Chapter 4 - New Beginning
Molly lounged on the couch, letting out a satisfied “ah” before setting an empty cup on the table. It clinked against the numerous others, empty with tea residue at the bottom. Shadow stood on the opposite side, grimacing. Amy approached her with a tray, carrying PB&J sandwiches. The blonde hedgehog eagerly rubbed her bandaged hands together as Amy set down the tray.
“She said thank you,” Shadow answered, rubbing his head.
Amy straightened, a hand on her cocked hip as she wagged her finger at Shadow. “I don’t mind you being her spokesperson and all, but can she speak at all?”
“Let’s ask,” Shadow turned to her. “Can you speak?”
Molly tilted her head to the side, arching a confused brow.
“What does that mean?” she asked in his mind, “To speak?”
“You spoke in your memories, when you said your name,” Shadow answered aloud.
“Let’s start with that!” Amy snapped her fingers, “have her say her name.”
Amy plopped down beside the blonde hedgehog, causing Molly to scoot. She cleared her throat and said, “I’m Amy. A-M-Y. You’re Molly. M-O-L-L-Y. Mawl-ly. Can you pronounce that?”
Molly squinted, her lips pouted in concentration. “MMM….”
“What about the tube?” Shadow interrupted. Molly turned to him, as Amy blinked. “What?” The pink hedgehog tilted her head.
“When I touched you,” Shadow pointed to Molly. “I saw a group of scientists. They were examining you, analyzing you. Even back at the temple, I saw you being strapped down and tortured in your memories.”
“You saw?” Molly said in his mind. “But those people. I don’t…remember….”
“You don’t remember them,” Shadow bowed his head.
“Anything else?” Amy asked gently.
“That’s all I know,” Shadow replied. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay,” Amy smiled gently. “We can deal with talking later. I’ll call Cream and tell her where you are. She must be so worried.”
Excusing herself, Amy hurried to the phone. Molly curled up on the couch, sniffling. Tears sprang to her eyes, sliding down her cheeks.
“Earlier,” Shadow heard her internally. “I lied.”
He turned to her, stunned. Molly buried her face in her legs, her ears pinned against her head.
“I remember them,” she confessed mentally. “I remember what they did. I was an experiment. A…a prototype ”
“So was I,” Shadow replied. They wanted weapons, the government did.
“I know,” Molly replied somberly, “I was created to be such. But… I was a failure.”
Shadow stepped closer, his arms dropped to his side. A weight crushed his chest, making it hard to breathe. He dreaded the answer…but he had to ask. To know the answer he feared was true.
“What was this project?” He asked her.
Molly raised her head, her mouth falling open. Shadow peered at her, silently pleading for her to reply. The blonde hedgehog closed her mouth, her ears slightly raised, and her fur was rigid as if on edge.
“Shadow,” Amy interrupted, jogging into his view. “I’ve just finished talking to Cream. She forgives you. And she would love it if you visited her again.”
“I will,” Shadow replied, smiling gently. “Her tea parties are the best.”
Molly looked away, hugging her legs closer. Amy, noticing, rested her hand on Molly’s shoulder. The hedgehog gazed up at her hostess, confused.
“Come with me,” she urged with a small smile.
Molly rose from her couch, dusting off her tattered robe. Amy shook her head at the sight, her green eyes scanning her ragged appearance.
“This will not do,” Amy said, lowering her hand. “A quick bath, and then we’ll try on some clothes.”
Molly turned to Shadow, peering at him. “What’s your name?” She asked mentally.
“Shadow,” he replied. “Shadow the hedgehog.”
Molly smiled as Amy took her hand, and dragged her to her room. Shadow huffed, sitting down on the couch. His eyes landed on the discarded cups, and his mouth contorted to a disgusted frown.
This mess….disturbs him. He should clean up.
Amy sat on the bed in her room, her legs swaying patiently as Molly showered. She gazed at her hands, surveying her gloved palms. She couldn’t help but reminisce on Shadow hesitating on whether or not Molly and him were friends.
Her brow creased in thought. Of course they were friends, why would save her (hopefully he saved her)?
The water stopped running, and the door creaked open. Molly stepped out, her body wrapped in a warm, white towel, and her quills soaked and dripping. The pink hedgehog applauded her, a grin plastered on her face.
“How was the shower?” Amy asked, then face-palmed. “Right! You can’t speak….”
“M-mol….” the blonde hedgehog muttered, catching Amy’s ear.
“Moooo…..” she squinted, grasping her chin, “Mollllll?”
Amy neared closer, her green eyes glinted brightly.
Molly huffed, then said slowly, “moll-ly?”
“Yeah!” Amy grasped her hands tightly. “That’s it.”
“Mo-lly!” the blonde hedgehog cheered, clenching her clean hands into a fist.
Amy smiled. “Shadow’s gonna freak when he hears you can speak”
Shadow set down the last cup in the sink, then narrowed at it. He didn’t know why but he had this compulsion to wash them. But he couldn’t, could he?
“Shadow, pardon me, but,” Amy’s voice cut through his thoughts, “I’m taking these upstairs.”
“Which one should she wear?” she glanced between each one. “I personally can’t decide.”
“Hmm,” he scanned each one, arching a confused brow.
Held in her left hand was a dress with pink polka dots, and a pink hem sandwiched between a green midi dress with a white peter pan collar. In her right, she held a sky blue strapless maxi dress and a dark black corset dress with white fringes on the hem and off-shoulder puffy sleeves.
“Uh…” Shadow hummed, folding his arms. “The right one?”
Amy glanced at the black dress then gave a bemused frown. “Do you like any color other than black?”
“What? Well…” he glanced to her left. “The green one is cute. She should wear it.”
Amy eyed it and giggled. “Good choice. Brb.”
She sprinted off, and Shadow turned back to the dirty sink. After all this time….he still has no idea what “brb” meant.
Several minutes passed, which was enough time for Shadow. He finished sweeping the living room, and returned the broom to where he found it, behind the fridge. The groceries sat on the counter undisturbed and wet cups dried on the rack.
He ambled over back to the couch, and sank down on the soft cushions. Crossing his legs, his ears picked up the faint thudding. Turning around, his eyes widened as Molly came into view.
Grinning from ear to ear, she halted and twirled, flashing her underskirt. White heels complimented her green dress, making her look chic and cute. The small green bow on her head, tied around her left ear.
Shadow rose to his feet, stunned, his eyes landing on the bow on her ear.
She pointed to her head and remarked giddily, “It’s a bow.”
Shadow blinked. “Y-You can talk?”
“Only what I repeat,” Amy stepped into view, standing beside her.
“Only what I–she repeats,” Molly corrected herself with a grin.
“How does she look, Shadow?” Amy winked playfully.
“You look…” Shadow folded his arms. “She looks okay.”
“Okay?” Amy snapped, stomping her foot. “You picked out the dress, and the best you have is okay?”
“Yes!” Molly clapped, turning to the pink hostess.
“Ugh,” Amy face-palmed, shaking her head.
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