Shadow's P.O.V.
The pain was unbearable, my stomach hurt so much that it was numb, the doctors had stitched me up, but they told me they couldn't do anything about the pain.

I had tears running down my muzzle, but I wasn't crying, I was trying to get some sleep.

I broke my heart when I saw Sonic running to me, but they wouldn't let him in, he looked like he wanted to tell me something.

I sighed and opened my eyes slowly, the pain wouldn't let me sleep. I scanned the room and my eyes landed on a weird red glow.

"W-what...?" I mumbled to myself as I saw it coming closer.

I lowered my ears as I saw a dude with a strange silver mask, his one eye was covered while the other was staring at me.

"Hello Shadow." He said coldly, making me growl. The pain was getting worst with each move I made.

"Don't worry. I won't hurt you." He chuckled evily and grabbed my neck tightly. "I'll just kill you."

I growled louder and tried to push him off, but I was in too much pain, that my body wasn't responding.

"I can smell your fear." The jackal said and held me tighter.

"S-SONIC!" I shouted with all my strengths that I had left.

The jackal tensed up and punched my stomach with a lot of force. I shouted in pain and growled loudly then punched him roughly.

"SHADOW!" I saw Sonic kicking the door open and growled loudly at the jackal. "Who are you!?"

The jackal chuckled softly and raised his hand making a red wall appear in front of him. "Your worst nightmare."

I was panting and growling in pain as he grabbed me and threw me down on the floor. "Look how pathetic you both are." He said as he kicked my on the stomach. "So weak. So helpless." He continued talking as he so my trying to stand up.

Sonic's P.O.V.
I was about to attack the bastard that hurt Shadow, but he made a wall appear in front of me.

"No! Shadow!" I spin dashed the wall, but it did nothing to it, I kicked, punched it, but still nothing except causing more pain to me.

"Sir! You must lay down!" I heard the same nurse from before.

I just growled at her making her back off, my legs were shaking from the pain, but I didn't care.

"Need help~?" Dark asked cockily, making me groan.

"Not now Dark...!" I mumbled and tried to break the wall.

"Look how pathetic you both are." I stopped when I heard the strange looking jackal said that. It was exactly what Shadow had told me when he beat me up. So it WAS an illusion!

I growled furiously and mumbled. "Dark..."

"Yes~" Dark answered immediately.

"Kill that fox..." I tightened my fists as I glared at everyone who stared taking pictures of me.

"As you wish~" Was the last thing that I heard. Then I blanked out.

Shadow's P.O.V.
"How come Eggman hasn't defeated you yet." He was about to kick me again when Sonic appeared in front of me and punched him away.

"Away from him!" He shouted, but his voice was different.

I pinned my ears down when I recognised the voice. It was Dark.

"W-what!? But how-" The jackal sounded surprised but he was cut off by Dark when he spin dashed him and sent him on the wall.

"You messed with the wrong Hedgehog~" He said with a smirk as he walked to him. "You'll pay for everything~" He dashed to him and attacked him with no mercy.

I bit my lip as I held my stomach as I slowly stood up, the pain being the worst I've ever felt.

"Shadow!" I heard Rouge and saw her run to me with Miles.

"H-help..." I tried talking but nothing came out, only a low whisper that was covered by a loud scream of pain from the dark jackal. We all looked quickly at their direction, seeing blood everywhere and Dark panting softly.

"D-did you...?" Miles asked hesitantly, but the jackal's body was nowhere to be seen.

"He escaped..." He growled and dashed to me then helped me lay down. "I know that guy. He was in Eggman's base the last time I had destroyed it."

Rouge and Tails looked at him confused, but I wasn't paying attention, as my eyes slowly started closing, I found it difficult to breathe, my body was numb, my heart was tired.

Maria... I'm coming...