Shadows of a Broken Future

Shadow’s POV:

This can’t be happening. I need to get to Sonic—now. Why is Eggman here? Why the hell has he captured me? I thought he was going after Sonic, like always, but this? This is different. This glass tube is resisting my chaos powers. It's like it was designed specifically to contain me, block me at every turn. I don’t understand. Eggman’s never done this before in the past. Has he learned something new? Or is it because of what happened last time when we fought, and I almost took him out for good before Sonic stopped me?

Everything’s been off since that fight. Nothing’s the same as it was before. In the past I never stayed at Sonic’s place, I never had that race with him that day... If I hadn’t done that, if I just acted like I did before, maybe this wouldn’t be happening right now.

I glance down at the shard hanging from my necklace. The shard that shouldn’t even be here. It hasn’t changed. The past may be shifting, but the outcome is the same. Everything and everyone is doomed. No. I can’t let that happen. I won't watch this world crumble again. But I can't even do anything while I’m trapped in here. I have to get to Sonic. He’s out there. I need to stop him before he does something reckless.

I slam my fist against the glass. Nothing. I bang into it harder, my body screaming for release. A sharp pain shoots through my muscles as I keep attacking, but the glass won’t budge. I kick it. I punch it. I do everything I can, but nothing. It doesn’t even crack.The panic clawing at me is suffocating.

"Shadow!" Faker’s voice shouts out, desperation thick in his tone. Hearing that just makes me angrier. The pain on his face—his fear—only fuels my rage, especially when I hear Eggman’s sickening laughter echoing in the background. I ram my body into the glass again. Who the hell does that coward think he is, locking me in here like this? Does he think I’m just going to sit here helpless and wait to be rescued? Do I look like fucking Amy Rose?! This prick is going to get what's coming to him once I get out.

Suddenly, the glass tube hums with a disturbing pulse, glowing a sickly red. And then-

Pain.

It hits me hard. I gasp as my body is torn apart by invisible claws, my insides fighting against the surge of agony. My mind feels as though it's fracturing, splitting into two. A scream rips itself from my throat—raw, desperate. My body jerks violently. I slam my hands against the glass, desperate for any kind of support to stay upright, but I can’t. I fall to my knees, my head tilting back as the feeling only worsens, the pain radiating through every fiber of my being.

“Shadow!” Sonic screams again, his voice trembling with concern. I can barely focus. I can barely think. It takes everything in me to push through the agony, to even attempt to speak. A growl escapes my lips.

He needs to get away. I need to protect him. He can’t get hurt. Images flood my mind—chaotic flashes of memories, voices whispering from the past. Sonic’s voice echoes through my skull. “Hey Shads, you mind doing me a favour?”

No.

“Please... run away.” I barely manage the words. It’s a whisper, hardly audible. But it’s a plea—one that comes from deep inside me. I look at him with all the desperation I can muster, begging him silently to understand. To listen.

For a moment, he pauses, and I see the flash of confusion cross his face. Then, his expression morphs into something darker—rage? His quills darken, and a new energy swells in his stance.

I know he’s angry about what I just told him. But he doesn’t understand.

But then, just as quickly, the anger is replaced by something else. I can see it in his eyes, but the pain is too much. I can’t hold on anymore, and I crumple to the floor, curling in on myself.