The light shining through the blinds of his dorm room seemed almost too much as Sonic quickly rolled himself over stuffing a pillow onto his head. The past few days had been almost too much for him, and he almost wished the fact that his week of break was over today. A low growl lit in his throat as the flashbacks of what had happened over the previous days had crossed his mind, once again sending both a sensation of both confusion and hatred pulsing through his veins.

“Come on Sonic.” Tails tugged at Sonic's blanket trying to get his attention, “Classes start back today, and we do not want to risk what happened last semester to happen again.”

“I know I know.” Sonic grumbled sitting up, “I just had a rough night.”

“You have been acting awfully off a lot lately Sonic, you've got me worried about you.” Tail had a look of pure worry on his face, “I just want to make sure that you are ready for whatever may come this semester.”

He was not lying though. Ever since his last encounter with his dreaded Blackmailer, his dreams had been nothing more than horrid nightmares, each, worse than the other. The worst part of it all, is some of them, though they could be labeled as dreams, for the fact he actually had pleasure within them, but even that thought made him cringe even more.

Why would he even remotely love what this monster was doing to him? Dreams or not.

“Please don't worry about me Bro, I will be fine.” Sonic lied scratching the back of his head slowly, “I just, need to wrap my head around all that will happen to me. That is all...” he looked at a stack of books on the nearby desk, “Starting with my classes, and after school activites.”

“Now that sounds nothing like you.” Tails huffed as quickly got himself dressed in his uniform. Buckling his belt he turned to Sonic, “You never are enthusiastic about your classes. Are you feeling sick again?”

“No Tails. I'm not sick.” Sonic rolled his eyes sighing, “I'm fine, it's just that I don't want to repeat the troubles from last semester, Chaos knows that I don't need any of that again...” his voice trails off before snapping his attention back to Tails, “Just promise, you'll help me help myself, nothing else.”

“Uh, yeah, sure, I..I can do that.”

Sonic stood patting Tails on his back, “Thanks bro, it means a lot.”

“No problem Sonic,” Tails smiled meekly, “I do what I can to help.”

Sonic grabbed his uniform putting it on, meekly smiling at the orange two tailed fox, “Yeah Tails... I know. Trust me buddy...I know.”

–

Breakfast and the first two periods passed quickly, though still shook up about his wondering of who his blackmailer was Sonic surprisingly kept his composure, at least towards an outwardly appearance.

Internally he was pretty much screaming, as he over looked every male that walked passed him in the cafeteria. Most he didn't know of course, except for the occasional fan boy from seeing him on the track, that would wave at him, greet him then move along on their merry way.

It seemed fairly calm in the cafeteria, except for the fact that once again, Jet the Hawk, along side with Shadow the Hedgehog strolled in. Grabbing their food, Sonic watched as they sat down at the end of the row two tables down from him.

There's no possible way, it could be them that cause this. I mean they hated his guts right? They'd rather see him suffer in more horrid ways than becoming practically a slave to black mail. Still, it was not a far stretch to consider their motives though. The common denominator was him suffering.

Besides it could be more than just them two that Sonic had his suspensions of. Despite the fact Jet still hated him cause he could run faster, or Shadow, who well, always had a rivalry with him, he still also had to consider Knuckles, who practically wanted him to be his persona punching bag, as well as his unfortunately still English teacher Doctor Finitaveus, who he knew wanted Sonic to fail. That was a whole other can of worms he did not want to touch.

Finishing up his food, Sonic slowly stood to take his tray to throw it away. His eyes were set on the trash cans before him as the blue hedgehog felt his breath leave him when suddenly his path became obstructed. Realizing instantly it was the foot of Jet sticking out, and instantly made him face plant onto the floor his debris and food remains scattering in front of him.

Laughter rang through the cafeteria as Jet's piercing voice hit his ears, “What's the matter blue hedgehog, starting out rough already? What makes you think you can beat me in a race when you can't even walk. Stay on the ground like the worm you are.”

Standing up Sonic dusted himself off growling lowly,but keeping his composure he smiled, “At least I'm not compensating for an over inflated ego.”

The blue hedgehog heard a simultaneous “OOOOOHHHH” ring through the cafeteria as even Shadow had placed a hand over his dropped jaw turning away from Jet who had stared at him with a fierce glare.

Gathering his tray Sonic exhaled a deep breath, how he was able to do that so smoothly without showing his internal conflict. Throwing the contents away he made his way back toward the entrance of the cafeteria and heading on towards his Science class for the day.

