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On a mostly quiet Saturday afternoon (Dr. Eggman was attacking the city yet again), Sonia laid on her bed while talking to her best friend Mindy on her phone, completely unconcerned about the battle since Sonic always defeated Eggman with ease.
“So Mother said we could have a sleepover next weekend.” Sonia said. “My uncle’s in town for Mom’s birthday and it’s gonna be a full house since we moved into this smaller place.”
“That’s fine.” Mindy replied. “Daddy decided to surprise me with tickets to this play I was dying to see this weekend.”
Sonia smiled. “That’s great,” She said. “I-”
Sonia’s phone started beeping.
Sonia sighed. “Hold on, someone’s trying to call me.”
“Sure.” Mindy said.
Sonia switched calls. “Manic, I-”
Manic was crying so hard, Sonia couldn’t make out what he was trying to tell her.
Sonia sat up. “Manic, what’s wrong?”
“Sonic just got killed.” Manic sobbed.
Sonia gasped. “What?”
“That stupid idiot killed him, Sonia.” Manic yelled. “The EMTs just pronounced him dead on the scene.”
“I’ll tell Mother and meet you at the hospital.” Sonia replied. She switched her call back to Mindy. She started crying. “I gotta go. Sonic died.”
“Oh, no.” Mindy said, voice breaking. “I’m sorry, Sonia. I’ll come by later.”
Sonia hung up and raced out of her bedroom, to the living room.
Aleena had just walked in with Uncle Chuck.
Sonia exhaled loudly. “Mother?”
Aleena looked at Sonia. “You look like you saw a ghost, sweetie.” She said, “What-”
“Manic called; Sonic got killed.” Sonia cried.
Uncle Chuck and Aleena dropped the bags.
“Where’s Manic?” Aleena asked.
“The hospital.” Sonia replied.
*
Sonia ran over to Manic and Shadow, who were in the waiting room.
Manic got up and hugged Sonia.
“What happened?” Sonia asked.
Manic let go of Sonia.
“Tails was taking down a bee bot and broke his ankle.” Shadow said. “Sonic was checking on him and this one bot slammed into the back of Sonic’s head. Killed him instantly.”
Sonia helped Manic, whose legs were starting to buckle under him, sit down. She held Manic as he cried on her shoulder.
“I called the Paramedics while Manic checked on him.” Shadow said. “Tails is in shock. Dr. Eggman freaked out, hit the self-destruct button on his hovercraft.”
“He’s gone too?” Sonia asked.
“Yeah.” Shadow replied. “Saved Manic a murder charge.”
*
Sonia walked Manic to his bedroom. “Mother and Uncle Chuck should be home soon.”
Manic froze as soon as he reached the bedroom door.
“Manic?” Sonia asked.
Manic screamed at the top of his lungs.
Sonia held Manic and stroked his spines. “It’s okay, it’s okay.”
“I can’t go in there.” Manic cried. “I can’t stay in this room.”
“Then… you can stay in my room.” Sonia said softly. “We’ll talk to Mother when she gets home.”
*
Six months later, the hedgehog family were settling into their new normal.
Except Manic. He couldn’t set foot into his own bedroom that he shared with Sonic just to get a change of clothes.
He had been sleeping on the couch since the day Sonic died. He barely talked with anyone and had spent two months in the hospital and rehab for a suicide attempt that he barely survived.
The family couldn’t afford to move again and Aleena couldn’t bear packing up Sonic’s belongings. They left the room exactly the way it was the day Sonic left his room for the last time.
Sonia laid on her bed early on this Sunday morning, watching an old video of Sonic on her phone.
Sonic and Manic were goofing around as the family made mini pizzas for dinner while Sonia scolded Manic for trying to snack on the shredded cheese.
Sonia smiled weakly.
Aleena walked in with a note. “Sonia?”
Sonia paused the video and looked at Aleena. “Yes?” She asked. She saw the note. “Please tell me he didn’t try again.”
“He ran away last night.” Aleena said, sitting on the bed. “He said he can’t live here now. He loves us, but it’s too much for him to live here where Sonic lived.”
Sonia nodded. “I understand, but where is he going?”
Aleena shrugged. “I have no idea.” She replied. “He left his phone to keep us from tracking him and it’s too hard for him to look at Sonic’s pictures and videos.”
Sonia rubbed her arms. “I should’ve known,” She said. “Manic pretty much died inside when Sonic died.”
Aleena hugged Sonia. “We’re looking for Manic, okay?” She asked. “Don’t worry, we’ll find him.”