37The Beginning of the End
"We gain strength and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we stop to look fear in the face...we must do that which we think we cannot." - Eleanor Roosevelt.
"Sonic we are almost landing back on Mobius!" Tails yelled into the microphone. The sound of cheerful screams was heard all over the place as I sped through the ship to get to where Tails was.
"About time we get home! I can't wait to have a good long relaxing nap after that war with the Meterx." I sat down in a chair next to him and looked out the window awaiting to see the beautiful planet we called home but that wasn't even close to what I saw. My mouth was open in shock, the place had looked dead. There was not a living soul to be seen, the beautiful green grass was brown and yellow, the homes looked abandoned and to the point of coming apart. This was definitely not the same place I once called home. When we landed everyone had gotten off the Blue Typhoon and looked around in awe. It was like a nuclear bomb had gone off taking the lives of anything it came in contact with. "Tails...are you sure you got the right place?"
He looked down at his wrist and pressed a button and a hologram map popped up. A red dot was right in the middle, "I am positive that this is Mobius Sonic."
The terrified scream of Cream filled my ears, "Mr. Sonic lookout!"
Thats when I saw it; what exactly it was I had no idea but I knew it was a threat so I got prepared to fight. It slowly came towards my its eyes were pure white and its skin looked rotten like a piece a bread gone bad -smelled horrible too. Its clothes were tattered everywhere, and its mouth hung open while making a grunting sound, but surprisingly it looked human. I tried to kick it as it came closer but it jumped on me instead, I could hear the screams of Cream and Rouge as they watched this thing try to bite me? A loud shot was head and rotten smelling blood splattered all over me, now I may be use to fighting sure but never in my days have I seen a human shot to death in front of me. I laid there on the ground in shock, I didn't know what to do. Should I feel bad and yell at the person who did this? Take them to prison and lock them up for murder? Or thank them for saving my life and let it go? I slowly began to push the dead corpse off my body and stand up facing the gang, surprisingly everyone's eyes weren't on me but something behind me.
"You would have been killed you know." I quickly turn around to be met with intoxicating bright jade orbs. Her long wavy soft pastel pink hair was down to her lower back, on her waist just above her leather pants was multiple gun and knife holders, and a small pouch for bullets - I am guessing. She held a pistol in her hand as she slowly walked towards us, the sound of her heavy black combat boots hitting against the ground was the only thing heard in the dead of silence.
I narrowed my eyes at her, "Don't come any closer!" I wasn't about to take a chance on this girl, she had killed that other person without even a second thought. How was I supposed to know that she wasn't planning on hurting us as well?
She stopped walking and smirked, then crossed her arms. "I save you from a zombie and this is how you repay me?"
"A what?" I ask her confused, "You mean that thing?"
Her eyes widened in shock, she looked like the air had been knocked out of her. "You gotta be kidding me. You don't know?"
"Know what?" I asked still confused.
She slowly put her gun back in its holder and sighed, "Look I don't know where you people came from, but if I were you I'd get the hell outta here."
Tails slowly walked up next to me and spoke up, "We are from here miss, we went on a mission last year in space to save the world from this evil force expecting to only take a few months but we under calculated."
"Saving the world huh? Let me guess you must be the Sonic gang then." She motioned towards all of us, and I nodded. She took in a deep breath, "Look I don't know how to tell you guys this but I guess if I don't no one will. After you left a disease had started to spread, I don't know how or what caused it but it happened. Somehow this disease could make it possible for the dead to becoming living again."
I put my hand up and stopped her, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up, are you trying to tell me that this disease turns people into zombies?" I chuckled, "Do you really think we are going to buy that?! This isn't a horror movie."
"Then explain that." She pointed to the dead body on the ground, "The only reason it didn't come back is because I shot it right in the head." She pointed to her forehead as she spoke.
"Has anyone found a cure?" Tails asked hopefully.
She rolled her eyes, "Kid, don't you think if they did you would actually see living people walking around?" She pointed to buildings around us, "Look at this place! It has been abandoned for a year now, everyone who had a car or boat got the hell outta here when the had the chance and took all the supplies they needed." Bright jade and lime met as she looked at me,"You should have just let us all die, that would have been a better alternative then this living hell."
"Now hold on honey, don't go blaming Sonic all he wanted to do was help! How the hell did you expect him to know this would happen!" Rouge said angry at the girls ingratitude. If only she knew what living hell we had been through.
She let out a huff and crossed her arms, "Well excuse me for being a little bit pissed off at the person who held the power to end all the suffering to everyone who stayed behind while you all just lavished in prestige."
My fist tightened, this girl was starting to get on my nerves. "You have no idea what we had to go through so don't you dare go comparing!"
