I stare at the screen, feeling numb as I watch the 'slideshow'. "This can't be real..." I breathe, digging my claws deeply into my arm. "I must still be dreaming..." Warm blood flows down my biceps as I tighten my grip, trembling. The slideshow ends, fading back to the screen of text. My stomach churns and my breath is harsh, ragged gasps; I stare at the words, understanding them but not comprehending. It's like I'm not myself--I'm watching this from over my own shoulder, and the pain is barely even tangible. Kill count...what does that mean? Diamond-titanium alloy? Is that even possible? Do I still have a family? My fingers twist and curl, tearing my skin open further as I try to regain control. The nightmarish pictures still flash in my mind...

I'm so lost in my own thoughts that I don't hear the sound of approaching footsteps. I don't even notice she's there until I hear her call my name quietly from beside me. "Shadow?" Rouge asks, her voice trembling slightly. "A-Are you okay?" I turn to face her, but my vision is blurry. I want to answer her but my voice isn't working; my throat feels like something's clogging it. "Oh, Shadow!" She gasps, looking at my arms. "What did you do?!" She immediately begins to rummage around in her packs, withdrawing a roll of bandages. Grabbing my left arm, she pulls my blood-covered claws out of my wounds and immediately begins to wrap up my bicep.

My voice finally decides to work, and I choke out, "R-Rouge--Look..." I turn my head back to the monitor. "Look at the screen," I croak, trembling.

"What?" She follows my gaze, then steps closer to the screen and begins to read it. After a few moments, she clicks on the slideshow, her eyes widen. "Oh, my god, Shadow." The white bat whispers, clapping a hand to her mouth. Her pallor holds an unusual greenish tint now. "Oh my god..." Turning back to me, her eyes brimming with tears, she just stares for a few moments. Omega, behind us, says nothing, only shifts position uncomfortably.

"I remember," I whisper. The nightmarish visions are continuing, playing over and over again in my head. "I remember everything." All of the kicks, the punches, everything Robotnik did to me--the pain of having my identity ripped away from me, again and again. The hell that was my life, and the people who made it that way... This is all their fault! I angle my head downwards, a grin spreading across my face. "I remember...everything!"

"Sh-Shadow...?" Rouge stops bandaging my arms to look at me. When I don't reply, she grabs my face, tilting my head back upwards so that she can look at me. "Are you alright?"

My grin falls. "I'll be fine," I lie in a flat tone. "Let me go." Swatting her hand away, I whirl around. "Let's go."

I can feel her confusion, bleeding off her in waves. Her emotions are so easily read, her thoughts so crystal clear and obvious. 'What's going on? He was on the verge of tears only a few seconds ago. What changed? Man, I hope he's gonna be okay...I don't want him to be so damaged again.' My ears prick up when I hear that. "Again?" I echo her thoughts, slowly turning back around. "What does that mean?"

"H-huh?!" Rouge stares at me. 'What's he talking about? No one said anything.'

"You don't have to say it," I growl. "I can hear you--" I pause, tapping the side of my head with a bloodstained hand, "in here." Lowering my hand, I glare at her, looking into her thoughts. They're as easy to read as an open book. "You knew me," I hiss, trying to scare her. "You knew me, a-and--" my voice cracks slightly, betraying my true emotions. Tears well up in my eyes. "You knew everything about me, and y-you didn't say anything? Why? Weren't we friends?" I sniffle, stifling a sob. "I trusted you! How could you stand by and watch me suffer like this?"

Rouge stares at me, stunned. "I-I--Shadow," she stutters, "I'm so sorry--"

"Don't you apologize to me!" I scream, crying. "You knew the truth and you kept it from me!"

"I didn't want you to be hurt again!" She screeches, starting to sob as well. "You don't know what it was like, seeing someone you care about so damn torn up! You didn't deserve it, you didn't deserve anything Robotnik did to you, but you blamed yourself! You always," the white bat stops to wipe her eyes, mascara running down her face, "you always talked about yourself like you were such a monster. Like you were awful. I never understood...how someone could feel that way about themselves...and I just wanted to protect you from it." Rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand, smearing makeup on her face and gloves, she turns away.

For a moment, all I can do is stare at her, my eyes wide. "Rouge," I murmur, shocked. Her emotions are all chaotic, a turbulent mixture of sadness, embarrassment and anger, and I know she's telling the truth. She cares so much about me...but why? What's so special about me? I feel horrible for making her cry like this--I don't know what to do, but my feet seem to; I step forward, coming toe-to-toe with Rouge, and she lowers her arm from her face to look down at me. Without really intending to, I lean forward abruptly and wrap my arms around her, pulling her close to me, ignoring the overwhelming scent of perfume pervading her skin. She stiffens at first, surprise flashing off her, but then she relaxes and returns my embrace, still sniffling. I, myself, find tears still staining my cheeks--we both take advantage of the moment to compose ourselves. After a second, she starts to pull away, and I step back as well. Our faces are frighteningly close--awkwardly so. "I'm sorry, Rouge. I didn't mean to yell." Gently, I reach up and wipe a tear off her cheek with my thumb, resting my wrist on her chin. "I...I just don't know how to deal with this." Embarrassed, and realizing how this must look to poor Omega, who hasn't said a word, I step a bit further away, putting half a foot between us and turning around.

"I-It's okay." Rouge wipes the remaining tears off her face. "I can't imagine what you're going through, and I know I should've told you...But, well, it's a little late for that now."

"Yeah," I reply, smirking, "way too late. But that's fine--at least I know something now. And I'm starting to remember stuff." A slight breeze blows, chilling me to the bone, and I shudder. A peculiar feeling brews in my nose rather rapidly, and before I can react a sneeze erupts--a high-pitched "KATCHEW!" sound. Shocked, I stand perfectly still for a few seconds, and awkward silence hanging in the air. Rouge breaks it when she starts giggling, though she tries to hide it. I turn around, staring at her, confused. "What?" I ask, still puzzled, but she's laughing far too loud to answer. "What?!" Flustered, feeling embarrassed, I stamp my foot on the ground to try and make her stop--given that she's a bat, the loud noise will probably startle her out of it. "Hey! Cut that out!"

Omega butts in abruptly, speaking for the first time in a decent while. "That was uncharacteristically adorable." He intones flatly.

"Wh--What?!" My face heats up. "A-Adorable? N-No--I'm not--"

Rouge laughs even louder. "Oh, man, I'm dyin'!" She giggles, wiping at her eyes again. "Oh, my god, worst timing ever." Trying to contain her chuckling, she keeps one hand held closely to her side. "Ohh, man...You are too cute."

"Sh-Shut up!" I snap, clenching my hands into fists at my side, feeling my face heat up even more. "I am NOT 'cute'!" I bellow as the bat descends into another fit of laughter. Embarrassed, I stand there glaring for a few more minutes.

Wow...Way to ruin the moment... I think to myself, agonized.