Whatever happened inside of Eclipse's body rendered him sleeping for days. The Order moved him into a hospital room where medics and doctors tried to find out what went wrong. However, none of their findings brought any results or answers.

Amy spent a lot of time by Eclipse's bed, watching him sleeping and telling him what she had done during her day. Not even fresh cookies would awake him.

One day, Shadow took a walk through the city. It had been a long time since he could relax. To his surprise, Silver also checked up on Eclipse, talking with doctors, but he avoided Amy. He was probably scared to leave a sassy mark upon seeing her, or he didn't want to remind her of their promise.

The priest shook his head. 'I came outside to relax, not to explode my brain.' He took a stroll among the streets, watching people go by foot or using carriages, chatting and smiling. He wished to return to the old days when he was a simple priest.

When his greatest worry was what prank Sonic would pull next.

When he would wake up and hear birds behind his window.

When he would go by his day, knowing who would visit him.

When he would visit the orphanage.

"Watch out!" a child-like voice shouted.

The priest perceived a shadow approaching him, and without hesitation, he caught a ball.

"Are you okay, mister?" another child shouted.

The ebony hedgehog ventured next to a playground where boys played with a ball. Remembering the time when Sonic would play like this, he smiled.

"I'm fine—" His smile froze as among the kids stood a young hedgehog with green and gray quills who had his arms covered by bandages.

It was Glitch.

Shadow masked his shock, inhaling.

"Mind if I join? I really need to stretch my old legs," he jokingly said, earning giggled from the kids.

"Sure. No prob!" another boy said, and the rest nodded.

Shadow joined the other team as the Glitch was part of the first one. He observed Silver's enemy as the ebony hedgehog faked fails, falls, and missing shots. Glitch remained friendly, smiling, and completely immersed in the game.

Nothing about him, not even the smell, seemed dangerous. All Shadow picked was a strange scent that reminded him of a demon.

'Is he faking it? Is he aware of who I am?'

Soon the evening had approached them, and the parents went to pick up their kids. One by one had left, leaving Shadow and Glitch alone. A gloomy expression spread over Glitch's face as the playground emptied.

Shadow racked his brain to find a suitable excuse to monitor him before he could lead him to a secluded area when Glitch's stomach rumbled.

"Oh man, what a glorious reminder I should head to grab a dinner." Shadow softly laughed as Glitch's face widened with shock and embarrassment. He looked just like Sonic. "I know a great place. Would you like to join me?"

"Really? Can I?" The eagerness spread his face into a gigantic smile.

"Of course."

"Yahoo!" Glitch jumped into the air. "What we are gonna get? Can I have a cake? Can I?" he begged like a small child despite he looked around fifteen.

"Only if you eat your carrot," Shadow teased him, and Glitch stuck out his tongue, earning a chuckle from the priest.

The ebony hedgehog observed the most wanted criminal on their list right behind Dr. Finitevus as he looked around. The curiosity in his eyes wasn't faked. Glitch had never seen a vast city. Everything was new to him, and Shadow pondered where to take him.

'Can't be a restaurant or bakery. We need to avoid groups of people.' And that could be problematic as this place was bustling with them. 'Let's start there!'

Shadow guided Glitch to a fast food stall selling fried cheese and meat in various wrappings. Glitch's eyes shone, and he couldn't decide what to pick. The priest then ordered a big bag featuring almost everything the stall offered.

Finding a bench, Glitch gulped one by one. Shadow didn't manage to take a bite. The gray hedgehog's muzzle soon turned red and yellow, and he licked his fingers. Pieces of lettuce or tomatoes had fallen on his lap, which he would pick up later, eating too.

'How strange. While there is no mistake about him being the one Silver had fought, he doesn't emit any murderous aura. He is... just a kid.'

"That was so good!" Glitch shouted, letting out loud barf.

The way he patted his full belly again brought up Sonic into the priest's mind, finding his task turned harder and harder. Silver would have no problem to use brutal force to immobilize Glitch.

'I have to find a way.' His eyes widened as he had found Glitch staring at his face. Before Shadow could think, he burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Y-Your face!" the priest muttered, offering the young hedgehog his handkerchief.

The other hedgehog wiped his mouth, finding how much he had over his muzzle. He crumbled it, clearing his entire face. Not even Shadow noticed when a piece of lettuce landed between his ears.

"T-Thank you for the meal, mister... ehm?"

"My name is Shadow." The priest offered him a hand.

"I'm..." Glitch stopped as if the world couldn't roll over his tongue. "You can... I'm called Glitch." He finally accepted the handshake.

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

The gray hedgehog stood up, throwing down the crumbled wrapper. He bristled, picking everything into his arms. Shadow directed him to the nearest trash can. There it seemed the atmosphere turned dense as Glitch's ears flopped.

"I... Thank you for everything. It was fun." Glitch gave him a weak smile.

"It's alright, but is something bothering you?"

"N-No!" Glitch jerked his body, stepping back. "It's okay. I can manage."

"I know I'm but a stranger to you, but I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I didn't help such a wonderful young man. Especially if I have all the means to do so."

Shadow's gentle smile spread a fuzzy feeling in Glitch's body.

"I... I'm looking for somebody." The heavy atmosphere turned tense for real, but Shadow was the only one noticing as it was invisible to normal people. "He is a silver hedgehog by the name of Silver. I need to..." Glitch balled his fists that the bandages over them almost ripped. "... talk with him."

"What a coincidence." Shadow used a cheerful tone, not letting him know he had noticed the change. "I know this hedgehog. He is a real grumpy more often than not." He joked, noting a positive change in Glitch's aura. "I'm meeting him tonight for a chat. I can show you the way, Glitch."

"Really?" A mixture of hatred and happiness sparkled in Glitch's eyes, but his body tensed with the excitement.

"I would tell you which way to go, but it seems you aren't from around, and in all honesty, it was a pain in my neck to navigate here the first time." Shadow slumped his upper torso, giving him an exhausted posture.

It also represented how the priest had felt as the enormous boulder had fallen off his shoulders. He was afraid Glitch wouldn't follow him. But right now, he was almost hopping next to him as Shadow occupied his attention with stories, leading him into a trap.

"Navigating here gets ten times easier if you use the underground." Shadow led him toward the entrance, finding it ironic he is using the same tactic Silver had used against him.

Glitch's eyes had almost fallen out as he was watching the engraved walls.

"I'm a bit of a keeper of this place, so I can access it anytime I need." He slowed down, letting Glitch wander ahead of him.

The boy reached a center of a junction, not knowing where to go. He looked around, seeing no difference among the tunnels. He half-way turned around when the ground under him shone.

"Wha—?" His screams cut his sentence short as chains wrapped around his limbs. Glitch's eyes shone, realizing what he had walked into. A roar left his throat, and the chains crackled, dissolving right in front of the eyes.

Shadow didn't let him, hitting him from behind, rendering him unconscious.

"Y-You..." Glitch muttered before hitting the ground.

"I'm sorry." Shadow let out a breath. "But this is for your own good."