Shadows of a Broken Future

Chapter Warning: Mature themes (violence/blood/gore).

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Sonic's POV:

I feel like I've just spin dashed headfirst into a friggin' mountain. My whole body aches as I struggle to push myself up, feeling cold, smooth metal beneath my palms. Slowly, I get to my feet, but the instant I open my eyes, a blinding white light fills my vision. I squint, trying to make sense of where I am. I'm surrounded by sterile white walls, the kind that makes the air feel too clean, too controlled. The ceiling is lined with harsh lights that hum like they're alive, and everything feels... wrong.

My gaze shifts to a glass window higher up on the wall, where I see figures in white lab coats staring down at me. They're watching me. Who are they? Why am I here? What is this place?

I look down at my hands-hands that I've studied for the past few days way too many times. The shiny black fur, the beautiful fiery red streak down the middle of two fingers, the glowing gold rings around the wrists. I raise my hands in disbelief, my breath catching in my throat.

I'm Shadow.

Wait-what? This... this isn't right. Uh, I think Tails' machine must've messed up. But, I still feel like I'm in a memory. This is his memory.

So... mission failed successfully?

Before I can process anything further, a crackling voice cuts through the silence from a speaker in the corner.

"Project Shadow, since you are still standing, we will now commence Trial 47 of testing today."

Trial 47? What the hell is going on?

Before I can even ask, the lights flicker from white to an ominous red. The door on the opposite side of the room slides open, revealing a line of robots-armed, ready.

I take a breath, trying to shake off the confusion. These machines want to challenge the fastest thing alive? Fine.

A buzz-saw robot lunges at me, and I prepare to dodge, but my legs feel heavy. The speed I rely on isn't there. I can't react fast enough. Metal slams into flesh and bone with a sickening crunch, and I scream out in pain. My vision blurs, and the sharp sting of blood trickling down my shoulder and splattering on the floor stops me from passing out straight away. I drop to the ground, trying to avoid the cutting blade as it whirs past again.

I clutch my shoulder, feeling the sticky blood. Is this real? The pain is searing through my veins. But I can't focus on it. Not now. Another robot appears, its laser guns aimed straight at me.

I push myself up, my body aching from the shock. I try to move, but my limbs are sluggish from the last attack. My breath hitches as I also realize something-Shadow's air shoes aren't even on.

The robot lunges at me and I dodge, but just barely. My body isn't responding the way it should. I twist in time as the other robot shoots a barrage of lasers. But one of the laser blasts burns across my arm, and I can't avoid it. The smell of scorched fur fills the air as my skin sizzles. I grit my teeth to stop myself from screaming out. The fight has only just started and I'm already losing.

I take a step back to give myself more space to attack, but the robots aren't giving me any room. They're all over me now. One's got a whip-a metal tendril that wraps around my neck, pulling me to the ground. I struggle against it, but it tightens, squeezing. My air is cut off. I gasp, reaching up, trying to pry it loose, but the more I fight, the more it tightens. My vision swims, the edges of reality fading as the grip around my neck feels like it's choking out every ounce of strength.

What's going on? Why is this happening? Why is Shadow so defenceless right now? Why am I so defenceless right now?

I force myself to focus. I manage to grab the whip, pulling it off just enough to make room for a gasp of air. But before I can recover, another robot lunges, its arm outstretched like a spear. It jabs forward, piercing my chest. A sickening crack of metal into flesh. I cry out, unable to stop it and stumble back, my body trembling.