The hallway outside the weapons room exploded with noise. Footsteps. Voices. Panic. Will was the first to burst through the doorway — so fast he nearly tripped over a rack of rifles. “SHADIE?!” he yelled, eyes wild, tails bristling. Shadow was right behind him, fury rolling off him like a storm he barely held together. Silver skidded in next, breathless and terrified. Cream clung to Silver’s arm, trying not to cry but failing, tears already streaming down her cheeks. The moment they saw Shadie— —quiet —shaking —pressed against Rouge for support —something snapped inside all of them. Silver stepped forward instantly. “Sh—Shadie? What happened?? Are you hurt? Did someone—?” His voice broke. Will didn’t even speak at first. He just stared. Then his expression hardened into something cold, sharp, and dangerous. “Who touched her?” he whispered. Rouge looked up sharply from where she held Shadie. “No one touched her,” she said. “But something hit her. Hard.” Omega nodded, lights flashing red. “MENTAL DISTORTION. EXTERNAL. HOSTILE.” Cream made a small, frightened sound. “U-Uncle Shadow… D-dad… what’s happening? Why is Mom shaking?” Shadow moved before anyone else. He knelt beside Shadie and Rouge, expression carved from stone but burning underneath. “Shadie,” he said softly — softer than he ever spoke. “Look at me.” Shadie tried. Her eyes lifted — barely — then dropped, overwhelmed and trembling. That hurt Shadow more than he ever let show. Will crouched beside her on the other side, ears flat, voice low. “Hey… sis… you gotta say something. Anything. Please.” But she couldn’t. Not yet. Silver hovered helplessly behind them, fists shaking. “I felt something,” he said. “Like… a pulse? A spike? It felt wrong, like someone was scraping at her mind.” Shadow’s head snapped toward him. “You felt it too?” Silver nodded quickly. “Y-Yeah. It lasted less than a second, but—” “That’s enough.” Shadow’s jaw clenched. “Someone tried to breach her mind.” Cream burst into a full sob at that. “NO! Nobody c-can do that to Mom!” she cried, gripping her sketchbook to her chest like a shield. “S-She’s too strong! They can’t hurt her! T-They can’t!” Rouge gently reached out with one wing and pulled Cream close without letting go of Shadie. “Shh, sweetheart… she’s right here. She’s with us.” Shadie stared at Cream, guilt flashing in her shaking eyes. Shadow saw it. And something inside him detonated. He stood up fast enough that the air shifted around him. His voice dropped into a tone no one heard often — the one that meant violence was coming. “Whoever did this,” he said, “is going to regret being born.” Will stood up beside him, cracking his knuckles. “No. They’re going to regret even thinking about her.” Omega chimed in, completely serious: “CONFIRMATION: WE ARE MOBILIZING. TARGET WILL BE DESTROYED.” Silver swallowed hard but nodded. “I’m in. Tell me where to go.” Cream sniffled, wiping her tears, voice tiny but determined: “M-Me too—” Rouge stopped her instantly. “Oh no, sweetie. You’re staying with me.” Shadow turned back to Shadie, his voice dropping low and steady. “We’re not leaving her,” he said. “Not for a second.” Will nodded. “H3ll no.” Silver stepped closer. “She doesn’t have to talk yet. We’ll wait.” Rouge held Shadie just a little tighter. “You’re safe. We’ve got you.” And for the moment… Shadie stayed silent. Still shaking. Still trying to breathe. Still fighting whatever had clawed at her mind. But she wasn’t alone. And Infinite — wherever he was — had just made the worst mistake possible: He messed with their sister.
