The Living Host 01

~ ShadAmy Story Teaser   


The remaining light of the sun dipped over the tip of the horizon, leaving the land to dwell in the newfound darkness. In the city of Westopolis, everything was filled with a hushed silence, a great abnormality in comparison to its usual busy lifestyle. The streets remained deserted, not a single vehicle or person wondering around the abandoned area, leaving it be like it was dangerous, as though something fearful was hidden away, lurking in the shadows. A faint tinge of scarlet coloured the evening sky, everywhere the eye could see by standing in the lonely city streets.

The stillness of the night was broken as a rose hedgehog walked through the alleys of the streets, trying to find her away around, nearly on the verge of getting lost in the growing danger zone. She almost stumbled on the pavement but quickly regained her balance, trying to keep herself together in one piece.

"I've got to find help! Where could he be?!"

She quickly managed a glance over her shoulder with wide and frightened eyes. Turning the next corner, she found she couldn't find the strength or the stamina to run faster from the unrelenting danger haunting her from behind. Yet her useless attempts increased her growing panic and her boot caught in one of the sidewalk cracks, causing her to fall over. She used her trembling hands to push herself back up, continuing to retreat from the shadow persistently trailing behind as though part of them itself, a living matter of darkness.

"Help me!" she shouted, hardly able to speak clearly. A dark blur hurried passed her side a split second later. Momentarily, her saviour returned with a concerned frown on his face, his movements hesitant and cautious.

"You shouldn't have come here alone."

Amy whirled around, immediately relieved to see her friend standing beside her. "I'm so glad you're here Shadow! I really needed your help!"

"Be careful from now on. I may not be there to save you next time," he quietly warned. Amy felt a shiver travel up her back at the thought. She hurried after the Ultimate Lifeform before he disappeared from her view.

"Shadow, what was that thing back there?" Her question was met with a long period of silence. For a moment, she feared the answer held the truth of something ominous and deadly. From the little emotion she saw escape through Shadow's usually calm face, she dreaded the answer was what she didn't want it to be. His jaw now suddenly tight, Amy took a step back in worry her enquiry somehow angered him and crossed the line.

"I thought I destroyed that comet," he muttered under his breath. "How could that be…?"

"Shadow…?"

He shook his head in dismissal. "Nevermind about that. We need to go now." He carefully took hold of her hand and led her away from the alley, now taking a stressed, apprehensive demeanor. Amy didn't dare speak another word during their quiet walk together. Their time together in the city was not one those comforting moments they shared before; this one was full of uncertainly and fear of an upcoming disaster.

"He knows something," Amy thought, anxious with the sudden mood swing of her ally. "Why won't he tell me what's going on?!"

"Nice going Shadow! I knew you'd find her in no time!" came a familiar voice.

"Sonic!" Amy shouted, grateful to see her hero.

"Hey Ames, long time no see!" he said, acknowledging her with a reassuring thumbs up. "I'm glad to see you're okay!"

"They're back," Shadow's concerned voice cut in. "Amy could have been hurt."

Sonic's grin quickly vanished. "Who's back?"

"The Black Aliens," he quietly responded, earning shocked stares from both Sonic and Amy.

"But how? I saw you destroy that comet!" Amy rarely saw Sonic this distressed over anything. She stayed quiet, very unlike her character as both her heroes spoke in low voices, loyally following behind, being sure to heed Shadow's advice.

She was thoroughly surprised to see they arrived at the White House but kept up her pace nonetheless. The place had been so peaceful two weeks before when she and the rest of the team celebrated over the defeat of the Black Arms. Now it felt empty along with the barren streets, holding an eerie presence within its surrounding walls. The President was speaking with a couple of his associates, deeply troubled by the situation as well. Across the room was the team, with the same mutual concerned expressions on their faces.

"Looks like we've got trouble," the blue hero spoke up. "Those black creatures are back. Shadow saw them himself."

Responses of disbelief filled the room but Amy could only watch in stunned silence. She knew Shadow defeated the aliens. She saw it happen. It couldn't have been her imagination playing tricks on her mind. How did the aliens somehow manage to survive their untimely demise?

The happiness she thought would follow their defeat slowly dissipated and blended with the tense chaos that filled the air, suffocating the joy that was once there. The absence of the elating emotion left her feeling cold and numb inside, reminded that the promise to bring happiness for humanity no longer felt likely. Was it all an illusion to bring false bliss, only to have it crushed under the heel of fate and broken into fragmented shards?

The warmth of the bonding promise didn't fade however and she could still feel it inside her, entwined with her heart. The promise of the hero was sworn to live on for the rest of time. "I've got to keep hoping! I know we'll get through this and everyone will be happy again!"

She knew at that moment when her eyes met Shadow's, the promise would never die, no matter what fate did to affect the situation. The special promise was part of her now and her heart itself, wrapped around it in an impossibly tight clutch.

The promise was a beating heart and Amy was its host.