Meanwhile, in the distance, Shadow was continuing his search for Y/N. His sharp eyes locked onto the glowing light of the ring, a faint aura trailing behind him. He knew something was off. The commotion had drawn his attention, and he was determined to get closer. The light of the ring seemed to be calling him in the right direction. He didn't waste time; he sped up, his focus on the source of the disturbance.

He was already heading in the direction of the commotion, the faint sounds of the battle reaching his ears. But it wasn’t just the noise of the skirmish that drew him in—it was the faint, glowing light from the ring. It pulsed ominously in the distance, casting an eerie glow through the trees.

The glowing light of the ring meant only one thing. Y/N. He had no idea how Y/N was involved in this, but Shadow had his orders. His mission was clear: find Y/N, bring her back to Nazo, and do whatever it took to complete his task. The more he heard the sounds of the battle, the more determined he became.

As the sounds of the fighting grew louder, Shadow’s pace quickened. He wasn’t here to help them. He was here to finish what Nazo had started. The others would either fall in line or get in his way, but that wouldn’t stop him. He had a job to do.

Through the trees, the light of the ring flickered, and he could see figures moving around it. Y/N, Sonic, and the others were still fighting. He hesitated for only a moment, not caring about the others. It was Y/N who mattered.

His thoughts were interrupted when he spotted the group. The creatures were retreating, but the tension in the air was thick. Shadow couldn’t help but feel the familiar pull of the ring. Something about it felt wrong. But for now, he wouldn’t focus on that. He was here to gather intel and bring them back.

He stepped forward, not bothering to announce his presence. He had a reputation, and he didn’t need to waste time talking.

The battle had only just ended, and the air was still thick with tension. The ring’s glow had subsided, but the creatures it summoned were still fresh in their memories. You stood, catching your breath, eyes darting around as you kept your guard up. Sonic, Knuckles, Amy, Rouge and Bliss were still recovering, their bodies aching from the fight.

But as they were regrouping, a figure stepped into the clearing, dark and imposing against the backdrop of the forest. Shadow had found them.

Your eyes narrowed immediately. There was no mistaking the cold determination in his gaze. His mission was clear. He wasn’t here to help them.

Shadow moved forward slowly, his eyes locked on you. "Nazo wants you back," he said, his voice as emotionless as ever. "There’s no escape."

You stood your ground. "I’m not going anywhere with you, Shadow."

Knuckles clenched his fists, ready to step in and defend if needed, while Bliss held herself in a defensive stance, her eyes watching Shadow intently.

"You don’t have a choice," Shadow growled. "I’ll take you by force if I must."

With that, the air crackled with tension, and both sides were prepared to clash. But just as they were about to face off, something unexpected happened.

Sonic took a step back, his hand twitching as if trying to push his guilt away. The others barely noticed, too focused on Shadow.

“I’m sorry,” Sonic muttered, his voice quiet, almost as if he were speaking to himself. But before anyone could respond, he suddenly lunged forward, knocking out Knuckles with a swift hit to the back of the head. Bliss was next, caught off guard by the blow to her side, collapsing into unconsciousness, along with Amy and Rouge as well.

You froze, your eyes wide with disbelief. “Sonic?!”

Sonic stood there for a moment, his expression conflicted. He stared at you with a mixture of apology and something deeper. But his eyes weren’t filled with hatred or malice. They were filled with sorrow.

“I didn’t want this,” Sonic said, his voice breaking just slightly. "But I had no choice."

Before You could process what was happening, you felt a sharp blow to the back of your head, and everything went black.

After Sonic had knocked out you and the others, Shadow and his Knights wasted no time in bringing them back to Nazo's castle. The journey was tense and filled with the heavy weight of uncertainty. You were still struggling to process everything, your mind racing between Sonic’s betrayal and the looming threat of Nazo’s power.

The cold stone walls of the castle loomed ahead as they entered through the massive gates, the imposing structure casting long shadows over the landscape. You couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread settle in your chest as they were escorted inside. The Knights surrounded them, and Shadow led the way, his expression unreadable.

As they passed through the grand halls of the castle, the air grew heavier, and the echo of their footsteps seemed to reverberate in the silence. Nazo’s presence lingered like a dark cloud, and you could sense that they were getting closer to him, to the very heart of the nightmare you had been trying to escape.

They were taken to a large, cold chamber deep within the castle. The walls were adorned with eerie tapestries, and the dim lighting only made the place feel more claustrophobic. You were still groggy from being knocked out, was shoved into a stone cell along with the others. The cold bars clanged shut with an ominous sound as the Knights stood guard outside.

Sonic was already in one of the cells, his back to you. You could see the guilt etched on his face, though he didn’t turn to face you. He hadn’t said much since the betrayal, but his silence spoke volumes. He was clearly torn, but you didn’t know if you could forgive him—at least, not yet.

"I’m sorry," Sonic whispered from his cell, breaking the silence. "I never wanted this to happen."

You stood there, staring at him for a moment. Your heart ached with confusion, anger, and sadness. You wanted to yell at him, demand answers, but you knew that wasn’t going to help. Not now.

Instead, you took a deep breath and turned away, facing the stone wall of your own cell. "You should’ve told us," you said quietly, your voice shaky. "You should’ve warned us. We could’ve helped you."

Sonic didn't respond. His head hung low, and you could hear the faint sound of his fists clenching against the bars.

Outside their cells, Shadow stood with his arms crossed, watching them with a cold gaze. The Knights were posted at intervals, ensuring that no one could escape. Your thoughts were racing—you had to find a way out of here, to figure out how to free them all, especially Sonic. But with Nazo’s power looming over them, you weren't sure how much time they had left.

"You’re not getting out of here," Shadow said, his voice cutting through the silence. "Nazo’s plans are already in motion. You’re just a pawn in his game now."

You clenched your fists in frustration, but there was no point in arguing. You needed to think, to regroup. "What does Nazo want with us?" You asked, your voice low.

Shadow's gaze hardened, but he didn’t answer. He simply turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving you, Sonic, and the others in silence. They were trapped.

What's gonna happen next? Find out on Chapter 28. Have a great day. Author out ❤️ ❤️ ❤️