Categories > Games > Sonic the Hedgehog > Sonic underground Reboot
Ten year old Manic gripped the straps of his backpack tightly as he shuffled along behind his caseworker, Mr. Snively, who he also called Ickis or Gooey Looey because he swore this guy sounded like that cartoon character and looked like the board game character.
Manic hated being passed from home to home. He had wished that the couple who took him in six years ago would've adopted him, but it didn't work out.
Sadly, he didn't get to stay in that home for more than a couple of weeks.
Now he was at his… he wasn't sure how many houses he had been shipped off to. He hoped it would be better than the last one, where his foster parents were pretty rough.
Supposedly, they were trying to teach him the “echidna warrior code” or something. It didn't make much sense to Manic, especially since he was a hedgehog and a smaller type of hedgehog at that.
Of course, no one believed him since the family explained Manic simply wasn't adjusting well and that Manic and his foster brother’s roughhousing got too rough.
Nobody believed Manic that it wasn't roughhousing and that he was forced into brutal hand-to-hand combat with his foster brother.
Still, Manic was shipped off to another home after a couple of nights of sleeping on an uncomfortable office couch.
As soon as Manic set foot in the door of the new home (which belonged to a family of hedgehogs), he saw a drum set.
“Crashin’!” Manic exclaimed. He raced over to the drum set, got his drumsticks out of his backpack, and started playing.
“He's really good.” His foster mom said.
Mr. Snively looked over the couple's shoulders. “Manic, can you take a break for a minute and meet the Caldwells?”
Manic stopped. “Oh, sorry.” He said. He got up and walked over to the couple. “I'm Manic.”
Mrs. Caldwell played with Manic's long head spines. “He's so adorable.”
Manic gave a shy grin. “Thank you, Ma'am.”
“He's had a little trouble adjusting to his past few homes.” Mr. Snively said. “Hopefully, this one will work out.”
Manic nodded.
Mr. Snively looked down at Manic. “Now, be good and try to work things out before calling, okay?”
“Yes, sir.” Manic replied.
**
Manic liked the Caldwell family so far. He got to see his foster brother and sister before they went with their dad to pick up dinner.
Since he was a little tired from the day's events, Manic stayed with Mrs. Caldwell to help set the table for dinner.
“You're such a cutie.” Mrs. Caldwell said, playing with his spines.
“Thanks.” Manic said. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt her slide her hand down his back and stop on his bottom. He stepped away from her. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing, sweetie.” Mrs. Caldwell said.
“Well, stop it.” Manic replied. “I don't like that at all.”
Mrs. Caldwell went back to setting the table as if nothing happened.
Manic wondered if he imagined what just happened, then started back helping.
Then Mrs. Caldwell tried touching his bottom again.
Manic slapped her hand away. “I said stop it!”
**
Manic laid on the couch, waiting for his movie to start. He had a feeling that he should've gone with Mr. Caldwell and his foster siblings to their soccer practice, but he hated sports and he had been dying to see Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
Today was the first time it aired on TV and the edited version would be the only way he could watch an R-rated movie, at least in this house.
“Manic, can you help me with the laundry?” Mrs. Caldwell called.
Manic sighed and got up. He walked into his foster parents’ bedroom and looked around.
There was no laundry basket or even a hamper anywhere in sight.
“What laundry?” Manic asked. He flinched as the door closed behind him.
“Not good.” Manic thought. He raised his spines.
“Put your spines down before I shave them off.” Mrs. Caldwell ordered.
Manic did as he was told. “Please leave me alone and let me watch my movie.”
**
Manic shuffled into his bedroom and laid down on his bed. He knew he should've gone to that stupid soccer practice.
But no. He had to see that stupid Terminator movie. He didn't even get to watch it anyway and it sure wasn't worth whatever had just happened.
As much as he loved Terminator 2, that wouldn't even be worth this to him.
Manic pulled his blanket over his head and cried softly.
He knew no one would believe him if he reported this. He would probably try anyway since he had nothing to lose.
**
Eleven year old Manic was shaking as he opened the bathroom door.
