Shadow The Hedgehog..

The room is silent... not an empty silence, but a warm one, filled with small breaths. Cherry makes a soft sound, barely a sigh wrapped in new life. Sonic smiles. —Okay, okay… calm down, little star… His hands are quick, but careful. She folds the fabric, straightens the sleeve, and fastens the tiny snap as if it were the most important thing in the world. The triplets, in the background, half asleep, half curious, watch from their little kingdom of jumbled toys. Everything is… peaceful. Too peaceful. The door opens. Not loudly. But enough to shift the atmosphere. Shadow enters. He says nothing at first. But something in his gaze… it's not tiredness. It's not stress. It's something darker. Something that was already decided before entering. —We need to talk. Sonic looks up, still holding Cherry. —Sure… just let me finish— —Now, Sonic. The voice isn't loud. But it's cold. As if there's no room for gentleness anymore. Cherry whimpers a little. Sonic instinctively pulls her closer to his chest. -What's happening…? Shadow takes a step forward. —How long have you been planning to tell me? Silence. Sonic blinks. —…Tell you what? And that's where it all begins. Words that don't fit together. Accusations that have no form. Sonic tries to understand. Shadow has already decided to misunderstand. —Don't lie to me. —I'm not lying to you, I don't know what you're talking about. —Really? Not even now? —Shadow, look at me— —Don't tell me what to do! Cherry cries. A small cry… but in that room it sounds like an alarm. The triplets approach. One clings to Sonic's leg. Another looks at Shadow fearfully. The third doesn't understand… but senses that something is wrong. -Who is it? The question lands like a stone. Sonic freezes. -…that? -With who? —Are you… are you listening to yourself? —Answer me! Sonic presses Cherry against his chest, protecting her from the tone, from the world, from everything. —There's nobody here. —Then explain it to me. —There's nothing to explain! That's the mistake. Shadow needed an answer.