It more or less was difficult trying to make it through his science class, because it took place in the lab, where he was made a pawn for the first time against his blackmailer. His focus was barely kept as he kept hearing the Blackmailer's words over and over, and his own words of “Obedience.” giving him the full upper hand. 

Something just had to be done. He couldn't just let him keep using him like this, at least he hoped not to.

After class Sonic burst through the doors, quickly scanning the halls and moving past the other students of the school until his eyes fell upon Tails. He then quickly grabbed him, pulling him off the the side in a small break nook in the building.

“What's going on Sonic?” Tails seemed  quite confused as Sonic had grabbed him by his book bag loop pulling him, making the two tailed fox nearly lose his balance.

“I am so sorry bro, but...but I need a favor.” Sonic's eyes filled with pure worry, “I know I said earlier for you to let me help myself, but I need something more than that, and I know that you are the best guy to go to with this problem of mine.”

“Again I ask, what is going on?”

“I...I can't quite say yet as to what's happening, but I need you to do something that will help me with said problem.” Sonic looked around him lowering his voice, “I need you to get some information and dirt on Jet, Shadow, Knuckles, and Doctor F.”

“Whoah Sonic, I know you have a huge rivalry against them all, but isn't that just stooping a little bit too low?”

“It.... It's not what you think its for. I just simply. need to know their routines, habits, and just other tid bits, it will give me a sense of mind. Please.”

Tails shook his head, “It's honestly starting to worry me, can't you just tell me what is going on?”

Sonic sighed, shaking his head, “I would tell you now, but let me make you this promise, if you help me, I will then tell you why. It's just now, I need to someone without the knowledge of why, to tell me what I need to know. Can you trust me with that for now?”

Tails stared blankly at the blue hedgehog for a moment before sighing again, “I guess I can, but you have to keep your promise. I just hope whatever you need this information for doesn't get you into trouble. I promised to help you, not dig your grave.”

“Well no one's dying buddy, that is the good news in all of this.”  Sonic smiled meekly At least with no claims on dying internally, “Thanks bro, it does mean a lot.” he looked up at a clock in the hall, “Well I have one more class, then I am probably going to go sleep for a bit, I am beat.”

“You go do that, again, as I said, you are family to me, and I will see to it you get the help you need.” Tails smiled, “Just take care of yourself as well too.”

“I will do my best.” Sonic patted Tails's back, “I will see you later.”

“Later Bro, just keep moving forward.”

“That is what I do best!” 

The next day seemed to pass by quicker than that before. Sonic the hedgehog, now eyed Tails the next afternoon at lunch as Tails sat in front of him. His lunch had already been ate, and his empty tray in front of him as he listened to the orange two tailed fox.

“Jet, he's aloof and overconfident, he's an Extreme Gear enthusiast, and he has a slight criminal record, for petty theft.” Tails stated with a stack of papers in his hand, “There's more that I found out. Most of this I had to do when he was hanging out with his buds in their room last night. Which of course he kept bragging about how much of a better runner and athlete he was than you of course. His ego is bigger than his speed.”

“None of that actually surprises me.” Sonic tapped his fingers onto the cafeteria table at lunch time. Could he be it? He did have such a hatred for him, and wanted to prove himself better than Sonic at all times. 

“Now, onto Shadow.” Tail's voice trailed off his eyes quickly shifting back and forth from Sonic and down to the table below him.

“That...That does not sound promising.” Sonic eyed the two tailed fox wary eyes, “What do you have on the edge hog??”

“Well,” Tails cleared his throat, “He...he is an artist.”

“And what else? I already knew that. That is not much news there.” the blue hedgehog rolled his eyes.

“Well...” Tail's face seemed to flush over red as he looked at Sonic, “I don't necessarily know, if you want to know...lets just say...”

“Just tell me!” Sonic huffed as Tails slowly pulled out his phone flipping to his gallery, then revealing some photos of him sneaking into Shadow's room. 

�Okay, okay, here... you see his art subject of choice, is well...� He showed his phone screen to Sonic, revealing a picture he had taken of a sketch book of Shadow's that he had found while snooping around. Sonic gulped, his eyes widening upon the discovery of mildly suggestive drawings of himself littered in the sketchbook. 

The subject of Shadow, was himself.

There was a drawing of Sonic, topless, wearing only his track shorts, bending down to buckle his running shoes. There was also one of him running on the same track field, and finally, an unfinished drawing of him, but with a smile on his face. Sonic is again, not wearing a shirt, but below his waist, in the sketch outline, it's clear that Sonic was meant to be in the nude.

The blue hedgehog's eyes widened as he stared at Tails who shared the expression. 