He wasn't even safe in his own room from her now and he couldn't even have a long shower where he could cry it out without anyone yelling at him to hurry it up.
“What took you so long?” Mrs. Caldwell questioned. “It's almost dinner time.”
Manic glared at Mrs. Caldwell, his mind racing with a load of violent thoughts. “I hate you.”
This earned the young hedgehog a slap across his face.
Manic didn't even wince. He'd been hit a whole lot harder than that before.
“You don't talk like that to adults, Manic.” Mrs. Caldwell scolded.
“I don't think you should be doing this to me either.” Manic retorted. “I could report you to someone else, you know.”
“Oh, like anyone believed you the last time you told on me?” Mrs. Caldwell asked. She walked back to the kitchen. “Now come help with dinner.”
Mrs. Caldwell was right: Manic tried to report her several times. Nothing was done and he was accused of being a liar and a problem child.
He knew he was supposed to leave soon, but he was afraid of getting treated worse than he did here. His only option was to run away. He'd steal some money and leave tonight after everyone went to bed.
*
Manic was too afraid of being caught, so he didn't steal any money from the Caldwells before he left.
He just wanted to get out of there.
He realized it was a bad idea since he had no way to buy himself food or anything, but he was too afraid of getting caught.
Manic glanced at the crowds around him as he walked down the street. “No one's really paying me attention.” He thought. “I bet I can pick pockets.”
Manic noticed a male mobian opossum standing at the bus stop and gently reached into the guy's pocket.
He pulled out five dollars and walked away.
He noticed a human male walking by and reached out to pick the guy's pocket.
“What are you doing?” A male voice asked.
Manic dropped the money (a grand total of eight dollars) he had stolen. He looked up and saw a Mobian male feline and a Mobian male hedgehog.
Both males happened to be police officers.
The man looked at them and must have assumed that the officer was talking to Manic since he picked up the money Manic had dropped before walking away.
Manic cowered and slightly raised his spines. He thought the black and red hedgehog looked especially intimidating. “I- I'm sorry.”
The hedgehog looked Manic over. “What're you doing out here so late at night?” He asked. “Where are your parents?”
Manic trembled. “Uh… dead?”
“Okay, if you tell me the truth, you won't be in any trouble.” The feline said, kneeling down in front of Manic. “I’m Cat and this is Shadow. We want to help you. You don't look like the troublemakers we usually deal with.”
Manic sighed and hung his head. “I'm Manic and I'm in foster care. I ran away from my foster family's house.” He replied. “I hate it there. My foster mom's creepy and no one believes me, so why should I explain it to either of you?”
“What do you mean about her being creepy?” Officer Shadow asked.
Manic rubbed his arm. “She keeps touching me and….”
*
Manic sat in the police station, waiting for someone to pick him up or ask him questions.
Manic froze as he saw his case worker, Mr. Snively walk. He turned to look at Officer Cat. “You said you wouldn't send me back!”
Shadow happened to walk in at that moment.
“No, you're not going back to the Caldwell home.” Mr. Snively said. “You're going to a group home.”
Manic seethed. “I don't want to go anywhere with you.”
Officer Cat looked from Manic to Mr. Snively. “I don't believe he's lying.”
“He's lied about abuse before.” Mr. Snively said. “There's no evidence he's being abused.”
Manic trembled. He really wanted to beat the daylights out of his case worker now, but knew he'd probably get sent to juvenile hall.
Shadow scoffed. “Is that so?” He questioned. “His descriptions are too detailed for a kid his age to even know. Has anyone ever checked into his claims at all?”
“He’s a seriously troubled child.” Mr. Snively said. “He comes up with a lot of wild stories.”
Manic started easing away, he looked to Shadow.
Shadow folded his arms. “So he's not getting a say in whether he's pressing charges or not?”
Officer Cat shook his head sadly. “I tried, Shadow.”
“Come, Manic.” Mr. Snively said. “Let's go.”
Manic glared at Mr. Snively. “Make me, Ickis.”
“Manic, it'll go easier on you if you cooperate.” Officer Cat said. “Don't make it worse on yourself. They're apparently not going to do an investigation.”
