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Chapter Text

Shadow stretched his arms out as he sat up from his bed, he felt a few joints pop before relaxing a bit. He scratched his eyes to remove the built-up crust and got up to leave his room.

His window showed the bright sun reflecting into the lit-up room, creating natural light. Shadow figured it'll be a bright day today, the weather hasn't been nice to his fur as the heat latches on and eventually burns into his skin.

After closing the door to his room, Shadow immediately noticed that the flower pot that he had since moving into his apartment had been shattered on the floor. It somehow fell from the shelf next to his books, the soil was left scattered around the area as the remaining Chamomile flower had its roots still stuck in some parts of the dirt.

With an annoyed sigh, he carefully picked up the flower and placed it on an empty glass from the kitchen. Shadow took a broom to sweep up the shattered pot and dirt and quickly tossed it into the bin. Thankfully, he had a spare pot in one of the bottom drawers.

Shadow took out the dark purple flower pot and replaced the soil, putting the flower back and placing the pot back on the shelf. The colour of the pot seemed to match the Chamomile flower now.

The living room lights have been flickering the whole time he was cleaning. Shadow even took notice of his coffee table that had two empty packets of coffee beans and chips, as well as an empty mug that had fell on its side.

Jeez, this place was a mess.. Shadow must've forgotten to clean last night and just went straight back to sleep.

No matter— in less than a second— The table was left clean and the lightbulb was replaced with a new one. Hopefully, that was the only bulb he had to replace, considering that it was Shadow's last one.

Shadow figured he should go get some groceries as he noticed how his fridge had gotten too empty, hopefully the heat wouldn't kill him before he even came back home.

Shadow sped through the streets as the familiar buildings he went through every day blurred on the side. It only took him a minute to stop near the grocery store as he turned his skates off.

When Shadow was about to enter through the revolving doors, a familiar voice greeted him.

"Good morning!"

Shadow halts his movements to look to his side to see Sonic smiling warmly at him, "Slept well?" he steps closer to Shadow.

"What are you doing here?" Shadow crosses his arms.

"Yeesh, just greeting you and I already get that attitude? Not a morning person at all?"

Shadow just rolled his eyes and went inside the store without looking back, as he already knew Sonic would just follow him anyway.

"Do you have nothing else to do, hedgehog?"

"Not really, you should be grateful I'm spending it on you, though!" Sonic walked with Shadow by his side as he observed Shadow looking through various aisles.

"I feel the opposite of grateful."

Sonic just gave him a quiet snort.

It's been years now with how their rivalry has taken place, they don't go at each other's throats the moment they see each other anymore. They have grown out of their usual aggressive banter, but just a few quips here and there.

They still fight from time to time, just to get that feeling of thrill with the other again that they could never shake off. That was how their relationship worked after all.

Shadow noticed how Sonic seemed a bit… quiet. They were at the counter after Shadow quickly grabbed the groceries he needed, even a box of lightbulbs.

Sonic looked... melancholic. Even as they exited the store, Sonic's demeanor didn't change. The silence for some reason spoke louder to him.

"Weather's getting to me.. Hey, wanna get some ice cream?"

Shadow just looked at him with an unpleasant expression as he felt Sonic's mood shift, "Just out of nowhere?"

"It's the perfect time to get some! What do you mean 'out of nowhere?' C'mon, I'm dragging you with me anyway."

Shadow just sighed as Sonic grabbed his arm, his other hand firmly holding the bag of groceries as he was forced to walk away with Sonic.

"Plus, I know how much you've been complaining about your fur absorbing the heat."

The black hedgehog just let Sonic drag him to wherever he wanted as the firm grip on his arm tightened, "Whatever."

Somehow, the heat felt worse in Shadow's mind.

It was only a short walk, and Sonic removed his hold on Shadow halfway.

Sonic let out an audible sigh of relief when he spotted an ice cream vendor and practically skipped towards the line.

Shadow stayed beside him. There were only three people in line, one just got their cone as they turned to leave.

"You want anything, Shads?" Sonic asked as he dug through his quills, presumably for his wallet.

Why was Shadow even here? Should he just go home? He still needed to check on that flower that fell in the morning.

Honestly, he'll find anything as an excuse to go home. The scorching heat was also probably putting him in an even worse mood.

With an irritated grunt— Shadow responded, "No, and—"

A scream was heard. But it wasn't one person. It gradually evolved into collective screams of people in groups running away and heading towards their direction.

The people who were in the area let out questionable noises that had also shaken them up seeing the crowd moving away from the main city.

It didn't leave out Shadow and Sonic who were also confused by the crowd dispersing. They looked at each other right in the eye and immediately knew that they needed to know what was going on.

They sped off in the direction the crowd was running away from, the bag of groceries still in Shadow's hands.

There weren't really any clear indications of where they were going. Sonic had to ask a mobian that was running towards their direction—

"A.. A gunshot was heard! Two of them were fired just now and—"

The civilian let out a shriek as another shot echoed. That sounded way too close for their comfort, letting out massive cries from the crowd as it caused even more panic and chaos.

Was the shooter causing some mass hysteria on purpose?

Shadow wasn't sure if they were specifically targeting someone in the middle of the street, where the hell could they be even aiming?

He tried to look at the top of the buildings to see if anyone was suspicious, probably hiding behind a window or on the roof, kneeling.

There were now fewer and fewer people around the area as they all continuously ran away.

Shadow kept turning his head in case if another shot was heard, then he could identify where the shooter was located.

"Why the hell is this even happening?"

Shadow thought he spoke his thoughts out loud, until he turned to Sonic who had a frustrated expression.

It was rare for Shadow to see Sonic so distressed; the hero would normally have gone straight to every building to find the perpetrator. "Still, Sonic. We both have to watch out, another could be fired at any moment now."

Sonic looked like he exhaled all the air in his lungs as he looked at Shadow, the determination back in his eyes. "Got it, I'll go west and you go to the other side of the area." He pointed towards the direction he wanted Shadow to go.

"No need to order me around—"

But the moment Shadow turned his head around, facing away from Sonic, a bang! echoed in his ears.

If the last one was way too close, this shot felt like it was right behind him.

Shadow whipped his head back to Sonic to find where the shot came from, only to see the blue hedgehog mid-fall with a red circular wound on top of his head.

It felt like time stopped.

Or in slow-motion. As Shadow sees Sonic fall to the floor.

Both hedgehogs didn't move. Especially Sonic, his arms right on the side of his body, his eyes wide which seemed to be from shock, as his head was tilted to the side and blood trickled down onto the surface of the road.

Shadow heard a scream. Not from himself, he thought. But groups of people shouting even louder than before as they discover someone actually getting shot in the middle of the street.

"Gaia—! Sonic the Hedgehog just got shot—!!"

Right. Sonic got shot.

…

What.

The.

Hell.

Was this a joke? A dream? Was Sonic just.. gone? Like that? Shadow didn't realize he had lost his grip on the bag he was holding, not that it matters, as he watched Sonic's body remain unmoving.

Shit.

Reality crashed back into Shadow as he realized where he was. In an instant, Shadow was at his side and dropped to his knees, Shadow held him, grabbed the side of his face to see even a semblance of life in his eyes.

He's not even breathing.

Shadow felt his own breath quicken, his vision blurry, his own hands trembling as he tightened his hold on Sonic, as if holding him harder might change something. Anything.

Just— how..?

He had faced death countless times before, but never like this. He never felt fear twisting in his chest as he felt Sonic's weight getting heavier in his hold.

And just before tears could well up in his eyes, Shadow felt something within his chest pull and his vision looked at nothing but the memory of his hold on Sonic.

He felt himself fall into nothing, grabbing onto useless pieces of air, attempting to keep himself from falling further. Shadow felt his mind reel— as well as his chest pulsing from something—

The physical pain getting too much—

Until he suddenly shot his eyes open. Sitting up and felt his chest squeeze and seized with pain, wheezing in sharp, ragged breaths. It felt like the organs under his ribs were getting stabbed with countless needles.

Shadow's vision slowly cleared— and he realized he was in his bedroom.

