I know there’s some of you who are not going to be happy with this….. For all it’s worth, I don’t think chapter 2 came out so hot. I’m rather pleased with this one, though.

So without further ado…..

The Hand Fate Deals Us

Chapter 3: Fate has Spoken

A pen danced furiously across a paper, having no regard for the time of night.

Shadows on the desk, cast in the lamplight.

Ink trailed across paper, page upon page, moving onward through the notebook.

Torments of the inner hell, told in black and white.

Words upon words, repeated over and over.

The dance of the pen continued on through the night in an exhausted fever.

And then, the ink ran out…..

No answer. Sally let herself into the house. She was used to this. Tails seldom could hear her knocking on the door from all the way upstairs. She didn’t say a word as she headed up to the bedroom and knocked lightly on the door there.

Still no answer. She smiled. He must have been asleep. Letting herself in, she stepped over to towards the desk.

There was Tails, slumped over his paper, arms folded on the desk and face hidden. She slipped over to him, glancing at his clock. It was nearly noon, and as much as she hated to wake him, it wasn’t good for him to be sleeping on the desk.

“Tails.” She whispered. “Tails, wake up, honey. Sonic and I want to know if you want to go for a walk with us.”

No answer.

Sally moved closer. She saw that his desk was covered in papers, all sprawled with the same words over and over again.

“Take the hand that fate’s dealt us and go with it, take the hand that fate’s dealt us and go with it…..”

“Tails?” She asked, taking his shoulder in her hand and giving him a shake. The rolling chair moved out from under him and he slumped to the floor, something in his hand rolling along to meet with her foot. Shocked, Sally gazed down. She didn’t know it, but she screamed.

It was a prescription sleep-pill bottle.

It was empty.

Fate had dealt him a hand.

And he went with it.

Sonic the Hedgehog and all related characters are © Sega and Archie Comics. Story © Gina Trujillo, January 20, 2005.

(Yes, I know you hate me.)