Her eyes felt like daggers, "I am not comparing anything because what ever you went through doesn't even come close to the things we had too see! Tell me have you ever seen someone who was so wound up with dear fear of what was going to happen that they killed their entire family? Have you watched someone get eaten by these monsters right before your eyes screaming for you to help them but you can't do nothing?! Have you ever seen a child get shot in the head even before someone knew if they were a zombie or not?! In this world it's either life or death, one small misstep and you are a goner - that is until you come back craving human flesh. Either you go crazy or you starve from lack of food and water, or worse the zombies get you." Her eyes then looked at the floor, "This place is worse than death itself."
"Then why stay? Why not end it all?" Tails asked integrated.
"My sister, she is the sole reason I stay alive. We got separated a month ago and I have been trying to get back to her; she is with my group so I know she is safe but I rather have her with me." My eyes widened in shock as I watched a couple of zombies begin to make their towards Amy. I didn't even need to say anything, she quickly turned around and shot every single one straight in the head in within seconds. "You all should get back inside, being out here is dangerous." She yelled over the sound of the gunshots.
"Everyone get inside!" I pushed Tails and Rouge towards the ship, "Get everyone safe and get ready for lockdown!" I then sped up next to the girl, "Do you need any help?"
"Just go inside." She said sternly.
I watched as she shot one and three would appear. I knew if I left her here she wouldn't be able to make it, sure she looked like an expert at this but I wasn't going to risk it. I quickly placed her in my arms and sped towards the ship, "Lockdown the doors Tails!"
She harshly pushed away from me, "What the hell! I never agreed to coming with you!"
"I wasn't going to leave you there." She stayed quiet knowing that I was right. Her face looked mad but her eyes showed her gratitude. I couldn't even begin to imagine the things she has seen, she was young - probably around sixteen years old. She looked like she hadn't slept well for days, or eaten well at all since she was dangerously skinny. "Uh...would you like some food?"
She looked frozen, like something had instantly paralyzed her. "You have food?" She asked quietly and I nodded.
"Yeah why? Don't you?" She shook her head softly.
"I had ran out of food for myself about three weeks ago, thats why I was in the city. I was looking for some food, I have been surviving on the scraps I find." My eyes softened, I have been through many wars but never had I had to deal with the war of hunger.
I gently took her wrist and guided her towards the kitchen, "Come on lets go get you some grub." She was quiet the entire way, and each turn we took she would always seem to look behind her life she was expecting something to pop out and grab her. I couldn't blame her though, I know if I had to deal with flesh eating monsters at every turn I would be quite paranoid as well.
Suddenly banging was heard all over the ship, "Don't mind them, they are just trying to get inside but this place is secure." The girl said quietly.
I stopped walking right before the kitchens entrance, "That doesn't scare you?"
She gently took her wrist away from my grip, "Sonic in all honesty after all the things I have seen nothing scares me anymore, and even if it did there is no time to fear in this world. It's either do or don't."
"I'm sorry..."
She shook her head, "Don't be, it isn't your fault." She sighed and looked at the ground again, "About earlier..I didn't mean to blame you for what happened here, it's just that after knowing that you and your crew were out in space living here on this ship leaving all the rest of us to suffer, well it made me a little angry."
I chuckled softly, "Trust me it wasn't much of a picnic for us either, but I understand. We had food, shelter, and we were substantially safe. I'd be pretty pissed off too, especially after what you had to endure." She nodded but her gaze never left the ground, "I never catched your name by the way."
Her eyes met mine again, but this time all the anger and frustration were gone. Instead they were welcoming and warm, like they were happy to see me; she seemed like a girl who was sweet on the inside but the cruelty of the outside world made her shell hard. At this moment I noticed how incredibly gorgeous this girl actually was, she had beautiful bright piercing jade eyes, full long eyelashes, plump rosy lips and her fur was a pastel pink while her skin was a soft ivory. Her chest was actually rather large for a girl so petite and it was covered with a dirty white tank top - she probably hasn't showered this whole time. Even with her extraordinary womanly figure she looked so innocent but the guns and knives around her waist said otherwise. She extended her hand which was covered with fingerless leather gloves, "I am Amelia Rose, but please just call me Amy."
I smiled warmly as I shook her hand, "Come on Amy we are going to take care of you." I move out of the way so she could step into the kitchen, I point to the chair for her to sit while I make her something to eat. Once I finish making her two sandwiches with a side of fruits and a tall glass of water, the expression on her face was heart breaking. Small tears began to form in her eyes as she stared down at the food, "What's wrong do you not like ham?"
She shook her head and started to chuckle softly, "No..it's just that.." a small tear slowly slide down her face, "I haven't seen this much food since the day before this place went to hell." Her eyes locked on mine again, "Thank you."