The familiar sunlight streamed gently through the window. And the echo of the dream clung to him like a shadow he couldn't shake.

Chapter Text

Shadow stared into nothing as he breathed in sharp breaths— it took him a while to remember he was in the comfort of his own room. He clutched his own chest as memories flooded of the events that had happened in his dream.

..Dream?

Shadow blinked. Once. Twice, before shakingly getting up from his bed, his limbs felt heavier than usual, like the weight of sleep hadn't quite left him— or the feeling that something worse had lingered.

He opened his door where his living room was set in place.

The flower pot he was sure he fixed "yesterday" was once again shattered on the floor. But instead of the dark purple pot Shadow replaced it with, the maroon pot, broken again— was scattered as well as the soil dirtying his floor.

The Chamomile flower remained on the floor just like before.

Shadow turned his gaze to the coffee table, where the empty packets of coffee beans and chips remained, exactly where they'd been.

Finally, he looked up at the ceiling where the light continued to flicker around the room, where it could've cast the room in shifting shadows, but the morning sunlight pouring through the window kept everything stubbornly bright.

It somehow felt uncomfortable.

A hollow feeling within his stomach fell.

Shadow snapped back to reality in just a few seconds after studying the area around his home. He felt a headache forming and squinted his eyes before it got worse.

Keep it together.

He's had worse dreams than this.

Attempting to clear his mind— Shadow cleaned everything in his living room in less than a second. He tested the lightbulb by flicking the switch twice until he was certain the light was stable, before flicking it off once again.

The feeling within his gut never faded away.

Shadow left his apartment in a hurry, speeding through the downstairs area before leaving the building entirely until the sunlight hit him.

Even then, the chaotic sounds that echoed in his mind of the events that happened in what Shadow believed was a dream. Especially Sonic's lifeless body— Shadow couldn't get his mind off the dull green eyes that stared through him, it gave him a shiver despite the hot weather.

Shadow once again sped through the town with no clear destination in mind, yet his legs moved with purpose even if his mind hadn't caught up. A million thoughts raced through him, but one thing spoke louder than the rest, "Is Sonic alive?"

He shook his head almost aggressively, it was a stupid question, one Shadow wasn't even sure he could answer himself. But it continued to linger in his mind, "What if he wasn't?"

The thought hit him like a punch to the gut. His chest tightened. That dream— no, that vision— had felt too vivid, too grounded to be dismissed as some fantasy. Especially with how his home was somehow left the same way it was unclean as before, like time had skipped a beat.

Shadow stopped his movements when he saw the grocery store he was in before, he stood there for a while, unmoving, like he was waiting for something or someone.

The wind continued to sweep past him, unbothered by the inner turmoil that was occurring inside the black hedgehog as if it was mocking him.

People passed by without notice, their conversations were blocked out by his ears, drowned beneath the weight of his thoughts.

And the minutes pass by like a flash.

…

This is ridiculous.

There was no point in waiting, why would he even assume the blue hedgehog would come for him? In front of a grocery store, of all places.

Yet, Shadow's legs were anchored to the floor beneath him like it was keeping him together from falling apart. He didn't realize his head had been down until a familiar silhouette cast a shadow at his shoes as the figure stepped closer to his space.

"Good morning!"

The cheerful, casual voice cut through the haze, making Shadow perk his ears and slowly look up, shining emerald eyes made contact with his.

But behind them, the memory flickered of wide, lifeless, and dull eyes that stared right through him.

Shadow stumbled back, more from the memory than Sonic's presence. The cheerful greeting faded as the echo of the haunting vision stuck to his brain like a parasite.

Sonic had the same exact tone as how he greeted him before, even through the positivity that leaked through the hero, Shadow couldn't shake the feeling that the inescapable future he'll have will spiral out of control.

"..You good there?"

…

"I'm fine."

The words left his mouth before he even processed them. Still, a quiet relief fled through Shadow's veins without him realizing it after taking sight of the blue hedgehog before him.

Sonic didn't seem to believe his words, giving him a skeptical look before turning his gaze away. "You staring at nothing while we stand outside in the sun made me feel like I'm about to get a heatstroke. Hey, wanna get some ice cream while we're at it?"

He grabbed Shadow's arm once again with the familiar grip he had from last time, unaware of the growing agonization in the darker hedgehog's mind as Sonic started to drag Shadow with him

A wave of immediate worry washed over Shadow as he heard those words. Sonic, who had no idea that he was only walking towards his impending doom— made Shadow panic briefly before he could even stop to think about what he said.

"Don't—!"

Sonic immediately stopped in his tracks as he looked back at Shadow. He must've looked tense when Sonic looked at him with instant concern and confusion, Shadow felt his quills prick up as the memory from the chaos before haunted him once again.

"…Somewhere.. else.."

"Huh?"

"Go somewhere else, not towards the vendor near the street."

"What? Why? The flavour I want sells it there."

Who cares about your stupid flavour!!!

"Look. Just.. anywhere, alright?" Please was almost uttered out, but he bit it back.

Shadow probably looked pathetic, practically pleading for Sonic, all just for some damn ice cream— How ridiculous. He hated how desperate he must've seemed, especially after Sonic gave him a soft sigh, the kind that Shadow wasn't supposed to hear.

"…Okay." Sonic said after a beat, "Do you know a better spot?"

On the way to an actual ice cream shop was a blur for Shadow, more like a haze of overstimulation and simmering nerves. His thoughts refused to settle down, looping back to the worst-case scenario—

Every little thing grated on him, the sound of cars passing, the chatter of people, even the way the sun reflected off the windows.

So when Sonic casually turned to him and asked, "Hey, you're buying, right?" It took everything in Shadow not to snap.

Shadow asked flatly, "Why am I buying it?"

"'Cause you're the one who recommended this place! I trust you know what I like." He said it all with an easy grin.

Actually, I don't. Unless they served chili dog-flavoured ice cream, there was no way he'd know what to get. And if they did have that flavour? Well, he would've definitely gotten that abomination for Sonic.

Sonic nudged Shadow towards the front counter, where the variety of ice cream flavours was displayed behind the clear glass. The cool air that radiated from the fridge did make Shadow calm down for a bit.

Sonic looked giddy, just like his usual self. Yet a suspicious feeling lingered in the back of Shadow's mind.

"Oh, I want Rocky Road!" Sonic pointed to the chocolate ice cream speckled with small marshmallows and peanuts.

Shadow sighed, long and tired, "Whatever. Just stay here."

He shot Sonic a warning glance— not one of irritation, but subtle urgency. He didn't want Sonic drifting off, not after that. Not after the strange weight still pressing on his chest, as if something was coming.

Without waiting for a response, Shadow turned back to the counter and pointed first to the coffee flavour for himself, then to the Rocky Road. The worker behind the counter scooped it into the two cups, as the hum of the cooler filled the silence between Shadow's thoughts.

It's just ice cream. This is normal. This is fine.

But the moment the cups were handed over and he reached into his quills for his wallet, that unsettled feeling began creeping back in like something had shifted.

Shadow paid quickly, the transaction barely registering. He turned around with two cups in hand—

Then Sonic was gone.

He got an immediate bad feeling. The blue hedgehog was nowhere in the shop.

No voice. No movement. Just an empty space where Sonic should've been.

The cold air that wafted inside the shop felt like a warning.

A sinking sensation settled in his stomach like stone, his heart rate picked up from the deep instinctual sense that something was wrong.

Shadow left the shop in a hurry, dropping the cups in the process as the worker's irritated voice faded out. Leaving the shop made Shadow instantly feel the hot, humid weather, he frantically looked around the area just to see even a sliver of a blue hedgehog.

Panic flooded his veins in an instant, Shadow told him to stay. Why didn't he stay?

There was no use in asking himself useless questions that wouldn't get Shadow anywhere as the sinking feeling continued to worsen.

Shadow grabbed a raccoon mobian by the arm, albeit too harshly— as they winced. But their fear came more from the sheer intensity in Shadow's eyes than the grip itself.

He'll apologize later— but for now, "Have you seen a blue hedgehog anywhere?" Shadow distraughtly asked, barely holding back the desperation cracking at the edges.