Manic looked at Officer Cat and Shadow in disbelief. He tried to run away, only to be caught by his shoulders and marched out the door by Mr. Snively.
Manic tried to dig his heels into the ground, but he couldn't get any traction on the tile floor and then the wet sidewalk.
Manic was made to get into the back seat of the car.
Mr. Snively closed the door behind Manic.
Since the window was half open, Officer Shadow approached the car to talk to Manic.
Officer Cat followed Shadow.
Manic stared off at the back of the seat without acknowledging Officer Shadow.
“I'm sorry, Manic.” Officer Shadow said. “I’ll do my best to help you.”
Officer Cat nodded in agreement.
“So far, your best isn't good enough.” Manic thought.
“I’m not letting that decision stand without a fight.” Officer Shadow replied.
Manic sighed. “Thanks for believing me, I guess.”
**
Sixteen year old Manic didn't exactly like this street, but it was the quickest route home from highschool.
He no longer had a girlfriend who'd give him a ride and his skateboard needed a new set of wheels that he hadn’t had time to fix yet.
It was just like everything else in his life: damaged and anything good that happened was always short-lived.
A male hedgehog with teal fur and long head spines similar to Manic's was walking down the street, approaching him.
Manic noticed the male's solid black spiked wristbands. “Awesome wristbands, dude.”
The hedgehog stopped. “Thanks.”
“Where'd you get them?” Manic asked.
The hedgehog shrugged. “They were a gift.”
Manic nodded. “Ah, I guess I'll have to look them up.” He said. He started to walk away.
“Hey, I got something else you may want.” The hedgehog said.
Manic stopped. “Let me guess: drugs, huh?”
The hedgehog nodded. He held up a small Ziploc bag. “I'll let you have this for a lower price, just this one time.”
Manic looked at it. “How much?”
“Just this one time, I'll let you have it for twenty.” The hedgehog replied.
Manic pulled twenty dollars out of his jacket pocket and handed it to the hedgehog.
The hedgehog gave Manic the drugs after exchanging numbers in case the latter wanted to buy more.
“Thanks, dude.” Manic said. He looked at the bag as he walked down the street. “I guess I'll have to do research.”
Manic hated being passed from home to home. He had wished that the couple who took him in six years ago would've adopted him, but it didn't work out.
Sadly, he didn't get to stay in that home for more than a couple of weeks.
Now he was at his… he wasn't sure how many houses he had been shipped off to. He hoped it would be better than the last one, where his foster parents were pretty rough.
Supposedly, they were trying to teach him the “echidna warrior code” or something. It didn't make much sense to Manic, especially since he was a hedgehog and a smaller type of hedgehog at that.
Of course, no one believed him since the family explained Manic simply wasn't adjusting well and that Manic and his foster brother’s roughhousing got too rough.
Nobody believed Manic that it wasn't roughhousing and that he was forced into brutal hand-to-hand combat with his foster brother.
Still, Manic was shipped off to another home after a couple of nights of sleeping on an uncomfortable office couch.
As soon as Manic set foot in the door of the new home (which belonged to a family of hedgehogs), he saw a drum set.
“Crashin’!” Manic exclaimed. He raced over to the drum set, got his drumsticks out of his backpack, and started playing.
“He's really good.” His foster mom said.
Mr. Snively looked over the couple's shoulders. “Manic, can you take a break for a minute and meet the Caldwells?”
Manic stopped. “Oh, sorry.” He said. He got up and walked over to the couple. “I'm Manic.”
Mrs. Caldwell played with Manic's long head spines. “He's so adorable.”
Manic gave a shy grin. “Thank you, Ma'am.”
“He's had a little trouble adjusting to his past few homes.” Mr. Snively said. “Hopefully, this one will work out.”
Manic nodded.
Mr. Snively looked down at Manic. “Now, be good and try to work things out before calling, okay?”
“Yes, sir.” Manic replied.
**
Manic liked the Caldwell family so far. He got to see his foster brother and sister before they went with their dad to pick up dinner.
