Chapter Text
The awakening sound of a classical tune rings throughout the building. Sounds of groans and screams fill the air, causing chaos to ensue.
“Where am I?!?”
“Please help!”
“Where’s my daughter?!”
Sonic rubs his eyes, sitting up in his bed. He yawns, glancing around at everyone in matching muted teal tracksuits. He mutters a quiet ‘what?’ to himself, gazing at the hundreds of bunkbeds surrounding the walls of this dormitory.
Suddenly, a beep comes from a metal door, and masked men in hot pink tracksuits walk out.
The guard wearing a square mask stands firmly, beginning a speech. “I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to you all. Everyone here will participate in six different games over six consecutive days. Those who win each game will earn a handsome cash prize.”
All the players look around at each other, murmuring.
A young voice speaks up, “How…how much do we receive at the end of these games?”
The guard presses a button on a remote, and a clear piggy bank starts to slowly descend from the ceiling. “Your prize money after every game will be accumulated in there. The amount of money will be disclosed after the first game finishes.”
The guards stand there menacingly, then giving their last presentation. “The first game will begin shortly.”
Sonic tries sprinting to the guards, but stumbles, the quick realization that his powers were numbed. He couldn’t run.
“Sonic!” A young yellow-orange fox spots his cobalt blue hedgehog friend, sprinting to him, proceeding to push people out of the way.
“Hey, watch it!” The pushed guy yells out, but then his eyes widen when he realized who it was.
“Knuckles!” Tails gasps, a tinge of embarrassment on his face knowing he pushed him. Sonic approaches the two of them, forming a group of three.
“Are you guys okay?” Sonic asks, scanning them.
“I don’t know how I ended up here…” Tails mutters, watching the guards walk away.
“We’ll find a way out, fox,” Knuckles replies, trying to keep his stress levels to a minimum. Just then, people fall, crashing into each other.
“Hey, stop! Why are you fighting?!” A pink hedgehog gets in the middle of a fight, trying to stop it before more damage is done. One of the men push her up against the bunkbed, holding his fist up to her face.
“Hey, quit!” Sonic grabs the guy’s arm, shoving him away from Amy. “Are you hurt?” He brings her with him to walk away from the mess.
“I’m fine. Thank you.” Amy takes a deep breath, nodding her head.
“Amy!” Tails shouts her name, running over and hugging her tightly.
“What is this place?” A familiar white bat approaches, glancing at Knuckles then at everyone else.
“Rouge.” Knuckles scoffs, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes.
Tails gazes around, trying to spot more friends. Team Chaotix approach, a small bee enthusiastically waving at everyone. Right behind them are the Diamonds Cutters. A wolf with a mask is talking to a grey lemur.
“There is a lot of people here…” Sonic mumbles, scanning the room.
“There’s at least 400 people in here.” Tails replies, doing the mental math in his head.
“400 people in this one room. Nobody knows what’s happening, nobody knows where we are, nobody knows anything. Eggman’s most likely behind this.” Vector puts his hands on his hips while Charmy sits on his shoulder.
“What numbers do you guys have?” Whisper pops in the group that subconsciously formed into a circle.
“Numbers?” Tangle questions, but then notices a number on Whisper’s jacket. “Huh. Mines 71.”
Everyone says their numbers aloud, talking amongst each other.
“Ms. Amy!” A young cream colored rabbit strolls over to Amy, the assumed mother following in pursuit.
“Cream dear, you don’t know what’s happening! Don’t run to people without—“ Vanilla notices Amy alongside many familiar faces. She clears her throat, letting Cream go.
“Players. The first game will now commence. Please walk forward.” A guard calls out, a big metal door opening behind.
“Out of my way, punk!” A lime green tenrec shoves a person out of the way, dragging a teal kitsune behind.
“Surge…” Kitsunami grasps Surge’s arm tightly.
“Player 359, please step forward to take your picture.” A guard motions them to proceed.
“Smile!” A feminine voice rings out over an intercom. Surge walks in front of a camera, holding a middle finger up and sticking her tongue out. Right after, Kit smiles shyly, the screen displaying ‘Player 373’ after the picture was taken successfully. Kitsunami tags behind Surge swiftly, following the guards up the labyrinth of stairs.
“I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t here with me…I’d be so scared!” Kit rambles on and on while Surge trudges towards the game’s opening door.
“You’ll be fine, kid.” Surge grins, patting Kit’s shoulder.
Everyone else walks in subsequently, taking their photos and admiring the strange…but almost nostalgic stairs in different bright colors.
“This looks like something I’d see on a show!” Charmy gasps, climbing up the steps like a little child—which he is.
“I wonder how someone can design this so effortlessly,” Espio questions to himself, then turning to the other two Chaotix.
“I know right?! It’s very cooly designed,” Charmy replies with enthusiasm.
“Cooly??? That isn’t a word, Charmy.” Vector rolls his eyes, proceeding up the stairs.
“It’s a word if you put your mind to it!” Tangle laughs, and Whisper shakes her head in response.
“I’m excited for this game! If we win, we get money, mama!” Cream says excitedly, dragging Vanilla behind her.
“We don’t need money, dear, but I enjoy the enthusiasm. Don’t ever lose that,” Vanilla says. Cream just nods with a smile.
“Nobody’s questioned how we got here
or what we’re doing. This is super suspicious.” Tails mumbles to himself, with Sonic walking beside him.
“Don’t worry, I understand what you mean, but we can’t stress over this. Let’s enjoy the game and then we can figure that out.” Sonic strolls along, putting his hands behind his head.
“Maybe if I win, I could get some new gems for my collection. Maybe a certain…green emerald?” Rouge puts her face close to Knuckles, with him shoving her away.
“No.”
In front of everyone, the door widens, and it leads to another area.