The raccoon shakily responded, "Y-You.. mean S-Sonic?" They hesitated, then pointed toward the far end of the city.

"I saw him heading that way. Heard something about… a failing construction site…"

Shadow didn't wait to hear more.

This idiot! Shadow immediately ran towards the city, he almost pushed the mobian away, but was able to hold himself back—

There was no time to lose control. Not now. Not when every second wasted could cost him everything. His mind raced faster than his legs—

The worst-case scenario has probably already happened.

Shadow desperately shook the thought away, but even then, his gut feeling wouldn't fade out. Louder than reason.

And then, up ahead— Shadow saw them. A crowd. People gathered in a tight circle, voices hushed and panicked. Whispers tangled with choked sobs.

A chill ran down Shadow's spine.

His pace slowed.

..He knew. He knew if he looked at what they were crowding on, he'd regret it.

Yet his body moved on its own, walking slowly towards the center of the huddled area of the crowd. A feeling of dread creeping in closer and closer with each step.

Turn around.

You don't want to know.

You already know.

But his body kept moving, even as his mind screamed for him to stop. It was as if something beyond was pulling him forward inescapably.

Shadow wished time would freeze, maybe then, he wouldn't have to look at it.

But it didn't.

And when the crowd parted just enough for him to catch a glimpse—

His eyes locked on the sight.

There, was Sonic, lying face down on the street, blood pooling around him as a pole was pierced through his chest. Shadow could see the streaks of blood on the pole where it went through Sonic's back.

No no no no—

Shadow bolted towards his body— Yet, when he got closer, he couldn't even do anything. Removing the tall pole would make things worse— Shadow still needed to check Sonic's breathing.

He kneeled beside Sonic's body, checking his pulse until he realized the position of the pole where it was stabbed straight through his heart.

He widened his eyes as he grasped the situation before him.

Sonic was dead.

And the heat that shed across them reminded him that this was real.

Once again, Shadow felt the familiar ache within his entire being.

He closed his eyes as the pull within his body continued to worsen, the stinging feeling made Shadow fall back into nothing—

His head was about to convulse.

Until Shadow woke up.

Sitting up in his bed as he wheezed for air, the stabbing pain inside his chest throbbed as every beat felt like an injury to his lungs.

Shadow gripped his quills to distract himself from the pain and the memory of Sonic's bleeding body as the dim emerald eyes haunted his being.

What the hell is happening?

Chapter Text

Shadow stood in the middle of his home, eyes scanning every corner with growing dread.

No doubt it was the same.

Broken flowerpot, cluttered coffee table, and the flickering light that was just enough to cast restless shadows across the room.

After the piercing pain in Shadow's chest subsided, he didn't realize how long he had stayed sitting up on his bed for, recalling the death of his rival as he sat there in silence. He remembered everything from the scene— the smell— the cries—

Until he looked at the clock, which already told him it was the afternoon.

Shadow immediately got up and chose to look around his home once again as his suspicions were confirmed.

He was stuck in a time loop. And Sonic's death resets the day.

A chill coursed through him, not from the room, but from the realization clawing its way up his spine. The timeline reset the moment Sonic died, and dropped him right back here.

Back at the start.

Shadow wasn't sure why or how it had happened— he couldn't even remember the events that had led up to this point. What the hell was the reason? What twist of fate had forced him into this endless repetition?

Shadow clenched his fists so tightly his gloves creaked. His eyes locked on the shattered pot again, its sharp edges catching the flickering light.

It hadn't moved.

It never did, it was as if the universe itself was showing him what had come.

He glared at it with a silent fury, like it held the answers Shadow couldn't reach.

But Shadow knew.

Until he changed the outcome, until he saved Sonic—

He would continue to relive this day.

Before Shadow let the upcoming terror influence his body— he bolted right out the door.

The moment he exited his apartment building, Shadow immediately turned on his skates and ran. The way the wind blew his quills never seemed to bother him before as the speed overtook his thoughts, but every whiff going through his fur reminds Shadow of the metaphorical ticking time clock inside his mind.

Shadow arrived in front of the grocery store, no sign of the blue hedgehog anywhere. He was probably too late, considering he stayed cooped up in his house almost all day—

Where the hell would Sonic be after he arrived here?

No time to waste— Shadow tore through the streets like a predator on the hunt, eyes sharp and unrelenting. He moved with purpose, weaving through crowds and alleys, scanning every corner and shadow.

As Shadow looked for Sonic, his mind churned with half-formed thoughts, desperately trying to make sense of the loop.

He was sure Sonic's death was the cause, twice couldn't be a coincidence.

Maybe the world itself refused to let Sonic die, that stubborn hedgehog had always been too fast, too lucky and too important to simply vanish.

But what does Shadow have to do with that? Why was he going back? Why was he responsible for this?

Why him?

A low growl escaped Shadow's throat, the frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. He didn't even realize how harsh his usual scowl had become— how deep the lines of tension cut into his face, until people on the sidewalk began stepping out of his way, casting wary glances as he passed.

Shadow could feel the storm in himself, and it was only growing.

Not even the blazing heat could help him, in fact, it made him feel worse.

Then Shadow saw them— just the back of familiar blue quills, and relief surged in Shadow's chest like a breaking dam. He didn't stop to savor it.

He ran, "Sonic!"

Sonic turned, and Shadow swore he saw his pupils dilate, before widening in alarm. "Oh, Shadow? Good— HUAH?!?"

Shadow grabbed his wrist without warning and sped off to Gaia knows where, dragging him through the streets in a blur of motion. He didn't know exactly where he was going— just that it had to be away.

"Whoa, whoa! Where are we going?!" Sonic shouted over the wind.

"Quiet." Shadow snapped, "We need to get somewhere far." Shadow gripped his hold on Sonic's wrist even tighter.

"Far? Why? I need you to be a bit more specific than that than cryptic one-liners here, Shadow?!"

Shadow didn't answer him, too caught up in his own thoughts. He knew if they stayed anywhere near the city, some stupid accident, some careless mistake would get Sonic caught up in it and ultimately lead to his death.

A fresh image of Sonic's body flashed in his mind—visions of blood on the street and wide green eyes going glassy, as his lifeless body was pierced.

And Shadow faltered in his step, he felt his eyes blur as he looked down on the grounded grass beneath him, his vision splitting into two, spinning out of focus.

Then, without realizing it, Shadow's grip shifted. His fingers slid from Sonic's wrist to his palm.

He wasn't sure who clasped first, but suddenly their hands were intertwined— firm and grounding.

It was the only thing keeping Shadow tethered, the only thing holding him together.

And for a moment, just for a moment, the chaos in his mind quieted.

…

"I'd say this is your usual behaviour, but this isn't really like you, Shadow. Is something going on?" Sonic asked as he tightened his hold on Shadow's hand just slightly.

Shadow returned the pressure without thinking, "I'll explain everything later," he said after a pause. His voice was low, serious. "Just trust me."

He couldn't bring himself to meet Sonic's eyes. He didn't know what he'd see— trust, confusion, doubt. And if it were trust, that would be worse. It might break Shadow.

Yet, they still walked, deeper into the forest as Shadow had realized where they were— away from the roads, buildings, people, and from the timeline's jaws. The world around them grew quieter with every step, the hum of the city fading behind rustling leaves and the occasional birds.

Still, Shadow didn't let go. And Sonic didn't pull away.

The air between them was quiet for a while, until Sonic finally spoke again, this time with a teasing edge to his voice—

"You know, if anyone else saw us walking hand-in-hand into a secluded forest like this, they might get some ideas."

Shadow didn't reply, not even an exhale to his words.

Sonic grinned at his silence anyway, "C'mon, you're really not gonna say anything? No sarcastic 'hmph'? No 'don't be ridiculous, Sonic'? Nothing?" He lowered the sound of his voice when he imitated Shadow.

But still, no answer.

Shadow's eyes remained locked ahead, scanning every movement, every tree, every break in the bushes as if danger could appear at any moment. His jaw was tight, body tense.

The warmth between their hand remained, but it wasn't enough to ease the weight in Shadow's chest.

