FicWad

Shadow, Manic, and Rouge walked up to the doors of a rundown building in downtown Mobotropolis known as the Underground hotel.
“Wait, you can’t just walk in, Shads.” Manic said.
“Do you think anyone wants to go against him?” Rouge asked.
“Fair enough.” Manic replied.
Shadow opened the door.
Rouge and Manic walked in.
Shadow followed them.
Rouge looked around at the beautiful paintings hanging on the freshly painted walls, the marble floor and the gold plated fixtures and candelabra. “Looks definitely were deceiving.”
Maria Robotnik was standing behind the marble and gold counter. She looked up and smiled. “Good to see you again, Shadow, Manic.”
“Good to see you.” Shadow said. “Is your cousin around?”
Maria grimaced. “He should be.” She replied. “I haven’t seen him since breakfast. He should be on the third floor.”
“Thanks.” Shadow said.
“May I ask why either of you are here if you got out?” Maria asked. “You’re lucky to be able to escape. I’m stuck here.”
“We may be able to help you.” Shadow replied.
“I hope so, Shadow.” Maria said. “You know the rules, but I’m guessing you’ll disregard the rules.”
“Thanks, Maria.” Shadow replied. He led Rouge and Manic to the elevators.
Rouge pressed a button.
Manic nodded. “Hmm.”
“What?” Rouge asked.
The elevator door opened.
They walked inside.
Shadow pressed the buttons.
“What Maria said about being stuck here.” Manic said as the door closed. “She only does desk work. She never did any job.”
The elevator jolted, then started its ascent to the third floor.
“She’s a Robotnik.” Shadow replied. “So am I… kinda.”
Manic and Rouge gave Shadow stunned looks.
“The kingpin is her grandfather, Gerald.” Shadow said. “He adopted me when I was just a few hours old. He found me in a gutter near this hotel. He had some of his top guys train me in weaponry and martial arts.”
“You had an interesting childhood, Shadow.” Rouge said.
*
Shadow knocked on the room door.
Rouge leaned against the wall.
“We’ve been standing here for about ten minutes.” Manic said. “I don’t think he’s in.”
“Do you have something better to do?” Shadow asked.
Manic shrugged. “I guess not.”
The door finally opened.
Ivo stood in the doorway.
Maria was in the room with him.
“I knew you would show up.” Ivo said. “And not just because I questioned Maria.”
“Then why did you put a death warrant on me?” Shadow asked.
“Follow me to the roof.” Ivo replied. He walked back into the room and grabbed Maria’s arm.
Shadow walked into the room. “Let her go, Ivo.” He said. “You know what the kingpin would say.”
Manic and Rouge followed Shadow inside.
“You know what the kingpin would say about being an informant.” Ivo said, pressing a button on his private elevator. “You think just because Manic refused to honor his debts that it gets you off the hook?”
The elevator doors opened.
Ivo marched Maria into the elevator.
Shadow, Manic, and Rouge followed Ivo and Maria inside.
Ivo pressed the button.
The doors closed.
“You couldn’t have the death warrant lifted even if you killed Manic for his actions.” Ivo said.
The elevator made it to the roof.
Shadow, Manic, and Rouge led the way out of the elevator.
Manic drew a shaky breath.
“Shadow?” Rouge whispered.
Shadow held Rouge’s hand.
“Ivo, what are you doing?” Maria asked. “You can’t do this. Grandpa will-”
“Shut up, Maria.” Ivo snapped.
Shadow, Manic, and Rouge turned around.
Ivo was holding a gun and pointing it at Shadow.
Shadow went to pull his gun out of his coat pocket.
Maria leaped in front of Shadow as Ivo fired the gun.
The bullet hit Maria in the chest.
“Maria!” Shadow screamed. He ran over and held Maria.
Rouge ran toward Shadow while Manic ran for the elevator.
Ivo grabbed Manic by the collar of his trenchcoat and started walking.
Manic glanced around for anyone to help. “Rouge? Shadow?” He asked. Ivo finally reached the edge of the building and dangled Manic over the edge.
Manic squeezed his eyes shut, hyperventilating. “He won’t let me go if I say I have a family.” He thought. “He’d just go after them once he kills me.”
“I thought about letting you go.” Ivo said. “You’re nowhere near as threatening as Shadow. But… it’s not like anyone will miss one pathetic street rat.”
Manic gulped.
Ivo let Manic go.
Manic screamed. He fell for a few feet, then felt something catch him. He opened his eyes.
“I got you, Manic.” Rouge whispered. She flew around the building and landed on the other side. She set Manic down on the roof.
Manic exhaled loudly. “Thank you, Rouge.”
Rouge glanced in Shadow’s direction. “We better check on-”
Gunshots rang out.
Rouge and Manic ran over to Shadow.
Manic noticed Ivo crumbled in a heap on the roof of the building across from Maria’s body.
“I hope you got info about the kingpin, honey.” Rouge said.
“I didn’t need him for the info.” Shadow replied. “Ivo was set to be the next kingpin upon Gerald’s death, but he still tried to exert some kind of authority over the guild as if he was already the kingpin.”
Shadow led the way to the elevator.
Rouge and Manic followed.
“I thought my family was dysfunctional.” Rouge muttered.
“Call an ambulance for Maria.” Shadow said, pressing a button for the elevator.
“But they’ll figure out you killed Ivo.” Rouge replied.
“Call anonymously, use another phone.” Shadow said.