Since he was a little tired from the day's events, Manic stayed with Mrs. Caldwell to help set the table for dinner.
“You're such a cutie.” Mrs. Caldwell said, playing with his spines.
“Thanks.” Manic said. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt her slide her hand down his back and stop on his bottom. He stepped away from her. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing, sweetie.” Mrs. Caldwell said.
“Well, stop it.” Manic replied. “I don't like that at all.”
Mrs. Caldwell went back to setting the table as if nothing happened.
Manic wondered if he imagined what just happened, then started back helping.
Then Mrs. Caldwell tried touching his bottom again.
Manic slapped her hand away. “I said stop it!”
**
Manic laid on the couch, waiting for his movie to start. He had a feeling that he should've gone with Mr. Caldwell and his foster siblings to their soccer practice, but he hated sports and he had been dying to see Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
Today was the first time it aired on TV and the edited version would be the only way he could watch an R-rated movie, at least in this house.
“Manic, can you help me with the laundry?” Mrs. Caldwell called.
Manic sighed and got up. He walked into his foster parents’ bedroom and looked around.
There was no laundry basket or even a hamper anywhere in sight.
“What laundry?” Manic asked. He flinched as the door closed behind him.
“Not good.” Manic thought. He raised his spines.
“Put your spines down before I shave them off.” Mrs. Caldwell ordered.
Manic did as he was told. “Please leave me alone and let me watch my movie.”
**
Manic shuffled into his bedroom and laid down on his bed. He knew he should've gone to that stupid soccer practice.
But no. He had to see that stupid Terminator movie. He didn't even get to watch it anyway and it sure wasn't worth whatever had just happened.
As much as he loved Terminator 2, that wouldn't even be worth this to him.
Manic pulled his blanket over his head and cried softly.
He knew no one would believe him if he reported this. He would probably try anyway since he had nothing to lose.
**
Eleven year old Manic was shaking as he opened the bathroom door.
He wasn't even safe in his own room from her now and he couldn't even have a long shower where he could cry it out without anyone yelling at him to hurry it up.
“What took you so long?” Mrs. Caldwell questioned. “It's almost dinner time.”
Manic glared at Mrs. Caldwell, his mind racing with a load of violent thoughts. “I hate you.”
This earned the young hedgehog a slap across his face.
Manic didn't even wince. He'd been hit a whole lot harder than that before.
“You don't talk like that to adults, Manic.” Mrs. Caldwell scolded.
“I don't think you should be doing this to me either.” Manic retorted. “I could report you to someone else, you know.”
“Oh, like anyone believed you the last time you told on me?” Mrs. Caldwell asked. She walked back to the kitchen. “Now come help with dinner.”
Mrs. Caldwell was right: Manic tried to report her several times. Nothing was done and he was accused of being a liar and a problem child.
He knew he was supposed to leave soon, but he was afraid of getting treated worse than he did here. His only option was to run away. He'd steal some money and leave tonight after everyone went to bed.
*
Manic was too afraid of being caught, so he didn't steal any money from the Caldwells before he left.
He just wanted to get out of there.
He realized it was a bad idea since he had no way to buy himself food or anything, but he was too afraid of getting caught.
Manic glanced at the crowds around him as he walked down the street. “No one's really paying me attention.” He thought. “I bet I can pick pockets.”
Manic noticed a male mobian opossum standing at the bus stop and gently reached into the guy's pocket.
He pulled out five dollars and walked away.
He noticed a human male walking by and reached out to pick the guy's pocket.
“What are you doing?” A male voice asked.
Manic dropped the money (a grand total of eight dollars) he had stolen. He looked up and saw a Mobian male feline and a Mobian male hedgehog.
Both males happened to be police officers.
The man looked at them and must have assumed that the officer was talking to Manic since he picked up the money Manic had dropped before walking away.
Manic cowered and slightly raised his spines. He thought the black and red hedgehog looked especially intimidating. “I- I'm sorry.”
The hedgehog looked Manic over. “What're you doing out here so late at night?” He asked. “Where are your parents?”
Manic trembled. “Uh… dead?”