Sonic's smile faded slowly as he took in the dark hedgehog's expression. "Shadow…"

They finally stopped in a small clearing, light filtering through the canopy above. The silence settled heavier now than they'd both like.

The unease started crawling into Sonic's chest, "Okay, seriously." His voice had lost its teasing edge, "You've been weird all day, and I played along thinking you'd open up. But now we're out here, miles from anything, and I still don't know the reason."

Shadow remained silent.

Sonic stopped walking.

"Hey, I need to know what's going on."

Shadow kept going a few steps before realizing Sonic had stopped. He turned halfway but still didn't meet his eyes.

"You said you'd explain," Sonic pressed, voice rising now. "But you haven't. You've just been dragging me around like I'm some mission objective!" There was some sort of shakiness in his voice, but Shadow chose not to register it.

"I'm trying to keep you safe." Shadow said through gritted teeth.

"..What?" He assumed Sonic just gave him a confused expression that Shadow didn't look at.

"You dragged me out here with zero warning, and now you won't even tell me why? Look— I'm not trying to be difficult, but I need to get back. Tails is waiting for me. He's working on something important, his latest invention is on—"

"I said I'll explain later." Shadow fully growled on him now.

"Yeah, you keep saying that, but you never do!" Sonic's voice cracked with frustration, hands gesturing wildly now.

He stepped closer, eyes narrowing, "Why are you really doing this? What's going on in that head of yours? Why wont you just… talk to me?"

Shadow's fists trembled at his sides, Sonic winced from the pressure of his hand.

Because if he said it out loud, it would become real. The death. The resets. The helplessness.

Because it would all happen again.

His chest heaved with unspoken words, the pressure finally reaching its breaking point.

And then—

"What the hell is making you this agitated for?! Sonic, for once in your life, can't you just listen to me without running your damn mouth?!"

The forest fell silent around the shout, birds scattering from the trees above.

Sonic froze.

And Shadow stood rigid, his voice still echoing faintly in the trees, eyes dark with something between fear and duty.

Sonic angrily ripped off his hold from Shadow's hand—

Shadow shouldn't have looked at his eyes. He told himself not to as he looked up instinctively to study Sonic's expression.

What he saw instead hit harder than any physical blow.

Sonic looked hurt.

His ears drooped, emerald eyes wide, not just with anger, but fear, betrayal and most of all, ache. It was the kind that Shadow didn't know how to fix.

And before Shadow could utter a single word, Sonic turned and vanished in a blur of blue and wind, speeding off into the trees without a glance back.

He didn't want Shadow to see it, but Shadow caught it anyway— the shimmer in his eyes, Sonic was already on the verge of tears.

The moment shattered.

Shadow stood frozen for half a second, then clenched his teeth with a sharp breath.

"Damn it—!"

He spun around and kicked the nearest tree with enough force to split it clean down the middle, the trunk cracking with a sickening snap. Leaves burst from the canopy above as the tree crashed down, shaking the forest floor beneath him.

The forest fell silent. Shadow stood there, chest heaving, fists clenched, and head pounding.

He dragged his hands up to his scalp, fingers digging into his fur as the pressure in his skull intensified— a pulsing, agonizing headache building behind his eyes. His thoughts were a mess of red and static which was spinning and screaming with frustration.

Because of that stupid, reckless, infuriating blue hedgehog—

He was literally trying to save him, only doing what was best to keep him safe, but of course, Sonic just doesn't get it.

He never does.

Too stubborn. Too trusting. Too damn selfless to sit still for five seconds and just listen.

So why the hell does Shadow keep trying anyway?

He punched the side of the broken tree trunk, splinters cracking under his knuckles.

Only silence followed. His ragged breathing filled the empty space where Sonic had stood moments ago. And yet, despite everything—

Shadow probably already knew the answer.

And that pissed him off more than anything else.

The sun was starting to set, casting long shadows across the forest floor— and Sonic was still nowhere in sight.

The fact alone made Shadow's heart pound harder than it should've.

Too much time had passed, Shadow had left Sonic alone for too long—

Panic tightened in his chest like a vice as he shot forward, tearing through the forest in a blur. Trees blurred past him— just indistinct streaks of green and brown, as his eyes scanned desperately for even the faintest flash of blue.

He shouldn't have left him alone. He shouldn't have lost his temper. He shouldn't have wasted precious time kicking trees and cursing the universe like a fool while Sonic ran off on his own.

Now he was gone, and Shadow had no idea where to start looking.

His breath hitched as he skidded to a stop at a clearing, eyes darting across the horizon, scanning every shadow between the trees.

Nothing. Just silence.

He cupped his hands around his mouth, voice cracking as he screamed. "Sonic!"

It echoed across the forest, then faded into the growing stillness. Yet no one replied.

Shadow's pulse thundered in his ears. He began running again, almost tripping over roots as he pushed his body to its limit, head frantically looking from side to side—

His breathing became ragged even more. His movements erratic.

Where is he? Where is he?!

His mind raced with visions he'd already seen too many times. Visions he was fighting tooth and nail to stop from becoming real again.

Every second that passed twisted deeper into his gut.

The hope he was clinging to has probably already faded.

And by the end of the forest— was a cliff.

Something about it pulled Shadow in, his stomach twisting into knots. A cold, creeping dread slithered up his spine, coiling around his lungs.

Don't tell me…

He sped off, heart thundered in his ears as he sprinted towards the cliff's edge. The moment he reached it, he kneeled down. Watching the vast blue ocean stretched out below, calm and quiet.

Shadow scanned the waters with wide, frantic eyes, desperate for nothing and everything all at once.

His gaze shifted slightly, his breath caught in his throat. Far out in the water, barely visible, something floated.

No. Someone.

A streak of blue bobbing just beneath the surface.

Shadow jumped in without thinking, diving straight into the water as he held his breath. The cold hit him like a wall, but he didn't care.

He forced his limbs to move, flailing forward, each stroke more desperate than the last. The water dragged at him, thick and heavy, but he pushed harder, eyes locked on the shape ahead.

He grabbed Sonic with trembling arms, hooking his hands under his armpits and pulling him up. Sonic's body was limp. Heavy. Head lolling. Unmoving.

Just hold on— don't do this again… Just please hold on—

His eyes set on the nearest shore as Shadow tried to swim back despite the heavy weight, his breath burning in his chest.

The seconds stretched endlessly.

His feet scraped sand beneath the surface. He dragged them up onto the shore, coughing up salt water as he hauled Sonic's body onto the beach.

Sand stuck to their fur, but Shadow barely noticed

He dropped to his knees beside Sonic, shaking, and pressed his ear against his chest. No pulse. No sound. Nothing.

"No," Shadow's voice began to break, "No, no, no, not again…"

His hands moved on their own, starting chest compressions, then breath after breath. He couldn't think. He just needed him to breathe.

"Come on, dammit— breathe!" Shadow's voice cracked with panic.

But Sonic didn't move. No coughing. No gasp. No weak comeback.

Just stillness.

Shadow froze, staring down at him with wide, horror stricken eyes. His mind spiraled.

How the hell would Sonic die from this? Sure, he couldn't swim but he could've avoided falling off the cliff in the first place?! A spindash would've worked to avoid the impact!

He could've saved him. He should've saved him.

Sonic's body remained cold beneath his hands, and the weight of failure crushed down on Shadow's chest.

He doubled over, pain piercing through his ribs like a blade, his whole body convulsing from something far deeper than exhaustion.

It wasn't just pain. It was guilt. It was the crushing realization,

He failed. Again.

His breath grew shallow. The world around him blurred, spinning in all directions, until even Sonic's body seemed to fade into the haze filling his vision.

His heart pounded— then everything dropped.

Until blackness swallowed him whole.

Chapter Text

Shadow woke up with the blinding sun reflecting in his window once again. He clutched his chest from the piercing pain as well as the growing guilt that was building up inside of him.

He lay his head on his knees as he let the pain subside, arms wrapped around his legs as if he could physically hold himself together. Breathing heavily made it feel like his ribs were poking through his lungs, it felt like glass— shallow, jagged, and burning. For a moment, he couldn't tell if it was pain or panic.

