"I can't believe she's still up there." Rouge said, staring up at the tree.

"You would think she would come down by now." Knuckles agreed. "She must really hate Scourge."

"Come on babe, I won't bite!" Scourge called up to me.

I lean back against the tree trunk and sigh. I spent the night up here in this tree on a sturdy branch.

"Good morning hun." Rouge was flying up to me. I growl, warning her to stay back. "Now hun, don't you want to come down?"

I shook my head. "I am NOT going down. Not until Scourge leaves." I look down to see the green hedgehog. Man he's so stubborn to stay there all night! Well, I did the same.

"You don't like him, do you?" Rouge sat next to me on the branch.

"Of course not! He's a total flirt and obnoxious!" I growl again. "I'd rather have Shadow fire his gun at me than deal with him!" As the words left my mouth a gunshot went off. Barley missing me. "Ek! Never mind!"

"I agree with you. But he isn't going to leave anytime soon. Scourge is very persistent and dosen't give up easily." Rouge sighed. "Trust me, he use to chase me around too." She rolled her eyes.

"How did you shake him?" I asked.

"I enjoyed the attention but after a while, it got old. So I got Knuckles to get rid of him for me. Which he kindly did." Rouge smiled. "Maybe I could get him to do it again."

I look at her in surprise. "You would?"

"Of course hun, its easy to see you don't like to be flirted with." Rouge opened her wings and flew down. I thought for a moment that she was lying to me, but that doubt went away quickly as I hear a loud yell down below.

"Just leave Scourge! It's plain obvious Zara isn't interested, so just go find another girl to pester." Knuckles yelled.

"And who's going to make me? Not you." Scourge smirked.

Knuckles face went red with anger. "That's it!" He decked Scourge in the face.

"Whoa Knux! Hold up no need for violence." Sonic ran up. Knuckles mumbled and walked away. Pity, I wanted to see him punch Scourge again. Sonic turned to Scourge. "You better go. Zara may not come down for a while. Don't waist your time."

Scourge grunted. "Fine." Before he left he blew a kiss up to me. "I'll see ya around babe." Then he was gone.

I sighed relived. "Thank you God." There was a creaking sound and the branch I was sitting on snapped. I plummet to the ground. "Woah!" I screamed, closing my eyes. The pain of hitting the ground never came. I open my eyes to see I was glowing a turquoise green.
"Hold on, I got you." Silver set me down gently. I sighed relived once my feet was on solid ground.
I glance at Knuckles. "Thanks. For punching Scourge." Then I turned to Sonic. "And... Er, thanks. For getting rid of him." Och. My pride.
Sonic shrugged. "He was starting to annoy me."
We fall into a awkward silence as I look at the ground embarrassed. I acted like a total idiot and they were nice enough to help me. But, they are still the enemies. I noticed Sonic staring at me.
I tilt my head to the side, making my ears tilt as well. "What?"
Sonic looked away. "When will you give us what we want?"
I narrow my eyes and walk to him. "Listen, I will not give you the Chaos Emeralds." Sonic looked me in the eyes. We stand there for a little while. The tension in the air thick. Shadow grabbed my arm, pulling me away from Sonic.
"That's enough." He pulled me inside the house.
I growl and tried to pull away but Shadow's grip on my arm was rock solid. He dragged me up the stairs and into the room I was in last time. Shoving me in, then locking the door with us inside. I spin around to find Shadow closer than I thought he was. I stumbled back.
"You can't keep me here. I will get away." I balled my fist. "I am not easy to contain."
Shadow said nothing, just walked closer to me. I step away a little nervous. He kept getting closer and closer until I press against the wall. Shadow was a head taller than me. He stopped and shoved his face inches from mine.
"You can run all you want, but you can't hide. We will find you. If you try to leave, it will be the last thing you do." Shadow pulled his gun out and I cringed away as he holds it close to me. "My hands aren't clean. Unlike Sonic, I have killed before. I am not afraid to do it again."
My heart quickens. "Y-your bluffing." I stutter, failing to hide my growing fear.
"Am I?" Shadow clicks a bullet into place and hold the barrel to my temple. "Do you wanna find out."
"N-not re-really." I couldn't stop my voice from cracking.
Shadow's face stay emotionless. "Then give back the Chaos Emeralds." I ponder over what to do. Give the emeralds back and live or refuse and die.... Such a hard choice.
"N-no." I mumbled.
Shadow glared. "What was that? I didn't hear you." He placed his finger on the trigger.
I look him in the eyes. Knowing mine were full of fear. "I said no."
Shadow gives me a small smirk. "Your choice." He pressed the gun harder into my temple. I tremble and close my eyes.
Then the gun sounded.