Categories > Games > Sonic the Hedgehog > Sonic underground Reboot
Sonic woke up to Manic zipping up his boots.
Now that Manic wasn't wearing his jacket or a baggy t-shirt and sweatpants, Sonic could see just how painfully thin his little brother had gotten.
“Manic, I don't want to nag you, but you really do need to quit. Sonic said. “Your sides are sunken in.”
“I know, I know.” Manic muttered.
“How'd you get on any of that in the first place?” Sonic asked.
“Long story.” Manic replied.
Aleena and Sonia were already up. Sonia was mixing pancake batter while Aleena got the griddle ready.
“Why's everyone up early?” Manic asked.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Sal's here.” Sonic said, racing to the door.
“Sal?” Manic asked.
“His girlfriend, Sally.” Aleena replied. “I thought we told you that we're having breakfast with Sonia’s boyfriend and Sonic's girlfriend.”
“Oh, right.” Manic said.
Sonic came back into the room with Sally. “This is Sally.” He said. “She already knows your names.”
“It's so nice to meet you.” Sally said. “I helped Sonic with the ancestry report.”
Sonia's phone chimed.
Manic looked at the phone and touched the screen. “Who's Bartleby and- he's dumping you. He looks like a jerk, sis. You're better off without him.”
Sonia huffed and looked at her phone. “Oh. Because he saw your picture on my Instagram, Manic, and he's saying he doesn't want to date me if my brother's a drug addict.”
“I'm sorry, sis.” Manic replied. “I thought I had my sleeves pulled down. Still, he looks like a snob. How long has he been dating you anyway?”
“Three years.” Sonia said.
“Three years and he dumps you by phone?” Manic asked. “He's a jerk.”
“Hard to argue with that.” Sonic said.
Sally nodded.
Manic patted Sonia on the back. “You can do better than that.”
“I guess you're right.” Sonia replied.
Sally squinted as she looked at Manic. “Uh, Manic, how recently have you used drugs?”
Sonic and Sonia looked at Manic.
Manic rolled his eyes upward. “Yesterday, before I called Sonic.”
Sonic nodded. “He didn't sneak out. He kept me up for a while by listening to music.” He said. “I swear he plays it all night.”
“Why?” Sonia asked.
“Helps me sleep.” Manic replied.
“Do you have nightmares a lot?” Sonic asked.
Manic rubbed the back of his head. “Why?”
“Just asking.” Sonic said.
“A few.” Manic replied.
*
Manic helped Sonic wash the dishes as Sonia, Aleena, and Sally talked in the living room.
“So I noticed that you never mentioned if you were seeing anyone.” Sonic said.
“I'm not.” Manic replied. “I haven't been in a relationship in two years. It just didn't work out.”
“I’m sorry.” Sonic said.
“Don't be.” Manic replied. “It's for the best.”
Sonic snorted. “Your clothes stink, bro.” He said. “When's the last time you did laundry?”
“Two weeks ago.” Manic replied.
“You can borrow some of my old clothes until you get your clothes washed.” Sonic said.
*
Sonia and Manic carried their bags of clothes to the laundry room.
“Manic, do you know how to use the washer?” Sonia asked.
“No.” Manic replied.
“So you never had to wash your own clothes?” Sonia asked.
“You haven't either.” Manic retorted.
“No, because we had maids.” Sonia replied. “I figured you didn't have a maid.”
Sonic walked in.
“Oh, sorry.” Manic said. “The houses I lived in didn't bother teaching me anything. I don't even know how to drive.”
“So you don't have any life skills at all, Manic?” Sonic asked.
Manic shook his head.
“I just don't know how to use the washer and dryer.” Sonia replied.
“Alright, you’ll learn now.” Sonic said. “Starting with the laundry.”
Aleena came in with her stack of laundry and dropped her clothes in the machine.
Sonia and Manic dropped their clothes in the machine as well.
Aleena loaded the washing machine. “Don't fill it any higher than this,” She said. She got the detergent out of the cabinet and opened the bottle.
Manic caught the scent of the detergent and tensed up. “No. I'm not using that.”
“That's all we have.” Sonic said.
“Hell will have to freeze over before I use that to wash my stuff in it.” Manic replied.
“Sonic, there's a box of laundry soap in the cabinet.” Aleena said, pointing to the cabinet over the dryer. “Let him use that.”
Sonic got the laundry soap out of the cabinet. “Fine, but it's just detergent.”
“It smells like this one awful home I was in.” Manic said.
“I'm sorry.” Sonic replied.
Sonia reached to pat Manic on the back and stopped herself. “Oh, you don't like that, do you?”
“No.” Manic said.