Shadow clutched his head until his fingers went through his quills and almost ripped them out. He managed to rationalize himself before he actually did something stupid.

Eventually, the panic dulled just enough for him to move.

Shadow rose to his feet, though the weight in his chest made it feel like he was dragging a thousand-pound chain behind him. Every step out of the bedroom was reluctant, as if the air itself resisted him.

And then it came back. The memory, the moment, the last conversation he had with Sonic before—

Before it happened again.

It had been tense. Heated. A tug-of-war between fear and confusion.

Sonic had only asked questions, reasonable ones at least. He was worried, trying to understand where Shadow was taking him, why it mattered so much, why Shadow looked so broken.

But Shadow, who was trapped in his own storm of dread and desperation, had snapped. Not just at the questions— but at Sonic.

All that bottled-up frustration, all that helplessness he couldn't control.. he'd let it out on the one person he was trying so desperately to protect.

He shouldn't have snapped at him, maybe then Sonic wouldn't have had to leave.

Shadow closed his eyes, jaw clenched.

Each step towards his door echoed through his ears, sharp and hollow, as if it was reminding him that nothing in this place ever changed. No matter how many times he woke up.

Broken flower pot. Flickering light. Cluttered table.

Shadow stood in the middle of the living room, unmoving, his breath shallow. The pain in his chest hadn't eased; if anything, it felt worse. Not physical, but emotional, like something was gnawing at his insides from the moment his eyes opened.

He sank to the floor without thinking, legs folding beneath him, back pressed to the cold wall.

And he just continued to sit there. Motionless.

Staring into nothing.

The ticking of the clock grated on his nerves, a steady, mocking rhythm of time that didn't matter.

Because it would happen again.

And again.

And again.

The weight of it made his arms feel too heavy to lift. His head hung low, quills falling forward as he let himself fold.

He wanted to scream. To destroy something. To rip this whole reality apart with Chaos energy and watch it burn.

But even that wouldn't stop the loop. He'd just wake up the next day with nothing to show for it but another memory of failure.

Another death. Another version of him, broken in a different way.

He let his head fall back against the wall with a soft thud. This was the worst part. Not the panic. Not the running. Not even the moment he found Sonic's lifeless body.

It was this.

The waiting, the knowing, the crushing silence that came before the storm.

Shadow got up with a heavy sigh, if he had the time to reel in his mind, then he should've been able to clean his house at least.

He dragged a hand through his quills, sighing quietly.

It was pointless. He knew that. Tomorrow, when he wakes up, it will be all the same again.

But maybe pretending to fix it gave him just enough control to stand upright. Shadow began to move quickly, almost mechanically.

The two empty packets and abandoned mug on the coffee table were swept up without care. He tossed the packets into the bin, the mug clinking into the sink with more force than necessary.

Next was the flickering lightbulb. Shadow unscrewed it and replaced it with one from the drawer, something he'd done many times that the motion had become muscle memory. He held the burnt-out bulb in his hand for a moment, staring at the darkened glass as he stared at his reflection, then set it down on the kitchen counter with a dull clink.

His feet carried him over to the shattered flower pot next. Cracked ceramic was scattered across the floor like frozen pieces of a memory. Shadow knelt slowly, reaching out to gather the shards.

But just before his glove touched one, he froze. And for a second, just a second, he hovered there as his hand trembled slightly.

…

Why was he wasting his time here?

What the hell was the point? What was he even cleaning for?

It would all just reset.

Trash would reappear. The bulb would flicker again. The flower pot would shatter. And Sonic would still—

His jaw clenched, the moment of quiet reflection snapping into urgency like a switch being flipped. Shadow surged to his feet, nearly knocking over a chair as he moved.

He stormed out of the front door without a second glance at his home, the mess could all rot. He had more important things to do.

The moment Shadow hit the sidewalk, he was running— blazing down the streets of the town like a streak of black and red light. Wind tore past his ears, buildings blurred in his peripheral vision, but his focus was razor sharp.

He had a destination this time. He wasn't going to stand around. Wasn't going to wait.

Shadow skidded to a stop just outside the grocery store, his shoes kicking up dust. The fading daylight cast a golden hue across the building, but Shadow's eyes weren't on the scenery.

They were already scanning.

Left. Right. Across the street. Down the block. Every corner, every sidewalk, every face in the crowd—

Then Shadow spotted him, casually walking towards the front of the grocery store.

Shadow's breath hitched and almost ran into him—

Sonic noticed him immediately, slowing down as that familiar, bright smile curved across his face— unchanged, unburdened by the weight Shadow carried. "Good morning!" Sonic greeted, with the same tone, voice chipper and warm, like sunshine in sound.

Shadow felt his chest clench. The way Sonic stood there, easy and open, like nothing had happened— as if the tragedies that Shadow had witnessed were nothing but fever dreams, making his stomach twist with something dangerously close to grief.

He resisted the urge to clench his fists, knowing Sonic would notice. Instead, he locked his arms stiffly at his sides and stared at him with deadpan eyes, trying to keep his expression neutral. Controlled.

Fake.

"Slept well?" Sonic stepped closer to Shadow with a grin.

Shadow blinked. Mouth agape as he thought about what his next words would be. "…What are you doing here?"

It was monotone, almost broken, like he was following lines from a script as he waited for Sonic's expected response.

Sonic raised a brow, feigning offense. "Yeesh, just greeting you and I already get that attitude? Not a morning person at all?"

And of course, it was the same reply from last time, same emphasis, same lines. Shadow felt bile crawling up his throat.

"Honestly, looking at you now, you're definitely not a morning person." Sonic added and looked over Shadow's figure like he was studying him.

Shadow barely registered it. He didn't flinch. Didn't roll his eyes or fire back with sarcasm. He just stood there, locked in place, while flashes of blue fur soaked in seawater and limp limbs sprawled on the sand flooded behind his eyes.

He wanted to scream.

The sun bore down on them, its heat biting into his dark fur, grounding him again— but it felt less like warmth and more like mockery. A cruel spotlight on the act he was forced to repeat.

"Since it's been really hot lately," Sonic said as he fanned himself, "You wanna get some ice cream with me?"

There it is.

Shadow's stomach dropped. That cursed offer.

Something so simple. So innocent. And yet, it had been the domino that tipped the entire day into ruin. Twice now, it had led to Sonic's death, pointless ones, stupid ones, over a frozen dessert.

"No." Shadow said sharply. A bit too quick.

Sonic blinked at him, "Aw, why not? Got anything else in mind? Besides hot coffee or whatever."

Shadow contemplated. He needed to steer the day somewhere new, away from ice cream stands and crowded streets and fatal construction zones— somewhere quiet. Somewhere safe.

"There's a diner I know," He said at last, "They sell milkshakes."

Sonic's face lit up instantly, like someone had flipped a switch. "Sounds perfect!"

Without hesitation, he grabbed Shadow's arm and tugged him forward. "Lead the way!"

The contact startled him, not because it was unexpected, but because it felt real. Sonic's hand was warm around his arm, casual but steady.

Shadow didn't resist.

It wasn't unusual for Sonic to feel giddy, especially when getting his favourite food like chilidogs— but there was something about his joy this time, untouched and uncomplicated, that made Shadow ache.

Maybe Shadow just wanted to soak in that positivity from him just for a little longer, to get away from all the pessimistic thoughts he's been having.

Unconsciously, he slightly leaned into Sonic's hold, not enough to draw attention. Just enough to feel a fraction of comfort in a world where nothing stayed safe for long.

Sonic just gave him a toothy smile, a wide and genuine one at that.

Like he didn't know he was a ticking clock in Shadow's world.

They reached the diner, it was a cozy little place with neon lights humming quietly, the scent of fries and milkshakes drifting into the air.

They sat on a booth next to the window as Shadow's mind drifted elsewhere. He said nothing, just let the world spin around him as Sonic chattered about nothing and everything.

For a while, things felt normal. Sonic's laughter filled the space between them, he told a story about Tails' jetpack nearly outrunning him and how Knuckles and Amy were there to record the time it took to catch up to him.

And Shadow found himself allowing a reluctant, but small smile. The warmth was brief, but it was real.