"You brought her with you?!" I ripped my eyes away from Amy and look at the fuming chipmunk.
"I wasn't going to just leave her Sally." I said annoyed. If it was a guy she wouldn't have had a problem with me bringing someone on the ship but because it's a girl - and a very attractive one at that - she gets defensive of me as if this girl had plans on stealing me away.
"Why not?! From the sounds of it she isn't really keen on you anyway."
"He offered me food so I complied, I will be out of your hair by morning. Nightfall is too dangerous to go out in the streets, especially out in the city." Amy said as she began to eat her food.
I looked at Amy shocked, "You plan on leaving?"
"I need to find my sister remember? I would love to stay Sonic, you have food, water and a secure shelter here. Everything to survive, but I need to find my sister and make sure she is safe."
Sally smiled, "Great then everything is settled!"
I glared at her, "No everything is not settled." I sat down next to Amy, "If you want I could help you look for her? I think you already know about my super speed so with me your search time would be cut in half." I said sending her a bright smile.
She smiled back at me warmly, "That would be great Sonic, I appreciate the help."
Sally stomped her foot, "We have no room for her Sonic, where will she stay?!"
"I can sleep on the ground, I have been doing so for a year now so don't be bothered by my presence." Amy said bluntly.
I shook my head, "No you're a guest so you can take my bed."
"Sonic you can't be serious!"
I sighed, "Look Sally we need Amy, she is the only one who can show us the ropes around this place."
"You plan on staying here?" Sally asked horrified.
I got up from my chair and went towards her, "Well we can't just leave these suffering people here Sally! Tails can maybe find a cure for the sick and maybe we can get things back to the way they use to be. Aren't you at least bit worried about your kingdom? What about your father?!"
She crossed her arms while narrowing her ocean blue eyes, "My father is a fighter Sonic, there is no need to worry."
"Your kingdom is long gone princess." We both looked at Amy.
Sally looked like a deer in the headlights, "What."
Amy looked directly at Sally, "It has been a year since you all left, a year since this war with the dead has been going on, did you really expect your entire kingdom to survive? Or even half of it? Come on be realistic here." She looked away to take a sip of her water and went back to her food, "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I was there a few days ago and all that is left is the rotting castle of your father; with no one inside." She paused for a moment to let the cold slapping reality sink in, she then sighed deeply. "This is how things are here, you can never be too sure of who is going to live so you have to keep the people you love close."
Sally's vision became blurred as tears began to flow down her face. Her head shaking in disbelief from side to side, "You're lying!"
"Go look for yourself, but if I were you I wouldn't; it's a heartbreaking scene." I didn't even know what to say at this point. Amy talked about death as if it was something so normal, as if the significance of the person who died was meaningless. Was this how people acted here? If someone died they would shrug it off and keep on moving? Was this really what things have become?
Sally backed up into a wall and fell to her knees. Her sobs became louder as her anger towards Amy began to rise, "You talk about it like nothing happened! Does the death of innocent people not affect you?!" I quickly raced to her side to calm her down, holding her back from attacking Amy - I wasn't about to let Sally get her ass kicked.
Amy looked off into the distance, "I'm sorry but no it doesn't. I have seen so many people die, children, parents, babies and even had entire families die right before my eyes. Death is as normal to me as the air that I breathe, you have to accept death to survive. I had to shoot my mother about four months ago, she was a zombie and she had attacked me." Amy's eyes became gloomy as she recalled the memory of her mother, " Of course I didn't want too, of course I wanted to pretend like she was going to be okay and that she wouldn't hurt me but I couldn't lie to myself. She was gone, and the person I knew was no longer there so I had to do what must be done like all the others." I tightened my grip on Sally as she began to punch me so I would let go so she could get to Amy. Amy looked at Sally her eyes now full of sympathy for the poor girl in front of her, "It's hard to let go, but sooner or later you are gonna come across someone you knew and it's either you.. or them."
This was the piercing reality. I couldn't even imagine killing someone I knew, I couldn't even imagine shooting anyone. I didn't want too, but I knew deep down that if I wanted things to get better I would have to do the things in order to survive this apocalypse. I don't even know how everyone else will take this, we were so broken hearted over the death of Cosmo and now we have to go around killing people? Some of them we probably knew? What kind of twisted joke was this? I wonder how things got this way, I could still remember the day we left like it was yesterday. Everyone was so happy then, the place was alive back then. Children running around laughing hysterically, the smell of freshly sprouted flowers, the soft kisses of the wind.. "I wish things could go back to the way they were.." I said just above a whisper.
"You just got here Sonic, imagine the people like me who have gone through this since day one. To us there is no going back to the way things were, to us hope is gone."