“Okay, if you tell me the truth, you won't be in any trouble.” The feline said, kneeling down in front of Manic. “I’m Cat and this is Shadow. We want to help you. You don't look like the troublemakers we usually deal with.”
Manic sighed and hung his head. “I'm Manic and I'm in foster care. I ran away from my foster family's house.” He replied. “I hate it there. My foster mom's creepy and no one believes me, so why should I explain it to either of you?”
“What do you mean about her being creepy?” Officer Shadow asked.
Manic rubbed his arm. “She keeps touching me and….”
*
Manic sat in the police station, waiting for someone to pick him up or ask him questions.
Manic froze as he saw his case worker, Mr. Snively walk. He turned to look at Officer Cat. “You said you wouldn't send me back!”
Shadow happened to walk in at that moment.
“No, you're not going back to the Caldwell home.” Mr. Snively said. “You're going to a group home.”
Manic seethed. “I don't want to go anywhere with you.”
Officer Cat looked from Manic to Mr. Snively. “I don't believe he's lying.”
“He's lied about abuse before.” Mr. Snively said. “There's no evidence he's being abused.”
Manic trembled. He really wanted to beat the daylights out of his case worker now, but knew he'd probably get sent to juvenile hall.
Shadow scoffed. “Is that so?” He questioned. “His descriptions are too detailed for a kid his age to even know. Has anyone ever checked into his claims at all?”
“He’s a seriously troubled child.” Mr. Snively said. “He comes up with a lot of wild stories.”
Manic started easing away, he looked to Shadow.
Shadow folded his arms. “So he's not getting a say in whether he's pressing charges or not?”
Officer Cat shook his head sadly. “I tried, Shadow.”
“Come, Manic.” Mr. Snively said. “Let's go.”
Manic glared at Mr. Snively. “Make me, Ickis.”
“Manic, it'll go easier on you if you cooperate.” Officer Cat said. “Don't make it worse on yourself. They're apparently not going to do an investigation.”
Manic looked at Officer Cat and Shadow in disbelief. He tried to run away, only to be caught by his shoulders and marched out the door by Mr. Snively.
Manic tried to dig his heels into the ground, but he couldn't get any traction on the tile floor and then the wet sidewalk.
Manic was made to get into the back seat of the car.
Mr. Snively closed the door behind Manic.
Since the window was half open, Officer Shadow approached the car to talk to Manic.
Officer Cat followed Shadow.
Manic stared off at the back of the seat without acknowledging Officer Shadow.
“I'm sorry, Manic.” Officer Shadow said. “I’ll do my best to help you.”
Officer Cat nodded in agreement.
“So far, your best isn't good enough.” Manic thought.
“I’m not letting that decision stand without a fight.” Officer Shadow replied.
Manic sighed. “Thanks for believing me, I guess.”
**
Sixteen year old Manic didn't exactly like this street, but it was the quickest route home from highschool.
He no longer had a girlfriend who'd give him a ride and his skateboard needed a new set of wheels that he hadn’t had time to fix yet.
It was just like everything else in his life: damaged and anything good that happened was always short-lived.
A male hedgehog with teal fur and long head spines similar to Manic's was walking down the street, approaching him.
Manic noticed the male's solid black spiked wristbands. “Awesome wristbands, dude.”
The hedgehog stopped. “Thanks.”
“Where'd you get them?” Manic asked.
The hedgehog shrugged. “They were a gift.”
Manic nodded. “Ah, I guess I'll have to look them up.” He said. He started to walk away.
“Hey, I got something else you may want.” The hedgehog said.
Manic stopped. “Let me guess: drugs, huh?”
The hedgehog nodded. He held up a small Ziploc bag. “I'll let you have this for a lower price, just this one time.”
Manic looked at it. “How much?”
“Just this one time, I'll let you have it for twenty.” The hedgehog replied.
Manic pulled twenty dollars out of his jacket pocket and handed it to the hedgehog.
The hedgehog gave Manic the drugs after exchanging numbers in case the latter wanted to buy more.
“Thanks, dude.” Manic said. He looked at the bag as he walked down the street. “I guess I'll have to do research.”
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