The waiter got up to them with a notepad and pen in hand, asking for their order.

"I'll get a classic cheeseburger and a vanilla milkshake. What do you want, Shads?"

To be honest, Shadow wasn't really that hungry. But he at least should indulge Sonic, to make up for what happened.

"I'll just have your small fries," Then he remembered what Sonic ordered as well with the heat reminding him, "And another vanilla milkshake as well."

Sonic lightly kicked his leg under the table, "You should order the steak!"

Shadow just sighed, knowing Sonic only let him order it so that he could eat it himself. "Yeah, whatever."

The waiter jotted down their orders and left for the kitchen without so much as a backward glance.

Inside, the diner buzzed with soft conversation and the quiet clatter of plates. People were lost in their own little worlds— eating, laughing, chatting. But for once, the noise didn't bother Shadow.

If anything, it gave him something to lean into. The normalcy.

It was the kind of atmosphere that didn't demand anything of him. And Sonic, seated just across the booth, was finally still, contained within his reach and his sight. That alone gave Shadow a strong sense of comfort he didn't want to admit.

Then Shadow glanced up.

Sonic was grinning again, wide and shameless, eyes practically glowing as he looked at Shadow like they were the only two people in the world. Whether he was teasing or just genuinely content, Shadow couldn't tell.

"I'm glad we're here, y'know?" Sonic said, still having that smile on his face. Voice easy and full of that same bright warmth.

"..I can see that." Shadow muttered, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "That happy for a milkshake, faker?"

"Hey, not just the milkshake! I mean, yeah, but I'm more glad I'm with you. It's not every day we get to just… hang out. Eat. No world-ending stuff. Just us." He toyed absentmindedly with the utensils in the cup that was in the middle of the table. "I like it a lot."

Shadow's eyes lingered on him, studying the subtle shift in Sonic's expression. It wasn't as playful now, still soft and sincere, but layered with something quieter. Something that looked close to… longing.

And Shadow didn't know what to make of that.

Unconsciously, something in his own face must have slipped— since Sonic suddenly averted his gaze, turning toward the waiter as they just returned with a tray of food. He accepted it with a cheerful thank you, bu there was a slight pinkness to the tips of his ears, just barely visible.

Shadow tried to swallow the odd disappointment within his chest. He hated how much silence was said in moments like this.

The plates were placed down. The milkshakes followed. The waiter left with a nod.

Sonic exhaled and shifted back in his seat, "…Anyway, it's just a thought. Let's dig in!" he said, clearly trying to move the moment along.

Sonic tried his milkshake first, taking a sip as a relief of something cold going through him eased his mind. He grabbed his burger and took a bite halfway through the entire bun and patty, chewing happily.

Shadow didn't touch his food. He just watched. Unmoving. Eyes unsteady and unreadable. He thought about what he should say. The silence stretched long enough to feel awkward, but eventually— he spoke quietly.

"…I like it too."

Sonic looked up at him, halfway stealing a fry. "Huh?"

Shadow's gaze didn't falter. "Just the two of us… eating here." Without any casualties was left unsaid.

And Sonic just slightly widened his eyes, then gave him a small smile, it was sweet, sincere— probably the first time Shadow ever saw it that was directed at him, coming from Sonic as well.

Both of them probably knew there was something more from the other to say, yet no one talked as Sonic continued to chew his food, and Shadow was still unmoving in his seat.

They didn't say anything more. They didn't need to.

Shadow remained still, the untouched food growing colder in front of him, his eyes never leaving Sonic's face.

Somewhere deep inside, he felt that fragile hope stir again. But it wouldn't last.

Not for long.

"You should really start eating this before I devour it all." Sonic said he already took a piece of steak from Shadow's plate. He even offered a bite of his burger, but Shadow refused with an obvious disgust in his expression.

As Sonic took a bite out of Shadow's steak, he immediately started talking about something new that came out of his mind, his friends, his fights with Eggman, and some dreams.

Shadow tried to focus on his stories, nodding in small details as his arms still stayed by his side. Still not picking up any of his utensils.

Then, Sonic's hand paused mid-air, his other hand clutching the now small piece of his burger. His grin faded, he swallowed and then he started coughing.

At first, it seemed like a spasm, maybe a fry lodged in his throat. But it didn't stop, he dropped his burger to clutch his throat, eyes wide.

"Sh-Shadow—" He croaked.

Shadow lunged forward, adrenaline slamming through his chest. He got up from his table, causing it to rattle— standing beside Sonic as Shadow grabbed his shoulder and leaned him forward. "Sonic?! Come on, what's going on?!"

But then Sonic started coughing even louder— continuously, darker, and thicker than spit. Crimson.

Blood.

It splattered onto the table. Sonic's eyes flickered intensely, the smile replaced by sheer panic.

Shadow's mind exploded. No, no, not you—

He tipped Sonic sideways, tried to clear his airway, shouted for the waiter, but everything slowed.

He looked down at the plate in front of him, his own steak untouched. And then it clicked.

The milkshake. The steak. The fries. Poisoned.

Shadow's breath caught in his throat. Rage and dread and guilt all collided inside him. How dare someone do this? To Sonic?

He shoved all of the plates on the table to the floor until they shattered. No doubt it alerted everyone in the diner, but he didn't care, his fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned pale. Shadow's eyes darted across the diner— customers, staff, everyone, they were all a blur, his focus laser-sharp only on Sonic and the betrayal.

"Stay with me!" Shadow barked, voice raw.

Every second felt like an eternity. Sonic's breathing was ragged, weak, as he continued coughing. It sounded painful— each hack getting worse and worse.

"D-Don't leave me again… please."

Sonic just gave him a confused, shaken look as he continued coughing, desperately holding onto his own neck and Shadow.

Shadow refused to let fear eat him whole, but the panic was there, sharp and cold. Anger lit behind his eyes. Someone had done this. Someone had tried to kill him— or at least kill the one person Shadow had to save.

He shouted to the whole diner, as agony washed over him. "Why? Who did this?!" Logic was barely in his mind when he furiously asked that question.

But there was no answer. People just stared in horror.

And as Sonic's vision flickered, a wave of hopelessness crashed over Shadow once again. He kept coughing and coughing nonstop, violent and raw. Blood continued to splatter all over and stain Shadow's arm with red.

Sonic was shaking even more intensely in Shadow's desperate hold as he continued to choke and claw at his own throat like he couldn't get something out. He couldn't even ask for help as he wheezed for air, unable to breathe—

Until Sonic lay limp.

And Shadow, just watched it all happen.

Even though Sonic had never left his sight, even when there were no natural disasters that could affect them—

Sonic still died. And Shadow had to witness it while holding him in his arms.

The blood on his arm felt like it was melting into him, reminding him like a punch that it happened again.

A wave of mixed emotions went through Shadow in a flash, but what he felt most was rage building up in every part of his brain.

Rage at the people. Rage at the diner. Rage at the people who did this to them. Rage at himself.

As Shadow felt Sonic's body getting cold even as he desperately clung on to him for any hope of life— it was futile. And it made him reach into a fearful end.

All the lingering hope was shattered.

The constricting pain in his chest returned.

And what Shadow could only do was shakily tighten his grip on Sonic's lifeless body once again.

He lifted his gaze to the people who crowded them, his vision blurry as it refused to make any form of faces.

And before he could lash out and cause destruction throughout the whole place— his body froze as Shadow felt that familiar pull within his entire being once again as he felt himself falling.

His vision stared into nothing as he continued to fall, the pull was dull to him as the way he held Sonic's limp body against him returned in his memory.

He felt his head about to convulse— then he woke up.

Shadow breathed heavily as he sat up, clutching his chest as the familiar pain pierced through his ribs once again and screamed.

It was the first time he actually vocally expressed his pain after experiencing it three times, it somehow felt like each reset was getting worse. He tried to breathe evenly, yet it remained shallow as each inhale felt like knives inside his lungs.

Shadow clutched his head with his other hand, fingers going through his quills and gripping them harshly as he ripped some of them off without realizing. Still trying to ground himself from the pain.

Not physically. But the agony of failing Sonic once again.