Aleena pointed to the dial. “Set it on medium load for normal washes. Set it on bulky loads for your bedsheets and blankets. Take your comforters and quilts to the laundromat.”
“Got it.” Sonia replied.
Manic fidgeted with the sleeves of Sonic's sweater he borrowed. “Y- yeah. Sure.”
“Manic, do you need to go to the hospital?” Aleena asked. “Withdrawals can be just as bad as an overdose.”
“I'm fine.” Manic said. “The sleeves are itchy.”
“They are.” Sonic added. “That's why I rarely wear it.”
“Sonia and I are going to the grocery store.” Sonic said, grabbing his jacket. “Do you want to come along?”
“No, I'm just gonna hang around and watch TV.” Manic replied.
“Okay.” Sonic said. He left the house with Sonia.
Manic waited until they were sure they were gone so he could sneak out to buy drugs.
*
Sonic wandered around the electronics section of Walmart, looking for a new set of earbuds.
Sonia followed Sonic.
Another shopper brushed against her.
Sonia huffed. "This is why my family sends the assistant to shop. Everyone's so rude."
"Get used to it." Sonic said. "Oh, and you didn't have to come along. You could've stayed home with Manic."
Sonia grimaced. “I don't really like him.”
"He's still our brother." Sonic said. "He's obviously been through a lot. I know he's kinda hard to get along with, but you're not making it easy on him."
Sonia sighed. "You're right.”
Sonic stopped by the five dollar DVD bin. "Hey, do you think he'd like this Terminator show?"
Sonia shrugged. "He said he loved the second movie, he might like that."
Sonic picked up the DVD box and stuck it into the cart.
*
Manic knew something was wrong as soon as he pulled the needle out.
He winced and reached for his phone. His chest ached so badly, he could barely breathe. Suddenly everything went black.
*
Sonic ran into the room. "Hey, I found this old Terminator show on DVD. I-" He stopped dead in his tracks and rushed over to Manic, who was laying on the floor, beside the bed. "Bro? Are you okay?"
Manic didn't respond.
Sonic noticed the black belt around Manic's left arm and a small bruise. "Sonia!" He yelled. "Mom!"
Aleena, Uncle Chuck (who had just come over for a visit), and Sonia rushed in.
"What're you screaming about?" Aleena asked.
"Call 911." Sonic said, turning Manic onto his back. "Manic's overdosing."
Uncle Chuck called 911 on his phone while trying to calm Sonia down.
Aleena ran over to Sonic and Manic.
Aleena nudged Sonic out of the way and started chest compressions on Manic. "Sonic, get the black bag in the kitchen. Hurry."
Sonic raced out of the room and came back a split second later with the bag.
Sonic opened the bag. “A defibrillator?”
Aleena took the bag from Sonic and placed the pads on Manic's chest.
Aleena shocked Manic with the defibrillator as soon as it was ready.
Manic gasped and opened his eyes. “What?” He asked. He noticed the tears in his mom's eyes. “Ma?”
“What did you take?” Aleena asked.
Manic’s eyes widened. “Please don't let me die.”
“I won't.” Aleena said. “Manic, what drug did you take? It's-”
Manic gritted his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut as another wave of pain hit.
“Manic.” Aleena said, holding his head. “Stay with me.”
“Coke.” Manic mumbled.
Aleena got the machine ready as Manic went out again.
Sonic remembered no one had opened the door and raced out to open the door for the EMTs.
*
Uncle Chuck, Sonic, and Sonia sat in the waiting room, waiting on news about Manic.
“Do you think he believes I hate him?” Sonia asked. “I really don't.”
“No, I don't think so.” Sonic replied.
“I'm gonna call my family.” Sonia said, getting up. She went outside.
Sonic sighed. "I don't get it."
"I don't either." Uncle Chuck said. "I couldn't understand it when your dad used it occasionally either."
"Is that why you said I shouldn't bother with my dad?" Sonic asked.
Uncle Chuck nodded. "That and after we figured out we were related, I called him." He replied. "I told him that I adopted his son. He just said that it was great. He never asked to see you or anything."
Sonic snorted. "Thanks, I wouldn't want to waste my time with that."
"From the way Manic acts and what you said about nightmares and the detergent thing, it sounds like he was never treated well by his foster families." Uncle Chuck said. “He's probably self medicating.”
"I tried to get him to talk about his foster families, but he said he doesn't like to talk about any of it." Sonic replied. "I have an idea about what all happened, but I’m afraid to ask now."
Aleena came over. "He's okay."
Sonia came in. “My adopted family is on the way,” She said. "How's Manic?"
"He'll be okay." Sonic replied. "Can we go see him?"
