World Leap Chap18 Part1

"Why do you always do this? I give you a room, clothes, everything you would need, yet you throw it back in my face." Eggman growled angrily, moustache bristling behind the slim screen.

I ignored his question, retorting with one of my own. "How did you know I was alive?" It was a plea of sorts, yet still it came out as a guttural growl, the whole time I was down there I had hoped he thought me dead, I could have been free.

"I have cameras all over my ship, I saw your little rescuer and have robots after him, it was only a matter of finding you." He gave me a strange look, scrutinizing my small appearance before turning to snarl at a robot.

"I thought I told you to capture her and the boy!"  He snapped suddenly.

"Our squad was annihilated by the boy sir." Ebony squawked happily at the news and I hissed for her to be quiet.

Eggman growled; it was confusing, first he was upset the saviour of his gem could not be captured? An amusing thought in these dark times.

"Ugh, never mind: just lock her up in a small cramped room with a cold hard bed and a window too small to squeeze through that's glass is unbreakable. I'll see to her later." Eggman commanded, interrupting my tiny train of thought.

But this time I wouldn't let them drag me to prison, I wouldn't fall into his grasp and be his little pet; I would fight, the whole way. Like a ninja, but I wouldn't show my knives, because if I lost I would lose them too.

They threw me in the room kicking and screaming and I fell tumbling against the floor and hit my head against the bed. I cursed angrily and loudly, making it clear I wouldn't be confined.

To further prove this I immediately got up and flung myself at the door, hitting, kicking, screaming, cursing until the bandages on my hands wore so thin it wasn't there at all, and my hands started to bleed again leaving patchy stains on the door.

Finally I collapsed against the undented steel, sobbing into the emotionless metal. Ebony cawed softly and brushed her feathers over my hand, leading me to the just as uncomfortable bed.

I was not strong, but I believed… that had to be good for something right?

Sucking in a deep, brave breath I used the hilt of the kunai to whack the window, Ebony shook her head.

"It's no use, you won't fit through it." She whispered.

"It's not for me." It was a clear statement, wavering only slightly by the tears streaming down my cheeks.

"What?"

"It's for you. You can escape, find the others… and tell them where I am… It could work!" I insisted but her depressed expression placed doubt in my mind. "Couldn't it?" I didn't feel strong or powerful, not anymore.

"The glass won't break Jess… We're trapped."

My own friend… the feisty Ebony… had given up?

You're going to let that fool control you?

'I won't let anyone control me, including you.'

Listen fool human! You are alone! Your own friend has turned against you! Fight harder and the glass shall break!

And for once I listened, smashing hard at the glass over and over… without the beasts help, without Ebony's help.

And I broke through.

Immediately sirens started screaming and the air started tugging at me. Ebony fluttered angrily as I grabbed her, pressing her to the window.

"He'll be here any moment! Come on Ebony, please."

"They won't follow! Can't you see Jess?"

Your own power has made her despair.

'No, Dark Gaia's power has made her despair.' I thought back angrily.

"You can talk! Who wouldn't believe a talking bird?" I hissed.

"What if I lose my way?" Said the nomadic bird.

I brought Ebony close and kissed her forehead just like the sisters we were, she was the only person I had right now, and I was giving her up.

"I know I can't make it out of here, not with your help or the… beast inside of me. I need you to help me. You're all I have, and so is this." I grabbed my kunai and tied it to her claw with the cloth, now bloodied by my hands, I knew I had a crude glass dagger at my belt, but what good would that give me? I was more likely to wound myself than anyone else.

"You are, were, a nomad: you know this planet like the back of your claw, if anyone can find them, it's you. If you can't prove it, this will." I promised.

"But this is your only weapon!" She protested.

"But that's what ties me to them, and thus gives Eggman something against me, as do you." I didn't let her reply, but pushed her out the window, she was immediately out of sight, leaving behind nothing but a loud squawk and a black feather.

You are alone.

"I'm never alone." I snapped, covering up the window with the crappy sheets before falling back on the bed after tucking the feather in the leather of my blade.

God help me now.

***

I didn't have to wait long, in less than five minutes Eggman was bashing on the door angrily, yelling at the top of his lungs.

"I don't do strip shows! Just come in, you have the key!"  I shouted, sliding my hand down to my dagger.

"Where's the bird… Why is the window covered?!" He was immediately shouting and ranting.

"Aren't there cameras in here? I set her free, I'm stuck here: she wasn't." I murmured quietly, getting up and walking quietly over to him.

"How? The window was-"

"Everything's breakable…" I bowed down in front of him. "With enough force…" Unsheathing my dagger I held it close, I could do this…

For once I agree.

"Even you." I whispered, leaping up, the blade aimed straight for his heart, the jagged blade nothing but a flash of white as the world rushed past me, adrenaline bright in my heart.

I can do this!!!!

Less than a millimetre from his chest I froze, not even willingly, something held me back, steel clamps holding me still as cold metal encircled my throat.

I dropped my dagger, falling back to my knees as I choked, pain filling every cell in my body, a familiar, dangerous pain.

Hands changed into claws… face into snout.

But it wasn't dawn.

Ah… unrestricted…

"What… are you doing- Augh!" I screamed falling back to the ground, legs collapsing.

Forgetting his sense.

"I'm forcing you into your second form." Eggman stated bluntly, a wide grin peeking out from under his moustache.

Second form? Hah, how little he knows.

"But I'm more powerful!" I cried.

You? In truth he controls what he cannot, in truth you are weak.

"Exactly, a better battery!" He laughed, why did it fill me with such terror?

Battery? Batteries are energy contained, I am uncontained. Free.

My claws dug into the metal of the floor as another scream ripped from my throat, barely human.

Nearly there, soon I will have the control you do not give me.

"You don't understand Eggman! You can't control it!" I screamed again, falling limp on the floor as the pain increased, my fingers twitched, scraping along the ground as my blade was released from my grip.

He won't listen, I do, I listen to every petty human thought that buzzes through your brain, I am the one in control now.

I shook my head angrily, gripping the floor even harder, tears streaked down my cheeks but landed unheard on the floor. I was broken… I was gone.

But… I had to fight, I had to convince myself that I wouldn't be controlled "I'll fight you every step of the way!!" I screamed, to everyone who could hear me, Eggman, his creations, the beast inside… everyone who got in my way. I am a survivor, and nothing will control me.

***

"She was trying to train, alone. I decided to help her."

"Fine… but how could you let her get captured!?"

"She's not a part of the mission, investigating the problem with the earth was."

"We're not the only ones, we could have ditched long ago."

"But we didn't and we won't. We're ninja, it's our job."

"Then why bother with her?"

"Because we have to, numbskull."

"How are we going to find her anyway?"

It was then Ebony fluttered down from the sky, kunai in claw.

"Easy." She stated. "She went West, across the ocean."