silver saw his hesitation. "I think the better question is, Shadow are you ready to leave him?"

Shadow closed his eyes and stayed silent.

Sonic was in shock. "Shadow you're not gonna stay with him right? I thought we were past this! He's horrible to you!"

"I-I know..b-but he is-"

"He is toxic Shadow! He does not love you! He uses you!" Sonic exclaimed.

"Sonic calm down." Silver instructed.

Sonic looked at Silver and sighed. "Your right, I'm sorry for going off like that. I just thought we were finally on the same page."

"Y-You are right Sonic. He was horrible to me. B-But when we first started dating he was sweet. He hugged me and comforted me. I just don't see why I can't try to get that Scourge back." Shadow spoke.

Silver shook his head. "No Shadow, that Scourge is never coming back. That's how he keeps you under lock and key. He tells you he loves you and promises that everything he does is in the name of love but he's lying to you! I promise that if you stay with him, things will only get worse for you."

Shadow was full of confliction.

Silver looked at Sonic. "Sonic, tell him what Scourge is really like. Tell him what you just told me!"

Sonic nodded and sat next to Shadow. Sonic told the whole story of his childhood and encounters with Scourge through his life. As he did Shadow grew more and more aware of his situation.

"Shadow, please believe us. Scourge is not the one. He does not feel the same way you feel for him. He uses you, someday he'll get tired of you, and forget you ever existed. I'm sorry, but that's the truth." Sonic said as he put his hand over Shadow's.

Tears welled up in Shadow's eyes. "But if I leave him then...."

"Then you'll find someone better. Someone who treats you like royalty." Sonic finished.

"Are you scared to leave him Shadow? Are you afraid he'll hurt you again if you try to break up with him?" Silver asked.

Shadow's tears fell from his eyes as he covered his face. "I-I don't know...I just don't to be alone again!" He cried.

Sonic wrapped his arms around the weeping hedgehog and stroked his back. "You'll never be alone again Shadow. Remember? You have me and you have Silver. We're gonna be right by your side the whole way. Right Silver?"

Silver nodded. "Yup, would we be here right now if we didn't?"

"So? Are you ready to leave him? And start a new life away from all of this?" Sonic asked.

Shadow looked up to Sonic with tears still running down his face and nodded.

Sonic and Silver couldn't be happier.

"That's great Shadow. It really is. Now, it's time to talk about the case." Silver spoke with a smile of his face.

"The case?" Shadow asked as he got out of Sonic's grasp and rubbed his eyes.