"We can visit." Aleena said. "They're only allowing one at a time at the moment and they said he asked for you, Sonic."
Now that Manic wasn't wearing his jacket or a baggy t-shirt and sweatpants, Sonic could see just how painfully thin his little brother had gotten.
“Manic, I don't want to nag you, but you really do need to quit. Sonic said. “Your sides are sunken in.”
“I know, I know.” Manic muttered.
“How'd you get on any of that in the first place?” Sonic asked.
“Long story.” Manic replied.
Aleena and Sonia were already up. Sonia was mixing pancake batter while Aleena got the griddle ready.
“Why's everyone up early?” Manic asked.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Sal's here.” Sonic said, racing to the door.
“Sal?” Manic asked.
“His girlfriend, Sally.” Aleena replied. “I thought we told you that we're having breakfast with Sonia’s boyfriend and Sonic's girlfriend.”
“Oh, right.” Manic said.
Sonic came back into the room with Sally. “This is Sally.” He said. “She already knows your names.”
“It's so nice to meet you.” Sally said. “I helped Sonic with the ancestry report.”
Sonia's phone chimed.
Manic looked at the phone and touched the screen. “Who's Bartleby and- he's dumping you. He looks like a jerk, sis. You're better off without him.”
Sonia huffed and looked at her phone. “Oh. Because he saw your picture on my Instagram, Manic, and he's saying he doesn't want to date me if my brother's a drug addict.”
“I'm sorry, sis.” Manic replied. “I thought I had my sleeves pulled down. Still, he looks like a snob. How long has he been dating you anyway?”
“Three years.” Sonia said.
“Three years and he dumps you by phone?” Manic asked. “He's a jerk.”
“Hard to argue with that.” Sonic said.
Sally nodded.
Manic patted Sonia on the back. “You can do better than that.”
“I guess you're right.” Sonia replied.
Sally squinted as she looked at Manic. “Uh, Manic, how recently have you used drugs?”
Sonic and Sonia looked at Manic.
Manic rolled his eyes upward. “Yesterday, before I called Sonic.”
Sonic nodded. “He didn't sneak out. He kept me up for a while by listening to music.” He said. “I swear he plays it all night.”
“Why?” Sonia asked.
“Helps me sleep.” Manic replied.
“Do you have nightmares a lot?” Sonic asked.
Manic rubbed the back of his head. “Why?”
“Just asking.” Sonic said.
“A few.” Manic replied.
*
Manic helped Sonic wash the dishes as Sonia, Aleena, and Sally talked in the living room.
“So I noticed that you never mentioned if you were seeing anyone.” Sonic said.
“I'm not.” Manic replied. “I haven't been in a relationship in two years. It just didn't work out.”
“I’m sorry.” Sonic said.
“Don't be.” Manic replied. “It's for the best.”
Sonic snorted. “Your clothes stink, bro.” He said. “When's the last time you did laundry?”
“Two weeks ago.” Manic replied.
“You can borrow some of my old clothes until you get your clothes washed.” Sonic said.
*
Sonia and Manic carried their bags of clothes to the laundry room.
“Manic, do you know how to use the washer?” Sonia asked.
“No.” Manic replied.
“So you never had to wash your own clothes?” Sonia asked.
“You haven't either.” Manic retorted.
“No, because we had maids.” Sonia replied. “I figured you didn't have a maid.”
Sonic walked in.
“Oh, sorry.” Manic said. “The houses I lived in didn't bother teaching me anything. I don't even know how to drive.”
“So you don't have any life skills at all, Manic?” Sonic asked.
Manic shook his head.
“I just don't know how to use the washer and dryer.” Sonia replied.
“Alright, you’ll learn now.” Sonic said. “Starting with the laundry.”
Aleena came in with her stack of laundry and dropped her clothes in the machine.
Sonia and Manic dropped their clothes in the machine as well.
Aleena loaded the washing machine. “Don't fill it any higher than this,” She said. She got the detergent out of the cabinet and opened the bottle.
Manic caught the scent of the detergent and tensed up. “No. I'm not using that.”
“That's all we have.” Sonic said.
“Hell will have to freeze over before I use that to wash my stuff in it.” Manic replied.
“Sonic, there's a box of laundry soap in the cabinet.” Aleena said, pointing to the cabinet over the dryer. “Let him use that.”
Sonic got the laundry soap out of the cabinet. “Fine, but it's just detergent.”
“It smells like this one awful home I was in.” Manic said.
“I'm sorry.” Sonic replied.
Sonia reached to pat Manic on the back and stopped herself. “Oh, you don't like that, do you?”
“No.” Manic said.
Aleena pointed to the dial. “Set it on medium load for normal washes. Set it on bulky loads for your bedsheets and blankets. Take your comforters and quilts to the laundromat.”