Shadow doesn't realize how waters were forming behind his eyelids.

Chapter Text

Shadow stumbled out of his bedroom, catching his foot on the edge of the doorway. Each unsteady step felt like a humiliation, a reminder that even his body had grown weary of this endless routine.

When he reached his door, he shoved it open with more force than it meant to, it slammed against the wall with a sharp, echoing crack that reverberated through his skull. The sound lingered, ringing in his ears.

He stood there for a moment, eyes shut, fingers digging into the base of his quills as if he could tear the ache and frustration out by force. A shaky breath escaped him, and when he finally lifted his gaze, the living room came into view.

Dread settled over him like a heavy fog.

And again. The same broken pot. The same flickering light. The same mess on the coffee table.

It was all there, right back at where he started.

A hollow laugh almost escaped him, but it curled into silence. Shadow doesn't even know why he continued to try. His hand rose to his temple, rubbing small circles into the pain there as if he could knead away the futility that had lodged itself behind his eyes.

He thought back to the events of the diner, where they were supposed to have a peaceful meal together, where Sonic's laughter lingered across the booth, until Sonic started coughing, until blood was splattered onto the table and onto Shadow's arm.

Shadow stared at his hands as if the stains were still there. Flickering memories of the repeated ways he had held Sonic's cold and lifeless body in his mind, the weight in his arms— it felt almost inevitable at this point.

Why? Why does he have to do this? Why does he have to witness it every time?

The question dissolved into the air, unanswered as always.

He gritted his teeth.

He shouldn't waste time now. He needed to know what was wrong with that diner.

Shadow stormed out of his home, moving so fast his shoes scraped against the floor. The air tore past his quills as he bolted through the streets, the world blurring into gray and sunlight and noise. It all felt rehearsed, each stride, each gust of wind, the same ache in his chest. A performance he'd been forced to repeat against his own will.

By the time he reached the grocery store, the weight of déjà vu was crushing. He didn't even pause to catch his breath. His crimson eyes scanned the sidewalk for that familiar flash of blue. His heart pounded, not from the run, but from the dread looming under his ribs.

Shadow hated how well he knew this moment. The heat pressing against his fur, the buzz of traffic nearby, the conversations of people. It all aligned perfectly, like the universe mocking him with its predictability.

He hoped he had arrived on time for Sonic to come soon, but Shadow didn't exactly check the clock whenever Sonic arrived in a specific area.

Maybe he should start timing it soon.

Shadow immediately shook the thought away. He wouldn't need a damn stopwatch just to know where Sonic would and should be. If anything, it'll just amplify his feeling of dread with each passing second, as there will be a literal countdown on him.

Like his life isn't already a ticking clock enough.

In the corner of his eye, he spotted Sonic walking towards the grocery store, strolling down the sidewalk, carefree as ever, hands behind his head and sunlight glinting off his quills. As if nothing was wrong. As if Shadow hadn't held his broken body four times over.

Shadow ran to him in a hurry, managing to surprise Sonic as the blue hedgehog turned to look at him. And the moment they made eye contact— Shadow was suddenly flashed with the phantom image of Sonic's mouth open in a choking cough, dimming eyes, red dripping down his chin.

Shadow stumbled back from his own memory, the echo of that vision made his knees weak.

"Jeez—!" Sonic stepped back, "You were the one who jumped me from the back, and you're the one freaking out? What, I got something on my face?"

"I—" Shadow's words were caught in his throat. What was he about to say? That yes, there is something on your face, your own blood that you coughed out.

But his tongue felt heavy, useless. His mind was a continuous storm of visions— The sound of the diner's neon buzzing above his cries, the warmth leaving Sonic's body, his weight getting heavier in his hold.

Sonic blinked at him, confusion softening into that familiar, easy grin. "Well, anyway. Good morning!"

Shadow flinched at the words. They were too bright, too rehearsed. The same greeting. The same tone. He'd heard it too many times that it had started to scrape raw against his nerves.

"…Stop it." Shadow said so quietly that Sonic could barely hear it.

"Huh?"

Shadow suddenly grabbed his wrist, maybe a bit too tightly as Sonic winced from the grip. The pulse under his thumb beat fast and warm. "Listen. You need to come with me, now. I'll explain later, but you have to trust me." He didn't want to think back at that third loop where Sonic sped off without a single glance, he didn't want to make the same mistake again, tightening his grip on Sonic's wrist even more.

"Whoa, hey— Shadow!" Sonic tried to tug free. "What's your deal, man? You look like you haven't slept in days!"

"Just come with me." Shadow snapped, his voice cracking under the strain. "Don't make me—"

In the spur of the moment, Sonic suddenly yanked his hand away from the hold Shadow had on him. The sudden movement made Shadow about to lash out until Sonic swung, a fist suddenly engulfed his vision as Sonic punched him right in the cheek, causing Shadow to stagger away from the assault.

His head was jerked to the side as he slowly processed what the hell just happened. For a heartbeat, everything stopped. The street noise, the wind— gone. Only the dull throb where Sonic's fist had landed remained.

The hit wasn't hard, but it wasn't soft either, the world tilting as a sharp burn spread across his cheek. Shadow turned his gaze back at Sonic and saw his basically blank expression.

Eyes focused on him, mouth formed into a thin line as Sonic still clenched his fist. The air around him seemed different, unfamiliar, as Shadow saw those emerald eyes staring back at him with almost emptiness to it. It only took a few seconds for Sonic to blink and realize what he did.

He stared at his raised fist and slowly put it down, "O-Oh crap… Shadow, I am so sorry— I genuinely didn't mean for that to happen, I—"

Shadow should definitely feel angry. No, he was angry.

All this effort. Every desperate loop. Every failure. And here he was, punched by the one person he'd been breaking himself to protect.

Something twisted inside him. Anger, yes. But underneath it, something uglier. A quiet, festering despair.

Shadow straightened his posture up, he wasn't sure what kind of expression he was making as he looked at Sonic, who was almost trembling with most likely regret.

Then— "Just come with me." Shadow gritted out.

Sonic only looked at him with surprise and confusion, he took a step back, guilt flickering across his face. "Shadow, I—"

"Please." Shadow hissed, cutting him off. His fists were shaking at his side. He wasn't even sure if he was begging or demanding anymore.

Sonic hesitated as his eyes landed on the bruise he gave to Shadow. There was a brief panic hidden within his expression, then he sighed. "…Where are we going?"

"…To my house," Shadow said, maybe it would be safer than a forest far away. "When I'm done with something, I'll tell you what's going on. Everything."

Then, after a beat.

"I really promise this time."

Shadow gripped both of Sonic's peach shoulders, the tension in his body trembling toward collapse. His head bowed down like he was pleading for Sonic to just come along. He didn't know what Sonic's expression looked like, he didn't have the heart to see Sonic looking at him with pity.

Sonic, after a moment, just gave him a reluctant nod. He didn't understand, he didn't ask any questions. Shadow probably wouldn't answer them anyway.

Shadow didn't look at him. He just let his hand slide down, fingers brushing against Sonic's palm before gripping it tightly. He turned away, breath steadying as he whispered, "Hold on."

Then the world blurred again, wind cutting through silence as Shadow carried them both toward home.

Shadow hastily opened his door and shoved Sonic inside. Sonic stumbled a bit from the force, looking at Shadow over his shoulder as he gave him a grumble. Shadow didn't respond, just gave him an annoyed huff as he stepped inside, not closing the door yet.

"Stay here," Shadow ordered. His voice low and steady, but the steadiness was unnatural. "Don't open the door for anyone. Don't leave, no matter what happens. Not a step outside. Understand?"

Sonic blinked, taken aback, "What—?"

"I'm serious." Shadow cut him off, eyes sharp with something that didn't look like anger anymore. "If anyone knocks, ignore it. The only time this door opens is when I walk through it. And that's final."

It got quiet as they stared down at each other, uncertain of the other's actions, mixed with confusion and doubt. The silence that followed was suffocating. Sonic looked away, his eyes observing Shadow's dim apartment, and his gaze landed on the shattered flower pot lying on the floor.

