The room stayed painfully quiet. The kind of quiet that made every second feel like it stretched forever. Shadie was still nestled against Rouge, breathing slow, uneven, exhausted. Cream sniffled, clinging to Rouge’s wing. Will paced like a wolf ready to snap someone’s neck. Shadow stood perfectly still, a loaded weapon disguised as a hedgehog. Silver hovered protectively near Shadie, hands trembling. No one wanted to push her. No one wanted to scare her more. Then— Shadie’s fingers twitched. Just once, but enough for everyone to freeze. Shadow was the first to speak, voice soft, controlled. “Shadie… we’re here.” She swallowed. Her throat ached. Her voice felt like it had been wrung dry by something cold and cruel. For a moment, she didn’t think she could make a sound at all. Then quietly — so quietly Silver’s ears twitched to catch it— “…he… he found me…” Rouge stiffened. Will stopped pacing mid-step. Silver’s breath hitched. Shadow turned fully toward her. Cream clutched her sketchbook tighter and whispered, “Mom…?” Shadie’s voice cracked. “…I tried to push him out…” Her hands curled into weak fists. “…but he just… kept pushing back.” Shadow stepped closer, kneeling down so he was level with her. “Who?” he asked, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it from her lips. Shadie stared at the floor, eyes wide, haunted. It took everything she had to say the name. “…Infinite.” Cream let out a tiny gasp of fear. Rouge tightened her arms around Shadie protectively. Omega’s scanners blared red. Will’s tails shot straight up, fury igniting like fire behind his eyes. Silver looked physically sick. Shadow stood slowly. His voice went dark. “Where?” Shadie shook her head weakly. “I don’t know… he wasn’t… there. Just… pushing. Hunting for cracks.” Will’s whole expression changed — fury mixed with something cold and terrified. “He got that close… to your mind?” he whispered. “That close to you?” Shadie nodded once. Cream hugged Rouge tightly, babbling through tears: “N-No — no he can’t do that — he can’t hurt Mom — h-he can’t—” Rouge rubbed her back gently, whispering reassurance. Shadow clenched his fists so hard they shook. “Then he’s nearby,” he said through his teeth. “Close enough for psychic contact.” Silver swallowed hard. “That means he’s coming for her.” Will didn’t even blink. “Then we’re going for him.” Omega flexed his metal claws. “AFFIRMATIVE. I ENCOURAGE VIOLENCE.” Rouge looked between them, then at Shadie — who was still shaking, still pale, still quiet. Rouge’s voice dropped low. “No one’s laying a finger on her. You understand me?” Shadow nodded. Will nodded. Silver nodded. Even Cream nodded firmly through her tears. Then Shadow turned to Shadie, eyes softening for just a moment. “We’re not letting him near you again.” Shadie finally looked at him — not fully, not steadily, but enough. Her voice wavered. “…don’t… leave me alone.” That one sentence destroyed everyone in the room. Silver nearly cried. Rouge’s eyes softened painfully. Will’s bravado cracked for a split second. Cream crawled closer and hugged Shadie’s arm. Shadow put a hand on her shoulder. And said quietly: “We won’t.”
