Chapter 70

Sonic continued walking. He was curious to see the thing in place of the wall, but looked away, sweating and trying to resist the urge to look or scream. But he gave into his urge. He looked back, and...

Saw a wall. As normal as can be.

He could swear he had seen something else in his peripheral vision before, but apparently nothing was there. Looking at the wall, suspicion in his eyes, he continued forward.

Sonic just walked, and walked, and walked. But nothing of note so far. That is, until, he heard breathing behind him. Instantly, Sonic and the others turned around. But nobody was there. Just the pattering of footsteps the other way.

"What was that?!" Sonja asked.

"Nothing good, we need to run!" Sonic exclaimed. Instantly, everyone took off. Everyone, but Tatters. "Tatters, c'mon!" Sonic shouted. "With you, we can do a Multi-Boost!"

"No!" Tatters refused. "There's someone else down here. They might be another Mariloid!"

Sonic thought to himself that a Mariloid must be any robot created by Marilyssa. Didn't matter right now. Tatters looked further into the darkness, concerned for whatever may be pursuing them. Sonic grabbed Tatters's hand, but Tatters shouted "AWAY!" As Sonic felt electricity course through him, zapping him a little. Sonic continued to grab Tatters's hand as Sonic ran forward with him. Even if Tatters dragged a little, whatever was out there was probably out to kill them. "Stop! Stop! You could never know the torture of being locked away, cold and alone! I need to help whoever is down here!"

Sonic looked back at Tatters, furrowing his eyebrows. Yes. He. Did. Sonic continued to run. But with Tatters's weight, and the now approaching footsteps, Sonic feared he wasn't fast enough. He continued to run, until they reached a staircase with a white sign that read exit in all red and all caps. It looked like it was supposed to be lit up long ago, but now it struggled just to stay on its hinges.

"We're almost there!" Sonic exclaimed, but then felt a tugging on his arm, though his grip remained tight. He looked back, to see... Fake Tails had come and latched onto and sunk his fangs into Tatters's other arm! "Back, back! Get out of here, faker!" Sonic shouted, as he kicked Fake Tails in the face. Fake Tails didn't seem phased.

Sonic didn't know what to do. So he just pulled. Sonja jumped into action as she flew forward after putting Pico on the top step with Real Tails and Buck. "No!" She screamed as she swatted Fake Tails back. Fake Tails went flying to the other end of the corridor, but soon got to his feet and ran towards them on all fours.

Sonic struggled to open the door. "Why won't it open?!" Sonic asked.

"We all need to push it! One, two, three!" Real Tails exclaimed as everyone, including Tatters with his remaining strength, pushed onto the door. It swung open and thrust them all out onto another grassy hill.

Sonic had nearly forgotten about Fake Tails when he jumped out of the doorway and latched onto Tatters's chest, sinking his teeth as far as they would go into him. Oil flew everywhere as Tatters screamed.

"Tatters!" Everyone else shouted as Fake Tails pulled him into the personal den he had made of the underground tunnel. Tatters reached for the door as his eyes flashed white and black again. The hourglass began to shake.

"Sonja! R-remember meeeee----!" Tatters wailed as everything went black. He shut the door.

Continue to Chapter 71