"…Alright." Sonic said after a beat. He turned his back to Shadow, shoulders tense. Shadow could tell there were words Sonic was holding in, things he wanted to say but didn't. For now, obedience was enough. If Sonic stayed here, he'd be safe— or at least safer than before.

Shadow did all he could to swallow the doubt in his throat.

He saw Sonic look up at the ceiling, his eyes landing on the flickering light that continued to cast uneven shadows across the room, catching his attention. Shadow heard him mutter something, "…still…" too quietly for Shadow to make sense of it, the rest of the words seemed to be muted. Some stray thought, maybe. Shadow didn't have the time to ask.

Shadow turned toward the doorway. "…I won't be long."

Silence followed. It continued to eat at him.

"When you come back… you'll tell me what's going on?" Sonic's voice sounded distant, hesitant.

Shadow froze. "..Yes." Somehow, that single word scraped out of him harder than it should have.

"You said you promise."

Shadow didn't respond, his eyes absent.

Sonic stepped further into the room, still facing away. The open doorway felt like a threat, a threshold that once crossed could unravel everything. Like the world could burn in one breath. Shadow hesitated. Leaving felt like betrayal, but staying meant another death.

Another loop.

So he stepped through, closing the door behind him. The lock clicked, final and cold.

Maybe the world had already gone into ashes.

The bell above the door chimed softly as Shadow stepped inside the diner, moving with purpose.

The same smell of cheap grease clung to the air. Everything else stayed the same the last time he and Sonic went, he couldn't help but feel like it was mocking him.

Shadow's shoes echoed against the tile as he approached the counter. He sat by a booth, but not the same booth he and Sonic were sitting at before, he wouldn't be able to bear it. Flashing images of the blue hedgehog coughing in his arms were starting to flood his mind again—

"Ready to order?"

Shadow got startled seeing the same waiter by his table, he had to clench his fist under the table as he tried to respond normally. "..A vanilla milkshake. Steak. Cheeseburger. Small fries."

The waiter nodded, jotting it down as if this were any other morning, then disappeared toward the kitchen.

Shadow narrowed his eyes, watching the waiter's every move. His eyes followed them the whole way.

He couldn't shake the unease gnawing at him. He couldn't understand. Does the diner have something against Shadow? Did they still see him as the monster from years ago— the weapon that never learned how to stop fighting?

He shut his eyes briefly, shaking the thought away. There was no use holding a grudge after all.

Poison doesn't kill Shadow, he was immune to it thanks to how he was built. But it doesn't take away the pain of it.

That's why he's here. To see if the people were targeting Shadow or…

Stop. Focus.

He couldn't exactly see the people cooking the food as they were hidden behind only a small window. So he turned his attention to the waiter who was making the milkshake.

Yet, nothing seemed off. No hesitation. No sign of guilt.

..But was it like that last time?

He blinked, and the plate was already in front of him. He hadn't even noticed the waiter come back. They smiled politely, set down the tray, and walked off. Shadow's eyes stay locked on them after they left.

Then slowly, Shadow looked down. The food stared back, steam curling lazily upward. It looked harmless. Normal.

This was it. This was what killed Sonic. This was where the loop had ended. He felt like throwing up even before eating the contaminated food.

Shadow picked up his knife and fork, he cut a piece and held it up in his hand like it might explode. Then he took a bite.

And waited.

One second. Two. Five.

Nothing.

He chewed slowly, eyes darting to the corners of the diner. The water was refilling someone's drink. His heart beat hard in his chest, but not from the poison. From the absence of it.

He took a fry, a bite of the burger, a sip of the milkshake, and another bite of the steak. Still nothing.

No burning in his throat. No dizziness. No pain.

Just food. Ordinary, tasteless food.

He set it down, expression hardening. The food was clean. And his mind started racing, connecting the dots he didn't want to see.

The same place. The same order. The same sequence of events. And yet… no poison. Not even a trace.

Which meant the variable wasn't the food. It was Sonic.

He hastily stood up— staring at the food he could almost burn holes through it. Shadow looked around the diner, yet he couldn't find anyone suspicious, not with his growing panicking mind. His heart started pounding in his chest, his instincts screaming the truth he didn't want to face.

Someone had wanted Sonic dead. Not by chance. Not by mistake. On purpose.

And they were most definitely responsible for this loop.

He turned, breath uneven— Shadow bolted out of the door, the waiter called after him about the bill, but their voice was nothing but static against the ringing in Shadow's ears.

Outside, the world felt too bright. The morning air too calm.

He'd gone through loops trying to stop Sonic's death— blaming fate, timing, bad luck. But this wasn't fate. It wasn't a coincidence.

Someone was watching. Someone was waiting.

And the moment Sonic steps outside of his apartment… they'd try again.

Shadow's pulse thundered in his ears as he looked back toward the city. The wind tore past him as Shadow sprinted through the streets, buildings blurring into streaks of colour and noise. Cars honked, voices shouted, but none of it registered.

His mind replayed the diner in flashes— the waiter's blank face, the untouched poison, Sonic's laughter echoing faintly in memory.

Someone was after Sonic.

Shadow's chest tightened as the familiar apartment building came into view. He slammed the door open and bolted up the stairs.

The echo of his own footsteps pounded through the stairwell— too fast, too loud. The metallic clatter of the railing under his grip. The faint creak of each step as if warning him to slow down.

But he couldn't.

He needed to see Sonic. Needed to make sure he listened. That he stayed inside.

Please… just this once, listen.

Each flight felt longer than the last. His breath came out ragged, his pulse loud in his ears. With every turn of the stairwell, a cold unease settled deeper in his gut.

Something was wrong. The air felt wrong.

It was too still.

The hallway lights flickered above him, the same faint buzz from earlier pulsing through the walls. The sound shouldn't have mattered, but it gnawed at him.

He reached his floor, and the weight in his chest grew even more unbearable. Then Shadow saw it—

His door hung half open, hinges bent, the frame splintered as if someone had kicked it in. It swayed slightly with the draft from inside, creaking with every faint movement.

His breath caught in his throat.

No. No, no, no, not again please—

Shadw moved before thinking, pushing the door open with a trembling hand. The sound of it scraping against the floor felt deafening.

The light inside flickered, the same bulb Sonic had been staring at before. It buzzed weakly, sputtering flashes of light that cut through the dark.

And each flicker revealed what was in the middle of the room, just by the doorway.

The silence. It roared in his ears.

In Shadow's peripheral vision, just on the floor, was a sliver of blue lying down.

He couldn't— He couldn't bear to look—

But it was unavoidable, his gaze eventually dropped down. And the sight made him stumble slightly, vision blurring as he started to tremble violently.

The world went quiet again.

Shadow didn't move. He couldn't. He just stood there, every muscle in his body locked, as the realization bled through him like cold water.

Sonic lay on the floor, a gunshot right in the head as the blood continued to pool around his quills. His head was slightly turned to the side, mouth agape, eyes wide with barely any life that shone through them.

Shadow's mind went back to the first time he saw Sonic die, it was the same injury, same wound, same death. His vision flickered to the setting of the chaotic city, the screams of the people, and the screams of his own emotions tormented him as he could no longer hold the weight of his own body anymore.

They'd found him. They'd kill him. Right here, in the one place Shadow swore he'd be safe. His throat felt raw when he whispered it.

"…Sonic—"

Shadow's knees dropped to the floor with a loud thud, yet the sound of his own painful pounding heart deafened his ears instead. The ache in his chest returned, pulling him apart as it tugged him harshly into blurring vision and nothingness.

But it felt like every single part of him hurt anyway.

The light flickered once more, then finally died, plunging the apartment into darkness.

Shadow woke up with a painful grunt, clutching his chest harshly as the bright sun reflected off the windows of his bedroom.

He wheezed, panting for air, but it felt so useless to breathe.

He thumped his head on the wall beside him, the pain in his chest wouldn't disappear. Shadow repeatedly knocked his head on the wall as if dragging the pain from his heart would transfer it to his mind instead.

All Shadow could do was grit his teeth, making everything both physically and mentally worse.

The grip Shadow had on his chest only tightened further as a final thump to the wall bared him.

What do I do..?