“Got it.” Sonia replied.
Manic fidgeted with the sleeves of Sonic's sweater he borrowed. “Y- yeah. Sure.”
“Manic, do you need to go to the hospital?” Aleena asked. “Withdrawals can be just as bad as an overdose.”
“I'm fine.” Manic said. “The sleeves are itchy.”
“They are.” Sonic added. “That's why I rarely wear it.”
“Sonia and I are going to the grocery store.” Sonic said, grabbing his jacket. “Do you want to come along?”
“No, I'm just gonna hang around and watch TV.” Manic replied.
“Okay.” Sonic said. He left the house with Sonia.
Manic waited until they were sure they were gone so he could sneak out to buy drugs.
*
Sonic wandered around the electronics section of Walmart, looking for a new set of earbuds.
Sonia followed Sonic.
Another shopper brushed against her.
Sonia huffed. "This is why my family sends the assistant to shop. Everyone's so rude."
"Get used to it." Sonic said. "Oh, and you didn't have to come along. You could've stayed home with Manic."
Sonia grimaced. “I don't really like him.”
"He's still our brother." Sonic said. "He's obviously been through a lot. I know he's kinda hard to get along with, but you're not making it easy on him."
Sonia sighed. "You're right.”
Sonic stopped by the five dollar DVD bin. "Hey, do you think he'd like this Terminator show?"
Sonia shrugged. "He said he loved the second movie, he might like that."
Sonic picked up the DVD box and stuck it into the cart.
*
Manic knew something was wrong as soon as he pulled the needle out.
He winced and reached for his phone. His chest ached so badly, he could barely breathe. Suddenly everything went black.
*
Sonic ran into the room. "Hey, I found this old Terminator show on DVD. I-" He stopped dead in his tracks and rushed over to Manic, who was laying on the floor, beside the bed. "Bro? Are you okay?"
Manic didn't respond.
Sonic noticed the black belt around Manic's left arm and a small bruise. "Sonia!" He yelled. "Mom!"
Aleena, Uncle Chuck (who had just come over for a visit), and Sonia rushed in.
"What're you screaming about?" Aleena asked.
"Call 911." Sonic said, turning Manic onto his back. "Manic's overdosing."
Uncle Chuck called 911 on his phone while trying to calm Sonia down.
Aleena ran over to Sonic and Manic.
Aleena nudged Sonic out of the way and started chest compressions on Manic. "Sonic, get the black bag in the kitchen. Hurry."
Sonic raced out of the room and came back a split second later with the bag.
Sonic opened the bag. “A defibrillator?”
Aleena took the bag from Sonic and placed the pads on Manic's chest.
Aleena shocked Manic with the defibrillator as soon as it was ready.
Manic gasped and opened his eyes. “What?” He asked. He noticed the tears in his mom's eyes. “Ma?”
“What did you take?” Aleena asked.
Manic’s eyes widened. “Please don't let me die.”
“I won't.” Aleena said. “Manic, what drug did you take? It's-”
Manic gritted his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut as another wave of pain hit.
“Manic.” Aleena said, holding his head. “Stay with me.”
“Coke.” Manic mumbled.
Aleena got the machine ready as Manic went out again.
Sonic remembered no one had opened the door and raced out to open the door for the EMTs.
*
Uncle Chuck, Sonic, and Sonia sat in the waiting room, waiting on news about Manic.
“Do you think he believes I hate him?” Sonia asked. “I really don't.”
“No, I don't think so.” Sonic replied.
“I'm gonna call my family.” Sonia said, getting up. She went outside.
Sonic sighed. "I don't get it."
"I don't either." Uncle Chuck said. "I couldn't understand it when your dad used it occasionally either."
"Is that why you said I shouldn't bother with my dad?" Sonic asked.
Uncle Chuck nodded. "That and after we figured out we were related, I called him." He replied. "I told him that I adopted his son. He just said that it was great. He never asked to see you or anything."
Sonic snorted. "Thanks, I wouldn't want to waste my time with that."
"From the way Manic acts and what you said about nightmares and the detergent thing, it sounds like he was never treated well by his foster families." Uncle Chuck said. “He's probably self medicating.”
"I tried to get him to talk about his foster families, but he said he doesn't like to talk about any of it." Sonic replied. "I have an idea about what all happened, but I’m afraid to ask now."
Aleena came over. "He's okay."
Sonia came in. “My adopted family is on the way,” She said. "How's Manic?"
"He'll be okay." Sonic replied. "Can we go see him?"
"We can visit." Aleena said. "They're only allowing one at a time at the moment and they said he asked for you, Sonic."
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