"You are all trapped in this escape room prepared by Dr. Eggman. If you're reading this, I know there's a way to escape this mall and celebrate New Year's Eve. You just have to find numbers and use them as a code to unlock the power source door and then, you'll be able to fix the power and put it back on. Your first clue comes from something where music is made. You have until midnight to find the codes or you'll be trapped forever and never celebrate New Year's Eve," Belle read it out. "Sincerely, you'll find out when you meet me."

Vector's face lit up as he snapped his fingers immediately. "The DJ set!"

"Wow, that was quick!" said Belle.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go check out the DJ set!" said Sonic determinedly.

With that, Jewel decided to keep the rest of the crowd in check while the others went to check out the DJ set. On the stage. Once they got there, another rectangular wood was seen under the chair before it. Runa was the first to pick it up. The number carved on the wood was zero. Then, when she flipped it around, her face lit up as she found herself another clue.

"Taped under one of the tables leaves another clue."

Just as Runa was about to show the others another clue, a familiar delicate voice caught the group 's attentions.

"Oh my!"

Everyone turned around to see Jewel flying her way towards them.

"Sonic, someone is asking what is this doing under the table," she informed him.

Sonic's lips stretched out a grateful smile. "Thank whoever found it! This might be our next clue!"

Jewel tossed the wood to Sonic. The number carved there was read as the number seven. Then at the back was yet another clue.

"Hidden beside the machine where you can drink is another clue," he read it out loud.

"Let's check out the drinking dispenser!" said Charmy pointing to a beverage dispenser on the northeast corner. This dispenser consists of two carbonated drinks.

"Actually, it's called a beverage dispenser," Destinee corrected him.

"I'll go get it," said Whisper.

With that, Whisper walked her way towards the drinking station where the beverage dispenser stands. There, she carefully retrieved another wood somewhere between the dispenser and the stack of glasses.

The number carved on the wood was one. She flipped it over to read another clue. And this clue is the last one.

"Great job for going this far. The last clue is hidden somewhere on the top floor before the roof."

Once she ran back to the group, Tangle was the first to speak up. "So, did you find the clue?"

"Yes," she answered handing it to her. "It's the last one."

Tangle retrieved the wood Whisper had handed to her. Once she read the clue, she turned to the others. "The last clue is at the top floor, but it doesn't say anything about where it specifically is."

"Hopefully, we'll make it in time. It's almost nine-thirty!" Tails informed them through his Miles Electric.

Everyone turned to him in shock. "What?!"

"Did it just take us this far?! It's like we have almost two-in-a-half hours before midnight!" said Belle. "We're supposed to crack this escape room by now, so that we'll continue celebrating!"

"Now, now, now. Let's not panic. We'll go to the top floor and deal with the rest in the basement!" said Runa.

With that, they all went to the top floor. There, the group split up to look for the last clue. The Chaotix and Destinee looked for it in the east. Sonic and Tails looked for it in the west. Runa, Rosy and Mystico looked for it from where they had arrived in while Juniper, Bearace, Shania and Belle searched the other side. But what about Rouge? Well, we're about to find out.

Soon, they're all regrouped because they didn't find any last clue. From top to bottom.

"We can't find any clue!" said Tangle.

"And it's nine-fifty-five!" said Tails. "We have to search the last clue from top to bottom!"

Just as they discuss things further, a new voice joined in. "Looking for this?"

Everyone looked up to see Rouge herself. She was sitting on the ledge near the ceiling with another rectangular wood in her hands.

"Chao! Chao-chao-chao!" said Bearace happily.

Runa let out a light chuckle. "He says you've found the last clue."

"Well, of course, I did," said Rouge as she flew her way down to the group. Then, she handed the wood to Belle.

Belle then, took the wood Rouge had handed her and began to read it from one side to another. On one side, the number was carved as six.

Then, on the other side, Belle read it out loud to the others, "Good job! You have found the last clue! Now, go back to the basement and put numbers together to make a code to open the power source door and put the power back on!"

Everyone cheered that they found the last clue. They knew they're finally gonna complete the escape room situation on time!

With that, they headed back to the basement!

Soon, at the basement...

Sonic and the others had found all the clues to find numbers. Now, they're trying to figure out a way to open the power source door and put the power back on in the nightclub.

But this was not what it seemed...

"Try 01678!" said Vector.

"No! 10867!" said Charmy.

"How 'bout 06718?" suggested Sonic.

You see, they were trying to figure out a code to open the door, but every time they did it, it was no luck.

"Try 78106!" said Tails.

"How about 10768?" asked Rouge.

Even the chao tried to help, but still, nothing worked. Runa translated all that the chao had said to her starting with Bearace, Rosy, Juniper, Mystico, then Shania.

"16708!"

"07168!"

"08617!"

"07816!"

"07618!"

It took them 10 minutes to figure out a code on a lock. Then, someone cleared his throat. They turned to see Espio giving them a serious look.

"I think it's best that we solve this code carefully," said Espio.

"Espio's got a point though. It's ten-fifteen and we're still not completing the escape room situation," said Destinee.And

You can see Belle looking over at the numbers and tried to figure out a way to put pieces of puzzles together. In other words, she'll figure it out by recapping everything she remembered during their escape room situation.

She racked her brain carefully by putting pieces of wood and reading the code from left to right.
First, she put the wood with number eight on the floor, then the one with number zero, then the one with number seven, then number one and then number six.

She put it in this order because the clues led her and her friends to making a code, so while the others were chatting about it, she tested her theory.

She began scrolling down for the correct numbers: 80716. And then...

Uh-oh. Not again, she thought.

It seemed like her theory didn't work, but she won't give up yet and so, she decided to do it again, but in reverse order. You can see others watching how Belle solves this problem. It looked like the part where she tried to open it gained their attention.
She scrolled down the code for numbers six, one, seven, zero and eight. And look what happened!
The lock opened and Belle removed it. Everyone cheered that the code she solved finally worked while Espio and Destinee smiled at what she did.
She opened the door to reveal messed up wires that no mechanic can solve (or at least that's what Eggman thought).

"I got this!" said Tails.

"Chao-chao-chao! Chao-chao-chao-chao-chao-chao-chao!" said Juniper.

"Juniper says, ''Course, you do! You are a genius after all!'" Runa translated.

"Hahaha! Yeah, of course!" Tails said as he started using his electronic skills to fix up the wires in a proper place.

A few minutes later...

"Just a little more and then..."

Then, the power was back on!

"Got it!" said Tails, his face all lit up.

Later, they were congratulated by everyone else in the nightclub. Even Jewel.  Soon, they found out it was the DJ dog himself who set up the clues to crack the escape room.

"Nicely done, Sonic! You finally found a way to solve this problem using the clues I made for the escape room situation!" he said.

"Nah, don't thank me. Thank Tails," said Sonic gesturing to his long-time buddy.

"It was nothing, DJ!" Tails said flattered to hear this. "Also, Belle should have a little more credit, too!"

"I did?" asked Belle in confusion.

"Yeah! If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have finished the escape room situation on time!" said Tangle.

Belle smiled at her. "Well, I guess I did."id

"You guys!" Tails informed them holding his Miles Electric. "You have to see this!"

Everyone else gathered around him. Looking over, their eyes widened in shock to see what's on the screen.

"Oh no," Runa said.

Next Chapter: Shadow vs Metal Sonic!