“Yeah, I told you, it was not something you really needed, but that wasn't all.” Tails then turns the phone back to him, zooming in on the final sketch. Sonic's eyes then narrowed at the fact of the small note that Shadow had written on the light brown pages.

The note said “Ask about lessons” with tiny arrows pointing at his clearly unfinished groin area.

The blue hedgehog instantly cringed. It was like a red light had went off in his mind, Sonic suspicion was higher than ever now with Shadow. Despite the fact of how he did not want them to be, all of the signs were there: the infatuation, the drawings, the all in general hate, yet cringiness tied to it. Shadow must have been his blackmailer, and he was going to prove it. 

Quickly Sonic thanked Tails and told him to keep up the good work before bursting out the door towards his track meet for the day wondering on just how he'd confront this problem, now that he had a strong inclination just as to who the culprit was.

Despite the fact Sonic had a strong feeling even though he felt he knew, it still didn't sit quite right with Jet's antics against him on the track. Sonic sat in the grass off to the side, downing a bottle of water as he watched the green hawk make quick rounds of the track field. After beating a new record Jet's eyes quickly shifted towards Sonic who quickly snapped at him.

“Take a picture hedgehog it'll last longer.”

Sonic only shook his head shooing him on as Jet huffed a bit, his feathers ruffling as he returned his attention back to the track as Sonic stood back up to his feet again, to go a few rounds on the dirt path himself.

The rest of the track meet seemed to go fairly well. Strangely enough though Sonic though, kept catching Jet staring at him from time only to return his gaze back to the task at hand, but Sonic blew it off as nothing as he returned to the locker room to get cleaned, this time, making his way back through the building, past the science room, past the library, and then... the art room.

Though late in the afternoon, Sonic still found that the door to the art room was wide open with a bright light shining onto the floors of the hallways as he debated to continue on or peek his head into the art room to hopefully confront, or at least try to prove just who Shadow was.

Peeking in, he bit his lip, as he scanned the room, and sure enough, there was Shadow, standing at at easel with his brush in motion. He was painting a most wonderful scene of a field full of flowers and a lowering sunset with oranges and purples looming over every thing. Shadow's ears perked up quickly as he turned, surprised to see Sonic standing there.

“Sorry, dude, I was just passing by, I um... well that's not a bad piece there.” Sonic stood in place as Shadow gestured for him to come in, sighing.

“I've been working on it for the past week and a half.” bragged Shadow, turning and picking up his sketchbook. It was the one Sonic saw pictures earlier, “Also you weren't just passing by blue hedgehog.” Shadow eyed him flipping to the page with the partially drawn naked picture of him, “You came to ask about my lessons.”

“W..how did you know, that's what I was-”

“I'm not an idiot you know. I may be a messy artist, but I know where I leave each item I own, down the the specific inch.” Shadow closed the book, “It is rare for some one to easily embarrass me, but your little buddy did just that. If it weren't for the fact I actually enjoy you as a subject for figure drawings, I simply would NOT hesitate to tell someone of authority.” 

Sonic gulped. He could not believe his ears, even still he needed to confront this problem. “But mind me asking, why is it me that you made your subject of interest? There are many other guys around here, that probably could fulfill that spot way better than myself.”

“Come here, let me show you something.” Shadow casually lead me to another wooden door in the back of the classroom. Twisting the handle on the door he opened it. Flicking on the light inside the door he revealed a full studio, of nothing but art pieces, paintings, sculptures and more just scattered about. Empty easels where propped in corners paint was splattered on the floor, a sink resided in the far left hand corner of the room. Near the door blank canvases still in their plastic laid piled neatly in a stack.

Walking to one of the pieces in the room Sonic noticed another it had a cloth draped over the top of it. Turning his attention, Shadow showed him some of his other pieces on the walls and other easels around. Each seemed to be of a dark theme. Night time, sunsets, flower fields with looming darkness behind them, each, beautifully painted with elegant strokes and lines. 

Shadow kept showing his works off, except for one painting of a field of blue flowers, which had a bright sunlit background. There seems to be a background for something else though, like the painting was unfinished and missing it's main centerpiece. Shadow seems to gloss over this painting, steering Sonic past it purposely, as though he didn't want to draw attention to it. 

“What's this one?” Sonic asked as he saw Shadow's face flush instantly, turning his head to avoid Sonic's stare, “It's beautifully done.”

“Yeah, that one.” Shadow scratched the back of his head looking back at the piece, “I had a vision for it, but...”

“Let me guess it's missing something?” Sonic couldn't believe he finished the black hedgehog's sentence, but he needed some type of closure of this mess.

“Yeah, pretty much.” Shadow sighed, before snapping back to him, “I can't believe after all the bickering between us, that I am actually confessing this to you.” He growled lowly, “Even still...As you can see... I need a centerpiece, and well, it's you.”

“Why are you so keen on it being me though? There other males around this entire campus. I mean heck we've been at each other's throats since days one. So why me?”

“Well truthfully, it isn't just for this piece...” Shadow leaned closer his muzzle now bright red as he lowered his voice as if telling a secret, “I have an ulterior motive behind the lessons.” 

This was it. Shadow was about to reveal what he wanted, without even having to ask. The moment had come. Confrontation time! But was he ready for this? Ready to put Shadow in his place where he belonged? Artist or not, he was going to get the blunt of all his anger.

Sonic jumped a bit back before Shadow spun around pulling the cloth off another piece revealing it. On it posed was a gorgeous painting of one of the women from the women's university on the other side of the property, Rouge the bat. She was standing fully naked, posed eloquently, and as usual it shows pure details of Shadow's work.

“I already have a female with the perfect body as a subject. At least on the weekends I do, and well, knowing that you are always to bright and cheerful, and you are, in the best terms I can say, are quite the perfect male specimen for my art.”

Sonic flushed but took a sigh of relief, as if a whole ton of weight came off of him. 

“Could you possibly, pose for me nude? At least so that I can finish my piece. I promise I won't blab this to anyone else here, it would only just be between you and I.” 

Shadow seemed quite sincere about his inquiry. This simply did not seem like how his blackmailer would act. Besides, if Shadow were his blackmailer, why would he be so nervous about asking him to be in the nude, when in fact his blackmailer, had already seen him naked?

“I... I will think about it. Just not tonight.” Sonic held his hand out for Shadow to shake, “I promise though I will weigh out the options.”

“That seems fair enough.” Shadow grasped Sonic's hand, “Just think hard about it.” 

“I will do so.” Sonic looked around at the room, “Seriously though dude, your work is quite amazing. I'm sorry for doubting your skills before.”

“Eh, it still doesn't mean I'm not better than you... faker.” Shadow smirked chuckling darkly at Sonic.

“Some things never change huh?” Sonic shook his head face palming it.

“Nope never.” Laughed Shadow, “Well I think I'm gonna work on another piece for now.” The black hedgehog made his way to the sink grabbing up some brushes and some soap to clean them off, “See ya. Now shoo before any of the guys catch you in here.”

“Yeah, later.” Sonic slowly walked out of the Art room, once again sighing, as he made his way through the hallway, before making his way back across the campus yard towards the dorms.

Shutting his bedroom door, Sonic plopped himself back down on his bed, before the crunching sounds of paper hit his ears. Making him cringe instantly.

“No...Just please...No....” he stated to himself shifting as the white paper of another letter shown to him on his bed, “How.... how does he keep getting into my room?” Sonic stated out loud to himself, as he slowly opened the letter, with shaking hands, but also a sense of anticipation and unwanted arousal as he read it to himself.

Hello again Sonic the Hedgehog. Once again, I call upon you for reasons you should know by now. Meet me after hours at the school's theater room, and meet me upon the stage. Lights will shine upon where you should stand. Remember your collar as well, for there you are still under my command. You know your rules, abide by them.

It was the theater this time. What purpose was him being there for? Whatever it was, he knew it was going to be another night of pure humiliation, and with him hating being on the stage, this was going to definitely set his nerves afire. Especially the only attention he wanted was on the field.

The blue hedgehog sighed loudly as he toss the letter into his lock box under the bed, before finding the collar again. Sitting on his bed for the next few hours, the blue hedgehog had watched Tails return from his classes.

“Hey Bro find out anything else new?” Sonic inquired as the two tailed fox came into the room tossing his books onto the nearby desk with a thud.

“Not really Sonic, I've been busy working on a new research paper for my AP science class, it keeps getting harder and harder. So no, no more info. I will do more tomorrow, if I have the time.” Tails sighed, “Sorry Bro.”

“Well I don't doubt that it'll be a piece of cake for you in the long run.” Sonic stared at the ceiling.

“Not really, a thousand words is just child's play compared to what I can do.” Laughed Tails, “Either way I am beat for the night. So I'm gonna kick back, relax, and go to La La Land.”

“I'm not far behind ya bud.” Lied Sonic as he kept the collar under his pillow smiling as he shifted and then stood up, after he knew his fox friend was out for the night. 

Taking a deep breath he gathered his courage, slowly stepping out of his room into the dormitory's hallway. He made his way once again reluctantly towards the Theater Hall... knowing that tonight,
it was going to be a long night.